Curiosity. It's not just for cats.

July 13th already? Where the heck is this month going?



Besides the fact that the San Diego Comic Con just finished, and I wasn't there ... again ... a bunch of writing conferences are coming up soon.

So, I'm curious...


Are you guys going to anything this year?

Which one(s)?

What do you feel you get out of it?

Is it worth the money?

Do you guys have any (annual) memberships?

Have you joined any local chapters for writing?

I'd love to know if you guys think any of this stuff is worth it before I invest time and/or money.

I know I need to do more for myself, and for my books, but I'm a big fat scaredy-cat and I need more data.

Thanks for sharing!

I'm off to get some Monday stuff done. You know, laundry, dishes, coffee drinking.

:)

Hey! Average reader! I have a question for you...

Epiphany: a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something.

I had me one of these yesterday.

A relevant yet sudden revelation.

Maybe the reason I'm having so much trouble writing book three is because I don't want to write it about Emily.

I have many excuses, as I mentioned the other day, and not a lot of content.

Maybe it's not Emily's turn.

Maybe she's not ready for her own story. Yet.

Maybe this book needs to be about someone else. Someone who has LOTS of content.

So, let me ask you this, average readers, if you read the first 2 books in a series, and they were both about 2 female family members, would it bother you if the subject of book 3 changed to a male family member?

Would it throw you off or confuse you?

Honestly, this seems like the best course of action for me, which means I actually got excited by the prospect of writing about this character.

But, readers are important too, and I don't want to scare off the three that I have!

What say you, good blogger friends?

Am I crazy?

Wait! Don't answer that.

Do I have a crazy idea?

***

Have you seen the trailer for Con Man yet?
SO WORTH IT!

A slight makeover, The X-Files news, and other random stuff.

Well? 

How does it look?

I hadn't intended to go so dark, but I found myself diggin' the purple flames. I wish they continued down the page more, but I can't seem to make that happen.

I got inspired for an update from Tara Tyler. She's always sprucing up her blog and I hadn't made a change in a while.

If something weird creeps up, please let me know.

***

Have you signed the petition?

Change the Amazon "You Know This Author" Review Policy

***

The Re-opening of The X-Files News

The X-Files has a new and improved page on FOX.com with all the latest happenings.

Did you catch the new trailer with 3 seconds of new footage? Duchovny back in a suit!!!

Check it out HERE.

FOX, as usual, starts out with a great idea and then has a brain fart ending in an epic fail.

This is their new campaign. Starting on 7-7-2015 (yesterday), if you start watching 1 episode of The X-Files each day, in order, you will end up watching the last episode (#201) the same day the first NEW episode airs, which is 1-24-2016.

But, they're not going to air the episodes on FOX.

WHAT?

That's fine for someone like me, who already owns the entire box set.

Do they really think everyone is going to suddenly run out and buy the whole set so they can watch it each day? They're not using all their brain cells.

Oh, wait. It's FOX.

***

Here's the latest shot of the Gnome Garden. It's getting a little crazy in there. I had no idea these tiny plants were going to get so big!

***

 

 

Robert Downey, Jr. posted this.

Best one yet!

It's July, 2015....Do you know where your stories are?

I hope my fellow 'mericans (capital apostrophe) enjoyed their Independence Day weekend.

I found it very enjoyable.



I'm having a little trouble getting back into the swing of things, writing wise. Telling myself to sit my ass down and just write, isn't working. At the moment.

I'm pretty sure things will settle into a routine, but sometimes I hate waiting for that to happen.

I have been reading to fill in the down writing time, so its not a complete loss.



I've mentioned to you guys before that I'm having trouble with the storyline of this book and one of the characters.

I want to do something really big in this story, but I'm not sure I can pull it off, so I'm hemming and/or hawing about it.

Also, I named this character after my niece. I never EVER thought I would be writing a book about her and it's not easy to separate the two people in my head. Yes, it's a romance and that makes it creepy.

I've thought about writing the whole book with another name, but I think I just have to shut up, get over it, and do it.

These damn writer's hangups we have. So annoying.

So, now that I vented all over you guys I better hit the road.



Before I do...if you guys need a little X-Files tease, ET has some production pictures on their website HERE.



Also, the Husband and I are watching Aquarius and it is EXCELLENT. David Duchovny is really perfect for this part and just look at these hot guys and girls in this show!!

I highly recommend it. :)

#IWSG - New & Improved Pop Travel by Tara Tyler!!!

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Alex J. Cavanaugh's awesome co-hosts for the July 1 posting of the #IWSG will be Charity Bradford, S.A. Larsen, AJ, Tamara Narayan, Allison Gammons, and Tanya Miranda! 


Sorry, I'm running a little late today.

Would you believe my mom was right?

If you stand out in the rain all day at carnival you can catch a cold?

Stupid cold at the end of June. 
(ACHOO!) (Cough. Cough.)
Stupid cold.

I'm all about spreading the love this week, so I'm not going to share any insecurities today. Instead, I'm going to tell you what I always tell you.

Keep. Moving. Forward.

As writers, or any type of artist, there is no better way to learn and grow at what we do, then to keep producing more of what we love.

Keep writing.
Keep going.
Keep sharing.
Keep learning.

We all need downtime. We all get discouraged.

But, our determination will push us to the next level.

***

Guess who stopped in today to share with all of us? 

Tara Tyler!!! YAY!!!!!

Take it away Tara!

***

Thanks for always offering to host me for special announcements, Heather! You're the best!

Heather and I are pub sisters! We both published our books at the same time! Though her journey was a bit tougher than mine... here we are! We've also both gotten makeover covers this year for our books that we released two years ago. I adored reading ALREADY HOME, which was then Maguire's Corner. And now I'm eagerly getting into the highly anticipated sequel, ONE GOOD CATCH which came out this year. And to keep the pub-sister thing going, my next PT book SIMULATION will be out in September. Special, ain't it? Ha!

Before we get to my new cover, I'm doing a quick little reverse interview on Heather...
1) How's Book 3 of Maguire's Corner coming? I need to have the next one when I finish number 2!

Awww. Thanks for asking, Tara! I don't think it will be done before you read bk 2, but I have been working on Emily's story. She's had a tough time since bk 1. I'll also be introducing a new resident of Maguire's Corner, Sean Rafferty, former soldier, current K9 officer.

2) We've had mucho rainouts lately and every thunderstorm reminds me of Stormy! What's he been up to?

We are in the same boat (so to speak) with the rain. Stormy, and his gnome friends, have been hanging out on the porch like a bunch of unemployed lawn ornaments. Oh wait!

3) In ALREADY HOME, I adore Maggie and Jake to no end, but my favorite character was Maggie's brother, Bobby, he's handsome, jokes around, and is very protective - all the best qualities of a brother (someone else's brother for girls to hit on!) I hope he gets his own story at some point, hint, hint. And my last question for Heather is, Who's your favorite POP TRAVEL character?
 
I love Bobby, too! I've had thoughts of extending the series to include the cousins Bobby, Sam, and Steve (my favorite). You just never know. :)

Of course, my favorite Pop Travel character is Cooper! He's smart, sexy, and funny! An awesome combination!

Thanks again, Heather for allowing me to be here and talk about the new and improved POP TRAVEL - it's sexy! And the re-release has a sneak peek at the first chapter of SIMULATION which comes out Sept 14th!

POP TRAVEL
by Tara Tyler
Re-released July 1, 2015

In 2080, technology has gone too far for private detective J. L. Cooper. He thinks he can avoid pop travel teleportation, until he stumbles onto a video of a pop traveler who turns to dust.

Sparking a series of murders, attempts on his life, and threats to his brother, Cooper wants to pass off the evidence but knows he’s being watched and can’t trust anyone. And who would believe him?

With help from the neurotic genius “Creator” of pop travel and a beautiful Southern charmer, Cooper must expose the deadly glitch and shut it down or die trying. No problem.

Amazon ~~~ BN ~~~ Goodreads

Tara Tyler has had a hand at everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After living up and down the Eastern US, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. Currently, she has two series, The Cooper Chronicles (techno-thriller detective capers) and Beast World (MG fantasy) She's an adventure writer who believes every good story should have a moral, and a few laughs!

Twitter ~~~ Facebook ~~~ Blog

Also by Tara Tyler, MG/YA Fantasy series, Beast World,

Book One: BROKEN BRANCH FALLS

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***

Thank you, Tara!

I love the new cover and I can't wait to read Simulation in September! You are welcome here at the blog anytime!