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Wednesday, January 3, 2018

IWSG, Flaming Crimbes Blogfest, Hurricane Update, Being Thankful

Posting the First Wednesday of every month, the Insecure Writer's Support Group, is the brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh. YOU can sign up HERE to participate.

Every month a question will be posed that may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Remember, the question is optional. You can write about anything that relates to your writing journey.

Let's give a warm welcome to our co-hosts: Tyrean Martinson, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Megan Morgan, Jennifer Lane, and Rachna Chhabria!

This month's question is: 
What steps have you taken or plan to take to put a schedule in place for your writing and publishing?

As a Christmas/New Years present to myself, I cleaned and straightened up my writing area which was a mess and an indication of my mental and emotional state. Below are before and after shots. There's still work to be done, cleaning and organizing, but it's not overwhelming. My intention this year is to get back into revisions and edits on my Tibetan novel, A Piece of the Sky, and find some BETA readers.  And, I feel hopeful that I'll soon get back to work on my novel. That doesn't really answer this month's question, but it's the best I can do.


 Before










After










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Today I'm taking part in Chrys Fey's 

Flaming Crimes Blogfest




Prompt: What is something ridiculous you would save if there was a fire?

What I would save is not ridiculous to me, though it might seem so others. But it would be this, my red elephant, Ellie, that I've had since I was 6 months old, and FuFu the stuffed puppy my husband's had since he was 2 years old.

Check out other participants below!










Series: Disaster Crimes #4

Page Count: 304 

Digital Price: 4.99 
Print Price: 16.99
Rating: Spicy (PG13) 

BUY LINKS:

BLURB: Beth and Donovan are now happily married, and what Beth wants more than anything is a baby. Her dream of starting a family is put on hold as fires burn dangerously close and Donovan becomes a victim of sabotage.

Donovan escapes what could've been a deadly wreck. Their past enemies have been eliminated, so who is cutting brake lines and leaving bloody messages? He vows to find out, for the sake of the woman he loves and the life they're trying to build.

Amidst a criminal mind game, a fire ignites next to their home. They battle the flames and fight to keep their house safe from the blaze pressing in on all sides, but neither of them expects to confront a psychotic adversary in the middle of the inferno.

Their lives may just go up in flames…



About the Author: Chrys Fey is the author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept blending romance, crimes, and disasters. She’s partnered with the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and runs their Goodreads book club. She’s also an editor for Dancing Lemur Press.

Author Links:





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Hurricane Irma Update
My sister is doing well although, four months later, she still has no electricity. However, she was given a generator, is shopping for a refrigerator, and looking forward to the day when she can make ice-cubes, freeze some chicken, and keep a few fresh vegetables. All  my cousins in Puerto Rico have electricity though for many, many people outside of San Juan, day to day living is still a huge struggle.

St. John is coming along nicely. The National Park and  all the beaches are open, thanks to many people coming from parks all across the U.S., who have cleared away debris not only from the beaches but from all the many wonderful walking trails the island has. It is a wonderful time to visit the islands. The weather is perfect and the beaches are empty, very like it was in the 60s early 70s. It won't be like this forever. Many B and Bs, villas and small hotels are open, as are restaurants and retail shops. However, if one is looking for luxury, few of the big hotels are open and most won't be until 2019.

Trunk Bay, St. John. The ruffled effect of the waves on the sand is new. 
(photo by my friend Radha Speer)

Yes, there are still problems. Yes, electricity, cell phone service and internet is mostly spotty. Yes, rebuilding things like the hospitals hasn't started yet. Yes, some roads are still in need of repair. Yes building supplies are in such high demand they are hard to come by. Yes there are problems with local and federal government help being haphazard at best, nonexistent at worst.

Yes, there's more... AND
***
Being Thankful
I'm thankful for every inch of recovery,
for every giving and compassionate person who has worked or is working towards wholeness, particularly the hundreds of linemen who have worked and are continuing to work 7 days a week,
and,
for every beautiful rainbow that's posted on Facebook.
(photo by my friend, Eleanor Gibney)
What are you thankful for? Have a New Years Resolution or goal? Are you going to hop around and see what other ridiculous things people would save from a fire?

22 comments:

  1. Your writing space looks great! And I don't think it would be ridiculous to save those! We all have certain items that mean a lot to us.

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  2. That's great how you cleaned up your writing space. Good luck with your novel this year. Sorry that your family is still struggling without electricity. I can't imagine what they are going through. Congrats to Chrys on her new book!

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  3. A clean office can really help.
    I'm glad things are finally coming together for the islands. Although no electricity for that long would be really tough.

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  4. I'm amazed by the resilience of the people affected by the hurricanes this year. It's great to see the rebuilding that's going on and the hope that people have.

    FuFu and Ellie are definitely worth saving :-)

    Happy New Year - Ellen

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  5. Treasured stuffed toys are an excellent choice. They've always been my favorite toy.

    Glad to hear that things are improving after those hurricanes. It's funny how much something simple like ice cubes can improve your life.

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  6. Cleaning up a work space starts the New Year off on the right foot.

    A red elephant? My nephew is 2 and he adores elephants. I bet he'd love Ellie. I have a stuffed bear I'd want to save, too, if I could.

    Thanks for participating in my blog hop!

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  7. Love the before and after. I have to declutter to write! Odd, but true!
    So sad that the chaos of the hurricane is still plaguing so many. Thanks for the updates!
    Congrats to Chrys! She's doing wonderfully with that series!
    Happy 2018!

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  8. A clean writing space always helps me write better.

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  9. I cleaned my writing space too after I got my book sent to my editor. Then I worked on tax paperwork. Joy!

    Happy New Year!

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  10. I can't imagine the work that has gone into restoring the islands.

    My desk currently needs a cleaning like that. My whole office for that matter.

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  11. Tidying up your workspace was a brilliant idea. When confronted with something as overwhelming as that disaster on your beautiful islands, take on tasks that you can manage and see results. I loved the before and after picture. Very nice.

    Thanks for updating your sister's progress. She's one resilient gal who'll deal with this catastrophy and put her life back together.

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  12. Being thankful is so important. I finally got my space straight after our move. I love that new lacy look. Something to do with the bottom, I think.

    Congrats to Chris Fey on her new book!

    Good to see you back here, Bish. Happy 2018 :)

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  13. It is disappointing and even a bit embarrassing to see that the federal government has only done as much as it has, while patting itself on the back. And of course, by "itself" I pretty much mean President Trump.

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  14. I have watched your FB posts and am glad you are keeping us updated on the news in St. John and Puerto Rico. Here is hoping improvements come fast and furious. Best wishes, Bish.

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  15. I love all the pictures you provided for your post and what you are talking about. I enjoyed reading very much. So glad things are getting back to normal and I hope your sister gets electricity soon. Your work space looks nice.
    Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

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  16. Hi Bish - so pleased your sister's life is improving - being without electricity for so long must be so difficult - I feel for them all. St John certainly looks wonderful and I've noted that it's a great time to visit - sadly not me.

    Good luck with your new writing space - it does make a difference doesn't it ... and now all the best to you and yours for 2018 = cheers Hilary

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  17. I so need to clean up my office. It's become the "junk room" where everything that doesn't have a place or I'm too busy to find one is tossed. How precious that you have your elephant and your husband's stuffie. I have nothing as old as me. LOL The goat (at my grandparents' farm) ate my baby blanket off the clothesline.

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    1. Thanks, too, for the update on your family. What a trial they are going through. I am so glad they're safe.

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  18. I cleaned up my work area like you do over the holidays but I want a sofa after seeing yours. I'm glad to hear things are getting a little better for your family.

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  19. That's a great transformation on your writing area.

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  20. It's good to hear things are starting to come together. It must be hard on those without electricity yet though.

    Your writing space looks good!

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  21. Yay for Chrys!!!

    I need to break out my before and after pictures for the playroom. 6.5 hours of cleaning. For one room.

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Your Random Thoughts are most welcome!