QotM

Question of the Month

What a week this will be. Today starts with the Question of the Month, a monthly bloghop started by Michael G. D'Agostino on his blog, A Life Examined. It's fun and simple so join up and find the list of others participants on Michael's Blog. This month's question:

“Have you ever met an idol/influence/someone you really admire? How did it go?”

I've never been one to idolize famous people or celebrities be they entertainers, sports figures or others who've gained fame. I've always discouraged my own children and students from doing so. It's better to admire people you actually know are the genuine article. I admired my father and especially when I had my own children. He dropped out of high school to serve in WWII. Without a high school diploma when he returned, he and my mother bought a rundown farm. He worked construction 8 to 10 hours five days. He'd rise at 4 am, take care of farm chores, go work construction, and then come home and do more work on the farm. He did it for years until the farm grew large enough to support the family. We worked it as a family farm, all of us putting in full time hours even while attending school and playing sports. Through it all, my father lectured us on the importance of education and how going to college would mean we never had to work as hard as he did to make a living. And we never missed a Sunday of church. A strong work ethic and the value of education? My father taught us by example and word how to be successes in life. I only hope to be as good a parent as he was.

In the writing world, I've met three authors I really admired when I first started this career. They are talented, but what disappointments they were as people. No names will be mentioned here but probably you've heard of them. There are often actors or musical entertainers that I admire their talent but not them as people.

Writing News

One of the speakers I met at the last writing conference I attended was Jane Friedman. She has a lot of experience in the publishing business. On her blog and at her speaking engagements, she shares her expertise on social media. I found this article, Why You Should Join All Social Media Networks, interesting though I'm not I agree with it. What do you think? Should you make a profile in every social media there is even if you don't keep it active?

My publisher is not selling my latest release on Amazon after keeping it exclusive to the NCP site for a while. The Outlaw's Prize is the first in The Galactic Outlaw series of my newest space opera romance worlds of the future. The Outlaw's Rebel Lady, the second book, is in editing at the moment.

"As long as the Sun shines, one does not ask for the Moon." Russian Proverb

Personal News 

This is my last post of the week as I'll be enjoying spring break with my daughter. It's going to be a beautiful week weather wise so I'm sure we'll be getting some outings in.

Next weekend marks the start of Daylight Savings Time already. The old spring forward means we get up an hour earlier. Some wisdom on that from The Old Farmer's Almanac:
Lose an hour in the morning and you'll be all day hunting for it.

Happy News

Barely into the new year and exciting things are happening. To read about the coolest things so far in 2016 world of writing, visit IWSG and read all about it. What is it? And a very warm and hardy welcome to Chrys Fey to the IWSG team of administrators. She's a terrific addition.

 

The Insecure Writer's Support Group Newsletter will feature articles by industry experts, IWSG members, and administrators. There will also be a dozen links to helpful articles for writers in each edition, as well as a special Member Spotlight. Even if you're not a member of the blogging group, you'll greatly benefit from these FREE monthly newsletters.

First issue goes out on February 24!

Sign up link - : http://eepurl.com/bM8oHL

Those who are part of the IWSG monthly blogging are already signed up.

Isn't that grand! I'm so excited to be part of this group.

Just a week from today, sign ups open up for the A to Z Blogging Challenge. I'm very excited for it this year even though I'll probably be in the middle of my next WIP by then. Mark the date and get up early next Monday to get your link on the list.

We're continuing to have mild weather for January though it's chilly today. My heating bill loves it and I'm getting a lot of my exercise outside instead of on the dreaded treadmill. I'm working on getting a stationery bike so I can ride while I read. I try to read at least an hour every day. If I combine biking with my hour of aerobic exercise, that will give me two hours of each. Win/Win.

"The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it." Henry David Thoreau

My publisher has released my the first book in my Galactic Outlaws series but it is only available on their website for the first thirty days. The Outlaw's Prize can only be purchased here for the time being. Like many small presses, they're trying to make more money for me and them by cutting out the middle man. Writers don't like to talk about money, but it's a fact that it's pretty tough to make a living in this business.

Talking of this business, I went to my local B&N yesterday to do some writing without family distractions. The place was so busy! I was glad to see so many children carrying around books, disappointed to see so many adults on their phones while their kids looks at books, and glad I found a table in the Starbucks that is part of the store. The line at Starbucks was long throughout the entire two hours I was there. I'm pretty sure the cafe alone made enough to keep the bookstore open. What was disappointing was the number of people standing in line to purchase books. Zero. That was unsettling. I hope some of the parents I saw purchased those books their children were cradling.

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited." Plutarch

Are you excited about the newsletter? Are you signing up for the A to Z blogging challenge? What do you think of my bike idea to combine two important pastimes into one?