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ANWA Member since Oct. 2003 - Chapter President of "Write to the Point" writing group.


Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Tuesday's Thoughts & Goals...

 So, once again I've procrastinated writing here and telling you about what's up. Sorry about that!

Lately there have been a lot of women on my facebook site that have been making one word goals for 2021. I thought about it and I decided to join along in the fun. After spending some time thinking about what I need for 2021 I decided my theme word would be Prepare! You may ask why I chose that word out of the zillions of words to choose from?

I chose prepare because in these troubleous times I need to prepare myself spiritually, physically, and mentally for all things to come. Also I need to prepare to get this Suspense novel I've been writing, for all too long, finished and published. Among other things.

Good news is - I'm working of the back of book cover blurb and looking at cover pictures - this way all will be ready when the meat of the book is! 😄 Yippee!!!

Here's a picture I took - just because...

Toodle Oooh - have a great week! - JPSmith



Monday, October 5, 2020

Monday's Musings...

           Here I am, month's have gone by and still trying to keep track of this blog of mine. In my last post I told you how much I really like my new den, but somehow neglected to post any pictures of it... so I will rectify that right now. Here you go, my writing den... I still love it!!!



        So, you may ask what I've been doing to take up my time. Well yes, I've been working on my Suspense Novel, Targeted for Evil, once again... or still whichever you want to say.

        I've been blessed with another great-grandbaby making it seven and found out that I have another due in March 2021... Fun, fun, fun!!!

        I have a lesson to prepare for my upcoming writer group, plus when the weather finally cools below the 100's I hope to get out in the yard and re-plant and of my dead flowers - killed from the extreeme heat we're had this summer. Yes, I love flowers and miss my yard filled with beautiful blooms!

        So, off I go for now to work on that afore mentioned novel. Take care and toodle ooh for you. ❤❤❤❤❤

~ Joyce P. Smith



Thursday, March 5, 2020

If You're Not Careful...

Recently I've come to the conclusion that if you're not careful - life will pass you by!!!
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I have not had one free Saturday for over a month. I knew this coming Saturday I wouldn't be home once again because I will be at a writers workshop. The months ahead don't look a whole lot free-er either, Dang it all anyway!!!
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I have let the days and months and years pass me by without thought of this blog, and my committment to writing something of interest to you in it. Grrrr.... How on earth did that happen? I guess because I wasn't careful... that's how. Pay attention to your life and don't let it pass you by like I've been doing.
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"Don't let life pass you by, it is meant to be enjoyed. Work hard, but treat yourself once in a while to the desires of your heart, otherwise what is the point." 
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"You can't just sit around and watch life pass you by. You have to keep dreaming..." ~Cher
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Three Simple Rules in Life:

  1. If you do not go after what you want, you'll never have it.
  2. If you do not ask, the answer will always be no.
  3. If you do not step forward, you will always be in the same place. ~Pinterest Pin on Life

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At least now I have my Den/Writing Room back again and I had my hubby help me renovate the whole room starting with painting the walls... Ooooh did I tell you I really like it? Well, I really, really like it!
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So, now all I have to do is commit to use my room and write, write, write... and hopefully some of that writing will be done on the novel I'm writing and also share a little time on here with all of you.
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Ta ta, toodle loo, until we shall meet here again. 👀😃👀 
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~Joyce P. Smith
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Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Wacky Wednesday...

This is more than Wacky Wednesday I say,
For my whole week has gone this way!
Camping- off the mountain we were blown,
- I forgot my important stuff, I groan!

Then my computer goes on the fritz,
Not allowing me my novel to blitz!
Attacking my novel was the plan,
Now to think of something else- I can!

Hubby and dog are sleeping alike,
No energy to go one a nice hike!
Maybe later to the pool we will go,
Rid some flab from waist that seems to grow!


Thursday, May 7, 2015

Wacky Wednesday...

It's wacky Wednesday for sure,
Sometimes I wonder - is there no cure?
One thing after another happens to me,
Yes, its crazy as can be.

First I got a fat lip - big,
Now how on earth can wellness I rig?
I tell you, more than this- a cold I'd rather!
So I try one thing or another.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Monday's Musing...

I've decided that today I celebrate ME.

When I was cutting my husbands hair this morning, he was adding up how many haircuts I've given him and our family throughout the years. So lets see, not including the many people I cut hair for when I worked in a salon, or the friends and extended family I cut hair for throughout the years either...

An estimate of the haircuts I've given my husband is about 8 a year (I think more than that but we'll go with his guess) for we'll say 48 years - (even though we've been married 51 this month) so we'll say that equals about 385, counting this mornings. We have four daughters that I gave haircuts to for about 17 years at say 6 a year, which would again equal about 408. We have three sons I gave haircuts to for eighteen years at about 8 a year so that would be times three making about 432. Now adding the haircuts I've given myself since I was about 20 being about 5 a year that equals about 251 - the grand total counting the one I gave hubby today and the one I gave me today is.... 1,476!!! - I guess I'm one hair cutting machine!  :O)

Have a great day everyone!
~ Joyce

Friday, January 30, 2015

Friday's Fractured Features - Author Interview


Please join me for an Author Interview with Tina Peterson Scott for her Book Tour of, My Sweet Danish Rose.  

Tina Scott is a Novelist, and Watercolor Artist, among many other talents. She has authored several children’s books, and a travel guide for Denmark. She is the author of Farewell, My Denmark and its sister book, My Sweet Danish Rose, will soon be released. Tina grew up in Mesa, Arizona where she met and married, Randy, the love of her life. They have seven grown children and nine grandchildren. Tina is currently living in Anchorage, Alaska.
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1.      Tina, now that you live in Alaska, how do you keep from getting the dreaded ‘cabin fever’? "We go out every day and take mini excursions. Since Arizona has about 300 sunny days a year, it’s the lack of sunlight that is hardest for me to get used to in Alaska."
Ah, having lived in Anchorage myself, I know how you feel… but wait until summer, when the sun doesn’t go down until way after midnight. 
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2.      When did you first know you wanted to be an author? "I dreamed of being an author/illustrator when I was in elementary school. The dream came back to me when I was going to college as an adult."
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3.      What inspired My Sweet Danish Rose? Did the idea come to you out of the blue or did a person or place inspire it? "It was inspired by one of my family history stories. When I was reading through it, I was prompted to write about it. The story has evolved since that first inspiration into what I believe is a wonderful story."
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4.      It sounds so real, have you ever lived in Denmark? Or was it all deduced by research? "I’ve been to Denmark twice and while I was there, I learned a lot that helped me finish the novels. Some of the Danes I met while in Denmark told me stories of the area that I've tried to include. The rest I’ve learned through research."
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5.  What kind of music, if any, do you listen to while you write? Or do you need absolute quiet to write? "Music distracts me. It has to be quiet."
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6.  How do you know if an idea is good enough to write a book about it? How do you develop it? "I’m pretty sure that even seasoned writers occasionally have story ideas that they pursue only to discover that it wasn’t that great after all. To write a story from beginning to end takes a lot of time so it has to be an idea that I’m interested in/passionate about."
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7.  What is your process of brainstorming a story? Do you just sit down and write, waiting to see what happens next, or do you outline the whole book first? You know ‘pantster’ or outliner? Which have you done with My Sweet Danish Rose?   "I like to have a clear idea of the story’s beginning and the ending before I start writing. Other than that, I am more of an organic writer."
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8.  Do you ever experience a snag in the story, a form of writer’s block? If so, how do you deal with it? Did you experience that with My Sweet Danish Rose? "I do get snags. I’ve discovered that when I do, it’s usually because I’ve written something amiss. When I figure that out, then I start somewhere else in the novel and start writing again."
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9.  Do you use a critique group during your writing process? Do you belong to any writing groups? Why or why not? "I’ve been a member of the American Night Writer’s Association since I first started writing. The authors there are very encouraging. And I've attended a lot of writer's conferences. The ANWA conference in Arizona is an exceptional one, in price and content." I agree, they are wonderful aren't they!?!
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10.  When you’re writing, what is something about yourself people don’t know? You know, like wear a superman shirt, glass slippers, or fake mustache? Tina didn’t want to divulge the answer to this question, makes me wonder, hum, it must be – the fake mustache; OR one of those cute mermaid suits???
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11.  Tina, what words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to have their writing become books in print? "Stay focused on your goal. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t give up. It’s a tall order but it’s possible. "
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12.  What are you working on now? You have My Danish Rose being released soon, anything else in the making? "I’m currently working on a fantasy romance about a mermaid. It was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid and a vacation to Alaska."
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13.  Do you have any other Denmark projects in the works? What are your writing plans?  "I do have plans to write another story set in Denmark.  The characters won’t be related, though it will have bits of family history included."
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14.  One last question - where can readers go to find your books for ordering?  "Farewell, My Denmark is available in several places. My Sweet Danish Rose is currently available for pre-order and will be published tomorrow on January 31st."
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Farewell, My Denmark: Barnes & Noble - Kobo - Smashwords - Amazon
           My Sweet Danish Rose: My Sweet Danish Rose
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Thank you so much Tina, for your time and for letting us get to know you better with this candid interview.   "My pleasure, Thanks for having me!"
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