#ThorsDaySmile

Catching Up! #News #Updates

/ Marcia / 61 Comments

Hi, Everybody!

Since I announced my “resignation” from Story Empire (a sad & difficult decision on my part, believe me), I thought I should give you guys a heads up on what’s going on in my life right now.

First, my health issues have taken up a lot of time lately. Not going to go into a lot of icky and mostly uninteresting details, other than to say the two biggest issues have been the recent surgery on my ear, and my suddenly out of control diabetes. On the first, I’m happy to say that I’ve been able to forgo the bandage over the open surgery site in my ear, and it is “granulating in” properly. (A term for leaving a wound open and letting it heal on its own from the bottom up.) Yeah, it will be somewhat unattractive scar, but it’s an EAR. Who cares, as long as the skin cancer is gone and hopefully, THIS TIME, for good. 

Second, my blood sugar issues are being addressed, and are gradually improving in direct correlation to my lowering stress levels. YAY! So my health was first thing I said I was going to focus on, and wanted to let you know I’m doing just that.

Also on my list was this blog. I’ve been on an extended blog break for nearly 4 weeks (in case you hadn’t noticed), but that’s coming to an end. Now that my time is a bit more flexible, I plan to bring back all my regular features, a bit at a time. I’ve already got 3 people scheduled for #GuestDayTuesday in January, and I’ll soon be ready to set up more. I’m also bringing back #FirstLineFriday, as several of you have asked me about it. Look for it soon. But next week, I’ll be returning with  #WildlifeWednesday. I had already mostly finished the next in the series before I had to take that break, so I can get that one up pretty quickly. Also returning over the weeks will be #MondayMemes (on writing related topics), #ThorsdaySmile (on whatever funnies I find that I’d like to share), #ExcerptWeek, and a couple of new features that I’ll try to run a couple of times a month. 

Bottom line is, I hope you’ll bear with me as The Write Stuff slowly but steadily comes back to life again. You know, I’ve been blogging nearly 20 years (since before they were actually called “blogs!”) and that’s the first break I ever had to take. But I’m glad I did. It let me take time to figure out what I wanted to do going forward, and now I’m ready and eager to begin the process.

Again, look for #WildlifeWednesday to return next Wednesday, 12/23, if all goes well. In the meantime, in honor of #ThorsdaySmile, here’s a meme or two for your viewing pleasure. (My thanks to all who share these funnies on a regular basis!)

Enjoy, and stay tuned: More Good Stuff Coming Soon!

Changes Ahead. (Probably.)

/ Marcia / 43 Comments

Hi, Folks! Just wanted to let you guys know that I really am planning to get this blog whipped back into shape very soon. I have several ideas for new features, some weekly, some monthly, some whenever. And I’m hoping to bring back at least a few old favorites, too.

Since I’ve missed being able to get out to do my local wildlife presentations, I got the idea that I might like to share some short tidbits from my Central Florida’s Fabulous Wildlife series. I hope that sounds like fun. I have some great photography from several sources that I’d really enjoy posting now and then. Hopefully some of you will find it interesting. For instance, I’d like to do a short piece on my very favorite bird of prey, the swallow-tailed kite. In fact, I might even start with that one, because–beautiful! See:

So I think you can count on a few #WildlifeWednesday posts now and then. 

I’ve already planned to make Tuesday my permanent #GuestDayTuesday, since it was already used as #ShareAReviewDay. The main difference is that now it won’t be limited to reviews, but rather will be a place where you guys can also share new releases, promotions, and other news about your work.  (BTW, this doesn’t mean you can never share these things on other days of the week. Just email me and I’ll do my best to set you up.)

I definitely plan to get back into our #FirstLineFriday posts, though they might go to every other week, just because I suspect I’m creating a lot more work for myself, here. 

#MondayMemes and #ThorsDaySmiles will be back more often, and I will continue to reblog posts from Story Empire authors and some of my other favorite bloggers.

Now, of course, I plan to continue my writing during all of this, too, since I’ll be releasing The Emissary 3: Love Hurts this week, and starting a brand new Riverbend novel. Hmmm. Here’s hoping I can find a workable routine that will allow me to keep up with these ideas. 

Would love to hear your thoughts, especially on whether you’d be interested in seeing some of the birds, animals, and habitats that make central Florida so much fun. 

And that’s it from me for now. Stay tuned for my first #GuestDayTuesday tomorrow, and then we’ll see how the rest shapes up. 

Remember: Keep Smiling! 
It makes folks wonder what you’re up to. 
😀

#Goodbye2019 and #Hello2020 #Updates

/ Marcia / 40 Comments

Glory be! As I take a look back over 2019, one thing stands out to me above all else. In spite of new health issues, a serious fall, and a jam-packed schedule, I managed to end the year still standing! (And still crazy, after all these years!) Yep. I’m here, I’m mostly healed up again, and while I’m glad to see the backside of 2019,  I’m eager to tackle 2020 with optimism and hope, ready for the adventures that lie ahead. Hope you guys are, as well.  

On the blogging front, I’m also ready to start resuming many of my regular features. I think I will bring them “online” one at a time, and I’m going to start with #FirstLineFriday this week. If you aren’t familiar with that, it’s pretty simple. I give you a famous first line and you EMAIL me with your guess as to the book it opens. The first five correct answers win a download of any of my books. Sometimes, we have an author offering a free download of one of their books as an additional prize choice. The full details can be found in the header above by clicking on General Blog Rules and Various Feature Instructions. Tune in Friday at 8:00 EST for this fun challenge (which ends at NOON), and don’t forget, it’s about more than winning a prize. It’s a chance to study some of the best opening lines out there, and learn ways to improve our own. Hope to see you there.

Next week, I will bring back #ShareAReviewDay Tuesdays. Full instructions for that are in the same link mentioned above. If you have a new or favorite review you’d like to share here, email me with the items listed in the header bar above, and I’ll set up your post and schedule it. I only do two per Tuesday, morning and afternoon, to maximize exposure time, and I set these up in the order in which I receive the requests. I’ll notify you via email as to the date your post will be going live so you can check it out (to be sure I didn’t make any errors) AND respond to comments on your review. Looking forward to getting this one going again!

I will also be adding some new features over the weeks ahead, and will be continuing my #MondayMeme feature (memes about writing/reading/books) and #ThorsdaySmile (memes about anything I find amusing). So, stay tuned for things to get back to normal around here. Or as normal as it’s ever been, anyway. 😀 

Don’t forget, you are also welcome to email me about promos, new releases and other news you’d like to share. If possible, we’ll help you get the word out. That’s what this blog is all about. Authors helping authors.

And last, on top of the blogging and my newly revised and SUPER busy schedule of local events, I’m planning to–wait for it!–write another book!!! Yes. The writer in me is dying to get out, and so happy to be working on something new. So, be forewarned: Jake, Dodger, and Azrael are about to have another adventure as I get going on The Emissary 3. And when it’s done and out in eBook format, I will combine these three novellas into a set and publish them in print, too. 

SO! Lots to do in the next twelve months. Roll on, 2020! I’m ready for ya!

Wake-Robin Ridge
A Boy Named Rabbit: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 2
Harbinger: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 3
The Light: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 4 

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

You can reach Marcia via email at marciameara16@gmail.com or on the following social media sites:
The Write Stuff
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter: @marciameara

#ThorsDaySmile or Smiles, As the Case May Be!

/ Marcia / 22 Comments

Kind of a Mixed Bag Today,
But Good for a Giggle Anyway, I hope!
😀


“When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way,
From your first cigarette to your last dying day!”

And finally, ya gotta love those Oldies!
(No, seriously. Ya gotta. It’s like a law, or somethin’!)
😀

And there you have it, Folks!
Hope it made you smile!
😀

#ThorsDaySmile – Summer In Florida

/ Marcia / 39 Comments

It’s here. Summer in Florida, where weeks of triple digit temps keep most of us locked safely inside our air-conditioned houses. But for those brave souls who venture forth to pursue trivial activities like, oh, I dunno–earning a living, perhaps–life can be full of mind-boggling sights and adventures. Ready or not, here come a few for your viewing horror–errmm–I mean, pleasure.  Those of you who have been here in July and August can vouch for the truth of these images.  Enjoy. And just remember our state motto:

Florida. The Rules are Different Here
😀

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Ya do what ya gotta do #1

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You do what ya gotta do #2

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And last, some words of caution: 
Eye Bleach—Don’t Leave Home Without It!!!
Seriously.

#ThorsDaySmile

/ Marcia / 11 Comments

Yes, I know there have been a lot of ThorsDay dogs and cats, lately,
but I can’t help it. Some of them are just too funny to resist.
However, I promise there’s at least ONE today
with nary a dog nor cat in sight.
Honest.
😀

And finally, the catless, dogless, and wordless one I promised.
Sorry, for any typos, but I’m doing this with my eyes closed,
because I cant stop laughing.
My sides hurt, and I still can’t stop laughing!
For some reason, this strikes me as the funniest picture
I’ve ever seen.
Ready?
Brace yourselves.