Sandcastle Thank You: Myrtle Puppy Beginnings

The writing life is a long and winding road, for most, and I include myself in this curvy path. The voices of my fictional characters reverberate in my head, what they want to show me, where they want to take me, and I try to listen. Even doing mundane chores, I can’t shut off thoughts of complex plot twists, character revelations, and wouldn’t want to. Mowing the lawn becomes something more exciting. Zippy and Kipling follow along as the wild grass is tamed once more.

We all have to start somewhere. This puppy photo shows my first dog, Myrtle, who found a way into my Michigan life way back in 1992. Myrtle was a German shepherd/Irish setter mix with fine silky long hair that would catch all the snow she ran through and turn her into a white poodle come winter – she was the smartest dog I ever knew, even smarter than Zippy, sorry bud. A cancer survivor, Myrtle was an angel mate and ended up living to the ripe old age of 16, romping about Islewood Farm and teaching Zippy puppy all of her calm ways during his first two years. So, in honor of great beginnings, I must thank a few people who have helped me, and my little book that keeps chugging along, Sandcastle and Other Stories, continue to stay on the writing path.

 

 

 

 

1: I must begin with Kriss Morton who writes book reviews and is an Alaskan Culinary Goddess. She writes down her thoughts, musings on good food, serious investigations into the ISBN madness, and other pressing issues — the ISBN post is necessary reading for any author (click HERE to read that brilliant work) — at her VunderBlog: CabinGoddess. Kriss is the one who read Sandcastle and Other Stories and began to rave about it, even telling me she was gifting a copy to a creative writing instructor in her hometown University — I am humbled anew. One of the features on her blog is her SundayShorts Meme, where she shares the short story form. Not too long ago she featured Sandcastle and Other Stories. To read that post, click HERE. Kriss even designed the Sandcastle and Other Stories book badge that is shining out from her blog and my own. My hat is off to you, Kriss. And did I mention that Kriss knows how to turn bacon into bacon treats fit for a king? She does. While visiting Kriss’s Blog, Cabin Goddess, please subscribe and follow Kriss on Twitter @AKMamma.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2: The next person I wish to thank is someone who has featured my work, my home, and my thoughts on writing and the writing life. She is the author, Jane Isaac, who has written a marvelous first crime novel, An Unfamiliar Murder. I always enjoy reading her writerly musings on her Caffeine’s Not A Crime Blog. Jane is hard at work on a sequel to An Unfamiliar Murder and I can’t wait to find out where Jane’s creative energy takes her characters — somewhere off the beaten path. Here is the link to the Post she wrote about Sandcastle and Other Stories and one about my home writing life in the San Juan Islands. Thank you always, Jane, my friend. Please subscribe to Jane’s blog while there and follow her on Twitter @JaneIsaacAuthor.

3: Eden Baylee needs more than a thank you. She is an inspiration, a music lover who has pointed me to a good listen time and again. Take a look at Eden’s top ten favorite albums by clicking HERE. Eden is a friend I made through the magic of this new social media universe; I would love to sit down with Eden, raise a glass of fine Scotch, even at the #2 restaurant (read this fun post HERE), and talk and laugh. She helps out so many authors with her big heart. Her write-up about Sandcastle and Other Stories is incredible and giving and I loved reading her thoughts: find that post by clicking HERE. Erotica is the fastest bullet train in publishing today and Eden’s prose is up there with the best in the field. Her first book, Fall Into Winter, is available everywhere. Her blog, Eden Baylee, is filled with a chest of wonder. In the recent past, Eden also helped raise money under Indies Unite for Joshua, surpassing their goal of $10,000 to help indie author, Maxwell Cynn, and his son, Joshua, who was diagnosed with leukemia back in January. Amazing on all fronts. Please subscribe to Eden’s blog and Follow her on Twitter @edenbaylee. And look for her new book, Spring into Summer, very soon.

Last but not least, I’d like to thank Triberr and Rachel Thompson for choosing Sandcastle and Other Stories as the Winner of last month’s Blog 2 Book Webinar. So very cool, and the Book Cover has been up for everyone at Triberr to see all this past week. I love my father’s painting shining out on the right-hand column.

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