Where do you find the time to write?

 I can't tell you how many times I've been asked the question, "Where do you find time to write?" My facetious answer is, "I have no life." 

Every successful author finds writing time. In my case, the catalyst came from a New Year's resolution to stop watching television. After fixing every broken thing in the house and reading my entire TBR (to be read) pile, my wife suggested that I start the novel banging around inside my head. I wrote instead of watching television.

I saw a quote from a famous author, whose name I don't remember, and I'm mangling the quote, but his observation was "I have no more hours in the day, I still eat three meals, I sleep no less than you. The secret to finding writing time is simple, use some of the time you waste on other things on writing." I think of the hours people spend scouring the internet. The hours spent playing games on your computer. The time spent watching "The Price is Right." 

It's simple, if writing isn't more fulfilling and fun than playing computer games or watching talk shows, don't do it! Writing is an act of passion. I love writing a story, creating characters who become friends. Weaving plots and stumbling through a police investigation is fun. I enjoy talking to readers at libraries, book shows, and craft fairs. I enjoy research. I'm inspired by readers who tell me how much they enjoyed a particular story, character, or scene.

You don't need to take a month or year off to hide in a remote cabin with no disruptions other than the calling of birds and the rustling of leaves. Most published authors don't write in concentrated bursts like that. Nevada Barr told me she writes three pages a day, which yields a book a year. Another author told me he writes one page a day and has 365 pages at the end of a year. A third told me he writes two hours a day and promotes his books the same amount of time. When I had a day job, I used to write for 30 minutes every weeknight after my family went to bed. That produced a book a year.

The bottom line is: You have to love writing. If you do, develop discipline. Start by writing a paragraph a day. Start a journal to get in the habit of writing daily. Develop the discipline to skip some time-wasting activity and substitute a half hour of writing. You can find the time. But you have to love writing to make it a priority.

If you want to see how I spent last autumn, take a look at "Medora Murder", which was released on February 15th. I researched and wrote it in about three months. 

You can find it on Amazon or at other links found on my publisher's website. Doug and Jill Fletcher are dispatched to Theodore Roosevelt National Park to locate a missing skeleton and become entangled in so much more.

Hovey, Dean Doug Fletcher series - BWL Publishing Inc.

Further Adventures in Historic Canada by Diane Scott Lewis

 

After a long hiatus due to personal and health problems, I am excited by the new Canadian Historical Mystery series. I 'm posting a post about my Canadian historical On a Stormy Primeval Shore, the establishment of New Brunswick, mixed with danger and romance. Part of the Canadian Historical Brides series. 

I hope you enjoy this foray into the eighteenth century right after America's revolution chased the loyalists to Canada.

To purchase this novel, click HERE

Amelia: an 18th century Englishwoman in the wilderness of New Brunswick.

In writing my Canadian-based novel, On a Stormy Primeval Shore, I wanted not only a strong heroine, but not the usual ‘beautiful’ woman who strikes every man to his core with her ravishing looks. I wanted a woman not considered beautiful by traditional standards, but one who must struggle and fight her way to be taken seriously, and forge her own happiness.

Amelia Latimer arrives in New Brunswick in 1784, just as this western portion of the colony is breaking away from Nova Scotia. Her father is a captain in the British army stationed at Fort Howe. He’s requested her long journey from Plymouth, England, to betroth her to one of his officers, Lt. Harris.

           
                                    Fort Howe Blockhouse

Amelia, because she isn’t beautiful, at four and twenty years had few marriage prospects in England; but she still hated to leave her mother who is ill with consumption. She's also intelligent, spirited, and determined to find happiness and a purpose. Her first meeting with Harris doesn’t go well and deeply insulted, she plans to return to England.

But soon New Brunswick, with its startling beauty, rugged shoreline and pastoral interior, charms her.

Captain Latimer wants her to return home on the next ship since she’s refused his choice of a husband, but after hearing of her mother’s death, Amelia has ideas of her own.

The remote colony is a mixture of many cultures. The aboriginals, mainly the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet tribes, who settled the land first. The French Acadians, in what was once New France, who were expelled—even slaughtered—when the English took over, then slowly allowed to return. And the Loyalists who fled north after the American Revolution, and now flood the country in need of land, food and occupation.

                          Saint John harbor from Fort Howe's hill.

Amelia wants to cultivate herbs for medicinal purposes, but can she survive the harsh Canadian winter, and will a most unsuitable man steal her heart?

Gilbert is an Acadian trader, one of the original French settlers. He is fighting to keep his and his mother's land. Land the incoming Loyalists want to appropriate. Then he saves a young woman from a marauding bear. Her bold spirit sparks his interest, but she is off-limits being the daughter of an English soldier. Does he dare meet her in private as his feelings grow?

Diane lives in western Pennsylvania with one naughty dachshund.

10, 20, 30, 40 and counting...and counting!...by Sheila Claydon

 Find my books here

Saving Katy Gray is Book 3 of my When Paths Meet trilogy. All three books are about love and the messiness of family. Book 3 is especially pertinent to me at the moment, however, because two of the characters are growing old. Initially without the support and understanding they need. Katy Gray, who has already lost the older people in her family, is determined they will live well until their last breath. 

* * *

They happen to all of us if we are lucky. The big birthdays that arrive once every decade. The birthdays that bring squeals of delight at 10, partying at 20, a quiet satisfaction that we are now really and truly adults at 30...and on and on it goes. 40, 50, 60, 70...I wonder how many of us will make it to 100. Do we even want to? If we are still active and healthy, then probably. If not, then probably not. As I said, we need to be lucky. And if we know someone like Katy Gray then we are doubly lucky.

Well one of my big birthdays is coming up. Another 10 years has flown by since the last one and yet it seems like yesterday. That's another problem with growing older, time shrinks! 

I celebrated the last one in Australia with our son and family, and because Australia is sunny and hot in March, we ate in a very relaxed restaurant near the beach. Then I had another 3 separate celebrations with Australian friends, all of whom seemed to be vying to give me the best time. I remember Oysters Kilpatrick, fine Australian wines, a surprise fish and chip picnic at the end of a fabulous boat trip, a concert at the Sydney Opera House...that birthday seemed to go on and on and I cherish the memories.

This one will be in the UK with daughter and family. It will be a far more formal affair I'm told. Glad rags are the order of the day although I still don't know where I'm going. When I was given the choice between a party or a family meal it didn't take more than a moment to choose the meal. There were a couple of reasons. The first is that I don't really enjoy being the centre of attention (it's an only child thing!) The second is, however, far more serious. I don't want to look like a 'Billy no mates!'

Because we have travelled a great deal so many of our very dear friends live in different countries. Once that would not have been a problem but now we are all so much older, it is. Even those who live in the UK, friends and family alike, have mostly stopped travelling. Too many cars on the road, too many old age ailments, preferring to sleep in their own beds, the list is a long one. There will be Zoom calls and WhatsApps. There will be smiling faces on FaceTime. I'll still get to see or hear from all of them without putting them through the pressure of travelling or having to say no. Again, how lucky are we to grow old in a world where we can talk to friends across the world at the click of a button. I remember so clearly my grandmother waiting and waiting for those tissue thin airmail letters that were the only thing that kept her in touch with her sons when they lived and worked overseas. 

I believe there will also be a small celebration with neighbours but as they are all within walking distance I won't feel bad about that:) And there is one other positive to look forward to. Shortly after the birthday celebrations are over, we'll be travelling to visit our son and family again. Now they live in Singapore we are looking forward to warming our cold English winter bones while we still can. And my decade birthday present from them is an en-famille long weekend in Indonesia (a short ferry trip away) so I'm still travelling...just. But then a son and daughter-in-law and, ten years on, a nearly 11 year old granddaughter, is a great pull. I might not be able to travel on my next decade's birthday though, so I'd better make the most of this one.

Happy birthday to anyone else out there who will have a decade birthday in March.

Blog: Sales/Promotion by Paul Doucette

 

 

            Hello everyone, here I am once again with another brief suggestion for all of you to consider.

            I have developed a ‘package’ which I have put together and mailed to all the Senior Residences in Nova Scotia. This includes an introduction to myself as an author (Bio); a listing of my titles and series; a general overview of my main characters in each series, and, a copy of all the covers for each book. I have also included an overview of BWL Publishing with attention to their various categories/genres.

            So far, I have received some positive feedback and, an invitation to read and/or set up a displayed of the books for sale. Jude has been most helpful in providing parts of this information.

            This may be something you may want to consider doing in an effort to advance your name and work. It need not be seniors; it could be schools, book clubs (I know that Chapters has a book reading club here at their Dartmouth location). For those of you whose work falls into the historical fiction genre, I can tell you that most every senior’s residence I have spoken with has indicated that their residents favour this genre.

            Anyway, that is all I have to offer at this time. I will be posting again in the future. Good luck and good sales.

            H Paul Doucette

Is it Spring yet? by Nancy M Bell

 

To explore more of Nancy's work please click on the cover above.

This is the cover for my next novel which is releasing in April of 2025. Night at the Legislature is the first book in the new collection of paranormal novels being released by BWL Publishing Inc. This collection joins the Canadian Historical Brides and the Canadian Historical Mysteries collections already available.

But now to my point. Is it spring yet? I know, I know,  you're all thinking 'what else could she expect? she lives in central Alberta'. This is the time of year when I get antsy, wanting to buy flowers, bedding plants, bulbs for the garden. Only problem is there is about three feet of snow over my gardens right now and the temperature is in the -20 degrees Celsius. Yup, no digging in the dirt for me for  awhile. Somehow, I always manage to make it through the dark days when the sun is sinking further and further to the south, the hours of daylight shortening with each passing day. It's not Christmas that I look forward to (although that is of course part of it) but the winter solstice. The moment when the Holly King at the height of his reign gives over to the Oak King. 

Slowly, the light returns, the days getting longer and the sun strengthening. Gradually, the sun will make its journey into the northern skies, the sunsets will slant shadows in different directions. Winter will release her strangle hold and the snow will begin to melt, dripping in diamond tears from the trees and the eaves of houses. Creeks and streams will find their voices again as snow melt swells their ranks. The bright chatter and music of running water will fill the air...and finally...the earth will warm enough that snow drops and prairie crocus will push toward the light , followed by daffodils, tulips and hyacinths. The brilliant gold of forsythia will wave beside the pearly grey pussy willows.

But for now, I'm stuck in the middle of February with its frosty nights silvered with moonlight  and starlight. While I watch Orion stalk across the eastern skies headed toward the west as the dawn light approaches. And the jewels of the planets burning in the cold winter skies, somehow more sparkling than in the warmth of summer. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and if I'm lucky enough to see it before he slips beneath the horizon, Mercury. 

Winter can be spectacular with motes of fairy dust floating in the sunlight as the moisture in the air freezes in the breeze. Snow reflecting the moonlight and starlight. Tall evergreens mantled in heavy frost like hoary giants guarding us.

But, oh spring...spring...the renewal of life, the return of the light...young animals starting their lives, the song of birds growing ever stronger. The return of the hawks and geese and that harbinger of spring the robin. My heart years for spring in the midst of February. So...is it spring yet?

Until next month, be happy, be wise, be healthy