The Insecure Writer’s Support Group and Lantern Festival Pictures

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.


January 7 question - Is there anything in your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn't get done in 2025?

I’m still considering a charcuterie board cookbook, although there are a lot out there. I’m also thinking about some writing for fun. Something that doesn’t need to be published. I certainly have enough short stories written plus tons of ideas for more.

December was way busier than I wanted. Physical therapy every week, Christmas and New Year’s, my husband’s 60th birthday, TSO concert, Lantern Festival, Christmas parties, appointments…you get the idea! So, more than anything, I want more space and time this year. I like to run (my 5k time is under 39 minutes now) but I don’t like THAT kind of running around.

I’ll leave you with the Christmas meal (sandwiches & stuff) Charcuterie board and some pictures from the Chinese Lantern Festival. It was rather amazing!

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.


December 3 question - As a writer, what was one of the coolest/best gifts you ever received?

Many years ago, I received the Dragon Naturally Speaking voice to text program. It worked really well for non-fiction. (Fiction required a lot of extra commands, which has probably since changed.)

I also received Rocketbook Wave, which is a reusable notebook. After you write a page, you can store it in the app on your phone and when you fill it up, just nuke it in the microwave and it clears the pages! (Comes with special pen.)


Now most of my gifts tend to be kitchen or garden related!

December is a busy, busy month (and on top of it, I'm doing physical therapy, trying to get my hand to properly work and fingers to bend again after my carpal tunnel surgery) so I shall wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Charcuterie, and Hand Issues

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

The question for today: When you began writing, what did you imagine your life as a writer would be like? Were you right, or has this experience presented you with some surprises along the way?

I began writing when I was 13, so I had no idea what my life would be like as a writer other than doing what I enjoyed. And selling a ton of books, too!

While some books sold good, some did not. (Which is sad, as In Darkness is the best thing I’ve ever written.) But the surprise was starting a publishing company (Dancing Lemur Press, LLC) after trying to publish on my own all wrong. Even bigger surprise was becoming a professional speaker and a member of the National Speakers Association.

Go back and tell the very shy and insecure 13-year-old who began writing she’d start a business and be a professional speaker and I KNOW she’d never believe you!

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Charcuterie Time!

We don’t do anything for Halloween. (Okay, we put an inflatable vampire Minion on the porch.) But for our last October game night I wanted to do something cool for the guys. It just might be my best board yet.

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Today I am also beginning physical therapy. I had a second carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand and while it seemed to be healing faster than the right one did, I experienced a major setback. The last joints in my fingers won't bend all the way. As you can see from the example, I can't make a proper fist. I also have trouble typing, picking up things, holding on to things. So, hopefully the therapy and the "nerve cocktail" of a prescription drug and four vitamins makes a difference. Because otherwise, this is really, really debilitating.


What surprises have you faced? Do you do charcuterie boards? Have you gone through carpal tunnel surgery?

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group and Latest Food Boards

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

The question for today: What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?

Many years ago, I had this dream of an amazing place filled with books, magic, and treasures. As I do with most cool dream elements, I jotted it down.

A few years later, I began to craft a story about it, placing a group of vampires on a quest to find it. 2015 I finished and polished it – and then it just sat there as I worked hard with my Dancing Lemur Press authors.

Finally, I sent it to our editor and it was published as a novella in 2023. (And later as one of four stories in my In Darkness book.)

That story was The Vampire. It’s paranormal romance, but of the four stories, it contains probably the least amount of romance, focusing on the adventure. I am so, so proud of that one! It took forever to come to pass but I’m glad it finally did!

Do have a favorite story you’ve written?

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Charcuterie Time!

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And finally, second carpal tunnel surgery done and I will soon have two working hands again.