A Monarch’s Journey Inspires My Own

Posted on September 24, 2024 by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome author and editor Amy R. Kaufman. Today, Amy shares her creative journey and new release, The Monarch’s Message.

Here’s Amy!

I founded Stories magazine when I was 30, after making a devastating error in life. This creative venture was a way to carry on. Believing I was not ready to write seriously, I chose to edit. I drafted my concept for a national short story magazine on a piece of green paper. In reaction to trends in literature, I was seeking universal, timeless short stories. The magazine, produced in my typesetting shop in Boston, ran for 12 years.

Forty years later, during the pandemic, I began to write a story about the monarch butterfly as a gift for my niece. It was less intimidating than “serious” literature, so I assumed the children’s book would soon be finished. There was so much to learn that it took three years to complete. I realized how arrogant I had been to think I could meet the literary standards I had set for others.

It would have been impossible for an illustrator to draw the monarch with forests, deserts, and volcanoes in the background. During a thrift-store hunting trip, I discovered a 1983 photography magazine with a magnificent image of monarchs. I was able to reach the photographer, George D. Lepp, recently named a Canon Legend for his lifetime achievement, and purchased the right to publish several of his images. From thousands of portfolios, I selected 20 images depicting phases of the monarch’s life, from birth to an overwintering colony blanketed with clustering butterflies.

Everyone is inspired by the monarch; it seems to carry a message. With my book “The Monarch’s Message” I was entering a crowded field. To distinguish my concept, I made several decisions. First, the story is not merely plotted; its power derives from natural phenomena as they unfold. Second, as far as possible, the point of view is confined to the butterfly’s observations. Third, each paragraph reveals the character’s dedication to a purpose and her resilience to obstacles in changing terrain. I became more aware of my own resilience after this study, and I hope readers of all ages will experience the same awakening.

“The Monarch’s Message,” a photographic storybook, focuses on the capabilities of a monarch who embarks on the migration alone. Acclaimed photographers–notably George D. Lepp, a Canon Legend–offer spectacular views of stopping places along the trail. The story depicts natural phenomena rarely seen by human eyes. Sensory impressions create the feeling of flying with the butterfly as she navigates mountain ranges and deserts. Each environment reveals an aspect of her resilience.

Author Bio and Links

Amy R. Kaufman is an author and developmental book editor in Portland, Oregon. Stories, her Boston-based magazine for the short story, received several honors during its twelve-year run.

Writings World Literature | Amazon

The book is available to teachers and librarians through Follett Content Solutions.

Ms. Kaufman has created a photographic storybook for young and young-at-heart readers who are fascinated by monarch butterflies. Proud to proclaim myself a member of this group, I enjoyed reading this inspirational tale about Lita, a young butterfly, who sets off on an extraordinary journey from her home in North America to the Transvolcanic Range near Mexico City.

A gifted storyteller, Ms. Kaufman has a wonderful eye for detail and a gift for creating a strong sense of place. I could easily imagine myself traveling with Lita as she navigated mountain ranges and deserts. Her unwavering optimism and perseverance in the face of challenges is truly inspiring. One of my favorite quotes: “Even in the desert there was nectar for butterflies. Lita drank from yellow flowers and dropped pollen into each one. For a long way there was no sign of water, only cactus on each side…She knew her home could not be in that gray wasteland.”

Kudos to the photographers who shared their breathtaking images. These images, captured in vivid detail, depict the monarch’s transformation from a tiny egg to a majestic butterfly and its awe-inspiring journey across the continent.

Blurb Blitz: Where the Stars Cross

Posted on September 23, 2024 by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome author Dottie Sines. Today, Dottie shares her debut novel, Where the Stars Cross.

Blurb

In the depths of the Great Depression, Ellie suffers another crash—that of her marriage. She’s left struggling to restore her shattered life, feeling as damaged as the stained-glass panels she refurbishes for Chicago’s historic structures. While visiting her aunt in Marietta, Ohio, a charming river town, Ellie encounters towboat captain Wyatt and feels a searing attraction to him. But thanks to past and subsequent wounds, her attempts at opening herself to love seem futile. Her hope for love and her determination to find the place she belongs are further complicated by her tendency to make impulsive decisions. In her journey, Ellie draws on an unrealized level of courage and learns she must identify her brightest passions in charting her course.

Excerpt

Climbing from her automobile, Ellie ambled around to the sidewalk, where she tipped herself onto her toes to stretch her legs and flung out her arms with a moan, promptly smacking a hand into what felt like a human. She pivoted.

“Oh, my goodness, I’m so…” The “sorry” came a heartbeat or two later, followed by, “Are you all right?” even though there was no way this man wasn’t okay.

Tall and sturdy enough to survive much more than a little whack in the chest, his faded blue-and-white pinstriped shirt, tan leather vest, and well-worn trousers did nothing to detract from the toned lines of his body. A sampling of gray wove through the hair peeking out from beneath his newsboy cap. Slightly wavy, sandy blond hair, which on anyone else would need a good trimming but suited him fine. He hadn’t shaved in a day or two.

“Lengthy drive, I take it?” His mouth curved into a half smile, crinkling the corners of soft, hazel eyes. “Nothing like a good punch to work out the kinks, huh, Slugger?”

Ellie drew in her lips. A laugh didn’t seem appropriate right now. “Really, I am very sorry,” Ellie said. “You are all right, aren’t you?”

“I think I’ll be fine,” he said with a nod and a languid blink of those captivating eyes. “Ma’am,” he said with a tip of his cap before he and his comrades continued toward the river.

Ellie’s feet felt their way to the door of the five-and-dime. Wowee, did that bloke look better from the front or the back? Biting her bottom lip, she reached for the door handle.

Author Bio and Links

Dottie scratched out her first fiction as a little kid transfixed by the books she read all those lazy summer days on the front porch swing. Two of her short stories have been published in The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park’s literary journal, Hemingway Shorts, having placed among the top ten entries in its annual short story contests.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Amazon Buy Link

Giveaway

The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Find out more here.

Follow Dottie Sines on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.

Believe in Yourself

Posted on September 18, 2024 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.

Whenever I need a boost, I reread Write Smart, Write Happy by award-winning author Cheryl St. John. Here’s an uplifting excerpt:

Remember to celebrate the goals you achieve; don’t dwell on what didn’t work. Never compare yourself to anyone, because you’re special just the way you are. You have the ability to dream a dream no one else can. You’re going to write the books only you can write.

Continue to learn. Be aware, curious, and open-minded. Be a reader. Most of us came to be writers because of our love of reading. When we get busy with deadlines, it’s easy to let that first love slip away. Renew that love. Fill the well. Remind yourself why you love stories, why you want to write.

And above everything else: Believe in yourself. Draw on and draw out the writer inside. You’re the only writer like you—the only person who can write your unique individual stories. You’re the only person who can make your dream come true. You have the tools and the desire. Hold onto the unshakeable truth that you can do this and you will move forward.

Source: Write Smart, Write Happy by Cheryl St. John, p. 261

Blurb Blitz: Choice by Dora Farkas

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome author Dora Farkas. Today, Dora shares her new release, Choice.

Blurb

Val is a young Mexican-American quantum physicist and single mother struggling with an anxiety disorder and financial challenges. Her world is turned upside down when her ex-husband files for full custody of their three-year-old daughter to take her across the country where he was offered a job. The story unfolds as she decides either to stay put in Boston and meet job related deadlines or go on a holiday and visit her parents in Mexico.

Encouraged by her father, Val flies to Mexico with Maya, her service dog, and Daisy, her daughter, and she discovers a world of magic that will change her outlook on life forever. She also reconnects with her childhood friend, Mercedes, who gives her a glimmer of hope. Things, however, are not what they seem to be. As all areas of her life begin to fall apart, Val must explore the power of her intuition and make different choices to change the course of her and her daughter’s futures.

Excerpt

While growing up, Mom and I had a special tradition: every Friday afternoon, she showed me how to cook and bake her family’s recipes, some of them as old as 400 years. As soon as I could stand, she pulled up a stool for me, and I watched her prepare dishes from her native town in Oaxaca, Mexico, which had been passed down from mother to daughter for many generations.

Although she had to create a new home when she and Dad moved from Oaxaca to a suburb of Boston before I was born, she made sure that I would be well-prepared to pass on our family’s recipes to my children. My memories from elementary school are filled with rolling churros in cinnamon sugar, measuring out ingredients for our family’s secret mole recipe, and taking turns with Mom mixing sweet corn dough for tamales.

When I was in middle school, she stood right next to me as I simmered the sweetened milk for capirotada, the bread pudding my family ate every Easter, and nodded in approval as the deep aroma of cinnamon sticks, brown sugar, and cloves filled the air. The older I became, the more Mom expected from me in the kitchen, but there was one thing that never changed throughout the years: whenever we cooked and baked together, time stood still.

Author Bio and Links

Although Dora was born in Budapest, Hungary, she lived in Mexico for five years during her early childhood. Her connection to the Mexican language, history, and cooking inspired the cultural setting for her debut novel, “Choice.”

After getting her doctorate from MIT, she published her first book, “The Smart Way to Your Ph.D.” which paved the way for a six-figure consulting business while she was a stay-at-home mom with two daughters. She has given workshops about writing at MIT, Tufts, Boston University, the University of Connecticut, Ohio State University, the Scripps Research Institute, the University of Calgary, and the University of British Columbia.

Author Website | Facebook | Amazon Buy Link

Giveaway

The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Find out more here.

Follow Dora on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.

Fun Friday!

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Joanne Guidoccio

Just Get It Down

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Joanne Guidoccio

In her latest release, 1000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round, novelist Jami Attenberg, shares her advice and that of over 50 other writers.

Here’s an inspiring essay from Celeste Ng:

I am a perfectionist by nature so the drafting stage is hard for me. It is really hard to just move forward and put something down on paper because part of my brain is always screaming, “But it’s not quite right! Erase it! Erase it NOW!

But I’ve also learned that it is very rare to get something completely right on the first try—and it’s approximately nine million times easier to revise something from “not great” into “actually kind of decent.” So for me, the key is getting something down, and even when it’s imperfect—which is always—it usually points me in the direction I need to dig in.

Over the years, I’ve collected a bunch of analogies for the writing process that helps me override that type-A instinct in my brain, at least temporarily. In Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott talks about the first draft being the “down draft” (just get it down), and the second draft being the “up draft” (when you fix it up).

And then there’s a sign I have over my writing desk which I glance up at as needed. It just says ‘WORRY ABOUT THAT LATER.”

Book Blast: A Curvy Girl’s Haven

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome author Kristabel Reed. Today, Kristabel shares her new release, A Curvy Girl’s Haven.

Blurb

Dr. Arabella Stanton is back in Havenbrook, California, seeking a break from her work with Doctors Without Borders. Exhausted and haunted by memories of the refugee camps, she finds solace in the familiar yet changed landscape of her grandmother’s old town. She plans to rest, recuperate, and plan out her next steps—until a persistent knock at her door changes everything.

Garret de la Rosa, a Navy SEAL with his own shadows from missions past, is back in Havenbrook to recover and find some peace. When a mutual friend brings Arabella to his door, he’s bleeding from an injury, and neither expects the connection that sparks between them.

As Arabella and Garret navigate their growing attraction, they also face their personal demons and the reality that their lives are on different paths. Amidst the tranquil beauty of Havenbrook, they find themselves questioning their futures and what they truly want.

Excerpt

Why subject herself to disappointment? No matter how attractive she found him, he was only being grateful. The fact she was ready for a new chapter in her life did not mean Garret would be any part of that new chapter.

“It was nice to see you. If you have any problems”—she made a small gesture to his side—“let me know.”

Arabella offered another smile and nod, and turned to leave.

“Doctor!” Garret called again. “I’m experiencing a problem.”

Frowning, she turned back around, already in doctor mode. “Oh, does it hurt? Is the pain more intense—”

“This beautiful woman,” he interrupted, “refused to go out with me. Twice! I need your advice. Is there anything I can do to convince her that lunch is harmless enough?”

Shocked, she wanted to give a sharp retort about leaving the woman alone if she said no. And then Arabella realized Garret was talking about her. She blinked and laughed, shaking her head at the ridiculousness of it all.

“Depends on where you want to have lunch.”

After all, if she had lunch with him, he’d stop trying to thank her. Because he’d already have thanked her. And they could both move on. Or something. That was logical reasoning, wasn’t it?

Author Bio and Links

I’m an East Coaster with an insatiable love for pizza and movies. This love has also produced a chubby girl who thought it would be fun to write a few romances for the fuller ladies. And after a long break from writing, I decided to explore the small, California community of Havenbrook; where curvier ladies find hot guys who fall madly in love! After all, curvier girls need love too.

Website | Twitter | Amazon Buy Link | Email

Giveaway

Kristabel Reed will be awarding a $10 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Find out more here.

Follow Kristabel on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.

On Time Running Out

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Joanne Guidoccio

On Fridays, I receive Hope Clark’s newsletter, Funds for Writers. Here’s a thought-provoking essay from a recent email:

Ah! how could I possibly quit the world before bringing forth all that I felt it was my vocation to produce? ~Ludwig van Beethoven (December 16, 1770–March 26, 1827)

I’ve always loved Beethoven. After 5 years of lessons as a child, he is one I remember most. All that musical brilliance given to someone ironically destined to lose the ear to hear it. But nobody denied that he didn’t spend every minute of the time he had creating the best he could, as often as could, to leave behind a legacy of genius.

You do not know today what you can amount to in ten years, twenty, or more. All you can do is give it your best today, then better tomorrow, then the next. Stopping and saying that it’ll never happen only serves to prove you right. It can’t happen without you diligently chipping away at improving.

Most of the time success happens when you don’t expect it, because you’re too busy getting better at what you do. When you constantly hunt for it, you waste energy that best could be used to hone your craft. Beethoven saw his life as a limited commodity, and his duty to make the most of it. He did.

Virtual Book Tour: The Starlight Motel

Posted on August 30, 2024 by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome author Amy Craig. Today, Amy shares her creative journey and new release, The Starlight Motel.

Here’s Amy!

What was your inspiration for this book?

When my husband and I relocated from California to Louisiana with our black lab/shepherd mix, who we refused to put on a plane, we drove through Palm Springs, CA. The agricultural influences amazed me! I always thought of Palm Springs as a 1950s Hollywood resort, but its character goes deeper than Sinatra and desert sands. Don’t get me wrong, those aspects are part of its identity, too, but I wanted to explore the farms and single-story motels dotting the windswept highways.

Also, Kada has more than one identity. She’s a devoted daughter, an artist who needs to regroup, and a caring, compassionate woman who walks the line between responsibility and self-sacrifice. Dane’s not about to let anyone push him around, but what has he missed by being so hardcore?

What is the best part of being an author? The worst?

I turn curiosity and personal experiences into complex stories with happy endings.

I turn hours of free time into social media posts.

I think you know which is which!

Describe your writing space.

Crowded desk by my bed and a geriatric Mac. Microsoft doesn’t even support my vintage version of Word. I like to share scenes and beta read on Google Docs, so I’m not totally partying like it’s 1999.

Which authors have inspired you?

Slow clap, Colleen Hoover, for changing your life, but I’m not sure I look to romance authors for life inspiration. Nora Roberts does deserve a lot of respect. I picked up Montana Sky in middle school, and I still have a thing for cowboys. More recently, Ali Hazelwood is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. Her witty, smart, and deeply engaging stories always teach me something new.

What is your favorite quote?

I have failed this question since middle school yearbook submissions, and I’m not about to get it right now.

“A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” -John A. Shedd

“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” – Invictus by William Ernest Henley

Wait, isn’t THE STARLIGHT MOTEL set in the desert? It does talk about about agriculture and water rights! Poor Kada and Dane. They want to explore sexy time, but their families and professions keep getting in their way.

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

I would live forever. I know vampire romances and The Book of Elsewhere: A Novel by Keanu Reeves have that superpower locked down, but I’m pretty sure I would love seeing civilizations evolve on a macro scale.

Besides writing and reading, what are some of your hobbies?

I wake up at five in the morning to run a mile, read, and drink my coffee before my kids and husband claim my time. I also play USTA league tennis. I didn’t pick up a racquet until I was thirty, but it’s a great social and cardiovascular workout. I’ve played pickleball a few times, but I haven’t converted… yet.

Any advice for aspiring writers?

Plan to write more than one book and learn to generate social media content without eroding your writing time. I’m not a great social poster (and I refuse to put my super-cute kids in my public posts), so once you figure out the secret sauce, let me know, too!

What are you working on next?

The third book in a mafia series, THE BROKEN BODYGUARD, comes out September 3, 2024. It’s the third novel in a Romantic Suspense/Mafia Romance/Corporate Romance series called the Sun Valley Mafia Series. Working with two publishers, The Wild Rose Press and Totally Bound, means release dates occasionally overlap! In THE BROKEN BODYGUARD, which can be read as a standalone novel, a corporate bodyguard finds himself protecting a stubborn cowgirl and untangling windswept land politics in Patagonia, Argentina.

Blurb

Experienced muralist Kada took charge of her family’s Palm Springs motel to give her mother time to grieve. As a grant deadline approaches, Kada must convince her mother to manage the motel so she can return to her art. Late in December, Kada encounters a horseman approaching the property. Dane, the reserved son of a local farming family, is a loyal workaholic with limited spare time or experience outside the valley. When lightning startles his horse, he lingers at the motel and stirs up Kada’s emotions about leaving the desert oasis. Wary of mixing business with pleasure, she struggles with her attraction. As New Year’s Eve approaches, will the cowboy convince her to chart a new course?

Excerpt

Kada’s cry of delight bounced off the casita walls. Looking up from the desert pavers, he watched her launch herself into an older woman’s arms. The pair grinned, and their smiles shone brighter than the swaying patio lights. Staying back, he leaned against an adobe wall and watched Kada and Mrs. Ritchie greet each other. The pair did the hug-shake mother-daughter thing he never understood. In twenty years, Kada would be just as beautiful as her mother. She soaked up her mother’s presence like a drought-stricken plant. He envied their connection. His mother gripped him hard, examined him, and spun him back into the world to do good work.

“Just look at you, runnin’ around the desert like Pops.” Ms. Ritchie gripped Kada’s long, black hair and rubbed it between her fingers. “If I hadn’t seen you for myself, I wouldn’t have believed it. I thought you would stay in Los Angeles, but here you are, the queen of the desert!”

He cocked his head and imagined Kada tearing into a sourdough loaf over drip coffee. She would look at home on the winding streets wearing a wrap-tie dress, but he preferred her stained jeans.

“I thought I would stay in Los Angeles, too, but you needed me.” Reaching to the side, Kada shifted into her father’s arms.

Lean by most standards, he sported the small belly that developed from a desk-bound lifestyle.

“Hi, Daddy.”

He kissed her forehead. “Princess. Good to see you.”

Author Bio and Links

Amy Craig lives in Louisiana with her family and a small menagerie of pets. She writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense featuring intelligent heroines. In her spare time, she plays tennis and expands her husband’s honey-do list. Before writing, she worked as an oilfield engineer, project manager, and incompetent waitress. For more information and giveaways, visit http://www.amy-craig.com or follow her on social media channels.

Giveaway

Amy Craig will be awarding a $15 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Find out more here.

Follow Amy on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.

Book Blast: The Husband Chair

Posted on August 29, 2024 by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome author Nick Bannister. Today, Nick shares his new release, The Husband Chair.

Blurb

Our hero: Bone tired. Lost. Desolate. A man pushed to the outer limits of his very being. His struggle: Satisfy the need to rest whilst still supporting his beloved in her hour of need.

While his wife negotiates a seemingly endless list of fashion stores in her quest for perfection, her loving husband must stave off the weariness that visits each partner in a shopping spree with their significant other.

Fighting hunger, rising frustration and the mental fatigue associated with tracking credit card usage, will he ever find peace? And honestly, can he just go and sit down for a minute…

Excerpt

Awake! Sun is shining, it’s Saturday morning.
I sit up in bed with some stretching and yawning.
My beautiful wife, the love of my life,
Looks terribly grim and it signals a warning…

I ask her, “My darling, what troubles you so?”
She goes on to tell me her tale of woe.
“I’ve booked a girls’ dinner but I’ve nothing to wear!”
And now I must prepare for what she will declare.

Author Bio and Links

Nick Bannister: Nick & Terry are long-time friends & first-time author/illustrators. Each has their own vast experience with husband chairs, as both are happily married. Both reside in Brisbane, Australia.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon AU | Indigo | Booktopia

Giveaway

The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon/Barnes & Noble to a randomly drawn winner. Find out more here.

Follow the author on the rest of his Goddess Fish tour here.

THE AUTHOR IS RUNNING A SEPARATE GIVEAWAY ON GOODREADS FOR A COPY OF THE BOOK