Authors, Kai Strand & LA Dragoni

Ripples in the Inkwell  is a monthly meme hosted by  Mary Waibel ,  Katie L. Carroll , and me,  Kai Strand . We post on the second Monday of every month. If you would like to participate compose your own post regarding the theme of the month, include any of the images displayed on this page, and link back to our three blogs. Feel free to post whenever you want during the month, but be sure to include #inkripples when you promote so readers can find you. The idea is that we toss a word or idea into the inkwell and each post is a new ripple. There is no wrong interpretation. Themes remaining in 2015: December:  Celebration /Gifts *** I'm feeling really pathetic here. My #InkRipples post is supposed to go live in a few hours and I'm having a heck of a time coming up with the content for it. The worst part is that this month's topic is Remembrance/Thankfulness. Seriously - what is wrong with me? It isn't as if I'm not thankful for anything or anyone in m...

Be sure to visit the grand master Alex Cavanaugh 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! Posting:  The first Wednesday of every month is officially  Insecure Writer’s Support Group  day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. Let’s rock the neurotic writing world! Our Twitter hashtag is #IWSG The awesome co-hosts today are  M. Pax,   Tracy Jo, Patricia Lynne,   Rachna Chhabria,   Feather Stone,  and  Randi Lee!  Please visit their blogs & say hi! First, I just want ...

Writing : A totally exciting year. I had two books published this year (Guardian Angel Publishing and Featherweight Press). My short stories were included in two anthologies this year (Wayman Publishing and Knowonder). I signed contracts for two more books to be published in 2013 (Whiskey Creek Press and MuseItUp Publishing). And expect more anthologies, the first one releasing on January 1 st , 2013!   I finished a novel at the last possible moment. Wrote loads of short stories and saw most of them published by Knowonder, Beyond Centauri, Spaceports & Spidersilk.   I thank each and every one of these publishers for taking a chance on my writing and me. I value the work you put into producing a quality product and I work hard to spread the word about it so that we can both stay in business and continue to work together into the future.   Social Media : I continued to love my weekly blog feature Three Times A Charm. I’ve met so many wonderful peo...

I am participating in the Indie-giving Blogfest hosted by the Indelibles. *** It was a little more than three years ago that rejection started to change me. I was increasingly short tempered and frequently reacted to someone's good news with a cynical view. I think I might even have been growling at my children on a regular basis. At least in my head if not out loud! So, I quit writing. I quit for awhile. Months! It wasn't easy. Writing called to me, but at the same time it left me with a sour stomach. During that time I met the lovely Lynda Burch, owner of Guardian Angel Publishing. We had such a nice talk about children's publishing, her forward vision for her company and various unrelated things. I had nothing to pitch her, so I was relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed myself that evening. A couple months later a thought struck me. "The Weaver would be a perfect fit for Guardian Angel Publishing!" But I was no longer a writer! Yet I really thought GAP would l...

Happy March! March came in like a lion here. Snow, high winds, 2 hour school delay. I like knowing that it will go out like a lamb, because that makes me think of spring. When the breeze is a perfect twining of cool and warm drafts. Where the air carries the scent of wet dirt and the sweet notes of chirping birds. Tulips, my favorite flower, will nod and bob on tall, strong stems to the sunny, smiling daffodils. Oh how I love spring and it is so close! I want to thank all the lovely writers who trusted me to share their stories in February. I had so much fun putting that all together. Oprah Winfrey once said, “Everybody has a story. Everybody.” I’ve always believed that, but it felt so much more real to me last month as I received the guest posts and read them and staged them for posting. As I enjoyed the interaction in the comments and the additional stories shared. I understand better why Oprah does what she does. The posts resonated with readers in so many ways; spa...