Inquire, Inspire, Aspire
Happy Tuesday!
Remember last week when I shared the bare photos of the creek near my house? I had taken those photos on April 30th. The above picture is taken in the same spot as those others, and I took this one on May 17th. Voila! Magic.
So, I’ve been tossing around talking to my favorite bloggers about the novel I’m working on.
I finally did it. I wrote several chapters of crap. 
No really. This is a good thing. Stick with me.
I always hesitate to mention that I’m writing again, because I’m afraid I might lose my muse.
Welcome to Lori’s Lane for the first post of 2018. We’re in a deep freeze up here in the Midwest, with temperatures below zero Fahrenheit (below -18c). Remember when I used to live in Florida? Believe it or not, I still don’t miss it.
Living on a peninsula wasn’t too unlike living on an island. I didn’t care for it much. There was only one direction out of Florida when hurricanes came.
My friend, Anneli, lived on an island way farther north than Florida with a drastically different climate. She didn’t have to deal with hurricanes, and she had some breathtaking scenery.
I have this young friend I met online. I’m old enough to be her, ahem, older sister….born when I was a teenager.
Writers spend three years rearranging 26 letters of the alphabet. It’s enough to make you lose your mind day by day. ~Richard Price
Yes, I’m going mad with writing my novel these days. It’s a very complicated and delicate plot, very much different than my first novel. I may lose readers if they think I write only one genre, but I have to write what calls to my heart.
In literature, when nine hundred and ninety-nine souls ignore you, but the thousandth buys your work, or at least borrows it — that is called enormous popularity. ~Arnold Bennett (1867–1931)
I’m writing on the fly, because I’m a busy beaver today. Just wanted to share something exciting.
Last week I talked about meeting new friends through social media. Today, I’m going to share with you how I met one friend in particular. I joined an author’s facebook page that had quite a lot of members. If I’m being honest, I met a lot of snarky people there, except for three really kind authors. I unfollowed the page, but luckily was accepted as friends by those three authors. It always amazes me how the Universe brings us just the right people for our lives, if we recognize them.
I’m super excited to introduce my first guest, Jill Weatherholt. Let’s get to know her and find out what she’s been up to. I’ve asked her a few questions to get the conversation going, and guess what I learned? She just released her debut romance novel, Second Chance Romance. So, I started reading it and, well…WOW. So far I’m loving it. Here’s Jill.
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Thanks for inviting me to visit your blog today, Lori. When I started blogging in September of 2012, I had no idea I’d meet so many wonderful and talented people who I’d end up being friends with. Honestly, I don’t remember how we connected, but I’m so happy we did.
Ahem. I entered a book cover contest months ago, and since it’s been so long, I completely forgot that the contest started this week. Already three days have gone by without me letting people know I needed votes, and I’m way behind.
UPDATE: This contest ended. Thank you for stopping by.
We see such division in the world these days, but when I’m online with my blogging friends and fellow authors, I feel unity. I’ve received much kindness and help from many in these communities and want to give back in at least some small way.
Remember when I wrote a post about how I have found some wonderfully, talented blogging and author friends? I said they are such kind, thoughtful and helpful people.
I’m very fortunate to have found some wonderful, talented blogging and author friends. I mean, such kind, thoughtful and helpful people.
If I’m being honest, there aren’t too many of them … perhaps a half-dozen, who have really made an impact on my life just through a computer screen.
One of them is Jill Weatherholt. I am honored that today Jill is featuring my novel, Whit’s End. On her blog, you can read what gave me the initial idea for my novel. And, also go there to click on my book and get it on sale for .99 cents this weekend only, January 20 -22 (2017).
Comments are closed here, but I’ll be happy to join in with the comments over at Jill’s blog. Would love to read your thoughts. The link to her post is HERE.
I’m an author who hasn’t written in twenty months. I had good intentions about a year ago, but it only lasted a week.
Oh, I’ve edited my work. I’ve written on my blog and in other social media. I’ve done lots of promo work. But, I haven’t done creative writing for short stories or novels.
Why?
You may have noticed the re-blogs I’ve posted lately. You see, it all started when I entered Kindle Scout.
I have both good news and bad news. I’ll share the bad news first, but hang in there for the good news.
I have some exciting news. My novel, Whit’s End, is now available on CreateSpace in paperback and will be available on Amazon next week. The Ebook version is available now. On December 14th, they’ll be a goodreads giveaway contest for the paperback version. I will post a link when the contest goes live.
Switching gears, on November 1st, I posted about my short story memoir anthology, and gave a glimpse of the first of those four stories titled, Don’t Blink. The second tale in the anthology is titled, Hope Lies in Meatballs. I thought it was a funny and fitting title.
What does it mean?
I read a daily affirmation magazine and have occasionally put up posts with some of those sayings. Most of them resonate with me, but once in a very great while, I find one a bit too idealistic.
I’m putting up a quick blog post just to let everyone know not to miss this last day my short story memoir anthology, Home Avenue is free. To get it, click on the book cover or the above link. Anyone who has already downloaded and read it, I’d greatly appreciate a review on Amazon and Goodreads.
Note: The above offer ended November 26th. The below sale ends November 28th. Both books ARE available on Amazon though.
Also, don’t miss the the special introductory offer price of .99 cents for my novel, Whit’s End. This special price lasts through Sunday. Reviews would be great for that one too.
I’m excited to learn what you all think of Ava and Meg’s simple yet complicated family 
lives. Simple, because these are real people living out every day lives, going to work, raising children, paying bills. Complicated, because their family relationships are all screwed up. Ava seems to be forever trying to fix things, while everyone else continues to live in their comfortable misery.
So, get them on special while you can. Thank you and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Lori's Lane 