#Sharing

#TenThingsYouMayNotKnow – About Joan Hall

/ Marcia Meara / 107 Comments

So happy it’s Wednesday again, because you know what that means?  Yep! It’s time for another Ten Things list. This week, our guest is my good friend, author Joan Hall, and I know you’ll enjoy reading this one! Take it away, Joan!

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Ten Things You May Not Know About Me
by Joan Hall

  1.  I bleed burnt orange. Just kidding, but I’m a diehard Texas Longhorn fan. Burnt orange (and white) are the school colors.
  2.  My all-time favorite movie is Casablanca.
  3.  My maiden name is James and much to my husband’s dismay, I’m not related to the outlaw Jesse. (Hubs thinks that would be so cool!)
  4.  I wrote my first novel on notebook paper when I was seventeen years old, but I threw it away.
  5.  I once killed a four-foot coiled rattlesnake with a garden hoe.
  6.  My earliest memory was when I was eighteen months old. It happened during a visit with friends and relatives near Christmas.
  7.  As much as I love cats, I used to be more of a dog person. We once owned five dogs at the same time—two Dachshunds, a German Shepherd, a Lab-mix, and a Chow-mix. Feeding two cats is much less expensive.
  8.  Speaking of pets, we have a family tradition of naming our dogs after songs or singers. This came about by accident when I decided to name my German Shepherd puppy after George Harrison’s first wife, Pattie Boyd. Since then, we’ve had names such as Dylan, (Bob) Maggie (Maggie May), and Penny (Penny Lane). We don’t follow the same naming convention for our cats, but we once named one after a baseball player.
  9.  One of my pet peeves (of which I have many) is people who can’t park straight or park too close to the line.
  10.  In the early 1970s, my brother and I buried a piece of his pottery on our family property with the hope that some future generation would discover it and wonder about life in twentieth century America.

Joan and Hubby

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Author Joan Hall

Joan Hall has always enjoyed reading or listening to stories about inexplicable events, so it’s not surprising she writes mystery and romantic suspense. A lover of classic rock music, songs often serve as the inspiration for her books.

When she’s not writing, Joan likes to observe the night skies, explore old cemeteries, and learn about legends and folklore. She and her husband live in Texas with their two cats. Learn more about Joan at her website, http://JoanHall.net.

Buy All of Joan’s Books HERE

Reach Joan on Social Media Here:

Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |   Bookbub  |  Goodreads  |  Instagram

#ReblogAlert – #Sharing – Deborah Jay’s Post “Doggie Fun in the Sun”

/ Marcia Meara / 7 Comments

When Deborah Jay was a guest here for my Ten Things series, many (if not most) of you commented on how wonderful it was to learn that she took in dogs with behavioral problems, helped them get past some of those, and found them forever homes. So when I saw her wonderful post this morning, I knew I had to share it with you all!

It’s just lovely to see these dogs enjoying themselves at what looks to be a fabulous dog park. It will make you smile all over, so do yourself a favor and stop by to enjoy the fun videos!

Check out Debby’s post HERE.

#ReblogAlert – This Week on #StoryEmpire

/ Marcia Meara / 21 Comments

Time to share this week’s always-fantastic posts from Story Empire. If you haven’t checked these out, be sure you do. It’s always worth a trip to see what they’re sharing this time around.

MONDAY:  Just published a new book and want to know more abourt blog tours and the like? Check out D. L. Finn’s post entitled New Releases and Blog Tours HERE.

WEDNESDAY: Craig Boyack shares a super post on story structure, entitled The Three Acts: Act 2, Part 1. Check it out HERE.

FRIDAY: And Harmony Kent wraps up the week with a great post entitled How to Write Point of View, Part 6, Common Pitfalls.  Check it out HERE.

And there you have it! Some great reading here!
Enjoy!

#TenThingsYouMayNotKnow – About Deborah Jay

/ Marcia Meara / 74 Comments

Once again, another Wednesday has rolled around, and it’s time for a new Ten Things list. This one is from author Deborah Jay, a friend who lives in Scotland (ooooh … men in kilts!) and I think you’re going to enjoy it a lot. With that in mind, I’m turning the floor over to her without further delay. Take it away, Debby!

~~~

Ten Things You May Not Know About Me
by Deborah Jay

  1. Although I work professionally as a trainer of dressage horses, I have competed in a wide range of other horse sports, including long distance riding, horse trials (eventing), show jumping, showing classes, and side-saddle competitions.
  2. I am a total Lord of the Rings geek, and when I visited New Zealand, I took a 2-week tour visiting filming locations, some of which were only accessible by helicopter.
  3. I once modelled nude for a life class for the local art school.
  4. I can’t cook. I love to eat, but someone else has to produce it!
  5. I was an official at the London 2012 Olympics.
  6. A few days before the UK’s first Covid lockdown I achieved my dream house move, and now live full time in the Scottish Highlands, about 15 miles from Loch Ness.
  7. We adopt and foster rescue dogs with behavioural difficulties that mean they don’t fit into regular homes.
  8. I have been a passionate flower gardener for some years. Now I’m learning to grow vegetables as well.
  9. My hair really was ginger when I was young. Now it takes regular dying to keep it this way.
  10. My real name is Deborah Judith Lush. Hence I used my middle initial to come up with my pen name of Deborah Jay.

Debby Outside Sam & Rosie’s Hobbit Hole

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Author Deborah Jay

Deborah Jay writes fantasy and urban fantasy featuring complex, quirky characters and multi-layered plots – just what she likes to read.

Fortunate to live near Loch Ness in the majestic, mystery-filled Scottish Highlands with her partner and a pack of rescue dogs, she can often be found lurking in secluded glens and forests, researching locations for her books.

She has a dream day job riding, training and judging competition dressage horses and riders, and also writes books and magazine features on the subject under her professional name of Debby Lush.

A lifelong fan of science fiction and fantasy, she started writing her first novel aged eight, and has never stopped. Her first published novel is epic fantasy, THE PRINCE’S MAN, first in the Five Kingdoms series, and winner of a UK Arts Council award. #2, THE PRINCE’S SON and #3, THE PRINCE’S PROTEGE are both available with the concluding book in the quartet, THE PRINCE’S HEIR, due out in 2021.

Her first urban fantasy, DESPRITE MEASURES, about a Scottish water sprite, is the opening novel of the CALEDONIAN SPRITE SERIES. The companion short story, SPRITE NIGHT is available FREE on most ebook retailers.

BUY DEBORAH JAY’S BOOKS HERE:
 Amazon author page: https://viewAuthor.at/DeborahJay

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REACH DEBORAH ON SOCIAL MEDIA HERE:

https://deborahjayauthor.com/

https://www.facebook.com/DeborahJay

https://twitter.com/DeborahJay2

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/debbylush/boards/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7172608.Deborah_Jay

Newsletter sign up and FREE short story: http://eepurl.com/bPZcmT

Deborah Jay Author (list-manage.com)

 

#ReblogAlert – This Week on #StoryEmpire

/ Marcia Meara / 13 Comments

Another great week, as always, on Story Empire. If you missed any of the latest posts, head on over and check them out. You’ll be glad you did!

MONDAY: Jan Sikes continues with her marketing series with #MKTG – Part 6 – Pinterest. Lots of good stuff to learn here on a topic that baffles many of us. Check Jan’s post out HERE.

WEDNESDAY: Gwen Plano gives us a very thought-provoking post entitled The Before and After of Writers. This one certainly resonated with me, and I’m sure it will with you as well. Check out Gwen’s post HERE.

FRIDAY: Mae Clair’s post, Are You Ready? #NaNoWriMo, is an interesting  and fun perspective on all that comes along with taking part in this major writing challenge. You can check out Mae’s post HERE.

And there you have it once again, Folks: 
Another wonderful week on #Story Empire.
Enjoy!

#ReblogAlert – Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord Weekly RoundUp Post

/ Marcia Meara / 2 Comments

Another week, another fabulous round up of equally fabulous posts on Sally’s Smorgasbord blog! Be sure to stop by to see what you might have missed!

Check out Sally’s Weekly RoundUp Post HERE
Enjoy!

 

#TenThingsYouMayNotKnow – About Yvette Calleiro

/ Marcia Meara / 41 Comments

 

Happy Wodin’s Day, Folks! Time for another Ten Things post, and this one features a first time guest on The Write Stuff, author Yvette Calleiro.  I hope you’ve been enjoying this series as much as I have been, and I’m absolutely sure this will be another post you’ll love! Take it away, Yvette!

Ten Things You May Not Know About Me
by Yvette Calleiro

  1. I am an Army brat. I was born in Germany and have lived in five U.S. states and two other countries. I’ve settled in Miami, Florida, but I do my best to escape during the summer months to explore our great country.
  2. I am an empath with a strong sixth sense and a loud inner voice.
  3. I have a goal to see all 50 states in the USA before my son graduates from high school. After this summer’s road trip, we will only have three states to go!
  4. I was named after the actress, Yvette Mimieux. Although my parents are both Cuban Americans, my mother chose the French spelling of Yvette. I’ve spent most of my life having to spell out my name because the majority of people around me want to spell it with an I (Ivette).
  5. I am an intensive reading teacher at a middle school. My first twenty years were spent teaching reading at a high school. I’ve been teaching the middle grades for five years now, and I love it.
  6. I love being surrounded by nature. My sanctuary is the beach, with the forest being a close second. I enjoy camping, kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, and bike riding, so long as I’m out in Mother Earth’s element.
  7. I am highly allergic to mosquito bites, and I’m a mega-magnet for them. Of course, this does not mesh well with my love for nature. My favorite bite repellants are coconut oil and a lemon-eucalyptus blend that I found.
  8. I am a firm believer in holistic wellness. I use homeopathy and kinesiology to keep my body healthy and balanced. I do my best to eat organic (or at least, non-GMO). I also enjoy EFT (emotional frequency tapping) to calm my nervous system.
  9. Music tends to be background noise for me. As a child, I could sing along to everything on the radio and would collect records and tapes and listen to them all day long. As an adult, I only listen to music in the car. I prefer silence over sound.
  10. The two books that got me hooked forever on reading were The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien and My Sweet Audrina by VC Andrews. The Hobbit opened up the world of fantasy for me, and I’ve never left. My Sweet Audrina fascinated me with the depth of character development, and I continue to crave more about the human psyche.

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Author Yvette Calleiro

Yvette M. Calleiro is a heavily addicted reader of both young adult and adult novels.  She spends most of her time pseudo-living in paranormal worlds with her fictional friends (and boyfriends). She’s also been known to ride the stationary bike at her gym for hours while reading anything from paranormal to fantasy to suspenseful thrillers.

When she’s living amongst real people, Yvette M. Calleiro is a middle school Reading and Language Arts teacher. She’s been sharing her love of literature with her students for over twenty years. Besides writing about the various characters that whisper (and sometimes scream) in her head, she enjoys traveling, watching movies, spending quality time with family and friends, and enjoying the beauty of the ocean.

Yvette lives in Miami, Florida, with her beautiful son who allows enjoys paranormal and adventurous stories. She also shares her space with an assortment of crazy saltwater animals in her 300-gallon tank.

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Buy Yvette’s Chronicles of the Diasodz (5 Book Series) HERE

Buy Yvette’s Short Story, Breathless, HERE

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Reach Yvette on Social Media Here:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/yvettemcalleiro

Twitter – https://twitter.com/YvetteMCalleiro

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7800735.Yvette_M_Calleiro

Website – http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com/

 

#ReblogAlert – This Week on #StoryEmpire

/ Marcia Meara / 18 Comments

I’m still in the process of getting back to all my regularly featured series, and today, I’m happy to say I’m picking up with sharing the week’s posts from one of my favorite blogs, Story Empire. And it’s been a good week, believe me. So for those of you who’ve never checked out this blog, or those of you who might have missed one of the posts this week, here are the links. 

MONDAY: How to Write Point of View, Part 5, Third Person Distant by Harmony Kent. Check out this very informative post HERE.

WEDNESDAY: Writing and  Fun! by D. L. Finn. This post is a great reminder that we really should enjoy the entire process of writing. You’ll definitely want to check it out HERE.

FRIDAY:  Three Act Structure: Act 1 by C. S. Boyack. As someone who’s never taken a writing class, I especially enjoyed Craig’s very informative and entertaining post on this topic.  Be sure to check it out HERE.

And there you have it! Another week of wonderful posts on Story Empire. I highly recommend stopping by to see for yourself just how informative and helpful these posts are. You’ll be glad you did! 

#BadMoonRising – Post 4 Featuring (ahem) Marcia Meara

/ Marcia Meara / 7 Comments

It’s Day 4 of Teri Polen’s wonderful Bad Moon Rising series, and yep–today, I’M the featured guest. The post features Harbinger, the 3rd book in my Wake-Robin Ridge series, and I hope you’ll drop by to check  out both the excerpt from that and my answers to Teri’s quiz.  See you there!

Check out my Bad Moon Rising contribution HERE
Enjoy!
(And please feel free to share with the Immediate World! 😊 )

#ReblogAlert – SallyCronin’s Smorgasbord Weekly RoundUp

/ Marcia Meara / 5 Comments

I had planned to do a catch-up of all of Sally’s posts I missed while recovering from COVID, but I realized it would be a nearly impossible task, so I’m starting anew from this past week. As most of you know, it’s ALWAYS worth a trip to over to Sally’s place to scroll through her weekly posts. SO much to check out, and even if you typically follow along daily, there may be some pretty cool things you’ve missed. So here’s your chance to see what went on on Smorgasbord last week! 

You can read Sally’s Weekly Round-Up Post HERE
Enjoy!