Categories
IWSG

#IWSG Oct. 2025- Favorite Thing I’ve Written

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

Optional Monthly Question: What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?

The most favorite thing I’ve written has been the story of Giovanni, a.k.a. Bletsian. Originally, I released the story as The Eternal Curse Series. I wrote three books in the series, but only release two, along with companions for each. I was writing the third book when I realized that my writer’s voice from book 1 to book 3 was dramatically different and there were things I felt needed to be expanded or explored with the story. Once I finished the third book, I decided not to publish it and removed the first two books from print. I still offer it in digital form in my Patreon shop, but haven’t been shy about the fact that I’m rewriting the whole series as The Mark of Bletsian.

Generally, Giovanni is the main character, but the story isn’t actually about him. It’s about him and everyone he encounters. It’s a story steeped in faith and the idea that there is a purpose to everything, even when we don’t like it. This story is ultimately about me and how I struggle with being a member of human society and choose to be a person of faith in a world that treats “faith” like a bad word.

It’s a family saga that spans millennia, from the time of angels to the destruction of the world. It’s a paranormal adventure with dark themes but an overall uplifting message. I lean heavily into the style of mythology (gods and monsters) but maintain a connection to reality and contemporary society.

It’s the best thing I’ve ever written and am currently writing.

****

Personal Updates…

I’m currently looking to move my website and blog to another host. I hope I don’t lose all of it, but I’m at a place where I’d be ok with losing it just to get away from my current host. I feel so heartbroken over the idea of losing decades of work I’ve put into the blog, including all the guest posts, interviews, and reviews I’ve shared that were impactful for other people, but this is where I am now.

Health issues continue to dominate my life. I’m hoping to finally reach a point where I can address my issues and move on with my writing. I’ve received two new diagnosis and look forward to finding out what the plan for treatment is.

****

What’s your favorite thing you’ve written?

It may take some time, but I promise, I will eventually stop by your blog.

****

After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Beth Camp
Crystal Collier,
and Cathrina Constantine!

****

Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #21).

Thank you for making it this far down the virtual page. Kudos to you! I’d love to know what you thought of this post in the comments below. Stay safe and be blessed.

Categories
IWSG Virtual Book Tours

#IWSG June 2018 & Write with Fey #newrelease #giveaway

72b25-iwsg2bbadge

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: What’s harder for you to come up with, book titles or character names?

For me, it’s definitely book titles. I have this whole obsession with names and their meanings and keep a list of possible names I could use at any time. Book titles, on the other hand, elude me. Even after I’ve settled on one, I never really feel it fits. At some point, I have to call the book something so people will know what they are getting. It’s not easy making that final decision.

****

So, first off, this is going to be a long one, but for good reason. I’ll be back to my shorter posts next time, I promise.

Now, I’d like to congratulate Juneta Key on her member spotlight in the May newsletter. Not only is she a great blogger and writer, she’s constantly giving back to the community. A very well-deserved recognition.

Now, on to the personal updates. Please stick around for a special new release message at the end.

So, in case you missed it, I unpublished the first two books in the Eternal Curse Series (they are still available to anyone who asks for them). You can learn more about that at the link above. Needless to say, I have a lot of writing to do with that rewrite as well as finishing the first draft of my Sayings sequel, which I still don’t have a title for. I seriously thought I’d be on my 3rd or 4th draft by now, but as usual, my day job, which is convenient for writing, is also so stressful as of late, that it’s blocked all my creativity… Oh well, that’s life.

On a slightly fun note, I’m in position 56 on the IWSG blog hop list. When I started out, I was 181. All that means is that many people have come and gone, and likely come back again in the time I’ve participated in this blog and I’ve been sticking with it and moving up the ladder. Being part of this group is one of my greatest accomplishments. I’m sadly thinking of reducing my blog to once a month post, still being open to interviews and spotlights whenever someone needs to fill a spot or wants some free promo… We’ll see what happens.

Over at A Small Gang of Authors, we are hosting our first ever book cover contest. We’d love for you to head over, check it out, and vote in the comments. Thanks bunches!

NEW RELEASE & GIVEAWAY!
Catch the sparks you need to write, edit, publish, and market your book!
Write with Fey: 10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication offers an
abundance of data in one handy book. From writing your novel to prepping for publication and beyond, you’ll find sparks on every page, including 100 bonus marketing tips. You’ll also discover how to write specific scenes and characters, adding depth to your work.
•        Spark One: Being a Writer
•        Spark Two: Story Essentials
•        Spark Three: A Book’s Stepping Stones
•        Spark Four: How To
•        Spark Five: Character ER
•        Spark Six: Editing
•        Spark Seven: Publishing
•        Spark Eight: Marketing
•        Spark Nine: Writing About
•        Spark Ten: Final Inspiration
With so much information, you’ll take notes, highlight, and flag pages to come back to again and again on your writing journey.
AUTHOR BIO:
Chrys Fey is the author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept blending romance, crimes, and disasters. She’s partnered with the Insecure Writer’s Support Group and runs their Goodreads book club. She’s also an editor for Dancing Lemur Press.
Fey realized she wanted to write by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve, she started her first novel, which flourished into a series she later rewrote at seventeen. Fey lives in Florida and is always on the lookout for hurricanes.
Chrys Fey’s Links:
GIVEAWAY!
Open to all from June 4th 2018 – July 6th 2018
Click here to enter or use the form below.

****

So, are you a whiz at book titles but struggle with character names or vice versa?
Would you ever unpublish a book? Does the idea of it terrify you?
What did you think of Carnie?
You gonna enter Chrys Fey’s giveaway?

****

After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Beverly Stowe McClure,
Tyrean Martinson,
Tonja Drecker, and
Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!

****

Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #56).

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

Categories
About Toi EC: Battleground EC: Giovanni's Angel

News, good or bad, depending on your point of view.

I’m finally taking the plunge and am unpublishing the first two books in my Eternal Curse Series. I’ve been struggling to finish book three in the series because of the major differences in skill-level and style that the latest book is clearly displaying over the two previous installments. So now, I’m going back and doing a major rewrite of the first two books with the intentions to release all three for the 10th-anniversary release of the first book (we’ll see what happens with that).

 

Find these at Patreon.com.

~

The Golden Box Books Publishing online magazine is one of my favorites digital subscriptions, and not just because I’ve been featured a bunch. It has really cool content. This month contest winners are announced and there are some cool character interviews.


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