Word Question 5

It’s been a while since I did one of these posts, where I focus on specific words that sometimes are confused with each other. Today it’s “hardy” and “hearty.”

Hardy means a person or thing that is able to endure difficult conditions. Someone tough and brave or daring. Plants that don’t die of frost are hardy; in spring, we “harden them off” before planting outdoors. Soldiers are hardy; we often speak of veterans being “hardened” by combat.

Hearty refers to expressing a strong emotion, usually a positive one. Someone might have a hearty laugh or give a cause their hearty support. Their actions come from the heart.

Don’t forget! My short story collection, Aunt Anne’s Archive, releases next Wednesday on Amazon and Books2Read. I hope I can count on your hearty support.

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Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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An Opportunity

If you’re interested in being more active with the publishing side, I’ve heard of an opportunity. Hexagon Magazine is a semi-pro outfit looking for first readers. It’s a volunteer position. Details are here.

Other than that, I’m working away on The Spirit Binder. Other tasks include spring cleaning (washing the drapes and windows) and getting my garden up to speed (making sure my hoses all work). Fun! Don’t forget, Aunt Anne’s Archive is releasing in two weeks! The paperback will be up for orders later today, so I hope you’ll take a look at it.

Happy weekend, all!

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Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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Woman at Work, May 2024

What’s Happening? Wow it’s 7:30 pm and still light outside. I had put out my geraniums and a few other flowers, and then we were supposed to have frost overnight. Everything made it through okay, though. My peas and potatoes are coming up. I do love this time of year!

What I’m Working On. Still working on The Spirit Binder. Cleodora is investigating the reasons for the drought and hitting dead ends. She’s made a key ally, though.

What’s Next? My short story collection, Aunt Anne’s Archive, is up for pre-orders on e-books only. There’s one more check I want to do before finalizing the paperback. Its official release will be on May 15th. You can get if from Amazon or Books2Read. It’s also time to do my final planning for Queen Titania’s Court, coming in June.

Where I’ll be. MisCon Science Fiction Convention is held in Missoula, MT, on Memorial Day weekend. I’ll be on panels and have a chance to sit at the Spotlight table with my books.

Fun and Games. I’ve been enjoying Stray, where I play as a lost cat having to find my way through a post-collapse sealed city populated by friendly, humanlike robots. And I’m also playing Animal Crossing for the cute, chill vibe.

I hope the longer days are shining some light on your life, too!

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Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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Progress

I’ve been working away on The Spirit Binder. The going has been slow as I’ve reached another part that I didn’t plan extensively, and now I have to put some pieces together. What did this place look like before the seven years of drought? What does it look like now? What happened to the previous leaders, and how did the bad folks push them out of the way?

I’m reminding myself this is meant to be a juvenile novel, and I shouldn’t make things too complicated. Besides which, the word count is up to 57,000 now, and I originally planned for 30,000. Either I’ve accidentally written two novels back to back, or I’m going to have to cut a whole lot of material!

The good news is, Cleodora arrived at the place she was traveling to. She’s keen to take action, and the adults keep telling her to slow down and be careful. Not an easy course for a thirteen-year-old with a mission. It also brings me to the ideas that originally inspired this story, which is that Cleodora can send minor spirits around the place to spy for her.

After taking some time to develop ideas, I’m getting back some energy for the tale. My hope is to finish the first draft before summer break. That would allow me to do revisions before fall. However, Queen Titania’s Court will require some of my attention, too. We shall see.

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Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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Open Anthologies

Today I’m sharing a couple of anthologies that are open or will be later this year. Wolfsinger Publications is a micro press, not a big payment but pleasant to work with. All anthologies have a word limit of 1,000 to 7,500. You can read their full details here.

Cowboy Up is open now until July 31st, for stories set in the world of rodeo. It will benefit a medical fund for injured rodeo riders.

Midnight Menagerie opens June 1st until October 31st. Stories should be set in a circus or carnival.

Spirit of the Wolf opens November 1st until March 31, 2025. They are seeking wolf tales beyond “wolf is evil” and proceeds will benefit wolf conservation.

Wolfsinger’s fiction magazine, Lorelei Signal, is also open for general sf/fantasy submissions until May 15, 2024.

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Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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Busy Months

After I finished setting up the pre-release for Aunt Anne’s Archive, I paused to take stock. I’ve been shocked at how much has gone on for me within the past six months.

In August, I released Renegades of Skaythe, the paperback that combined my novellas “The Renegade of Opshar” and “Prisoners of the Wailing Tower.” Then in November, I published the series finale, The Tale of the Drakanox. I also read from my work at Fall Folk Festival in November of 2023.

In January, Wolfsinger published Borne in the Blood, an anthology that includes one of my stories. In February, I was Author Guest of Honor at RadCon. That’s something I will never get tired of talking about! Another anthology, Wee Folk and Wise, was re-issued in late March. That was one I edited.

Next month, Aunt Anne’s Archive comes out. Then in June it’s Queen Titania’s Court. People who aren’t familiar with my career might have the impression that I’m such a dynamo all the time, but honestly… I think I might need a break after all that!

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Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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Aunt Anne’s Archive

Yes, it’s up for pre-orders, with a release date of May 15th. I just received the printed proof, and am going through it for last minute corrections.

What’s in it? Twelve short stories, from the brooding “Bonewood Forest” and “Hag” to the humorous “Buried Treasure” and “Rosewood’s Challenge.” Some of them are previously published, while others are coming to the public for the first time. And all for just $9.95!

Pre-order from Amazon or Books2Read if you’re interested.

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Behind the velvet curtain, beyond the secret door, lies a lost archive of literary enchantments. From the creepy to the cozy, the mysterious and the magical, the witty and the wondrous, each tale casts its own rare spell. Welcome to Aunt Anne’s Archive.

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Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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Sold!

I’ve just received the contract for a short story I submitted to an anthology last fall. Whoot! Of course, it won’t come out until 2025, so it’s hard to get too excited.

Anyway, I’ll be over here basking in a moment of success.

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Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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Getting it Done

How do you know when you’ve written enough for one day? In terms of productivity, that is. This was a topic in one of the panels I did at RadCon last February. It was very interesting how many different techniques people have to stay on task and meet their goals.

One of the authors worked in Hollywood and almost everything was written toward deadlines. He basically worked in a series of sprints. Setting a timer, writing as hard and fast as he could without doing revision. Then at the bell taking breaks, having drinks or snacks, answering e-mails and secondary writing tasks. After a while, he set the timer and did it again.

One of them went by word count. She set out to write a certain number of words before her session could be over. I know another who only has weekends for writing, and he crams in as much as he can until he’s exhausted. At a convention, I once heard an author say he began writing at midnight and went until six o’clock in the morning. That would never work for me!

For myself, I go by pages. I have to finish two pages before I can be done. But if I’m near the end of a chapter, then I have to finish the chapter. That may not sound like much, but I have a day job and a house to maintain. I have basically an hour after dinner for writing. One night of the week is reserved for gaming, and two nights my siblings will call to talk. If only they all got along and would call me together on Discord! I could have another uninterrupted work night.

Anyway, I’m curious how you get your writing done. In sprints, by the clock, or by the word? Something else? Let me know in the comments!

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Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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Woman at Work, April 2024

What’s Happening? Confession time: I’ve been struggling a bit this week. The Hugo Award nominations were announced, and I see so many happy congratulations to the nominees. While I, myself, will never have the honor. I’m not envious, just a sense of being left out. This is part of being an Indy author, and I’m well aware of it. Not sure why it’s bothering me this year.

What I’m Working On. The Spirit Binder travels on to a new location, Willow Shrine. I’m at a point where I need to sketch the area and think about plot turns. Onward!

What’s Next? Most of the layout is done for my next short story collection, Aunt Anne’s Archive. Both ebook and trade paper layouts are mostly finished. I plan to work on that more so I can release it on May 15, just in time for Queen Titania’s Court in June.

Where I’ll be. Speaking of which, I’m recruiting more authors for Queen Titania’s Court for 2024. If you know any fantasy authors, especially independents, feel free to share the link to the details.

Fun and Games. Right now I’m playing Animal Crossing with some upgrades to my village. Dragon Age Inquisition is coming in second because the companion my character wants to romance keeps pushing them away.

Time to get out in the garden and plant my potatoes and early crops like lettuce and peas.

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Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, Bluesky, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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