2019 Writing Goals #OpenBook Blog hop

December 31, 2018

Share your writing goals for 2019.

I may not have all of 2019 planned out, but I know what the first several months will look like for my writing.

First, I need to finish up my current work in progress, The Contessa's Brooch. Yes, Harmony Duprie is back in action, fighting crime in the small town of Oak Grove. This time, she's chasing down a firebug.

While I'm finishing the edits on Book Four, I'll also be working with my cover artist to design new covers for the entire series. Much as I love the current covers, (Thank you, K.M. Guth!) there are good reasons to make the switch. The main one being is that the cover appeals to the wrong audience.

I can't count how many times I've been asked if the stories are written for tweens or younger. If you've read them, you know they aren't. So the time has come to retire them and move on to covers that are more 'mature' looking.

And while all of that is happening, I need to start planning the next Harmony book. She's already nagging me. I don't know exactly what she has in mind, but I'm sure it'll be different!

Will there be another Free Wolves story in the works?  I haven't decided yet. But getting two Harmony books out in the same year is pretty ambitious so I won't commit myself to anything more.

So while you say goodbye to the current covers, I'm off to see what goals the other authors on this hop have made.

Happy New Year!


December 31, 2018

Share your writing goals for 2019.


Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.


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Holiday Greetings #OpenBook Blog Hop

December 24, 2018

What is your fondest holiday memory?

That's tough, because there are so many good ones. Running downstairs to open the presents. Cleaning the silverware that only got used once or twice a year. Playing the new games with the family. Candy. Christmas decorations. Snow.

But the best of all? I loved going to church and singing Christmas carols. There was no professional chorus to lead the singing, no elaborate accompaniment, no soaring harmonies, just a lot of average voices joined in song. And unlike most weeks when people were tentative about joining in, everyone knew the melodies if not all the words and was willing to give it their best shot.

 And the songs themselves were uplifting and the messages were ones of happiness and peace. Something we all needed when the country was divided over political squabbles. (Kind of like now!) They put a touch of brightness and hope in our hearts.

And that is my wish for each and every one of you this holiday season. May you be touched by the spirit of love in whatever shape that takes for you.

December 24, 2018

What is your fondest holiday memory?


Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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True Love #OpenBook Blog Hop

December 17, 2018

Do you believe in true love?

True love. The territory of poets for hundreds of years. How can I doubt it? I come from a long line of people who have found true love. My husband and I got engaged after six weeks after we met, married after three months and have been together for forty-three years! My parents were together in love for 60 some years, and separated only by death. My grandparents on my father's side were together happily for many years, again parted only by death.  

That doesn't mean it's been all sunshine and roses. We've had our rough spots, like most people. But we've never given up on each other, and I think that's what makes it true love. We're growing old together—not so gracefully—and I firmly believe we'll live up to our wedding vow of 'until death do us part.'

Romantic love isn't the only kind of true love. Parents and children, siblings, even good friends can all know true love in different forms. And how about pets? The animals who choose to live with us can sense our feelings and know when we need an extra cuddle or a warm furry body that needs a head scratch. Because they demand so little in return, their love may be one of the truer forms of the emotion.

So yes, I believe in true love. And in the words of the old song

What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No not just for some but for everyone

Songwriters: Burt F. Bacharach / Hal David


Now I'm off to find out how the other authors feel about true love.



December 17, 2018

Do you believe in true love?


Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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Favorite Lines #OpenBook Blog Hop

December 10, 2018

We are writers. This is our time to shine. What are some of your favorite lines from your books?

This week is the dictionary definition of #humblebrag. Every now and then, I look at the line I just wrote and think "Wow, that's a good one!" So here are a few of my favorites.

I think this series of lines is when I first fell in love with Harmony Duprie, the main character of the Oak Grove Mysteries. The concept of this level-headed, intelligent woman having such a illogical reaction to an everyday event really helped me form her character.

 The bus ride home seemed longer than the morning’s trip as I studied each person getting on for a potential threat. Was the little gray-haired lady with the oversize purse and shopping bag packing a handgun? Did the teenage boy wearing a long black coat keep ninja stars in his pockets? And the woman in her mid-twenties holding a little girl’s hand? Was the child was just a prop, borrowed for the afternoon, solely to throw off suspicion? In reality, was the woman a super spy waiting for a chance to drug me and cart me off to her remote hideaway?

That's from The Marquesa's Necklace, if you haven't read it. 

And here's a selection from Her Ladyship's Ring, the second book in the series.It's a conversation between Detective Thomason, Harmony, and her landlords. 

“Did you hear the shot? Was there more than one?”

What the hell? “No, I didn’t, I was singing.”

“Badly,” muttered Luke.

“Off-key,” added Joe.

I never claimed to be good.

Of course, I can't forget the Free Wolves series. Here's a quote from Wolves' Pawn.

Dot was out of throwing knives, but she still had the wickedly sharp night stalker bowie knife Gavin had loaned her. The rival wolves quickly learned to avoid her, and when one shifted back to man form, she laughed and pointed the knife at his exposed genitals. He returned to wolf form, and paced around her, searching for another avenue of attack. A swift feint resulted in a nasty slice on his front leg, and a second saw a cut along his ribs. He wasn’t about to give up, and as he bunched his muscles for a third attempt, one of Dot’s companions rushed him from the side, knocking him over. While he was stunned, Dot wrapped a plastic zip tie around his muzzle, leaving enough of an opening that he could still pant, and two more ties went around his legs. “I should take lessons in calf roping,” she joked.

And another one from the same book.

She knew this was a bad idea. Even as Dot mounted her motorcycle to start the convoy, the human portion of her instinct screamed at her to stop. But the feral grin on her face was that of the wolf, and the wolf was in charge.

One more. This is from Wolves' Gambit, the third book in the Free Wolves series.

 But the years of fighting and fleeing had scarred her, and hope didn't belong in her vocabulary. Only plans and action.

You can find links to buy all of my books here: My Books


And I lied. Here's another short one from Wolves' Gambit

You're not as innocent as you appear, Miss Grenville. Although if anyone else showed up in my bed in that outfit this late at night, I'd think they were trying to seduce me.

Now I'm done, and off to find out everyone else's favorite lines

December 10, 2018

We are writers. This is our time to shine. What are some of your favorite lines from your books?


Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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My Writing Space #IWSG

 IWSG Day Question: What are five objects we'd find in your writing space?

First off, thanks to this month's co-hosts:  J.H. Moncrieff, Tonja Drecker , Patsy Collins, and Chrys Fey!

I recently re-did my desk, so it's a lot cleaner than it used to be! The Harry Potter magic wands have been put in a safer location. And the stack of sticky notes have been trimmed down to almost nothing. But what's still here?

First off is the computer. That's a given. Although I have written books entirely by hand, I find I write cleaner if I type a story rather than compose on paper. I write slower on the computer but spend less time editing.

Second are my pens. It's an addiction. I have more pens than I'll ever need. Once I pulled a dozen
from my purse.

Third is a Thesaurus. I keep a physical copy handy. I'm good using an on-line dictionary, but when it comes to hunting down the perfect word, I get better results flipping trough the pages.

Next is the wolf sculpture my son bought me. I have a series of wolf shifter books and it serves as inspiration.

Last but not least? I confess, I didn't get rid of all the stick notes. They're a great way to keep track of the details on my WIP. What day it is, what last name did I give to that minor character who appeared six chapters ago? I just have to remember to get rid of them when I finish the story.

Now, I'm going to find out what the other insecure writers have in their writing space.

No Failure Allowed #OpenBook Blog Hop

December 3, 2018

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

I didn't even have to think about my answer. If I couldn't fail, I'd be a full-time author. But what would that mean?

First off, I'd have to fully replace my current job and benefits. I've got other people depending on me and I can't let them down. Or maybe it would be better to say that I'm not willing to risk letting them down. Then I need extra on top of that for some long-term financial needs.

Second, I want to be able to maintain my status as an indie author. I like the freedom to write what I
want to write and to control my own prices. Although I don't necessarily enjoy the business aspects of being an indie, I like the control being an indie provides.

Third, I'm going to need an full-time editor. One who can help me get books released faster. I don't think I can accomplish my goal when I'm only releasing one or two books a year. And if I had someone else helping with editing, I could write faster!

And of course, I'd want to make a best seller list or two. Or three. I'd also have to go to more reader/author events. I don't mind traveling, so that  would be fine.

So, for those of you that are already full-time authors, what have I missed?

Now let's hop over and see what the other authors would do.







December 3, 2018

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?


Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

New Experiences #OpenBook Blog Hop

November 26, 2018

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

I'm one of those annoying people who believe that you should never stop learning. I earned a major new certification relating to my job last spring, despite being well into the 'old fart' range in terms of my age.

But I did something this past fall that I've never done before.

I took time off work to celebrate my birthday.

It doesn't sound like anything major, but I've never done it before. I've always worked unless my birthday happened to fall on a weekend. Sure, we might go out for supper or celebrate in another way, but I've never taken the whole day for myself.


That changed this year. I took two days off and me and the hubby stayed in a nearby mountain resort town. We rented a better than average hotel room and took it easy. We didn't make any plans but did things on the spur of the moment. Mostly, we just spent time together. Heck, the most ambitious we got was taking a long drive down some back roads. I didn't even do any writing!

And the best part? I didn't feel guilty about any it. Not the time off work, not the money we spent, not the temporary pause in finishing my current WIP. Oh, and we got to share the hotel with wild turkeys!

One more good thing- I bought some old Nancy Drew books - the yellow ones - at a used goods store we stumbled across and decided to check out. Maybe they'll be the start of a collection to replace the ones I gave away when I went to college.

So that's my newest new thing. What's yours?

Now I'm off to see what the other authors are doing for the first time.



November 26, 2018

When was the last time you did something for the first time?


Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.


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#BlackFriday #MysteryExchange

Remember the Mystery Exchange? A few of the authors have teamed up to bring you some specials for the holidays or to fill that new tablet you just bought. Just in time for #BlackFriday!

What We Found, by Kris Bock

“Another action-packed suspense novel by Kris Bock, perhaps her best to-date."

When Audra goes back to her small hometown after college, she just wants to fit in, work hard, and protect her 12-year-old brother from their overbearing mother. Finding a dead body in the woods changes everything. Her former crush, Jay, insists they don’t report the body. But the dead woman was murdered, and someone starts targeting Audra. She has to stand up for herself in order to stand up for the murder victim. It’s a risk, and so is reaching out to the mysterious young man who works with deadly birds of prey. But with danger all around, some risks are worth taking.

“This is a love story and suspense all in one.”

“I couldn't stop reading.”

What We Found is mystery and romance in small-town New Mexico. This title stands alone and is not part of a series.

Sample or buy What We Found on Amazon. Learn more at Kris Bock’s website.

Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. The Mad Monk’s Treasure follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town.

Fans of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, and Terry Odell will want to check out Kris Bock’s romantic adventures. “Counterfeits is the kind of romantic suspense novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary Stewart’s Moonspinners.” 5 Stars – Roberta at Sensuous Reviews blog

Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.

*****

Wolves’ Knight, by P.J. MacLayne

Tasha Roeper knows what it means to protect your own. So when her friend, Dot Lapahie, CEO of Lapahie Enterprises, suspects that the Free Wolves are under attack, Tasha immediately signs on to lead the investigation and guard Dot.

But Tasha's not convinced it's the Free Wolves that are the target. She fears that her own pack—the Fairwood Pack—are the actual quarry and Dot is only a decoy.

The deeper Tasha digs, the more puzzles she uncovers.

Torn between tradition and a changing world, will Tasha risk everything to save a friend—including her own life—when old enemies arise?

Wolves Knight is the second book in the Free Wolves series, but can be read as a stand-alone. And while it's not your standard mystery, there is a puzzle to be solved.

“This fast-paced paranormal is a breath of fresh air. Action packed and full of amazing female characters, I loved reading a book where the women were more bad ass than the men! Great plot and intriguing characters. Highly recommend!

Author Bio: Born and raised among the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, P.J. MacLayne still finds inspiration for her books in that landscape. She is a computer geek by day and a writer by night who currently lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. When she's not in front of a computer screen, she might be found exploring the back roads of the nearby national forests and parks. In addition to the Free Wolves’ stories, she is also the author of the Oak Grove series.

Sample or buy Wolves’ Knight on Amazon  It’s currently on sale for 99¢

You can follow P.J. MacLayne on Facebook  or on her blog at Blog

An All-Consuming Fire,

The Monastery Murders 5

A Christmas wedding in a monastery—idyllic. If the groom can finish the film his predecessor was killed making and the bride can escape the murderer stalking the Yorkshire moors. 99¢ All December.

Donna Fletcher Crow has created her own niche within the genre of clerical mysteries. — Kate Charles, False Tongues, A CallieAnson Mystery

Crow gives us, in three extremely persuasive dimensions, the world that Dan Brown merely sketches. — Timothy Hallinan, The Queen of Patpong, Edgar nominated Best Novel

Crow is the leading practitioner of modern mystery entwined with historical fiction. —  Mike Orenduff, multi-award winning  Pot Thief series

The Monastery Murders incorporate vivid characterization, intricate plotting, and rich background development that brings ancient spirituality alive in contemporary murder mysteries. Felicity Howard, a young America woman studying theology in a Yorkshire monastery, and Father Anthony Sherwood, her church history lecturer, become embroiled in mysterious events that bring the past into the present.

See more at https://www.donnafletchercrow.com/index.php

Avery Daniels

Resort To Murder Mystery Series

LUXURY RESORTS, MURDER, A SMART HEROINE, AND A TOUCH OF ROMANCE

	Julienne has her ideal job as an event planner at a prestigious resort. During a luncheon event she coordinated, a renowned celebrity pastor is killed next to the buffet. All eyes turn to her as the suspect. If she wants to stay out of jail or even keep her job, Julienne needs all the help she can get to solve the crime.     She has her work cut out for her with a vengeful high school rival now reporter, the public demanding she be fired, plus family who knows what's best for her, and a boyfriend who doesn't understand her. She turns to friends and a new ally to uncover who wanted to put the pastor on ice.     Julienne goes undercover and investigates a local swingers group as she follows the trail of clues before they go cold. Can she gather enough suspects and motives to convince the police to widen their investigation? Can she do it before the killer sets his murderous sights on her? Will her personal life ever be as simple as unveiling a murderer? Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay | Overdrive | IndieBound |Audible
	Julienne is snow bound in the middle of the Rocky Mountains with a killer striking at will.     Julienne LaMere gets to attend a Resort Management conference at a prestigious ski resort in the Colorado Mountains.  What should be an enjoyable getaway attending workshops by day and shopping and enjoying the resort by night comes to a screeching halt when a loud-mouthed guest is murdered plus the roads and town shut down for an epic blizzard.     In addition to attending the conference, dodging a smitten teen boy, and seeking clues among the gossiping - and increasingly tense - guests, her best friend’s heart has warmed to an unlikely man and may get broken.  As if her mind isn’t already fully occupied, Julienne and her new boyfriend Mason are skiing down troubled slopes in their relationship. Will Julienne put the scant clues together and unveil the culprit before a murderer gets away? Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay | Overdrive | IndieBound |Audible
	A Private Investigator who is competing to be on the reality show "Real Investigators" dies under suspicious circumstances with Julienne's business card on his body.  Her boss asks her to work to keep the resort's reputation from taking another hit from a murder. She is more concerned with how her card got on his dead body than she lets on.  The investigator was playing with fire before he got poisoned, and Julienne is attempting to figure out who spiked his last moments.     She begins to look into the less reputable investigator to keep the Resort's name, as well as her own, away from any suggestion of scandal for both their sake.  In the meantime, she is coordinating a last minute event and dealing with a handsome British gent who has his eye on her while still trying to work things out with Mason. Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay | Overdrive | IndieBound |Audible

Avery-Daniels.com  Join my newsletter community for news and exclusive offers

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/AveryDanielsAuthor BookBub:https://www.bookbub.com/profile/avery-daniels, Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16863152.Avery_Daniels, Twitter:https://twitter.com/My_AveryDaniels

Date of Death #OpenBook Blog Hop

November 19, 2018

If you had the option to know the date of your death, would you want to know?

Many years ago, I remember reading the description of a series where the premise was that a wizard could never achieve full powers until he/she learned the date and time of their death. Funny thing is, I don't remember reading the book but the idea of knowing when you will die has stuck with me.

There was also a time in my life when I didn't think I'd make it past the age of thirty. I'd had enough near-misses that I thought the universe was out to get me. It didn't happen, and I'm well past that age, but I remember making decisions for my life based on that fear.

Now, I've hit the age where I need to start planning for my death. After all, one of the reasons I went indie when I started writing was because I didn't have time to sit around and wait for agents and publishers. But that was six books ago, and I'm still going strong. Based on family history, I could get disabled in a few years. Or, I could keep going for another thirty years.


So, do I want to know when my life will end?

None of us have a guarantee that when we go to bed at night we'll wake up the next morning. I've tried to live the philosophy of living each day like it's my last. It wouldn't make a difference if I knew the date of my death. I don't think sharing the information would make my death any easier for family and friends, and it wouldn't make what was left of my life any more meaningful. Plus, I refuse to live my life in fear, waiting for the moment we all dread.

That should help make my answer clear. No, I don't want to know the date of my death. It will come in due time, and I'm okay with that. I've lived a pretty good life and I can face the inevitable with a certain sense of satisfaction.

Now let's find out what the other authors think.



November 19, 2018

If you had the option to know the date of your death, would you want to know?


Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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Wolves Knight #MFRWHooks

On sale for 99¢

Wolves' Knight

Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Book 2 of the Free Wolves series, Wolves' Knight can be read as a stand-alone

Excerpt

She set a hard pace as soon as she hit the street and kept it up as she ran through the open field just past the last of the Victorian-style houses. She kept the punishing stride as she followed the well-worn path to the shooting range. By the time she reached the fence marking the boundary of the Fairwood holdings, she had to slow down, not only to dodge the trees and brambles, but to ease her labored breathing.

But still she kept running. Endurance was as important in human form as it was to her wolf form. She might not be able to outrun a wolf, but there weren't many humans who could match her for the combination of speed and distance.

     Even when she reached the point where forward movement was more instinct that conscious thought, she didn't stop. At some point she met the pack members on patrol, acknowledging their presence with a quick nod and a brief wave of one hand.

     When she turned the corner to trace the southern border, her mind noted her heavy breathing and the rapid pounding of her heart. And still she kept running, pushing herself. Sweat poured down her face, but she didn't break her concentration long enough to wipe it away.

     A dim part of her knew when a wolf started following her, but it didn't speak to her, just ran in her wake, so she ignored it. She slowed somewhat when she could no longer breathe correctly, but kept going, one foot in front of the other. When she stumbled on a root, she lucked out and caught herself before falling.

     “Enough,” sent the wolf.

     “Not yet,” she answered. And kept going.

     Her lungs screamed from the lack of oxygen, her eyes burned from the sweat streaming into them, and she could no longer feel her legs. She was past pain and moving from sheer force of will. But she wanted to go farther. Her goal was the meeting of the southern and western borders. And past that if she could hold on that long.

Blurb

 Tasha Roeper knows what it means to protect your own. So when her friend, Dot Lapahie, CEO of Lapahie Enterprises, suspects that the Free Wolves are under attack, Tasha immediately signs on to lead the investigation and guard Dot.

But Tasha's not convinced it's the Free Wolves that are the target. She fears that her own pack—the Fairwood Pack—are the actual quarry and Dot is only a decoy.

The deeper Tasha digs, the more puzzles she uncovers.

Torn between tradition and a changing world, will Tasha risk everything to save a friend—including her own life—when old enemies arise?

Buy links

http://www.amazon.com/Wolves-Knight-Free-Book-ebook/dp/B0199BC6YI/

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/wolves-knight

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wolves-knight-pj-maclayne/1123127673

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1066865102

Writing advice #OpenBook Blog Hop

November 12, 2018

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a writer ?


It sounds easy, doesn't it? "I want to write a book. Anyone can do that."

And it's probably true. With enough effort, anyone can get fifty thousand or more words down on paper. (Or saved to a computer file.) It might take years, and after the first five thousand the realization of how much effort it takes might sink in, but that's okay.

But this is not an attempt to scare anyone off from the attempt. The satisfaction that comes with writing "The End" is hard to match.

So what advice to I have for aspiring writers?

I think the best thing I can suggest is to not worry about getting it perfect the first time. Finding the right wards can be next to impossible. Sometimes the word you thought was right doesn't sound so good after a few more sentences.

But here's the trick. There are these things called "first drafts" and editing. That means after the words make it from the brain to paper, they can be changed. And for those of us who aren't total geniuses, changes will need to be made. Even total geniuses will need to go back and check their work.

But if the first draft isn't completed. there's no editing to be done. Well, that's not quite true. I use editing as a way to help break writer's block, but it's a short-term solution. It helps to get my brain back into the story.

So, back to my advice. It's like walking. You have to take one step at a time. Get out that pen and paper or typewriter or keyboard. Write that first sentence. Then write another, and another. Writing, like any other creative endeavor, takes practice. It may never become easy, but it gets easier. I've written several books that will never be published because I don't feel they are good enough, but that's okay. The time I spent writing them wasn't wasted because it helped make the next book I wrote better.

Now let's head over and see what advice the other authors have to share.

(And a side note. Wolves' Knight, a book that went through several drafts before it was ready for readers, is on sale for 99¢ for a short time. You can find the links here:  https://pjmaclayne.blogspot.com/p/wolves-pawn.html  You'll need to scroll down the page a little way to find it.)






November 12, 2018

What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a writer ?


Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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Memories #OpenBook Blog Hop

November 5, 2018

What do you want people to remember about you?

When I first saw this topic, I thought it would be an easy topic to write about. After thinking about it, I decided I was wrong.

Sadly, I doubt I'll ever be remembered for my writing. No matter how hard I try, I don't see one of my books breaking  into best-selling territory. That doesn't mean I won't keep trying, but I'm not planning my financial future based on that possibility.

And I don't think my computer skills will earn me world-renown status. I work with too many geniuses to think I rank anywhere near the top.

So, what do I want people  to remember about me?

That I cared. Deeply. About them. About helping to make the world a better place, one kindness at a time.

Because sometimes that's the most important thing.. A smile when it is needed. A helping hand when things go wrong. A kind word when it seems that there is only darkness.

I know it doesn't sound like much. The beauty of it is in its simplicity. But it's enough for me. If only I can be remembered that way.

Now let's hop over and see what the other authors want to be remembered for.


November 5, 2018

What do you want people to remember about you?


Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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An InLinkz Link-up

Found Money #Open Book Blog Hop

October 29, 2018

What would you do if you found $50 on the ground (or substitute your local currency)

There was a time in my life that even finding $10 would have been a blessing. It would have fed my family for a few days or allowed me to buy a special treat for my little ones. Thankfully, those days are in the past, but I remember what it felt like.

I have found money once or twice, but the most I've ever come across is $20. I found it in the parking lot at work, and didn't know what to do with it. It seemed silly to turn it into security because there were no identifying marks on it. And with the number of people that go through the parking lot on a daily basis, there didn't seem to be any way to get it back to it's original owner.

So, after discussing with my boss, I stuck it in my purse. Not in my wallet where it could easily get mixed in with my money, but in a separate compartment. I didn't want to spend it on myself. I had other plans.

There aren't a lot of panhandlers where I live. You'll see an occasional one on a street corner or in the Walmart parking lot, but not everyday. And I know you can't trust appearances, but some just seem more down on their luck than others. And that's what I was waiting for. The right person who looked as if a measly $20 dollars would make a difference in their life.You know, the one with the dog that looks better cared for than the owner. Or the guy playing a guitar hoping someone will give him a smile and a dollar or two. or maybe the couple with the ratty old RV trying to get down the road a little ways. And that's when the found money came out of my purse and got passed along.

Would I do it different with $50? Probably. I'd break the $50 into 2 $20's and a $10 and spread the wealth out. Maybe I'd help buy groceries for someone who came out short at the cash register. It's my way of paying back the universe for the help I received when I needed it. Besides, it makes me feel good.

Is there a chance I'd give it to someone who really didn't need the help? Absolutely. Does it matter? Absolutely not. Remember, the money wasn't mine to begin with.

So, what would you do with found money? I'm going to hop on over and see what the other authors' plans are.





October 29, 2018

What would you do if you found $50 on the ground (or substitute your local currency)

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

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Shades of Gray #OpenBook Blog Hop

October 22, 2018

Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?

Trigger warning: Crime, abuse, cheating, etc.

There was a time in my life when, starry-eyed and naive, my answer to this week's question would have been an instant yes. But life has hit me square between the eyes on a number of occasions, and now my answer is an unequivocal maybe. I've learned to see the world in shades of gray. (No, not the book.)

Does someone who shoplifts deserve a second chance? Sure. Oops, they're part of a ring that travels from town to town ripping of small mom-and-pop-stores? Well, maybe not. Oh, that's bad info, they are really a widow who's husband died a month ago and the life insurance company hasn't paid off yet and she needs diapers for their three month old baby. Second chance, of course!

How about the juvenile delinquent who was sentenced to a program for troubled youth for six months because he ripped off a carton of cigarettes? Oh, and it turns out the judge had a financial stake in the program the kid was sent to.

How about the husband who cheats on his pregnant wife? There are even pictures to prove it. Oh wait, he was roofied and raped.

See what I mean? Shades of gray. What seems like an open-shut case may turn out to have nuances you never imagined. Still, I'm human. You hurt my baby? I'll never give you a second chance. You hurt me? We'll see what happens.

The Irish rock group, The Cranberries, had a hit that says it well. "Forgiven, not Forgotten."  If we carry around the hurt that people have inflicted upon us, we will soon be buried so deep under it we'll never see the light of day. Forgiveness can ease the burden. That doesn't mean we have to keep giving the offender chance after chance to hurt us again.

So, do I believe in second chances? Although I've never committed a crime,  I've been the recipient of a few, and I hope I've made good use of them. I've given other people a few in return and some of them have made needed changes and others? I've not forgotten.

I'd love to hear your opinion in the comments. In the meantime, I'm following the links below to find out how the other authors feel.


October 22, 2018

Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

Blogger

Beautiful Things #OpenBook Blog Hop

October 15, 2018

What do you think are the 5 most beautiful things in the world?

The hardest part about writing this post? Narrowing it down to only five things. There is so much beauty in this world if we just take a moment to look for it. My list comes in no particular order because beauty is beauty and we should appreciate each and every experience. (Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox now.)

So, here we go.


The first flowers of spring. Flowers are marvelous any time, but there's something special about flowers after a long winter. Especially when they are peaking out from under the remnants of the past snowfall.

The look on your lover/partner/spouse's face when you return after an absence, short or long. I hope that sometime in your life you've been welcomed with that mix of joy and longing and love all wrapped into one.

A baby's laughter. Surely one of the most beautiful sounds in the world.

And if you've been following my blog for very long, you should have expected this next one. Among the most beautiful things? Snow covered mountain peaks. Doesn't matter what time of the year. Summer with the sun glinting from high snowbanks or winter with a storm swirling across the range, mountains speak to me. Add a mountain lake and you've got something close to paradise.






Last but not least, and I apologize in advance because  not everyone can experience it. The wonder of holding your newly-born infant in your arms. Sure, they are wrinkled and red and their head might be misshapen, but that baby, at that moment, is the most beautiful thing ever. And nothing will ever be more beautiful.

That's my five. I'm looking forward to finding out what beautiful things my fellow authors talk about.




October 15, 2018

What do you think are the 5 most beautiful things in the world?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants' blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person's blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

Blogger

An InLinkz Link-up