Author Journey: What a Week! And #AboutTheAuthorAugust 2023 Week 2, Day 5

 Welcome to the scenic route, all you creative souls! It's been a crazy week and I'm going to tell you a little bit about it. 

Author Journey: Not Much To Tell Here, But...

I did do a bit of research into Book Baby. It's still too pricey for me to publish my POD items through them. Seems like there's a base rate of $99 and that seems...odd...when Lulu didn't charge a base rate like that. So I'm going to have to do a bit more research.

I did try to see if the covers I created would work on printed copies through Draft2Digital. They aren't big enough, so I'm going to have to work on resizing them. This is always a nail-biting type of worry for me. You never know if the resizing will be a simple process or if you'll have to re-craft the thing from scratch...which won't work, btw. It never does. I have discovered a few work arounds, but overall, it's still a slow process.

The only other writing related work I've done this past week has been on this blog and in my journals. So, there really isn't much to tell. The next section will give you more of an idea why.

Writer's Life: Surprises Abound!

Surprises in List Format

1. My parents' yard caught fire on Monday. Good thing my daughter spotted it. I'd seen the stump burning, but my dad has burned stumps before. Now, you have to consider how busy my head is. I shuffed the sight of a burning stump, and blackened grass, into the file marked 'normal', when, with these very hot, very dry days, it actually made no sense. My dad would never start a fire to burn a stump under these kinds of conditions. So the three of us (my dad, daughter and me) put out a fire on Monday. We put it out without the help of the two guys working right across the street who obviously saw our distress and surely noticed the fire. They never said a word, never asked if we needed help... (I sorely miss living in Texas during times like that. I also mourn for my daughters who need better men in there lives than those two guys obviously were. Sadly, they are typical for this area.) My mom was still feeling pretty bad.
2. Later on Monday, we went grocery shopping and dropped off some donations at one of the local thrift stores. I picked up a new cubby shelf to replace a couple of old plastic drawer organizers I'd gotten second-hand from a friend. I didn't get to put it together that day because I helped my parents make more soup and get some things in order at their house. I started cleaning out my extensive craft stash. 
3. Tuesday, my mom was feeling a little better in the morning, but started to go downhill again that night. I put my shelf together. We took more donations to the thrift store.
4. Wednesday, my mom was feeling bad again, and my dad was frustrated to the point of being weepy and mopey. The doctor had called and given her a new specific diet to try. And I was getting frustrated with the whole situation. But keeping a stiff upper lip was paramount, so we pressed on. We cooked what we needed for her specific regimen and she started on it by supper time.
5. Also on Wednesday, my prize package from Melanie D. Snitker arrived. Y'all! I love stickers. I have ever since I was very young. She sent seven reading-related stickers. There was a fabric bookmark with a Bible verse pattern, a bookish keychain wristlet, a wooden page holder and two signed books. If you haven't had a chance yet, check out her newest series Danger in Destiny. She sent me the first two, the second of which is the one just recently published. I'll linked the to the Goodreads book pages so you can see both books. Book 1 -- Out of the Ashes and Book 2 -- Frozen in Jeopardy. There's also a prequel which I've already read and enjoyed -- Fear the Shadows -- which I'd recommend if you enjoy clean, inspirational, romantic suspense. I can't wait to get to books one and two, but I'm in the middle of a really suspenseful, hard-to-read book right now. While it's been a bit frustrating for missing some key words and more than a few letters, the story is downright gripping. 
6. Thursday was better. My parents' pastor paid them a visit and my mom actually sat in the kitchen with him and my dad. After three more meals, my mom was definitely perking up, sitting up more, getting around more. My dad discovered that stump was still burning so he doused it again with more water and we'll have to keep an eye on it. Our best guess is a piece of glass someone tossed into the stump was exposed to the sunlight long enough that it started the fire. Who knows, though? My daughter and I attended a Bible study that evening and I got to visit with one of my friends. It was nice to just get out of the house for something besides the sick-bed and a grocery run. I just wish my husband had been able to go with us. They've been working overtime for the last couple of days.
7. Also on Thursday, because one fire wasn't enough... I discovered a faulty surge protector. Our coffee pot must have malfunctioned, or maybe the surge protector did, but whatever the case, the pot had to be replaced. Seriously, I'm just glad I decided to reorganize the coffee hutch or we could've had more serious issues happening there. After we got home from the Bible study, my husband and I had to run back to town for the few things on our grocery list. I had such a great time at the Bible study, I forgot all about the groceries. We didn't get home until probably 9:30, but we got to see some old acquaintances and chat with them a bit. You see everybody at Wal-Mart.
8. Which brings us to today...and isn't that enough? I just want to sit and chill, but I won't be able to do so. Duty calls! I'll be tired tonight, but it'll be the good kind, when you know you've accomplished something worthwhile and you can take a moment, give thanks, and breathe. On the menu tonight is steak and gravy over rice with roasted potatoes and carrots. It should be a quick, easy meal to prep and might give us some leftovers for tomorrow. We're hosting both men's and women's Bible studies in our home tomorrow morning. I want to bake some keto donut holes and biscuits, as well as some GF snickerdoodles, but I don't know if my energy levels will allow. Depends on how hot it gets today and how much I'm out in it.

As you can see, this writer has a busy life right now. And this doesn't include the rest of my normal chores. I tackle a lot more, but I won't bore you with those details. 😅

Spartacus is doing pretty well. We gave him the box from our new coffee pot and he made himself right at home in it. I wish I had a picture, but honestly, I was just trying to get ready for bed, by that time. Poor buddy! He wanted to play so much yesterday. I did what I could in the between times. He's a ton of fun and such a sweetie!

I better get a move on! I have twenty minutes left before this needs to go out. Yikes!

Just Keep Writing: Friday Fascicles

If this is your first time participating in this kind of writing exercise, you're in for a treat. If you've done this with me before, just keep scrolling for the prompt.

Rules:

1. You can use any/all of the words and/or the photo in the prompt below to create a unique written work. Fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, even lyrics are acceptable.  
2. Please keep the material you write clean (i.e. nothing R-rated or worse) if you wish to share the link to your work here, as well as if you link back to my site. I strive to keep my site free of such things. My readers know and expect this. I respect your right to write whatever you feel you need to write. And you're free to use my prompts. But if your material is graphic, I'd rather not view it, and most of my readers will not wish to. 
3. Have fun! This type of exercise is perfect for growing in the writing craft, or for helping through a rough patch in your current WIP. If you're looking to push your author limits and you normally write in nonfiction prose, try a whimsical collection of lyrics. If you normally write poems about real life events, try your hand at a fanfic. Give yourself some room to explore.

Don't forget to leave a link to your creation (unless you're writing graphic material) so my readers and I can check out your work. I'd appreciate a link back to this post to help me reach more readers, but it's not required. 

Funny how the first word appeared in this month's list of random words. How appropriate! Have fun, Creators!

Writer's Challenge! #abouttheauthoraugust 2023 - Week 2, Day 5

What's my favorite font to write in? I'm so glad you asked! I absolutely love writing in Courier Prime or any font reminiscent of an old-time computer or typewriter. It screams, "I'm working, here!" 

Thank you so much for stopping along the scenic route today. I hope you found the post helpful, useful, encouraging, and overall a positive experience. Let me know what you think in the comments below. 

Please visit again on Monday to check out a new writing prompt. 

Until next time,
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