Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Voices In My Head by Cindy J. Smith

Poetry from the Heart


Voices In My Head is the first collection in my "Jasmine's Wish" series. My daughter, Jasmine, organized poems I had written over the years in an attempt to get me to publish.  After her death, and because of the encouragement of friends on Facebook, I added all the new poems I'd penned to her categories. The poems cover all aspects of life. Nature, time, feelings, politics are all fodder for my rhymes. I recommend this book to anyone seeking understanding as many viewpoints are examined.

A poem from the book

AURORA BOREALIS

In the land of the midnight sun
Before months of forever night
The fairies gather up their dust
To perform their astral delights
They fill the sky with light
Weaving their slender silken threads
Using only the palest hues
Of lavenders, yellows, and reds
Fairies fly on gossamer wings
Trailing their glowing webs behind
They dance together in a show
Making ever-changing designs
The Aurora Borealis
Fills Alaska’s sky at twilight
Fairies bringing sweet hope to all
With their gift of Northern Lights

Find Cindy on her:
Website:
http://carternovels.com/author-cindy-j-smith.html
Twitter:  @cindysvoices
FB:  https://www.facebook.com/CindysVoices/
GOODREADS:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6505989.Cindy_J_Smith
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/cindyjsmith1/

AUTHORS  

Monday, March 18, 2019

A Search Down Inspiration Lane by L. L. Thomsen

Where has my muse gone? And how do I get her back?

I know I am not the first (nor the last) author in history to stare at that blank screen/paper, feeling hollow and somewhat bewildered that the next line just won’t come to me.  Nonetheless, right in that moment, it feels as though I am the first, the only, the most useless, that’s for sure. 


How did this happen? I mean, it should write itself, right? I was on a roll! I even know what I am supposed to write – goodness, my outline is clear and everyday I’ve been working towards hitting a few thousand extra words, vigorously tugging them under my belt so that I’ll be in a position to write ‘The End’ on the final page of my WIP sooner rather than later…  

Well, the idea that I will one day harvest the benefit of all this effort and plotting seems like a pipe dream right about then. And as I fail to type a single word, I can feel that coveted goalpost of personal achievement shift beyond my reach. 

I am impatient and frustrated; it’s irrational – I know - and then comes the mini black hole and it sucks me right in.  Again.  

See, it’s not the first time my goal post has moved – I mean, such is life, but now it seems further away than ever; impossible to achieve even, and then comes the first-class, full-flight of self-doubt.  I am probably never going to finish this. I am silly for even thinking I could do this, but not to worry - it probably isn’t very good anyway.  My story sucks. I suck.  In fact, if I cannot find inspiration to write this next chapter, why even be a writer? Others wheel them out, but clearly that kind of productivity is beyond me!

(Are you nodding now? I think you might be, because you know what I’m talking about, don’t you? Well, bear with me…)

It’s when that feeling of hopelessness tags you that it really hits you just how lonely a writer’s life can be. It doesn’t matter that you cannot live without it or that you chose it; wanted it. The fact remains that it’s pretty darn similar to sitting cross-legged in a cave on a desert island with only your imaginary friends (AKA the characters from you story) for company. They chat to you… but only sometimes – and of course never when you need them to, lol.

So what do you do? Throw in the towel for good? Watch some telly? Read a book? Go shopping? Browse Social media for commiserations and solutions? Walk the dog? Peel potatoes? Chat to your friends about anything but writing? Chat to your friends about nothing but writing? Go to the gym? Eat cake (yum)? Escape to your kitchen - or if you’re lucky: the local coffee house – where you can promptly proceed to consume copious amounts of hot drinks that you swear will help you see the light?
Well, I am going to tell you that I do all of the above – and more.
Yup. I really do.  Cross my heart…

And I even ‘throw in the towel’ occasionally, as well – at least, for a little while. See I know we are all different and everyone works in different ways.  And so, what works for me, may not work for Peter and John, and what works for them may just seem plain stupid to Sarah and Jean, but that is not really the point here.  The point is that when you hit the slump – oh the darn dreaded slump! – it might be for various reasons and these are usually tied to other things that go on in your world. Loneliness, worries, depression, too much work, not enough work, kids, animals, bills, etc… and the point is that these can all get to you sometimes, but this does not mean you don’t have it in you to finish your WIP and produce a book, nor that you are not good enough, or that your story is pants!
What you need is a break. Or if you have just had a break and cannot seem to get back into it, you need a shift in focus.  And that means you need something that will help you rekindle your joy for the WIP and something that will stop you from growing rusty, too. 

Now at this point, if you enter the 1000 yard stare contest with your WIP, neither the screen, nor the blank paper will inspire you. It’s simple. It will continue to suck you dry if you let it - and so you need to escape its clutches and re-direct your attention.  And so, here we go back to the points above…

Whether burned out, just back from a break, or simply uninspired, the thing that always works for me is to walk away from the WIP itself.  For the lunch hour – or for weeks – it really doesn’t matter, but very importantly, this is not the time to wallow in a hole (though you might want to) – and weirdly it is also not the time to stop writing either – at least not altogether. 

But what? How?
I’m sure you’ll have heard many of your fellow writers say, ‘Never stop writing’ - and for good reason! Because you may not be able to work on your WIP but there are other ways to stay sharp and put your skills to good use so that when you get your mojo back, you will still feel ‘in touch’ and centered around the routine of writing.  After all, one step forwards and two to the side is often to be preferred over two steps forward and halt. 

So you cannot work on the WIP?
Well if so, just write regardless. Write something that keeps you in the game; something that keeps you focused – work on a different story you been thinking of exploring, or write a short story, fanfiction, maybe write a blog about your WIP, or about your experiences, or hopes, or dreams, or fears. Write something serious, write something banal, write a letter to the President - you name it – you can write about a book you recently read; review it… do what feels unforced and easy, but keep writing because this will help you develop your skills and that is super handy for when that muse glides back into your life with a goofy smile of apology. 
But of course this will not fill your day the way working on your WIP does.  It might even also be that your heart is not in it, because this is after all not what you want to write about, so I suggest that you mix it up a little bit.  Browse Pinterest or Deviant Art for inspiration, chat to your author mates on social media, share snippets of you WIP, ask for feedback on ideas; on characters, go back and read your notes, get reacquainted with what got you burning to tell your story in the first place, stay in contact with like-minded people who share your path and know the troubles you might face (be they friends, family or FB mates).  Allow yourself this time ‘off’: read a new book, watch some telly – anything - and you might find that you once more begin to spot glimpses of your muse.

Now when she/he/it does return to your side or shoulder or wherever she sits, you will soon know, and that’s when you pick up the reigns, go back to your WIP or you grab a notebook to instantly write down all those new ideas that suddenly pop into your head!

As for the time scale on this ‘come back’ – ah well who can say? I have stepped away from my WIP for months before; I have procrastinated, drunk too much coffee, watched too much telly, but eventually something sparks an idea that pulls me back in. It is meant to be. Be patient. The muse will not let you off the hook indefinitely: sooner or later the WIP will call you back, and you will answer because you feel compelled, and it’s right.

Ah, but gah! The muse almost got back but now she’s on holiday again – or somewhere: delayed on an overnight flight, or sightseeing in Manhattan, or something like that. So then what? Dang it!
Okay, you were almost ready. You caught the whiff of former glory but now the muse keeps flirting and disappearing, and you still cannot work on the WIP.  So now what?

Well, if I get truly and badly ‘stuck’, I simply: rinse, sleep, eat, and repeat.  Never stop looking for inspiration, but not to the point of exhaustion. It’s not easy – not always – but then again, few things are. You are in this for long haul, right? So just think of it as a work hazard and learn to roll with the waves. You will feel less hassled and calmer – and guess what? When you don’t force it too much, it seems to glide all the better and you will be all the stronger as a writer and person. Indeed, often you will find that the hated break has given you new perspective.  In fact, it may perhaps even have helped you figure out a cooler, more exciting plot for your story, or a subplot, or you might have ended up thinking up a new exciting character, and (Yay!) that is never a bad thing.

So there.
Now stop panicking and take a breather. You got this. Do not punish yourself.
You are not the first writer in the world to feel like this. You will not be the last either. But you will get your muse back. And you will write your book and finish it. 
There indeed! 
(By L. L. Thomsen)
http://llthomsen.com/




Sunday, March 17, 2019

Our Author Gang Online Magazine: April Issue

Our April issue is published
Click and enjoy!

In this issue:
Page 2:
About OAG
Page 3:
TOC
Page 4-8:
Author Appreciation Day
Page 9-21:
We asked the authors
Page 22-31:
Our most popular blog posts
Page 32:
New release
Page 33:
Join our group
Page 34-35:
Promo options at OAG
Page 36:
Badly formatted books
Page 37-38:
Thank you for reading and sharing the OAG magazine

Friday, March 15, 2019

Best Friends Rescuing Kittens

And Dealing With Bullies

By Erika M Szabo
Illustrated storybook for children 4-12


Daniel looked up, wiping the water from his eyes. He saw a woman walking toward the water with a basket in her hand. As she got closer, the children saw an orange-colored cat with white paws and chest that was following the woman, crying and hissing. The cat was clearly in distress. She tried to claw and bite the woman’s legs, and even when the woman kicked her, she didn’t give up.
The cat’s loud cries made the hairs stand up on the children’s arms. They didn’t understand what was happening, but they felt something was very wrong.
The woman ignored the cat, and when she reached the edge of the river, she took a tiny, meowing kitten out of her basket and threw it into the river as far from shore as she could. The kitten flailed in the air, desperately crying, and then splashed into the water.

Bianca and Daniel watched in horror. The woman grabbed another kitten and threw it into the river.
The woman laughed cruelly as she threw the third and fourth kitten into the water. The scene sent chills down the children’s spines.
The adult cat gave out a painful cry, darted down the riverbank and jumped into the water. She reached one of her kittens, took it into her mouth, and started swimming ashore.
The group of kids stood in the shallow water looking just as guilty as Peter. Daniel punched Peter’s shoulder playfully and said, “No name calling. Okay? Mark is who he is, and he will be a bully until he wants to change.”
“Sure thing,” Peter promised. “I’m not going to hang out with that bully anymore, no matter what he says or does. I’m scared of him, but I can run away if he tries to hurt me.”
“Yes, you can run a lot faster than Mark,” Daniel stated. “You’re the fastest runner in school. Let’s play,” Daniel picked up the ball and threw it at Peter spraying him with water.
Peter laughed and splashed Daniel and the other kids. They splashed him back and soon they were laughing and happily playing in the cool water.
Bianca watched Daniel from shore and smiled proudly. Her BFF always found the right way to smooth things out and make everyone feel comfortable around him.
Peanut rumbled softly, staring at the bushes near the water. Bianca saw Mark and his two cronies standing by the bush.
Mark looked angry as he was staring at the kids who were playing in the water.
Scott and Aiden stood next to him with gloomy expressions on their faces. Bianca thought, they want to play with us, I know it. I wish they would stand up to Mark. Those two boys don’t seem to be mean, they’re just too afraid of that big bully. Bianca sighed and patted Peanut’s head sadly.



Thursday, March 14, 2019

Best Bookish Video Contest

The submission is open: March 14 to March 31



Send your YouTube video link to ourauthorgang@aol.com

Enter your video about book.
It could be a book trailer, teaser from audio books, or the author is reading from their book.

The videos will be to this PAGE as they come in and the voting poll will be added April 1st.
The winners will be announced April 15.

Prizes:
The 3 winner videos will be added to our video page, and will be promoted on our Facebook page and group, and on Twitter. 


This is a great opportunity to share your books and receive feedback. Plus, you could win a prize.

Visit our pages:

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

5 Reasons Why Authors Should:

Write Blog Posts and Articles

1. Articles can provide authors with presence in the jungle of the net.
If you don't already have an established, well-visited website or blog, it may take years for Google to trust your site and rank in search results. The OAG blog, because we add interesting content daily, have a pretty strong presence in search.

2. Practice makes perfect.
The more you write, the better and more unique your writing style will become.  Writing articles is a great way to practice and perfect your craft. Your articles will also help you grow your audience and get them excited about your next book.

3. Articles establish your credibility.
Having good, interesting, and valuable content is going to establish your credibility which is especially critical for nonfiction authors. Readers and buyers have millions of books and authors to choose from, but something about you and your writing needs to stand out. Finding your articles online through Google searches, or seeing them posted on your social media channels and your book selling sites, will show buyers that you are serious about your writing.

4. Writing articles enables you to build your audience.
In addition to having a presence on social sites, writing articles also help you build connections. Articles and blogs are another way for people to get to know you and your work. It’s a way for people to hear your voice. A lot of authors write articles for other blogs or website or agree to share and promote another author’s blog with their community. This is a great way to reach new audiences.

5. You get valuable feedback.
Okay, there are a few jerks who criticize anything anonymously just because they're jerks. That's why the OAG blog is set up the way that only those can comment who signed into Google.

Would you like to write articles for the OAG blog?
The posts are shared with our hashtag #OurAuthorGang. When someone clicks on the hashtag on social sites, they can see the long line of posts and if they find your article interesting, they will click your article, read your content, and learn more about you. 

Erika M Szabo




Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Procrastination, a bad companion

If you are a writer, but generally in every situation, you understand that when you have a schedule, this is supposed to be honored. Following a schedule is like giving your word, it is a promise you made whether with your employer, with the chores of the house with your friends but mostly with yourself.

The good old say ‘don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today’ holds a very important piece of advice and here there are a few reasons why you should follow this golden rule. The three most important of those are the followings:

1. If you keep procrastinating, you will forget about what you need to do, and you will end up with broken promises, and troubles.

2. You will accumulate so many things at the end that you won’t be able to do at the time they were due.

3. You will spend nights of sleep, trying to keep up a schedule that was perfectly feasible and became impossible.

Do you think I am exaggerating? Maybe yes and maybe not.
The problem is that I have always been the kind of person that wanted to be ahead of schedule so that I could enjoy my free time without any panic.
Becoming a writer, turned my schedules upside down, and suddenly like the transformation between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I have turned myself from Dr. always-organized to Ms. live-now-worry-later.
The problem is that living now to worry later means that I will be not just worried, I will be in full panic. So what is the end of this story?
Organize yourself, if you aren’t able, keep a calendar, if you think you will risk ignoring the calendar, put alarms during the whole day, but don’t risk to forget things, appointments, duties, and schedules.
I know it might sound like an obvious advice, but you will never know when it will happen that you will also turn into Mr. live-now-worry-later!
Cheers!

Monday, March 11, 2019

Palace of the Three Crosses: Book Two


Palace of the Three Crosses

Christina Weigand





Brandan and Joachim have returned from the brink of Hell, but everyone questions if they are truly healed and one with Asha.
As each prince tries to readjust to life, they must face the funeral of their father and their missing mother.
They each take on the responsibility of ruling a country with new wives by their sides, but can they and the countries survive the trials that will ensue because of their choices?




Queen Maeve






Queen Magda/Gudrun





Excerpt

Rupert looked through the window in his tower room at the landscape of Wyrzburg. Months had passed since the Battle of Harable Valley and the spring planting season faded into the wonderful summer growing season. The land progressed in its healing and would soon be returned to its former state. As he turned from the window, he thought about the things that hadn’t healed…the twins. Brandan and Joachim still had a long way to go to erase the darkness that infected them. Joachim seemed better, but at night he still dreamed of Sidramah, and the doubts about what happened still haunted him. Brandan appeared even further from the boy that left to find his brother. The darkness appeared to follow him day and night. He withdrew to chambers as far away from Joachim as he could get.

Walking down the stairs to the great hall, Rupert remembered when the princes first returned; both had seemed healed and better than ever, maybe. But it appeared as if the tentacles of Sidramah still lingered. Any small opening the evil one could find, he exploited, and both boys were once again haunted by dark dreams.


 Palace of Twelve Pillars





Excerpt II

 “We could have been one happy family, but now, I have to kill the two of you along with Lilia. You brats have put me in disfavor with Sidramah, and the only way to regain his favor is to get rid of all three of you. I had hoped to spare at least one, but alas, that is now impossible. The only question is…who’s first? The time has come for a decision.”



Brandan stood beside Joachim, his face working with barely controlled rage. He lunged toward Waldrom.

Waldrom sensed the presence of magic and glanced behind him. Rupert and Lukan stood at his back. He grabbed Lilia and pulled her close, placing his short sword at her throat. “I suggest you stop, or I will cut her throat,” he warned Brandan. To emphasize his point, he pressed the sword against her skin puncturing her flesh.
Brandan, took another step.

“I wouldn’t do that, unless you want your mother's corpse on your hands.”

Joachim wanted to run to Lilia, but his head whirled. Stars floated in front of his eyes, their motion making him sick with dizziness. He stepped up to stand beside Brandan. “Waldrom, I’m afraid you’re mistaken. First, you’re outnumbered. Second, what makes you think you can use Mother to blackmail us? Let her go, and we’ll discuss your surrender. I don’t want to kill you.”

Brandan pushed Joachim aside. “You may not, brother, but I do. He’ll stop at nothing to destroy me. I can’t let that happen.” 

A group of Brandan's personal guard came charging down the hall. Waldrom pushed the sword point a little further into Lilia's throat. “I see you boys still don’t agree on anything. I suggest you stop the group of soldiers from attacking me. Rupert, I know you’re back there, trying to form a spell to stop me. That wouldn’t be a good idea either.”

The tableau unfolded before Joachim's eyes. Waldrom, in the center of the circle holding Lilia with a short sword slicing her throat and Brandan, his long sword drawn, advancing on Waldrom. Rupert and Lukan with sword drawn, stood motionless behind Waldrom. Conflicting voices rang in Joa's head. “Kill them all. You don’t need them.” Other voices calling, “Joachim save them.”

Lukan yelled, “Sire, watch out behind you.”

Joachim started and turned as a Mantion rushed him. He pulled his short sword from his scabbard. The attacker reached him. The king swung his weapon cutting and angering the Mantion. The foe sliced Joachim's knees with his knife, leaving a gash in his thigh. Joachim doubled over in pain. The Mantion leapt on his back and pummeled the king. The weight of the attacker lifted from his back. Joachim fearfully turned his head, expecting to see the Mantion standing over him ready to deliver the kill stroke. Instead, Brandan stood with the Mantion dead at his feet and Waldrom frozen behind him.

“What happened? I felt sure I was dead. And what happened to Waldrom?”

Brandan offered a hand to help Joachim to his feet. “I couldn’t let that Mantion kill you. I skewered him and cast a freezing spell. Let’s clean up this mess and get Waldrom and his pets locked in the dungeon until we can figure out what to do with him.”

“Think again young wizard.” Waldrom’s voice echoed down the long hall. “I believe your magic has failed. Then again, we shouldn’t be surprised. You always struggled with your spells.”

Brandan turned slowly to face Waldrom. Joachim could not support his own weight and slumped to the floor again.

“See, you haven’t even helped your brother. You foolish boy. You are useless, and I think it is time to rid the world of your worthless life. But first, let me get rid of everyone you treasure and failed. I’ll finish off your weak excuse of a brother. Then you can watch your mother die, and finally…I will put you out of your misery.” Waldrom pointed a bony finger at Joachim.

Joachim screamed as pain rolled over his body. Blood spurted from his ears and the scar on his neck. “Asha help me!” he prayed.
Fighting the waves of agony, he stood and drew his long sword. “You won’t hurt anyone in ever again. End this now! Surrender. Release Mother and I will see that you are treated mercifully.”
Brandan blocked Joachim's path. “This isn’t your battle. Let me finish this.”

 “No. We must stand as one to defeat this evil.” Joachim winced when he stepped forward, and blood spurted from the wound in his leg. “We must do this together. It’s the only way we can defeat him, as one with Asha.”

Waldrom laughed. Pulling Lilia closer, he pushed the sword deeper into her throat.

Joachim's scar tingled at the memory of his own injury. Waldrom had started it, Brandan finished it. “You can’t trust Brandan. Leave him and stand with me. I am your only hope.” Joachim shook his head. “I am here for you my son. Stand with Brandan.” The voices argued in his mind.

Joachim glanced down the hallway. Lukan was back, leading a group of Joachim’s personal guard toward Waldrom. Soon, Lukan stood directly behind Waldrom with a sword to his back.

“Let go of the queen and submit peacefully,” Lukan ordered.
Waldrom laughed. “You think your silly little soldiers will stop me from getting what I came for.”

Joachim took a step toward him. “Waldrom, you’re surrounded. Don’t you see how hopeless this is?”

“How quickly you pathetic boys forget. I’m Sidramah's Anointed One. With that comes great power.” Waldrom waved his free hand, and Lukan fell to his knees.

“You think you can take me captive and not use magic to do it? Of course, we have already seen that Brandan's magic is powerless. Joachim, you‘ve some silly notion you shouldn’t use your magic against me. So, it seems as if I’m the one with control here, not you.”








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