My March IWSG post is HERE. I think I’m ready to jump the WordPress ship, so this will be my last post on this site. It’s kind of sad, but I don’t see another way to take care of this mess that will be less expensive in time and money. Hope you’ll follow me over to Substack!
Don’t Miss My Substack Post!
This month’s post is very “newsy.” Stop in subscribe (it’s free) and stay in touch.
Why This Genre?
Greetings! Lee wanted me to cover why I’m drawn to writing in the genre I do.
Now, I know she meant the genre for my latest release, In Darkness: The Alien. But I write in several other genres. So, let me mention them, too.
New Adult
I never intended to write in that genre. Actually, my five-book series, The Circle of Friends, started life as YA since there was no such thing as NA at the time. I’ve read many love stories and some NA, but very little YA, so it was a unique place to start my writing career. I just wrote about two characters in love and how their relationship affected those around them. All while slowly moving forward in time as the characters hooked up in other books. I’ve read a ton of relationship books, so dealing with that topic came very natural.
Non-Fiction
I’ve written two, self-help/motivational and instructional.
Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! came about from years involved in a motivational program. I’ve read hundreds of books in that genre, plus ones on leadership and people skills. I gathered up the main key points of all of those books and put my own spin on it. (And I eventually began teaching two seminars from that book.)
The other book, How to Publish & Promote Your Book Now! came from years of teaching publishing and promoting seminars. (Not to mention the fact I run a publishing company.) People began asking for more details and did I have a book? In its second edition, the title is a very detailed version of my two 3-hour seminars and then some. It’s a topic I’m very passionate about and a guide like that when I first began would’ve been helpful. (Most are geared toward self-publishing, not starting a publishing company.)
Paranormal Romance
That brings me to my current genre and the four-book series that is wrapping up, In Darkness. While never a fan of the “alpha male” stories, I’ve loved stories about Dracula and other supernatural beings. Since I also like a good romance grounded in a good story, I dove into a series of books that would highlight a unique paranormal romance. The first, The Vampire, is not your usual “Dracula” story. It’s more of an adventure like The Hobbit. The Shark – well, I’ve never seen a romance involving one, so that was a really fun story. (And NO beastiality.) The Werewolf was a sweeter take on the shifter tale. And finally, The Alien, which comes out next week. It’s a story I wrote over 30 years ago that gained new life, and while the “creature” is an alien, it still has supernatural elements.
Eleven books, spread out over multiple genres. All of them fun and rewarding in their own way. Like most authors, I am most passionate about my current genre and I hope those with an interest in paranormal romance would give In Darkness a read. Who knows? I might just write more stories!
In Darkness: The Alien
By L. Diane Wolfe
Souls shrouded in darkness…Abducted from her research station, Liz’s life is flung into chaos. Sold into servanthood for her knowledge of planetary mining to a race called the Stren, she discovers her problems go far deeper. She is to marry her alien master, Krist, after enduring a procedure designed to eradicate her emotions.
Desperate, Liz persuades the Stren to grant her the duration of a short voyage to change his perception of emotions. But how can she convince someone lacking feelings of their value? Is there a means of accessing the emotional side of Krist before it’s too late?
Release date – February 6, 2024
From Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. www.dancinglemurpress.com
Romance-Science Fiction / Science Fiction-Alien Contact / Romance-Paranormal
eBook ISBN 9781939844972 $3.99
A professional speaker and author, L. Diane Wolfe conducts seminars, offers book formatting, and author consultation. She’s an editor at Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and contributes to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.
http://www.spunkonastick.net/ – Spunk On A Stick
http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com – Spunk On A Stick’s Tips
http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/ – Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Links:
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6QVWB2K
iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id6449979850Le
Barnes & Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940166065681
Kobo – https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=9781939844972
Everand – https://www.everand.com/search?query=9781939844972
Gardners – https://www.gardners.com/Search/KeywordAnonymous/eBook?Keyword=9781939844972
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/171026121-in-darkness
Follow Me, I’m Moving…Slowly… But Surely!
I’ve started packing my bags, filling the dumpster with unwanted stuff, and moseying over to Substack. Join me there by subscribing (it’s free) and we can stay in touch.
A Relay Station Post this First Wednesday
If you’ve visited this blog in the past, you know that I’m having some technical difficulties with my WordPress site. I’ve given up trying to fix the issue, since it keeps coming back like a bad virus.
I’m slowly transitioning from here to Substack. My IWSG First Wednesday post is there, and if you subscribe, you’ll be alerted to my future posts at this new address. The subscription is free. I have no plans to add a paid subscription to my regular monthly posts.
J.Q. Rose And Her New Book
TAG LINE: Your life with Jesus guides you in penning your sacred story and invites you to journey into a deeper faith experience.
FROM EARLY REVIEWS
“well-organized, easy-to-understand writing guide”
“Biblical references with prompts are excellent”
“topic aimed at women from a Christian perspective”
“content engages the reader to recognize the power of her own stories”
The purpose of this Christian-based book, Your Life with Jesus, is to spark memories of your life experiences so you can use them when writing your spiritual memoir. This book guides you in penning your sacred story and invites you to journey into a deeper faith experience.
Sharing your sacred story is not only a gift to your family and others, but also for you, the author of your life story. When viewing your life through the lens of time, you will be aware of God’s presence in your world and discover revelations about your life as you create videos or write your life story.
Best-selling author and workshop leader, J.Q. Rose, guides you through the elements of storytelling to keep readers turning pages. With her wit and warmth, she offers clear explanations, examples, and exercises to discover how to write your story.
Part One of the book includes information on ways to ignite your memories and tips on writing stories readers will want to read. Part Two suggests forty topics for journaling. Each topic, designed to awaken your life experiences, is accompanied by a verse from the Bible and a writing prompt. Not every topic will resonate with you. Select the ones that stir you.
This book will open your heart to know God is speaking to you as you pray, plan, remember, and compose your stories.
Take the time now to create your spiritual memoir. Download your copy so you can preserve those special memories of Your Life with Jesus.
***
About J.Q. Rose
J.Q. Rose is a multi-genre author writing fiction and non-fiction books and articles. Weaving words together delights her whether writing a mystery, how-to books, or memoir.
Janet is a life storytelling advocate encouraging everyone to write their life stories through her workshops and books. Your Words, Your Life Story and Your Life with Jesus offer information on how to get started writing a life story or memoir. They include many ways to spark ideas to develop into stories their families and future generations will cherish.
She penned her best-selling memoir, Arranging a Dream: A Memoir, a feel-good story about the first year she and her husband opened their floral shop and greenhouse business in a small town in Michigan.
Blogging, photography, Pegs and Jokers board games, and travel are the things that keep her out of trouble. She and her husband spend winters in Florida and summers up north with their two daughters, two sons-in-law, four grandsons, one granddaughter, four grand dogs, four grand cats, and one great-grand bearded dragon.
Connect with J.Q. online:
J.Q. Rose blog http://www.jqrose.com/
Facebook http://facebook.com/jqroseauthor
J. Q. Rose Amazon Author Page http://tinyurl.com/aeuv4m4
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jqrose
Let the Holiday Season Begin on this First Wednesday in November…
but not here. I’ve jumped over to Substack for today’s post because WordPress is cranky and won’t let me do what I want. I’m growling, but lucky for you, there’s no soundtrack available.
Hope to see you at this new space today!
This, of course, is a rotten time for WordPress to act up, since I’m about to launch a new book. I’m not surprised, however, it has let me down a lot of times when I really needed it. If you don’t journey over to Substack, I’m looking for bloggers interested in hosting me. I expect to see the book out in late November or early December, but don’t have a date yet. If you can help me out, leave me a message in the comments here or on Substack. Many thanks!
IWSG First Fall Wednesday
FALL! ALREADY!
MY! MY!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The Awesome co-hosts for the October 4 posting are Natalie Aguirre, Kim Lajevardi, Debs Carey, Gwen Gardner, Patricia Josephine, and Rebecca Douglass!
Be sure to visit their sites and see what they have going on.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!
October 4 question: The topic of AI writing has been heavily debated across the world. According to various sources, generative AI will assist writers, not replace them. What are your thoughts?
Who knows what this tool will do for writers? Who knows if it will remain a tool or become much more in all of our writing lives? Even our friend Musk has some reservations, so perhaps we need to tread with some caution.
I’ve read some AI generated writing, and so far it’s like reading a fleshed out dictionary: the facts set down consistently and without errors.
One friend used it to write a synopsis, and it was close to perfect. She only had to tweak a couple of sentences. Since most writers detest writing synopses, this could be a major help. At least, AI could generate a draft, and then the writer could fine tune it.
As for me, I’ll plod along with my quill pen and blotter. I rather like the way working out my brain makes me feel. It has almost the same effect as the endorphin boost physical exercise gives my body.
I’m slowly transferring to Substack. All I need is a few hours of uninterrupted time to figure it out, but that does not seem possible right now. Besides having a new book close to launch and three others in stages of completion, I’m about to start a house remodeling project. What is wrong with me?
Anyway, come see me at my almost NEW DIGS.
Quote of the Month: “Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”
― Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
The Insecure Writers’ Support Group is 12 years old!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The awesome co-hosts for the September 6 posting of the IWSG are Sonia Dogra,J Lenni Dorner,Pat Garcia, Sarah – The Faux Fountain Pen, and Meka James!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!
September 6 question: The IWSG celebrates 12 years today! When did you discover the IWSG, how did you connect, and how has it helped you?
I can’t answer the first part of this question because I don’t remember when or how I discovered this group, but I’m glad I did!
I’ve met so many writers and readers here, and I started as a complete newbie! No connections to anyone in the writing community, no idea what to do or how to do it when came to publishing or how to slog through the ups and downs of this business.
I learned a lot from reading about how others managed their writing, their roads to publishing, and their marketing strategies. The best part was that nobody criticized me for my ignorance. They helped when I asked, they encouraged me when I messed up, and they cheered me on when I did something right.
You can’t ask for more than that from any group.
Jump over to IWSG and answer this question. Share your experience with all the members.
And now it’s time to showcase a new book by L. Diane Wolfe.
Not All Werewolves are Vicious Alphas
If you follow werewolf stories, you’ll notice there’s a trend in books and movies. Most shifter books focus on a dominant male alpha. (Sometimes it’s the woman!) While movies tend to portray werewolves as savage creatures that will rip you to shreds.
Are all werewolves like that? Well, since they aren’t real anyway, I say no!
Think about it. Inside the wolf is still a human being. Why would that person change drastically in nature just because his or her body changes? Especially if they were only part lycan—some of their true nature would come through.
Nicholas is a shy young man but with a great big heart. His change to a werewolf would not result in a wild beast intent on killing. His shy awkwardness would still be present, along with his genuine caring for others, especially those he loves.
The result is some rather tender moments between the leads, even when he’s in lycan form. There are some tense, scary moments, especially the moment when Vicki discovers his true nature. (And I’m very proud of that scene.) But their interaction is anything but savage or dominating.
In fact, I bet it’s one of the sweetest werewolf stories you’ve ever read!
About the Book
In Darkness: The Werewolf
By L. Diane Wolfe
Souls shrouded in darkness…
On her own in England, Vicki trains at a prestigious fencing school. Face marred by a birthmark, she’s suspicious of Nicholas’ attention. A dinner date reveals his genuine interest and they begin to connect. Nicholas is attractive and she wonders why he’s so shy and reclusive.
Then one evening she happens upon him changing into a lycan. Every werewolf legend is challenged by the gentle, fearful creature before her. Vickie accepts his secret, but Nicholas knows he’s an unpredictable beast. Can they trust love enough to overcome their physical challenges?
Release date – Sept. 5, 2023
Romance/Paranormal/Shifter, Romance/Paranormal, Fantasy/Paranormal
$3.99 eBook ISBN 9781939844927
A professional speaker and author, L. Diane Wolfe conducts seminars, offers book formatting, and author consultation. She’s the senior editor at Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and contributes to the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.
http://www.spunkonastick.net/ – Spunk On A Stick
http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com – Spunk On A Stick’s Tips
http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/ – Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Links:
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRR4VLN7/
iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id6445310855
Barnes & Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940165994548
Kobo – https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=9781939844927
Scribed – https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9781939844927&language=0
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75711711-in-darkness
Quote of the Month: “The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity.” — Keith Ferrazzi.
I you’d like to continue networking with me, please join me on SUBSTACK. I post monthly at Substack unless something very special comes up. Hope to see you there!
Wow! It’s The First Wednesday of August 2023
Before I launch into today’s post, there’s some business to deal with. Once again, it seems that WordPress AKA (!@#$!!!!) has eaten the comments on the front side of this blog. Also, you may not be able to post a comment here today. I’ve made my last contribution to GoDaddy to fix the problem, so if you’d like to stay connected you can hop over HERE. I’ll probably be switching to this new venue permanently, so if you subscribe to this site (it’s free) we can continue to share thoughts on writing.
And now for…
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and our hashtag is #IWSG.
The awesome co-hosts for the August 2 posting of the IWSG are Kate Larkindale,Diane Burton, Janet Alcorn, and Shannon Lawrence!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG posts. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience, or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!
August 2 question: Have you ever written something that afterward you felt conflicted about? If so, did you let it stay how it was, take it out, or rewrite it?
My Answer to This Month’s Question
I started to co-write a romance novel with a friend. It began over a very nice dinner and wine, so I wasn’t exactly fully competent to make the decision, and as it turned out, neither was my friend. We were well into the project when we both looked at each other over our printed drafts and decided that we were definitely not romance writers.
We had a good plot and some interesting characters but not the talent or courage to tackle writing romantic scenes. Agreeing to continue with the book, we switched it to women’s lit with Gothic elements–yes, we striped the story of those steamy moments and added a ghost. Why not?
The book’s finished. Now, we’re wondering what to do with it. We’re busy with other projects, so right now, our mutual endeavor is marinating on two C-Drives.
WEP
Don’t forget the next WEP is coming August 16-18, and the theme this month is yummy “Chocolat.” Sign up and put your unique story out.
Some News
Last month I signed up with Evernight Teen for another young adult novel, but while it’s contemporary, it’s not realistic. I think I have ghosts on my mind because this book has one of those, too. Maybe I needed a change of pace and this is the result. I haven’t started the edits yet, and I don’t have a cover, but I’ll share the progress as it unfolds.
Quote of the Month:
“…publication is not all it is cracked up to be. But writing is. Writing has so much to give, so much to teach, so many surprises. That thing you had to force yourself to do—the actual act of writing—turns out to be the best part. It’s like discovering that while you thought you needed the tea ceremony for the caffeine, what you really needed was the tea ceremony. The act of writing turns out to be its own reward.”
― Anne Lamott