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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

IWSG, IWSG Anthology Voyagers: The Third Ghost, 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:  Feather Stone, Beverly Stowe McClure, Mary Aalgaard, Kim Lajevardi, and Chemist Ken!

This month's question is: Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE? Care to share?
When
When I need help getting into the zone I putter in my writing area. I clean up my desk, go through notes and keep or discard and/or straighten and dust books. Generally I work to make my work space neat. It seems to help me get inspired.
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I'm excited to announce that
Voyagers: The Third Ghost is OUT!!

People have asked why I decided to try my hand at writing a story for this anthology. Here's my answer. 

When I saw what the theme for this anthology was going to be and that it was for middle graders, I knew immediately the story I wanted to tell.

Because my family has lived between Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for over hundred years and because I was raised in the VI, most of my stories have a strong Caribbean flavor. For research purposes I have a small collection of books about the islands. One of those books, by Isidor Paiewonsky, is Eyewitness Accounts of Slavery in the Danish West Indies also Graphic Tales of Other Slave Happenings on Ships and Plantations. It was in this book that I read excerpts from the journal of a twelve-year-old boy named Jacques B. Romaigne who journeyed from France, to Africa, to the island of Guadeloupe on a slave ship.
Jacques' story haunted me for years. He lingered behind a near opaque curtain which he pulled aside from time to time, casting ghostly shadows across my mind, reminding me he was still there and that he wanted his story told. Finally I gave in and wrote, “The Blind Ship.” I tried peddling it around to various children’s magazines, but no one was interested. I knew my writing wasn’t the problem so my guess is that it was too dark and serious. Whatever the reason, his story has languished in my files for a good 15 years, yet in all that time, Jacques has never left me.
I had to lengthen the original story from 1000 words (which is the max most children's magazines want) to 3000 or better. That was challenge and it took me a week. But he crept back onto the page and whispered things in my ear. Now, at last, he has come out of from behind the curtains, and his story can be told.

Blurb
The journal of a twelve-year-old boy reveals the horrors of a slave ship, and when its cargo and crew go blind from a highly contagious eye disease, the situation only gets worse.

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Being Thankful
Today I'm thankful for, what else? The Newly Released Anthology!

What are you thankful for? Got any rituals to get into the zone? Have you ordered your copy of Voyagers: The Third Ghost? Purchase links below. Hint, hint.

48 comments:

  1. Congrats on the anthology release! Glad you were finally able to tell Jacques' story.

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  2. Congratulations, Bish. I'm glad the story that was inside of you made it's way out. Today I am thankful for sunshine. And IWSG. And the pot of coffee I am about to brew.

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    1. Sunshine is a good thing to grateful for. ((hugs))

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  3. Congrats on being in the anthology. Awesome that you had a story you needed to tell. And it's always good to be thankful. I'm trying to focus on that everyday.

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    1. There is always something (so many things) to be grateful for!

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  4. The Anthology is a good one. Congratulations in having your story in it. I enjoyed reading it.

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    1. I'm so happy you liked the anthology. I now have my copy and am finally getting to read it!

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  5. Congratulations on Anthology release. I liked your story a lot.

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  6. I have a hard time working in chaos. And congrats!

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    1. I do, too! Even though chaos seems to trail behind me wherever I go...

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  7. Congratulations on the anthology!!!

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    1. Thank you, Chrys. It's such a pleasure to be a part of it.

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  8. I'm so glad you submitted your wonderful story to the anthology. It was a story worth telling and you did it so well.

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    1. Thank you, Lee. I'm glad I submitted it as well.

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  9. That is so awesome! I'm thrilled for you! Congratulations! I hope you get to celebrate with all those you love!

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    1. Thank you! It's a quiet celebration, but a celebration nontheless.

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  10. Congrats! I knew when I read that story that it would make the cut, and it did.

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  11. Congratulations, Bish. I'm so thrilled for you. Doesn't surprise that it was chosen. You are so talented. And inspiring. I'm glad you're safe and healthy.

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    1. Thank you, Joylene. It may not have been a surprise to you but it was to me. A very nice one!

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  12. Congratulations to you and all the authors!

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  13. Congratulations on the story, I'm glad you were able to complete it and publish it.

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  14. Congratulations on the anthology. It is always thrilling when you see your story in a book.

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    1. Yes, it is thrilling to see your words in print. And I'm not talking about off my printer! LOL

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  15. Congratulations, Bish! I'm thrilled for you ♥

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  16. Congratulations!!!
    I like your ritual. They say a cluttered desk is bad for creativity, but I just can't seem to keep mine neat.

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    1. I've know some very creative people who had very cluttered desks, so I don't believe that adage... So, take heart. If the clutter doesn't get in the way of your creativity (and I know you write a lot) then don't sweat it!

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  17. Good tip about cleaning up the work area. That serves a double purpose, and I need to do it!

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    1. As other's have mentioned, it's a way to avoid writing, too. :)

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  18. Hi, Bish! I putter and clean my writing area too, but for me that's avoidance! Having read your story several times, I can see why Jacques' tale haunted you for years. I'm glad that you shared it with the world. All the best to you!

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    1. Yes, it can be a kind of avoidance, but it does make things easier to find!

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  19. Hi Bish - congratulations on having your story published in the Anthology. Well done on keeping Jacques tucked away ... and I'm so glad you've been able to have his story published. Dark things need to be read and remembered ... take care and all the best - Hilary

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  20. Congrats on your story being chosen for the anthology. Just ordered my copy. I can't wait to read Jacques' story.

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    1. I hope you enjoy his story and all the others in this great anthology.

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  21. Lovely that your story made the anthology. Some great stories to read.

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    1. And now, I finally get to read them as I just my copies a short time ago.

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  22. Blind Ship sounds like an intense, emotional story. Kudos.

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  23. I think better, too, when my space in uncluttered.

    I really enjoyed your story in the anthology. Yours is the most somber, but it really created an awareness of what those poor people endured on the slave ships.

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  24. That's a good ritual. I know I'm more inclined to write if I can relax, because it's tidy and I've done everything else I need to.

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  25. I agree puttering in the office, tidying up the desk, organizing allows a break for our minds to re-charge. Good advice.
    JQ Rose

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Your Random Thoughts are most welcome!