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

***

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:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

The Wild Rose Press

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:

Website / Blog / Goodreads

Facebook / Twitter / Amazon

***

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?