The Realms Faire is Coming!

I am over at The Insecure Writer’s Support Group website, talking about marketing in relation to target audience, benefits, and needs:

• Who is my target audience?

• What are my book’s benefits?

• Does my book fill a need?

Stop by for the rest!

November 10-14, 2014

Calling All Authors and Writers

M. Pax could use your help in getting the word out about this year’s Realms Faire. The faire is about you and helping you gain some visibility for your work. It has several opportunities to help you do that.

1 - Be a sponsor and donate prizes. This gets you listed on the Realms Faire scrolly and pages. The events giving away your swag will mention you.

2 - Test your mettle in the joust. People will be cheering for you for five days straight. You will get a spotlight on one of the five days. You get a nifty badge. Limited to 10 knights.

3 - Duel with words in Dueling Bards. You and your work are spotlighted on one day. Limited to 10 bards.

Be a sponsor / Be a Knight / Duel as a Bard

We really need more Knights and Bards! Click on the links above if interested.

2014 Events:

The Joust, hosted by M. Pax

Soak-a-bloke and Drench-a-wench, hosted by Christine Rains

Stockade Brigade, hosted by Mary Waibel

Dueling Bards, hosted by Cas Web

Riddle Me This, hosted by Cherie Reich

Phasers, hosted byUntethered Realms

Dragon Hunt, hosted by L. Diane Wolfe

Wisdom of the Creative Realms, hosted by Nicki Elson

Hope you can all join us November 10-14th!

Also coming soon -

Survive and Thrive Bloghop

Monday, October 20, 2014

Hosted by Stephen Tremp, Alex J Cavanaugh, Michael Di Gesu, and L Diane Wolfe.


Will you be joining either event?

The Insecure Writer's Support Group - Anniversary and Anthology

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

Today marks the one year anniversary since The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Website opened. The admins are putting together an anthology to celebrate, The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Guide to Publishing and Beyond. You can post your submission today (please go to the IWSG Site and enter your link on this page afterwards) or email it to the IWSG or Alex. The topics are writing, publishing, and marketing.


I’ve already sent in my submission, so today I’ll just talk about writing insecurities.


I pulled back last month to write more, and of course received a ton of formatting jobs instead.

Which means I am still working on story number three of this book. And I ended up having to do a lot more planning than anticipated. This one is about the ghost, and the back story needed some work to make it plausible. I’ve worked out the kinks, but I realized that the back story had to take place a little further in the past. Which means I’ll have to adjust what I’ve already written and set it back a little further, too. (The other two stories are also set in different times, so it will fit.)

The greatest challenge with writing all four stories is that, like all of my stories, they were each inspired by a dream. (And we all know how much sense dreams make!)

Does anyone else have that same challenge? Making a dream story into a real story?

Survive and Thrive Bloghop

Survive and Thrive Bloghop

Monday, October 20, 2014

Hosted by Stephen Tremp, Alex J Cavanaugh, Michael Di Gesu, and L Diane Wolfe.

The Survive and Thrive Bloghop is meant to bring awareness of disease prevention and early detection regarding medical conditions that may be averted or treated if caught in the early stages.

Our desire is to motivate people to go in for early screening, and if a condition is caught early and treated, then our world just became a little better place to live.

The topics are wide open. You can post about a particular cause you support. Or you can share a personal or family experience that is near to your heart. What’s great about this Blogfest is you can inspire people to take care of themselves and their loved ones early enough to make a difference in their lives.

Sign up below!

On that very same day, I’ve also signed up for Joy Campbell’s Who’s Your Hero fest.

Also on October is Sherry Ellis and Susanne Drazic’s Bucket List Bloghop. I’m doing that one, too.



I think it’s raining blogfests.

Remember The Insecure Writer’s Support Group anthology is taking submissions until October 2, or you can post for IWSG day on October 1. See you then!

Underrated Treasures Blogfest

Hosted by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Everyone has a favorite movie or band that no one else has ever heard about. For whatever reason, they remain undiscovered and underrated. Now is your chance to tell the world about this obscure treasure!
On Monday, September 22, post about your favorite unknown –
MOVIE – BAND/ARTIST – TV SHOW – BOOK
Post about one or all four – dealer’s choice!

Here are my selections:

Music - Arena

From Wikipedia - “Arena was founded in 1995 by Clive Nolan keyboardist of Pendragon and Shadowland, and Mick Pointer, the original drummer of Marillion.”

While well known in Europe, most Americans have never heard of the prog rock band Arena. I discovered them in 2008 when their song “Purgatory Road” came up on my Pandora station. I fell in love with that song, and the other one I heard, “Spectre at the Feast.” I picked up a couple of their albums and really liked their solid rock sound.

“Spectre at the Feast” contains these lyrics -

“Hey don't fall asleep
Don't close your eyes and drift away to some foreign land”

Which holds a lot of meaning to me - at the same time I discovered this song, my stepbrother died of cancer. So I can’t hear that song without thinking of Shane.

Arena has over a dozen albums and several DVDs. I recommend starting with their album “Pepper’s Ghost.”

Book - Following the Whispers by Karen Walker

I’ve known Karen for many years, as we were in the same BBT class together. We share a common bond in that she moved to Albuquerque the same year I moved away. When I read her memoir though - wow. It just blew me away. I’ve read quite a few, both by famous people and average people, and Karen’s journey is by far the most powerful.

If you’ve not read it, I encourage you to pick it up.


Movie -

Since I couldn’t think of a TV show (I just never watch TV) I’m giving you two movies.

Doc Hollywood

This movie did well when it was released, but that was over 20 years ago, so many have not seen it. Starring Michael J. Fox, Julie Warner, and Woody Harrelson, it’s a sweet romantic comedy set in the South.

Outside of the romance, the humor, and the sweet innocence, the film holds a special place with my husband and I. I’ve always said we were a “When Harry Met Sally,” but he likes to think of us as “Doc Hollywood.” He says Julie Warner’s character reminds him of me, not just in sass but in looks and the way their relationship unfolds. (Yes, my husband is a sweetie!) 

I should note that my husband and I saw it before we moved to NC. We imagined that was what a real Southern town was like. (We’re still trying to find it - LOL!)

To Walk With Lions

The first movie I ever fell in love with was Born Free. I love cats, and the story of George, Joy, and Elsa is so powerful. I still to this day cannot watch it without crying.

To Walk With Lions is the true story of what happened many years later.

After the filming of Born Free, George Adamson began rehabilitating the lions used in the film. (And in Living Free.) He thus dedicated his life to the rehabilitation of many lions. The story begins when he is much older. Joy is pretty much out of the picture (she’s a bit loony) and a young protégé comes into George’s camp. The story follows this young man, who begins caring for nothing and along the way develops George’s passion for the lions.

It’s a powerful and compelling film. I recommend anyone who is looking for their purpose in life, striving for a goal, or who just loves animals, to watch it. 

Remember that submissions are open for the The Insecure Writer’s Support Group book, the IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond. We are looking for more publishing and marketing submissions. Please do not include any quotes that might be a copyright violation. Thank you!





What underrated treasures would you recommend?