IWSG - September: Sitting on the Fence

The Insecure Writers Support Group meets online every first Wednesday of the month. Founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh, IWSG was created to support and encourage all writers in every phase of their work, from writing to marketing. Click here to join, and for information, writing tips and more. 

The awesome co-hosts for the September 2 posting are Julie Flanders, Murees Dupé, Dolorah at Book Lover, Christine Rains, and Heather Gardner!

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Where has time gone? It is now officially over one year since I moved to my new home and community. I brought with me a novel that begged completion and an inner voice that nagged me constantly. "Are you kidding me? Just how serious are you? You should have finished this novel months......no, years ago!" I suspect there are some in my family who would echo the same. 

So why do I continue making promises, sitting on the fence, waiting for that magic moment? Because it's TRUE. The story is complete and aside from the tweaks I'm doing with my new editing software, SmartEdit, I've about exhausted all I can do. So....bear with me, dear blog friends. I promise I will produce!

Meanwhile, I've been impressed with the support the blog community offers its members. Since my goal has been to publish my novel, I've been slowly converting my blog to one more supportive of others in the same boat. I've added an author blog roll of YA/MG writers and another with Author Helps. The list continues to grow as I discover more links. Also, I took Lexa Cain's advice and added a "Celebrate the Small Things" blog roll at the bottom. Blog rolls can clutter up a blog, I admit, but they are extremely helpful in knowing when others post. I tried using Feedly for this purpose, but the extra steps and organization was too time consuming. So for now....this is the best I can think to do.

One goal I've had is to read more books and short stories published by other bloggers, in their support. I spent some time organizing my e-reader (a few books in print) and was surprised at the books I'd acquired. I'm not a fast reader and resist skim reading, but want to mention the books and short stories I have read, ones I'm currently reading, and ones I plan to read. I wish I could do a real review of these, but I'm  committed to the reviews I already do, which just about maxes out my capabilities and time. Not sure how the rest of you manage writing and reading. I'm slow as molasses.

Here are some AWESOME published authors and their works:

Reading and Enjoying Now:

--Beyond Suspicion by Catherine A. Winn (YA)
Accused of murder and her little brother missing, fifteen-year-old Shelby faces the challenge of a lifetime.
--CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh (Adult Sci-fi )
A Star Trek space adventure complete with racial tension, space ships, mysterious aliens about to attack, and a love story.
--The City of Refuge (Book 1) by D.M. Wilder (Historical fiction) A mystery set in Egypt about one man's journey on the Paths of Righteousness. A story of revenge and renewal. 

Read and Enjoyed: 

--Moonless (Maiden of Time) by Crystal Collier (YA)
Sixteen-year-old Alexia has no idea she comes from a strange breed of people and that lives are in danger, until she meets a frightening man who becomes the love of her life.
 --"The Mission" by L.X. Cain (Short Story) (YA, MG)
Two boys and a spooky mission, where a giant plant from one's worst nightmare threatens their lives.
--Loathe your Neighbor by D.A. Cairns (Adult Fiction)
Meet David Lavender, a man who must bear the consequences of ill thought out actions and a neighbor who brings out his worst. 
--"Ghost of Death" by Chrys Fey (Short Story) (Adult Fiction) 
A mysterious murder is solved with the help of a ghost.
  
On Shelf to Read (and growing....):

--Alligators Overhead by C. Lee Mckenzie (YA)
--The Great Timelock Disaster (sequel) by C. Lee Mckenzie (YA)
--Imogene and the Case of the Missing Pearls by Elizabeth Varadan     (Middle Grade)
--25 Flowers by Stephanie Faris (Middle Grade)
--Counting to D by Kate Scott (YA)
--Breakthrough by Stephen Tremp (YA)
--Ursa Major by Tamara Narayan (YA)
--Odin Cats by Sandra Cox (YA)
--Who R U Really by Margo Kelly  (YA)
 --12 Days of Krista May Rose by Rebeccah Giltrow (Adult)
--A Muddy Red River by D.A. Cairns (Adult)
--In Praise of Lilith, Eve & Serpent in the Garden of Eden & Other Stories by Susan Scott (Nonfiction)
--Stranger or Friend by Silvia Villalobos (Adult)
--Khamsin, The Devil Wind of the Nile by Inge H. Borg 
(Historical fiction)
--Not a Drop to Drink by Patsy Collins (Short stories)
--Lady Thy Name is Trouble by Lori L. MacLaughlin (Fantasy)
--The Ghosts of Aquinnah by Julie Flanders (Mystery)
--Woven by Michael Jensen & David Powers King (YA)