Writing Links…4/30/18

Where Genres Collide Traci Dowe YA Author

woman with symbols, rope

Writing Links…4/30/18

Traci Kenworth

 

Fantasy/Dystopian/UF/Paranormal/SF:

1. http://colleenchesebro.com/2018/04/22/smorgasbord-sunday-interview-the-militant-negro/
2. http://storitorigrace.blogspot.com/2018/04/why-editor-isnt-bad-guy.html “It seems in Hollywood and even in other circles (not to give a rap and not to say that all self-pubbed authors are like this but this is frequently the case in self-published circles), the editors are the bad guy. They’re the evil grumps that keep the writers from writing freely. I noticed this trend particularly when I watched How to Lose a Guy in Ten Dayswith a friend. Contrary to what the story was trying to portray, what the editor was asking for wasn’t that unreasonable. In the media examples I have these women are not the purest of character (which I also don’t like since I know many editors who are some of the nicest people you could meet), so I’m not defending their attitudes, but I do want to point out that the “obstacles”…

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What Pegman Saw – #GoodTimes

 

#GoodTimes

 

The walk was bloody killing my feet but my energetic wife was speeding ahead. Who ever said this was a good idea? Certainly not me. I enjoyed the history and getting the Facebook pictures (Me and Gail doing the Great Wall of China trail. #GoodTimes) as much as anyone else but I wasn’t exactly Usain Bolt.

“Oh Stephen, keep up!”, Gail laughed.

“My knees are killing me!”

“Stop moaning!”, she grinned.

We finally made it to the end and went to a nearby cafe for some iced drinks. Probably my favourite part of today. Gail snapped a quick shot of me with her phone.

“Do not put that up on Facebook!”, I warned with a smile.

“Already have.”, she grinned.

“Three likes in seconds babe.”

“Let me guess, the lads.”

The lads being my three mates from down the pub in Dublin. Yeah, they would love it!

“Spot-on.”, she smiled.

 

In response to the What Pegman Saw writing prompt:

https://whatpegmansaw.com/2018/04/28/great-wall-of-china-china/

I missed a few of the What Pegman Saw prompts which I plan on catching up on over time so watch this space for those. 🙂

 

April 26: Flash Fiction Challenge: 99 Word Prompt – Out At Sea – Carrot Ranch Literary Community

In 99 words (no more, no less) write a fish tale. It can be about fishing from any angle, about those who fish, or what might be caught. Go where the prompt leads.

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Out At Sea

 

Thomas had always enjoyed fishing from he was a small boy up to being the old man he was now. He had had his fair share of short-term girlfriends throughout the years but while his friends got hooked up in marriages he had always liked his freedom. That independence of being out in the boat. You couldn’t beat it as far as Thomas was concerned. Sometimes he’d bring a sketching pad and draw the scenic pictures he’d see and get soaked up in the calm and the wonderful beauty. No one believed him but he was very happy indeed.

 

If you want to participate, here’s the link: 

https://carrotranch.com/2018/04/26/april-26-flash-fiction-challenge/

#SoCS April 28/18 – Your Heart

Linda’s prompt for SoCS this week…

 

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “Why/Y.” Theme your post on a word that starts with “Y” – bonus points if you start or end your post with “Why.” Have fun!

 

Your Heart

 

Why is the world so full of boxes? So much about making one “the norm” and one “the other”? At what stage will many get their heads out of their arses and realise we are all just here? Why are some people never questioned about anything while I feel I have to justify myself at almost every turn? And why does that seem alright to most people?

 

My name is Kyle, 23, non-binary. And here I am on this TV show wondering why I have to prove it when this cisgender presenter ain’t bothering to prove that he is cisgender. And oh ain’t he smug about it? I feel like saying you do you and I’ll do me. But he don’t get that and he never will. And that’s sad for him really.

 

So instead of proving anything I tell those worried and struggling out there to go with what is in your heart. After all there is nothing else. The rest is all manufactured. And content I feel and it doesn’t even bother me when yaman’s still asking why?

 

 

Badge by J-Dub @ https://jilywily.wordpress.com/

The Murder At The Vicarage By Agatha Christie Review!

 

I’m currently taking part in the Agatha Christie Readathon by James J. Cudney from the blog  This Is My Truth Now.

This is the final review of four books by Queen Agatha. 🙂

 

The Murder at the Vicarage (1930) by Agatha Christie is the first book featuring Miss Marple. The book is narrated by Parson Clement, who is the vicar of St Mary Mead, where Miss Marple is a resident. Fellow resident Colonel Protherone is killed in the vicar’s study and leaves Miss Marple in a dilemma as everyone seems to have a reason to do away with him. In fact Miss Marple can think of at least seven people who have a reason to kill the Colonel.

On the case with Miss Marple and Parson Clement is Chief Constable Melcheff and Inspector Slack. And there is a whole cast of characters joining them. As well as the highly unlikable Colonel Lucius Protheroe (R.I.P), there’s the Colonel’s wife Anne Protheroe, the Colonel’s daughter from his first marriage before Anne, Lettice Protheroe, the vicar’s wife Griselda Clement, the vicar’s nephew Dennis Clement, Parson Clement’s and Griselda’s housemaid Mary Adams, archaeologist Dr. Stone, Dr. Stone’s secretary Gladys Cram, the curate Mr. Hawes, the doctor Dr. Haydock, painter Lawrence Redding, Mrs. Lestrange who has just come to the village and the three busybodies Mrs. Price-Ridley, Miss Hartnell and Miss Wetherby.

Having grew up in a small town I can say that Christie really got the whole small-town atmosphere spot-on. The scenes with the older ladies talking about all the events in the town and in everyone’s lives in the village was so authentic to reality. I think the cast of characters together is a fantastic diverse mix which all work really great together and ensure that a variety of interesting events and situations occur. I love Griselda. She is so fun and down-to-earth and her relationship with Parson Clement is beautiful. Their interactions are golden and Christie wrote the chemistry so brilliantly in the dialogue between them.

The mystery itself, without giving anything away, is very clever. It has an understated brilliance about it. An excellent read that you will very much enjoy.

 

To get your free copy of The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie go to:

http://mylanguages.at.ua/The_Murder_at_the_Vicarage-Agatha_Christie.pdf

And for more on Agatha Christie and her work go to:

http://www.agathachristie.com/

 

 

Friday Fictioneers Writing Prompt: Isolated

 

PHOTO PROMPT © Jan Wayne Fields

 

Isolated

 

It was where Max went when he was a child. His special place where he thought about the world and where he saw himself when he was older. It was isolated and quiet. It gave him time to sort out his thoughts. He wanted to be famous.

 

And twenty years later, he came up to the spot again. He loved the isolation and the fact that many people came to this spot to think. It was perfect for his plans. He placed the body of the young woman he had murdered today down.

I will now be famous, he thought.

 

My book Black Coat based on a previous Friday Fictioneers prompt is available at:

 

For Friday Fictioneers Writing Prompt. Check out the website at:

https://rochellewisoff.com/

#SoCS April 21/18 – Heart

Linda’s prompt for SoCS this week…

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “spoke.” Use it somewhere, in some form, in your post. Bonus points if you don’t use it in the first sentence. Enjoy!

 

 

No one made her heart skip like she did. A breathless radiance of compassion. Filled with love. She seemed so natural and such a world apart from so many people she knew. All openness and kindness. All wonderful wit and comebacks that came at you so unexpectedly. She made her feel giddy with happiness. Such a nice feeling. She made her feel like goodness was alive and well in a world where it didn’t always feel like that sometimes.

 

An ordinary girl with an activist spirit. A girl with a heart full of dreams following adventure at every turn. Seeing life with realistic eyes but also with zest. A carefree heart of maturity and immaturity. A heart of realness, of honesty. Grit and determination span through her.

 

And with all this love, she spoke to her heart. And her heart spoke back.

 

Badge by J-Dub @ https://jilywily.wordpress.com/

 

 

Reading Links…4/24/18

Where Genres Collide Traci Dowe YA Author

planet

Reading Links…4/24/18

Traci Kenworth

 

Fantasy/Dsytopian/UF/Paranormal/SF:

1. https://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/2018/04/14/book-spotlight-addict-the-cassie-tam-files-sci-fi-crime-lesfic/ Born in Vancouver, Cassie Tam is the daughter of a cop and an out lesbian. Now situated in the technological haven of New Hopeland City, she plies her trade as a Private Investigator, taking on odd job cases that the police either don’t care about or won’t touch. She’s built up a good reputation over the years and tends to solve cases with a healthy mix of the three S’s: smarts, snark, and sheer stubbornness. Oh, and the odd assist from her robo-gargoyle pet, Bert. Despite her tough exterior though, Cassie is prone to keeping stuff in, and is more than capable of finding social awkwardness when faced with the unfamiliar. That combined with her compulsion to keep digging, even when she knows she shouldn’t, can often leave her biting off more than she can chew.
2. https://legendsofwindemere.com/2018/04/14/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-new-book-on-the-shelves-war-of-nytefall-loyalty-by-charles-e-yallowitz/ In the wake of the…

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April 19: Flash Fiction Challenge: 99 Word Prompt – Recharge – Carrot Ranch Literary Community

In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about forest bathing. You can use the Japanese term, Shinrin Yoku, or you can make up your own ideas about the phrase. Go where the prompt leads.

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Recharge

Tom wasn’t sure if he believed in all this thing they called Shinrin Yoku. But he had been very stressed lately with work in the office and his girlfriend running off with a priest who left the priesthood to be with her. So he walked into the nearby forest, gave it a go. As he sat by the stream listening to its gentle rush, to the soft sounds of the birds conducting their daily conversations and felt the smooth fresh grass beside him, he suddenly understood. Sometimes you needed to just get away from it all to return anew.

 

If you want to participate, here’s the link: 

https://carrotranch.com/2018/04/19/april-19-flash-fiction-challenge/

Joe Farrell Wins The Scottish Grand National & The Story Of A Little Teddy Bear Pug!

 

I didn’t get a chance to put up my tips for the Scottish Grand National but today the winner was Joe Farrell and thankfully with my birthday coming up tomorrow I had the winner in good old Joe Farrell. As I was born on the 22nd of April, I picked number 22. I was thinking half of picking it because it was 22 and then came the final thing that made me go with it. My sister Sharon got me a little teddy bear who is a pug for my birthday because I love dogs and adore little stuffed dogs. And I think pugs are so sweet. So then I ran the dog down the list of runners last night with my eyes closed and he landed on Joe Farrell so that was it, decision made. I also decided prior that the pug would be named after the National winner so now he’s Joe Farrell, Joe for short.

It was rather a nerve-wrecking finish as it went down to a photo-finish when second placed Ballyoptic made a last ditch rally to win. My sister also had a bit of luck with Label Des Obeaux who came 6th and my Mum was just ran out of the placings with Pearl Swan.

Joe Farrell is trained by Rebecca Curtis and was ridden by Adam Wedge. He is owned by Mark Sherwood, Nigel Morris & Rebecca Curtis and won at 33/1. Well done Joe Farrell and all concerned! 🙂

The top seven was as follows:

1. Joe Farrell
2. Ballyoptic
3. Vintage Clouds
4. Doing Fine
5. Vicente
6. Label Des Obeaux
7. Pearl Swan