Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click hereto learn more or sign up.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through to make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Any amount I make goes towards my dream to host a book fair in Hampton Roads, VA. Please see my About page for more details. Thank you for your support.
Optional Monthly Question: How long have you been blogging? (Or on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram?) What do you like about it and how has it changed?
I started blogging back in either 2010 or 2011 with my 40 Days and Nights of Eternal Curse blog. I moved on to several other blogs that I ran all the same time before streamlining my efforts into this blog, The ToiBox of Words. I started this blog in 2012 and may be ending it in 2024 because I’m really NOT happy with my server. We’ll see what the future holds.
I’ve been trying really hard to build up my Patreon community. I can’t figure out why so many people are willing to sign up for newsletters but not this. It’s just as free as a newsletter and comes in your email just like a newsletter. Oh, well. I guess if it’s meant to be, it will be. If it’s not, it’s not.
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My book about Margie, my rescue dog, is up for digital pre-order and I plan to release the book on April 29, 2024. That’s my wedding anniversary and it seemed like a good day to release it. I’d planned to post the giveaway information this month, but I’ll have to wait until May because of life circumstances. I’m very excited about what I’m giving away and how people can enter. I think it’ll be a lot of fun.
Coming April 29, 2024. Pre-Order Now!
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Now, on to the personal updates.
I’ll be at Raven Con in Richmond, VA in the middle of the month and look forward to recapping that experience with you all next month.
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How long have you been blogging?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will eventually stop by your blog.
My response time has gotten slower but I’m still making my rounds.
Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #27).
Did you know you can join my community for FREE over atPatreonto receive a monthly update on the creative projects I’m working on? I tell you the truth, it’s better than a newsletter!
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.
Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click hereto learn more or sign up.
Optional Monthly Question: Have you “played” with AI to write those nasty synopses, or do you refuse to go that route? How do you feel about AI’s impact on creative writing?
I’m glad that A.I. is there to help some people achieve their creative goals, but what I’ve mostly seen of it is people using to be lazy writers. I’m all for assisted writing where the A.I. helps you with research and organization, but when it’s drafting paragraphs for you in the style of some other writers, that’s just lazy and wrong. I’ve tested out one creative brainstorming application and it freaked me out. To quote myself from a Patreon post on June 27, 2023 (https://www.patreon.com/posts/06-23-original-85201435), “I tested out an A.I. writing feature just to see what it’s all about. Needless to say, it worked, but it worked too well. It was creepy. I wrote a small poem on a piece of paper to compare the poem A.I. generated in my style. I will not be doing that again. The similarity and closeness still have me twitching. With that said, I combined what I wrote with what the A.I. generated to produce the poem at the start of this piece.” For that poem, I generated a 153-word combo of my words and A.I.-generated words. The rest of the story is 1,232 words of my original content and creativity. I feel no need to revisit this experience.
I’ve also posted an abbreviated response to my social media accounts. I’d love to see you over at Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok.
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I posted a goals update last week to explain my absence from social media, if you’d like to check it out. Instagram | TikTok.
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Happy Read an Ebook Week! Don’t miss the massive celebratory sale going on right now at Smashwords! There are deep discounts on thousands of books, but only until March 9. Check it out my Ebook sales here: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/toithomas
I have a novel, short stories, nonfiction, and picture books on sale right now.
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I finally worked out the kinks with my digital ARC of Margie “The Scaredy Dog” Finds a Home. Now I just need to finalize the print proof. In the meantime, I think I’m ready to start promoting it. I’ve decided to do a giveaway with Margie merch, dog treats, and more, (I will have an alternative prize for winners outside of the U.S. and Canada) where entry is all about people sharing their pet stories online. They can share on their blogs, vlogs, podcast, or social media. As long as they share the link with me, they will be entered to win. I am going to keep it very simple and use Rafflecopter to track progress. I’m also seeking individuals who’d like to read a digital ARC. I’m hoping the recipients will review the book, but they don’t have to. I hope to launch everything next month.
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No additional updates at this time.
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What are your thoughts on A.I. and creative writing?
My response time has gotten slower but I’m still making my rounds.
Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #27).
Did you know you can join my community for FREE over atPatreonto receive a monthly update on the creative projects I’m working on? I tell you the truth, it’s better than a newsletter!
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.
Thistle Greenbud thought the nickname Bad Fairy was behind her, but she can’t escape it. Someone is spreading a rumor about her that just isn’t true and can ruin all of her hard work in getting into Advanced School. What fairy would do such a thing?
As if that’s not bad enough, Thistle’s dad goes missing. Not a single fairy in Tinselville has seen him. He’s vanished like pixie dust. Her mom is distraught, and Thistle is worried. Where could he be?
Thistle and the Flutters, along with Dusty and Moss, are on both cases. Can they find out what happened to her dad and solve the Bad Fairy rumor? Thistle hopes so!
I was so happy to have a chance to read an early copy of this book. My reaction, “4.75 stars- Pretty deep stuff in a fluffy sweet package.” Click hereto read my full review.
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Thistle (aka Bad Fairy) Chats with Dusty:
Thistle and Dusty used to be fairy enemies, each trying to
pay the other back for something they did to each other. But then a twisty
devastated their home of Pine Cone Grove and all that changed. They helped out
their fellow fairies side by side and are now, much to the astonishment of the
members of Thistle’s Flutter Club, friends.
Thistle: I had fun at the Spring
Festival.
Dusty: So did I! You looked very
pretty.
Thistle: *blushes* Thank you.
Dusty: What was your favorite part
of the festival?
Thistle: Tricking Moss and Lacey.
Dusty: *snickers* Once a bad fairy,
always a bad fairy.
Thistle: *crosses her arms* Hey, I’m
not a bad fairy!
Dusty: I know. I was just teasing
you.
Thistle: Well, it’s not funny, not
since someone is spreading rumors about me doing something really bad
that I didn’t do.
Dusty: I’m sorry. And I promise that
we’ll find the fairy who is spreading those rumors about you.
Thistle: Thanks. *sighs* So, what was
your favorite part of the Spring Festival?
Dusty: Hanging out with you and
looking at all the booths.
Thistle: I wish we could go back to
that day, before the rumors and before my dad went missing.
Dusty: That reminds me, I need to
check in with Sheriff Webbing to see if there’s any news on your dad. I’ll be
back soon!
*Dusty zips off*
Thistle: *shouts* OKUM-SOKUM!
EXCERPT:
“Hi, Thistle!”
The voice startles me, and I turn to see Dusty Withers.
Boogles! Dusty and I were once rivals. He and his sidekick Moss Kelp always
caused trouble and made me get blamed for it, earning me the nickname Bad
Fairy. After a twisty hit, destroying much of our grove, Dusty, Moss, and the
Flutters worked together to rebuild homes. Dusty and Moss proved to us they
changed. Since then, Dusty and I have become friends.
Ssh! Don’t tell anyone. That’ll be our secret for now.
I smooth down my skirt. I’m wearing a strawberry-colored
top and a green web skirt, making me look as though I’m a real strawberry, only
upside down. I hope he doesn’t notice. “Oh, hi,” is all I manage to say.
Dusty steps closer. “Do you want to share lunch with me? I
have a coverlet we can use, and food, of course.” He holds up a basket and
looks at me with hope bright in his brown eyes. I can’t help but notice how
cute he looks wearing a vine crown over his curly brown hair. He’s wearing a
clean shirt and knickers with brown leggings. Before, he used to wear ratty
shirts and dirty shorts from playing rough and getting into mischief.
Secretly, I want to go with him, but I can’t. Only Lacey
knows Dusty and I are hanging out.
“I…uh…” Fuddlebug! I can’t talk.
I try again. “I’m sorry, but I promised to eat with my mom
and dad.” My wings droop. “Then I have a Flutter Club meeting.”
Dusty puts on a grin, and says, “Moss and I could join you at
the meeting.”
“Sorry, but it’s a Flutter girls thing. I know you and Moss
are Flutter Helpers, but everything is good. If we need you two, we’ll call you
to a meeting.” I try to calm the twitching in my wings.
“Okay.” He smiles and gives me a wink before walking away.
PRIZES: 3 signed paperback picture books (Pea Soup Disaster, The Missing Alphabet, Slow Poke), three handmade bookmarks, plus a goodie bag and worksheets.
Elaine Kaye is the author of A Bad Fairy Adventure series AND 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.
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.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through to make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Any amount I make goes towards my dream to host a book fair in Hampton Roads, VA. Please see my About page for more details. Thank you for your support.
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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