Spring has Sprung. Forsythia and flowering trees are gorgeous!
Hello from Michigan! Hope you had a great US Mother's Day.
Spring has sprung here. So I have spring fever this week and am taking blog time to work on other projects, not necessarily writerly projects.
You may know BWL Publishing released my memoir, Arranging a Dream: A Memoir in January 2021. Next week, I will reveal the rest of the story. Please stop in to discover what has happened to the flower shop. Truly crushing news.
Tulip Time
Love the flowering trees in Michigan landscapes
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Hello and welcome to the Focused on Story Blog. Today we're joining the Book Hooks Blog Hop sponsored by the Marketing For Romance Writers Group. Each participating blogger shares an excerpt from their book. Because Valentine's Day is almost here and February is the month of love, I'm sharing an excerpt from Dangerous Sanctuary, a romantic suspense novel.
Dangerous Sanctuary by J.Q. Rose Romantic Suspense
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REVIEW:
"I generally read edgier thrillers but a friend recommended this book, so I gave it a try. It turned out to be a witty, pleasant, and cozy little romantic thriller." Kia Heavey
Abraham the Pig, a star in Dangerous Sanctuary
BACK OF THE BOOK:
Pastor Christine Hobbs has been in the pulpit business
for over five years. She never imagined herself caring for a flock that
includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer.
Detective Cole Stephens doesn't want the pretty
pastor to get away with murdering the church music director. His investigative
methods infuriate Christine as much as his deep brown eyes attract her.
Can they find the real killer and build a loving
relationship based on trust?
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EXCERPT FROM DANGEROUS SANCTUARY
Christine stood in the parking lot hanging onto the leash of
the agitated pig in one hand and the docile kangaroo in the other. Taking her
eyes from the ambulance careening out of the parking lot, she turned her
attention to the animals and wondered what just happened here.Her heart caught in her throat when she
spotted Cole Stephens speed into the parking lot, barely missing the departing
ambulance. What was he doing here?He
pulled up near her and jumped from the car. “I heard the call come through. I
was afraid of what I’d discover at this church.”
His serious expression broke out into a huge smile. “You
never know what situation a 9-1-1 call will lead to. This… this is a first for
me.” His hearty laughter echoed off the brick walls of the building. He wiped
tears of laughter from his eyes with the back of his hand.
Cole’s appearance seemed to shake up the animals. Christine
struggled to hang on to them, so the detective grabbed the kangaroo’s harness
and tried to calm the frightened animal.“What are you doing with the Noah’s ark critters?”
She saw the twinkle
in his eyes. Her face cracked into a smile. She had to admit it was an odd
situation. She must look like an idiot standing out in the lot hanging onto
these two adorable creatures. “Well, in a nutshell. A woman had a cardiac
arrest here in the parking lot. As you saw, she’s on her way to the hospital,
and well, these are her pets.”
Christine swept her free hand toward the animals.
“Yes, her pets.” Ella nodded and pointed to Katy and
Abraham.
“Um, I guess I’m keeping them till, well, until… Let’s just
say we didn’t really have time to discuss it. I’m sure you probably have a
place to put them, don’t you?”
“Huh-uh, lady. I’m not taking in any animals.” He backed
away as if they were wild animals ready to attack. “Anyway, my retriever would
probably eat them.” His wink was disarming.
Hello and welcome to the Focused on Story Blog. Today we're joining the Book Hooks Blog Hop sponsored by the Marketing For Romance Writers Group. Each participating blogger shares an excerpt from their book. Today, I share an excerpt from my memoir, Arranging a Dream: A Memoir, just released on January 1, 2021.
In 1975, budding entrepreneurs Ted and Janet purchase a floral shop and greenhouses where they plan to grow their dream. Leaving friends and family behind in Illinois and losing the security of two paychecks, they transplant themselves, their one-year-old daughter, and all their belongings to Fremont, Michigan, where they know no one.
Will the retiring business owners nurture Ted and Janet as they struggle to develop a blooming business, or will they desert the young couple to wither and die in their new environment?
Most of all, can Ted and Janet grow together as they cultivate a loving marriage, juggle parenting with work, and root a thriving business?
Follow this couple’s inspiring story, filled with the joy and triumphs and the obstacles and failures experienced as they travel along the turbulent path of turning dreams into reality.
A cup of tea and a "warm, enlightening memoir"
If you are experiencing snow during January, you may want to snuggle into your comforter with a cup of tea and read this excerpt about the snowy morning I experienced in 1975. We had just moved into our apartment in West Michigan the day before. My first wake-up in our new home did not go as planned.
You may watch the video of the reading or scroll farther down for the excerpt.
VIDEO: Settling In
VIDEO: Settling In
Excerpt from Arranging a Dream, Chapter 7, Settling In
EXCERPT: Beginning of Chapter 7, Settling In
The next morning, the first wake-up in our
new apartment, a yelp of surprise and delight erupted from me as I surveyed the
snow-blanketed landscape out the front apartment window overlooking the street
below. From our second-story perch, I could see all the way to Fremont Lake.
Tall pine trees bowed with the weight of the snow. Overnight the view had
changed and now reminded me of a painting in a children’s picture book in
grays, whites, and blues.
For a girl raised in the middle of the
cornfields in Central Illinois, the landscape’s beauty was one I had never
experienced. Snow fell in Illinois, but rarely like this.
I heard Ted at the kitchen door stomping the
snow off his shoes before stepping in on the kitchen floor. The sound of the
door slammed shut behind him. I rushed to the kitchen to see him headed for the
coffee pot. Unfortunately, he didn’t remove his shoes and tracked snow across
the floor.
“Isn’t it gorgeous outside?” I flung my hands
to the window that faced the back yard of the shop.
When he turned from the coffee pot with mug
in hand, I nearly gasped seeing his scowling face. For sure, he had no appreciation
for the beauty of the snowfall.
“What’s wrong?” I stepped nearer to him,
hoping our conversation wouldn’t wake Sara.
“Look outside. The U-Haul truck is buried
in the snow. I’ve been out there shoveling. But there’s no way I can do it. I’m
going to have to get somebody to tow it out of there.” He took a sip of hot
coffee.
My happy countenance turned to malevolent
dread. We had to return the truck to the company before noon or pay for another
day’s rental.
“I’m going to call the Ford dealership,
Wiersema Ford, across the street from the shop. I hope they can help us out.”
“Well that’s one way to meet the new
neighbors,” I joked. He didn’t laugh.
After the phone call, the tow truck arrived
and easily towed the truck out of the snow. What a great neighbor we had. We
returned the truck to the U-Haul dealer in town on time.
I had no idea on that first morning that I
wouldn’t see bare ground in Michigan again until May!
Nothing could ruin that day for me. After
the months of planning, the sale of our home in Marseilles, the floral design
schooling and absence from Sara, the packing and finally the trip north, I was
anxious to make our dream come true. I hoped our bright dreams of a smooth road
to success wouldn’t turn into a bumpy, curvy road of regret.
Arranging a Dream: A Memoir is available at major online booksellers. Click the Universal Link to find your favorite retailer.
UNIVERSAL LINK eBooks from your favorite digital bookseller.
Hi Gang, I'm on the road again to Florida. Taking some time off, but I wanted to remind you that the Rose Courier will be going out on Friday morning. I hope you're signed up to get the monthly edition in your inbox. There's LOTS of news in it this month.
There's still time to get your name in and receive the newsletter. Click here to sign up.
🌞I'll be back online next week, probably tanned and gorgeous thanks to sunny Florida! 🌞
Not! LOL
🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
This is more like me in the picture below, but perfect for Halloween!!!
What is Writer's Block and How to Defeat It by J.Q. Rose
Writer's block. Everyone talks about it, but what is it???
Writer's block appears when a writer sits down to write, but can't think of anything to put down on the paper. I have never suffered from a severe case of writer's block. That sounds like it must be a disease. But it isn't. Writer's block is not a physical problem like a broken arm. Although, you may get a headache or upset stomach when facing the blank page/screen. Writing coach Jeff Goins says it is an "excuse." An excuse not to write, not to work on your project. Do you suppose any other worker in the world can blame his/her inability to work on an invisible force? No. You go to work. (But please don't go if you have a virus or fever!) Writer's block is what people say is keeping them from writing, but Goins maintains there is no such condition. Instead, Goins offers the real cause of writer's block:
Fear
Exhaustion
High standards (which is basically fear of failure)
Imposter Syndrome (fear of rejection)
Perfectionism (fear of not being good enough)
Busyness (fear of not having enough time)
Laziness (or is it really fear?)
Lack of structure (fear of not knowing how to start)
Think about it. Do any of the reasons apply to you? Fear of rejection and perfectionism certainly niggles in my brain when I am working on my WIP (Work-In-Progress).
I would also add Comparing my work to another author's work. Comparison can really knock you down. Face it. Someone can write better than me. Someone can also write a lot worse than me. But no one can write the same as me. I am the author and that is what makes my writing special.
Click here to read more of Jeff Goins's excellent article on writer's block.
So what can you do to get rid of writer's block? Face it head-on and knock it out of your head by focusing on the cause of the block. Could it be from one of the causes listed above? Do you have another reason for writer's block invading your space? Please leave a comment below to help others knock out writer's block.
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Deadly Undertaking by J.Q.Rose romantic suspense
I must admit I had a difficult time writing my romantic suspense novel, Deadly Undertaking. The main character is the daughter of an undertaker. I am the daughter of an undertaker. The setting is a funeral home based on my Dad's Victorian-style funeral home.
I discovered I couldn't write the story. So many memories of those growing-up years flooded over me as I wrote. I had to put the story away until I could separate the real me from the main character. Then I could write the fictional part of the story and allow her to face and overcome the conflict in the novel. And did I ever give her lots of problems--boyfriends, family, and a shadow man. Whew!
Click here to download the ebook copy of Deadly Undertaking on sale now at amazon for $2.99
Click here to order the paperback copy of Deadly Undertaking.
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I know there are a lot of places for you to visit on the Internet. Thanks for stopping here at the Focused on Story Blog. Submit your email address to the Follow by Email box on the right sidebar to be notified when a new blog is up.
The Rose Courier--delivered to your inbox every month!
Click here or on the Rose Courier graphic at the top of the sidebar to have your copy of the Courier delivered to your inbox. You'll find out about new releases, favorite authors, giveaways, contests with prizes and what JQ is up to.
Hello and welcome to the Focused on Story Blog and to the Author Toolbox Blog Hop #AuthorToolboxBlogHop which meets every third Wednesday of the month to shareresources and tips for authors. Thanks to Raimey Gallantfor hosting this venture.
Please join us to learn more about the craft of writing and to meet bloggers who are dedicated to helping each other become the best writers possible. Click here to visit other blog hop participants.
🛠🛠🛠ðŸ›
Is Bookfinder for You?
I just discovered this tool, Bookfinder, last week thanks to author and teacher, Rebecca Holman. Bookfinder is a unique tool for you if you have a book in print.
According to the website, Bookfinder.com, "is a one-stop eCommerce search engine that searches over 150 million books for sale—new, used, rare, out-of-print, and textbooks. We save you time and money by searching every major catalog online and letting you know which booksellers are offering the best prices and selection. When you find a book you like, you can buy it directly from the original seller; we never charge a markup."
You may be wondering why I would share a tool for out-of-print book searches. Actually, they also search for up-to-date print books with their prices. Not only is it a good tool for comparison shopping, but it can also "find" your book and you can discover where your book is being sold and the prices.
This tool opened my eyes to places where my books are being sold, not only at amazon and Barnes and Noble but also tucked away sellers I never imagined.
I wondered why my books were in so many different booksellers. Rebecca Holman, an excellent teacher of no or low content books, explained it this way, "When you check expanded Distribution Amazon then allows thousands upon thousands of booksellers to have access to sell your books to their millions and millions of buyers. For you, it means FREE ADVERTISING. Some of the vendors are WalMart and Barnes and Nobles..which you couldn't even afford to buy an ad on, what so ever. That is why you get so little from Expanded Distribution because Amazon is basically using them to advertise your book and expand your reach."
Now that is exciting news! If you are an indie author, this may help you decide if you want to check Expanded Distribution or not for your books. With the Expanded Distribution, you do not receive as much royalty from the sale, but you may sell a larger number of books.
You may want to take a screenshot(s) of your results when you enter your book, print only, in the form. Then, in a month, take another screenshot to compare if you are in more stores or not. Keep a record of your growth, we hope, and see how it compares to your sales.
Have you used Bookfinder? What information do you glean from the results? If you are an indie author, what tools do you use to keep track of sales and in what location?
Please leave a comment below. Thanks for stopping in!
***
UPDATE ON KEYWORDS EVERYWHERE
Last month I shared the keyword finding tool, Keywords Everywhere. I just discovered, as of October 1, 2019, KE is no longer free. They are charging a minimal amount for the service. Click here to learn more about their explanation for going to a paid browser extension and the changes made to the program.
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EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
Get your New from the J.Q. Rose Courier
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Subscribe to the J.Q. Rose Courier to get news, announcements and special offerings from J.Q. Go to the top right sidebar and enter your email. NO SPAM, I promise!
IWSG Blog Hop---the first Wednesday of every month.
Hello and welcome to the Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog Hop!
Always on the first Wednesday of the month.
What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?
Founded by authorAlex J. Cavanaugh, theInsecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. To find out more, click this link: Insecure Writer’s Support Group
The purpose of the group is
* to share and encourage.
* Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak.
* Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance.
*It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
You're invited to become a member of this supportive group.Click hereto sign-up to join.
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Question for December 4
December 4 Question
December 4 question - Let's play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?
A timely question for me this week. I just released my “heart work,” Your Words, Your Life
Story: A Journal for Sharing Memories, a journal to record life
stories. I call it my "heart work" because my passion is to encourage sharing the memories of a lifetime with
family and friends.
When I was in a writer's group many years ago, a woman brought her great, great, great, great grandfather's diary to share with us. I believe it was written in the early 1800s. He was a minister living in London and a prolific writer. He described his everyday life in that era, peering into bookshop windows wishing he could afford to purchase those beautiful books. I can't remember exactly everything she read from the diary, but I do remember realizing how amazing it was to be able to step into the real world of a 19th-century gentleman. Not fiction, but his actual experience in those times. The diary was a treasure to me and to the minister's family.
This was a turning point in my life. I wanted to record my life stories for my kids. They wanted to know the story of how their dad and I met--a blind date, about our childhoods in small rural towns in Central Illinois and more.
I couldn't stop there because writing about the good old days and seeing my life through a lens at a different time allowed me a new perspective on experiences. I started presenting workshops.to encourage others to examine their lives and share their life experiences for family and future generations.
The best part was not the teaching, but the times when participants read their stories to the group. Some so funny we laughed at the experience and others so poignant we had tears in our eyes. And these pieces were written by ordinary people living ordinary lives.
Because the support of the participants to those who shared their writings was so helpful, I have established a Facebook group to those interested in telling their life stories and memoirs. You can ask questions, share your stories, offer suggestions and share tips. Plus we'll have fun with prizes and games. Click here to join the private group, Telling Life Stories and Memoirs Circle.
My dream soon became to teach more people how life-changing and satisfying sharing memories can be. I decided a book based on my workshops could reach around the world. After learning how popular low content books such as journals and planners are, I decided this was the path I had longed for.
Thus, my dream actually is a reality this week when I kick-off the book launch for Your Words, Your Life Story. When I was planning the book launch I was as giddy as a little kid. I never had this feeling when my mysteries were published. I was filled with pure joy knowing I would reach more folks all over the world and help them preserve their legacy for their children and family.
Take a peek at the book--8000 words with lined pages for journaling.
Your Words, Your Life Story is available in paperback at amazon
During the book launch I will be giving away this book at the stops along the way, so I am happy to offer a lucky commenter a free copy of Your Words, Your Life Story. right here on the Focused on Story blog. I can send you a PDF or if you are in the US and want to use the book as a journal, I can mail you a printed copy. Just leave a comment below that you are interested in having the book. I will select the winner of the drawing on Sunday, December 8 after 10 pm EST. Good luck!
