With the warmth of summer making an appearance, the inclination to spend more time relaxing on the porch or going to the beach with family and friends increases. Despite that, I've maintained the writing momentum started back in January. The three works in progress are coming along with respect to merging additional files containing individual scenes into the appropriate location in the chosen story. From time to time, new scenes come to mind that help to fill out the plot. The way my brain creates never ceases to amaze me.
I did received a couple rejections for poetry contests I entered earlier this year, but that, I've learned, is the journey of a writer. I'm waiting to hear from a few more contests. Hoping for a winner.
I've also carved out some time to work on my website. There's much to do. Hopefully, I'll catch up by the end of summer and begin a repeatable rhythm.
That's all for now. Back to writing.
7/28/19
6/30/19
What's been happening so far in 2019?
Not a whole lot of posts, that's for sure. It's crazy how life (health, job, family, pop ups) can redirect the best of intentions. I really thought I'd be posting at least once per month this year. (Oh, well.)
I did manage to do some writing in the midst of the chaos, though. With my 2019 SMART goals in place, I began merging scenes of three stories into the appropriate files. It's much like working on a thousand piece puzzle three times over. (Ha!) This, I have discovered, is one of the side-effects of being a panster. (Remember the typing I did from all those loose sheets and notebooks back in 2017?) See my Accomplishments in 2017 post.
I've also been shaking up my tweets a bit, some by way of my FaceBook Author Page. It's been challenging, but fun, to think up new things to say besides quoting scenes from my published works.
Then, I had the opportunity to travel to St. Croix for the 2019 USVI Literary Festival and Book Fair in April. Teaching students about self-publishing and visiting Arthur A. Richards Junior High School were the highlight of that trip. My visit to the school was cut short due to plumbing issues that still plague the islands post the hurricanes in 2017. I also participated in Career Day at the Samuel M. Ridgeway School in June 2019. Reading scenes from a couple of my stories for the students was a blast.
And, during my trip in St. Croix, I landed an impromptu in-person interview at WSTX radio in Gallows Bay. How fun was that!
For the not so great news, two of my stories were released back to me. That means the contracts were cancelled. And that other story I'd hoped would land a contract? Well, that's not happening. Time to figure out what to do next.
In the meantime, I continue to enter writing contests, hoping for another winner. I took a chance late March on a SciFi 2030 battle scene in Battle of Kitee and made it to the semi-finals. I only had one week to pull it off, so I wasn't even going to bother until two co-workers convinced me to go for it. Receiving positive feedback from folks in the military made my year. As for a win with another story? We'll see.
I did manage to do some writing in the midst of the chaos, though. With my 2019 SMART goals in place, I began merging scenes of three stories into the appropriate files. It's much like working on a thousand piece puzzle three times over. (Ha!) This, I have discovered, is one of the side-effects of being a panster. (Remember the typing I did from all those loose sheets and notebooks back in 2017?) See my Accomplishments in 2017 post.
I've also been shaking up my tweets a bit, some by way of my FaceBook Author Page. It's been challenging, but fun, to think up new things to say besides quoting scenes from my published works.
Then, I had the opportunity to travel to St. Croix for the 2019 USVI Literary Festival and Book Fair in April. Teaching students about self-publishing and visiting Arthur A. Richards Junior High School were the highlight of that trip. My visit to the school was cut short due to plumbing issues that still plague the islands post the hurricanes in 2017. I also participated in Career Day at the Samuel M. Ridgeway School in June 2019. Reading scenes from a couple of my stories for the students was a blast.
And, during my trip in St. Croix, I landed an impromptu in-person interview at WSTX radio in Gallows Bay. How fun was that!
For the not so great news, two of my stories were released back to me. That means the contracts were cancelled. And that other story I'd hoped would land a contract? Well, that's not happening. Time to figure out what to do next.
In the meantime, I continue to enter writing contests, hoping for another winner. I took a chance late March on a SciFi 2030 battle scene in Battle of Kitee and made it to the semi-finals. I only had one week to pull it off, so I wasn't even going to bother until two co-workers convinced me to go for it. Receiving positive feedback from folks in the military made my year. As for a win with another story? We'll see.
1/1/19
Happy New Year! It's 2019.
After a busy year rebuilding my website, winning a poetry contest, winning a spot in a short story anthology, being interviewed on the radio, releasing Adelle & Brandon, and being named Writer of the Year, I'm ready to see what 2019 has to offer.
12/10/18
Introducing L.A. Sartor...
Cassandra, Thank you for hosting me on your blog. I love to
answer comments, so I hope your readers ask away.
1) Given the tendency for authors to have many favorite
books, what is a favorite book of yours?
I’m just beginning a new Cozy Mystery Series, a new genre
for me, so I’ve been reading a lot of them lately. I’m so impressed with humor
and a light touch combined with a complex mystery, so at the moment, one of my
favorites is Nancy Haddock’s A Silver Six Crafting Mystery Series. I love them all, but book one, Basket
Case, introduces the characters and you just fall in love with him.
2) Besides reading/writing, what do you like to do for fun? How long do you have? Play the piano, take long walks with
my husband, travel, use my embroidery machine, sew, create word art, photography, and just
sit in my backyard and watch the critters.
3) What/Who inspired you to write?
I’m not sure I was inspired by any one person or thing other
than the muse at the age of four, that’s when I started writing. My mom always
has my back and always believes in me.
My husband has the patience of a saint, and my best friend is always
there to tell me the truth and be a cheerleader.
4) How many projects have you completed/published?
I just published my 8th book, Dream Of
Me This Christmas Eve. I have 5 more unfinished works and 5 or 6
screenplays including one contracted work and one award winning piece I turned
into a book, Stone Of Heaven. Several
of the screenplays I’m turning into books, and I have outlines for at least 3
more books. I’ve done several articles
for the Roundel, the BMW national magazine.
Guess I’ll be writing for a while.
5) What are their genres?
Romance, Romantic Suspense, Adventure/Action Romance, YA,
Cozy Mystery, Noir Mystery
6) What’s your most/least favorite thing about being a
writer?
I know a lot of writers say this, but having a fan tell me
how much she/he enjoyed my work. What I hate the most is asking for reviews. We
need ‘em, but I hate asking.
7) What do you consider as the biggest lesson learned from
being a published writer?
To remember who I’m writing for, to give the reader an
experience as they read. It’s not about
me, it’s about delivering on my promise.
8) Any final words?
Honestly, I can’t imagine not writing. When the words are
flowing, I’m in my own bit of heaven. When they’re not, I get up and walk away.
Do one or some of the things I mentioned above and sooner or later a way to
solve the problem presents itself and I get back to the keyboard. Frankly, I’m one lucky girl to have this
career.
9) Where can readers find your writings?
10) Where can fans find you online?
8/9/18
Resisting the tempation to use ly words
Gone are the days when I really enjoyed using ly words. Now, I am working hard to avoid them in my writing. Why? Apparently, they prevent me from using descriptive words to draw my readers into my stories. But it's not as easy as it sounds. Even as I write this blog, I've already used a couple.
So, now when an ly word enters my mind, I must find a different way to write what I want to explain. This is going to be tough. 😣
So, now when an ly word enters my mind, I must find a different way to write what I want to explain. This is going to be tough. 😣
8/2/18
Review of "All is Assuredly Well"
All is Assuredly Well by Professor Gore and Maestro Wilson is a story about persevering love and the determination to face whatever challenges may come in order to fulfill one's dream of being a parent. An amazing story with musical cadence is crafted around King Phillip the Good and his elegant husband, The Most Excellent Don Carlos Emiliano Felipe. All had been assuredly well for them and their kingdom until the king's dream revealed a missing component to their family: a baby princess to hold and love.
What a wonderful story! Through King Phillip's journey to find a new little princess, children with same-sex parents will begin to understand how much their parents endured to find and include them in their lives.
The illustrations by Angela F. M. Trotter are fantastic. Full of vibrant color and intricate designs, the pictures on each page drew me in and filled me with a sense of awe for the magical beauty of King Phillip's kingdom.
I recommend this story to readers and artists of all ages.
Click on the cover for the link to purchase a copy.
Please visit the Blog Tour Post to read the interview with Professor Gore.
As an added bonus, I will send a copy of All is Assuredly Well to one of the commenters of this post or the blog tour post. Check back here on August 8, 2018 for the fortunate recipient.
Jess Reis is the winner of the free copy. Congratulations!
What a wonderful story! Through King Phillip's journey to find a new little princess, children with same-sex parents will begin to understand how much their parents endured to find and include them in their lives.
The illustrations by Angela F. M. Trotter are fantastic. Full of vibrant color and intricate designs, the pictures on each page drew me in and filled me with a sense of awe for the magical beauty of King Phillip's kingdom.
I recommend this story to readers and artists of all ages.
Click on the cover for the link to purchase a copy.
As an added bonus, I will send a copy of All is Assuredly Well to one of the commenters of this post or the blog tour post. Check back here on August 8, 2018 for the fortunate recipient.
Jess Reis is the winner of the free copy. Congratulations!
8/1/18
One SMART Goal Down: Create Mobile Friendly Website
After about a year of planning and over six months of copying content from the old site into the new, cassandraulrich.com is now mobile friendly. I've learned a lot along the way and look forward to discovering ways to enhance the site and introduce it to the world. It feels great to finish one of my SMART goals five months early.
Now, I get to focus on tackling the other four.
P.S. On July 30th, I got a phone call telling me a short story I wrote for a competition made the cut and will be included with twenty-four other stories in the "Beach Fun" anthology in a few months. Somehow, I squeezed this one in. The book signing is scheduled for November 10, 2018 at 2pm at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, DE.
Now, I get to focus on tackling the other four.
P.S. On July 30th, I got a phone call telling me a short story I wrote for a competition made the cut and will be included with twenty-four other stories in the "Beach Fun" anthology in a few months. Somehow, I squeezed this one in. The book signing is scheduled for November 10, 2018 at 2pm at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, DE.
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