With black and tan stripes over his white coat of fur like Valentine’s Day chocolate nestled in a box, and a heart-shaped mark upon his nose, Valentine had been named perfectly.
He’d rush to the door when I came home from work, and wind figure eights between my legs with such precision, I never once came close to tripping. Watching television or working on my computer would find Valentine curled up in my lap, and at night, he’d curl himself against my side, and I’d find sleepy comfort in stroking his soft fur as he purred against me. If I slept too late in the morning and he was hungry, he’d wake me by bumping his forehead against mine until I opened my eyes, and then he’d bite my nose, so gently he’d never leave a mark. He’d steal French fries so gracefully that you would be too amused to be angry, and pouring a bowl of cereal was enough to have him running to meow for his own bowl of milk.
But through his life, one thing remained the same: Valentine, true to his name sake, gave love, expecting nothing in return. If I learned anything from the kitten with the heart-shaped mark on his nose, it was that giving brings joy in and of itself.
I adopted Valentine in 1997 from a no-kill animal shelter, and it wasn’t until later that I realized it wasn’t just a kitten I took into my heart and home. I had also opened my heart and soul up to a chance to bring a positive change into this world we live in. Though no longer with us, Valentine was the bridge to understanding that sometimes, its better to give than receive, and that we can be the change we want to see in this world.
The Quillective Project began as an idea as a poetry collaboration between myself and Robert Zimmermann, and not long after, it expanded to include Ben Ditmars and Scott Morgan. Originally slated to be released around Christmas, that idea was changed when Ben suggested having all the proceeds go to benefit a charity. And an idea was born. Why not make 100% of the proceeds benefit a worthy cause, not just for this one book, but for future collaborations between myself an other authors? Why not start something that has nothing to do with me, why not use my voice, why not use my words to benefit those that are not so fortunate as I?
Even if someone sees this poetry book and doesn’t buy it, if it inspires them to go out and make a positive change in the world, no matter how small, that alone is priceless. And this isn’t just a one time benefit. As long as the organizations that are chosen as beneficiaries for The Quillective Project’s yearly collaborations are in existence, they will benefit. Every time a book is purchased, whether one week, one year, ten years, one hundred years from now? It’s still going to benefit each organization.
I used to say that my memoir about being adopted would be the most important piece of writing I would ever do. I was wrong. Anything I write for The Quillective Project is what is going to have the most lasting impact.
Please support our project and make a difference in the lives of the animals of Dog and Kitty City.
Searching for Ellen has been completed and is in the very capable hands of my editor. Estimated due date of the most important piece of writing I’ll ever publish? September 29, 2013, the thirty-sixth anniversary of my adoption finalization. My sister, the exceptionally talented Rebecca Loughin created the cover over a year ago, and it is better than I could have hoped for! If you’d like an advanced copy in exchange for a review on your website as well as on Goodreads.com, Amazon.com and Smashwords.com, please leave a comment below.
And now? A preview for those of you who have listened for well over thirteen years to me talk about, whine about, cry about, and finally celebrate the completion of my story:
I tried taking several deep breaths. I was terrified, and it felt like everything was moving far too fast and far too slow at the same time. I could feel every single heartbeat, and it made a staccato beat in my ears as it pounded over and over. My hand poised over the receiver, I could not make myself pick it up. Geoff very calmly and gently took the phone card and the piece of paper with my biological mother’s number printed on it. He dialed, then handed me the phone, never once letting go of my hand.
He never did let go, not until I told him I was okay.
My heart ceased pounding, and then began slamming in my chest as I counted out the rings. One… two… three…
This week I’m joined by guest blogger Ron Mumford to promote his new book, Finding Your Soul Mate God’s Way.
New Age Soul Mates
(Excerpts from the book, Finding Your Soul Mate, God’s Way, by Ron Mumford)
People of all faiths, no faith, atheists, agnostics all have a common yearning. We want love in our lives. We want someone who fulfills our common need and when we get to the end of ourselves, most of us will go to any extreme to get what we want. We grovel in desperation and yearn for that giddy feeling of love and being loved.
Dr. Carolyn Miller, in her book about soul mates, says that the giddy feeling of love, as we try to experience it, is really infatuation caused by neuro-chemicals in our brain consisting of endorphins, serotonins and oxytocins. A few months into our relationships, we ask ourselves, “What happened to that loving feeling?” Sometimes we ditch the relationship to find someone else that keeps the neuro-cocktails flowing. We’re like dope addicts going back for another fix. The highs never last. Reality creeps into our relationships and we’re back at square one.
I was amused when I read several of the New Age books on the subject of soul mates. They talked about the laws of attraction, secrets of our mind, the power of positive thinking; materializing, feelizing, visualizing, and praying to the universe for everything we want in life including wealth, power and love. They also mentioned going to psychics ( I call them psy-chics), mediums, fortune-tellers and astrologers to get quick direction to our paths of finding love. Story after story in these books told of wonderful love matches. One story told the union of a Jewish woman and a Muslim man finding true love with each other. I guess anything is possible these days…
After careful consideration of all that I had read, being a male, I applied my male logic to these new age paths to love and asked myself, “Why should I pray to a universe that has no ears to hear me, eyes to see me or a heart to love me?” The universe is empty space as in no one lives there. I even tried a little test. With my best effort, I applied materialization, feelization and visualization with positive thinking to try to turn down the blaring radio in my car. It didn’t work. Conclusion: If I can’t use these tools to turn down my radio, I doubt seriously if they will bring me love, wealth and power. There’s got to be a better way!
In Deuteronomy 18:10-12, it says that psychics, mediums and fortune tellers are an object of horror to the Lord and He will displace them. Wow! Now I’m playing with fire. I had better find a new way. Then I got to thinking that God invented positive thinking. It’s called faith. After careful consideration, using logic and whatever intelligence that I possess, I decided that I would pray to the Creator of the universe. He has ears to hear me, eyes to see me and a heart to love me. This is something each of us has to decide for ourselves. After all, we have free will and free choice to find love. Who do you trust?
About Ron: Ron Mumford has been on both sides of the love fence. He tried and failed at finding lasting love his way and the world’s way and decided that there must be a better way. After searching for truth and direction, he discovered the right way—God’s Way. “I wish that someone would have told me this when I was about 19. Life would have been so much simpler and more beautiful. Now I share this truth with everyone…”
A Journalism major at the University of North Texas, Ron has written for many publications including his time in the U.S. Army where he wrote for Stars & Stripes, Army Times and was a Combat Correspondent. A former literary agent, Mumford has written a novel, many screenplays and has been published in several poetry anthologies. He has served in singles ministries for many years and is now a Bible Fellowship teacher—focusing on relational studies—at a large church in Plano, Texas.
I’m a busy girl. So short story collections are a favorite of mine. And a collection of one of my favorite Indie Author’s best short stories? There’s only one response:
Awwwwww yeahhhhhhhhhh!
Previously released and now combined into one complete work, Stories My Evil Twin Made Up just proves what I’ve been saying for ages: That Morgan knows his shit when it comes to creative fiction. His ability to write stories that are less an excellent read and more a movie playing within your mind is astounding. From a glimpse into a short, unique, every day conversation between two strangers, what can happen when all things add up to the worst, and the first blush of an intense crush, the author shows his talent in writing across the spectrum of all genres.
If you missed these short stories the first go-round, well, you’re lucky that you get a second chance to read pure genius. Stories My Evil Twin Made Up will be available on Amazon.com on February 15. As someone who’s read them several times? Trust me, you’re not going to want to miss this excellent anthology of Morgan’s best creative fiction. As I did the first go round, five out of five stars.
Scott Morgan is the bestselling author of Character Development from the Inside Out and How I Make A Living In Writing, and is also the author of two short fiction collections, Short Stack and Tryptic. His latest book is How To Be A Whiny Beeyotch: 71 Writing Excuses Meet the Back of My Hand. Scott is the president of WriteHook (Write for the Jugular), an editing and writing services company for fiction and creative nonfiction. He also is a teacher, presenter, and speaker.
You gotta love straight-forward and very honest. So when my good friend and bad-ass editor Scott Morgan asked me to read an advanced copy of his book, How to be a Whiny Beeyotch, 71 Writing Excuses Meet the Back of my Hand, you had better believe that I jumped on the chance. Scott has been kicking my ass for a year now and has been a monstrous help in my life as an Indie Author. Whether editing my work, assisting me with cover design, or helping me complete a writer’s grant, Scott has been a scythe to the bullshit I’ve tried to throw out as to why I can’t do this, that or the other.
Scott Morgan knows his shit, and is a master at recognizing bullshit in its many forms. In How to be a Beeyotch, Morgan takes writers to task and answers the many excuses he’s heard over his years as an editor. Hilarious, down-to-earth and relatable, Morgan pulls no punches and goes right for the jugular of those of us who need to quit whining and start writing. A straight-forward, honest read, How to be a Beeyotch is less like reading and more like sitting down with the author over a cup of coffee while he relates the most ridiculous excuses he’s heard in his many years as an editor as to why people can’t write.
Five out of five stars, although I wish like hell I could give ten. You definitely do not want to miss this book.
E-book and print book will be available through Amazon.com on Friday, February 8, and the audio version will be available on Monday, February 25.
Scott Morgan is the bestselling author of Character Development from the Inside Out and How I Make A Living In Writing, and is also the author of two short fiction collections, Short Stack and Tryptic. His latest book is How To Be A Whiny Beeyotch: 71 Writing Excuses Meet the Back of My Hand. Scott is the president of WriteHook (Write for the Jugular), an editing and writing services company for fiction and creative nonfiction. He also is a teacher, presenter, and speaker.
I am THRILLED to report that The Quillective Project finally has a beneficiary for our 2013 book Four Paws, Dog and Kitty City, the Humane Society of Dallas’s No-Kill Shelter. 100% of all proceeds from the sale of Four Paws will go directly to Dog and Kitty City. You can follow Dog and Kitty City on Twitter, and please be sure to “like” their Facebook page. The E-book will be available through Smashwords and Amazon on Sunday, February 24, 2013, and the POD version of Four Paws will be available soon after, if not on the same day. Please help us promote this incredible organization by promoting this book. We can be the change we want to see in the world, we only need to take the first step!
This week I have the good fortune of interviewing my editor (and good friend) Scott Morgan about his upcoming release of How to be a Whiny Beeyotch, 71 excuses meet the back of my hand. Scott has (thankfully) been applying his boot to my backside for a year now in helping me publish work that’s worthy of my readers, and I’m thrilled he has a new release on the way. I’ve read it, and it is hilarious, down to earth and in his trademark style of being relateable and honest.
What was your inspiration for How to be a Whiny Beeyotch? Briefly, let me thank you for the interview. I very much appreciate your support for my work in general and this book in particular. So thank you. My inspiration for this book was that I got tired of hearing the excuses. I’m amazed how many authors there really are out there, now that writers can publish and distribute their own work. So many people finish novellas and novels that take them months, even years to write. But so many more people keep finding creative reasons to not write, and it struck me that individuals always seem to think their excuses are unique and bulletproof. They’ll say “I’m too busy to write” as if we’re all not up to our chins in daily life. I got tired of hearing it. And the title is a reflection of my lack of sympathy for people who claim they want to write but complain how they can’t.
You’ve shown time and time again the incredible ability to be very honest in your non-fiction work. Who or what do you consider to be the biggest influence on your style of writing? My great-grandmother had a saying: “Everything eventually comes out in the wash.” And she’s right. Eventually, all lies and secrets are exposed. So from a practical side, there’s no point to lying. But I also find dishonesty to be disrespectful and unhelpful. Not to mention labor-intensive. People work so hard on keep up bullshit facades, when just being straightforward usually save so much trouble. So my approach to honesty is just ingrained in me, in large measure. But as for the way I write or speak or however I communicate ‒‒ the actually style ‒‒ I’m not sure there is any one major influence. I’ve always responded to artists, performers, and writers who go for broke. The ones who speak from their hearts and dare to keep trying new things, and be themselves whether they succeed or bomb. I think all communicators owe it to their audiences to be as truthful as possible and to push their audiences to do better.
You’re releasing How to be a Whiny Beeyotch in not only ebook format, but Print-On-Demand (POD) format as well. How have you found the process of formatting for POD compared to ebook formatting? I haven’t actually done the formatting for a POD book yet, so I’m a little nervous. Ebook formatting is grueling enough, since there’s no single way to do it. You have to tailor the text to the individual seller site’s format. So I’m not much looking forward to formatting this in any capacity.
How to be a Whiny Beeyotch will be your first release as an audio book. What has been the best part of the process, and which has been the most frustrating? What suggestions can you give to new authors to make the process easier? Seven or eight hundred years ago I went to film school to be a director (like everyone does when they go to film school) and fell in rapturous love instead with sound design ‒‒ the actual building of the sound environment you hear in a movie. So my audio tooth was already in place. The most fun thing for me is just playing with the soundscape, so I’ve really enjoyed recording and, when the software isn’t being a prima donna, editing the sound clips. I’ve also really hated the recording and, when the software is being a prima donna, editing. I live near an airport so it’s hard to record a full page of text without long pauses while the planes roar over. And cutting the pops and lip smacks out of an audio track is tedious work. You have no idea how many wet-sounding noises you make when you talk until you’re charged with getting rid of those sounds. For anyone interested in making an audio book, my biggest tip (other than the obvious, get quality equipment) is to write text to be spoken. This works better in nonfiction, of course. Fiction has a different vibe to it. But if you’re writing a nonfiction book, say a how-to, write text that reads as if you’re talking, not reading. It also helps to have a clear voice. I don’t like my own voice, but some people say I sound like a radio guy, so I hope the sound of me narrating a book is not too hard to listen to.
You’ve recently added cover design services to your massive list of things you can provide through WriteHook. What other services do you offer? Ah yes, cover design. That’s often the most fun part of the post-writing process for me, and it struck me that doing cover design complements and completes my other services. I’ve edited books and been asked to design covers afterwards, so I thought it was time to put that on the list of services. First and foremost I consider myself an editor. I edit short stories, fiction, nonfiction, novels, doctoral theses, manuals, whatever. Just not poetry. My editing is also a form of consulting for writers. I don’t just edit and critique, I try to offer direction and guidance via the editing process. As a writer, I freelance for print and online publications. I do business writing too, though it’s not really promoted on my website. I’m considering telling writers that I could write press releases and other promotional materials on their behalf. I was a longtime print journalist, so I know how media outlets think, and I know that writers like to think they can write every kind of writing, even though that’s not necessarily true. Writing for promotion and to get into the newspapers takes a different approach, and given that most indies have the most trouble with marketing and promotion, it might be good to offer that service. I also do proofreading and spot critiques. Proofreading is exactly what it sounds like ‒‒ going over the text for punctuation, grammar, etc., but not offering any story edits or critique. Spot critiques, which I originally called my “Fast, Dirty & Cheap” service, is when I read through a work and give an overall of what’s working (say, good characters and a neat plot device) and what’s not (say, stilted dialogue) without getting into specifics. Like the original name suggests, spot critiques are quick, inexpensive feedback to help writers see where they might be missing something.
What can we expect from you in 2013? I have a notebook full of project ideas for this year. Books-wise, there will be more nonfiction titles aimed at motivating and helping writers get to work and believe in themselves. If the planes and equipment cooperate, those should be available in audio as well a print and ebook. I will be recording Character Development from the Inside Out for audio as well. And I’m re-releasing my short fiction in February. Haven’t come up with a title yet, but it will combine most of my previously (and currently out of print) work from Short Stack, Tryptic, and Love/Sex/Soul. More videos and webinars are on the way, and I’m developing video/audio courses based on my classes and workshops that will be available (I hope) through mobile and online platforms as well as on CD/DVD. I have helped a lot of people by actually teaching and doing live workshops, so I want to put them together in a way people can get them and use them whenever they like. I’ll also be doing some live workshops.
And finally, tell the good people how to not be a whiny beeyotch: The simplest way to not be a whiny beeyotch is to shut up, get over yourself, and get to work. As I say in the book, there’s nothing wrong with not being a writer. If you’re not a writer and don’t want to be, fine. Just stop with the “oh, woe is me” crap if you do want to be a writer. The only way to be a writer is to write. People also need to stop buying into bullshit myths that being a “real” writer means writing brooding, gritty pieces, or means that you have to get published by Random House or something. Certainly, I’d love it if Random House picked up something of mine, but if they never do, I’m still publishing. I find that what most excuses come down to are time and motivation. People say they have no time, but mostly they don’t have time management. Writers also have a tough time staying motivated because writing is an isolated pursuit, generally. I’m trying to make them feel less lonely and more able to take charge of their own work.
How to be a Whiny Beeyotch, 71 Writing Excuses Meet the Back of my Hand will be available in print and ebook format on Friday, February 8, and available in audio book on Monday, February 25.
Scott Morgan is the bestselling author of Character Development from the Inside Out and How I Make A Living In Writing, and is also the author of two short fiction collections, Short Stack and Tryptic. His latest book is How To Be A Whiny Beeyotch: 71 Writing Excuses Meet the Back of My Hand. Scott is also one of the contributing authors of Four Paws, The Quillective Project’s 2013 release to benefit a non-profit organization. Scott is the president of WriteHook (Write for the Jugular), an editing and writing services company for fiction and creative nonfiction. He also is a teacher, presenter, and speaker.
Want to know more about Scott? Need an editor? Connect with him:
I can remember in the lead up to my wedding, wondering briefly what we’d talk about after the wedding took place. For months, that was all we talked about, and everything else got shunted off and back burnered. And after the wedding, it almost felt off to not be talking about it. But then two months later, I found out I was pregnant with my first child, and then next thing I knew, it was nine years later, I had three kids, and was writing this blog.
I finished the second draft of Searching for Ellen last night. And then sent my editor an email with the words, “Are you ready?” written in them. When he responded with, “Are you?” (he’s nothing if not awesome for just taking my odd quirks as part of the fun that is me), I sent him the word .doc and then cried for about an hour.
I’m relieved to be finished with this part of the process. And while the length of the book qualifies it as a novella, still, my experience with writing and publishing my work has been in poetry, autobiographical essay, erotica short stories, and fiction short stories. For me, its a bit of a strange twist to actually have written something that’s the same story throughout.
And I’m thrown a bit by the idea that I won’t be getting it back any time soon. Certainly, I’m very welcoming to the idea of a break from a book I started thirteen years ago, not to mention a book that was emotionally draining. But the benefit of writing short story collections is that you can complete one, send it off to your editor, and you get it back within a day or two. You go onto the next one, whenever you get to it, and the cycle is repeated until you have enough stories to compile and then publish. Poetry is different as in you’re not being edited due to the fact there aren’t that many rules in poetry. And since my poetry doesn’t follow any set pattern and is just what’s written across my soul transferred to a word .doc, if I did send the work to an editor, it was for a proof reading purpose.
So now, thirteen years and two days post starting the book, I wonder what to do with myself. Who am I if I’m not writing Searching, rewriting it, annoying my Indie Author friends with can you please read this, or talking about writing it.
Well, for starters, I’m exhausted. And I also have four other WIP’s that I’ve neglected in an effort to finish off the most important book I will ever write. I think I’ll take the day to hang out with a dear friend, and then tomorrow? I think I’ll have a cup of coffee and work on another book.
I was recently asked by Helle Gade, a talented photographer, poet, blogger and writer to take part in this Blog Hop!
For this Blog Hop I am to answer 10 questions about my work in progress then tag other authors to do the same.
Here we go:
1: What is the working title of your book? Searching for Ellen
2: Where did the idea come from for the book? Back in 2000, I made the decision to actively start searching for my biological mother, and since writing has always been a necessary part of my life, naturally, I kept journals during the search. Towards the end of the search, a friend told me I needed to write my story. Thirteen years later? I’m almost ready to send the 2nd draft to my editor.
3: What genre does your book fall under? Autobiographical/Memoir
4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? Good question. They’d have to look great with purple and pink hair though!
5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Imagine not knowing your heritage; Imagine not knowing who you received your hair and eye color from; Imagine not knowing what medical problems you are likely to do battle with, simply because you do not know your biological family’s medical history. Now imagine searching and finally finding the answers.
6: Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?Self-published, baby! I love the support within the Indie Author community!
7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? Thirteen years.
8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? I have no idea. I don’t think it’s really that easy to compare memoirs or autobiographies, because they’re personal. My experience is no more, and no less important than anyone else’s.
9: Who or What inspired you to write this book? My biological mother, Ellen. The strength she has is just inspiring. I want to honor her for how selfless, generous, giving, and amazing she is. She is truly one of my heroes in this world.
10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? At it’s core, Searching for Ellen is a different kind of love story.
I would like to thank Helle for tagging me for this wonderful Blog Hop. Please take a moment to stop by and say “hello” to her and follow her on Twitter!
Life as Amber knows it 