A Writer’s Life

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Joanne Guidoccio

Yesterday evening, I returned to the Guelph Public Library (Westminster Square Branch) to lead a discussion on the creative life with a lively group of writers and wannabe writers, who braved the cold, blustery temperatures. I shared my experiences and advice on finding inspiration, establishing daily rituals, dealing with writer’s block, and getting published.

I was impressed by the depth and breadth of questions and comments. The group was a diverse one with interests in writing poetry, fiction, memoirs, and self-help books.

Thanks to librarians Karen Cafarella and Deb Quaile for organizing and facilitating this event.

L-R: Erin El Masry, Joanne Guidoccio, Deb Quaile, Karen Cafarella

The Optimist Creed

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Joanne Guidoccio

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

While February is the shortest month of the year, it can be the most challenging, especially if winter persists. I turn to “The Optimist Creed” by Christian D. Larson whenever I need an extra dose of positive energy.

Spotlight on Marian Lanouette

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome Amazon best-selling author Marian Lanouette. Today, Marian shares her inspiring journey and upcoming release, All the Deadly Lies.

Here’s Marian!

I’d like to thank Joanne for hosting me today. She gave me an interesting assignment to post briefly about my writing journey.

When I first started writing, I, like every other author, wanted the New York publisher, and the New York agent. Did I get them after many letters, inquiries, or form letter rejections? I did, but it took me nine years to get there.

I was offered a contract from a small press immediately after completing my second book. Naturally, I was thrilled that someone wanted me and my stories. The publisher and I worked together to put out the Jake Carrington series. But Jake didn’t splash into the large pool like I wanted him to. That was no fault of mine or the publisher’s. I had expected more than they offered and as with any book, it’s up to the author to promote it, and themselves. And more important, to have your next book ready to keep your readers captivated.

After the contracted time period I took my rights back and decided to journey into the ocean of self-pub authors. I met with some success. Jake Carrington and his crew were well received and I was now making a living at something I loved with a passion–Writing.

Along the way I’ve met some great authors like Joanne, and readers alike. I’ve been out and about at readings, libraries, and conferences all while learning the business. It’s been a thrilling expedition and even today I still continue to learn.

So nine years later…I met my NY publisher/editor Michaela Hamilton at Kensington, and agent Doug Grad from the Doug Grad Literary Agency, in the same night. Needless to say I was off the wall when I was offered a four book deal from Michaela for Jake’s series. I think and hope (fingers crossed) that readers of the series will be as excited for Jake and his new journey as I am for him and myself as well as welcoming new readers to the series. We look forward to many years of working together with this team and can’t wait to see what’s around the next corner.

Blurb

Homicide detective Jake Carrington takes murder personally…

The victim was bludgeoned, stripped, and left for dead. Shanna Wagner deserves justice—and there’s no better cop than Lieutenant Jake Carrington to find her killer. The brutality of the crime reminds Jake of his sister’s murder seventeen years ago, and the remorseless man responsible, now up for parole.

Then another woman is killed—and Jake goes dangerously close to the edge. He’ll have to face his personal demons and focus his formidable skills if he hopes to stop a vicious murderer from striking again—and hold on to his career, and his life . . .

Buy links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Where to find Marian…

In Praise of Homemade Soup

Posted on February 4, 2018 by Joanne Guidoccio

Today is National Homemade Soup Day, a day devoted to celebrating those warm bowls of comfort that nourish our bodies and souls. Take some time to make your favorite soup or experiment with a new recipe.

Here’s my go-to recipe for vegetable quinoa soup. I like making a large batch and then dividing up the soup into one-cup portions that I freeze for the week.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 small zucchini, chopped
8 cups of vegetable broth
2 cups cooked quinoa
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold water. Add quinoa, 2 cups water, and a pinch of salt to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 5 minutes. Turn the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.

2. Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the onion and cook until tender (about 5 minutes). Add the garlic and cook for another 2 or 3 minutes. Add the carrots, celery, and zucchini. Continue cooking for another 4 or 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Add the vegetable broth. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook until the vegetables are fork-tender (about 25-30 minutes).

4. Stir in the cooked quinoa and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Yield: Serves 6 – 8

Buon appetito!

Sometimes It Just Takes Courage

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Joanne Guidoccio

Welcome to my Second Acts Series!

Today, we have author D.R. Grady sharing her writing journey and latest release, The Nerd Who Spied Me.

Here’s D.R. Grady!

I knew I wanted to be a writer from the first moment I learned that by combining words you got a sentence and sentences a paragraph and then – wow, a story! The story teller within me awoke—a magical moment in my young life.

However, I’m a practical person, and I knew becoming an author who could support herself with her art probably wasn’t in my immediate future. So I opted to study Biology at college and graduated with a B.S. in Biology. This led to a series of jobs after college, and I did manage to support myself with my lab skills.

I did not, however, write. The stories were there, piling on top of each other, but I didn’t have a computer at the time, and buying one wasn’t cheap then, so I worked and saved and ignored my muse.

Over the course of a few years, and after making rent, student loans, and a car payment, I finally had saved enough money to buy a computer. A massive desktop that I couldn’t believe I finally owned!

For the first year or so I used it to keep in touch with friends via email, and I started a file for all those books in my brain. Then I changed jobs and moved a couple of times and life got busy. I kept up with email, but no writing.

One day I mentioned to my boss at the time how I had this idea in my head that kept niggling. He encouraged me to start writing the story. And he and a work colleague both urged me to attend my first Romance Writers of America local chapter meeting.

That took more courage than I thought I had, because I had convinced myself all the writers there were multi-published senator’s wives who lived in their dream homes with dream careers and… I was daunted. After much support from my fabulous boss and colleague, I finally mustered the courage and attended my first meeting.

And found people just like me!

Not a senator’s wife in sight (who are probably lovely people, by the way). I instead met plenty of other authors who were just trying to build a career writing books they loved and that they hoped others would love too. I finished that first book and many more since.

Since then, I’ve just seen my twentieth book published, The Nerd Who Spied Me! I continue that idea file and have replaced that first computer several times. (: All it took was courage to take that first step!

Blurb

Cian Hunter is tasked with the impossible: find Verity Wellington and bring her home safely. His survival is not guaranteed.

Everyone in their business knows Verity is perfectly capable of getting herself home, since she’s the gut-them-first-and-ask-questions-later type of operative. She also has the advantage of knowing where she is, which would be helpful.

He accepts the assignment, aware two operatives are better than one when dealing with the nebulous factions who lurk in the shadows. Plus, the chance to get close to Verity to see if his attraction to her is more than a fleeting interest is too good to pass up. Provided she doesn’t gut him first.

Cian is confident in his secret operative abilities, despite wishing to leave them behind. However, his relationship goals leave something to be desired. If he can figure those out… he might stand a chance of getting them both home alive.

Pitch line: They’re confident in their secret operative abilities, but maybe not so much in their relationship goals.

Excerpt

“Thanks for playing nice with my family.” He whispered this to Verity as Chrissy flitted into the kitchen to get them both a beverage. Jay followed, to “help” her. Cian guessed.

Jay tagged along to steal a smooch or two.

“I have no reason not to.”

Her logic was faultless.

“I’m still thankful for the effort.”

She didn’t snort but did eye him as though sorting through the various means she had of offing someone—as though deciding which to use proved challenging.

It sent all of his blood fleeing from his brain. His eyes dipped to her lips.

“Don’t even think about it.” Her warning came a second too late.

“Sorry, already did.”

“You’re not sorry,” she scoffed. “I will eviscerate you in your sister’s living room.”

“That’s not nice.” More blood pumped from his brain. This was not going as well as could be expected. He couldn’t seem to drag his gaze from those pouty lips.

One side of those delectable treats rose in a snarl. “Don’t even think about kissing me, Hunter.”

He, in usual form, ignored her warning. Wrapping one arm around her waist, he yanked her against him. Then he melded their lips because he had to know.

“You are in such big trou—” Her words halted because his mouth blocked them and he ran his tongue over the seam of her lips. She gasped, and he pressed the advantage, using any and all available.

A groan escaped his throat and meshed with hers.

Buy Links

Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Smashwords |
Createspace – Coming Soon!

Bio

D.R. Grady lives with her husband near Hershey, PA. She adores chocolate, laughing, collecting bags, books, and shoes, and writing stories that resonate with others.

Where to find D. R. Grady…

Joanne here!

Thanks for sharing your inspiring journey. Best of luck with all your creative endeavors.

Let Go and Let God

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Joanne Guidoccio

Australian singer Olivia Newton John released Let Go and Let God on her twenty-second studio album, Grace and Gratitude, in 2006. The song has been described as “meditative mood music”…an apt description for a song that has benefited several cancer charities. The hauntingly beautiful music and lyrics resonate with me at the soul level. It’s my go-to song whenever I need to uplift my spirits.

Movie Review: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Joanne Guidoccio

Disturbing. Thought-provoking. Unsettling.

But, most of all, riveting.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen as I watched Frances McDormand embrace the role of Mildred Hayes. It is not surprising that she has already captured several Best Actress awards and is a strong contender for an Oscar.

Angry and frustrated after seven months of waiting for the local police to apprehend the man who raped, murdered, and burned her daughter, Mildred rents a trio of billboards with the following provocative messages:

RAPED WHILE DYING
STILL NO ARRESTS?
HOW COME, CHIEF WILLOUGHBY?

But calling out Chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) for his incompetence does not endear Mildred to the residents of Ebbing, a fictitious, small town in Missouri. For starters, the Chief is a devoted father and husband in the final stages of pancreatic cancer. When he reminds Mildred of his illness, she responds: “They (billboards) won’t be as effective when you croak.” In spite of her callousness, Mildred does have a grudging respect for the Chief.

Mildred’s relationship with Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell), a racist and violent Mama’s boy, is fraught with tension. Easily provoked and goaded by his mother, Dixon doesn’t hesitate to take the law into his own hands. Rockwell’s outstanding performance has already earned him two supporting actor awards.

Mildred’s quest for justice takes several startling twists and turns as the narrative progresses. Significant facts are revealed during arguments with her son and ex-husband, leading us to question Mildred’s motives. Fighting back and fighting harder—regardless of how violent or crazed—dominates the second half of the movie.

In short, there are no true heroes or true villains or clear-cut lessons in this dark comic drama that has garnered seven Oscar nominations.

All About Japanese Robots

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome Wild Rose Press author Linda Nightingale. Today, Linda introduces Japanese robots and shares her latest audiobook releases, Love for Sale and Morgan D’Arcy: A Vampyre Rhapsody.

Here’s Linda!

This may seem to fly off the pages of science fiction, but it’s a hot new research field and making rapid progress.

At the Toshiba booth at the Consumer Electronics show, Chihira Aico, a life-sized robot in a pink party dress with pearls, stood like a mannequin, perfectly still—at first. Suddenly, the android began to gesture wildly.

“I can be a news reader, consultant or cheerleader!” She threw her arms up and squealed, “I can get excited!”

Chihira is a new concept for a life-like android. Her creators intend to make her seem even more expressive when interacting with humans. By adding additional motors to her joints, engineers are refining her movements to make them appear fluid while programmers work on her language processing, improving her communications skills and responsiveness. The ultimate goal is for the robot to read human behaviors and emotions, then mimic them, thereby appearing human herself.

This complicated piece of hardware has over 40 motors in her joints to coordinate her body’s movements. Fifteen tiny air pumps on her fact control the blinking of her eyes and the opening of her mouth as she speaks. Toshiba developed Chihira under the direction of Hitoshi Tokuda, the project leader. Osaka University performed the muscle research, building on previous work on prosthetic limbs.

On-lookers thought Chihira was creepy. What do you think?

A hi-tech hotel in Japan, Nagasaki prefecture’s Henn-na Hotel, opening in July will employ ten robots at the check-in counter as receptionists. If you think these humanoid androids are creepy, you might think twice about visiting this hotel. They can establish eye contact and respond to body language.

When I wrote Love For Sale, my sci-fi romance from The Wild Rose Press, I didn’t know about the Japanese life-like robots. In fact, Love for Sale was inspired by Tanith Lee’s immortal Silver Metal Lover. I don’t find robots creepy but extremely interesting. I’d love to interact with a human-like android.

A recent Pew report entitled, “A.I., Robotics, and the Future of Jobs,” suggests that while it might be some time before we see a robot takeover of our workforce, we’ll be having sex with them sooner than we think. Hum. Interesting. Would you find a sentient being programmed to love you disturbing?

Love For Sale is about Christian and March. March is a disenchanted dreamer. Christian is her dream man, but…inside he’s all circuits and wires while outside he is perfectly human and programmed to love her unconditionally.

Love for Sale and Morgan D’Arcy: A Vampyre Rhapsody have been released as audio books. Both are read by a woman with a lovely British accent and are enchanting to listen to.

Audible Samples/Buy Links

Love for Sale | Morgan D’Arcy: A Vampyre Rhapsody

Bio

Born in South Carolina, Linda has lived in England, Canada, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta and Houston. She’s seen a lot of this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse trailer, having bred, trained and showed Andalusian horses for many years.

Linda has won several writing awards, including the Georgia Romance Writers Magnolia Award and the SARA Merritt. She retired from a career as a retired legal assistant, just joined the Houston BMW Club, and the stars in her crown—two wonderful sons. In a former life, she must have had to walk everywhere because today she is into transportation with fine taste in expensive horses and hot cars! She likes to dress up and host formal dinner parties.

Where to find Linda…

Note: Visit and look around Linda’s website. There’s a free continuing vampire story. On her blog, you’ll find interesting guests and prizes.

Giveaway

Leave a comment below – You could win a sterling silver Texas charm.

The M.D. Writer-Mom

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome doctor and award-winning mystery author Melissa Yuan-Innes aka Melissa Yi to the Second Act series. Today, Melissa shares her multi-act life and the Hope Sze Medical Mystery Series.

Here’s Melissa!

So far, I’m spinning three different careers simultaneously. I’m an emergency physician, which is my most stressful, high-stakes job. I’m a writer who professionally published her first short story and poem in medical school. And I, personally, wouldn’t feel complete without my children.

Medicine takes up the most real estate in my life. I was a perpetual student for a quarter century, memorizing facts, waking up at all hours of the night, and eventually making life and death decisions.

When I finally finished training in emergency medicine, I felt uneasy. I’d been shackled to a schedule, rotating from specialty to specialty and hospital to hospital, and now I could literally practice anywhere in the world, as long as I got the proper licensing and my husband agreed to it.

I told my friends, “It’s like the Simpsons episode where Homer goes up in space and smashes the terrarium, and as the ants go flying off in zero gravity, they’re chittering, ‘Freedom! Horrible, horrible freedom!’” Watch here.

In my heart, though, I knew what I wanted to do. The same thing I’d wanted to do since I was five years old. I wanted to write.

For that, I needed time and energy. Since 24 hour shifts are not conducive to creativity, I had to limit my emergency shifts.

I said to my husband, “Now that I’ve graduated, I can finally make money. That’s what everyone else is doing. Is it crazy that I want to write?”

Matt is an engineer who takes emotions out of the equation. He basically said, “You went to school for so many years so that you can afford to write.” He has offered to support me if I want to write, but I never really considered it. I wanted to be my own patron of the arts, able to support myself, my family, and my writing.

It means that I’m a relatively impoverished doctor. One of my friends made fun of me because she made more in six months than I did in a year. I wish I were a more productive writer. And my kids constantly complain that I don’t spend enough time with them, and were quite piteous as they waved goodbye to me yesterday, as I drove through the ice to my evening shift.

On the other hand, I am happy. I can and did run last Saturday’s night shift—and CBC Books selected Human Remains (https://windtreepress.com/portfolio/human-remains/), my latest medical thriller, as their top mystery pick for their holiday gift guide (http://www.cbc.ca/books/10-books-for-those-mad-for-mysteries-on-your-list-1.4442631).

Where to find Melissa…

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon

Joanne here!

Melissa, thank you for sharing your intriguing journey. I’m impressed by your work ethic and the number of books you have written. Best of luck in the future!

Intrigued by the author’s back story, I decided to read Code Blues, the first book in the Hope Sze Medical Mystery series. Captivated from the start, I found myself enmeshed in a medical drama that kept me up two nights in a row. From Ms. Yi’s vivid descriptions, I could easily imagine the dilapidated Montreal hospital and the conflicted characters, who struggle with boundaries and relationships. The murder of a beloved doctor sets in motion a riveting narrative that takes many unexpected twists and turns. I continually second-guessed myself as I attempted to identify the murderer in this well-plotted, character-driven novel.

A Three-Step Remedy from Warren Buffett

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Joanne Guidoccio

In his latest book, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, author Daniel H. Pink devotes an entire chapter to Midpoints. At the end of the chapter, he shares several strategies and anecdotes from well-known high achievers. I was impressed by this advice from Warren Buffett:

One day Mr. Buffett was talking with his private pilot, who was frustrated that he hadn’t achieved all he’d hoped. Mr. Buffett prescribed the following three-step remedy.

First, he said, write down your top twenty-five goals for the rest of your life.

Second, look at the list and circle your top five goals, those that are unquestionably your highest priority. That will give you two lists–one with your top five goals, the other with the next twenty.

Third, immediately start planning how to achieve those top five goals. And the other twenty? Get rid of them. Avoid them at all costs. Don’t even look at them until you’ve achieved the top five, which might take a long time.

Doing a few important things well is far more likely to propel you out of the slump than a dozen half-finished projects.