My Motivation Monday...

 Hey all! It's October 11, and today, is my birthday!

Yay.

No, I won't tell you how old I am. I'm older than the internet, that's all you need to know.

So on this Motivation Monday, I would like to ask for donations to Suicide Prevention. This is a topic near and dear to me. I have severe depression and anxiety, I go to therapy and I fight every day.

This isn't a pity post, I'm not asking for your sympathy, but I am asking for your support and compassion. This is something so many people face every single day of their lives. Veterans who return from war who need help and are ignored. Teenagers who are beaten or bullied and feel there is no other way out except death. People who suffer abuse, PTSD, they fight every single day.

I don't care if you donate a $1 or more. All I am asking is that you donate.

And, if you feel like no one out there is listening or able to help you, please know that there are tons of people who care! 

Call the hotline:

800-273-8255

There is always someone willing to listen. You aren't done yet.

Thank you everyone, in advance, for your donations. Thank you for your compassion and caring.

It means more than you realize.

Have a great rest of your week!

Ladies and Gentlemen of Horror: Author Interviews ~ Jenna Miller

It's November 1st. Ladies and Gentlemen of Horror 2017 is now available! So today, I have an interview with the creator of the anthology, Jenna Miller. Not only is she the one responsible for this wonderful, creepy collaboration of chills and thrills, she's also a contributor as well. Let's get on with the interview! Her answers will be in green.

What inspired Ladies and Gentlemen of Horror? 

Way back in 2007, just after I’d published my first fantasy novel, I was invited to contribute to a horror anthology (Concrete Blood: Dark Tales of the City) – it was so much fun and I wanted to do my own anthology. We were also just starting Word Weavers (a writer’s group) at the time, and doing anthologies through there … I wanted one that was just for women, and more importantly, just for women in horror. When I approached people about it, I got mixed responses. A lot of women didn’t want to do it. I got a lot of flak about exploiting women and how it wasn’t “positive.” I also had a few guys who joked about not having a men only anthology.

So I decided to do both, a Ladies and a Gents, and a combined.

How often have you contributed to the anthology? 

I contributed in 2008, 2013 and 2016.
What are the titles of the stories you’ve contributed? 

Addiction, Bitch and Slither (respectively).

What was one of the hardest scenes you’ve ever had to write? 

The rape/cannibal scene at the beginning of Addiction.

How does your family feel about the production of the anthology? 

They’re encouraging, but hate that they essentially lose me for the few months I work on it.

Why do the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society? 

The anthology doesn’t make enough money to pay each contributor much at all, so in 2013 the group decided that donating the profits to charity would be best. As a group we chose breast cancer, but finding a charity that actually puts your donations towards the cause is hard, and that’s why, after much research, we chose the ACS.

I’ve asked all the authors, now I’ll ask you, too. Do you Google yourself? 

Sometimes, and while I have one of the most common names ever in the history of ever, I’m always in the top ten or so. Which is scary.

What is your preferred genre for writing? 

Horror, though I do love the occasional dabble into fantasy and sci-fi.

How do these contributors make you feel? 

I love my contributors. Each and every one has taught me something and helped both me and the anthology grow. I’ve developed long lasting friendships and also learned a few hard lessons working with people from all over the world over the last nearly ten years.

Has the success of the anthology grown over the years? 

Yes. Bit by bit, I see its popularity growing. Even now I’m booked up for the next two years in both the fantasy and the horror—which is hard to fathom, considering as I used to have to sell my soul, and seduce or otherwise entice people in order to get contributors.

How does one contribute to the anthology? 

By sending a query of interest (details can be found in the “notes” on our websites (Queries or Submission Queries) or on the FB pages ( Ladies and Gentlemen of Horror or Ladies and Gentlemen of Fantasy ) or to Email (horror) or Email (fantasy).

*~*~*

Thanks so much for your time, Jenna! I wish you much success with these anthologies as time goes on.

Don't forget, you can purchase your copy of the anthologies now!

A Writer's Life...

As writers, it seems we're put through the ringer more than the rest of the world. Sometimes. Perhaps it is because the higher powers that be want us to experience more, feel more, so we know how to share it with the world when we write our story.

I say sometimes, because sometimes it seems like that one author you admire so much seems to have it easy. They can crank out best sellers like a factory worker. But you never know what that person had to go through to get there.

I've seen all sorts of questions from new authors, wanting to know how to manage their time, how to just sit down and write, what to write and why, for the love of all that is holy, do we write?

It's different for everyone. Managing time is difficult for me. I end up writing in spurts. I go long periods without writing and then start to feel guilty or ashamed for not writing and try to force it. Then it comes out like crap, but it is down on paper for me to revise.

Not knowing what to write really hasn't been that much of an issue for me. Getting from point A to point B in my story has been. And I write because I have cool ideas and stories to tell. It is something I would like to read, but have yet to find out there. And I am dipping my toe into so many different genres, it's been fun!

But my life, it's anything but glamorous. I live paycheck to paycheck. If something were to happen to my car, or me, or my family (knock on wood), it would set me back and I'd be stressed and frantic. My sister in law had commissioned a book cover and an editor, had plans to make payments and her husband got laid off. The money she had went to bills. So she started a GoFundMe campaign. I've been tweeting about that. I've seen others who have needed help start campaigns as well. It's important to help out, even if it is just sharing links. Every writer out there has a dream and they all deserve to live it.

I know other authors who struggle with bills, with their health and other things, but they keep on writing. It isn't self flagellation, it's just the love of the craft.

Okay, maybe a little flagellation...

But if you love to write and your life is chaotic at best, you will find a way. You might need to rely on your community once in awhile, but you will get by. I hope all of you find success, no matter what your definition may be. But this community of writers has been good and supportive when it matters. No matter what sort of support you are seeking. Keep your chin up and don't give up!

Please note there are TWO links to two different campaigns. Help out however you can, even if it is just sharing the links on your social media or blogs.



What's your writer life like?

Giveaway Poll...

Hey everyone! I've been trying to use Blogger's poll gadget for weeks now with no success. Quite frankly it is ticking me off.

So I am going to do this the old fashioned way! I will hold this poll open for a couple of weeks.

Now bear in mind I'm a broke goddess. Money is sort of an issue. Depending on your answers, I may put up a little Paypal thing and ask for donations for giveaway prizes, but that seems quite tacky. At least in my opinion because I really do not like to ask for money even if it is for a good cause. (Don't take this as an insult, please, I just hate money in general and would rather give it than receive it.)

Anyway, when my book releases, Cheri and I will be doing a giveaway. We've got items for that already and have stuff planned. I want to know what you would like to see in the future, because I would like to hold a Twitter party during my release of my book and give stuff away at random during said party.

So what would you like to see? What is your opinion on asking for donations to hold a giveaway?

Most of the options are as follows:

Books ~ These can be copies of the new books being released, of course or just books in general. What books would you like to see being given away?

Swag ~ Items that are related to the book such as bookmarks, small gifts and items that are not really related to the book at all.

Kindle/Nook ~ This is something I want to do someday, but until I have the money, I can't do it. But would you like to see it being done again?

Gift cards ~ These are always a favorite. You get to spend them on whatever you like, which is cool.

Any other suggestions? I'd like to hear what you have to say, so please, please leave me a comment! My mind reading abilities have been blocked lately. Stupid tinfoil hats...