Wednesday, October 2, 2019

IWSG: October 2019

It seems like it was September IWSG day just last week. Obviously not. Welcome to this amazing blog hop and the IWSG group started by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Join us in supporting and helping each other in what can be a lonely business. Find the other participants here.

This month's optional question: How can you expect other people to want your writing, if you don't enjoy reading? What are your thoughts?

I can't imagine not enjoying reading. I could read every spare minute I have. There are so many great books out there, including ones written by members of this group. If a person doesn't enjoy reading, I don't believe they can be a writer. 

If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut.” 
― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft


Book News
New Concepts Publishing has released my latest space opera romance, Starship Refugees IV: The Alien and the Slave. A ship of Earth's refugees lands on a planet and find themselves forced into slavery along with the native humans. A great escape is planned but only if the two races of humans learn to trust each other.

Personal News
For the first time since I married, I have an empty nest. My husband had two wonderful sons when we met, and then we had three boys and one girl together. This past weekend, the last child, now an adult, moved out. My husband thinks the house is too quiet, but I love it. My children are wonderful, but it was time for them and us to be on our own. And the bathroom is so much cleaner. Except for my daughter, the kids all live close enough that we're not alone for long.

TV Time
I watched the first episode of the new CBS thriller, Evil. It was so scary! I loved it. I also enjoyed the first episode of Poldark's last season on Masterpiece Theater. Really good, as usual. Killjoys ended on a good note. Fun and hopeful. No bittersweet stuff there. Only one more week to wait for Supernatural to return. Too many final seasons for my favorite shows this year.

Do you read a lot? Should writers be readers? Do you enjoy a quiet house or the chaos of family? Did you watch Evil or another new show you could recommend?






32 comments:

Liza said...

I used a Stephen King quote too. Can't imagine a writer not reading. Congrats on your newest release and enjoy your empty next. Our lone birdy comes home for a visit this month for the first time since Thanksgiving 2018. The homecomings are sweet.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

You might not have kids in the house, but you still have grandkids often enough.

Congrats on your book.

lostinimaginaryworlds.blogspot.com said...

Congratulations on your book. And me, too, I used a Stephen King quote, one of the best 'how to' books every written.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Love that King quote! And congrats on the new release!

I really enjoyed that first episode of Evil, too. And also The Prodigal Son - another creepy, dark story. Looking forward to watching more of both of them.

Brigitte Kirady said...

Writers HAVE to read! I can attest personally that reading makes me a much better writer, hands down! Also, congrats on your book and on this new clean-house chapter in your life!

nashvillecats2 said...

I had mixed feelings as my three moved out of our home. Now I've lost one altogether through his passing away how I long for "Yesterday".

Yvonne.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
I love a quiet house. Morning especially. And yes, I read a lot and think that writers should read.
Congrats on finally having a quiet house and the time to write when you want to.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

Natalie Aguirre said...

I have mixed feelings about being an empty nester too. I’m sure it’s been harder because I lost my husband not long before it happened.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Congratulations on your space opera romance book. Wishing you lots of success for your book.

Loved the Stephen King quote.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Congratulations on the book!
Enjoy that quiet time. You earned it.

David Powers King said...

Very sound advice from the Stephen King!
It will be a while before my birds leave the nest, at which point I'd be pleased to have a cleaner bathroom by then. :)

emaginette said...

I discovered 'Evil' as well and love it. Can't wait for more.

Enjoy the empty nest. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Ronel Janse van Vuuren said...

Looks like we all love Stephen King this month ;-) The newest show I binged watches is "Killing Eve" -- so much fun! Happy IWSG day :-)

Ronel visiting and on co-hosting IWSG day Co-hosting, Flagship Content and Interesting Developments

M.J. Fifield said...

That's an excellent quote from Stephen King—one I wholeheartedly agree with.

Congrats on your latest release!!

betty said...

I do enjoy reading and I think writers should be readers too. Like I said on Pat's blog, they need to see what others are reading. I love a quiet house! Always have even when the kids were growing up, LOL.

betty

Sadira Stone said...

Of course writers should be readers! What a ridiculous notion. Greetings from a fellow empty-nester. I wish my daughter & step-son lived closer, but I love the freedom to enjoy my space without having to clean up after others, and to set my own schedule. Great post this month!

Jemi Fraser said...

I could read 24 hours a day!
I'm still catching up on the last couple of episodes of Killjoys - love that show!!
Way too wimpy to watch Evil though :)

J E Oneil said...

I can imagine someone not liking reading, even if it seems crazy to me. But to be a writer who doesn't read is mind-boggling.

Hope you and hubby enjoy your new peace and quiet. If you get bored, you can always bring the grandbaby over.

Sarah Foster said...

I don't see how anyone could be a writer if they don't enjoy reading. How would they know they wanted to be a writer if they didn't read first?

Pat Hatt said...

An empty nest must sure be a change, but a clean bathroom is always a win. Supernatural will hopefully be good. Yeah, writing without reading is rather dumb.

Tamara Narayan said...

I didn't watch Evil, but it sounds pretty good. I'm still in season 12 of Supernatural on Netflix and Crowly just died. (I think.) There's something fishy about the rat that followed his body out out the dungeon doors. But don't tell me!

I often think about a quiet house. My girls won't depart for college for another three to five years. Right now I think I'll love it, but we'll see if I end up sobbing in a corner, missing the days of homework and instrument practice and appointments up the kazoo.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the new release! Sounds the the nest is still open for business enough for everyone to stay close. My daughter is on the other side of the country, so no drop-in visits.

Like most writers I know, I'm a big reader. While I'm all for "each to their own" I just don't see how someone who doesn't read could begin to write for those of us who do.

Patricia Stoltey said...

I read as much as I possibly can, a true bookworm. I didn't watch Evil because I don't like the shows that are too scary. The new one I like so far is Stumptown, but we'll see how it goes after a couple more episodes.

Christine Rains said...

I love to read! I can't imagine not reading and being a writer. We don't have cable anymore, so I don't get to see all the new shows unless I watch them online. I did recently watch Marianne on Netflix and that's a creepy one. Enjoy your quiet. :)

Nick Wilford said...

It would definitely be counterproductive for a writer not to read. I wonder what the result would look like?

Congrats on your latest release! I think you've got the best of both worlds - the kids have to get on with their lives but it's nice to have them just around the corner, too.

Jo said...

Congratulations on the new book, you really are determined to interfere with my sleep aren't you? I would say that it is essential for a writer to be a reader. Apart from reading being one of the greatest pleasures in life it must inspire people with their writing. Enjoy your empty nest.

Juneta key said...

Congratulations on the Space Opera release. Happy IWSG!

messymimi said...

Keep writing, us readers need you.

Enjoy your empty nest!

Fundy Blue said...

Congratulations on your latest book, Susan! I had to laugh at the Stephen King quote, because I just shared it in a comment in the last post I read. I, for one, must read, and I can't imagine how a writer could not read! Happy IWSG, a little late!

Diane Burton said...

Congrats on your new release. I couldn't find your author page on Amazon. Have you tried Good Omens (on Prime)? Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett created the series! Hilarious. David Tenant is a hoot. With Florence McDormand as God.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I'm looking forward to Supernatural
I can't imagine not enjoying reading either!!

Chrys Fey said...

Congratulations on your new release! And enjoy your empty nest.