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February! The shortest month of the year. By now, the Super Bowl has been played, Cupid has made his deliveries and Spring (hopefully) is just around the corner. Here are my thoughts on writing, works in progress, a writing contest, notification of a new release, an interview with another author and this month’s music selections. To quote the legendary comic Jackie Gleason “And away we go!”  Writing Once a month, I facilitate a workshop at the Portage District Library for people interested in writing. We’re in our third year and it pleases me that the group continues to thrive. Recently the weather was obnoxiously cold and cruel on the night we were scheduled to meet. After confirming the library was indeed open, I didn’t expect many people would show up. Shows ya what I know! Eleven people gathered to talk about writing, share some of their latest efforts and get feedback from everyone else. The different genres covered that night included poetry, children’s books, memoirs and several variations of fiction. There was a steady hum of interest and excitement. Unless you’re collaborating with someone on a project, writing is a solitary venture. You may have conversations with the characters who inhabit your stories, but it’s not the same as interacting with real people. Getting reactions from others who are interested in writing is priceless. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, check with your local library to see if they sponsor a group. Some bookstores or coffee shops might be willing to host a gathering. Groups like this are a great way to keep your creativity flowing.  A Writing Contest There is still time to enter this writing contest. I’m not a contestant or a judge. Diana Kathryn Penn is hosting this effort. There are cash prizes available. Diana has three elements to the prompt, to help get you started. Deadline for submissions is March 1, 2025. All qualified submissions, whether you win a prize or not, will be published in an upcoming anthology. Click on the link for more information. https://www.pagespromotions.com
 A New Release This year I decided to add a feature to the news, sharing details about a new release from another author. Today I’d like to introduce you to Sydney Scott’s brand-new book Passions & Pastries. Sparks and sugar flies in this delightful romance about a worldly French chef and the small-town baker who have more on their mind than their pastries. Hailey Baker has always wanted one thing: to work in her family’s bakery and live in Sunset Cove for the rest of her life. Some people might think her life is simple and small, but Hailey loves it and is determined to enjoy it despite the judgements of others. When a handsome, French pastry chef opens a shop across the street, Hailey’s simple life becomes a lot more complicated. Louis Balardi has always wanted to escape the madness and pressures that came with working for his father in Paris. When he finally opens his own pastry shop, he is determined to see it succeed but faces two problems. The first being his investor-father’s unreasonable demands, and the second being the beautiful female across the street who is doing everything she can to drive his business away. Two chefs, two bakeries, and two hearts on the line. Can a baker and a pastry chef stop competing long enough to create the perfect recipe together?  Here's an excerpt from the story. As it tended to do whenever they interacted, Hailey’s mouth fell open in shock at his audacity. “You can’t do that.” That sign was there to remind people that Baker’s Bakeshop had always been there for them and that they didn’t need to stray to another bakery. First he spies on her shop, now he steals her idea? The nerve of this guy. He shrugged his shoulders, either oblivious to or not caring about the distress he was causing her. “Why not?” “Well, because,” she stammered, growing increasingly frustrated at how much this man unnerved her. “Because I did it first.” Louis’s eyes sparkled as he waggled a finger at her. “You used that argument before, Hailey. Didn’t we agree that such childish excuses were beneath us?” She felt her cheeks heat as she raged internally, both at his condescension and at the fact that the way he said her name still made her knees weak. Her libido needed a strong talking-to, one she would give it later when Louis was gone and she could think straight again. “Beneath you, maybe. But nothing is beneath me.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Hailey regretted them. It sounded like a much better burn in her head. He smirked and leaned in closer to her, warmth pouring from his body as though he ran as hot as she was feeling in that moment. Hailey caught a whiff of his scent—nutty bread flour and rich chocolate—and allowed herself exactly one second to enjoy it, ignoring the way it made her mouth water at the same time. “Nothing is beneath you?” His voice was velvety and seductive, the low timbre causing her skin to tremble and break out in goosebumps. “Perhaps that is the problem, mon cher. One I would be happy to help you remedy, by the way.” Buy Links: AMAZON- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRLH6NKL KOBO- https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/passion-and-pastries BN- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/passion-and-pastries-sydney-scott/1146751236 APPLE- https://books.apple.com/us/book/passion-and-pastries/id6739883586 Author Interview At times it still surprises me that I’ve been able to connect with so many talented people from different parts of the world. Sometimes it’s through the wonders of technology, with social media and the internet playing a big role. Yet other times, we have a common bond. Laurel Houck and I are both part of the Inkspell Publishing family. Let’s meet Laurel.  Everyone takes a different path to becoming a published author. What was your journey like? Long. Very, very long. I began writing at the age of six, got hooked on reading (the Bookmobile had nothing I hadn’t read), and ping-ponged from poetry to picture books to novels. The path is littered with multiple rejections and heartbreaking disappointments. I had sold six books to two major publishers, only to have all cancelled due to fiscal reasons totally beyond my control. But writing is worth the sacrifice. Or I’m a masochist! Let’s get wild. Your latest book has been selected by a streaming service to be made into a movie (or series). The producers have asked for your thoughts on casting the top three characters. Who would you choose? Okay, that’s wild for sure! Selah: Emma Stone Will: Ryan Gosling Torque: Jason Momoa Do you prepare an outline before you start writing a story? Nope, never. I actually start with an idea that quickly becomes a title. The title is my outline. The term “working title” is true, in that it works as the touchstone that grounds me, but is a bit precarious if an editor wants to change it at publication. So far, that’s not been a problem. By letting the characters and their circumstances speak to me as I write, it gives me great latitude to explore multiple genres and experiment with unusual situations while staying true to my original vision.  Tell us about your latest book. Life on the streets is hard but it’s deadly when a young woman battles addiction… Where is home…when you’re homeless? Selah gets through life using lies, sex, and faux concern as a veneer to forget the past and to achieve personal gain. She barely tolerates her job bringing medicine to the streets. Will is the only man who has refused her body. She resents that his God stands between them. Will pastors the homeless no matter who or where they are. He conceals a past that is anything but pure. His biggest temptation is his love for Selah. But he refuses to compromise his faith. When Selah’s deceased husband appears to her—more dangerous in death than in life—the careful control she has used to cope slips away. Evil takes control as she falls far from the life she had carefully planned. And then farther still. Selah must make a radical choice as an epic spiritual battle rages. Because she has finally found a love worth protecting at all costs. Is there redemption at the intersection of brutal reality and saving grace? Please share an excerpt. Their hands met as Selah discarded the stick and Will moved it aside. Each reached to stroke the cheek of the other. Selah shivered, not from cold, but from the feel of Will’s cheek, soft skin covered with a stubble of growth. She ran her hand up the side of his face, caressing his temple with her thumb. Will responded, his hands kneading her shoulders, moving down her back inch by inch in small circles, working their way around to her chest. They stopped for a brief moment as he searched her face for approval, and then continued his languid pursuit. Selah stifled a moan, loathe to break the spell being cast. But when his fingers suddenly stopped, she murmured, “Oh, Will…” on a long, lingering breath. His eyes closed as his hands moved to capture her head and pull it toward him. For the briefest of moments, their breath mingled as they paused, noses touching. Then Will tilted his head and his lips met Selah’s. What’s the next project you’ll be working on? I’m working on several things right now, including an alternate history romance and a memoir—and then there’s the picture book, the historical fiction novel, the middle grade series… Follow these links to discover Laurel’s books. BUY LINKS: AMAZON- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDCMCVQZ KOBO- https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/searching-for-home-22 BN- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/searching-for-home-laurel-houck/1146182562 APPLE- https://books.apple.com/us/book/searching-for-home/id6642655098 Music There were many great bands in my youth. What I find interesting is that the popularity of these artists continue today. It’s my hope that they continue to find new audiences to entertain. One such group is The Doobie Brothers.  The band started in the 1970s, offering a variety of genres including rock, folk, country and rhythm and blues, with great vocal harmonies. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.
Top 5 favorites Rocking Down the Highway: https://youtu.be/kuyR6SZGEqs?si=Ds2O7VYon7OXsE_F Minute by Minute: https://youtu.be/QIclLgDyDpg?si=F8f5vsIznlvQpeDZ Taking it to the Streets: https://youtu.be/VF9Olsay3j0?si=PF7fygZeQMvzE74g Listen to the Music: https://youtu.be/2rtwH-MlyeE?si=lKbJx0F4HrMQQ2FH China Grove: https://youtu.be/t3W3IzQ5sDM?si=2s4TX8W3a2jzpExA
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