Weaving a Tale or Two

IWSG - February 2026

2026-02-04T05:00:00.033-07:00

Today, I'm at writing conference cruise in the Caribbean.

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the February 4th posting of the IWSG are
J Lenni Dorner, Victoria Marie Lees, and Sandra Cox!

Optional question:

Many writers have written about the experience of rereading their work years later.

Have you reread any of your early works?

What was that experience like for you?

Simple answer for me: Yes! Since I link my series and have connections between characters, I've found it very useful to listen to the books again. Fortunately, I've invested from the very beginning in audiobooks, so it's easy. And it's been so useful because there's a lot I've forgotten.

And I've rewritten a few because I've grown as an author. Contrary to what they tell you, I sold my first book to a publisher, and they had be cut out some scenes from the shipwrecked middle. But there were reviews wishing I'd shown some of that removed stuff, so when I got my rights back, I tweaked the book to reflect how I'd grown as a writer and added them back in.

I've also expanded a couple of novellas into full-length novels.

What about you?
Do you find it cringe when you read your earlier works?

Smiling During Tough Times

2026-01-27T10:34:00.003-07:00

Times are tough in the US right now, and I needed a smile.

A Thought with a Smile

2026-01-10T05:52:00.004-07:00

Have a good weekend!

IWSG - January 2026

2026-01-07T05:00:00.014-07:00

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the January7th posting of the IWSG are
Shannon Lawrence, Olga Godim, Jean Davis, and Jacqui Murray!!

Since I inadvertently answered this month's question last month, I decided to ask myself something else.

What genre would you write if your current one disappeared tomorrow?

I read a lot of genres and prefer there's a romantic subplot when it's not a romance (mine usually have adventure, mystery, or suspense). But I've also written a Victorian time-travel series (utilizing fae magic but downplaying the magic). I've also written a YA/NA portal fantasy that has magic. I've also begun what will be a midlife women's fiction fantasy trilogy. Oh, and I've got over 50k words in a scifi that I may someday finish.

But I've been reading a lot of urban fantasy lately and loving it. I think it would be a hoot to write in that genre.

How about you? What genre(s) would you like to try out?

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Merry Christmas!

2025-12-24T05:00:00.001-07:00

For a smile...

2025-12-22T15:33:00.005-07:00

Thought for the Week

2025-12-11T11:55:00.003-07:00

IWSG - December 2025

2025-12-03T05:00:00.001-07:00

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the December 3rd posting of the IWSG are
Tara Tyler, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, Liza, and Natalie Aguirre!

For a while now, I've struggled with the whole promotion thing of being an author. I loathe being in sales. All the pushing to sell without being in your face about it stole the joy that made me want to write in the first place. Everything you create turns into a "product" you feel obligated to sell.

It turned into burnout a couple of years ago, and I stepped back from writing. But I love it. After a few weeks, I stepped into writing but hardly any promoting (none paid) and was able to write again. I stopped worrying about algorithms and ad dashboards and chasing ways to make a buck.

And the writing became a gift again.

Then last December, I nearly died. For the first couple of months of 2025, as I healed from the pneumonia and subsequent surgery, I made a decision. I would finish every series I've begun.

I’m happy to say I’m about halfway there. This year, I published the final three books in my Lilac City series.

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Twickenham was already done, but last year (before I got sick) I started a Christmas novella I intend to complete this year. It's so close to being done!

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My REKD series is done, though I'm still publishing shorter stories in that world.

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I have one more book to finish in the Safe Harbors series (it's partly done).

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Wildstone is only kind of done, since I have future plans for a series of short stories set in this world. I also I plan (if I live long enough) to write a cozy mystery trilogy in that world.

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I pulled a book that was meant to be part of its own series (that never happened), rewrote it to fit in my Huckleberry Falls series, and now I only have one more book to complete this series.

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Under my fantasy pen name of Rae Kinsley, I have the first of my portal fantasies out. The second book is written but they have duo plotlines, and only one is good in the second book. Once that's fixed, I can complete this duology.

Hopefully, by this time next year, I can report that they are all done.

Anyway, if you’re feeling burned out or overwhelmed,

I hope you find a way back to the part of writing that feeds you.

Because it should be joy first.

Always.

P.S. I'll be in Hawaii when this posts.
I like their philosophy. 😏

IWSG - November 2025

2025-11-05T05:00:00.005-07:00

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the November 5 posting of the IWSG are
Jennifer Lane, Jenni Enzor, Renee Scattergood, Rebecca Douglass, Lynn Bradshaw, and Melissa Maygrove!

November 5th question - When you began writing, what did you imagine your life as a writer would be like? Were you right, or has this experience presented you with some surprises along the way?

I began writing only because I wanted to write my personal history and didn't want it to be a cure for insomnia for my descendants. lol So, I thought I'd try to see if I could even write something of any length. I'd heard about NaNoWriMo but too late for that year, so I did my own in January. And wrote 80,000 words.

And I was hooked! One of my sons kept pushing me to see about selling it to a publisher, but I resisted for a long time. I did eventually sell it (after 20 rewrites), and it's still one of my bestsellling books.

I never have gotten back to my personal history.

Word Count and Thought for the Week

2025-10-27T08:58:00.000-06:00

Final read through for A Wildcat for Willie before it heads to my ARC team. This number will change, of course, but it's fun.

IWSG - October 2025

2025-10-01T05:00:00.008-06:00

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the September 3 posting of the IWSG are
Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine!!

October 1 question - What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?

Actually, I have a couple of projects that fit this category. One is my first book. I was just messing around to see if I could write a full-length novel, so I put in all the things I love (or enjoy reading about): cruising, romance, action/adventure (via shipwreck), self-discovery after a tragedy. And I eventually sold it to a publisher.

The second one is a love project. It's a portal fantasy with doppelgangers that has two storylines running through it, one set in a dimension that has magic and the other is set in Hawaii where the characters were inspired by my grandkids. My oldest granddaughter gave me input on the female main characters.

That one has been published but my readers (who struggle even with my time travel series) don't know what to do with it. Fantasy is just beyond most of them. But my granddaughter said "She ended up with the wrong guy," so I have drafted a second book. My goal is to figure out how to fix the second plotline in that one and publish it too. I have a different penname for that series.

What about you? Have you written anything you particularly loved?

Is it something that has or ever will see the light of day?

My thought for the week

For a smile...

2025-09-17T11:44:00.003-06:00

Thought for Today

2025-09-11T10:17:00.005-06:00

It's a sad day for me, and my heart is aching. Mankind is capable for such nobleness and greatness at times and yet at other times be so vile and despicable.

IWSG - September 2025

2025-09-03T05:00:00.009-06:00

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the September 3 posting of the IWSG are
Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, and Diedre Knight!

September 3 question - What are your thoughts on using AI, such as ChatGPT, Raptor, and others with your writing? Would you use it for research, story bible, or creating outlines\beats?

I've lived a long time and seen a lot of changes in technology. And change is rarely easy.

I see AI tools much like the shift from manual typewriters to electric ones, or from the abacus to calculators that now outpace early computers. AI is still simply a tool.

It's helpful for speeding up certain tasks like research, organizing a story bible, or sketching out beats and outlines. And just like with my internet searches pre-AI, I still have the responsibility to verify the information and sources.

What's important (in my humble opinion) is to avoid the temptation to let AI do all the work. As with anything, it's critical that we continue to think for ourselves. Human creativity is the heart of storytelling and still rests with us.

Do you see AI more as a calculator (an assistant that helps with the details),

as a co-pilot that shares more of the journey,

or something to completely avoid?

Thought for the Week

2025-08-27T12:54:00.005-06:00

lol

Smile for the Week

2025-08-20T10:03:00.005-06:00

Thought for the Weekend

2025-08-17T05:00:00.001-06:00

Love That Walks Ahead

2025-08-11T18:14:00.001-06:00

In the quiet hours before dawn,

I woke and went to him.

His breathing had stilled,

his pallor echoing the memory of my father’s last rest.

Yet warmth lingered in his skin.

He had gone but only just.

In my heart, I saw her there,

His Ginny, waiting with the smile he’d loved for a lifetime.

They turned toward the veil,

hand in hand,

and as they passed me sleeping,

their voices brushed against my dreams:

We’ll be just up the road.

IWSG - August 2025

2025-08-06T05:00:00.002-06:00

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the August 6 posting of the IWSG are

Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Natalie Aguirre, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Olga Godim!

August 6th question - What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

The first thing that comes to mind is plagiarism. It hit an author friend of mine as I detailed here. That case was particularly heartbreaking because the plagiarizer also stole a real-life event from a wounded veteran to add to another book she stole.

Rachel did sue, and she won her case, but it was incredibly stressful and expensive. It's not like she will recoup the cost, but I'm glad she persevered. I wish it would put the fear of God into other people doing this. Sadly, it hasn't.

But there are other unethical practices I've seen like predatory traditional publishers and review bombing to destroy an author, just to name two.

Fortunately, I've had wonderful experiences personally, so I'm grateful for the helpful authors and publishers out there who do it right.

What about you? Have you run into any of the ugly sides of publishing?

Thought for the Week

2025-07-31T06:59:00.006-06:00

Questions for the Weekend

2025-07-12T16:04:00.004-06:00

IWSG - July (a day late)

2025-07-03T06:00:00.004-06:00

Dealing with a lot in real life and nearly blew this month's post!

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the July 2 posting of the IWSG are
Rebecca Douglass, Natalie Aguirre, Cathrina Constantine, and Louise Barbour!

July 2 question - Is there a genre you haven't tried writing in yet that you really want to try? If so, do you plan on trying it?

My answer is a simple yes. I read all kinds of genres, so there are several I would like to try.

Sadly, the people who follow me aren't always so flexible, so I haven't branched off much. But I do have a second penname that will be for my fantasy and sci-fi stories if I live long enough to finish the ones I've begun. lol

What about you?

No, I did not...

2025-06-23T12:54:00.001-06:00

Too funny. I can assure you that I did not post this video on TikTok in 1969. ROFL

Thought for the Week

2025-06-18T11:11:00.005-06:00

The United States Was Never Meant to Be One-Size-Fits-All

2025-06-16T16:43:00.002-06:00

Something American must not forget.

When America won its independence from Britain, we didn’t suddenly become one united country. The thirteen colonies became thirteen separate states, each with its own government, laws, and ideas about how things should work.

We had just broken away from a powerful central government; we sure didn't want to end up with another one.

To fight the war, we'd created a loose agreement called the Articles of Confederation. It was kind of like a group of roommates who agree to clean the house together but keep all their stuff separate.

Now, because of that bad experience with the British government, under the Articles of Confederation, the national government was very weak. It didn't have the authority to collect taxes, raise an army, or even settle arguments between states. All it could do was ask the states to behave and hope they agreed.

It mostly worked during the war. But after, things got really messy. The states started fighting with each other, the economy was a mess, and nothing was getting done. The states' leaders knew they needed to do something to fix it.

So in 1787, delegates from all the states met in Philadelphia. Rather than patching up the Articles of Confederation, they created a whole new plan: the U.S. Constitution.

Now here’s something we can't forget: they didn’t all agree. Sheesh. They weren't even close to agreeing about so many issues, like big states vs. small states, slave states vs. free states, strong central government vs. power to the states.

They argued a lot. It would have been easy to walk away, but they didn't. They negotiated, debated, and compromised (on almost everything).

SO. MUCH. COMPROMISE.

In the end, they created a system that everyone could live with. It wasn't perfect. Otherwise, they wouldn't have almost immediately proposed the Bill of Rights. (James Madison introduced 19, Congress approved 12 to send to the states, and by 1791, 10 of those were ratified by enough states to become law.)

What did they settle on?

A stronger national government, with clear limits.
A system with checks and balances to prevent abuse.
Protections for the independence of the states, something that mattered deeply to them.

This is why the Constitution isn’t simply a set of rules.

It is a carefully balanced agreement between people who wanted to live in one country but still have a say in how things worked locally, where the rubber meets the road, so to speak.

Our Founding Fathers never wanted a top-down, one-size-fits-all government, with D.C. telling the people far away how to live their lives.

The power of the people, We the People, is through our states.

If we forget that, we risk forgetting who we are.