Wow. It's Been Too Long

 It's been a while since I posted.  A lot as gone on.  Some good, some bad.  2020 was definitely one of those years.  

And here we are with over half of 2021 gone.  I need to make this blog more of a priority.  I hope you all would appreciate that.

So...here's some writing news to share.

1. On June 29th, 2020, I decided I would try to write every day.  Some days it was hard to pull that off (one day I only managed 69 words).  But I kept up with it, and last month passed the one-year anniversary of writing every day.  

The benefit of a streak is it presses you to keep it up the longer it gets.  Not sure how long this will last, but I wouldn't be against several years.

2. At the beginning of 2021, I started the challenge of writing a short story a week for a year.  Last Sunday I finished story #30.  

This is harder than writing every day.  Some weeks I had a real problem coming up with a story.  There have been Sundays I've burned the midnight oil to finish.  And I'm sure some of these stories are better than others.  But I haven't given up.  I'm more than halfway done.  And I'm determined to pull it off.

3. Five of the short stories I wrote were put into a short story collection titled FIVE FEMALE GUMSHOES.  The collection contains five stories, each featuring a female private investigator.  

I'm pleased with this collection.  If you want an ebook, here's a link to check out: https://books2read.com/u/31KPX7

And here's a peek at the cover...

I'll let you know when it's available in print.  That means I'll be posting again (hopefully) soon.  Thanks for your patience!

Some Updates and Publishing News

 Hoping everyone is surviving the insane times we're in.  Today my state apparently was hit with a little hurricane - in November!  Yes, we're still in hurricane season but come on now, this is getting ridiculous, 2020.

In positive news, today marks day 135 of writing every day!  I started at the end of June, attempting to get some words done every day.  In the beginning, there was no minimum - I just had to get some words down.  My record low was 68 words.  As the months went by, I decided to set a minimum of 250 words/day.  

This has been an incredible ride.  The writing is better, because I'm giving it the time it needs.  I feel better about it because I'm making it a priority.  And it's a lot more fun.

I also got a new short story out - my third in the Eli Leafrunner series.  It's in ebook form only, wherever you buy yours.  Here's the cover:

I hope you enjoy his latest adventure.

Will have more news soon - stay tuned.  And stay safe.

P.S. I'm involved in Nanowrimo this year - if you want to friend me, my username is bookwormlady.  See you there!

How are you doing?

The world has gone sideways since I last posted.  I hope you are doing well and surviving under these circumstances.

I'm in the process of updating the website (yes, it's about time).  The Bibliography is nearly complete, but the ebooks section needs stuff added to it.  Please be patient with me as I work on this. 

If you're looking for something to read, check out the Bibliography - there's a lot there, I'm happy to say.  And stay tuned as I get to updating the ebook section.

And if you want a free short story, don't forget to sign up for my occasional newsletter!

Take care.

New book out!

I've been remiss in updating my bibliography here on the site, but I wanted readers to know that I have a new book out.  SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND is now available as a paperback from Amazon or an ebook from your favorite ebook vendor.

"Two years ago, Gary Benson's world as he knew it ended.

His daughter Sarah died in a car accident while she was

arguing with Gary about religion. The tragedy left Gary filled

with guilt and estranged not only from God, but also his

Chinese wife and their remaining daughter, Sarah's twin sister Melanie.

When Melanie, arrested and accused of being a Chinese

National Christian while visiting family in China, disappears,

Gary must marshal all of his contacts as an ex-Special Forces

member and senior CIA analyst to try to save her.

He blamed God for one daughter’s death. Can he find a

way to forgive God—and himself—to save the other in time?"

I hope you check it out!

Updates!

Life has been insane the past couple of months.  In addition to dealing with things on the home front, I attended a writing workshop at the end of February/beginning of March, read for a contest, played Magic at a tournament in Tampa, and at the moment am getting ready for the annual Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes convention in Orlando.

Along with all that, I've had two short stories published.  "Who Loves the Unloved?" appears in Fiction Rivers' Feel the Love anthology.  As the title implies, it addresses those that society may deem unlovable.  Are there people out there that care for them?

You can buy the anthology from your favorite ebook or print provider. 

"A Chance to Escape" came out in a bundle called Fantasy Portals.  A frazzled full-time mom discovers a portal that promises her a wonderful life - at a price.  I've included links below.

eBook universal link https://books2read.com/u/bwqreO
paperback https://www.amazon.com/dp/109295659X

Happy reading!  Talk to you again soon!

Um...hi?

Yes, I know, it's been a while.  Contrary to how it looked, I didn't die, fall off the planet, or anything quite so drastic.  I have been dealing with life, and that has taken a lot of time and energy.

Part of what I need to do is organize my time better.  This is important because a) I am a caregiver and my time isn't entirely my own, b) I work from home, and have no other boss besides me (unless you count the dogs), and c) I am not by nature an organized person.  I can have good intentions but see them vanish in a puff of smoke because I didn't plan my day.

So I am working on that.  This blog will be included in that plan.  I am not going to promise to blog a set amount - not yet, anyway.  I am pledging to blog more frequently, which may make at least SOME of you happy <grin>

If you're looking for stuff to read, I've had two short stories come out the latter half of 2018.  "The Case of the Dead Son" is a part of my Eli Leafrunner universe and can be found in Fiction River: Pulse Pounders: Countdown!  The second story, "The Devil's Muse," deals with a writer who sells his muse to the Devil, and the guy he hires to get it back.  That can be found in Fiction River: Hard Choices.  (Links are to Amazon, but you can get these anthologies wherever you buy your ebooks and such).

So I hope your 2019 is starting off well.  I hope to talk to you again soon!

Excited to talk about the new YA Variety Story Bundle!

I can't tell you how excited I am to be a part of this bundle!  Please read Nick Harlow's post below for information on getting my book Two Weeks in Guyana plus 10 more books by great writers!

THE YOUNG ADULT VARIETY BUNDLE 

 The Young Adult Variety Bundle - Curated by Nick Harlow

 Most of us don't want to read the same plot over and over. Sure, we have favorite books we'll read again, but sometimes novels of a particular genre can feel too similar.

So while I love young adult books, I like books that aren't formulaic.

While this is a mixed bag of plots and styles, all the books feature young people who have to grow up fast in order to face adversity, some of which is of the life-and-death variety. Survival comes in many forms, whether staying alive in a dystopian future or simply getting through high school. While the main characters are very different, they're all people to root for. From non-stop action to pure sentimentality, the books will take you through a range of emotions.

Our bundle kicks off with an old fashioned adventure from the bestselling author Dean Wesley Smith. If you love Indiana Jones, The Adventures of Hawk will take you along for a wild ride through Egypt as our young hero tries to save his kidnapped father by solving a centuries old puzzle. Dean, of course, is a prolific author who has mentored dozens of writers (including me.)

One of the more timely books comes from the very creative Bob Jeschonek in the form of Unbullied, which follows a group of teenage victims who turn the tables in a very clever way. Revenge is also a dish served at the high school cafeteria.

A young adult bundle would not be complete without some science fiction and a touch of dystopia, so we have a few entries in that department. Heidi Tankersley's The Mod Code explores the future of genetic engineering and does so with a strong heroine and a love triangle. Darcy Pattison's Sleepers takes you into the mind of aliens from another planet who desperately need a new place to live. And Earth has location, location, location. And N.W. Harris' series The Last Orphans gives us a chilling look at an apocalypse that wipes out all the adults and leaves children to fend for themselves.

Back in present day, Chrissy Wissler's Swing Away takes you to the sports page… inside the mind of a female softball player who learns that life is not a hanging curveball over the middle of the plate, especially when you have a famous dad. For pure sentiment and emotion, you'll love Space in the Heart from Rodney Walther, the story of a physically challenged girl and her widowed father, both seeking something similar. And the spiritual tale Two Weeks in Guyana from Laura Ware follows a teen who learns valuable life lessons on what he thinks is the vacation from hell.

Finally, some politics from yours truly. The Girl in the White House is basically Red Dawn meets Die Hard, with the President's teenage daughter playing the part of Bruce Willis as she leads a group of kids against terrorists in an effort to save her father. (And one of the few books with "girl" in the title that features an actual girl.) The Ascendant takes us far into the future as a spunky teen takes on an elite government obsessed with control when she discovers a past which has been hidden from society.

As you can see, it's a bundle with a lot of variety, so enjoy! – Nick Harlow

The initial titles in the Young Adult Variety Bundle (minimum $5 to purchase) are:

• Unbullied by Robert Jeschonek
• The Girl in the White House by Nick Harlow
• The Adventures of Hawk by Dean Wesley Smith
• Sleepers by Darcy Pattison

If you pay at least the bonus price of just $15, you get all four of the regular titles, plus SIX more!

• Space in the Heart by Rodney Walther
• The Ascendant by Nick Harlow
• The Harvest - The Last Orphans Series Book 2 by N.W. Harris
• Two Weeks in Guyana by Laura Ware
• The Mod Code by Heidi Tankersley
 • Swing Away by Chrissy Wissler

Plus, as a bonus for StoryBundle newsletter subscribers, you get The Last Orphans - The Last Orphans Series Book 1 for free! Grab that before you start on the sequel, The Harvest - The Last Orphans Series Book 2 by N.W. Harris, part of the bundle itself.

This bundle is available only for a limited time via http://www.storybundle.com. It allows easy reading on computers, smartphones, and tablets as well as Kindle and other ereaders via file transfer, email, and other methods. You get multiple DRM-free formats (.epub and .mobi) for all books!

It's also super easy to give the gift of reading with StoryBundle, thanks to our gift cards – which allow you to send someone a code that they can redeem for any future StoryBundle bundle – and timed delivery, which allows you to control exactly when your recipient will get the gift of StoryBundle.

Why StoryBundle? Here are just a few benefits StoryBundle provides.
• Get quality reads: We've chosen works from excellent authors to bundle together in one convenient package.
• Pay what you want (minimum $5): You decide how much these fantastic books are worth. If you can only spare a little, that's fine! You'll still get access to a batch of exceptional titles.
 • Support authors who support DRM-free books: StoryBundle is a platform for authors to get exposure for their works, both for the titles featured in the bundle and for the rest of their catalog. Supporting authors who let you read their books on any device you want—restriction free—will show everyone there's nothing wrong with ditching DRM.
• Give to worthy causes: Bundle buyers have a chance to donate a portion of their proceeds to Mighty Writers and Girls Write Now!
• Receive extra books: If you beat the bonus price, you'll get the bonus books!

StoryBundle was created to give a platform for independent authors to showcase their work, and a source of quality titles for thirsty readers. StoryBundle works with authors to create bundles of ebooks that can be purchased by readers at their desired price. Before starting StoryBundle, Founder Jason Chen covered technology and software as an editor for Gizmodo.com and Lifehacker.com.

For more information, visit our website at storybundle.com, tweet us at @storybundle and like us on Facebook.

New Short Story Published!

My short story, "Choices," is now published and available where ebooks are sold (check my ebooks link on this page for links to Amazon, Nook, Kobo, and other versions).

This story was originally published in "Fiction River: Past Crimes (Special Kobo Edition)."  It was my first sale to Fiction River, but not my last.

Hope you get a chance to check it out!

Sale!

For the month of July you can get my four inspirational novels - DEAD HYPOCRITES, THE SILENT WITNESS, REDEMPTION, and TWO WEEKS IN GUYANA for half price over at Smashwords. You can find a list of my work on Smashwords at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jjpress

 Select one of the above novels and use the coupon code that is listed at checkout. 
Enjoy!

Coming later this month...

Finally....

Would you like a free short story?

I am giving new subscribers to my newsletter a FREE short story, "Murder for Dinner," as a way of saying thanks.  All you have to do is sign up on the form on the left hand side of the page.

(You can check out a short blurb about "Murder for Dinner" on the ebooks page of the blog)

Once you sign up I'll send you instructions on how to get "Murder for Dinner" for free.

The newsletter is occasional, mostly when I have news to report.  I promise I won't flood your inbox with postings.

I hope to hear from you!

Happy National Book Lover's Day!

Today is National Book Lover's Day!  It's a great opportunity to visit your local library, or pluck a book from your shelves to read, or charge up your ebook reader.  It's also a great day to buy books - check out my ebooks and bibliography if you're interested in adding to your library!

It would also be a good day to start writing that book you've been planning to pen.  Fire up that word processor and have at it!

I plan to work on my own work-in-progress (wip) today and read some good stuff.  Hope you enjoy the day!

Okay, maybe I'm just not a blogger...

...you would think that I was, being a writer and everything.  But it's been months since I posted anything and I noticed I hadn't added some books to my bibliography and ebooks page.  Almost everything is now updated and (hopefully) all the links work properly.

Anyway, is there anything in particular you'd like to see me blather about here?  I will try to do better on keeping everyone up to speed.  Any writing news I will try to report as soon as possible.  Any other news I will also try to post.

In the meantime, explore the site, let me know what you'd like to see!

Looking back at 2011

It looks like I listed two goals for 2011: 200,000 new words of fiction and 12 short stories.

I didn't make either goal.

My wordcount for 2011 is 181,390 words.  While I missed the 200,000 word mark this counts as my second best year since I've started keeping track in 2007.  I'm hoping to do better this year.

As for short stories, I only wrote seven, little more than half of my goal.  I struggled with this goal, and I am not happy with my output.  If you read my other post on goals, I'm hoping to write as many as 25 short stories this year.  Yes, I set the bar way higher.

Sometimes in 2011 I found it hard to be creative.  That impacted the writing, especially the short stories.  One thing I hope to accomplish this year is to find ways to reignite my creativity.

I did epublish ten short stories, a short story collection, and a novel.  I'm hoping to have a lot more published this year.  And, of course, I plan to send things to magazines and publishers this year.

2011 saw me missing the mark on my goals.  I'm hoping that 2012 will have a different outcome.

Goals for 2012

I've decided to post my goals for 2012 in writing.  I can't remember if I posted my 2011 goals.  If I did, I promise I'll update how I did with them.  Short answer: I think I fell short of any goals I set.

Anyway, here, in no particular order, are my 2012 goals:

1) 200,000 new words in fiction.
2) Epublish 25 short stories/story collections/novels
3) Write at least 25 short stories this year.
4) Begin to epublish my old columns.  I'm hoping to gather them into collections as well.
5) Finish up two novels I started in 2011 and write two more.

That's what I hope to accomplish in 2012.  Wish me luck!

A great article on e-book covers

Fellow writer Karen Abrahamson has a great article here on branding your books.  She discusses it from the position of an indie publisher doing her own covers.

Karen is a great writer who is, like me, braving the new world of ebook publishing.  Her article contains a lot of useful information for those of us still learning the trade.

Check it out if you're interested!

Smashwords "Read an Ebook Week"

Smashwords is sponsoring "Read an Ebook Week."  To help celebrate this promotion I've made 3 of my short stories available for free.  From now until the 12th, you can get Vengeance is Mine, Not Our Problem, and Hidden Treasure for FREE.  Just click on the links for directions.

If you like the stories, could you take a moment and post a review on them?  I'd appreciate it and would love to know what you thought of them!

A look at January, and ebooks are up!

I know it's pretty late to be looking back at January, given we're well into February, but better late than never, right?

In January I wrote 19,712 words of fiction.  That doesn't include my weekly column but it does include a short story I wrote for an upcoming workshop.  If I can keep up that kind of pace I'll hit my goal of 200,000 words for 2011.  My short story goal is 12 short stories this year, though I'd love to write more than that.  Any tips on how I can meet these goals?

You'll notice a new link to the left that says, "Ebooks."  All my current ebooks are listed there, with links for those who want to purchase them.  All are short stories and priced at 99 cents each.  Why not check out a couple?

If you can think of anything you'd like to see on this blog, don't hesitate to drop me a line!  I'm interested in what you think and want to make this a blog you want to read!

Update and a coupon!

I wish I had a good excuse for not updating in almost two months.  The short answer is, I have no excuse.  I hope readers will forigve me and not abandon this little blog of mine.

One of the things I've been doing is putting some of my short stories up for sale online.  With Kindles and Nooks and other ereaders flying off the shelves, it is time to enter that market.  I will be adding those stories to my bibliography in due time.

Meanwhile, I thought you'd like a free peek at a story.  I'm giving away a coupon for my short story, "Goodbye Home," that will enable you to get it for free.  Go here and buy it, and type in the coupon code FY68J at checkout.  The coupon expires on February 7th, so act fast.

And if you like the story, would you please post a review saying so?  And don't forget to check out the other stories I have up there. 

I will work hard to update the site more frequently and I look forward to hearing from you!