February 2021 IWSG Day: Friendship

 

Many thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh and the whole volunteer admin team for keeping the IWSG up and running! Also, thank you to all of the co-hosts for this month's blog hop:  Louise - Fundy Blue , Jennifer Lane, Mary Aalgaard, Patsy Collins at Womagwriter, and Nancy Gideon!

OPTIONAL QUESTION:

Blogging is often more than just sharing stories. It’s often the start of special friendships and relationships. Have you made any friends through the blogosphere?

I've made some writing buddies via the blogsphere, writers whose work I cherish reading, whose blog posts lift me up, whose e-mails are ones I delight in reading. I met an editor who helped me work through my last novella, and who is a joy to work with: Chrys Fey. I met a cover artist and interior designer: Carrie Butler. I have met many writers who have cheered me through my goals and who have helped me market my books with blog tours and shout-outs. Thank you!!!

This month, I'm enjoying new-old opportunities and working my way through some insecurities.

The opportunities: Song-writing and taking part in a church podcast. 

The song-writing has been both for faith-based songs and for a collaborative venture with high school alums. It's been rewarding in the sense that I feel like I've returned to some of my old roots - I used to make up songs between the ages of 4-12, and I love singing, so...even if it doesn't go anywhere, I am falling in love with the process of writing music lyrics.

I was asked to help out with a podcast for One Hope Church by doing a few episodes of a reboot Bible study of 100 stories from the Bible. I'll be doing the podcast on Feb. 4, 15, 24, and March 5, 16, and 25. If you're interested, you can find the podcasts uploaded HERE. 

My newsletter is off the ground and running. I feel pretty good about it so far. If you want to see a sample and sign up, go HERE.

And yes, I'm still writing fiction, too. :)

The mini-insecurity of the month:

I am attempting to build a number of projects at the same time. This is somewhat normal for me, since if I slog away at one project alone, I often get stuck in a spin cycle and my pace of work slows down until I am treading water. 

I am working happily, my calendar feels full, and I'm trying new things. 

However, the doubt creeps in now and then - am I doing too much? Will one of these things crash and burn? Is it okay if that happens?

Again, at the same time, I feel pretty happy with all of it so far, so I think I will keep on keeping on....

BOOK DESTINATIONS

Book Destinations is an old-to-new project I have opened up for all book lovers and authors. If you're interested in highlighting a bookstore, library, or book destination in your area, or one that you have visited, please check it out! I am looking for guest posts from book lovers (and authors) from all over the world. Book Destinations HERE The first guest post will be from DL Hammons in Alaska. The posts will run twice a month for 2021, and I am looking for 9-12 guest book lovers/authors for April-December. While this blog will be focused on book places, you will certainly have an opportunity to write a blurb about yourself and your latest book(s) with some links to your sites.

HIGHLIGHTS OF JANUARY

I am a stowaway with the Writers on the Moon project and my novella Liftoff will be going to the moon, thanks to Chrys Fey! More details will come soon.

I had a short story published in a print publication by a local non-profit for writers in the south sound community. Creative Colloquy offers free classes, open mics, and community for writers and artists. My short scifi story "Companion for the Journey" made it into Creative Colloquy, Volume 7. 

IWSG HIGHLIGHTS

IWSGPit was fun and successful this year! I hope all the writers who pitched had a good experience.