Tag Archives: Authors

Meet the very talented award winning Author Cynthia A. Morgan

25 Tuesday Jun 2019

Posted by in About Me (since you Insist)

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I am so honored to have been featured on Guy Lozier’s blog and magazine. Please stop by and enjoy 😊

Guy Lozier

“The Power of Positivity is Positively Powerful!” —Cynthia A. Morgain

Cynthia A. Morgan is an award-winning author; columnist for the national magazine Fresh Life Style, and a member of the Poetry Society of America and Artists for Peace. Creator of the mythical realm of Jyndari and author of the epic fantasy Dark Fey Trilogy, Morgan’s powerful story relates how the power of hope, acceptance and forgiveness can change the world, when positive action is taken to create change.  The only way to achieve peace is to become peace.

Morgan is also the author of the popular blog Booknvolume where over 18K followers can explore Morgan’s own brand of poetry and English Sonnets, musings about life, personal recipes, photography, book reviews and more.

Upcoming projects include a fictional drama in Regency Period England; a foray into the lives of a young housemaid and an immortal archangel in French post-Armageddon earth…

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#WriteFantasyFriday -House of Realms

21 Friday Jun 2019

Posted by in Friday FeyDay / Fantasy

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Welcome to the first ever #WriteFantasyFriday Fantasy writing prompt on BnV. 🙂

Using the photo prompt above, we will begin this (hopefully) fun writing exercise with a little world building.  Where is this amazing place?  What is it used for?  How did it come into being?  (just some thoughts – you don’t actually have to answer them.)  Your post should:

  • Include the tag #WriteFantasyFriday,
  • Use the title above
  • Be 500-750 words, (sorry, OUCH!)
  • Use this spectacular image as its inspiration.  Please also be SURE to credit the original artist, whose information is at the bottom of this post. 

Create a post on your own blog…write whatever you choose, (Please see post specifications and additional instructions here)  and link back to the prompt post on BnV with a pingback .  If you are unsure of how to create a pingback, find an excellent tutorial here.

To ensure I see them, and also to invite readers to visit your blog, please copy and paste your posts link into the comments section of this post.

Each week, I will feature selected posts from the week on BnV.  Thank you for sharing your time and amazing talent with all of us. I hope you will Enjoy!

~Morgan~

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Beautiful Original Artwork by John Stephens

#WriteFantasyFriday #WritingPrompt #Kickoff

15 Saturday Jun 2019

Posted by in Poetry

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Welcome to a new chapter in BnV history!  Im excited to kick off what I hope will be an exciting, challenging, and rewarding writing prompt series that will not only, perhaps, stretch your writing skills, but allow (fantasy) writers to find and enjoy each other’s writing/blogs.

Here’s what I’m thinking… (I will post the first writing prompt this coming Friday!)

Each Fantasy Friday, I will post a picture or series of pictures as a Fantasy Writing Prompt.  I will specify what the post should be about: a little world building; a conversation between characters; a conflict perhaps; I might inflict a word-limit; or a format, just a direction to get the imagination flowing.  Then, it’s up to YOU.

Use the image(s) provided as inspiration to create a post on your own blog…write whatever you choose, (Please see post specifications below)  and link back to the prompt post on BnV with a pingback .  If you are unsure of how to create a pingback, find an excellent tutorial here.

All Pingbacks from your blog need to be manually approved, so to ensure I see them, and also to invite readers to visit your blog, please copy and paste your Title and link into the comments section of the post.

Each week, I will feature selected posts on BnV by copying/pasting the first several lines of your post and a pingback to your blog.  Please be sure to use the #WriteFantasyFriday hashtag so we can all find each other.

Writing Prompts are a Fun-tastic way to share your skill and to find others with similar interests. Please be sure to visit, read and explore the sites of other writers.

Post Specifications:

  • BnV’s blog rating is PG-13.  Please abide.
  • No gratuitous violence or sex, please.
  • Posts glamorizing hatred, discrimination, or anything else of an extreme-negative nature will not be linked to BnV.
  • By creating a post on your blog that pings back to BnV under the #WriteFantasyFriday hashtag, you agree to allow me to feature your post on BnV by copying/pasting content from yours to mine.

Thank you for sharing your time and talent with BnV.  I’m excited to meet you, learn more about your writing, and build a community through Fantasy.

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~Morgan~

#Fantasy #WritingPrompt #Preview- Probing for Interest

14 Friday Jun 2019

Posted by in Friday FeyDay / Fantasy, Flash Fiction and Shorts

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For my fellow writers: Would you be interested in a writing prompt series that would showcase your writing?

I’ve had this thought turning for several weeks in my mind to run a writing- prompt series on my blog. This wouldn’t be the same ol’ same ol’ and would not be quite like other writing prompt posts. It would be a picture/ image with a specific prompt in mind…. something you have to write about concerning the picture. Ok ok that’s your basic prompt- produce prefabrication, but this is the variation.

I’d post a picture like above and ask writers to create a character in 1000 words or less. Or I’d post a landscape and want writers to do a little world building. Maybe I’d post two characters and see what fantastic dialog they might have or what sort of conflict they would get into.

Being a fantasy writer, and someone who loves to create, the notion appeals, but does it appeal to you?

I welcome you’re feedback, because if your game, it’s a go!

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~Morgan ~

Karina Bartow- An #Author who Challenges her #Challenges!

11 Saturday May 2019

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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I would love for you to meeet Karina Bartow who grew up and still lives in Northern Ohio.  Though born with Cerebral Palsy, she’s never allowed her disability to define her.  Rather, she’s used her experiences to breathe life into characters who have physical limitations, but like her, are determined not to let them stand in the way of the life they want.  Her debut novel, Husband in Hiding, came out in 2015 and was well-received by readers.  Her second, Forgetting My Way Back to You, was released in October 2018 by Vinspire Publishing and has been praised by reviewers.  She may only be able to type with one hand, but she writes with her whole heart and I hope you will enjoy learning more about her and her books as much as I did when she recently contacted me.

HI Karina 🙂  Thank you for taking a few moments to share your story with BnV 🙂  Lets dive right in, shall we?  Do you have a preferred POV that you write from and why?  When I started writing, I tried first person perspective, but I found it confining with so many elements to a plot. Now, I only write in third person so that I can show a broader scheme rather than one corner.

Do your characters dictate what or how your write in any way?   For sure! Even though I have a general idea of their personalities from the beginning, they take their own turns I don’t always expect. I just go with it!

LOL, I tend to let my characters tell their own story too! What type of book do you like to read and does this differ from the genre that you prefer to write?   I’ve always enjoyed love stories, so that’s what I started writing. After a few years, though, I was drawn to mysteries, and that’s my preferred genre in which to write. When given a choice of what to read, I still stick with love stories. Call me sappy!

Tell us a little more about your book?    At one point or another, everybody finds themselves wanting a second chance, whether it be missing the mark on an investment, failing to live up to a certain goal, or letting a true love slip away. It’s very seldom, however, that one receives the proverbial do-over.

Charlee Stoll and Hunter Jett become the modern-day exception. After a decade-long estrangement, the high school sweethearts reconnect when Hunter, fresh off a career in arena football, returns to his hometown. Their reunion catches both of them by surprise, and they quickly recapture the love they once shared. When Hunter begins to rethink his choices, though, tragedy strikes. During a heated confrontation, Charlee’s thrown off a horse and sent into a week-long coma.

When she awakens with no clue who he is, he seizes the chance to right his wrongs, but it proves more challenging than he expects. On top of romancing her, he must overcome her father’s displeasure, another ex-boyfriend vying for her love, and her own mission to regain her memory.  Through charm and deception, can he win back her love…before she discovers the truth?

Sounds Fantastic !  You can find Karina’s book here 

Thanks so much Karina for sharing your time and talent with BnV!  I wish you many Blessings and Success 🙂

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~Morgan~

 

Creative Content Quick! – #Author #Interviews #Revision 2.0

12 Tuesday Mar 2019

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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I’ve done some research lately to learn more about SEO and how to maximize what Im writing to gain readership.  Ive learned that in today’s fast-paced world the reality is that long posts get bypassed.  Research indicates readers want to devour topics in 5 to 7-minutes and move on, so, as painful as that may be to those of us who can proliferate words at a rate that could rival Charles Dickens, it’s up to us to provide creative content, quick! We need to come up with catchy tag-lines, use keywords in repetitive groupings to increase search engine results; and use meta-data/descriptions to help those search engines guide readers to us. HUH?Yeah thats what I said.  Heres a great article if you really want to dig deeper and learn “What is SEO Content?”

I’m starting by redefining the author interviews I offer.  No longer the customary 20 questions and 1500 words, but 3 key points, a pic and a link!  Sound tough? You bet, because when it takes between 50K and 150K to tell our story, it can be brutal to try to sum it up in less than 500 words- I know; I’ve tried!  Nevertheless, this is what readers want, so this is what they’ll get!  If you’re interested in an Author Interview with SEO punch, or you want to share a Character Spotlight with pizazz, read on!

What these posts will need:

  • You’ll select THREE questions (from the list I will provide) to answer and, remember, ‘Brevity is the soul of wit!” Write your answers creatively. Your entire post needs to be 500 words or less.
  • Create a brief Bio. Think of this in terms of an introduction- how would you like to be introduced at an awards ceremony?
  • Write a book blurb for your book. Here’s an article that tells you just how “Most fiction book blurbs start with a situation (a), introduce a problem (b) and promise a twist (c). They usually end with a sentence that emphasizes the mood (d) of the story.” (What would your ad sound like if it were a movie trailer?)
  • Provide an author link (one social media link or your author page)
  • Provide your book link (ONE Please)
  • Select a pic that sells what you are promoting, hopefully your books covers or a marketing image you use.

What’s next?

  • Email your post back to me to booknvolume@gmail.com in a word.doc format only (thank you!)
  • Include your images as separate .jpgs please
  • Make sure your links work! (No oopsies please)
  • Interviews are published on my blog on weekends in the order they are received and I will email back the link to the post once I’ve scheduled it. ****Posts cannot be viewed until they go live***(sorry)
  • If you’ve got a specific date in mind that you would like to promote, such as the release of a new book, a signing tour or any other publicity event, please let me know and I will be happy to work on scheduling a specific date that will maximize exposure.
  • MOST Importantly of all- Have Fun. If you don’t enjoy reading your post, who will?

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I hope you will take me up on the offer 🙂  Thank you for allowing me to support you through my FREE Author Interviews and share your work with the world!

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~Morgan~

In The Lime Light – Richard Ankers – The Writings

04 Saturday Aug 2018

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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Welcome my Friends 🙂 Happy Saturday and, once again, thank you for stopping by to see just who is In The Lime Light this weekend 🙂 I confess, I am Delighted to share a poet and writer with you who has inspired me since the first time I posted on BnV; a friend who has been around since the beginning and whose writing pushes the boundaries and makes me smile, laugh, gasp, tremble and sigh! You will agree, I am sure, when I tell you that Richard Ankers (whose wonderful blog you can find here: http://richardankers.com ) made a rare appearance in the Interview arena JUST for Booknvolume…well and for all of YOU as well…so my blathering is pointless. Lets Jump Right In shall we? 🙂

IN HIS WORDS: Richard was a Company Director in retail until finally plucking up the courage to show people the writing he had spent years shyly stashing away. Joining HarperCollins’ Authonomy site was the jolt he needed to realise people liked what he wrote. Winning a gold medal there for his book The Snow Lily, was a great boost. Since then, he has spent a long time writing and preparing a trilogy of SciFi/ DarkFantasy books which he hopes to have traditionally published. Richard stopped by for a natter, so lets put the kettle on and get right to it!

Please Introduce us to your Blog. What is it all about? What sorts of posts do you lean towards?
RICHARD: Hello, my name’s Richard. My blog is a place where I post writing and poetry that is on my mind and needs to come out, (there’s far too much in there.) I use my blog as a way of honing my skills for the longer writings that I love. I believe the more you write the better you write and I try to practice what I preach.

What Inspires and stirs your creativity?
RICHARD: Everything inspires me. I can hear a word, or see an image, or even hear something, and it sets off the creative juices. I have written a whole trilogy of books based on one simple image that I saw and was taken by. I never struggle for something to write about because I will never have enough time on this earth to write everything that’s in my mind.

What Message, if any, do you hope to Share through your blog/posts?
RICHARD: I don’t really share any message other than insisting on writing what I want. I would always encourage others to do the same. Don’t pamper to people because the most heartfelt words are those that are most honest, regardless of the length or style they are presented in.
How has your blog helped you as a writer/Indie Author? What things have you learned along the way that you never anticipated?

RICHARD: I wouldn’t say my blog has helped other than not having to worry about wasting what I’ve written. It’s given me a home for all the words.

Tell us about your book(s):
RICHARD: My first book was called The Snow Lily, a story about two abandoned children in Victorian times. I was lucky enough to win a gold medal on the HarperCollins Authonomy site through my efforts. This gave me great confidence (as I have none) and a major boost to my resume. I never had any intention to publish it but one day I might.

I am currently writing a Sci-Fi / Dark Fantasy trilogy. I have made the unusual decision to write all three books in one go and then return to them one by one in order for publishing. I want each book and the trilogy as a whole to be perfect before it goes out there. Believe me when I say, they are unlike any Dark Fantasy book you will have read. The Trilogy was going to be called Decadent Gothic but I have recently altered it to The Eternals Saga, as it’s just a touch more appropriate.
PS. Shhh! They’re almost done.

What Inspired you to write your book?
RICHARD: The whole Eternals Saga was based on a single, spectacular image that I saw. I can’t say what though, as it would give the game away.

From what Point of View do you prefer to write? Is there a reason?
RICHARD: I prefer first person but aren’t particularly bothered. I just find it easier to be in the protagonist’s shoes if I am writing as though it is me. I like to look through my main character’s eyes, so to speak.

How would you describe your “Voice” or Style of writing?
RICHARD: People have said I have a Literary style, but I would leave that to others to decide.
What genre do you prefer to write or are you truly eclectic?

RICHARD: I love every genre. I hate to be pigeonholed. But, dark fantasy and the speculative genres that abut it are my real passion. Basically, things with a fantastical element.

Do you painstakingly plot out your story; are you a discovery writer or a bit of both? Why?
RICHARD: I’m neither. I’m very lucky that the moment I have the idea the whole thing unravels in my head. I have no need to write a word of plot unless I wish to. I know exactly how it will start, finish and everything in-between within moments.

Share an insight or secret about your book(s).
RICHARD: They always have a twist near the end.

What do you feel is your best advice to share with other aspiring authors?
RICHARD: Write what you want how you want. And NEVER, NEVER EVER let anyone tell you that you aren’t good enough. Practise and you will be.

And now, the part most people hate…lets talk About YOU:

richard

If you had to describe yourself to someone who has never met you, what might you say?
RICHARD: I wouldn’t, as I’m too shy in person. I always know what to write but never know what to say. Plus, I’ve never had a very high opinion of myself.

If you could meet one person from the past, who might it be and why?
RICHARD: Nobody in particular.

When you are NOT writing, what is your favourite pastime?
RICHARD: I love to run and do so everyday. I also love nature and all it encompasses.

Describe Your Dream Getaway Destination. Have you ever been there? What makes this place Irresistible to you?
RICHARD: My dream destination is Wengen in Switzerland and I have been there. The place has spectacular scenery, mountains to die for, and once out of the town itself is wonderfully quiet. I also love the British Lake District for similar reasons. I would love to live near mountains and am a very quiet person.

Do you have a Mantra?
RICHARD: Above all else be happy. Life is too short not to be. (Lots of people say that but don’t really mean it. I mean every word of it.)

I am honoured, Richard, that you agreed to share a bit about yourself and your writing with me/us. Thank You Ever So!

You can Follow Richard via Twitter @richardankers

~Morgan~

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The Crown of Amiriel by Shade Rachea – #Books Worth #Reading

26 Thursday Jul 2018

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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Despite her unstable powers, Warrior Princess Raynin is the most powerful fighter in the Guardian Realm. She’s also the most loyal.

After Raynin is named heir to the coveted Crown of Amiriel, the most powerful object in all the realms, she and her best friend Riley are forced to flee the kingdom and seek refuge in another realm to avoid death.

Soon, that realm is thrust into an unexpected war against a merciless king, forcing Raynin and Riley to make new alliances and learn to trust and rely on others. With the help of their friends, Raynin and Riley must fight to stay alive while trying to get a grasp on their powers and find the Crown before anyone else gets to it.

But the king has sent more than one assassin after them and the Crown, making staying alive that much harder.

Amazon 5 star review by Joshua Griffith who called it “An Action Packed Story”

“I love this one, it’s like Merlin meets Firefly! From the first few pages, the story snares you and never lets go. There’s plenty of action, drama, royal backstabbing, sword fighting and magic that will have you greedily turning the pages just to see what happens next and just in the first two chapters! The story seems like a typical fantasy in the beginning, royalty, peasants, medieval times, but then *dum dum dum* there’s actually technology like airships, cars, guns and computer training simulators. It a great story revolving around two teenage royalty that embark on a quest to find the seven missing pieces of the crown of Amiriel, which sets war into motion to prevent this from happening. I don’t want spoil it with details but I do suggest reading this one, you won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend it!”

Purchase Links:
Kindle: http://mybook.to/Amiriel
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Crown-Amiriel-Shade-Rachea/dp/1980240280/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/shaderachea
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shaderacheabooks
Website: https://www.shaderacheabooks.com

Author Bio:

Shade Rachea is an American Young Adult Fantasy author and Creative Writing instructor. Her debut novel, The Crown of Amiriel, was released earlier this year and is the first of the series. Currently, she lives in California with her family and dog, Auro, and enjoys reading romance and fantasy books as well as shopping for books and shoes. When not writing, she can be found traveling and attending concerts and music festivals with friends.

#GuestBloggers – How to #Edit #Fiction by Kathryn Wells

06 Sunday May 2018

Posted by in Guest Bloggers on BnV

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Knowing what to do after you’ve *finally* finished the first draft of your manuscript and have mopped up all the blood, sweat and tears that went into it can be a bit of a mystery if you’re new to the game. You know editing comes into it, and you may have heard about beta readers, but what comes first, and more importantly, how do you go get started?

To help with the cacophony of questions littering your head, I’ve made a general guide to help you get going. This is very much based off my own experience, and is not an exhaustive list:

  1. After you’ve written that last word on your manuscript, put the whole thing away somewhere and leave it for a good amount of time (I personally leave it for about three months, but others leave it for longer) and get on with other things. Start a new project; finish any others lurking around; if you’re thinking about publication, research which avenue might be best for you and what that entails; basically, anything to keep your mind stimulated but doesn’t involve that first draft. This is to make sure that when you do eventually go back to it, you can view it with fresh eyes – meaning that plot holes, weak characters or lack of world building will jump out at you and therefore be easier to fix.
  1. Don’t focus on spelling or wording on this initial edit. Look at the big picture instead. Are there any holes in your plot? Do your characters feel flat or serve no purpose? Does the story start in the right place, or are the first few chapters unnecessary? What scenes work, and what don’t? If you’re finding it hard to tell if certain points of the story are unnecessary, try removing them and see if it affects the overall plot. If the plot still flows, then those scenes (however beautifully written they are/despite how much you personally love them) have to go. Nothing ruins a good book more that scenes that jar the pacing by adding nothing.
  1. Once you’ve fixed the big issues with your manuscript, you can either put it away again, or continue on to the next stage. Again, I personally leave it for a bit because I know I get far too close to my work.
  1. Now it’s time to really focus on your characters and world building. Your characters need to feel like real people – give goals and dreams, flaws and bad habits, and don’t hole them up into stereotypes. If they’re from very different backgrounds/circumstances to you, make sure you do your research – not only to make them realistic, but to avoid being insensitive to readers. (If you’re worried about your representation of people from different walks of life to you, you can always hire a sensitivity reader at a later stage.) When working on world building, think about the social structure of each place, use all five senses to describe things and make sure you don’t fall into the pit of info dumping. Also, in dialogues scenes, look out for ‘white room syndrome’, when no description about where or when the scene takes place is included.
  1. Next, we get in to the more technical aspects of writing. Tense, point of view and grammar. (If you feel your manuscript is shaping up nicely, you can start looking at spelling, over-use of words and continuity, but I would leave that until last.) It doesn’t matter what point of view you use, or what tense, as long as you keep them consistent throughout the manuscript – unless you have a very good reason not to, like an intentional stylistic change to illustrate a certain point. If you struggle with grammar, there are a lot of helpful books and forums, as well as YouTube guides. (I have a book on grammar that’s actually written for kids, but the language and examples are so clear that it’s the one I go to most.)
  1. The stages of editing can get a bit murky here – some writers have to repeat steps until they’re happy and end up with a good number of drafts, others breeze right through and end up with relatively few. However, whether you’ve done a lot of back and forth on your work or not, this part is important. Read your work aloud. I’ll say it again: READ YOUR WORK ALOUD. From start to finish, until you’re sick of the sound of your own voice. This is so you can clearly see problems with sentence structure, missing words, typos, continuity, repetitive description and all that jazz (as readers we’re always pleased to spot others’ mistakes, but are far less pleased as writers if someone kindly points them out in our own work).
  1. Finally, when you are happy with your manuscript and can’t find anything else to work on, it’s time to send your work to beta readers. These can be other writers, friends, family or simply people you know love to read. What is important to note, however, is that it’s far more helpful to send your work to readers who readily consume books in that genre than ones who have never read/rarely read within your genre, as the feedback you receive will be more relevant. When you do receive feedback, look for trends in what people are saying. If eight people say a scene isn’t working, then it’s probably wise to take another look and see if it truly does need revising. If one beta reader hates a character but the others love them/make no comment, then perhaps that’s just their personal taste. Consider all feedback, but remember that it is still your work, so you have the final decision on what to change.

So there you have it. Where you take your work from there is completely up to you. Whether you opt for traditional publishing, self-publishing or somewhere in-between (be absolutely sure you don’t head down the path of vanity publishing – an old but good rule on how to tell a vanity publisher from a real one is that money should always flow to the author, not away) make sure you do your research.

Kathryn is a children’s and YA author, and currently has her fantasy trilogy, Half-Wizard Thordric, published with Creativia Publishing. Her YA speculative fiction novel, The Origin Stone, will be published in March 2019 by Nuff Said Publishing.

An avid reader, she also writes poetry, book reviews and short stories. She loves animals and is a slave to a parrot and budgie, and currently lives on the Isle of Wight with her husband, a curious and eccentric being who never fails to provide her with inspiration. You can find her on twitter @KaptainKat90, or go directly to her website www.kathrynwells.co.uk.

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~Kathryn Wells~

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If you’d like to be a Guest Blogger on Booknvolume

 

#GuestBloggers – Post-Grad Depression…Wait, that’s a Thing?

30 Monday Apr 2018

Posted by in Guest Bloggers on BnV

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Hi! I am really excited to be guest writing for Morgan’s blog! I am nowhere near as talented as she is but I thought I would share a piece that is already currently on my blog and something that I have been dealing with recently.

A little about me, my name is Amberlyn and my blog is called Lovely Dysfunction. I cover a little bit of everything over there. From hikes, to mental health, to makeup; I cover it all! I’m not the best writer but I feel like I get a little better with each post. I just moved from Georgia to Colorado for a new career in Marketing and that transition has definitely thrown me through a loop. The short essay below is about what I have been going through recently. If it resonates with you at all, please let me know. Thanks!

Post-Grad Depression…wait, that’s a thing?

A modernly renovated and beautifully decorated 2 bedroom apartment. It’s not the penthouse but spacious and affordable. It’s in the perfect location where I can walk to my favorite cafe and I’m only a block away from the subway stop. My job is so much fun, I am pretty damn good at it, and I get paid more than the average fresh graduate. I have loads of open-minded new friends and even an attractive and friendly stranger who I encountered at a bookstore one weekend that may be interested. I have started working out more and getting healthy. Life is beautiful and I am happy.

That is how I envisioned post-grad life for the entirety of my senior year. It’s probably one of the sole things that kept me motivated and marching toward that cap and gown. Don’t get me wrong, post-grad life is wonderful for many reasons but my vision was also terribly misleading.

At first, I was too busy to notice it. My parents were helping me unpack, I was meeting my coworkers, starting my initial work training, decorating my apartment, and so on. Then my Dad left and I felt a twinge of something, but I sucked it up and moved on. I am an adult now, right? My mom stayed a little longer. We are both control freaks so we butted heads quite a bit in that time period. To the point, that I found myself counting down the days until her departure. Then she left. I was fine for about a week. Drunk with new-found freedom that was literally like nothing I had ever experienced. I was self-sufficient, in a state hundreds of miles away from home, in my OWN apartment with an amazing job.

However, I had a ton of time by myself. I have my dog, who I am incredibly thankful for, but I had no one to talk to when I got home. This was especially damaging after a bad day. Yes, I could have called someone and I did some days but I slowly stopped this practice. It was easier to direct my energy to self-loathing and hiding in my bed than calling my mom. I was beating myself up over the smallest mistakes and overanalyzing every critique my manager gave me. I was miserable.

On top of this, all my closest friends were still in college, living happily in the comfortable bubble that I had left behind. They would send photos to me of them hanging out together and it would hurt because I knew I had no one like that in my new home…and because I missed them, obviously.

I went from being an extremely motivated individual to one who didn’t even want to get out of bed in the morning to go to work. I went from being so excited to hike every inch of Colorado to deciding to stay in and watch YouTube videos.

I feel bad even writing about this because I am incredibly blessed. I was blessed with the opportunity to go to and graduate college, I am blessed with a well-paid job with what I consider to be a very caring company. I have an apartment that fits my needs, and I have a family and friends that keep in touch despite our distance. However, I still feel sad. Some days are better than others and some days are really, really bad. Leaving the bubble of school and the world you create there is difficult. I’m sure some struggle with it more than I do and I am sure some people don’t struggle at all. I thought it would be a breeze. I thought I had it all figured out.

There are several reasons I think post-grad depression is a thing:

  • Leaving your comfort zone

Most of us have been in school for 17 years (+-). School is what we are good at; it’s what we know how to do. Leaving that comfort zone filled with friends, a routine, and a purpose is hard. 

  • College is about personal development, the real world often isn’t

In school, we have a definite purpose. No matter how miserable that one professor is you know it’s temporary and you are doing it to ultimately make yourself a better human. After college, most of what you do is to better your employer. You may be inadvertently bettering yourself but that’s often not your main purpose in your day-to-day life unless you make time for it.

  • Dealing with adult things

Let me tell you, electing my benefits was one of the most stressful things I have done. I understand how incredibly blessed I am to be offered benefits but the amount of money that leaves my paycheck every other week should be criminal. In addition to benefits, I have had to deal with taxes, apartment hunting, driving a U-Haul 1600 miles, appliances breaking, emergency vet trips, credit bureau security breaches, and bills on bills on BILLS.

  • Life not aligned with passions

College was a pain in my butt at times but a lot of it was focused on learning about topics I enjoyed. In fact, college is really about what you want. While my job is in marketing, my major, I can admit it isn’t the type of marketing I ever really wanted to do. There are other positions in the company that align better with my passions but I’m not there yet. I am here. It’s hard waking up to do something every day that you may not necessarily love but I am smart enough to understand that not everyone gets their dream job straight out of the gate and I am willing to work hard to get there one day.

I still deal with this ‘depression’ every day. A lot of this post was written in past tense but it’s still very much an issue. This post wasn’t meant to discourage any current college students. I love being independent and not having to worry about finals or buying books. However, I do wish someone had warned me. I don’t know if there is really a way to prepare but take it as reassurance.

Post-grad life may not be everything you dreamed it to be, but life is about adjusting and overcoming and you will.

I will.

Thanks for reading!

Link to my blog: https://lovelydysfunction.wordpress.com

Link to my ‘About me’ page: https://lovelydysfunction.wordpress.com/about/

Link to this post: https://lovelydysfunction.wordpress.com/2017/10/20/post-grad-depression-wait-thats-a-thing/

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~Amberlyn ~

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#ThankfulThursdayReblogs – Richard Ankers — Dragonscale Clippings

26 Thursday Apr 2018

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews, Poetry

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Welcome back to my Escape Pod Interview series. If you’re not familiar with this kind of post, please read the back story at Escape Pod Emulation! So, let’s open the Escape Pod door and find who’s managed to escape today… Hello there! It’s Richard Ankers! What 5 items have you brought with you? The first […]

via EPod Interview with Richard Ankers — Dragonscale Clippings

Definitely Thankful for this guy! A Great Writer…and a marvelous Friend.  If you’ve not experienced his particular brand of prose or fantasy/steampunk/sci-fi writing, you will LOVE visiting his blog.  Even if you have 😉   Pop by and tell him I sentcha 🙂

#GuestBlogger #Author Mary Deal Shares some #WritingTips!

22 Sunday Apr 2018

Posted by in Guest Bloggers on BnV

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Explanatory articles covering myriad intrinsic details such as these related to writing are included in my self-help volume, Write It Right – Tips For Authors – The Big Book. The Amazon URL: https://tinyurl.com/yanfjdeh

The Letter S

Drop the letter s. If you believe that one letter couldn’t possibly cause you to receive a rejection, I encourage you to think again, especially if the same mistake recurs throughout your manuscript.

Incorrect usage comes from the lax attitude about our English language. Most people speak in jargon or a brogue that comes from a certain locale. I call it family hand-me-down language.  Truth is, no matter from where you hail, your written grammar must be correct for the broader reading audience.

I’m speaking of the letter s. Check out these sentences:

She ran towards the garage.

The ball rolled backwards.

Look upwards.

These sentences are all incorrect. That is, the use of the letter s is incorrect.

The letter s denotes something plural. In the first sentence, moving toward something means you can only go in one direction. Toward.

If the ball rolled backward, it can only go in one direction. Backward.

To look upward, you can only look in one direction. Upward.

Not surprising, an example of an exception is:

She leaned sideways.

The rule here is that when leaning, you can lean sideways in more than one direction, therefore the use of the letter s.

You’ll find many other words that are incorrectly used with s endings. When you find these, make note of them, maybe a running list. You’ll have the list to refer back to when you question your own writing.

This is but one of the finite idiosyncrasies of producing better grammar when writing stories and books that you hope to sell. Study your own language and speech.

Watch how the s is used or omitted in books that you love to read.

Get into the habit of listening to the speech patterns of others. Think critically of what you hear, but never criticize of a person who speaks that way. Instead, mentally analyze what you have heard. Learn the right from the wrong of speech and your writing will reflect your knowledge.

Those S and ES Endings

These endings have always troubled me until I finally decided to get it right. Compare the versions and pick out the correct usages in this name ending with the letter s.

The Joneses came for dinner.

The Jones’s came for dinner.

The Jones came for dinner.

 

John Joneses car stalled.

John Jones car stalled.

John Jones’s car stalled.

 

That Jones’s girl.

That Joneses girl.

That Jones girl.

 

The correct sentences are:

 

The Joneses came for dinner.

John Jones’s car stalled.

That Jones girl.

Some tips:

When a name ends with an s, and when speaking of the family as a group, add es, as in Joneses.

When speaking about something John Jones owned, it is his property and, therefore, an apostrophe and s shows ownership, as in Jones’s.

When speaking about a person in the singular, use only the name Jones.

However, when speaking about a group of girls all named Jones, you would write that sentence: The Jones girls. Notice that the name stays the same but the s is added to the word girl, stating more than one exists with that name.

MY BIO

Mary Deal is an award-winning author of suspense/thrillers, a short story collection, writers’ references, and self-help. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee, Artist and Photographer, and former newspaper columnist and magazine editor. She is currently writing the third story in her Sara Mason Mystery Series, and a romance novel is now being published, which is a new genre for her. Other books coming soon will include her first poetry book and a second collection of more of her short stories.

She has traveled a great deal and has a lifetime of diverse experiences, all of which remain in memory as fodder for her fiction. A native of California’s Sacramento River Delta, where some of her stories are set, she has also lived in England, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is also an oil painter and photographer. Her art is used to create gorgeous personal and household products from her online galleries.

Find Her Online

Her Website: https://www.marydeal.com

Amazon Author Page: https://tinyurl.com/3z8pm31

Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/o7keqf7

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/mdeal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mary_Deal

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marydeal

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/105175192934570097998

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MaryDeal

Her Art Galleries

Mary Deal Fine Art: https://www.marydealfineart.com

Island Image Gallery: https://www.islandimagegallery.com

Mary Deal Fine Art and Photography: https://www.facebook.com/MDealArt

LocalMe: https://www.redbubble.com/people/localme

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/1deal

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~Mary Deal~

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Penniless Hearts – #GuestBlogger Eve Gaal

21 Saturday Apr 2018

Posted by in Guest Bloggers on BnV

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April 18-2018- Thanks Cynthia for having me on your blog.

The unique thing about Penniless Hearts is that it’s hard to categorize my book’s genre as a typical romance, adventure or mystery. I’ve been told it’s humorous. Though funny in parts, it’s not slapstick funny all the way through. Some reviews call it screw-ball comedy. Some call it a beach read. I think of it as a fictional tapestry of good versus evil. Short vignettes interspersed with mild doses of pain, coming together with an emotional climax. I honestly planned the plot holes because I wanted the reader to infer my meaning, without bogging them down with too many boring details. No one ever told me the book was dull. Of course, I think it’s unique, but will you? Our publisher knows how to keep our group interesting and diverse. I’ve read several books by Creativia authors and find them fascinating. So many interesting characters!

Twists

Like everything truly enjoyable, there must be a twist. Like chocolate-twisted brioche, the more twists the better. Penniless Hearts is filled with short, seemingly unconnected chapters. Nowadays some readers have OCD or fashionably diminutive attention spans. Not you, of course. There’s also the rampant problem called limited time. Both conditions are spreading like wildfire.

One of my favorite humor writers says:

The greatest sin for a writer is to be boring- Carl Hiaasen

Even reading the book reviews can be entertaining—well they are to me anyway. The main theme is about a journey. Penny, my main character is going to Hawaii. That’s when trouble begins. In our modern, interconnected, wireless world, if you don’t charge your cell phone and lose your ATM card, strange things can keep you separated from those you love. Do you enjoy adventures that take you on a vacation somewhere?

Love

But Penny’s not sure about love. In fact, in the beginning of the book she’s pretty much relegated love to her fantasies. And like many cynical, would be lovers, true love is a make-believe creation that rides around on a white stallion and looks impossible to find.

Fortunately, in my personal life, I met a Prince from my imagination in the early nineties. No white stallion–just a beat up old, red truck and some pre-teen kids. We were married in Hawaii and it was dreamy enough to call us back to the islands for our first anniversary where the luster of our honeymoon looked different. Those cracks in the veneer of hospitality gave me a glimpse into what would someday help with the setting of Penniless Hearts. And though our love blossomed, and my daily newspaper position kept me busy, there were dramatic issues involving our stepchildren. Horrific issues. That kept me awake at night, while also providing fodder for my novel.

A Real Heroine

Finally, I left the paper and moved from Murrieta to the desert town of La Quinta, where I had time to write. Maybe I could inspire others to find true love? I had four reasons to write Penniless Hearts: First, I wanted my siblings to find spouses and thought that perhaps a sister’s words could prove there is hope at the end of the dating tunnel. Second, I wanted to indirectly thank the graphic artists who had worked hard to please me in the newspaper business. I also wanted to bring awareness to the endangered sea turtles of Hawaii. Lastly, I needed a main female character who could overcome, overachieve and triumph when facing the unthinkable. A true heroine.

Bestselling author Marilyn Collier said this about my character Penny:

“This is a wild escape fiction for someone that wants to laugh, root for or want to shake the heroine.”

Research

Those two trips to the islands, the internet, used books, old maps and travel articles rounded out my research. After watching hours of videotaped volcanic eruptions and online helicopter flights, all I needed was the tranquility of the desert to write Penniless Hearts. The added benefit is that after watching all those videos I can fly a helicopter and dodge flowing lava at a moments notice. Yeah sure, I’m kidding.

If you read Penniless Hearts and enjoy it, please write me a note or post a review to tell me all about it.

Bestselling author Norma Beishir wrote:

“Penniless Hearts is one of the best novels I’ve read in a very long time.”

New & Fresh

We have returned to the area we lived in before we moved to the arid desert. I live in a semi-rural place called Wildomar. It’s interesting to find out historic Wildomar has been around for a very long time. While I live in a commuter-styled, suburban home, there are bucolic ranch homes with horses nearby. Unlike the desert where we had to drive five miles for a loaf of bread, we can walk less than a mile for everything. We can even drive a short distance to a dairy for fresh milk! Plus, the climate is perfect.

Anyway, I have almost finished writing the romantic sequel to Penniless Hearts. It’s called Penniless Souls and I’m still polishing it up. It’s a tad darker, and though I can’t say the subject is light and lively, Penny gets caught up in all sorts of adventure and heartache, but this time in Vegas, instead of Hawaii. The only thing keeping her sane, is the thought that life is a game of chance. But is it?

Watch for Penniless Souls soon.

~Eve Gaal~

I really enjoyed visiting. Thanks again for this opportunity. Please stop by my blog if you have a chance at http://evegaal.blogspot.com

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#AuthorsAMABlog #AskMeAnything Today!

01 Friday Dec 2017

Posted by in About Me (since you Insist), Dark Fey

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Ok so, a don’t typically do shameless self promotion….But Im SO Excited I couldn’t help myself!!

Today I am hosting an #AMA Event starting at 11 AM EST!

So? you quizzically wonder….What is an AMA Event?

It’s an opportunity for you/readers/other authors/poets/creative spirits to literally ASK ME ANYTHING…..well…LOL…. anything about my books, Writing, Creativity, Being an Indie, Published and Freelance Author.  Want to Talk about Marketing Ideas, How to Build Networking Opportunities, Creating a Brand/ Social Presence, staying true to your writing ideals?  Me too!  So do please pop on over to the AMA Website and lets have a natter 🙂

I look forward to talking with YOU!

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~Morgan~

Ask Me Anything – No Really! #AMAAuthors

20 Monday Nov 2017

Posted by in About Me (since you Insist)

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Ok so, a don’t typically do shameless self promotion….But Im SO Excited I couldn’t help myself!!

I will be hosting an #AMA (Ask Me Anything!) Event  December 1st starting at 11 AM EST!

What is this?

It’s an opportunity for you to literally ASK ME ANYTHING about Writing, Creativity, Being an Indie, Published and Freelance Author. Talk about Marketing Ideas, How to Build Networking Opportunities, Creating a Brand/ Social Presence, staying true to your writing ideals and more.

The journey from hobbyist writing to Indie Author; Published by a well-respected company, and/or landing Freelance writing opportunities can be daunting.  Even more challenging is learning to navigate Social Media, Networking with fellow writers, and creating a social presence or brand.  How do you build opportunities for yourself and expand your social media Reach?

Pleas stop by HERE to RSVP.   I look forward to talking with YOU!

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~Morgan~