The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, First Love Available, and In Darkness: The Vampire

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

Today’s question – What genre would be the worst one for you to tackle and why?

I’m skipping the question as we have a book release today!

First Love: The Art of Making Doughnuts
An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

The sweetness of first love…

Could a fiercely independent cop’s heart be stolen by the guy who makes her favorite doughnuts? Will a maid who used deceit to snare a mail-order husband get a dose of her own medicine? Can her handsome neighbor rescue a modern-day “princess” from a tenacious ex-boyfriend? Can two strangers in a rideshare be honest enough to fall in love for real? Can you remember your first love? How about your second? Third? Fourth?

Featuring the talents of Linda Budzinski, Melissa Maygrove, Michael Di Gesu, Sylvia Ney, Katie Klein, Kim Elliott, Templeton Moss, S.E. White, Denise Covey, and Sammi Spizziri. Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will touch your heart and rekindle lost feelings. Prepare to return to that first love…

Print ISBN – 9781939844880, $14.95
eBook ISBN – 9781939844897, $4.99
Romance - Clean & Wholesome / Contemporary / Historical
186 pages, Freedom Fox Press, an imprint of Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database; articles; monthly blog posting; Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram groups; #IWSGPit, and a newsletter.

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes / Kobo / Scribed / Goodreads /

“…a refreshing read! This is a gem of a book that I highly recommend.” - Rebecca Boerner M Ed., reviewer

“…this collection nailed the little bites of cute romance… recommend to anyone looking for an uplifting collection of sweet romance to fill an evening.” - Hayley Reese Chow, author

“This was a sweet, warm collection of love stories.” – Angie Titus, author

Visit the IWSG Anthologies site for a full list of tour dates.

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In addition, we have cover art and review copies for my next book!

In Darkness: The Vampire
By L. Diane Wolfe

Souls shrouded in darkness…

Stuck working as a barmaid for her demanding father, Anna dreams of adventure. When mysterious strangers enter the bar, she overhears they seek Zancrela, an ancient fortress filled with treasure and a magical library. Taking her chance, she offers to guide them. The conditions: deliver Zancrela or die.

As they journey through the wilderness, she discovers their secret: they are vampires. And most view her as food. One takes interest in her and her heart dares to hope, but it might not be enough to change her fate. Will Anna find Zancrela or become a vampire morsel?

Release date: February 7, 2023
eBook ISBN – 9781939844903, $3.99
Romance-Paranormal-Vampires / Fantasy-Paranormal /Fantasy-Romance


This will be a novella series – The Shark will be next.

It’s available for pre-orders and for reviewers! So, if you are interested, please let me know.

Is everyone ready for some romance?

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Writing, and Cons

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

Today’s question - When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want?

I’m going to opt out of the question and just make some announcements.

First, I now have three stories written for my “In Darkness” novelette series.
The Vampire has been through our editor and is polished and ready for review copies.
The Werewolf goes to the editor in a few weeks.
The Shark is edited and with a critique partner.
And I am working on The Alien.
There is a possibility of The Ghost, but I have a great beginning, a great ending, and not much of a middle, so we’ll see.

In other news – Dancing Lemur Press has two cons coming up!

The first is August 13 – Greenville Comic Con in Greenville, NC.

The second is August 20 – Wake Forest Comic Con in Wake Forest, NC.

If you are anywhere in the area, please stop by our booth! We have all the books, original art prints, anime and Baby Yoda stickers, and Baby Yoda figurines. (And those go fast!)


Are you more original or give readers what they want when writing?

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Minions, and Writing Again

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

Today’s question -
If you could live in any book world, which one would you choose?

I would LOVE to live in Narnia. (I’m sure that’s a popular answer among Christians.) Surrounded by talking animals & magical creatures and in the loving presence of Aslan, God himself. That would be Heaven indeed.

Here are the IWSG Goodreads Book Club books for July:

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The first story in my In Darkness series is with DLP’s editor. The second one is polished and waiting its turn. The third is on it’s first edit and the fourth is ¼ way done. I’m excited as this is the first time I’ve worked on my own stuff for more than one hour a month in YEARS.

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And yes, I was at the very first showing of Minions: The Rise of Gru last Friday. Delayed two years, I was so excited to finally see it. And it blew Lightyear out of the water at the box office – $108 million in 3 days while Lightyear still hasn’t made that much in over 3 weeks. (That’s right Disney – keep denying the real reasons your film tanked, but it certainly had nothing to do with families not taking kids to the theater post-pandemic.)

And in case you didn’t know, I’m a bit of a Minions fan:

What book world would you live in?
Are you a Minions fan?

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Giveaway, Tours, And Turpentine Creek Animal Rescue

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

Today’s question -
When the going gets tough writing the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end? If have not started the writing yet, why do you think that is and what do you think could help you find your groove and start?

I’ve never had a problem working on more than one project at a time. Right now, I have four novelette length stories in various stages of writing/editing. So, I usually jump to something else that excites me more and when I return to the piece where I was stuck, I usually have a better plan. Or, I just skip ahead in the story and write the next scene that is working.

I’ve never been so stuck I couldn’t write anything.

However, I have been so strapped for time that I couldn’t write anything!

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GIVEAWAY

Win a free print copy of paranormal romance/fairy tale retelling Druid’s Moon by Deniz Bevan. Just leave a comment.

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Tour Stops Needed

Dancing Lemur Press has two books coming out in September and we are looking for two stops for both:

First Love: The Art of Making Doughnuts
An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

The sweetness of first love…

Release date: September 6, 2022

Dates already set – Sept. 5 & 12

Druid’s Moon
By Deniz Bevan

Beauty to his Beast…

Release date: September 20, 2022

Dates already set – Sept. 1, 7, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20 & 21

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On a personal note…

Today is one year since we lost my mother-in-law. Hard to believe it’s been that long. I still really miss her.

Fortunately, we got to spend some time with my husband’s father last month. He’d been wanting to take us to the Turpentine Creek Animal Refuge for two years. (A trip that got scrapped when Covid hit.) But we finally got to go! And such an amazing place – they have rescued so many big cats (and some small ones). We learned about each animal on display (maybe 25% of the total population there?) and all I can say now is never, ever support a place with white tigers (the inbreeding means they are all cross-eyed) or tigons/ligors (cross breeding lions and tigers means the cubs have really big bodies but their organs aren’t big enough to handle the size and they end up with all sorts of issues.)

How do you keep writing? Can you help with either tour? Do you want to win a free copy of Druid’s Moon (plus swag)?