Milestone Birthday and Fresh Starts…

If you’re reading this post on February 2^nd, this day marks a milestone in my life. I turned 65, and I’m now officially a senior citizen. Yay, me! Yes, being well-aged and full of wisdom from the past six and a half decades, I qualify for my Canadian Old Age Pension, as well as a slew of other benefits our government passes on to their seniors. The other milestone in my life is a new knee that’s long overdue after 50 years of knee pain issues and two previous surgeries. Darn those school sports in the 70s! In retrospect, I should have never tried a new long-jump technique that I discovered in a book I found in the school’s library without consulting a teacher! Wink. As mentioned in my January 5^th post HERE, a LOT went on in 2025 that cleared my slate from the past, so I could rebuild my personal and author life for 2026, and beyond.

Yes, I found two publishers willing to take my back list, and future books when my former publisher decided to close up shop by the end of 2025. And yes, we managed to get those second editions published and marketed by the end of the year. My new Canadian publisher, Pandamonium Publishing House also ran a Fairy Falls writing challenge open to the elementary schools I contacted in my area for grade four through to grade eight with the theme, The Day I Heard an Animal’s Thoughts. The winner of the contest received a prize basket which included a signed copy of Lost & Found, a bookmark, a journal, fancy pens, a winner’s certificate, a plush cat toy, and cozy blanket. The winner was announced the first week of December 2025, and it was my privilege to deliver the prize to grade eight student Lexi R. of Erie Migration Elementary School in Kingsville, Ontario. Way to go, Lexi!

If you’re curious, below is Lexi’s winning submission (in its original format to preserve the author’s
authenticity and voice), and judged by a panel at Pandamonium Publishing House:

When I woke up, my palms were sweaty and my right cheek burned with pain. I slowly sat up from the cold, hard ground, my head throbbing and my vision blurring slightly. I bring my hand up to my face, gently touching the cut on my right cheek. The wound wasn’t deep, but it still stung. When my vision came back, I looked around to take in my surroundings. Tall, dark green pine trees surrounded me. They seemed to tower over me, like sky scrapers in a city. Where am I? I thought to myself. That’s when I remembered; I had gone on a walk in the forest to clear my mind. I must’ve tripped and scraped my face on something before passing out. I looked around, and just to my side was a jagged rock that I must’ve hit my face off of. I was busy trying to remember how deep through the forest I was when I heard rustling in the bushes behind me. My stomach dropped as I realized I wasn’t alone in the forest. I whipped around, startled by the sound. But there was no need to be startled, because standing in front of me was a deer, it’s burnt caramel-colored fur almost shimmered because of the cracks of sunlight peeking through the pine trees. The deer’s innocent eyes looked directly into mine, and I realized that something was very wrong. The deer’s bones seemed too visible, like it hadn’t eaten in days. “I need help.” My eyes grew wide as I heard those three words echo in my head. “Did you just-” I paused, unable to even comprehend what just happened. “Us forest animals, we need help. People from your community keep ruining our forest and stealing our food.” The dear lowered it’s head in disappointment and defeat. My heart shattered just looking at the starving deer standing right in front of me, as well as for the other animals suffering with the same problem. It had never occurred to me how much humans could be affecting animals and their environments. “I’m so sorry that this is happening to you. Is there.. anything I could do to help?” I asked. The deer raised its head. “Yes, helping us would be greatly appreciated.” Right afterwards, I immediately tried to do as much as I could to help. I created posters and flyers about how we should stop ruining the animals homes and lives, and instead we should do everything we can to save their habitats and keep them safe in the future. I decided to start a volunteer group to spread awareness for the animals, and we started fundraisers to help them. Weeks later, I was taking a stroll in the same forest when I heard someone talking in my head. “Thank you for everything. We owe you very much.” The deer bowed its head, this time in respect. Before I could say anything, the dear bounded away, deep towards the core of the forest.

Boy, I’m glad that I didn’t have to judge. I’d probably have picked all the submissions. LOL! Seriously though, I loved Lexi’s story and her commitment to nature and the environment. We need more empathetic and kind kids like her who know they will have their hands full cleaning up the mess past generations have created. I’ve also realized through this contest that I need to focus on getting back into the habit of writing at least three to four times a week. I’ve severely slacked off my writing discipline this past year with all the juggling I had to do finding new publishers for all my books. It’s been a roller coaster year for sure!

Now that the craziness of 2025 is behind us, I usually put my books on sale for the entire month of February to celebrate my birthday. However, since the first book in my young adult time travel adventure series is permanently free, I thought I’d showcase The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis ebook in case you haven’t had a chance to download it. Here’s the blurb and an excerpt to whet your reading appetite…

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, Book One:

Children are the key to our future. And now, they are the only hope for our past.

When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her classmates land themselves in hot water after a cafeteria food fight, they're assigned to yard duty as punishment. After the kids uncover a mysterious stone arch hidden in the overgrown backyard owned by the Witch of White Pines, they learn that it's an ancient portal created by the lost civilization of Atlantis.

Chosen by an Atlantean Magus, Amanda and her reluctant companions are swept into the secret world of the Timekeepers: legendary guardians entrusted with preserving history from a sinister force known as Belial. Their first mission? Travel back to 13th-century England to ensure a young Robin Hood fulfills his legendary fate.
But time travel comes with strict rules, and one wrong move could rewrite the past... and erase the future.

Packed with high-stakes adventure and a touch of ancient magic, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS AND THE ARCH OF ATLANTIS is the first book in Sharon Ledwith's series of novels for middle grade readers and adults alike.

Excerpt:

They were almost inside the glowing archway. Its light felt warm and welcoming, like the rising summer sun. Treena stuck her thumbs in the straps of her khaki backpack as if it doubled as a magic parachute. Amanda mimicked Treena and grasped the straps on Jordan’s backpack that she was still wearing. Ravi was the only other person wearing one, so all the rest had nothing to break their fall if that light suddenly cut them loose.

The brilliant, fathomless glow swallowed Amanda, blinding her. Calm and silence overrode her senses. In that moment, two things happened—Amanda sensed that there was no separation between her and the others—as if they were all connected by these tiny threads of light. Second, she started to feel as though she were free falling, moving fast and out of control. She regained her vision, just as the white light exploded into a whirling rainbow.

Drake laughed. “Wicked! This feels like a ride at Disneyland!”

“It feels better than that!” Jordan replied. “I’ve been to Disneyland twice, and there’s no ride that even comes close to this!”

“It’s as if we can fly!” Treena shouted, doing a somersault in mid-air.

“It does feel wonderful, doesn’t it?” Melody said dreamily.

Amanda grabbed both ankles and flipped herself over. She giggled. This freedom, this feeling, this flux was awesome. The huge, spiraling rainbow surrounding the group of seven gently juggled them in mid-air like floating balls in a never-ending lottery game. She glanced over at Jordan’s uncle. His cheeks were sucked in, and his body flopped one way then another like a fish out of water.

“Is your uncle okay, Jordan?” she asked.

Jordan maneuvered over to his uncle by spreading his arms and legs wide as if he were a free-falling parachutist. He grasped his uncle’s shoulder and shook him. “Uncle John? Uncle John! Don’t make me slap you again!”

He reached over, grabbed Jordan, and kissed him on the forehead. “It’s all true, Jordan! It’s all true!”

Jordan squirmed. “What’s true?”

“Time flows through us,” he answered, his voice cracking as if he were a young boy again.

The whirling rainbow burst into shards of light, and they all touched bottom.

It felt soft—like a cushy trampoline—as Amanda, her classmates, Melody, and Professor Lucas bounced easily until they all stood still. Then the ground became solid again. Polished marble walls and finely crafted pillars materialized through the fading light. A sudden high-pitched buzzing noise made her wince. Everyone seemed to hear it too; they cringed in unison. The sound of waves crashing against a shore replaced the buzzing, and a set of deep purple curtains miraculously appeared in front of them. Amanda rubbed her eyes. In the time it took her to take a breath, the curtains were drawn. The brilliant white light that had pulled them into the stone arch now hovered between the open curtains. It started to radiate out, then draw in, out, then in, changing its shape with each rhythmic movement, until it finally transformed into a woman.

The woman was beautiful in an otherworldly way. She had long, fair, flowing hair adorned with quartz crystals. Piercing blue eyes stared back at Amanda like she was peering into her soul. She had a long narrow face with high cheek bones that tapered down to a firm chin. Her nose was long and slender. Amanda smiled at her. The woman smiled back. Her teeth were white, small, and even. She was perfect in every way. A rich-blue sleeveless linen robe adorned her slim body, accentuating her ivory skin.

I wonder if she’s a princess. Amanda didn’t doubt it, especially with all the jewelry the woman wore. A sparkling metallic snake bracelet wound around her left arm, a string of gleaming pearls and shells hung around her neck, and a silver belt strewn with various green, blue, and red gems hugged her waist. The only piece of clothing that didn’t seem to belong was a plain pair of woven sandals.

Melody pushed Drake behind her and took a few steps forward. “I demand that you tell us where we are!”

The beautiful woman gave Melody a gentle smile, and nodded. She opened her arms wide and said, “Welcome to the Temple of Poseidon, in the City of the Golden Gates.”

Melody jerked. “I-I beg your pardon?”

“Atlantis,” Professor Lucas answered in a whisper. “We’re in Atlantis.” 

UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK: https://books2read.com/u/4NE2kx

Are you celebrating any milestones this year? Did you change your life around so that it looks unrecognizable from last year? I’d love to read your comments. Cheers, and as always, thank you for spending your time reading my blog! 

Pitch Your Story by Paranormal Romance Author C.D. Hersh...

In March of 2013, we had the best editor pitch in our careers—the one that sold our book The Turning Stone Chronicles—The Promised One to Soul Mate Publishing. It wasn’t the first time we had pitched this book, or others, and it probably won’t be the last time we have to pitch. Pitching is a constant for any writer and that face-to-face contact goes a long way. Along our journey we’ve picked up a lot of tips. Here are twelve pointers we hope you’ll find helpful. 

1 - Dress for success. Whether you realize it or not, this is a job interview. Even though you might type in your PJs, you want to make a good first impression on the editor. 

2 - Make a cheat sheet note card (small enough to fit discreetly in your hand) with your title, subgenre, book length, hook, your blurb and any contests the book finaled in. These are notes for you, not for the editor. We all get nervous and forget the simplest things. A cheat sheet comes in handy when this happens. 

3 - Smile. It makes you look confident. 

4 - Keep eye contact with the editor. This also helps you look confident. 

5 - Give her your business card. Make sure all your contact information is on your card: website, email, telephone, and any other contact information you’d like to add. We put our book blurb on the back of our business card so it’s available for her to read (should she choose) after we’ve left. It’s also a great way to keep your story in front of her since most editors don’t accept one-sheets or other papers at a conference, but they will accept your business cards. Remember, they have to carry anything they accept back with them on the plane. 

6 - Take a deep breath and talk distinctly and slowly. It’s natural to speak quickly when you’re nervous, but in a room with several other editors and writers giving their pitches it’s easy to miss words that are said too fast. 

7 - Start your pitch with your book title and book cover blurb. Don’t read it—memorize it. Do your best to make it sound like you’re telling a friend about your book, not reeling off a commercial. Practice makes perfect on this hint. After you hooked her, hopefully, with your great blurb, let her know the subgenre, length, contest wins, or other pertinent information about the book. 

8 - Be enthusiastic about your book. She’ll notice your passion and it could spark her interest. 

9 - Keep your initial presentation to about half the time allotted for the pitch. This leaves time for her to ask questions. 

10 - If you see she’s not interested, or she says she just bought something like it, or you have extra time, have another book ready to pitch. Just make sure it’s in a genre she’s accepting. Catherine actually pitched three books in one session because her initial pitch went so fast. The editor asked to see all three! 

11 - Ask her how to submit. Make sure you get her business card with contact information. There’s nothing worse than leaving the interview and realizing you didn’t find out where to send your manuscript. And, yes, Catherine has been so nervous and excited that an editor asked for her book that she walked out without her contact information. 

12 - Don’t forget to say, “Thanks” as you leave. This may seem like a given, but in tense situations it’s easy for things slip your mind, as noted by Catherine’s mistake in the hint above. If she doesn’t ask for your book, be sure to thank her for her time. You don’t want to burn any bridges. You might have another book later you’ll want to pitch to the same editor or house. 

Our chance came, not at a scheduled meeting, but at the breakfast table. When you’re at a conference you need to be ready to give your pitch at anytime. Just keep it short and to the point. 

Do you have any tips to add to this? Please insert them in the comments.

Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They've written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after, and that’s why they write romance.

In addition to writing Catherine and Donald love antiquing, traveling, singing, and going to the theatre. Catherine is also an avid gardener and has drawn Donald into her garden as a day laborer. They figure the couple who plays together and works together, stays together—and that's just what they aim to do.

Second Editions Coming Soon:

Ghosts and Gardenias

The Promised One The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 1
Blood Brothers The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 2
Son of the Moonless Night The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 3
The Mercenary and the Shifters The Turning Stone Chronicles Book 4

Social Media Info:

Website

Blog

Facebook

Amazon Author Page

Twitter

Goodreads

Guest Post: The Curse of Continuity by Epic Fantasy Author Carol Browne...

You’ll hear writers complain about the number of typos that get missed during the editing and proofreading processes, so their work is published with errors it is too late to fix. This is something that happens to even the most well-known authors, regardless of what publisher they use.

As a proofreader who is also an author, I have seen typos in my own published work and have no idea how I missed them. There is some kind of brain glitch that sees what it expects to see, hence, for example, ‘to’ becomes ‘do’, and the meaning of an entire sentence is lost. We just have to hope that readers suffer from the same glitch or like our work enough to overlook the mistakes.

Proofreading errors are bad enough, but far worse are errors in continuity and these may be harder to spot. For example, a character may sit at a table while having already done so on the previous page; someone claims to have come by bus, yet we know he left his car in the car park; the protagonist is shown into the boss’s office by a blonde secretary who is a redhead when he comes out.

I have just finished editing a book I wrote over several years. It started as three novellas which were then glued together into one novel. Revisiting old material is a challenge anyway but more so when a book has been written in sections with not enough thought to the sequence of events. Continuity errors have been a nightmare with this particular work, and chunks of the narrative had to be rewritten to iron out the inconsistencies. Proofreading errors, conversely, have been a doddle.

While storytelling is an author’s main function, there are many other factors that must be borne in mind. An author must:

1.     Create interesting, believable characters that the readers will care about

2.     Provide them with a plotline that works

3.     Weave any necessary subplots seamlessly into the narrative

4.     Be fluent and grammatically correct in the language of their choice

5.     Avoid spelling and style errors and typos

6.     Create a consistent atmosphere to suit the genre of the work

7.     Do sufficient research to support the credibility of the work

8.     Decide if certain themes, social commentaries or observations are to be included

9.     Maintain the interest of the readers throughout, regardless of their demographic, and

10  Never disappoint their readers with weak endings and plot holes.

While juggling all of the above, continuity might slide under the radar, but an author must keep track of what their characters are doing: their movements; appearance; clothes; dialogue; relationships; backstories; ages; emotions, and so on. Added to that is the need to be aware of changes in time and place.

That’s a lot of plates to keep spinning! No wonder errors creep in.

Alas, after you’ve written and submitted your book and you’re sure you’ve created perfection, you might see one of those plates smashed on the ground when a continuity error is finally discovered—but it’s too late, because your book’s been published! A case in point is the book I am currently reading. It’s well written and compelling and the author is prolific and professionally published; however, I noted that the main character asked someone if they had any kin, to be told no, only to ask that same person the same question two pages further on, again with the same response. Given all those spinning plates the author had to keep an eye on, I’d say it happens to the best of us.

Here is a brief intro to Book One of Carol's exciting trilogy.

Banished from Elvendom and forced to seek refuge among the Saxons, young Elgiva faces a grim future - until she crosses paths with Godwin, a Briton enslaved by the people she must now call allies.

When a dark power rises to claim dominion over Elvendom, Elgiva and Godwin set off on a dangerous quest for the legendary Lorestone: the only thing that can stop the looming darkness. With a reluctant elf boy as their guide and a stubborn pony by their side, they must navigate the treacherous land and harness ancient magic before it’s too late.

As battle lines are drawn, Elgiva must embrace her true heritage, and Godwin must learn to wield the secret power he possesses. But can they find the Lorestone in time - or will Elvendom fall forever?

An historical fantasy adventure set in 6th century Britain, THE EXILE OF ELINDEL is the first book in Carol Browne's The Elwardain Chronicles series.

UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK

Once upon a time a little girl wrote a poem about a flower. Impressed, her teacher pinned it to the wall and, in doing so, showed the child which path to follow.

Over the years poems and stories flowed from her pen like magic from a wizard’s wand.

She is much older now, a little wiser too, and she lives in rural Cambridgeshire, where there are many trees to hug.

But inside her still is that little girl who loved Nature and discovered the magic of words.

She hopes to live happily ever after.

Stay connected with Carol on her website and blog, Facebook, and Twitter. 

Author in the Kitchen: Soup is On, served up by Helen Carpenter...

Now that winter has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere, the human residents of Carpenter Country have started thinking about soup. And quackers too of course. My family and I are duck fans, and ducks generally show up in our neighborhood this time of year. However, much as we like both, we restrain ourselves from combining soup and quackers.

Speaking of combining things, did you know January is National Soup Month in the USA? What we don’t understand is why April is national grilled cheese sandwich month. Those two celebrations belong together. Someone should right this wrong.

We think we’ll have soup while we work up a petition.

Won’t you join us in a bowl? It’s big enough for all.

Easy Potato Soup

1 tbsp. butter
4-5 potatoes, peeled and diced
Chopped or diced onion to taste
1 tbsp. cornstarch or flour
¼ cup water
2 cups water
1 cup milk (whole, evaporated, or 2%)
1 tsp. salt
1 packet chicken bouillon
Shredded cheese optional

Melt butter in 2 quart saucepan.

Add onions and potatoes and cook until soft (5-10 minutes).

Mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with ¼ cup water (pre-mixing prevents annoying lumps). Add cornstarch mixture, water, milk, salt, and bouillon to softened potatoes and onions in saucepan.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 20-25 minutes.

Serve with a topping of shredded cheese and a chunk of fresh bread.

Bonus goodness:
Crave added richness? Substitute ½ cup whipping cream for half of the milk.

Are you a vegetable fan? Toss in the veggie of your choice, either frozen or fresh, when you add the milk and water. We like frozen carrots and corn. They add color and they cook right along with the potatoes.

Like things meatier? Put in leftover ham or chicken.

Bland potatoes? Mix in sweet pickle juice. Six teaspoons give the soup a little zing.

Want some zest? A ½ teaspoon dry mustard provides zip.

Need more soup? Add more stuff. The converse works too.

Fighting off vampires? Switch out the regular salt for a teaspoon of garlic salt. If you have a bad infestation, add ½ teaspoon crushed garlic to the soup and serve with a wood spoon.

Once upon a time there was a mother/daughter author duo named Helen and Lorri, who wrote as HL Carpenter. the Carpenters worked from their studios in Carpenter Country, a magical place that, like their stories was unreal but not untrue. Then one day Lorri left her studio to explore the land of What-If, and like others who have lost a loved one the magical place lost much of its magic. But thanks to family, plus an amazing group of wordsmiths named Authors Moving Forward (AMF), the magic is slowly returning.

Helen Carpenter loves liking and sharing blog posts from other authors. She lives in Florida with her husband of many years and appreciates every day, especially those without hurricanes.

Stay connected on her blog and Facebook.

Author Life 2.0: Fail to Plan. Plan to Fail...

Happy New Year to all my readers out there! I’m not sure about you, but I found that 2025 was a kind of ‘expect the unexpected’ year. Unfortunately, I never did get my knee replacement surgery date last year. Sigh. BUT, I’m booked to go get my new and improved knee at the end of this January. Yay, me! I’m a little nervous and excited at the same time, so wish me luck and a fast recovery! That said, January 2025 started with an urgency to research the best publishers to query for The Last Timekeepers time travel adventure series, and Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls teen psychic mysteries, as the publisher I had been with for ten years was closing at the end of 2025. I had decided to split up my book series with two different publishers (not a lofty goal at all!), where I’d approach a Canadian publisher for my Fairy Falls series (based in Canada), and an International publisher for The Last Timekeepers. Wow, talk about kismet! I managed to find two publishers willing to take on my backlist and future books within two months. Now that’s when hard work meets luck!

While I was busy dismantling my old author life, and trying to build a new one, we were met with devastating news at the loss of our 22-week-old grandchild February 1st, who was to be born in late spring of 2025. Then, my 95-year-old mother was hospitalized a week later through a fall in the long term care facility she’s living in, and still hasn’t managed to regain her walking abilities. Yes, I’m a firm believer that there is strength through adversity, and I’ve found that you can only keep it together by understanding that we’re never in control of the narrative. The truth is we are all experiencing life in our own way, and at times, our mettle is tested to bring us to the next level of our lives, if we so choose.

So, between the grieving what was lost, and making choices that would support my new Author Life, I
made a plan to tear down my old author world, and build a better one that would serve me, my needs, and my goals. This whole process entailed resubmitting my books to the publishers who offered me contracts, doing the necessary edits and changes, approving the new book covers for The Last Timekeepers series, firing my useless web designer, and hiring a supportive, reliable one, and trying new ways to connect with my target audience via school libraries and Instagram. I managed to get my young adult time travel books and teen psychic mysteries re-released in May and June 2025. Not bad, and way ahead of schedule. Woohoo!

Moving forward in Author Life 2.0, I found that there are two things I’ve learned from coming out of this challenging year. First, to stop putting pressure on myself, and just enjoy the ride. Life goes by so fast, and if you don’t slow down to ‘smell those roses’ you’ll miss out on so many things or opportunities that were meant for you. Second, I have nothing to prove. Period. So many times we seek the approval of others: our parents, our peers, our colleagues and bosses, our spouses, even our children. That’s a lot to take on. The only approval you need is the heart-based approval you give to yourself. It’s a form of self-love that we all need in this world right now.

How was 2025 for you? Any milestones? Did you need to take a welcome break from all the craziness we’ve endured the past six years? Have you been in your comfort zone far too long like I was? Would love to read your comments! Cheers, Happy New Year, and wishing you a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2026! Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate you!

Author in the Kitchen: Closing Out the Holidays with Cookbook Author Sloane Taylor...

Now that the holiday madness is almost over it's time for a little comfort food. My daughter Dru, who is a wonderful cook, offered this easy dinner. She is creative in her use of herbs and spices and never fails to come up with a mouthwatering meal that is easy to prepare. This is one of our favorites. Studs and I have prepared many times and will many times more.

DRU’S CHICKEN

½ lb. boneless chicken breasts or tenders

½ tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. onion powder

½ tsp. dried sage

¼ tsp. dried thyme

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup chicken stock, may need a little more

2 cups Minute White Rice

1 small broccoli crown cut into flowerets

Sliced baby bella or white mushrooms to taste 

If using breasts, pound them thin between two sheets of waxed paper. Use tenders right from package

Sprinkle seasonings onto chicken.

Pour oil in a frying pan and heat on medium until is shimmers. Add chicken. Fry until lightly browned, about 5 minutes, turn, and cook the other side the same way. remove chicken from pan to a plate and set aside.

Stir chicken stock into hot pan and scrape in any brown bits from the bottom and sides of the pan.

Add soup, mix well, the bring to a boil.

Stir in rice and broccoli. Turn heat to medium low. Place chicken on top, cover and let simmer about 5 minutes.

Serve on individual plates. French bread is a nice addition.

Enjoy!

May you enjoy all the days of your life filled with good friends, laughter, and seated around a well-laden table!

Sloane

Sloane Taylor is an Award-Winning author with a second passion in her life. She is an avid cook and posts new recipes on her blog every Wednesday. The recipes are user friendly, meaning easy.

To learn more about Taylor go to her website Stay in touch on Blogger, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Taylor's cookbooks, Hot Mean Wear Aprons, Date Night Dinners, Date Night Dinners Italian Style, Sizzling Summer, and Recipes to Create Holidays Extraordinaire are released by Toque & Dagger Publishing and available at all book vendors. 

This Holiday Season, Relax, Go with the Flow, and Do Nothing Suggests Author Anne Montgomery...

What to do about doing nothing to do? The holidays can be a bubbling vat of stress on a good day. So, I've invited my fellow author, Anne Montgomery over during this crazy-business holiday season to hopefully add some serenity to your life with her wisdom about learning how to slow down, and take things easy. The blog floor is all yours, Anne... 

 

So, I found myself in a rather precarious situation.

One day, recently, I had nothing to do. Not a thing. Even the house was relatively clean, and the laundry put away. There was nothing more I could do for the garden, which was on its way to the summer desert-char season, where all things green are reduced to sticks and straw. I could find no new reporters, bloggers, reviewers, or book clubs to pitch my novel to. There was nothing to edit or update. No e-mails to return or query letters to revise. And, gosh, with school out for the summer, there were no teenagers to supervise, unless you count my youngest son, who’s twenty and thinks he’s all grown up and doesn’t need my guidance anymore.

It was…quite frankly…frightening.

I know what you’re thinking. In the inimitable words of Mrs. Blue, when she first faces Forrest from her porch, “What are you crazy or just plain stupid?”

Now, as a teacher, I don’t use the word stupid. Five letters, yes, but, in the classroom, it’s lumped in with the dastardly four-letter variety. Still, when I tried to explain the cause of my anxiety to a friend, he looked at me like I’d lost my mind. Stupid, indeed.

I went online and, because I had nothing else to do, I took what was billed as the 7 Minute Anxiety Test. I agreed or disagreed with all sorts of statements on a link called the Calm Clinic:  I have sweaty or cold, clammy hands. I am afraid of crowds, being left alone, the dark, strangers, or traffic. I am able to relax.

That last one gave me pause. Even when I go on vacation, it takes me a few days to stop searching for a purpose, to find that sweet spot where I can take a nap or crack a mindless novel in the middle of the afternoon without guilt. The test results showed that I’d scored a 25 out of 100 on the Anxiety Scale: Apparently, my case was nothing more than mild.

Still, why the trepidation when I’m not under pressure? I put on my Sherlock deerstalker cap and, since I had nothing else to do, I gave it a good think.  I ruminated on the fact that I have spent perhaps an inordinate amount of time being insanely busy. Sometimes, I flash back to my newsroom days, where the frantic preparation for the next show could, at any moment, be wrenched in a new direction, necessitating the tossing of the previous plan moments before going live on the air. (I still have nightmares about not being prepared when the red camera light blinks on.)

When I first became a teacher, my panic at those relatively short TV segments seemed silly when faced with the proposition of five hours each day staring down children in the classroom, who glared back, waiting. I felt like an animal in the zoo. I used to be a server in a restaurant in Washington, D.C. where very busy people wanted their food “Right now!” As a sports official, decisions must be instantaneous. There’s no, “Let me think about this and get back to you,” allowed when it’s time to throw a flag or keep it neatly tucked in your belt.

And then, I paused. Everyone is busy. Our world dictates that we run from one responsibility to another with crushing regularity. Busy defines us.  And, clearly, I’m not the only one who feels a bit queasy when things slow down. More than half of Americans – 55% – responding to an on-line survey admitted to leaving vacation time unused in 2015, which totaled 658 million days.

Perhaps we’re just out of practice in regard to relaxing. Like anything else, one must train to become adept at a skill. One can’t just jump in without extensive repetition and expect to excel. So, I’ll solve my free-time anxiety problem by devising a plan, creating coherent steps in order to discern the proper route to relaxation, and then…

You know, all this thinking is making me sleepy. Maybe, I’ll take a nap and ponder the problem later.

Here is a brief peek at Anne's Historical Fiction novel base on a real soldier.

Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to the Graves Registration Service where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Lorraine, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?

Praise for Your Forgotten Sons

“Although a defty crafted work of original fiction, “Your Forgotten Sons” by Anne Montgomery is inspired by a true story. An original and inherently interesting read from start to finish, “Your Forgotten Sons” will prove to be an immediate and enduringly appreciated pick.”  Midwest Book Review

“This was a quick, riveting read that really challenged me to think differently about our servicemen and women, especially those who take on the jobs that don’t get heroically depicted in the media or news…I really highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a different take on American history. I left it with a newfound appreciation for the unsung heroes.” Bekah C NetGalley 

“This is the truth. It’s gritty and painful and bittersweet – and true.  When you think you’ve read every perspective of WWII, along comes Bud to break your heart.” Bridgett Siter Former Military Reporter

“Anne Montgomery writes a strong story and I was hooked from the first page. It had a great concept and I enjoyed that this was inspired by a true story…It was written perfectly and I was invested in the story. Anne Montgomery has a great writing style and left me wanting to read more.” –  Kathryn McLeer NetGalley 

Available at Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Kobo

 Anne Montgomery has worked as a television sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, amateur baseball umpire, and high school football referee. She worked at WRBL‐TV in Columbus, Georgia, WROC‐TV in Rochester, New York, KTSP‐TV in Phoenix, Arizona, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where she anchored the Emmy and ACE award‐winning SportsCenter, and ASPN-TV as the studio host for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Montgomery has been a freelance and staff writer for six publications, writing sports, features, movie reviews, and archeological pieces. When she can, Anne indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, football refereeing, and playing her guitar.

Learn more about Anne on her website, Wikipedia, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.