Writer Wednesday - Write What You Know

Wild Women Authors 

with Kat Henry Doran 

Write What You Know 

Question: What do these writers have in common: Eileen Dryer, Tess Gerritson, Lisa Scottoline, Michael Connelly, Robert K. Tannenbaum? 

Answer: They write what they know. 

 As an avid reader, I depend on authors to write what they know. Therefore as a former trauma nurse I am especially sensitive to gross errors in basic medical procedures and hospital routines with the key words being gross and/or basic. For example, a patient with a fractured rib would not have a plaster cast applied to their chest. Also, as a former victim advocate, I know my way around a courthouse so I’m particularly sensitive to how victims of violence should be treated by those who should know better. 

That said, let’s talk about some of my favorite authors who make characters or locations jump right off the page: 

• Eileen Dryer who, in her other life, was an emergency room nurse and knows her way around an ER, the ICU, OR, and death investigations. Her novels offer edge of your seat suspense, flavored with snappy dialogue and sparkling humor. 

• Robert K. Tannenbaum spent many years as an assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA’s office and his Butch Karp/Marlene Ciampi novels show off his experience as a story teller as well as an attorney anyone could respect.

• Another attorney on my list of faves is Lisa Scottoline who set her all-women law firm of Rosato and DiNunzio, in the center of Philadelphia. The flavor, customs and feel of South Philly jumps off each page of her books. 

• Michael Connelly, while not a sworn law enforcement officer, spent his earliest years as a crime reporter in Miami. He picked up the speech patterns and procedural acumen and it shows through clearly in his Harry Bosch and Mikey Haller novels. 

I’ve enjoyed giving you some ideas of who and what to look for when you pick your next reading adventure—and most sincerely hope you enjoy your choice!

© 2023 Kat Henry Doran All Rights Reserved 

Former legal nurse consultant, victim advocate, sexual assault nurse examiner author Kat Henry Doran (and her alter ego Veronica Lynch) has been there and done that--many times over. The name she treasures most is Nana to the four brightest lights in her life: Meredith, Ashlin, Owen, and Kieran. She frequently travels from her home close to the shores of Lake Ontario in Western New York State to the Saint Lawrence River region as well as the historic Adirondack and Catskill Mountain ranges for settings in her books which feature strong characters who stand for the ‘less thans’ in this world. www.WildWomenAuthorsx2.blogspot.com

Writer Wednesday - Harvesting Your Vegetables and Fruits

Seeds & Sunshine 

with Jean M. Grant 

Harvesting Your Vegetables and Fruits

You started with seeds, inside or outside. Seedlings have sprouted. You’ve watered, fertilized, and tended. You’ve kept your Gardener’s Log of notes for next year. Now, you have gardens brimming with life…and food! Or we hope so, right? Mother Nature can be fickle sometimes. Pat yourself on the back. You’ve done it! Now it’s time to reap the harvest. 

Ways to harvest:

A preface: always do a quick read online about how to harvest your specific vegetables, as some are more particular than others (e.g. requiring curing/drying or have a longer grow period). When in doubt, refer to the good ol’ Farmer’s Almanac (online: https://www.almanac.com/). 

1. Leafy vegetables – such as herbs, spinach, collards, lettuces, Swiss chard – just cut/clip and eat. Some grow back, depending on the season, or can be replanted for an autumn harvest. A few herbs may require “drying out.” 

2. “Fruits” that have come from flowers – such as peas, beans, peppers, and tomatoes – just pick them right off the vines! 

3. Vine vegetables – such as summer squashes, zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers – usually you can twist and snap them off. 

4. Stalks – celery, asparagus – snip and enjoy! 

5. Root vegetables (below ground) – Carrots are easy to pull up and wash off as needed and they will grow into the cold temperatures of late autumn and last a long time in the fridge. Beets, turnips, radishes, and parsnips are harvested the same way. Onions, garlic, shallots, potatoes, pumpkins, and winter squashes – these all need some “curing” (drying) time for a few weeks before storing for later use. Since they grow below ground, time and observing the stalks will indicate when they are ready for harvest. Sometimes you need to just dig up one to see how it’s going. 

Spring Vegetables Have Come and Gone 

Lettuce, spinach, early peas, asparagus, kale, chard, broccoli, rhubarb, cabbage, cauliflower…have come and gone. Some stick around longer than others. Leafy vegetables are known to bolt in summer heat. Bolting is when the plant is done growing the green parts we eat (lettuce, broccoli heads, spinach leaves), and puts its energy into flowers. Once this happens, the leaves can taste bitter. 

Summer Vegetables in Full Force 

Cucumbers, zucchini/summer squash, beans, chard, celery, collards, tomatoes. Pick, eat, enjoy! Many will keep on going into autumn, too, depending on weather conditions. 

Autumn Vegetables are Still Going Strong 

Potatoes, winter squashes, onions, shallots, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, collards, pumpkins, gourds. Ah, autumn! These vegetables require a longer growing season. Did you know you can also plant spring vegetables a second time in late summer for an autumn yield? These include green beans, peas, collards, lettuce, and spinach among others. Planting for autumn is all about giving them enough time to get sun, while also being frost-hardy (or beating the frosts). I usually plant them in mid to late August.

How about fruit? I would be remiss to not talk a little about growing fruits. 

Here’s my Fruit 101: Always know your grow zone and sun location. You’re getting tired of hearing this, aren’t you? 

Apples – Apple trees are an investment in time, space, and money. Do a little research at your local nursery before purchasing. I have a Macoun tree and Golden Delicious tree. Some years you get a lot! Some years, none. Some years, the four-legged critters eat them all. They need to be well-spaced to allow for growth, pruned as needed to put more energy into apples than foliage, and you should grow at least two varieties—they need cross-pollination. 

Strawberries – These can grow in beds, rows, or pots. There are three kinds of strawberries: ever-bearing (slow and steady all summer), June-bearing (monster-sized crop early in June), and day-neutral (usually two to three peak times throughout the summer). Little critters love to eat these! Netting may be needed. 

Blueberries – Varieties include lowbush, highbush—the most common, rabbiteye, and half-high. Some are self-pollinators, some are cross-pollinating. Some require more pruning than others, too. Blueberries like more acidic soil and lots of sun and being planted near each other, and away from other fruits/vegs. Raspberries – These are the king of my yard. I got a handful of “canes” from a friend a few years back and they have taken over, needing constant maintenance to prevent the spread. These monsters produce an abundance of berries each autumn (with a small June harvest). The soil and sun must be in a magical alignment (west and south sun). 

Raspberries can be ever-bearing like what I have, or June/Summer-only bearing. They like lots of sun and fertilizer. I also prune in the fall. The June fruits return on non-pruned (old growth) canes, and the autumn-growing (ever-bearing) fruit appear on new growth. 

Final Tips… 

• Some people fry up zucchini flowers. You can eat the greens on carrots, beets, radishes, turnips… 

• Plant some spring (cold tolerant and quick growing) vegetables in late summer for an autumn crop.

• Did you know you can pick green tomatoes, box them up in newspaper, and store them in a cool, dark place for slower ripening into the autumn months? Yup! If an autumn frost is inevitable, quickly harvest all those green fruits before the frost kills them. 

• For longer storage you can blanch and freeze vegetables, dry/cure for longer pantry storage, and “can” (pressure-can) them. I blanch my carrots and peas and freeze them, and directly freeze tomatoes and berries. I also make jam and applesauce. 

Have specific gardening questions? Drop me an email through my website contact form. Join me next time to talk about autumn pruning and planting and preparing for winter. 

© 2023 Jean M. Grant All Rights Reserved 

Jean M. Grant is a former scientist turned author of romance and women’s fiction, an avid hiker and traveler, cat-lover, and coffee fanatic. Follow her for more hiking, traveling, baking, and gardening adventures. www.jeanmgrant.com

Foodie Friday - Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Bread 

from Kelli A. Wilkins 

“A Taste of Halloween - To celebrate the start of the autumn season, I'm sharing my recipe for pumpkin bread. Enjoy!” 

Ingredients: 

1 ½ cup flour 

½ tsp. salt 

1 cup sugar 

1 tsp. baking soda 

1 cup pumpkin puree 

½ cup vegetable oil 

2 eggs, beaten 

¼ cup water 

1 tsp. cinnamon 

¼ tsp. nutmeg 

¼ tsp. cloves

¼ tsp. allspice 

½ cup chopped walnuts (optional) 

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sift together flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda. 

In a separate bowl, combine the pumpkin, oil, eggs, water, and spices. 

Pour into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until it’s all just combined (don’t over stir!) Add chopped walnuts if you’re using them. Pour into well-buttered 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan. 

Bake 50-60 minutes until done in the middle. (Oven temps and times vary, so check to see if the bread is done early.) 

Gently remove from pan and cool on a rack. 

Options: If you like your pumpkin bread extra spicy, add a little bit more of the allspice, clove, and/or nutmeg. (I do!) Or add a ¼ tsp. of pumpkin pie spice to give it an extra boost. 

Serving suggestions: I like this bread plain, but you can eat it with butter, or transform it into a dessert by adding whipped cream to the top (like icing), or serve it with ice cream. However you eat it, it makes a yummy snack.

© 2023 Kelli A. Wilkins All Rights Reserved 

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror stories. Visit her website/blog for a full title list and social media links. www.KelliWilkins.com

Writer Wednesday - Autumn, My Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Kelli's Quill 

with Kelli A. Wilkins 

Autumn, My Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Ahhh, Autumn! Some people love the long hot days of summer, basking in the sunshine and lounging at the beach, pool, or lake. That’s great for them, but me? I prefer Autumn. 

Maybe I love Autumn so much because I was raised in rural upstate New York. As soon as September hit, the Catskill Mountain air turned chilly. It was almost as if the Earth/Nature was breathing a sigh of relief after enduring the sweltering summer months. 

Everywhere I looked I could see nature in full bloom, autumn-style. Most of the summer flowers were gone, but now the maple trees came alive and showed off their brilliant yellow, ruby red, rust, and vibrant orange leaves. This was also the best time of year for everything apple-related: homemade applesauce, apple cider, apple cider doughnuts, apple crisp, candied apples, and caramel apples; with so many varieties of apples to choose from: McIntosh, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala, Cortland, Crispin… 

September transitioned us into October and all things Halloween!

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. As a child, I looked forward to decorating for Halloween, and one of the best places to shop was a store called Woolworth’s. It was a five and dime store in its heyday (and has long since gone out of business), but anyone who ever shopped there knows they had the best decorations and Ben Cooper Halloween costumes.

Back then, Halloween wasn’t as commercialized as today. You didn’t find SpongeBob vampires, Mickey Mouse ghosts, tv show or movie tie-ins, and nothing was graphic or gory. The typical decorations featured Frankenstein’s monster, the mummy, Jack O’Lanterns, black cats, owls, and ghosts. 

I still have some of those original decorations, and over the years I’ve acquired an extensive collection of “old school” Halloween decor. I found most of my treasures at garage sales and flea markets, but now there’s a growing market for “vintage” and “mid-century” Halloween. Antique malls and flea markets ask outrageously ridiculous prices for things I’ve collected for a dollar or two.

Since leaving upstate New York I still get outside as much as I can in October. I read a book under a bright blue sky and relish the color changes in my oak and maple trees. I don’t mind raking up the leaves because I get to kick up my feet and wade through the big pile of leaves before I bag them.

My husband and I visit a state park in October and walk the trails, enjoying the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot, and ending the day with apple cider and doughnuts. A few weeks before Halloween, we go to a local farm and buy pumpkins and gourds to put on the porch. At some point, the squirrels run away with the gourds, but that’s okay. Squirrels preparing for winter are another sign of the changing season.

On October first, I decorate the outside of the house with lighted plastic (“vintage”) pumpkins, inflatable black cats, ghosts, and lots of orange lights. I’m known as the “Halloween house” on the street, and that’s just fine with me. Kids have walked past the house and exclaimed, “Look at that house! We have to go trick-or-treating there!” I remember doing that at their age.

We carve our pumpkins the weekend before Halloween. Sometimes our Jack O’Lanterns turn out silly, sometimes scary, but we celebrate their uniqueness and showcase them on our outside wall. I’ll light them (using real votive candles) on Halloween eve, Halloween night, and the night after.

Many of the Halloween traditions I carry on were started by my mother. Every Halloween she would call me and sing “the Halloween song” about five little pumpkins sitting on a gate. She made up treat bags for the kids, and gushed over the younger trick-or-treaters dressed like princesses and pirates.

My mother made sure we had our fill of delicious seasonal treats: frosted sugar cookies shaped like cats, bats, and pumpkins, chocolate cupcakes with orange icing and sprinkles, and of course pumpkin bread and apple cider. I still make those today. 

When I answer the door on Halloween night and see the trick-or-treaters thrilled to be out in costume, free to be whoever they want for one night, their happiness extends to me. I comment on their pretty, funny, or spooky costumes as I hand out the candy. I know I’ve done a good job if lots of kids stopped at the house.

And when the trick-or-treaters are all gone for the night, I sit on the porch for a while, enjoying the quiet. I watch the candles flickering in the Jack O’Lanterns, take in the crisp night air, and gaze at the moon and stars.

I savor this magical night of wonder and excitement, knowing that Halloween will soon be gone for another year… but the memories last forever. Enjoy the season!

© 2023 Kelli A. Wilkins All Rights Reserved
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror stories. Visit her website/blog for a full title list and social media links. www.KelliWilkins.com

Writer Wednesday - Writing in A Small Town

Window Over The Sink 

with Liz Flaherty 

Writing in A Small Town

I found this when I was looking for something else. I laughed some when I read it, a little self-consciously, because I'm not a fan of my own snark. But it's as accurate for me as it was then. The real reason I laughed when I read it was that then was in 2014. 

There are always trends going on in the writing of romance, and right now that’s a good thing for me because one of those trends is toward small-town or even rural romance. In the first place, this makes me snicker, because the definition of “romance” is fairly absolute—I don’t think small-town or rural people feel one bit different than their urban counterparts when it comes to falling in love. 

In the second place, from the vantage point of having spent my whole life in what is often classified (usually by those who don’t live here) as “the middle of nowhere,” I am in the smug situation of knowing the truth about life in a small town—or outside it, as the case may be. Speaking of truth, there are a few that are absolute.

1. People don’t mind your business in small towns unless it somehow involves them or unless you’re particularly entertaining, rich, or snotty.

2. Country folks can be smart, educated, and even sophisticated. You can dress well, eat healthy, and pay too much for a haircut. Many of us do not drive pickups with guns in the back windows. Personally, I’ve driven an SUV since 2006, which I consider quite cosmopolitan of me.

3. We are not all waitresses with bad grammar and hearts of gold or men who sit out in front of the general store and play checkers and spit.

4. If you’re in a town of less than 1000 residents, don’t talk about calling a taxi—there probably isn’t one.

5. Don’t say “ain’t.”

6. Don’t assume that kids in rural or small-town high schools never get to college or know what to do when they get there. They do.

7. Fort Wayne, Indiana had a population of 254,555 in 2012. It’s fine to refer to it as a small town, but I wish you’d explain to me how it qualifies. I live near Deedsville, population 101—now that’s a small town.

8. We go to plays, concerts, and movies (first run!). We travel, love our kids and pets, and worship at will.

Those are my truths, and I only write them out in this rather snarky fashion because I’ve rolled my eyes at (and not finished) too many books where the authors didn’t do their homework on life on the non-wild side.

And now there is the other side. There is the fact that sometimes when I write about large cities or even suburbs, I’m not always sure of what I’m saying. What would a city mouse say or do in the circumstances I’m writing about?

I think I have a tendency to give city-dwellers less common sense than those of us from the boonies. I make them unable to change their own tires or fix their own drains. I make them less sympathetic to the human condition. Less likely to attend church, cook well, or put together a nice outfit from the thrift shop if that’s what they need to do.

Really? I mean, come on, really? And I was being condescending about how country people are portrayed? Makes me think that, as well as sharing the truths I do know, I should pay some attention to the ones I don’t.

And I'm probably not the only one.

©2023 Liz Flaherty All Rights Reserved
Retired from the post office and married to Duane for…a really long time, USA Today bestselling author Liz Flaherty has had a heart-shaped adult life, populated with kids and grands and wonderful friends. She admits she can be boring, but hopes her curiosity about everyone and everything around her keeps her from it. She likes traveling and quilting and reading. And she loves writing. http://lizflaherty.net/

What's Cooking Wednesday - Wild Cabbage Rolls

“One of the things I learned to love living in Minnesota was wild rice. Here in New Jersey, it’s mostly available as a blend of brown rice which makes this a great recipe. I’m a fan of making it easy and Minute Rice has these lovely little pre-cooked single serving containers. I always have these in my pantry. Make it easy or go for broke and cook your own rice. Also, you can pick your protein. Ground beef, chicken, or turkey. I’m going to give sausage a whirl.” D.V.

Ingredients:

12 cabbage leaves 

1 cup Wild Rice or blend

1 egg 

½ cup milk 

1 small, diced onion 

8 oz can diced tomato 

1 tbsp. brown sugar 

1 tbsp. lemon juice 

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 

Boil cabbage leaves for 2 minutes and drain. 

Mix rice, egg, milk, onion, and salt and pepper together. 

Take approximately ¼ cup of this mixture and place it in the center of a leaf. 

Roll it while tucking in the ends. Place in your slow cooker or backing pan. 

Repeat this until all the leaves are filled and tucked in.

Mix the remaining ingredients and pour over the top of the rolls. 

Cook in slow cooker high for 8 hours or bake at 350 for two hours. 

D.V. Stone is an award-winning, multi-genre, traditionally and independently published author. Whether romance or fantasy, her stories are about the importance of family and friends, and about overcoming obstacles while doing it with humor. Her greatest pleasures are spending time outside with family and friends, cooking over the open fire, sipping a glass of wine, and reading. https://www.dvstoneauthor.com/

Writer Wednesday - What Are Your Guilty Pleasures?

Hocus Pocus and All That 

with Maureen L. Bonatch 

What Are Your Guilty Pleasures?

This topic was more challenging than I anticipated, so either I don’t consider my little vices guilty pleasures—or I don’t have enough. So I’ll share what I’ve got, and perhaps you can give me some suggestions of yours so I can add more to my list. Because what’s life without a little guilty pleasure? 

1. Coffee—enough said 

“Back in the day,” I used to ponder some people’s need for the decadent beverage, but now I think my blood is ¾ of the brew. Dunkin Donuts fuels my day better than any drill sergeant and helps me cross off my to-do list. I take mine hot, black, and make it at home to avoid the other evil treats Dunkin Donuts cooks up to threaten my waistline. (I.e.: See #2 & the reason I love #4) 

2. Are you sweet enough? 

I’m pretty sure I don’t have a sweet tooth; I have a full set of sweet teeth! Chocolate, cakes, and cookies tempt and taunt me, hence why I try not to keep much of it in my house so the sugary temptations don’t whisper their sweet nothings. I can’t rest knowing there are Little Debbie snack cakes lurking in the cupboard.

3. The Next Siskel & Ebert 

Some of my fondest memories of my youth include going to the movies and sneaking in homemade snacks. (Refer #2) Mom used to make a delicious mix of popcorn, chips, or pretzels, mixing up a party mix long before the stores started bagging it for profit. I used to think becoming a movie critic would be the best job—getting paid to watch and dissect the stories on the big screen. Because I’m not sure, my family and friends appreciate my critique. 

4. Comfy clothes 

Girls these days don’t know how good they have it. With choices of yoga pants, sweat pants, and elastic built into every pair of jeans, they’re never forced to cram into a pair of freshly washed jeans and perform squats to revive their circulation. When stirrup pants came into fashion in the 1980s, I rejoiced. It’s part of the reason I adored the decade—finally, something comfortable to wear. 

5. A Melody for My Mood 

Besides being regulated by my daily caffeine infusion, music transforms my productivity. Unless I’m writing, I have music on all the time. It energizes me to get chores done, helps me wind down, has me dancing by myself, or contributes to my procrastination when I have to hear just a little more of my favorite song. 

6. Feed the Machine 

Take it from someone who’s been on a “diet” since about age thirteen and spent six weeks with my mouth wired shut after jaw surgery in my early twenties—food is awesome. I love trying out new dishes and new restaurants to tickle my taste buds. There’s nothing better than a delicious meal and a nice glass of—see #7. 

7. Red, Red, Wine 

My mind feels like it’s going full speed most of the day (possibly the result of guilty pleasure #1). So once the evening rolls around, there’s nothing more enjoyable than a glass of red wine to wind down, especially if it’s paired with a movie (See #3). 

What are you Guilty Pleasures? 

*Blog previously published on www.maureenbonatch.com 

© 2023 Maureen Bonatch All Rights Reserved 

Maureen Bonatch believes music can be paired with every mood, laughter is contagious, and caffeine and wine are essential for survival. When she’s not doing the bidding of a feisty Shih Tzu, she’s a mom to twin daughters, exploring the beautiful woods of PA with her hubby and dancing as much as possible. She writes paranormal cozy mysteries as M.L. Bonatch, paranormal romance and other genres as Maureen Bonatch, and her latest urban fantasy will be as Amber Wrath. http://www.maureenbonatch.com/

Writer Wednesday - Calm the Nervous System with This One Simple Practice

Life Coaching 

with Vicky DeCoster 

Calm the Nervous System with This One Simple Practice 

During times of chaos or stress, our nervous systems are programmed to go into overdrive. This reaction to stress first began thousands of years ago when humans needed to anticipate threats in order to survive in harsh environments.

In today’s world, stress, and its effects on the nervous system, can cause a host of health problems including high blood pressure, tense muscles, a weakened immune system, anxiety, and addictive behaviors—unless we are able to incorporate regular practices that keep us calm, even during difficult times.

Below is a three-step simple process that can be performed anywhere and anytime. This practice is easy to remember, easy to implement, and has fabulous results:

Step 1: Recognize when you are becoming overwhelmed or stressed. Physical symptoms can be a rapid heartbeat, a cold sweat, irritability, or eye twitching.

Step 2: Once you are aware that you need to calm your nervous system, close your eyes and imagine yourself floating in a pool on your back. You can hear the world around you, but it is muffled like when your ears fill with water. Breathe deeply, in through your nostrils and out through your mouth. Do this 10 times while still imagining yourself floating in a pool.

Step 3: Imagine the best possible outcome to the current situation you’re facing. Now repeat to yourself three times, “I will be okay no matter what.” Open your eyes.

It’s no secret that life is hard. The trick to staying calm is practicing awareness and then incorporating simple exercises that help us live in the moment, have hope, and know that we will survive.

© 2023 Vicky DeCoster All Rights Reserved
Vicky DeCoster is a Certified Life Coach who specializes in helping her clients move past obstacles, create a plan for happiness, and cross the bridge of transition to find a new and fulfilling direction in life. To read more about her and her practice, visit: http://www.crossthebridgecoaching.com/

Writer Wednesday - My Easy Want-to-Do List For Someday…Or Today

Hocus Pocus and All That 

with Maureen L. Bonatch 

My Easy Want-to-Do List For Someday…Or Today 

I thought the topic, 5 Things on my BUCKET LIST, would be easy. I jotted down a few ideas, thinking I had this blog post in the bag, or should I say the bucket. But after reviewing my tentative list, I realized these didn’t really fit in the “bucket.”

I Have an Easy Button 

As I’ve told my family time and time again, it’s easy to make me happy. When I looked at what I listed, I realized most of these weren’t what people would put on a “bucket list.” These were dreams, goals, or something that is probably easily obtained by most—most, but apparently, not me.

Oh, The Places I Might Go
What I didn’t add to my list are the beautiful places that I hope to visit one day. A list of places I dream of visiting one day, such as Ireland, Italy, and a cross-country road trip to see all of the beautiful USA. I have the desire to see more of this beautiful world, but what tempers me a little is the whole traveling part. If you read many of my prior posts about how I’m on the fast track to hermit-dom, you might understand. So sure, the big, beautiful world is on my bucket list once the teleport machine is invented.

Publish All The Stories
As an author, the one thing that is at the forefront of my mind is getting all of my drafts published. Or as I like to call it, sending my babies out in the world. Since I tend to write a sloppy first draft, there is much editing involved. And since I tend to be easily distracted, I tend to jump from story to story. Therefore, I have a full first draft (in need of much editing) of four full-length novels, plus the hot mess that I just finished with #NaNoWri. I fear that as I am gasping for my last breath, I’ll be clutching the hubs sleeve to whisper, “The stories. Must finish the stories.”

All Writing All The Time
If I were to achieve this then perhaps I could complete the prior item on my bucket list, which is to “publish all the stories.” I often dream of the day when the only thing filling my very cluttered mind is my stories and when I can truly devote most of my energy to my creative writing. I’m sure my vision of this endeavor may not quite match the glamor of it in my mind, but it would certainly be better than having me haunt my friends and family, muttering about unfinished stories. My fellow writers might understand the delicious torment of the characters. Their relentless need to find released from my mind on the page is the only thing that gives me peace. Otherwise, it’s getting mighty crowded in there.

A Jammie Day
Here is the one that might be easier to accomplish than finishing all my drafts and writing full-time. I’ve never had what I consider a “jammie day.” I hear others speak of the magical days in which they intentionally spend the entire day in their pajamas relaxing, and I’m filled with envy. The only times I’ve spent all day in pajamas were days I preferred not to repeat because I’d have to be pretty ill. I know you’ll wonder what the big deal is, and why don’t I just take my jammie day? Sounds easy, right? It’s not, at least not for me, because I’ve tried.

The concept is that wearing jammies means that I would do nothing all day. Except maybe up the ante and watch mindless, awesome television or movies for the entire day. Gasp! I’ve tried rebelling and leaving on my jammies, and then I realize I have somewhere to go. I just can’t be one of those people out and about in their pajamas. Or I fear someone might stop over, or the guilt overtakes me that I’ve not crossed anything off my endless to-do list. So the closest I’ve gotten is the days I work at home and throw on comfortable clothes and look like a homeless person.

Only Four for the Bucket List
I said I was easy, right? Hence why I only have four things, I can think of for my list, although a few could count as more than one thing. Don’t forget to follow the blog hop and read the other author’s real bucket lists and not just my hodgepodge musings. 

What’s On Your Bucket List?

*Blog previously published on www.maureenbonatch.com

© 2023 Maureen Bonatch All Rights Reserved Maureen Bonatch believes music can be paired with every mood, laughter is contagious, and caffeine and wine are essential for survival. When she’s not doing the bidding of a feisty Shih Tzu, she’s a mom to twin daughters, exploring the beautiful woods of PA with her hubby and dancing as much as possible. She writes paranormal cozy mysteries as M.L. Bonatch, paranormal romance and other genres as Maureen Bonatch, and her latest urban fantasy will be as Amber Wrath. http://www.maureenbonatch.com/

What's Cooking Wednesday - Quick Custard Cake

Quick Custard Cake 

This is a great no-bake recipe. It’s cool, light, and everyone loves it. Perfect for summer!

Ingredients: 

1 prepared angel food cake (10 inches) 

1 package (3.4 ounces) instant lemon pudding mix 

1 ½ cups cold milk 

1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream 

1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling 

Directions: 

Tear the angel food cake into bite-sized pieces. Arrange in a 13 inch x 9 inch x 2 inch pan. In a mixing bowl, combine the pudding mix, milk, and sour cream. Beat until thickened (about 2 minutes). Spread over cake, then spoon pie filling on top. 

Chill until serving time. 

Options: This simple recipe can be modified in a variety of ways. If you want to make it extra “custardy” use a larger packet of pudding mix. Want more fruit? Use a bigger can of pie filling. You can also change up the flavors and substitute vanilla pudding for lemon, or use strawberry or blueberry pie filling instead of cherry. 

Enjoy! Happy Summer, Kelli

© 2023 Kelli A. Wilkins All Rights Reserved Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror stories. Visit her website/blog for a full title list and social media links. www.KelliWilkins.com

Writer Wednesday - Moving From the Printed Page to the Screen

Wild Women Authors 

with Kat Henry Doran 

Moving From the Printed Page to the Screen 

Since my day job keeps me either in front of a sewing machine or behind the wheel of a car, I’ve developed an interest in audio books to help pass the time. Over the years, I discovered several interesting characters and look for them as soon as the latest book is released. After I discovered several had been brought to the small screen, I jumped right on them—then watched them over and over again. 

While not every book I’ve listened to made a successful transfer from page to screen, I offer three examples of talented script writers who followed the authors’ descriptions of the characters and kept true to the original concept. In each case the heroes literally jumped off the screen and into my heart. 

Lee Child writes the Jack Reacher series [some of which have been made into movies for the big screen with Tom Cruise]. I’m speaking of the 2022 Amazon Prime Video series with Alan Ritchson who, in real life is 6’5” and perhaps more, possesses that memorable thousand-yard stare which he uses to superb effect when dealing with bad guys. Plus, he captured the dialogue just the way Mr. Child wrote it. A quick Google search told me this series will return in 2023-24 and I can’t wait. 

Michael Connolly, famous for his Harry Bosch series [also on the small screen] writes Mickey Haller of

the Lincoln Lawyer books. Late in 2022, the Lincoln Lawyer made the small screen with actor Manuel Garcia Rulfo. This character stays true to his Hispanic roots as he struggles to defend the less-thans of the world while rebuilding a relationship with his ex-wife and daughter. This is a beautifully done series—also found on Netflix—and will be back in 2023-24. 

Last, and perhaps my favorite, is ABC’s Will Trent which based on the books by Karin Slaughter. Each new book breaks my heart; the TV series closely follows the plot lines; the casting is impeccable; and the actor Ramon Rodriguez who plays Will jumps right off the screen. 

I hope you will enjoy these three series as much as I do. 

© 2023 Kat Henry Doran All Rights Reserved Former legal nurse consultant, victim advocate, sexual assault nurse examiner author Kat Henry Doran (and her alter ego Veronica Lynch) has been there and done that--many times over. The name she treasures most is Nana to the four brightest lights in her life: Meredith, Ashlin, Owen, and Kieran. She frequently travels from her home close to the shores of Lake Ontario in Western New York State to the Saint Lawrence River region as well as the historic Adirondack and Catskill Mountain ranges for settings in her books which feature strong characters who stand for the ‘less thans’ in this world. www.WildWomenAuthorsx2.blogspot.com

Writer Wednesday - Designing Your Garden

Seeds & Sunshine

with Jean M. Grant 

Designing Your Garden 

Welcome to Seeds and Sunshine! This month’s topic is the three-season perennial flower garden. Designing your garden comes with much artistic freedom so let’s begin with the basics. 

Let’s start by drawing a map. 

Draw your property and label compass directions. Add in tree locations, walkways, and the areas you’d like to have your garden beds. Do you want flowers lining a walkway, flanking shrubs, climbing a trellis, or bordering the house or a wall/fence? Do you have standalone flower bed options? Don’t forget to determine your planting hardiness zone (https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/). 

Sun 

South-facing gardens get the most sun exposure (“full-sun” flowers) and north-facing the least (“shade” flowers). Morning sun hits the east-facing gardens, and that bright, hot afternoon sun shines upon west-facing gardens (both can have partial to full-sun flowers). Do you have trees or other tall structures? Shade-loving or partial-sun flowers do well beneath them. 

Bloom time 

Planting flowers that bloom at different times will guarantee lasting colorful gardens through spring, summer, and autumn. Things to consider when choosing your flowers: How long do they bloom for? Do they bloom more than once? Do they need to be dead-headed or pruned? 

Color and style 

Though I have an organized personality, my gardens are a bright rainbow and have been a trial-and-error project for nearly fifteen years. Purple, white, yellow, and pink dominate my color palette. Do you want an overflowing garden, or do you want it evenly spaced out? I have country-style, standalone flower beds full of flowers, whereas my walkway beds are evenly spaced and mostly symmetrical. What colors do you want in your garden—vibrant or subdued? Do the blooms change color over time (my Pee Gee hydrangeas go from white to soft pink to rusty pink)? Consider spacing, patterns, shapes, textures and foliage. What will your garden look like in winter? Plant evergreens for your fourth season: winter. Check out some of my garden arrangements (because they are three-season gardens, only some blooms are shown in the photos).

Height and size 

Flower height is important to consider (tall in back/middle/along fences, and shorter in front). If you are lining walkways, how tall is too tall? Fences are a great place to put tall flowers like orange daylilies, tall phlox, sunflowers, delphinium, tall asters etc. Likewise, size matters. Do the plants grow to massive mounds like wave petunias, or gigantic shrubs like hydrangea and euonymus? Are they groundcovers like creeping phlox or thyme? Do they grow slow or fast? Note: some plants may need trellises or supports. 

Soil and fertilizer 

There is a science to soil and fertilizer. You can even send a sample out to be tested. A mixture of compost, peat, and topsoil works for most beds. Worm, ground beetle, centipede, and spider activity, fungi presence, root spreading, good water drainage, and dark crumbling soil are signs of healthy soil. Don’t forget to add those eggshells and coffee grounds! I feed my flowers twice a year with an 8-8-8 fertilizer (slow release), an acidic fertilizer for the azaleas, hydrangeas, and rhododendron, and monthly I spray them with my favorite “seaweed juice” (Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed). 

 A note about annuals 

These flowers last one year. In warmer climates they can stay year-round, but typically you plant them each year (whereas perennials get pruned in the spring or fall and come back year after year). I fill in spots in my gardens, porch pots, and window boxes with petunias and marigolds. Geraniums are lovely and can “winter” inside. I also have tropical plants like mandevilla and hibiscus in pots. 

What flowers bedazzle my gardens?

I’ve lost track of all the flowers I’ve planted. Here are some currently in my flower beds, pots, or boxes: Asters, astilbe, azalea, black-eyed (and red-eyed) Susan, bleeding heart, canna lily, catmint, coneflower, creeping phlox, coral bells, daffodil, daylily (about 12 variations), euonymus, geranium, holly, hydrangea (pee gee and creeping), iris (a variety), lady’s mantle, marigold, peonies, petunia, phlox (tall), primrose, rhododendron, sage, salvia, Shasta daisy…and more I can’t remember. 

Fun facts 

Did you know there are 10,000 daylily species? My favorite failure: lupine. They just don’t like my soil as much as I like them! 

Final Tips…

 • Keep plants of similar irrigation/soil needs together. 

 • Not sure what to plant? Ask at your local nursery. Plant nurseries in your area typically only carry flowers suitable for your region.

 • Let the tags guide you… Most plants come with a small tag indicating sun/shade, height, bloom time, and other pertinent details.

 • Don’t forget to plant flowers that attract pollinators. 

Have specific gardening questions? Drop me an email through my website contact form. Join me next time to talk about vegetable harvests and fall pruning/planting. 

© 2023 Jean M. Grant All Rights Reserved

Jean M. Grant is a former scientist turned author of romance and women’s fiction, an avid hiker and traveler, cat-lover, and coffee fanatic. Follow her for more hiking, traveling, baking, and gardening adventures. www.jeanmgrant.com

Writer Wednesday - Don’t Let the Summer Days Pass You By!

Kelli's Quill 

with Kelli A. Wilkins 

Don’t Let the Summer Days Pass You By! 

Ah, summer. The long, hot days seem like they’ll last forever. But all too often I find myself looking at the calendar and asking: What happened to summer? Where did the time go? 

It usually starts like this: “Wow! I can’t believe it’s finally Memorial Day Weekend. Hooray for the beginning of the summer season. I’m going to enjoy every minute of it this year.” 

Then: “How is July Fourth next week? Wasn’t it just Memorial Day? There’s so much I still want to do…” 

And then: “Labor Day? Back to school? Wait, what? Where did the summer go?”

Yup. Every year, summer flies by in the blink of an eye.

I’m writing this article the week before Memorial Day. Stores are geared up for summer, advertising beach towels, bathing suits, sandals, and everything red, white and blue for the holiday. People are planning vacations, day trips, and barbeques. Everyone is looking forward to the long summer that lies ahead.

However, by the time you read this, it will be July—the halfway point of summer. You may be wondering how July got here so fast, and thinking that summer is passing you by. But don’t worry, there’s still time to make the most of the sunny days ahead.

If you’re like a lot of people, you want to have a fun and fabulous summer, filled with great memories. You may even have a summer “bucket list” of things to do, like take a vacation, visit friends, hit the beach, lake, or pool… So what’s stopping you? Sometimes it’s yourself!

People can get caught up in routines and don’t make time for new experiences. Summer is the perfect time to change your patterns and actively seek out things to do with friends and family. How can you make more time for fun? Here are a few suggestions.

* Socially distance yourself from social media. I’m not saying turn off all social media for the summer (unless you want to). But if you find yourself on the hamster wheel of constantly posting, commenting, sharing… Take a break.

Don’t get me wrong, technology is great—in limits. But spending every waking hour on your phone or tablet is a huge time suck. If you’re staring at a screen all day or evening, you’re wasting valuable time.

Do an update across all your social media telling friends and followers you’re taking a summer vacation from posting. You’re on hiatus the same way TV shows are during the summer.

Let your friends know you’ll be posting infrequently, when you have something really important to share, or randomly checking in once or twice a week. This limits your time spent online and you won’t get pulled into reading everyone else’s posts and watching Maine Coon cat videos. 

Your free time can now be focused on other things. Maybe you’ll use your previous social media time to go to a concert with your husband or best friend, take a walk around the neighborhood, or garden.

* Leave your phone alone. Cell phones are just mini-computers and they can be a big drain on your time. Texting, playing games, scrolling through sites, and streaming is all perfectly fine. But if your head is always bent down over your phone, you’re missing out on what’s happening around you in the real world. (Have you ever seen someone with their eyes glued to their phone walk out in front of traffic? Yikes!) 

As much as you can, leave your phone off or put it on silent mode. Turn off alerts for new texts, social media posts, etc. Tell friends and family you’re blocking out time each day as a no phone zone. Don’t text, check messages, or play games for a few hours each day.

Remember the days before cell phones? People weren’t always instantly available, and when someone called, they left a message. Try going “old school” during the evenings or weekend mornings, then engage in an activity that’s hard to do with a phone in your hand, such as riding a horse, swimming, or playing tennis. Why not call a friend ahead of time and ask them to join you?

* Get off the couch and go somewhere. Yes, summer is a time for relaxing and taking it easy, but you can lounge on the couch and binge-watch your favorite show year-round. Don’t waste a beautiful summer day indoors. Your show (or 500th rerun of Law & Order) will still be there in the cold days of January.

Turn off the TV and take a day trip to a local park or historical site. Visit friends or family for a barbeque, or go to a zoo or an amusement park. Find a fireworks display.

Most people still have to work in the summer (unless you’re employed by a school or are retired) so how do you incorporate summer fun after work? Here are a few ideas:

• Do outdoor hobbies until it gets dark: Ride your bike or walk around your neighborhood or local park, garden, go fishing, or play sports.

• Find a free outdoor concert or play (most start around 7 or 7:30pm). Or make your own concert: sit in the backyard with food or drinks and listen to your favorite music.

• Fire up the grill and cook dinner outside, or pack a picnic dinner and take it to a park, the beach, or a lake. Or, visit a restaurant you’ve never been to before and eat dinner outside.

Right now you might be asking: “But what if the temperatures are soaring and it’s horribly humid? Who wants to visit a zoo if it’s really hot out?” I understand. Nobody wants to be outside when it’s so hot you’ll catch fire.

On a sweltering day (or when it’s raining), it’s perfectly fine to hide in the house, catching up on chores, scrolling social media, or watching a few episodes of a show. But see if you can use your imagination to make the day different. Watch a movie you’ve heard about but have never seen, or try a few episodes of a show a friend recommended.

You can turn off the TV and try your hand at a new indoor hobby, like painting or doing puzzles. Visit the library and check out books to read in the air conditioning, take an in-person class or workshop, experiment with a new dinner recipe, or learn how to make ice cream. 

No matter what you do, the less time spent in front of a screen (whether it’s a computer, tablet, or phone) the more time you’ll have to enjoy yourself this summer. Do what you can to change your routines. Be active. Try new things. Treasure each day, evening, and weekend. Summer will be gone before we know it, so enjoy the season!

© 2023 Kelli A. Wilkins All Rights Reserved
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20+ romance novels, 7 non-fiction books, and 5 horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror stories. Visit her website/blog for a full title list and social media links. www.KelliWilkins.com

Writer Wednesday - All About Inspiration...When It's Ready

Window Over The Sink 

with Liz Flaherty 

All About Inspiration...When It's Ready 

When my younger son and his wife married, they moved to Vermont the day after the wedding. Since I couldn’t keep them in Indiana forever—it’s amazing how independent kids get—I comforted myself by saying at least now I’d get to visit Vermont, which I’d wanted to do since reading Understood Betsy when I was eight or nine. (And several times since.) 

You know how sometimes you anticipate things until you’re practically jumping up and down with the great expectations that are skating wildly through your mind, only to be disappointed? Let down because...well, what actually came to pass was somehow less than you’d hoped?

Vermont wasn’t like that. 

The first time I went there―during springtime’s mud season, no less―I felt as though I’d come home. Over the next 15 years, I visited close to 20 times, and it never got old. Its beauty, culture, and the people who live there filled a huge place in my heart I never even knew was empty. Naturally enough, I wanted to place a book there. This would require several research visits, of course. So I started a story. And another.
And yet another.

What was wrong? I had the inspiration, acres and acres of it. I had people (I always get them first. Do you?). I had a story. Why wouldn’t it work?

I still don’t know the answers. I only know that when we visited Ireland, the storefront of a pub in Kinsale caught my writer’s eye (not to be confused with my regular eyes, which never watch where they’re going, but that’s a different story) and never went away. When I finally gave my pub a name and a home, its setting was a small town in Vermont. The writing of Back to McGuffey’s went quickly enough I never got a chance to go back for a research trip—though there were many, many emails exchanged with Vermonters who could look out their windows and see what I was trying to imagine.

I love inspiration. As a writer without much of an imagination, I depend on it. But I think it would be nice if just once in a while, it came around when I wanted it instead of in its own time.

©2023 Liz Flaherty All Rights Reserved
Retired from the post office and married to Duane for…a really long time, USA Today bestselling author Liz Flaherty has had a heart-shaped adult life, populated with kids and grands and wonderful friends. She admits she can be boring, but hopes her curiosity about everyone and everything around her keeps her from it. She likes traveling and quilting and reading. And she loves writing. http://lizflaherty.net/

What's Cooking Wednesday - Unconventional Paella

"Have I told you I like cooking over the open fire? This is something I love doing. I think one of the reasons is because it builds the flavors step by step. You can do it on the stove, but if you ever get the chance try it over the flames of a fire or even a grill. During a camping trip, I made huge batches one with shrimp one without because of a guest’s allergy." D.V.

 Unconventional Paella

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 pound chorizo sausage or smoked sausage, ½ inch slices
2 cups uncooked short-grain white rice I like Arborio
1 quart of chicken stock
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
½ bunch parsley, chopped
Red pepper flakes are optional. Use to taste.

Directions:
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or paella pan over medium heat. 

Stir in garlic, onion, and peppers. Then stir in rice. 

Cook and stir until rice is coated with oil, about 3 minutes. 

I add my chicken and sausage at this point as well. Many recipes have you cook and add the chicken later, but I prefer everyone in the pool. 

Add chicken stock, tomatoes, and parsley. 

Stir until well combined and bring to a boil. 

Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. 

Add shrimp toward the end when your rice is close to done. Shrimp cooks fast, so it only needs a few minutes to turn bright pink, about 2 minutes.

D.V. Stone is an award-winning, multi-genre, traditionally and independently published author. Whether romance or fantasy, her stories are about the importance of family and friends, and about overcoming obstacles while doing it with humor. Her greatest pleasures are spending time outside with family and friends, cooking over the open fire, sipping a glass of wine, and reading. https://www.dvstoneauthor.com/

Writer Wednesday - A Day in My Life; Reality vs. Fantasy

Hocus Pocus and All That 

with Maureen L. Bonatch

A Day in My Life; Reality vs. Fantasy 

I wear many hats, and a ‘day-job’ day differs from a ‘nurse freelance day’ to an ‘author/writer day,’ but I’m assuming you care more about the glamorous author life that most non-writers envision it to be. Spoiler alert—they’re usually not all that glamorous. 

Granted, there are days like that, the fantastic magical ones that come as close to resembling that ‘cabin in the woods’ (the good kind, not the one where an ax murder shows up) as you’re going to get. Then there’s reality. 

Dream a Little Dream 

We all have them. Whether we write them down and meticulously check off the boxes or we’re mentally following them in our mind. Our To Do list. We usually start each day with grand intentions of wrapping up the day with a sense of accomplishment and a plethora of tasks to complete. Snuggling into bed with a satisfied smile. That’s my fantasy author day. It would go a little bit like this…

Magically Kicking Ass & Taking Names
A fantasy—aka Fantastic Author Day—occurs every now and again. Those days when I’m up at my usual weekday time before most of the world is awake, but my muse is. The words flow onto the page like magic. I spend the morning writing and then devote some time in the afternoon to either editing another story I already have written or writing blog posts, scheduling promotions on Twitter and Facebook, and completing freelance writing assignments.

I make sure to plan a quick easy dinner in the crockpot so I’m not interrupted from my writing too much, and perhaps take my laptop down to my DIY treadmill desk to edit or complete other tasks.

I wrap up the day before the family starts returning home around 3- 3:30 p.m. by clearing out most of the emails that have been accumulating for days. I feel a huge sense of accomplishment for my day. Then my family looks around at the empty cupboards and the unclean house and says, “What did you do all day? Nothing?”

 
Magic Doesn’t Clean The Bathroom
Most of my writing days dance to the beat of a different drum. The day starts out the same way, with an early rise and a To Do list just waiting to be annihilated, but then one of two things happen. Life or Procrastination.

I’m interrupting my writing/editing because I have to go to an appointment, or get groceries, or take the dog to the groomer. Or I realize the house isn’t going to clean itself and end up working out story plotlines as I’m cleaning toilets, or doing laundry. These days often result in a happier, well-fed, clean-clothed family but restless fictional characters. 

One Common Element
Although my days are awkwardly balanced between family, writing, freelance, day job, and life, they all have one thing in common. I’m constantly thinking about writing. Whether it’s a story I’m working on, a new one brewing, a blog post, or freelance articles, my muse never rests. It wakes me up at night, drags me from bed in the morning, and fills my day with stories.

What’s Your Day in the Life?

*Blog previously published on www.maureenbonatch.com

© 2023 Maureen Bonatch All Rights Reserved
Maureen Bonatch believes music can be paired with every mood, laughter is contagious, and caffeine and wine are essential for survival. When she’s not doing the bidding of a feisty Shih Tzu, she’s a mom to twin daughters, exploring the beautiful woods of PA with her hubby and dancing as much as possible. She writes paranormal cozy mysteries as M.L. Bonatch, paranormal romance and other genres as Maureen Bonatch, and her latest urban fantasy will be as Amber Wrath. http://www.maureenbonatch.com/

Writer Wednesday - A Simple Way to Stop Gossiping, Complaining, and Criticizing

Life Coaching 

with Vicky DeCoster

A Simple Way to Stop Gossiping, Complaining, and Criticizing

You may have seen her on Saturday Night Live. She’s Debbie Downer and she’s a real downer. When she goes out with her group of optimistic, happy friends, it is not long before she brings the entire clan down with her depressing comments about injuries, accidents, and illness. We all may know a Debbie Downer, but we also understand that we’ve all done it at one time or another—and may even do it several times a day. When we complain, gossip, and criticize others, we bring negative energy into not only our own lives, but also the lives of those around us. Just turn on the news and you realize how easy it is to be a Debbie Downer these days.

In the book A Complaint Free World, Will Bowen suggests wearing a bracelet or rubber band around the wrist to tackle the challenge of eliminating this habit or pattern. Every time you catch yourself complaining, criticizing, or gossiping, you must move the bracelet to your other wrist. You may not remove the bracelet entirely until you have gone twenty-one days straight without gossiping, complaining, or criticizing.

Is it hard to quit gossiping, complaining, and criticizing? Definitely. While this practice may not be perfect for everyone, it does create awareness, which is the first step in initiating positive change in our lives.

While attempting to create awareness, it may be easier to tackle one habit or pattern at a time. For example, for the first seven days, focus on decreasing gossip. During the second week, turn your attention toward complaining. In the third week, do your best to address your criticism of others.

In the beginning of this practice, your bracelet may move quickly from wrist-to-wrist as you learn how often you have been allowing negative comments to surround your life like a black cloud. But then, after a few days, you may notice that you are switching your bracelet from wrist-to-wrist less often. Even better, you most likely are beginning to feel happier. Without being allowed to gossip, criticize, or complain, you could be smiling, laughing, and spreading positivity more often. What could be better than that?

You may never make it twenty-one days without complaining, criticizing, or gossiping, but you might get close. The book suggests that this process of changing how we view life may take as long as four to eight months, but isn’t that a short period of time in an entire life? Suddenly, it doesn’t seem like an unrealistic goal at all.

Simply put, when you feel the bracelet on your wrist, it reminds you that you are a work-in-progress. Although you are not perfect, you are perfectly capable of becoming a better person with every day.

© 2023 Vicky DeCoster All Rights Reserved
Vicky DeCoster is a Certified Life Coach who specializes in helping her clients move past obstacles, create a plan for happiness, and cross the bridge of transition to find a new and fulfilling direction in life. To read more about her and her practice, visit: http://www.crossthebridgecoaching.com/