Tag: Alex J. Cavanaugh

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#blacklivesmatter Excerpts IWSG

#IWSG June 2020: What really matters?

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Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

Optional Monthly Question: Writers have secrets! What are one or two of yours, something readers would never know from your work?

I’ve chosen not to answer the question this month. My heart, honestly, isn’t really into this post right now. I’m hurting and feel betrayed. Still, I made a commitment to promote a book I’m, actually, really excited about, so that’s what I’m going to do… but first. 🙁

While the IWSG has a no politics policy, I just want to say that #BlackLivesMatter isn’t about politics, it’s my reality. If you get that, please pray that my dad, my brothers, my nephews, my cousins, and even myself continue to make it home safely each day. If you don’t get that, please don’t try to explain anything to me in the comments. This is one of those times when I’ll just delete it any way. If that upsets you, I understand, and it’s okay for you to unfollow this blog.

🙂 Now for something I’m really looking forward to.

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It’s Launch Day for Bad Fairy!

Title: Bad Fairy
Series: A Bad Fairy Adventure (Book One)
Author: Elaine Kaye
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Fantasy Middle Grade
Length: 66 pages
Age Range: 8-12

BLURB: Thistle Greenbud is not a bad fairy. She simply doesn’t like rules, and it’s just her luck that her homework is to create a new rule for the fairy handbook. But first, she has more important things to do. Like figure out how to get back at Dusty and Moss for playing tricks on her.

Before she can carry out her plan, though, disaster strikes and she finds herself working alongside the very fairies she wanted revenge on. Can they work together and trust each other, or will things go from bad to worse?

 BUY LINKS:  Amazon   |   Barnes & Noble

EXCERPT:

As we watch the boys, the wind picks up, making the fern lay flat, exposing us. We gasp and make a dash for the closest tree. Behind it, we huddle together.

“Boogles! A branch just hit me,” Weedy says.

The sky turns black. Wind swirls dust and leaves, and spits pebbles at us. This is not good. We have to get going now or else our payback will get blown away.

“Let’s go!” I scream and lead the group from behind the tree, but the wind makes it hard for us to move forward.

Rose and Lilly grab hands as they run, screaming, toward the creek. Lacey stumbles over a fallen twig, landing flat and hitting her face hard on the ground. When she doesn’t move, I race to her as sand and pine needles prick my skin.

I help Lacey to her feet. Luckily, she only has a few cuts on her face. A tiny bit of blood streaks down her forehead. She looks at me. Fear is bright in her eyes. She needs help. We all need help. I peer toward the creek. The boys are still there, frantically trying to lift the bag full of stones.

Shouting a warning and waving my arms, I hurry to the creek, trying to get their attention. Finally, Dusty sees me. He looks as if he’s been caught with his hand in the pixie jar.

I point to the sky and wave them to come our way. Rain starts to fall. Dusty pulls Moss from the creek. Fat drops of water pelt my head and wings as I wait for the boys to reach me.

“It must be a twisty!” Dusty screams. “We better find shelter.”

GIVEAWAY:
3 Signed Paperback Picture Books –
Pea Soup Disaster, Doctor Mom, The Missing Alphabet

Eligibility: International

Number of Winners: One

Giveaway Ends: July 1, 2020 12:00am Eastern Standard Time

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Elaine Kaye is the author of A Gregory Green Adventure series. She first created Gregory Green after her son, who loved her homemade pea soup, thus inspiring the story Pea Soup Disaster. Bad Fairy is her middle-grade debut and the first of A Bad Fairy Adventure series.

Kaye has worked as a library assistant and teacher’s assistant in elementary schools in the Sunshine State. She currently lives in Florida, but she has called Michigan; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Okinawa, Japan home. She is a grandmother of three boys.

Amazon / Goodreads / BookBub / 

Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn / Blog

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No personal updates today.

Visit Lit Carnivale.com to see what I read in May.
I may have read something by you.

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Did you answer this month’s question?
I already got my copy of Bad Fairy. Do you think you’ll pick it up?
(Rhetorical) Do you get what it means to be black in America?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will stop by your blog.

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Pat Garcia
J.Q. Rose and
Natalie Aguirre!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #39).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords #blacklivesmatter

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IWSG

#IWSG May 2020: Getting into the zone

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Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

Optional Monthly Question: Do you have any rituals that you use when you need help getting into the ZONE? Care to share?

I don’t believe I have anything specific that helps me to get in the zone. Sometimes I’m there, but most of the time I’m sitting around waiting to get there. I guess that’s what I call the Muse coming alive, which by the way, happened in a major way last month. Otherwise, I’d say that sometimes listening to music helps me find inspiration to complete a scene I’m having trouble with. I usually like to keep a variety of soundtracks on hand since they seem to be full of songs that convey very specific emotions and themes, such as fear, love, hatred, passion, war, and so much more.

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Sorry, I didn’t have time to put my monthly updates together, again. I gotta stop dropping the ball, but, in all honesty, I’ve just been distracted by the next bit of info I have to share. I will say that I read a book by Allie Marie, local to my area, and really enjoyed it. The review is worth checking out. (link is broken 🙁 )

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Now, on to the personal updates.

I don’t know how I did it, but I wrote and illustrated a children’s book about being in quarantine last month. Now I have to figure out what to do with it, and I’m hoping some of you will help. I know this is very last minute, but since next Tuesday, yes that’s May 12, is #GivingTuesday I figured that would be a good day to offer a free ebook and a fundraising giveaway. I want people to enter my giveaway for a chance to have me give $20 to the cause or charity of their choosing.


If anyone out there would be willing to share this next week, on your blog, or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram… I’ll take anything really, simply comment below or on my Contact page, and I’ll email you the details this weekend when the book launches.

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What do you do to get in the zone?
Can you help spread the word about my book and fundraiser?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will stop by your blog.

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Feather Stone,
Beverly Stowe McClure,
Mary Aalgaard,
Kim Lajevardi, and
Chemist Ken!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #39).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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IWSG

#IWSG April 2020: How are things?

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Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.

So, yes, I posted late. The world is a little crazy right now. I tried to schedule this last night and had to apply 5 updates to this blog before I could do anything else. Oh well.

Optional Monthly Question: The IWSG’s focus is on our writers. Each month, from all over the globe, we are a united group sharing our insecurities, our troubles, and our pain. So, in this time when our world is in crisis with the covid-19 pandemic, our optional question this month is: how are things in your world?

This is a pretty good question for this point in time. Since I’m a stickler for this posting format I’ve devised, I’ll respond in my personal updates section below.

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Sorry, didn’t have time to put my monthly updates together. We’ll see how I do next month.

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Now, on to the personal updates.
First, I didn’t read as much as I would have liked in March, but I didn’t do too badly. At some point, I hope to post some reviews.

Second, I haven’t written anything. That’s all about that.

Lastly, the last thing I posted to this blog was an update about me dealing with some health issues and doing my best to get around to visiting blogs. Since then, the Covid-19 scare has become a lifestyle (at least for now.)

I took some time off from work, without pay, to address some health concerns completely unrelated to Covid-19 and when I attempted to go back to work, I was told I couldn’t do so without a release from my doctor. Setting up a virtual appointment to have a letter faxed saying that I could go back to work, has been just one of many adventures for me in the last few weeks.

Still, with everything going on I can say that I’m blessed. I’m a little bumbed I haven’t had time to post any videos (videos now posted), but I hope to do that soon. In the meantime, here’s why I’m blessed.

1) Because of the kind of job I have, I’ve been able to keep working, though it has been a crazy process to follow guidelines and stay safe and healthy.

2) My husband has been very protective of me and taking on a lot of extra responsibilities around the house. He doesn’t like that I’m working but appreciates my ability to make an income when so many others can’t. He only lets me go to work and home and constantly checks in on me. It’s so sweet.

3) Technology. I think it’s kind of cute how so many people are discovering different ways to use video and the Internet to communicate and stay connected. For the first time in decades, people are using social media for its original intended purpose. I’m not saying that it’s perfect or even permanent, but for now, I like the state of the social media I’m seeing. I will be honest; I’ve avoided Twitter and have only engaged on Facebook and Instagram.

4) Apps. I’ve been using Zoom for years, but I think it’s great so many other people are discovering it. Here are some of my favorite apps at the moment: Pluto, YouTube, Goodreads, Dropbox, Google Drive, Weather Puppy, You Version (Bible), ASL, and Web Toon.

5) Faith, family, and friends. In the end, this is the greatest blessing of all.

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So, how are things in your world?
Read any good books lately?
It may take some time, but I promise, will stop by your blog.

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Diane Burton,
JH Moncrieff,
Anna @ Emaginette,
Karen @ Reprobate Typewriter,
Erika Beebe, and
Lisa Buie-Collard!

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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #39).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords