There is no greater gift...Donate blood and BE THE MATCH!

The US is having some major issues right now. Feeling helpless? Feeling like you need to contribute in some way?

I've said it before and I will say it again and again and again. You can save lives.

How?

Donate blood. Blood banks are in desperate need of donations all over the country.

Gigantic wild fires in the West and a line of hurricanes decimating the South means that blood banks in the East and North must provide life-saving blood products to these areas. Once they do, their supplies must be replenished.

Find a blood drive in your area by reaching out to these groups.

Red Cross

New York Blood Center
and the NYBC Family

AND

Join the Bone Marrow Registry!!!

Today marks the 16th year since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Our community still feels the pain of that day. And the health repercussions continue to take our heroes.


"The FDNY’s World Trade Center Memorial Wall, created in 2011, now features 159 names of fallen members who died from illnesses related to their work at Ground Zero, including firefighters, paramedics and fire marshals. Last year, 17 names were added to the wall."

This year, "Thirty-two people were added to the FDNY’s memorial wall."

As First Responders suffer from September 11th related illnesses, many of them with blood cancers, they will most likely need a bone marrow transplant.

Normally, they're the ones saving lives, but this time it could be one of us saving them.
Join the bone marrow registry.

This website, Be The Match, will tell you everything you need to know about joining the registry and WHERE to find a drive near you.

If you personally can't donate that doesn't mean that you can't still help. Share blood drive events near you on social media OR host a blood drive of your own at a local school or church.


I hope my blog friends living in any of the fire and storm areas are all okay.

#IWSG - Dynamite blog post in three...two...one....

I know I blogged yesterday, but I'm just bursting with exciting information for IWSG day, today, so...BUCKLE UP!!!!


It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up.

We post the first Wednesday of every month. We encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.

The awesome co-hosts today are Tyrean Martinson, Tara Tyler, Raimey Gallant, and Beverly Stowe McClure!

September’s optional question - Have you ever surprised yourself with your writing? For example, by trying a new genre you didn't think you'd be comfortable in?

***

Honestly, sometimes I go back and read something and I just can't believe that I even wrote it!
Not that it's particularly awesome writing, just that the words are almost foreign to me or that the plot points actually worked or that the character said something funny. And I'm like...really? I wrote that? That rocks!
How about you?

***

September marks six years for the IWSG group and four years for the website. You know what that means…

The annual IWSG Anthology Contest!

Eligibility: Any member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group is encouraged to enter – blogging or Facebook member. The story must be previously unpublished. Entry is free.

Word count: 3500-6000

Genre: Mystery/Crime/Thriller

Theme: Tick Tock. The story revolves around a clock, is time sensitive, or has something about a specific time. This theme has plenty of scope and we’re open to pretty much anything along these lines. No erotica, R-rated language, or graphic violence.

Story deadline: November 1st 2017

How to enter: Send your polished, formatted, previously unpublished story to admin @ insecurewriterssupportgroup.com before the deadline passes. Please include your contact details, your social links, and if you are part of the Blogging or Facebook IWSG group.

Judging: The IWSG admins will create a shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official judges:

Elizabeth S. Craig writes cozy mystery series for Penguin Random House, Midnight Ink, and independently. She curates links on Twitter as @elizabethscraig that are later shared in the free search engine Writers Knowledge Base.

Anne Hawkins is a partner in John Hawkins & Associates, Inc., New York. Founded in 1893 by Paul R. Reynolds, it is the oldest literary agency in the country. She works with mainstream literary and commercial fiction, including mystery, suspense, and thrillers and a wide variety of serious non-fiction, particularly history, politics, biography, science, and natural history. A number of her books have gained distinction through award nominations, book-to-film contracts, significant foreign rights sales, major book club selections, or placement on the New York Times bestseller list. Anne Hawkins is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives.

Candace Havens is the Editorial Director of Covet has written multiple novels for Berkley, Entangled and Harlequin. Her books have received nominations for the RITA’s, Holt Medallion and Write Touch Reader Awards. She is one of the nation’s leading entertainment journalists, runs a free online writing workshop, and teaches comprehensive writing class.

Author, Public Speaker, and Executive Producer, Lynn Tincher was born just outside of Louisville, Kentucky in the beautiful city of La Grange. She has written four books, with the fifth one currently in the making. Her first book, Afterthoughts was optioned for movie production by Kilted Pictures and Dancing Forward Productions in Los Angeles. It is currently in pre-production with plans to shoot in Louisville, Kentucky very soon.

Ion Newcombe is the editor and publisher of AntipodeanSF, Australia's longest running online speculative fiction magazine, regularly issued since January 1998. His qualifications and employment range from horticulture through electronics into literature and communications.

Patricia (Pat) Stoltey is the author of four crime fiction novels published by Five Star/Cengage including a historical mystery called Wishing Caswell Dead (https://www.amazon.com/Wishing-Caswell-Dead-Patricia-Stoltey/dp/1432834401/) (December 2017). She lives in Northern Colorado with her husband Bill, Sassy Dog, and Katie Cat. To learn more about Patricia and her books, visit her website/blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Mason Canyon had a love of books since childhood encouraged by a mother who loved to read. A 30+year career in journalism fueled her desire to know what a story is all about. Blogging at Thoughts in Progress since 2009 and operating MC Book Tours for over a year. Loves to read and share great stories with others. MC Book Tours

Prizes: The winning stories will be edited and published by Freedom Fox Press next year in the IWSG anthology. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title.

We’re excited to see the creativity and enthusiasm that’s such a part of this group put into action. So don your creative caps and start writing. And spread the word! 



 

Don’t forget that October 4 is the Show Us Your Writer Insecurity Contest! 

On Wednesday, October 4 (IWSG Day), post a photo of yourself (or your alter ego) with any of the IWSG swag or with the IWSG logo. Then leave a comment that day at either the IWSG website’s post or the IWSG Facebook post directing us to your photo. (All blog, Facebook, Goodreads, and newsletter members welcome, but photo must be posted on a blog or Facebook to qualify.)
 
There are some cool prizes to be had!

Plus the IWSG Writing For Profit will be available by that time.

And finally, don’t forget to submit your news to the IWSG Newsletter – free advertising for your new releases, sales, and more. Contact Christine Rains or send directly to the IWSG email address.

What's this weird thing? A blog post? Huh!

I miss blogging.

It's been a busy summer and I haven't put in the time to write blog posts or visit my blog friends.

I miss venting to you guys and I miss catching up with all your news.

I got a part-time job for the summer, which was great, and it may even lead to another job, which is also great.

But, it threw off my timing for just about everything else. I wasn't even on the computer as much as I usually am.

I didn't write much, if anything, at all. That's been tough. I just didn't feel like it.

I didn't feel like editing my book either, which is problematic, cause it's done and I want it to be great and published, but I'm in book decision hell.

A story for another day.

Okay, enough about me.

Let's send out positive thoughts to everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey and the huge wildfires in California, Oregon, and Montana.

Watching Hurricane Irma closely as she gathers strength and heads for Puerto Rico and Florida and hoping she fizzles out.

Best wishes to everyone that has kids going back to school. I know some of you guys started in August, but here in NY they start this week.

Good luck to everyone's favorite college football teams! Florida State had a rough first game and lost to Alabama. They also lost their quarterback for the season. Let's hope their back-up QB is awesome.

Don't forget tomorrow is IWSG Posting Day!! 

Here is the 'Optional' IWSG question:

September 6 Question: Have you ever surprised yourself with your writing? For example, by trying a new genre you didn't think you'd be comfortable in??