The Realms of a Fantastical Mind

No, not the end of the world.  I've spent the last few days away from the computer. Yes I was still writing. I was back to the old, can't go wrong, pen and paper method.  I have to say that I really did miss that free flow of ink to paper feel. So why the switch? Am I still working on that stubborn MS or did I create a new one? Answer: Both. I've been having difficulties in some chapters. I had written a full first draft. It was alright but on the editing I found I needed a revamp, bad. So I started the rewrite. I cannot state this enough, don't just focus on the first chapter till you think it's perfect, because you'll end up spending the rest of your life 'perfecting' it. Impossible to do. My suggestion: rewrite it and move on and rewrite each and every chapter. Life too short to focus too much on how well you opening line catches the reader's attention. That can come when you're into a deeper edit. From Cliffhanger Editing Website ...

Welcome to this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest,  Katherine Lampe . When she was twelve years old, Katherine was thrown out of Sunday School class by her minister father for advancing a symbolist interpretation of the story of the expulsion from Eden. This marked the beginning of her career as an Iconoclast, which she pursues on a daily basis by asking difficult questions until people run away in terror. As a writer, she is a staunch proponent of the Independent movement and is outspoken against the sexism, classism, and narcissism often found in traditional publishing. Her Caitlin Ross  series of paranormal novels follow the adventures of a witch married to a shaman in Colorado, and explore problems ranging from abuse of power to dysfunctional families. The fifth in the series,  The Cruel Mother , was released in September, 2013, and Katherine is currently working on the sixth, to be titled  Demon Lover. Part 1 @ T. W. Thursday, October 10...

Welcome to this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest, Joshua Legg. He resides in San Antonio, Texas, with his dog, Ruby. He studies history and English, as well as about a dozen other subjects. His debut novel Etched in Soul and Skin  was released this year by Musa Publishing. Don’t miss the rest of his BRoP interview at: Part 1 @  Vicki  – Tuesday, October 1 Part 2 @  Terri  – Wednesday, October 2 Part 3 @ T.W. - Thursday, October 3 Part 4 @  Emily  – Friday, October 4 Part 5 @  Sandra  – Monday, October 7 Section #4: About Your Current Work BRoP: Tell us about your new book—what is it about—and when it is out? Where can people purchase it? JL: “Etched in Soul and Skin” was released on May 17 this year. It’s available at the big e-book retailers like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and the publisher’s website. The plot follows Adanna, a member of a nomadic tribe who wanders through a world of ...

So to celebrate some randomness, because that's what I do, here's some tid-bits on the Humpback whale to dive into, and out of, another hump day. Happy Wednesday  Humpback whales are known for their magical songs, which travel for great distances through the world's oceans. These sequences of moans, howls, cries, and other noises are quite complex and often continue for hours on end. Scientists are studying these sounds to decipher their meaning. It is most likely that humpbacks sing to communicate with others and to attract potential mates. All information and pictures of today's Hump Day are from National Geographic.  I wonder if they chit chat about the fact that Friday is almost here? I know I do! I can almost see it, beyond Thor's hammer. Yes, there it is, calling us all to come and join.  I hope you have a great rest of the week! 

Welcome to another Blog Ring of Power interview. I know you're excited! It's Friday after all, then again, it's always Friday in my mind. So here is another reason why my library is never ending.  Please welcome Ellen Larson!  After 20 years working as a substantive editor in Egypt and the US, Ellen Larson was recently named editor of The Poisoned Pencil, the YA mystery imprint of Poisoned Pen Press. Ellen, who lives in an off-grid cabin, also writes. Her fiction has appeared in Yankee Magazine, Bloodroot Literary Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine (Barry Award finalist), and Big Pulp. Her dystopian mystery, IN RETROSPECT (Gale-Cengage, Five Star), will be out December 2013. Don’t miss the rest of Ellen’s BRoP interview at: Part 1 @  Terri  – Wednesday, September 18 Part 2 @ T.W .  -- Thursday, September 19 Part 3 @  H ey look, it's me! – Friday, September 20 Part 4 @  Sandra  – Monday, September 23 P...

Welcome to another Friday Blog Ring of Power Interview. Sit back, relax and check out Bonnie Milani. BIO Bonnie has taken what might be called the sandwich approach to writing. She started writing early, winning state-wide writing contests in grammar school, publishing an environmental fairy tale under the aegis of the NJ Board of Education in college.   After earning her M.A. in Communication at Stanford, Bonnie freelanced feature articles for East Coast newspapers and regional magazines, from  Mankind  and  Peninsula  to  Science  Digest as well as how to articles for the late & much lamented fanzine  Speculations . She stopped writing completely after marriage while building a pair of businesses with her husband. It was only with the successive deaths of each member of her family that she reclaimed her love of story-telling.  Home World  is the result. Today, Bonnie lives with her husband of thirty-six years in Los A...

It is that time of week again. All the woes of the week can now melt away. Let's have some Blog Ring of Power time, then some chocolate! Welcome to MICHELLE HAUCK, this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest. She's an AQC buddy of mine! Michelle lives in the bustling metropolis of Northern Indiana with her hubby and two teenagers. Two papillons help balance out the teenage drama. Besides working with special needs children by day, she writes all sorts of fantasy, giving her imagination free range. A book worm, she passes up the darker vices in favor of chocolate and looks for any excuse to reward herself. Bio finished? Time for a sweet snack. Her epic fantasy,  Kindar’s Cure , is released from Divertir Publishing. A short story,  Frost and Fog , will be released in a summer anthology from The Elephant’s Bookshelf Press. Part 1 @  Terri  - Wednesday, August 28 Part 2 @ T.W. - Thursday, August 29 Part 3 @ Hi - Friday, August 30 Part 4 @  S...