Your Bucket List

Recently, I heard Kenyon Salo, the James Bond of Motivation Speakers. He’s a story teller, motivator, member of the Denver Broncos Thunderstorm Skydive Team, master trainer, adventurer, and photographer. His high energy and enthusiasm were contagious.

Here are some key points that made me think. He talked to us about our bucket list (you know, the things you want to do before you die). The focus of his talk was to “Say, yes, and worry about the how later.” We limit ourselves by coming up with excuses. Dreams lead to goals which lead to a plan which lead to action.

1. Create Experiences - Go and do the things you dream of.

2. Share More Stories - Share your experiences with others.

3. Live a More Fulfilled Life - Help others.

“Some day” is not a day of the week. This resonated with me. Things always seem to end up on my “some day” list.

He also reminded us to accept offers of help. We can’t do it alone. And helping others leads to a more fulfilled life.

Let’s solve this!

I did love his excitement, and my goal is for the rest of 2020 and 2021 to make some of my bucket list items happen.

What about you? What’s on your bucket list?

How Long Does it Take to Finish Your First Draft?

My first mystery novel took about five years to go from first draft to publication. As a new writer, I wrote when I could (or felt like it) and revised and revised and revised for years. I would overhaul major sections after early readers provided feedback. I would put it down for weeks and months and then go at it again.

I try to write every day, but it’s not always possible. Life gets in the way sometimes.

What works for me is to write and edit when I can, and I don’t beat myself up when I skip days or don’t write as much as I planned. Here are some things I’ve learned over the years (through trial and error).

1. When I don’t write regularly, it takes me longer to remember where I left off and get back in the groove. I am more productive if I can write a little each day.

2. Just write your first draft. Don’t spend hours proofing, revising, and editing. Finish it, and then you can focus on the polishing. I spent years on that first manuscript.

3. I would often handwrite a lot of my chapters in the early days. I save time now by composing/writing at my computer. This cuts down on typing time later.

4. You may have to make a tough decision with a manuscript. If you’ve worked and worked on it, and it’s not going anywhere, you may need to assess whether it’s worth pursuing or whether you should pause it. I have two manuscripts in a desk drawer that will probably never see the light of day.

5. I track my word count on my writing days, so I have a visual of my progress. (I use a lowtech Post-It on my desk with the date and total.)

6. Know your word count guidelines for your genre. There’s less revising if you’re close to your range at the end of your first draft. It’s hard to add 35K words when you think you’re done.

7. When I’m writing and I find something that I need to research, I highlight it and make a comment in the document. I keep writing, and I come back and insert what I find later. I was spending too much time on the internet looking for things (and getting distracted with funny dog videos).

8. I don’t do a full blown outline, but I do create a chapter summary. I highlight parts with mystery, romance, and humor in different colors, so I can see if there is too much or not enough of something. This provides a roadmap for me and helps as I transition from chapter to chapter.

9. For my series, I keep a spreadsheet with a column for each book. All the major and minor characters are listed with their key details. I also have a chart for place names and locations. I want to be consistent throughout the series. This is an easy reference when I forget a character’s eye color or other details.

Find the process that work best for you. If something’s not working, try something new.

Best wishes with your manuscript. (I’m almost done with the fourth Delanie Fitzgerald book. I have about 15K more words to go.) Happy Writing!

#ThisorThatThursday Interview with the Mutt Mysteries Authors

I’d like to welcome my pals, Jayne Ormerod, Maria Hudgins, and Teresa Inge to the blog today for a fall edition of #ThisorThatThursday. We’re the Mutt Mysteries authors.

A few of your favorite fall traditions

Heather: Apple-picking, Visiting the pumpkin path; Halloween

Jayne: Carving Pumpkins using templates from Pumpkin Masters. I have displayed some really tricked-out jack-o-lanterns!

Teresa: Finding the perfect pumpkins and fall decorations to decorate my front porch and house, and making homemade Chili. I make the best Chili with Texas Pete!

Something fall-related that you’ll never do again:

Heather:  I hate to rake leaves. I avoid it (and pulling weeds) at all costs

Jayne: Jump in a pile of leaves (raked leaves included dog droppings. Yes, it is as disgusting as it sounds!

Maria: Have a Halloween party and serve Fish House Punch in a Tub.

Teresa: Place a bale of hay on my front porch. The wind blows the hay everywhere and it's messy when transporting in my car. I found hay in my car for months afterward. 

Favorite fall treat:

Heather: Chocolate Halloween candy; caramel apples

Jayne: Dip (pumpkin, cream cheese, sugar and spices) with crisp fall apples or ginger snaps as dippers. Now that I think about it, that is tied with pumpkin seeds, baked in olive oil and garlic salt!  Yum!

Teresa: Pull-apart Cinnamon Roll Brioche. Warm and yummy!

A fall treat that makes you gag:

Heather: Biting into Halloween candy and finding that it has coconut in it

Jayne: Oyster stuffing. Yech.

Maria: Anything pumpkin flavored or scented (other than pumpkins or pumpkin pie)

Teresa: Not sure if this qualifies but anything that has chocolate and peanut together, especially in cake I cannot stand. But I love Reese's cups. Go figure. 

Favorite fall beverage:

Heather:  Apple cider

Jayne: Wine. (Actually, that is my favorite year-round beverage.)

Teresa: Hot Chocolate! I made it homemade and my family loves it. 

A drink that gives you a sour face:

Heather: Diet soft drinks

Jayne: Beer. (I'm not much of one for Oktoberfest!)

Maria: Lemonade

Teresa: I'm not sure but anything sour I don't like! 

Favorite place to visit in the fall:

Heather: Apple-picking in Charlottesville, Virginia

Jayne: Anyplace where the leaves are changing. New England put on some pretty good shows, but the mountains of Virginia can be breathtaking as well. Nature has the best crayons, doesn't she? 

Teresa: Haunted House and Pumpkin Patch at Greenbrier Farms! Scary and beautiful at the same time. 

 The worst place to spend the holidays:

Heather: Stuck in an airport

Jayne: In the hospital. Especially now during the COVID restrictions. 

Maria: In a dorm room, typing an overdue paper.

Teresa: Not sure, but I love to be home during the holidays to enjoy the fall, Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family. I have traditional holidays and start cooking two days prior since I make everything homemade. 

Funniest autumn story:

Heather: My Grandmother was notorious for telling ghost stories late at night when my sister and I would spend the night. Her rooms had a lot of large dark wooden furniture and antiques that cast freaky shadows.

One evening as she was telling one of these tales, my sister and I looked up at the open window, and there were two sets of yellow eyes staring back at us. For several minutes, my sister and I were convinced that demons or zombies were lying in wait. When all of the screaming died down, we discovered that it was the neighbor’s cats sitting on the window ledge peeping in.

Jayne: On a glorious October morning, I sent my dad out to walk the dogs while I took care of the toddler. Husband not in picture (deployed to some remote location known only to those with top-secret clearance.) Dad was not quite "elderly" but no longer at his most agile. I saddled up the dogs and sent them on their way for a walk under the canopy of colorful autumn colors. Only they didn't come home. Like for over an hour on what was supposed to be a ten-minute trip around the block. Did I worry? Heck, yeah. After over an hour, the dogs found their way home, dragging (literally...he was on his belly) my dad behind them! No lasting injuries, except to my stomach...from laughing so hard. The look on his face...surprised...perplexed...humiliated...was priceless! He laughed, too! 

Teresa: Not sure if this is funny, but each year my granddaughter and I go to the pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkins together. It's always fun and silly in finding the best pumpkins. 

Something embarrassing that happened during autumn:

Heather: This shows my age. When I was fifteen, the Tylenol scare happened, and it all but put an end to trick-or-treating that year. My friends and I decided not to waste good candy that people had already bought, so we dressed up and went out. We raked in the candy that year. It probably wasn’t the best decision in light of the product tampering.

Jayne: Navy Birthday Ball (Oct 13) Husband-to-be in full dress whites. Me in a beautiful light blue gown with the back of my dress tucked in my underwear! Finally, someone on the dance floor pulled me aside and told me. Mortifying doesn't begin to describe it. But he did marry me anyway!

Teresa: When I first started making homemade cranberry sauce it was hard to get just the right balance to make the relish un-soured. No one at the table ate it the first year I made it. 

Let’s Be Social:

Mutt Mysteries

Website/Blog: http://muttmysteries.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MuttMysteries

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MuttMysteries1

Teresa Inge grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries. Today, she doesn’t carry a rod like her idol, but she hotrods. Love of reading mysteries and writing professional articles led to writing short fiction and novellas. She is president of Sisters in Crime Mystery by the Sea Chapter and author of short mysteries in Virginia is for Mysteries, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Coastal Crimes: Mysteries by the Sea, and Murder by the Glass.

Website: www.TeresaInge.com

Website and Blog: http://www.teresainge.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@teresainge7

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teresa.h.inge

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teresa.h.inge/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/teresainge

Amazon Authors: https://www.amazon.com/Teresa-Inge/e/B06XGZ7RTG

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/teresainge7/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-inge-cap-07687820/

BookBub: https://www.blurb.com/user/teresainge?profile_preview=true

AllAuthor: https://allauthor.com/author/teresaingeauthor/

Jayne Ormerod grew up in a small Ohio town then went on to a small-town Ohio college. Upon earning her degree in accountancy, she became a CIA (that’s not a sexy spy thing, but a Certified Internal Auditor.) She married a naval officer and off they sailed to see the world. After nineteen moves, they, along with their two rescue dogs Tiller and Scout, have settled into a cozy cottage by the sea. Jayne’s publishing credits include two novels, five novellas, and eight short mysteries. A complete list can be found on her website. Website: www.JayneOrmerod.com

 Maria Hudgins is a mystery writer and a former high school science teacher. She is the author of the Dotsy Lamb Travel Mysteries, the Lacy Glass Archaeology Mysteries and several published short stories. Her favorite things are traveling, reading, dogs, and cats. She lives in Hampton, Virginia with her cat, Lulu.

Website: www.mariahudgins.com

Heather Weidner writes the Delanie Fitzgerald mystery series set in Virginia (Secret Lives and Private Eyes, The Tulip Shirt Murders, and Glitter, Glam, and Contraband), and her Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries launch October 2021.Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, and Deadly Southern Charm. Her novellas appear in The Mutt Mysteries series.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.

Through the years, she has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager.

Website and Blog: http://www.heatherweidner.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherWeidner1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherWeidnerAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather_mystery_writer/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8121854.Heather_Weidner

Amazon Authors: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HOYR0MQ

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HeatherBWeidner/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-weidner-0064b233?trk=hp-identity-name

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-weidner-d6430278-c5c9-4b10-b911-340828fc7003

AllAuthor: https://allauthor.com/profile/heatherweidner/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyBjyB0zz-M1DaM-rU1bXGA?view_as=subscriber

About the Mutt Mysteries:

Old dogs and new tricks abound in To Fetch a Villain, the third installment in the Mutt Mysteries series. This collection of four novellas illustrates why dogs are our best friends and the perfect companions for digging up clues, solving crimes, and bringing villains to justice. Let sleeping dogs lie? Not when the MUTTS are on the case!

RUFF DAY by Jayne Ormerod

Store owner Darby Moore suffers through a “ruff” day when a dead body is discovered in her custom dog house. With her best friend topping the suspect’s list, Darby knows the police are barking up the wrong tree. It’s up to Darby’s Great Dane Mr. Belvedere to channel his inner Scooby-Doo and save the day.

AT YOUR SERVICE by Maria Hudgins
Mystery writer Jessica Chastain is deaf and relies on her service dog Trey who acts as Jessica’s ears. Kim, a Bichon like Trey, is the latest addition to their family. But life is not a walk in the park when someone threatens all they hold dear. Together they take on an unethical breeder and dog-napper, whose bite is worse than his bark.

A SHOT IN THE BARK by Teresa Inge
Dog-loving Catt Ramsey hires an ex-con as her handyman to help with her dog-walking business at the same time a crime wave hits the neighborhood. But it’s Catt who is accused of murder. She enlists the help of family, friends, and her dogs Cagney and Lacey to prove man’s best friend can be crime’s worst enemy.

STRUT YOUR MUTT by Heather Weidner

Sassy PI Delanie Fitzgerald attends the Strut Your Mutt festival, where her business partner’s English bulldog is a finalist in a pampered doggie pageant. The dog’s new-found fame leads to a client with a missing poodle. Delanie and her team put paws to the pavement, sniff out clues, and show the villain that when you lie with the dogs, you wake up with fleas.

Mutt Mysteries' Playlist

In honor of today’s cover reveal for the latest Mutt Mystery, TO FETCH A VILLAIN, I’ve put together a playlist for the series. Our newest collection goes on sale on November 3.

Here’s a list of dog-themed songs in no particular order.

• Who Let the Dogs Out

• Hound Dog

• Atomic Dog

• Feed Jake

• Ol’ Red

• How Much is That Doggie in the Window

• Black Dog

• The More Boys I Meet

• Old Blue

• I Love My Dog

• Every Dog Has Its Day

• Tennessee Hound Dog

• Walking the Dog

• Like My Dog

• Move it on Over

• Old King

• I’m Going to Buy me a Dog

• Seamus the Dog

• Puppy Love

• Old Shep

• I Want a Dog

• Old Salty Dog Blues

• Snoopy and the Red Baron

• Doggy Dog World

Cybersecurity Tips During the Pandemic

Recently, I attended a Risk/Security conference for the day gig. I always get excited over the new technologies and possibilities, but the warnings and dangers always make me want to hide under my desk. (And I turned into fan girl when Neil deGrasse Tyson presented one of the keynote speeches.) Here’s what I learned about cybersecurity and working during the pandemic:

• The pandemic has taught us that we need to be flexible and ready to change. Everyone has had to adapt to new ways of doing things.

• Because users are not always working in their traditional offices, they expect applications, systems, and websites to work on different devices. If they don’t they often go elsewhere. (This means that your website/blog needs to be mobile friendly.)

• Hacks, phishing campaigns, and ransomware attacks have increased with everyone working at home and connecting remotely. You need to be alert and careful.

• Do NOT click on anything (e.g. links, email addresses, attachments, pictures, recipes, games, surveys) that you don’t know where it came from. If it looks fishy, delete it.

• Data is extremely valuable to hackers.

• Nomoreransom.org is a valuable resource if you experience a ransomware attack. Help and good advice are available. It also has some deencryption tools. (Ransomware is when someone installs malware on your device. It becomes active and encrypts your files. You’ll receive a request for payment in order to return your data. Often, this malware also steals copies your data.)

• Human error or human behavior (clicking on things) causes 90% of the cyber attacks.

• As a consumer/user, make thoughtful decisions and know how to avoid security risks.

• Email is one of the top ways that hackers get access to you.

• Make sure that you back up your files regularly. Your data is important.

• Use a SPAM filter to get rid of unwanted email.

• Make sure that you have anti-virus software on your computer and that it is current.

• Stay current with your patches and updates. These include updates and security fixes for vulnerabilities. There are regular patches for your operating system, and often, software you use will have updates.

• In 2020, there’s been a 71% increase in malware on mobile devices.

#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Debbie DeLouise

I’d like to welcome author and librarian, Debbie DeLouise, to the blog today for #ThisorThatThursday.

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: Read, exercise (walk/run), play with my cats

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: Cleaning

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: Quiet

Things that distract you from writing: Social Media and emails

Hardest thing about being a writer: Rejections

Easiest thing about being a writer: Ideas

Favorite snacks: Popcorn cakes,

Things that make you want to gag: Injured or abused animals.

Favorite smell: lilacs

Something that makes you hold your nose: the litter box

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: A writer

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: Be able to jog and run

Last best thing you ate: A brownie

Last thing you regret eating: A brownie

Things you always put in your books: pets

Things you never put in your books: explicit sex

Things to say to an author: I loved your book and am writing a review of it.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I don’t buy books, but I’d love to read yours. When are you putting it up for free?

Favorite places you’ve been: Chicago, St. Louis, Cape May.

Places you never want to go to again: Disney World’s Outdoor Camp Barbecue (got stomach poisoning after)

About Debbie:

Debbie De Louise is a reference librarian at a public library and the author of cozy and traditional mysteries. Her latest release, No Gravestone Unturned, is the 5th book of her Cobble Cove cozy mystery series. She lives on Long Island with her husband, daughter, and three cats.  

Let’s Be Social:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.delouise.author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Deblibrarian

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2750133.Debbie_De_Louise

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2bIHdaQ
All Author: https://allauthor.com/author/debbiedelouise/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbie_writer/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiedelouise/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/debbie-de-louise

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/debbiedelouise

Debbie’s Character’s Chat Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/748912598599469/

Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up: https://debbiedelouise.com

Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog: https://Sneakylibrarycat.wordpress.com

What Scooby-Doo Taught Me About Mysteries (and Life)

My love for mysteries started with 70s Saturday morning cartoons like “Scooby-Doo,” “The Funky Phantom,” “Speed Buggy,” and “Josie and the Pussycats.” Overly sweetened cereal, Pop-Tarts, and Saturday morning cartoons were a weekly ritual, and I learned a lot about the mystery genre and life from them. (The Cartoon Network or cable wasn’t around then. Cartoons rarely aired any time except on Saturday mornings, so it was a weekly ritual.)

1. Kids like me could be crime or problem-solvers. In all of the episodes, the gang figured it out and brought the villain to justice (before the adults did).

2. Use what you have available to you. Your wits and creativity go a long way in sleuthing.

3. Keep your eyes open and look for clues. Many times, they’re in plain sight.

4. These kids had the freedom (and a van) to travel to different places. (My mother would have never let me ride around in a van with a bunch of teens solving crimes.) They were so cool.

5. If you don’t know or understand something, ask questions.

6. If you’re clever, alert, and situationally aware, you can gather information and put the puzzle pieces together.

7. Don’t ever stop exploring or learning. We all need to be lifelong learners.

8. Everybody needs a pal or best friend (or a few). They are our sounding boards and support. We all need someone to go into a spooky old house, cave, or dungeon with.

9. Even if something is scary, you can face it. Shag and Scoob were not the bravest creatures, but they always mustered their gumption to trudge on.

10. Do the right thing. Stand up for the underdog and seek truth.

#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Mary Helen Sheriff

I’d like to welcome author, Mary Helen Sheriff to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday! (We found out after we met that we went to the same high school in Virginia Beach.)

Favorite foods: Popcorn and wine

Things that make you want to gag:  scented hand sanitizer and candles

Something you wish you could do: Sing. 

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: Rehab a sprained ankle.

Last best thing you ate: The La Parisienne sandwich at Greenbriar Café and Coffeehouse (ham, brie, raspberry jam, aioli, arugula). It’s normally on a baguette, but I had on a croissant--yummy!

Last thing you regret eating:  Chick-Fil-A sandwich and fries

The last thing you ordered online: Mailing labels to make book plates that I can mail to people who can’t come to book signings.

The last thing you regret buying: I bought a custom coffee table and side table from a furniture maker on Etsy. They cost several hundred dollars, and my family told me the tables looked like they’d been built by raccoons.  

Favorite places you’ve been: Greece and Hawaii
Places you never want to go to again: Burlington Coat Factory bathroom (I’ll spare you the details.)

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Skydiving.
Something you chickened out from doing: A bubble run with my husband.

About Mary Helen:

Mary Helen Sheriff spent fourteen years in classrooms teaching elementary school, middle school, college, and professionals. During that time, she also had the pleasure of dabbling in writing for children, teenagers, and adults in a variety of forms including fiction, poetry, blogs, and nonfiction. She spent several summers immersed in an MFA program in children's literature at Hollins University. Currently, she lives and writes in Richmond, Virginia, with her two kids, two cats, and husband.

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