To Epilogue Or Not? #MFRWAuthors #39

I’ve always been told that if you have a Prologue, there needs to be an Epilogue.  OR…..you can have one at the end of a series.

I don’t use these a whole lot.  There’s both a pro and epi in All She Ever Wanted, and an epi at the end of Off The Clock, which wraps up the trilogy.

In my Women’s Fiction series, I think #5 has both a pro and epi in it, and so does #7.  #8-13 aren’t finished (or even written!) yet, and it’s been at least ten years since I’ve even looked at the finale of the series.  I can’t remember how I set it up.

What’s your take on this subject?

I’m heading off to Saluki Con this weekend, in Carbondale, Il.  Never been to this event before, but hoping to create some buzz for Bad Decisions, which releases Oct 19th.

 

My story in this anthology is Family Secrets: 

Ten years ago, a horrific act scarred Austin Finch emotionally.  When his sister Taylor moves back to town and unknowingly forces Austin to face his demons, will he find the courage to face his past?  More importantly, will his family ever forgive him for the terrible decision he made three years ago?

 

Contests Pro Or Con? #MFRWAuthors #38

Confession time:  I’ve never submitted anything I’ve written to a contest.  But I do have friends who have, so I can only draw on their experiences to talk about this topic.

Pro:

It can definitely be a way of figuring out if you have any talent, by having an unbiased opinion about your writing, and it’s a great validation on your resume.

Con:

It does cost money, and it can also be an anxious time, if your story receives no feedback or is not advanced to the next round.

Click here to check out what everyone else has to say.

I have another rare weekend off!  Things are beginning to slow down; I only have 5 more signings between now and Thanksgiving:)

Most Hated Chore #MFRWAuthors #37

This goes along with last week’s post.  If there’s one household chore I hate with a vengeance, it’s cleaning the bathroom, specifically the bathtub or shower.

I don’t have an issue with cleaning the toilet, or even the sink.  But the bathtub and shower….ugh.

Part of it is the fact I can no longer bend over or even squat down, and my arms get tired reaching the back wall.  We even bought a cleaning tool that extends, but it’s awkward.  So in addition to my other inventions, I’d like a self-cleaning shower!

I hate mopping the kitchen floor too, but since the invention of Swiffer WetJet, it’s less annoying.

What chore do YOU hate the most?

Join the conversation here.

Had a great time at Cil-Con last weekend!  My adopted dad showed up, and turns out he knows many of the same people as I!  Then he even took me to karaoke on Saturday.  Got to meet Santiago Cirillo, another Walking Dead cast mate (he played Julio), and boy was he a scream at the after party!  That man should do stand up.

This weekend, I’m off to the Indy Author Event in Indianapolis, In, hosted by Saints and Sinners.  I’ve been upgraded to a full table, so I’m thrilled I don’t have to condense my display after all!

My hours at work are getting cut, starting next week, so I should be able to do more writing, now that I’ll only work 4 hours a day instead of 6.  Of course, this means my funds will be a little strained in October, but Con season is beginning to wind down.  I only have two more events this month, two in Oct, and two in Nov.  I’ll be able to save my funds, instead of using all of it for hotel and car rental fees, which is good, since our new anthology, Bad Decisions, will be releasing next month.  I’m hoping to have cover art to show off next week:)

What Every Mom Wants….#MFRWAuthors #36

Ever since becoming a mom, I’ve wanted someone to invent one thing:

A homing device for children’s shoes and maybe even socks.

Picture this:  You’re getting ready to leave and your toddler, who five minutes ago had BOTH shoes on, now can’t find one of them.  Where did it go?  Under the bed/crib?  Under the couch?  Under the desk?

No….it’s located behind the cat’s litter box, at the other end of the apartment/house.  Never mind the fact you probably propped your little darling in his/her swing or playpen; it’s still magically ended up somewhere you never dreamed of finding it.  Even if you tied the shoelaces together when you took them off your darling….in the morning one will be by the front door (where you left it) and the other will be buried at the bottom of the toy chest.

Then there’s always the ‘mute’ button…..this comes in handy when Mom’s had enough and just needs a time out!  But since I could also see this being abused, I’ll retract it.  But honestly….how many times do you wish kids came with an ‘off’ switch?  And I’m not talking the blessed nap time…..again, I could see this one being abused….can we just put the kids in stasis until they’re old enough for school?  Or off to college?  LMAO!  (Just kidding….)

Another thing I’d like invented is a lifelong laptop/kindle/IPad/phone battery, and electronics that never fail to work.  This includes all storage for data.  I remember a time when I had files backed up on disc, CD, Dropbox, AND a thumb drive…..and still managed to lose a file.  How does that happen???  I’m just praying that when I get back to work on books 8-14 of Arbor U that my original files can still be accessed.

Or that I could magically produce them out of my head ala Dumbledor’s whatchamacallit, where he pulls memories out of his brain and puts them in the cauldron.  Then all I’d have to do is take dictation!  Where’s that magic pen, that writes as quick as I think?  LOL!

If anyone manages to invent a way to keep books from being pirated, bring it on!  Or prevent SPAM.  I had to disable the comments on my other blog, since I kept getting SPAM messages on the same five posts from 2009!

What about YOU?  What invention do YOU think needs to be invented?

Join the conversation here.

I’m off to Cil-Con, in Mattoon, IL this weekend!  I’ve never been to this particular one, but it’s been highly recommended by friends.  If you make it to the Cross Country Mall in Mattoon, I’ll be in ‘Brian’s Love Shack’ area, along with a few other romance authors!  I’ll try to post pictures next week:)