Tag: #IWSG

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IWSG Videos

#IWSG February 2019: My Creative Interests & a feature from author Tatum James.

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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.

I was almost in tears when I woke and realized my post hadn’t gone live. Seems I set it for the wrong date. 🙁 Oh well, better late than never… Hold on tight ‘cause I have a lot to cover today.

Optional Monthly Question: Besides writing, what other creative outlets do you have?

I have so many creative outlets, I sometimes have to schedule the time I spend doing different things. While reading itself isn’t a creative outlet, writing book reviews and filming book videos can be. I also enjoy cooking and baking from scratch (or semi-homemade when resources are scarce). I love to draw and paint, and while I’m better at drawing than painting, I’m not really good at either. Still, I love to do it. I used to love sewing pillows, purses, and other things, but getting back into it has been tough (again resources…). And lastly, I love to dance. I used to be really into jazz, ballet, and hip-hop though I never trained for them. Still, I do enjoy a good beat or melody.

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January’s IWSG Newsletter member spotlight was L.G. Keltner. Be sure to stop by and check her out, if you have a chance.

IWSG BOOK CLUB NEWS

The IWSG Book Club on Goodreads is changing things up…
And members are love’n it.

-5 Discussion Questions: We will pose 5 questions that you can answer about the book we’ve read as a group. You can answer one question or all five. It’s up to you.

-Discussion Day Poll: Every discussion day, there will also be a poll that all members will get invited to answer. This is a great option to participate that is fast and simple.

-Quiz: You can also help us create a Goodreads quiz for the book we’ve read.

-Giveaways: Every Discussion Day, book club members will get a Goodreads message that will include the chance for members to enter a free Rafflecopter giveaway.

-Freebies: When we announce the next reading selection, another Goodreads message will go out that’ll include a downloadable freebie, which could be anything.

-Other Polls: We will also invite members to answer writing or reading-related polls during our “down” months. One poll will be related to the book in some way.

We read a new book every other month, alternating between craft books and fictional books that demonstrate an aspect of writing. Members vote on our fictional books. Join us here.

Goodreads

Our February/March 2019 book is Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. This book was voted on by our members as a good example of setting. Discussion Day will be March 20th.

The cover for the next IWSG anthology has been revealed and there’s a new admin to the group. Click the image to get more information about the anthology release date and more.

The February WEP-IWSG sign-up is open and I feel pretty silly not having a story posted yet. While I do have until the 20th to get my DL-link up, I’m having trouble developing a story for the theme I came up with (Yes, you read that right. It was all my idea). He he, guess I didn’t think that through very well.

AUTHOR FEATURES

I’m happy to announce that I have some lovely authors to feature today. First, over on my YouTube channel, I’ve interviewed two authors and have another on the way. I’m always up for interviewing more authors. Check out video interviews for Christina Weigand and Joanne Lipford. Plus, I had a lovely blog interview with author Rhiannon Lee, on Monday. And today, I present you with an original article from author Tatum James.

What Becomes Of A Broken Doll?

By now, some know that Tatum James is a pen name. I recently signed with Major Key Publishing writing under my real name. I wanted to keep my author life separated from my regular life. Plus, some of my scenes are graphic so I wanted to disassociate from that.

I began a love affair with storytelling at a young age. I would read or watch something and think of ways to make it better. My favorites came from the urban fiction genre, well that’s if we exclude Maurice Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are.  I was introduced to urban fiction in 8th grade. A more mature classmate brought in a book about a hair salon. I couldn’t believe there were books with characters like people I knew.

I didn’t realize that I was talented until some of my teachers and friends brought it to my attention. I loved writing but, I couldn’t see myself doing it as a job. Instead, I chose to be a nurse, which I’ve done since 2009.

I became a published author in November of 2018, self-publishing my first novella Identical Sins. Soon after I published my baby Diary Of A Broken Doll which I had completed about 2 years earlier and the sequel Diary Of A Broken Doll 2.

Diary of a Broken Doll is a coming of age story of a girl with a negligent mother. The protagonist Courtney becomes wrapped up in a world of drugs and sex. Once she is in, there’s no turning back. There is a 3rd part to the series coming February of 2019.  In the 3rd installment, the readers get a more personal look into her life with Drew, the guy that saved her from her mother’s home.

Find Diary of a Broken Doll at Amazon.com.

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Now, on to the personal updates.

I’m crazy busy with my day job, plus all the stuff I’m doing online. That’s just the state of my life right now, and for now, I’m okay with it. Not letting myself get too overwhelmed. I do what I can and don’t worry about what I can’t.

Since it’s February, I’m doing my self-created #28daysofgraphicnovels challenge over at my, Carnie the Bookworm, Instagram account.

 

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And, I finally finished my semi-animated read aloud video series for story time. I worked really hard on it and am happy with what I was able to accomplish with very little technical skill, low-tech equipment, and minuscule time. I do so hope you will give these 5 short videos (less than 5 minutes each) a look and or a share.

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What other creative interest do you have?

Gonna try the IWSG Book Club Book?

Gonna try my storytime video series?

I’m feeling good at the moment and wish you nothing
but blessings in your endeavors.

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:

 Raimey Gallant,
 Natalie Aguirre,
CV Grehan, and
Michelle Wallace!!

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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 #50).

This post contains some affiliate links. Please see the about page for more information.

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 January 2019: Dreaded Questions

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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: What are your favorite and least favorite questions people ask you about your writing?

I once had someone tell me they didn’t want to read my book because it wasn’t available in hardcover, but that was just the once. I don’t think that guy even reads. I think he felt he needed an excuse not to read my book, though I never told him I wrote one. My mother told him… Oh well.

I guess for me, the most annoying two questions I get is, “Is it really that hard to write a book?” or “Why don’t you get a publisher?” I don’t think I’ve actually tried to answer either of these questions in at least seven years. Now, when someone asks me one of those questions I tell them, “You’re not ready to talk to me about my writing.” Sure, I get strange looks, but at least I don’t have to provide a long explanation to someone who barely reads anyway.

On the flip side, my two favorite questions are, “Where did you get the idea to write that?” and “What made you decide to start writing?” Both of these questions seem to express a genuine interest in the subject of the question.

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December’s IWSG Newsletter member spotlight was Raimey Gallant. Be sure to stop by and check her out, if you have a chance.

The IWSG Book Club book for December/January is: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

The discussion for this starts January 23rd and I’m ready. I finished the book a while back but still haven’t posted my review. Hope to get that done this weekend.

Be sure to stop by the IWSG blog today to see the announcement of the anthology winners. I submitted a story, along with a bunch of other people. If I make the cut great. If not, I can add the story I submitted to the collection I’ve been working to release later this year. Either way, it’s a win for me.

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Now, on to the personal updates.

My 2018 ended a lot nicer than I expected and I am very blessed coming into the new year. I got caught up on all my unposted book reviews and managed to decorate for the season with plenty of time to actually enjoy the decorations. I even got to do a little baking.

I have several WIPs going but I figured I’d wait til next month to get into all that when I discuss my reading challenge as well. One thing I do want to mention is that I’d like to feature more authors on this blog this year. I used to feature authors all the time but stopped for some reason. If you think you might be interested in being featured on this blog, check out my sign-up form here. Also, check out this form if you are interested in a video interview.

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What questions do you often get about your writing?


I wish everyone a happy and fulfilling New Year!

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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Patricia Lynne,
Lisa Buie-Collard,
Kim Lajevardi, and
Fundy Blue!

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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 #50).

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
Fun Hops IWSG

Ribbons and Candles #WEPFF Challenge featuring Tilly and The Arbol Tree #amwriting #flashfiction

Pexels.com

Tilly and The Arbol Tree

Lucy was the last Griffin to light the Arbol Tree and that was over a century ago. The Arbol tree has been good to the people of Meiland, with its aquatic borders and intimate population of five distinct tribes, each made of five ancient families. The Arbol Tree glows bright green throughout the year, taking only one night of rest. The light of the Arbol Tree warms and nurtures the soil, alternates and regulates the weather, and produces the Arbol Fruit. The Arbol’s red seeds, green leaves, pink flowers, yellow to orange fruit, and even its violet bark are used in all Meiland meals and because of this, the people remain youthful and spirited until they greet their long sleep.

On the day the Arbol Tree fizzles out and takes up rest, the Meiland people hold a splendid celebration. The Griffins have provided the silk ribbons for the festival for as long as anyone can remember. With infants dressed as round plump fruits, unpromised youth adorned with leaves, mated couples donning pink flowers over their hearts, and revered elders wrapped in violet shrouds, the entire island marches through streets draped with red ribbons and lit candles burning with white flames.

The Griffins had once been the highest respected family of the Textile tribe. When Lucy was given the honor to light the Arbol Tree, she had won over the Council of Favor by presenting each member with hand stitched silk scarves with detailed Arbol Trees embroidered from one end to the other. No matter the style in which the scarves were worn, the Arbol Tree was always front and center. All few remaining Council members from that time still donned their scarves while those who’ve greeted their long sleep have had them sealed in glass and put on display in their memory. Not since Lucy has any Tree Lighter, especially not a Griffin, impressed the Council of Favor as much or had such a lasting legacy.

Tilly, in her mind, was a lot like Lucy. She too was a silk-shaper, the youngest in history to take on the craft in a professional capacity. Unlike Lucy, Tilly did not yet have a grand plan or idea to win over the Council of Favor, but she was determined that she would light the Arbol Tree and restore the Griffin family to a place of honor. Tilly toyed with ideas such as silk hats decorated with Arbol fruits and sashes painted with Arbol flowers, but she knew these were ideas that had been done before by other members of her tribe. No; Tilly needed to come up with something new, something that had never been done before, and something that would depict the Arbol Tree in the best light throughout the year, and hopefully throughout time.

Pexels.com

The day of the Grand Celebration was a busy one. All five tribes gathered to show off their crafts and share meals and entertaining performances before settling down to meet with the Council of Favor just before midnight. Tilly spent most of her day wrapping ribbons around infant’s heads, unpromised’s wrists, mated’s lapels, and elder’s necks. This was the first year she didn’t join the other unpromised in circle dances or street chanting. No; Tilly wouldn’t celebrate too much. She was too busy keeping a close eye on her offering to the Council and storing up the courage to present it to them.

At the gathering of the Council, Tilly sat near the back, not yet ready to reveal her offering. She had not even proclaimed to her tribe she would be making an offering. The Griffins hadn’t presented an offering in twenty years and the Textile tribe had forgotten to present the previous year, too busy and consumed with making and preparing ribbons for the Grand Celebration.

The Planter tribe presented the Council with decorated packages of delicious rainbow grains with preparation instructions included. The Ore tribe brought smiles to the Council member’s faces when they presented ruby lapel pins carved to look like the Arbol seed. Tilly knew it would be difficult to top that. The Construct tribe presented golden door handles shaped like the Arbol Fruit and the Game tribe presented roasted Meiland; the elusive fish for which the island was named. Before the Council could gather to decide who to grant the honor too, Tilly stepped forward, dragging a large bundle behind her. She proclaimed that the Griffins of the Textile tribe would present an offering.

In a flurry, Tilly began to pull strips of silk, satin, lace, and more from her bundle, dancing around the gathered crowd, folding, bending, twisting, and stitching with fervor. The spectacle of the flying fabric and dancing colors delighted the crowd and brought cheery smiles to the faces of the Council members. When at last Tilly had completed her dance, before each member of the Council stood a miniature Arbol Tree with red seeds inlaid at the roots, a violet trunk supporting green leaves, pink flowers, and yellow fruit. Tilly received a standing ovation.

The Head Council Member stepped toward Tilly with a golden candle bearing the white flame and bid her blessings as she faced the Tree. Taking the candle in hand, Tilly approached the Tree and gazed up at its seemingly unending height before stepping through its thick dry branches and disappearing from sight. Moments later, the Arbol was ablaze, crackling and sparkling; slowly fading into an emerald glow.
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FCA- 904-words- Tilly and The Arbol Tree 2018 Copyright © Toinette J. Thomas

Please visit other entries in this hop and enjoy some funny, scary, touching, and thought-provoking stories. You’ll be so glad you did.



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