What Happens Next? By Barbara Baker

Baker, Barbara - BWL Publishing Inc. (bookswelove.net)

After the release of What About Me? I panic. Do I need to post another ad on social media? Or have I done enough? Do stories and reels attract more viewer traffic than posts? Is Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram sufficient? Should I try Pinterest or Booktok? Don’t get me going about hashtags. There are so many to choose from. How and when do you know if any of them work? With my first novel, book trailers were in. This time round, they’re old school. It’s hard to keep up with the trends.

I don’t want people to stop following me because they’re tired of hearing about my new release, so I resist all of the above and post a picture on Facebook of a pelican coming in for a rough landing.

Even Google waffles about which is the best approach to increase sales. Have you found the right way to get your book more exposure?  And, as if advertising isn’t frustrating enough, checking views, likes and comments becomes addictive and my thumb aches from scrolling.

I move on to counting down the days until I can check my book reviews. So I don’t drive myself (and my husband) bonkers about what readers are saying, I only check reviews on the 17^th of the month. I embrace my vacuum and give the floors a good workout if I’m tempted to peek earlier than said date.

Yes, I realize readers have a life. And when they get to the end of a book, they carry on with that life. Most readers never leave reviews. If they only knew how much they meant to authors, my vacuum wouldn’t be so exhausted and I wouldn’t cringe when I ask them to post a review (the reader, not my vacuum).

When I’m done fretting about what’s next and the fact the 17^th of the month is still a week away, a different worry sneaks in. Can I write another story about Jillian and her adventures in Banff? If so, what will be the crack in her world that makes the story unfold?

As I insert a fresh cartridge in my favourite pen and grab a brand-new notebook, words from an editor replay in my head. “You need to be a more prolific writer. You need to get out of Banff and find new characters.” I look up prolific - producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring. I must have picked the wrong definition. I'm done having kids. Grandkids are way more fun.

A tarot card reader told me “Stop playing it safe. Write what you really want to write about.” What the heck does that mean? Is it a coy way of saying get out of Banff? Ditch Jillian? Who are these people and why do they insist on taking up space in my head? They certainly aren’t paying rent and they bring on a wave of imposter syndrome.

Should I even write another book?

The perfect solution to all these chaotic thoughts about writing – a colourful fall road trip. Maybe Jillian will tag along. Maybe she’ll meet someone new and start an adventure somewhere else. Or maybe she’ll only come for a mini-vacation and return to Banff after all. Regardless, road trips inspire me. And yes, I realize I’m procrastinating but is that a bad thing?

For all those celebrating Thanksgiving, have a fabulous feast and enjoy the fall colours. In Calgary we haven't had snow yet and there's none in the forecast. Although I already have my ski pass purchased, I'm loving the unseasonably warm weather. I hope you are too.

  

What About Me?: Sequel to Summer of Lies : Baker, Barbara: Amazon.ca: Books

What About Me? | Universal Book Links Help You Find Books at Your Favorite Store! (books2read.com)

Fascinating & Fun Facts about Babies by J. S. Marlo

 

Wounded Hearts

"Love & Sacrifice #2"

is now available  

click here 

 

 

  

J. S. Marlo's BWL Books

Two weeks ago, I was blessed with a second grandchild. Another gorgeous baby girl. I'm counting the days until I get to hold her in my arms.

The new parents didn't know, and didn't want to know, the sex of their first baby. They picked two names which they didn't share until after baby was born. If anyone had any objections, no one would dare to share it once it had already been given to the baby.

While I was searching for the meaning of her name--it means weaver--I stumbled onto fun facts about newborn babies. Whether I believe all of them is different story, but one of these will eventually appear in one of my stories  LOL

- Newborn babies' kneecaps are made of cartilage, not bones. The cartilage will harden into bony kneecaps around six months of age.

- Babies born in May are the heaviest. Apparently someone looked at the average weight of babies born throughout the year, and discovered that babies born in May are 200g heavier than babies born in any other months. That's 7oz bigger. That's actually a big difference.

That being said, I have no idea how many babies were parts of that, but that's a fun fact.

- Newborn babies have no tears. Babies' tear ducts aren't fully developed until three weeks of age, so they won't shed tears in these first few weeks, but it won't stop them from crying.

I wonder if the tear ducts start to develop three weeks after they are born, or three weeks after they should have been born...

- Babies are born with 300 bones. An adult has 206 bones. Over the years, baby's cartilage will harden and bones will fuse together. By the time she reaches early adulthood (20-25 years of age), she will have 206 bones.

- Most babies are born with a birthmark. They are different types of birthmarks. Most of them are harmless, and a few will fade as the child grow, but most birthmarks will be permanent.

- Babies' hair falls out. A newborn tends to lose the hair she was born with and grow new hair over the first year of her life. The new hair may be very different from the one she was born with.

One of my daughters was born with red hair. By the time she was a few months old, she was blond.

- A newborn baby is born with around 70 reflexes.

I'm impressed, and I bet they are faster than mine too LOL

- Babies know your taste in music. Unborn babies start hearing sounds and music at around seventeen-eighteen weeks. By the time they are born, they apparently recognize your taste in music.

The research doesn't say if they also acquire your taste in music, but it may explain why my daughters love ABBA as much as I do.

- Babies are born with taste buds throughout their mouths. By the time they reach adulthood, about a third of these taste buds will remain, and they will be mostly on their tongues.

- Babies' eyes change colours. At birth, a baby's eyes may appear grey or blue due to a lack of pigmentation. Once exposed to light, the eye colour will start to change, but it may take six to twelve months until baby has gorgeous blue, green, hazel, or brown eyes.

- Babies grow fast. Most babies will double in weight the first six months, and quadruple in size the first two years.

Yeah, they grow way too fast. Next thing you know, they start having little ones of their own.

I'm enjoying every moment of grandmotherhood because I know it will be over in the blink of an eye.

Enjoy the small blessings that life brings every day & stay safe!

JS

 

 

J. S. Marlo's Website

 

Autumnal Thoughts by Eileen O'Finlan

 

Click here for purchase information

Click here for Eileen O'Finlan's website 

There's something about autumn. It's gorgeous, mysterious, spooky, and magical all at once. It conjures up thoughts of trees ablaze in red, gold, yellow, and orange, of Halloween ghosts and goblins, harvests of apples, pumpkins, and winter squash, of simmering soups and hearty stews, the swish of leaves underfoot, and crisp, tangy air. Yet it has a tinge of sadness as well. The year is dying. That lovely, slightly fruity scent in the air is created by the decay of leaves and vegetation.  For many of us in New England, autumn is bittersweet. It is stunningly beautiful, but also the harbinger of the long, cold winter that's surely on its way.

Getty Images

Autumn is a special time of year for me. Each of its months brings a different emotion. In September, I mourn the loss of summer's warmth and freedom. By October, I've usually made my peace with summer's departure, and I'm ready to embrace autumn in all its beauty and bounty. And in November, I'm consumed with the coming holidays.

The high point in my current work-in-progress takes place in a Vermont October. Working all of that month's enchantments into the story is both challenging and rewarding. Since I am close to that point in the writing now, at least I won't have far to look for inspiration. A glimpse outside my window will do.

Getty Images

My inspiration for writing about the effect of being judged based on sexual orientation by Jay Lang

 

Storm

Jay Lang

Click link to purchase 

http://bookswelove.net/lang-jay/

My inspiration for writing this first chapter was to show how devastating it is to be judged negatively based on our sexual orientation.

Dark clouds cast a dreary mood over the morning as the prison gates shrink in the rear-view mirror. Even though the deafening silence in the car is fueling my anxiety, it’s nothing like the months of hell I’ve just lived through. 

Time served—nine months in a cement jungle while my captors went to work at reprogramming my flawed character. My father, Clay Stewart, the reluctant chauffeur for my freedom ride, always before emanating a youthful presence, now has wide brush strokes of silver streaming through his brown hair and deep, severe lines around his eyes and mouth. A by-product of the stress brought on by the immense disappointment he feels over me—his only child. 

On the ferry, I shuffle behind my father as he maneuvers through throngs of tourists and hunts for vacant seats. After some luck, we find two seats across from each other, and he predictably opens his newspaper and does his best to ignore me. Lines of people walk by, looking down at me as they pass. I slouch my shoulders and lower my gaze. An hour into the turbulent sailing, my father asks me if I’d like something to eat. I shake my head and he stuffs his paper under one arm, gets up, and walks down the aisle. 

Looking out over the churning sea, I feel overwhelmed with hopelessness. I never thought I’d miss the six square meters of my cell. My mind escapes to a memory of when I was in a school play and my father was sitting proudly in the front row. The bright stage lights shone in my eyes and obscured most of the audience, but I could see my dad clearly, shoulders back and wearing an appreciative grin. I felt ten feet tall that day. That was a long time ago.  

When the ship’s whistle blows and the overhead message—“Thanks for travelling with BC Ferries”—plays, my father and I make our way back to the car deck. As we follow the traffic the ship, my dad turns on the radio. The song “My Girl” by The Temptations plays through the speakers. I immediately reach out and turn it off. 

It’s the song that Storm always hummed to me, and she's the last person that I need to be reminded of right now. 

My father glares at me. “I was listening to that. Why did you shut it off?”

“I’m sorry. I just really can’t stand that song.”

He turns his attention back to the road, makes a few audible grumbles and then takes the north exit onto the Island Highway. 

Here, I wanted to show how the protagonist, Paisley had been affected by her time in prison and how she felt wayward and alone after being released. While doing research for this novel, I interviewed a female inmate who was a repeat offender. She told me that while she was in prison, she yearned to get out, but once she was released, she yearned to be back in. She explained that “when in prison, you know what’s expected of you, as opposed to being on the outside where you have to try to  figure it all out yourself.”

 

Thoughts About Writing Novels by Rosemary Morris

 

To learn more about Rosemary's work please click on the image above.

If I had a pound from every person who said he or she could write a novel it would add a worthwhile sum to my income. At a party, a man I met for the first time found out I am a published novelist. He pursued me relentlessly to find out how to be published. Years ago, he wrote a textbook and now wants to write fiction. I became more exasperated by his belief that I could give him the means to write a novel and find a literary agent or publisher.

“There is only one way to succeed,” I said, trying to conceal my irritation.

“What?” he asked eagerly, obviously thinking that I have a magic formula.

I resisted the temptation to say: ‘Get on with it instead of talking about it’.

“Write,” I told him.

Writing is demanding work. It requires dedication. Except for Christmas Day, I get up at 6 a.m. With a short break to eat breakfast I work until 10.a.m. After dealing with mundane tasks, working in my organic garden, and cooking, etc., I write form 4pm to 8p.m. with a short break for afternoon tea.

During the hours set aside to concentrate on my career as a novelist, I divide my time between writing, research, dealing with business, receiving, and answering e-mails, working with on-line constructive critique partners, and publicising my books.

Among other activities related to writing, before covid struck I attended a writers ‘group where I met published and unpublished writers. Members read extracts from their novels, non-fiction, poetry etc., and received useful feedback.

If someone chats to me about finding time to write, my advice is to have a routine, whether it is as little as fifteen minutes every day carved out from a busy life, or time set aside to write once a week. The important thing is the routine which separates real authors from would be ones.

Rosemary Morris’s novels

 

Medieval novels set in Edward II’s reign.

Yvonne, Lady of Cassio

Grace, Lady of Cassio

Early 18^th century novels set in Queen Anne Stuart’s reign, 1702-1714.

Far Beyond Rubies

Tangled Love

The Captain and The Countess

The Viscount and The Orphan to be published soon.

Regency novels.

False Pretences.

Loosely Connected series which do not need to be read in sequence.

Sunday’s Child

Monday’s Child

Tuesday’s Child,

Wednesday’s Child

Thursday’s Child

Friday’s Child

Saturday’s Child

 

The first three chapters of each novel may be read on my web site. www.rosemarymorris.co.uk

 

Links to online bookstores. http://bookswelove.net/authors/morris-rosemary