Wednesday, April 29, 2020

The Power of Language ~ Part 2







Less than a week to go!
The IWSG's 2020 Anthology:
Voyagers:  The Third Ghost
will be released on May 5th!
  
And on May 6th,
the next IWSG Anthology Contest will open.
The genre is science fiction, 
and the theme will be revealed on the 6th.







Last week five Voyagers authors and IWSG founder Alex J. Cavanaugh shared experiences that taught them the power of language.  Today the other authors and Diane L. Wolfe of Dancing Lemur Press share theirs.

So many wonderful quotes about the power of language exist.
Here are two that speak to the experiences many of our authors have shared:

"Be careful what you say. You can say something hurtful in ten seconds,
but ten years later, the wounds are still there."                —Joel Osteen

 "My task, which I am trying to achieve is, by the power of the written word, to make you hear, to make you feel--it is, before all, to make you see." 
                                                                                                       —Joseph Conrad









Rebecca M. Douglass
"A World of Trouble"











I think I learned about the power of language the same way most children do: through teasing. All the adults assured me that “words can’t hurt you” and you “just need to ignore them,” but even relatively mild phrases like “freckle-faced strawberry” bore a sting that made lies of their claims. Maybe that’s why I became a writer: because I knew from an early age that words DO matter, whether they were playground insults or a teacher telling me I’d done good work.


Rebecca is the author of the delightful Ninja Librarian books, as well as a picture book for outdoor families, a mystery series for the parents, and her middle-grade fantasy, Halitor the Hero.  After more than seventeen years working at the library, she has retired still without learning all the secrets of the Ninja Librarian.







Roland Clarke
"Feathered Fire"








Although I was captivated by stories as a child and tinkered with tales when swept along by my dreams, it was discovering Tolkien in my mid-teens which unleashed my realisation that language had power. It was through his writing as an Anglo-Saxon literature professor initially, but then I read The Lord of the Rings – all three Books over one long magical weekend. Although my efforts to imitate him were sheets of purple prose, I persisted and now five decades later, some of my words are bearing fruit.

As another of my teenage idols, Ray Bradbury said, “If you write a hundred short stories and they're all bad, that doesn't mean you've failed. You fail only if you stop writing.” 


After diverse careers, Roland Clarke was an equestrian journalist and green activist when chronic illness hastened retirement.  But he hasn't stopped exploring rabbit holes and writing - mainly mysteries and alternative history.











Charles Kowalski
"Simon Grey and the Yamamba"











As early as kindergarten, I developed a reputation as the boy who squealed with excitement whenever the day's schedule included "writing." I can't remember a time when I wasn't enthralled by the power of words, especially their power to transport me to a different world. In particular, it was "The Lord of the Rings" that inspired me not only to use words to create an imaginary world, but to use an imaginary world to create words - I was a "conlanger," a creator of constructed languages, long before I knew that word existed. Years later, when I visited "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" at Universal Studios Japan, and wandered through this three-dimensional wonderland that only existed because of the words J.K. Rowling had put on paper, I was vividly reminded of what I had learned so early on: language has power to make the unreal real.


Charles Kowalski has published the full story of Simon, Oyuki and their adventures through haunted Japan in Simon Grey and the March of a Hundred Ghosts.  In addition to to middle-grade fantasy, Charles' thrillers for adults, Mind Virus and The Devil’s Sonhave won prizes and nominations including the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' Colorado Gold Award, the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award, and the Adventure Writers Grandmaster Award.











L.T. Ward
"Return to Cahokia"











Childhood is filled with moments where words affect and form our view of the world. Of course, there are the books that teach us a love of reading. The characters that break our hearts, make us laugh, or scare us to see evil. There are other worlds with adventures that we literally dream about. But our books all start with words. They start with language.

My earliest memories involve books. I'm that fluke writer who cannot remember when they started reading, but rather, I remember how books always made me feel. I was connected with the words on the pages. I loved them and I assumed it was because I loved a great story. However, in middle school and high school, that's when the subject Reading split into two new classes--Literature and Language. And that's when I learned words have meaning beyond their definition.

In Literature, we continued to learn about stories, theme, tone, style, and more. In Language, grammar transformed into meaning as the words were explained through their roots, prefixes, and suffixes, all created by a writer who wanted to more precisely communicate with the world. Between the two courses, for six years, I was taught poetry, speeches, short stories, fictional books, non-fictional works, and how history as well as humanity can be documented through our language. Different lessons have applied to my various experiences, reiterating one main thought--language has power.


LT hails from the Land of Corn, otherwise known as Central Illinois, where weather inspires her literary works. When not writing speculative fiction shorts and novels, she spends her days raising a brood of plague monsters (a.k.a. her children) as well as satisfying her never-ending thirst for knowledge through reading, meeting people, and first-hand life experiences.










Louise MacBeath Barbour
"Dare Double Dare"











My parents were passionate about language and instilled that passion in me.  I don’t remember a time I wasn’t read to or a time I couldn’t read, but I vividly remember when I learned the power of language.

One evening I was standing in my father’s den while my mother dried the dishes in the adjacent kitchen and he worked at his desk.  Above it hung a photograph of University Hall at Acadia.  At five, I already knew that after kindergarten came school and after school came Acadia University.

My father often worked at his desk late into the night.  I knew I shouldn’t bother him when he was busy, so I usually watched quietly.  However, this evening we were chatting about my day as he folded papers and stuck them in envelopes.  I don't remember what I was saying, but I do remember my father interrupting my prattle with a startled, "What did you just say?"

My mother tossed her dishtowel and hurried through the door.

"Nothing," I said, acutely aware that I must have said something very wrong.

"You said "f**king," my father answered for me, glowering from his seat.

"Where did you learn a word like that, Weesie?"  My mother knelt so she could look me in the eye.

"What's wrong with "f**king?" I asked, tears welling.  "I learned it from a boy at recess."

"It.   Is.   A.   Very.   Bad.   Word!"  My father accentuated each word with a finger-wag.

"Nice people don't use that word," my mother added.  I later came to understand she substituted "fiddlesticks" for that very bad word when a situation called for an expletive.

"Why is it bad?  What's wrong with it?"

"It's a swear word," my father said.

"And good girls don't swear," my mother added.  "Ever."

"And, if I ever hear you use that word again," my father said with more finger-wags, "I will wash your mouth out with a bar of soap!"

I didn't doubt he would.

I've never forgotten that experience:  the gooseneck lamp, University Hall, the cluttered desk, the dishtowel, and the power of a single word bringing my busy parents to a full stop.  I never had my mouth washed out with soap; although my brother did once when he forgot the power of language.  I learned many more lessons about language, but this one stands out.


Born in Nova Scotia and raised throughout eastern Canada, Louise is a writer and blogger who now lives in Colorado.  She writes fiction and nonfiction with the encouragement of her supportive husband.  "Dare Double Dare" is her first middle grade story.




L. Diane Wolfe
Publisher, Editor, Speaker, and Author

When did I learn that language had power? That is a really tough question. Probably when I started reading. My mother said I began to read around 18 months (yes, very young!) and probably by the age of 4-5 I was devouring books. I was an only kid, but through those books and stories I was never alone.

Diane is the owner and senior editor of Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and its imprint Freedom Fox Press.  Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” Diane  conducts seminars on book publishing, promoting, leadership, and goal-setting, and she offers book formatting and author consultation.  Diane is the author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including The Circle of Friends series, How to Publish and Promote Your Book Now! and Overcoming Obstacles with Spunk! 

Coming on Wednesday, May 19 and 21, 2020 . . .
A great opportunity to learn about publishing!
Diane, the publisher of our IWSG anthologies, will be hosting two webinars:
May 19th:  How to Publish Your Book Now Part 1     Cost: $10.00 US dollars
May 21st:  How to Publish Your Book Now Part 2     Cost: $10.00 US dollars

Register at 
https://www.eztalks.com/r/950554940 & https://www.eztalks.com/r/938209289




* * * * * * * * * *


Coming on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 . . .
News about the release of Voyagers and the theme of the 2020 IWSG Anthology Contest.





I never warmed up to my mother's "fiddlesticks."  
I'll leave you with a quotation that makes me laugh from an actress I admire, Dame Judith Olivia Dench:   
"One of the benefits of being a mature well-educated woman is that you're not afraid of expletives. And you have no fear to put a fool in his place. That's the power of language and experience. You can learn a lot from Shakespeare."

Till next time ~ Fundy Blue 



* * * * * * * * * *






You can preorder a copy of
VOYAGERS: The Third Ghost 
at the links below.

Print 9781939844729 $13.95
EBook 9781939844736 $4.99

Juvenile Fiction - Historical / Action & Adventure /
Fantasy & Magic









Blog Interviews and Virtual Tours:


2. May 4 - June McCrary Jacobs https://authorjunemccraryjacobs.blogspot.com/

3. May 6 - C. Lee McKenzie, Author https://www.cleemckenziebooks.com/blog/

4. May 6 - Natalie AguirreLiterary Rambles https://www.junetakey.com/#writersgambitblog

5. May 8 - Sandra Cox https://sandracox.blogspot.com/2020/05/fridays-good-read.html

6. May 11 - Juneta Key https://www.junetakey.com/#writersgambitblog  

7. May 5-7-12 - Mason Canyon  Thoughts in Progress   http://masoncanyon.blogspot.com/

8. During May - Elizabeth Seckman  http://eseckman.blogspot.com/

9. May and June - Stormdance Publications https://stormdancebooks.

10. At various times - IWSG Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theiwsg/



* * * * * * * * * *


Wednesday, April 22, 2020

The Power of Language ~ Part 1




"The pen is mightier than the sword," English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote in 1839. These words have since become a well-known adage.  This was likely the earliest statement I heard about the power of language.  I heard it at home, in kindergarten, and from the pulpit. My parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles were passionate about language, and many of my early memories contain vivid lessons about language and its power.


Today, as we approach the release of Voyagers:  The Third Ghost on May 5th and the opening of the 2020 IWSG Anthology Contest on May 6th, five Voyagers authors and IWSG founder Alex J. Cavanaugh will share experiences that taught them language had power.  Their experiences are moving, and in them I see the power of language and the beginnings of the authors they became.  

               
The Power of Language:







Katharina Gerlach
"Winter Days"













I can't remember a time when I've thought otherwise. Language has always been something I loved, and growing up bilingual probably enhanced that.

Katharina currently writes stories of varying length in fantastical and historical genres. She runs the Indie Authors’ Advent Calendar each year, a free for all story feast.

Website|Advent Calendar|Facebook|Pinterest











Yvonne Ventresca
"The Third Ghost"










Growing up, we spent most of our family vacations visiting relatives in rural Ohio, which always seemed exotic compared to our suburban life. (They had horses!) But one year, my parents decided to take us someplace really exotic, someplace tropical. Not a big beach person, I positioned my towel under a shady tree and read Stephen King’s The Stand for hours.  My younger brother played all day in the sun, without sunscreen (oops). When his severe sunburn kept us indoors during daylight hours for the rest of the trip, he asked me to tell him about the thick book I was so absorbed in.  The Stand is an epic survival story about good versus evil, and I explained to him what happened, chapter by chapter, until he begged me to finish the book faster so we could both find out how it ended.
 
I realized the power of language.

The joyous idea of storytelling took hold, and over time—after an English major combined with a "practical" Computer Science major, an MBA, a detour in the corporate world, and hundreds of other books read—I finally wrote and revised some of my own. Two of those stories resulted in published novels: Pandemic and Black Flowers, White Lies. And I’m thrilled that my short story, "The Third Ghost," was chosen for IWSG's Voyagers: The Third Ghost anthology.

Yvonne is the award-winning author of Black Flowers, White Lies, (IPPY Gold Medal for National YA fiction) and Pandemic (SCBWI’s Crystal Kite Award).  Her other works include two nonfiction books and several short stories selected for anthologies, including the previous IWSG anthology, Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life.

WebsiteFacebookTwitter| Blog| Instagram| Pinterest











Sherry Ellis
"The Ghosts of Pompeii"
















One experience I recall where I learned language had power was in the second grade. Every day, after lunch, the teacher would read a story. These were long books – not picture books. She would stop at the end of a chapter and pick up where she left off on the next day. One of these books was James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. This book had me mesmerized. I could not wait for the next day when she would resume the story. That's when I learned that words had power to create fantastic worlds and interesting characters that could hold someone's attention and almost take them out of the ordinary world they were in. And that's when I started writing my own stories.

Sherry's books include Don't Feed the Elephant; Ten Zany Birds; That Mama is a Grouch; That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN; Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig to China; and Bubba and Squirt's Mayan Adventure.










Bish Denham
"The Blind Ship"











I first learned about the power of language at maybe nine or ten years old when I read a Classics Illustrated comic book edition of Call of the Wild. I sobbed at the end. It was the first time a story made me cry. I was so taken by the story that my mother soon bought me the book. I sobbed again. To this day when I read the last paragraphs, tears come to my eyes. Just writing about it in here, makes me tear up. That's the power of words. I give Jack London full credit for putting me on the path of trying to string words together.

Bish is the author of two middle grade novels and a collection of retold Jamaican Anansi stories.













Beth Anderson Schuck
"The Orchard"
















When I was a child, my grandparents lived far away so we exchanged letters often. My grandfather was a wonderful storyteller who via the letters, shared personal stories from his years as a railroad engineer. His tales of near train wrecks and everyday life on a steam engine were fascinating and gave me a window into his life. I awaited his letters so I could learn the next adventure. Though only educated until age 13, he had a gift for showing a glimpse into the heyday of steam railroads. Certainly a wonderful introduction into the power of language to connect us.

Beth writes historical fiction featuring willful female characters.






Alex J. Cavanaugh
a.k.a. the Ninja Captain


Let me say up front – I’m a dude, and I’ve never thought that deeply about anything in my life! But in all seriousness, I’d say it was the first time I said something that really hurt another person. I felt bad and realized that my words could wound others.

All of us in the Insecure Writers Support Group know and appreciate its founder Alex J. Cavanaugh, a.k.a. the Ninja Captain.  He is a fan of all things science fiction, and his interests range from books and movies to music and games.  Alex has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design, graphics, and technical editing.  Alex is the author of Amazon bestsellers CassaStar, CassaFire, CassaStorm, and Dragon of the Stars. 



Coming on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 . . .

Next week the remaining five authors in Voyagers and Diane L. Wolfe, the publisher of Voyagers, will share experiences that taught them language had power.





I began with a quotation about the power
of language, and I'll end with another:
"We die. That may be the meaning of life.
But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives." 
                                           —Toni Morrison

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue


* * * * * * * * * *

Blog Interviews and Virtual Tours:


2. May 4 - June McCrary Jacobs https://authorjunemccraryjacobs.blogspot.com/

3. May 6 - C. Lee McKenzie, Author https://www.cleemckenziebooks.com/blog/

4. May 6 - Natalie AguirreLiterary Rambles https://www.junetakey.com/#writersgambitblog

5. May 8 - Sandra Cox https://sandracox.blogspot.com/2020/05/fridays-good-read.html

6. May 11 - Juneta Key https://www.junetakey.com/#writersgambitblog  

7. May 5-7-12 - Mason Canyon  Thoughts in Progress   http://masoncanyon.blogspot.com/

8. During May - Elizabeth Seckman  http://eseckman.blogspot.com/

9. May and June - Stormdance Publications https://stormdancebooks.

10. At various times - IWSG Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theiwsg/

* * * * * * * * * *


The release date for VOYAGERS: The Third Ghost 
is May 5, 2020,
but purchase links are available,
and you can preorder a copy now.

Print 9781939844729 $13.95
EBook 9781939844736 $4.99
Juvenile Fiction - Historical / Action & Adventure / Fantasy & Magic
Dancing Lemur Press/Freedom Fox Press






Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Inspiration for the Upcoming 2020 IWSG Anthology Contest, Part 2



Two big dates are fast approaching!
  
On May 5th,
the IWSG's 2020 Anthology,
Voyagers:  The Third Ghost will be released.

And on May 6th,
the next IWSG anthology contest will open.




Alex J. Cavanaugh, founder of the Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG),
recently gave members a sneak peek at the contest's genre:  science fiction.
However, the theme won't be revealed until the contest opens on the 6th.

As an author featured in this year's Voyagers:  The Third Ghost,
I encourage everyone to seriously consider entering the 2020 contest.
You never know ~ You just might win!
And, take it from me, it is thrilling to have your story selected!

               
Inspiring Quotes About Writing:

Today five more of the authors in Voyagers:  The Third Ghost are sharing their favoriting writing quotes, and, as an extra treat, Diane L. Wolfe, the owner of Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C,  is sharing hers.  Let's rev up for the 2020 IWSG Anthology Contest with some more inspiring quotes!





Rebecca M. Douglass
"A World of Trouble"

Here’s my favorite writing quote (or one that works right now): 
"It is only by writing, not dreaming about it, that we develop our own style." 
                                     —P.D. James  

 Or, more basically: 
"Sit down and write.”
                                     —(I don’t think that one comes from anyone in particular!)



Rebecca is the author of the delightful Ninja Librarian books, as well as a picture book for outdoor families, a mystery series for the parents, and her middle-grade fantasy, Halitor the Hero.  After more than seventeen years working at the library, she has retired still without learning all the secrets of the Ninja Librarian.

Roland Clarke
"Feathered Fire"

As an ex-journalist, I nearly quoted Douglas Adams on deadlines, but this favourite quote is prophetically topical and has driven me for years as a Green: 
"The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself."
                            —Albert Camus, 
author of La Peste (The Plague)


After diverse careers, Roland Clark was an equestrian journalist and green activist when chronic illness hastened retirement.  But he hasn't stopped exploring rabbit holes and writing - mainly mysteries and alternative history.








Charles Kowalski
"Simon Grey and the Yamamba"

My favorite writing quote is attributed to Victor Hugo: 
"A writer is a world trapped in a person."








Charles Kowalski has published the full story of Simon, Oyuki and their adventures through haunted Japan in Simon Grey and the March of a Hundred Ghosts.  In addition to to middle-grade fantasy, Charles' thrillers for adults, Mind Virus and The Devil’s Sonhave won prizes and nominations including the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' Colorado Gold Award, the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award, and the Adventure Writers Grandmaster Award.







L.T. Ward
"Return to Cahokia"

My favorite writing quote is:
"Tomorrow may be hell, but today was a good writing day, and on the good writing days nothing else matters." 
                                     —Neil Gaiman 










LT hails from the Land of Corn, otherwise known as Central Illinois, where weather inspires her literary works. When not writing speculative fiction shorts and novels, she spends her days raising a brood of plague monsters (a.k.a. her children) as well as satisfying her never-ending thirst for knowledge through reading, meeting people, and first-hand life experiences.






Louise MacBeath Barbour
"Dare Double Dare"

I've always marched to my own drum, in my life and in my writing.  So this quote really speaks to me:
"Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer."
        —Barbara Kingsolver



Born in Nova Scotia and raised throughout eastern Canada, Louise is a writer and blogger who now lives in Colorado.  She writes fiction and nonfiction with the encouragement of her supportive husband.  "Dare Double Dare" is her first published middle grade story.




L. Diane Wolfe
Publisher, Editor, Speaker, and Author

Here are favorite writing quotes from Diane L. Wolfe, the owner and senior editor of Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and its imprint Freedom Fox Press.  Diane contributes to the Insecure Writers Support Group, and Voyagers:  The Third Ghost is the fifth IWSG anthology her company has published.  Each of the short stories in Voyagers has benefited from Diane's editing expertise, and we authors have learned a lot in the process.  

Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” Wolfe is a member of the National Speakers Association.  She conducts seminars on book publishing, promoting, leadership, and goal-setting, and she offers book formatting and author consultation.  Diane is the author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including The Circle of Friends series, How to Publish and Promote Your Book Now! and Overcoming Obstacles with Spunk!  

"[I]f I had known earlier how frightfully well I could write, I’d have started earlier." 
                                                                                                           –Richard Adams

"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become."                                    –C.S. Lewis

"Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another."                         –Napoleon Hill


"If a nation loses its storytellers, it loses its childhood."                  Peter Handke

Website| Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.Blog 
Insecure Writers Support Group| Goodreads





The release date for VOYAGERS: The Third Ghost 
is May 5, 2020,
but purchase links are available,
and you can preorder a copy now.

Print 9781939844729 $13.95
EBook 9781939844736 $4.99
Juvenile Fiction - Historical / Action & Adventure /
Fantasy & Magic


Coming on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 . . .

Next week five Voyagers authors and Alex J. Cavanaugh will share early experiences that taught them language had power.