Expansion Pack: The Egg Scene

July 10, 2019 / Marcia Meara / Leave a comment

Check out Craig Boyack’s latest “installment” of his Writing Monomyth series on the Story Empire blog. If you’re unfamiliar with writing “The Egg Scene,” you owe it to yourself to see exactly what Craig’s talking about, here. (And then, please share with the Immediate World, thanks!) And thanks to Craig for this one. The video was a special treat. 😀

Story Empire

Not the Egg Man

Hi gang, Craig here again with another Expansion Pack. These are designed to enhance the series I wrote about The Hero’s Journey, also known as the Writing Monomyth.

It’s worth repeating that none of the Expansion Pack material is required for your stories. These are just as advertised. If you want to get a bit deeper into the optional stuff, you might find them helpful.

There is an old writing rule, that I’m going to paraphrase. Every scene must do two of three things or it doesn’t belong in your story. These things are:

• Build or develop character.

• Develop setting.

• Advance the plot.

It’s actually damned good advice and should be followed. Think of this as a safe haven for your fiction. It doesn’t mean every word, or even paragraph, but scene. A scene might take a page or two, and if…

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#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – “Beloved Enemy” by Hywela Lyn

July 9, 2019July 16, 2019 / Marcia Meara / 18 Comments

Good afternoon, folks. Well, lunch hour has come and gone, so it’s time for our afternoon review share. Today, our featured author is Hywela Lyn, with a terrific review of her book Beloved Enemy. Hope you enjoy this one, and will have fun sharing it with the Immediate World. 😀 Thanks!

REVIEW:
4.5 stars: a real page-turner!!

The best science fiction tv shows are the ones that have you eagerly anticipating the following week’s episode or have you zooming through the commercials because wading through 2.5 minutes of ads feels like eternity… pure torture. When a show is that good, you wish for a few more minutes. When a scifi/fantasy book is equally grand, you crave a several more pages.

When I was nearing the end of Beloved Enemy, I kept hoping 20-30 pages would magically appear — much like things in the book. No such luck though. However, despite my wish not being granted, I was thoroughly satisfied with everything I did read.

Each chapter in Beloved Enemy contained enough scifi, mystery elements/creatures that maintained my attention from the beginning to end.

Most memorable (for me):

The huge ass water and sand creature. They are the things of nightmares and deserve a spot on any otherworldly show! PS. I am rethinking ever washing off in a lake again.
bio-regenerator: This device enhances the body’s natural healing process. Imagine how many lives would be saved, children or an adult’s pain eased in minutes instead of days, and the profound effort it would have in combat missions. Medical marvel!

After dealing with inhospitable creatures, more than one crash, physical altercations with humans, and other WTF moments, I am not surprised Cat and Kerry relationship went from allies for a common cause, to becoming friends, and then progressed to full on love. When you been to hell and back, your troublesome times either break you or make you stronger. Their bond definitely became stronger. It’s what actually saved them. And that’s all you’ll get from me. To find out more…. read the damn book. No seriously, read it. It’s a page-turner, for sure!
Review by ‘Kam’ Continue reading →

Breaking barriers…

July 4, 2019 / Marcia Meara / 11 Comments

Here’s a different way to think of Independence Day. If you don’t know Nick’s story, you should read this post from Sue Vincent, marking the 10th anniversary of a life-altering event. Nick’s determination to regain his health and live a life worth living should be an inspiration to us all. Do yourself a favor and check out Sue’s post. I guarantee you it will change how you look at your life’s blessings and how you approach each challenge! As always, spread the word. The world needs stories like this one. You go, Nick! And you as well, Sue!

Sue Vincent's Daily Echo

Ten years ago today, July 4th 2009, I learned to fear answering the telephone. Four words changed the lives of everyone in our little family and that of many of our friends. My son, over a hundred miles away in Bournemouth, was in hospital… and we were advised to come at once. He had not regained consciousness since he had been brought in and, at that point, they did not seem to understand why. They thought he had suffered a brain haemorrhage.

They were almost right. Nick had been stabbed through the brain in a senseless attack. The puncture wound was so small it had, at first, been missed, but shards of bone were lodged in his brain and the ten inch screwdriver that had been rammed through his temple had compromised the brain stem. He was in a coma and not expected to live.

I have written, in great…

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Writing Your Novel’s Blurb

July 3, 2019 / Marcia Meara / 7 Comments

If you struggle with writing the perfect blurb, this post from Staci Troilo might be just the help you need. I plan to use it as a guide when I rewrite all of mine, for sure. Check it out and pass it along. It’s well worth sharing. Thanks!

Story Empire

Ciao, amici. We’re wrapping up the Story Bible series of posts today. If you missed one or more of the posts, you can find them, in order of post date, by clicking the following links:

Today, we’re discussing how to write the back-of-book blurb.

You’re probably wondering why a blurb, which isn’t needed until you’re ready to publish, is something I include in a story bible, which I create before I start writing even the first book in the series.

Three reasons.

One, your blurb covers only the most important and most marketable parts of your story. Keeping that in mind as you write will enable you to stay focused on what the most crucial parts of your story are.

Two, when you have a series, you want all your blurbs to follow the same format. That’s easiest…

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Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – Author Update #Reviews – J.P. Mclean, Sally Harris, Marcia Meara and Barbara Ann Mojica

June 28, 2019 / Marcia Meara / 8 Comments

Just wanted to share the latest Sally’s Cafe & Bookstore Author Update post on Smorgasbord. I’m so pleased to have Janice Spina’s lovely review of The Emissary included with this group of great writers! Hope you’ll check out the post, find some new books to read, and then pass it along so others can discover all the goodies, too. Thanks, and thanks to Sally Cronin for her fantastic support of writers everywhere! 🙂 ❤

Author Inspiration and This Week’s Writing Links

June 21, 2019 / Marcia Meara / 2 Comments

As usual, Staci Troilo’s “Author Inspiration and This Week’s Writing Links” is chock-full of both. Another inspiring quote and insightful message, plus a ton of great links. Check it out, and pass it along so others can do the same. Thanks! And thanks to Staci for providing an easy way to keep up with so many good things! 🙂 ❤

Staci Troilo

Ciao, amici! How was your week? Mine was a hodgepodge of work and family activities. No two days were the same. I kind of like that (although not when it involves loved ones having surgery—my dog on Tuesday and my dad today). But in general, I think variety makes my mind sharper.

I believe it makes things better, too. Felix Mendelssohn said it best:

The essence of the beautiful
is in unity of variety.

If I need a doctor for something, I absolutely want a specialist. But if we’re talking art (like writing) or even everyday life, I want variety. Melody and harmony. Warm colors and cool. Sweet and savory.

Research and outlining and writing and editing.

It’s the combination of different aspects that takes the tedious and mundane and elevates it to something wonderful.

Every day this week I had a different task to complete, and I think they…

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#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – “The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody” by Marcia Meara

June 18, 2019June 21, 2019 / Marcia Meara / 30 Comments

This afternoon, I’m sharing one of my own reviews, and I hope you‘ll enjoy it. This is D. L. Finn’s terrific review of The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody. The Emissary books are spinoff novellas from my Riverbend series, and so much fun to write. They are currently available as eBooks, and when I get the third one written, I will combine them into a 3-book set for print. In the meantime, it’s ready and waiting for you Kindle fans for a mere $1.99. Hope you’ll download your copy today. (But read the first Emissary book before you read this one, so you’ll have a better understanding of Jake, Dodger, and Azrael. A LOT happens in that one that you’ll want to know before reading To Love Somebody.) And thanks for passing this review along, if you can. I appreciate it.

REVIEW:

5.0 out of 5 starsI can’t wait to see where the story goes next!
Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is the second novella in the series with the Emissaries, Jake and Dodger, working for Archangel Azrael. There’s the same depth and humor in this heartfelt tale that I enjoyed in “The Emissary”. I loved the developing relationship between Jake and Dodger as they work to save people from themselves. Dodger’s regret adds a new layer to this story. I can’t wait to see how that works out…and how Azrael plays into that. This is a perfect Christmas read, but would be great any time of the year. There was an amazing ending and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next. If you haven’t read the first novella–you should–then you can fully enjoy this highly recommended sequel!

BLURB:

In Marcia Meara’s second installment of The Emissary Trilogy, a Riverbend spinoff series of novellas, we find our three heroes at it again. Beautiful new places, exciting new adventures, and a whole assortment of new problems await them, bringing tears, laughter, and an extraordinary amount of love along with them.

They’re back!

Jake and Dodger, the first (and so far, only) Emissaries to the Angels, are on the road again.

They’re looking for mortals about to take a wrong turn. You know the ones—the kid thinking about stealing from a corner market or the man planning to lie about a coworker and destroy her career. Yeah, them. People on the brink of making a mistake that could send them down that wrong road and jeopardize their mortal souls.

Of course, there are rules by which the emissaries must play, and the archangel Azrael stands ready to enforce them. First and foremost, a person’s free will must never be compromised. Emissaries are allowed to use only the smallest of mental nudges. Thankfully, a whispered suggestion here or images of a better course of action there is often all it takes. The potential mugger walks on by. The thief drops the wallet back into the unattended purse. But whether the results are obvious or not, Jake and Dodger are fully committed to making a positive difference, even as they struggle with issues of their own.

Will Dodger get over losing his chance to learn what true love is all about? Will Jake survive the grueling angelic equivalent of Boot Camp? Will Azrael ever finish the Official Emissarial Guidebook—including the chapter titled Do Not Even Think About It?

One thing’s for sure—Jake’s and Dodger’s strengths are growing daily, as they help more and more people make better choices. But is the price for so much power higher than they’re willing to pay?

Buy The Emissary HERE
Buy The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody HERE

Marcia Meara, Author

Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty years, four big cats, and one small dachshund.

When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening, and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. And she enjoys nature. Really enjoys it. Almost all of it. From birds, to furry critters, to her favorites of all, snakes. She does, however, consider squirrels to be minions of Satan, sent to drive her mad. And she truly loathes spiders, convinced that anything with eight (count ’em, EIGHT) hairy legs is surely up to no good. She does not, however, kill spiders anymore, since she knows they have their place in the world. Besides, her husband now handles her catch and release program, and she’s good with that.

Spiders aside, one thing Marcia thinks you should always remember is that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. If, at the age of 69, she could write and publish a book (and thus fulfill 64 years of longing to do just that), you can make your own dreams a reality, too. Go for it! What have you got to lose?

Today, Marcia has published six novels, two novellas, and one book of poetry to date, all of which are available on Amazon. Her belief in the redemptive power of love is a unifying factor in both of her popular series and her poetry. At 75, she’s still following her heart, and plans to keep on writing until she falls face down on the keyboard, which she figures would be a pretty good way to go!

BUY ALL OF MARCIA’S BOOKS HERE:
Wake-Robin Ridge
A Boy Named Rabbit: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 2
Harbinger: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 3

Swamp Ghosts: A Riverbend Novel
Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2
That Darkest Place: Riverbend Book 3

The Emissary: A Riverbend Spinoff Novella
The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody

Summer Magic: Poems of Life & Love

Marcia’s Amazon Author Page

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

You can reach Marcia via email at marciameara16@gmail.com or on the following social media sites:

The Write Stuff
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter: @marciameara

Author Inspiration and This Week’s Writing Links

June 14, 2019 / Marcia Meara / 2 Comments

Once again, Staci Troilo has come up with a fantastic Author Inspiration and This Week’s Writing Links post. Good stuff here, folks. Check it out, and pass it along. Thanks, and thanks to Staci for such a great recap of the week! 🙂

Staci Troilo

Ciao, amici! I’ve been busy with rewrites and revisions this week, which (for me) is a combination of glee, stress, and oh-my-god-how-do-I-suck-this-much.

I’ll admit to writing a few beautiful sentences, but I also have to admit to writing a few that simply made no sense. Maybe they would to Lewis Carroll readers (any fans of Jabberwocky here?), but not to many others. There are instances of questionable spelling (and that’s being kind) and sentence structure so poor, I’m amazed I can figure out what I meant. I’ve even found one that just stops. It didn’t end, mind you. There was no completion of thought followed by a period or other punctuation mark. It just dropped off, mid-thought.

The worst part? I have no idea what I wanted to say there.

It’s a process like this which makes Reba McEntire’s words resonate with me:

To succeed in life, you need…

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Kat Myrman, How D’Ya Do?

June 7, 2019 / D. Avery @shiftnshake / 2 Comments

Meet Kat, an all around artist and a fine human being, a wonderful character who tells tales in less than 280 characters.

ShiftnShake

It is my pleasure to introduce Kat Myrman, a very prolific and talented poet and, as I found out from this interview, an all around creative person. Kat is the host of the Twittering Tales prompt at Like Mercury Colliding , a fun weekly photo prompt for poetry or micro-prose.

Kat Myrman, “How D’Ya Do?”

What part of the world do you live in and what should the rest of the world know about your place?

Who am I? Well, that’s a loaded question! I suppose I could say that I am a daughter/sister/mother/grandmother/executive assistant/Marine Corps veteran who likes to write, paint and adopt rescue critters (as many as the city will allow me to have) on the side. My city is nestled in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, USA, and I live in a century old house in the historic district. I’m a transplant here though, having…

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#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – “The Scarlet Ribbon” by Anita Dawes

June 4, 2019June 18, 2019 / Marcia Meara / 21 Comments

And now for our afternoon treat! Anita Dawes is sharing a review of her book The Scarlet Ribbon. I know you’ll enjoy reading this one, so please help me make Anita feel right at home here on The Write Stuff, and then share this post far and wide. We want to get these reviews in front of as many new readers as possible, and the key lies with you folks. Thanks so much!

REVIEW:

Kevin Cooper
5.0 out of 5 starsThought Provoking
15 April 2019
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

I took my time reading this work because I found it very thought provoking.

On several occasions I was transported back in time to when a previous partner and I visited a friend who was in a coma for several weeks before her husband gave the go ahead to have the life support terminated.

On other occasions I found myself drifting back to when my son was in a coma as a result of a hit and run, and again to his months of recovery as he learned to walk again.

And again to my own experiences of astral travel. This story takes astral travel to a whole new level.

Despite my own deviance, I still found the story most engrossing. I was looking for something different to read and while providing me just that, this story did not disappoint.

In addition to its wonderful book cover, The Scarlet Ribbon is original and well-written with thought-provoking ideology.

(We were thrilled to receive this review from Kevin Cooper!) Continue reading →