Teaser Tuesday

~ ✰ ~ 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 ~ ✰ ~Alpha Mike Foxtrot: an OPS Protector Romance Novel Book 5 by Giulia Lagomarsino is releasing in SIX DAYS!𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 ➜ https://mybook.to/AlphaMikeFoxtrot
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙯𝙮, 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙡—𝙥𝙨𝙮𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙘.I’m all those things and more. The darkness calls to me, sending me spiraling out of control. But one woman calms me, bringing me back from the edge when I’m about to lose it. She’s my savior in every way possible.𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙄 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩. 𝙔𝙚𝙩.I see the way she struggles, trying to maintain her sanity.I won’t let her go down the same path as my mother. She won’t be another statistic. There’s only one thing for me to do—take her.𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣. She didn’t believe me when I said that. But I’m not worried about it. She’ll soon find out there are worse things than being hitched to my wagon. I’ll cherish the ground she walks on for the rest of my life, whether she’s in it or not.𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧.I’m not naive. Just because I want Anna doesn’t mean I can have her. I am not a good man, but I am the man for her. I will protect her with my life, slaughter anyone that tries to take her from me. And when an enemy threat looms, I’ll remove them just like any other baddie.𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙢 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚.
𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗕𝗥 ➜ https://bit.ly/3OZ5dpW𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗯𝘂𝗯 ➜ https://bit.ly/3um5utt
 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗟𝗘 𝗨𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗In the Trenches ➜ http://getbook.at/OPS-InTheTrenchesNuclear Option ➜ http://getbook.at/OPS-NuclearOptionCharlie Foxtrot ➜ http://viewbook.at/OPS-CharFoxtrotPop Smoke ➜ http://viewbook.at/OPS-PopSmoke
#alphamikefoxtrotteaserblast#teasertuesday#alphamikefoxtrotgiulialagomarsino#giulialagomarsinoauthor#owensprotectiveservices#comingsoon#decemberrelease#protectorromance#mustread#amazonpreorder#enticingjourney
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AuThursday – T.J. Fier

Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

My name is Tiffany Fier, but I write under T.J. Fier. By day I’m an associate professor of set design at NDSU, and I write when I can around my hectic professorial schedule. I have several short stories in several anthologies, and my debut novel has recently been released: THE BRIGHT ONE.

What does your writing process look like?

Each project is a little different. Sometimes I put together a detailed outline primarily to get to know my characters better. Other times I pants my way through a story. Or, especially with short stories, I’ll give myself a few guiding notes and plot points and work the story around those ideas.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Depends on the project and the task at hand. Sometimes it’s incredibly energizing, and sometimes, it’s not. Sometimes the story pours out, and sometimes you need to drag it out by its ears.

 What genre are your books and what draws you to this genre?

I oscillate between contemporary fantasy, dark fantasy, paranormal fantasy, urban fantasy, and horror. There is a dark undercurrent to most of my writing. It’s just how I’m wired. However, I often try to throw in a touch of irreverence to my stories or a bit of humor to keep the mood from sinking too deep.

What are your current projects?

Too many! My debut novel, The Bright One was recently released by my publisher Three Little Sisters. It’s a contemporary sci-fi/fantasy adventure with a surly unicorn named Una. I have a short story in a recently-released anthology, Seasons in the Dark, from Bisman Writers Guild. I’m reviewing edits on another short story for the second Moorhead Friends Writing Group anthology. I’m sharing the sequel to The Bright One with some of my writing group AND another story of mine is in the beta-reading phase of review.

How do you relax?

I read, hang out with furry friends, and curl up on the couch with one of my favorite “comfort shows.”

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

You get better the more you write. Also, having a critique partner or a writing group has been vital to my progression as a writer. Surround yourself with a support system. It takes lots of time, patience, and hard work to have success with writing.

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

Check out my linktree:

https://linktr.ee/tjfier

Do you have an excerpt you’d like to share with us?

From the end of Chapter One of The Bright One:

“Holy crap.” 

The beast flicked a lion-like tail with a cascading plume of white hair. Long enough so strands brushed the floor. The hair shimmered fine as silk threads and light refracted off flaxen curls. A radiant blue eyes stared back at her with a mixture of fear and defiance.

Alexa’s head seemed to disconnect from her body, unable to process what stood before her. She refused to accept the creature and backed away, heart racing beneath her trembling fingers.

The smeared light couldn’t manipulate the shape she had seen, nor could it change the animal in anything but what stood before her.

It was a unicorn.

A real, live unicorn.

Teaser Tuesday – Alpha Mike Foxtrot by Giulia Lagomarsino

~ ✰ ~ 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 ~ ✰ ~Alpha Mike Foxtrot: an OPS Protector Romance Novel Book 5 by Giulia Lagomarsino is releasing 12.26

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 ➜ https://mybook.to/AlphaMikeFoxtrot
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙯𝙮, 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙡—𝙥𝙨𝙮𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙘.I’m all those things and more. The darkness calls to me, sending me spiraling out of control. But one woman calms me, bringing me back from the edge when I’m about to lose it. She’s my savior in every way possible.𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙄 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩. 𝙔𝙚𝙩.I see the way she struggles, trying to maintain her sanity. I won’t let her go down the same path as my mother. She won’t be another statistic. There’s only one thing for me to do—take her.𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣. She didn’t believe me when I said that. But I’m not worried about it. She’ll soon find out there are worse things than being hitched to my wagon. I’ll cherish the ground she walks on for the rest of my life, whether she’s in it or not.𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧.I’m not naive. Just because I want Anna doesn’t mean I can have her. I am not a good man, but I am the man for her. I will protect her with my life, slaughter anyone that tries to take her from me. And when an enemy threat looms, I’ll remove them just like any other baddie.𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙢 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚.
𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗕𝗥 ➜ https://bit.ly/3OZ5dpW𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗯𝘂𝗯 ➜ https://bit.ly/3um5utt
 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗟𝗘 𝗨𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗In the Trenches ➜ http://getbook.at/OPS-InTheTrenchesNuclear Option ➜ http://getbook.at/OPS-NuclearOptionCharlie Foxtrot ➜ http://viewbook.at/OPS-CharFoxtrotPop Smoke ➜ http://viewbook.at/OPS-PopSmoke
#alphamikefoxtrotteaserblast#teasertuesday#alphamikefoxtrotgiulialagomarsino#giulialagomarsinoauthor#owensprotectiveservices#comingsoon#decemberrelease#protectorromance#mustread#amazonpreorder#enticingjourney
Hosted by Enticing Journey Book Promotions

AuThursday – P.A. O’Neil

Please welcome P.A. O’Neil to The Clog Blog! Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I was born in southern California but mostly raised in a small town in Washington State. I have been writing for as long as I can remember, but it was only recently that I decided to try my hand as a professional. In fact, it was six years ago this month I wrote my, as yet unedited, novel, Finding Jane.

How do you make time to write?

When I was working, I would squeeze my writing time between my shift work. My husband was still working then, so I found it easy to write between Noon and 5:00 pm. I never wrote on weekends out of respect for him. Now that we are both retired, I write whenever I can, provided he doesn’t call me to hold something while he nails, glues, or clamps something in his workshop. I never write in the evening because I find it difficult to see, no matter how many lights I have on.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

No, I don’t, for there is always something to write about. Just because you haven’t had the opportunity to compose your “magnum opus”, doesn’t mean a poem or a journal entry can’t be written. Using my own personal experience, writer’s block is actually a form of writer’s laziness. Even if all you did that day was send out a submission, you wrote. Did you write a review? You wrote.

Did you jot down some notes for your WIP or a future project? You wrote.

Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.

After monkeying around with what I thought were various genres, I discovered they actually were variations of Literary work, just set in different genre themes (Western, Romance, Cozy Mystery, etc.). I write so that the reader will recognize the character as someone they might’ve known who now must face an unusual situation to overcome. If I can resolve the protagonist’s difficulties satisfactorily, then my story will have been a success.

How are you publishing your recent book and why?

I have only had one book published so far, Witness Testimony and Other Tales, and that was done by a traditional publishing house as I had won the contract. The majority of my stories have been published in anthologies and online journals. I am presently working on a three-story book that I would like to have traditionally published but just might offer it on my own.

Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?  How does this affect your work?

I am a loud person. I have no qualms with talking to strangers or speaking before a large crowd. Truth is though, I consider myself an introvert. Being larger-than-life is a shield, and that crowd frightens me if I have to be in it instead of in front of it. My public persona, P.A. O’Neil, has an image to maintain that is a job in and of itself. My personal persona, though very loving with lots of friends, is far from an extrovert.

What is your favorite motivational phrase?

“There are no accidents.”

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

If you want to be a writer, then write! Don’t allow doubt to hold you back. Learn all you can from other writers. Share your work for review, improvement comes from the recognition of repeated errors. Above all, if you chose to set your writing for publication, hire an editor!

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

P.A. O’Neil

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07BF2D8SP This is my Amazon Author page. https://www.facebook.com/p.a.oneil.storyteller This is my Facebook Author page. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17994233.P_A_O_Neil This is my Goodreads Author page.

Do you have an excerpt you’d like to share with us?

From the story, “Witness Testimony”:

As we approached the light of the street with its foot traffic and vehicles, Bill said, “Well, that’s not exactly what I had planned for the evening.” I believe he was trying to make light of the situation, hoping it would ease the stress of witnessing such a violent and deplorable act. It was then, that I started to shake. Shake like I had been in the deep snow without a coat. The hairs on my arm began to stand up as all I felt was a wave of panic flow from top to bottom on my body.

“Hey, hey there … it’s going to be all right.” He wrapped his arms around me, not out of any romantic gesture, but more to prevent me from running away. That’s when I started to cry. Not bawling like an angry baby, but silent tears which ran down my face as I looked to him for direction. “C’mon, there’s a park up ahead. Let’s find a place to sit down.”

We walked a short block and a half until we came to the wide grass-covered expanse of Beacon Hill Park. The shadows had begun as the sun approached the horizon. We sat down on a park bench under an unlit streetlamp. His arm was still around me as I buried my head in his chest, this time allowing a fountain of tears to flow onto his shirt. All the while, he rubbed my arm and back and said, “… Atta girl, let it all out.” Eventually, I pulled up my head and apologized for making a scene. “Naw, you didn’t make a scene. Here—your make-up is a little smudged.” He handed me his handkerchief and smiled that soft smile I had so wanted to be meant for me alone.

“Thank you. Oh, look at your shirt. I hope all that color can be washed out,” I said with sadness as I wiped my face. “Looks like I’ll have to work on getting the color out of the handkerchief as well.” I gave a soft laugh, “Oh your poor wife; she’s going to think you’ve been playing with circus clowns.” Then it hit me, “Your wife, does she know? Did you get a chance to call her yet?”

“No, I’ll call her when I get back to the hotel.” He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “I wouldn’t know what to say to her.” He put a hand up to his face to mime a telephone receiver, “Hey, Honey, yeah I got here all right. Do I like the city? Yes, I got to see three people die today.” Then he stopped, dropped his hand, and stared at the grass at his feet. “I don’t feel so well, excuse me.”

“Bill?”

“No please, I have to go.” He got up fast and walked twenty feet towards some nearby bushes where he leaned over and began to throw up. I could hear him wretch, again and again, but with his relatively empty stomach, it soon became dry heaves. I cautiously walked towards him but stopped at a respectful distance as he stood up and turned back to me. Instinctively, he began to pat down his hip pocket as he reached for his handkerchief.

“Is this what you’re looking for?” I handed back the once-white cotton cloth now stained with tears and makeup. “It’s a little soiled; sorry.”

He took it without question and wiped his mouth, turned away to spit into the grass, and then wiped his mouth again before pocketing the cloth. I reached up to touch his cheek. He didn’t pull away. I put my arms around his neck and pulled him close. He, in turn, put his arms around my waist to hug me back. We stood there for several minutes; just holding each other, supporting each other was more like it. A young couple quietly laughed as they passed. They must have thought us aged lovers. Little did they understand that we were just survivors.

Cover Reveal – Alpha Mike Foxtrot by Giulia Lagomarsino

Title: Alpha Mike Foxtrot

Series: OPS Protector Romance Book 5

Author: Giulia Lagomarsino

Genre: Alpha/Protector Romance

Release Date: December 26, 2022

Cover Design: T.E. Black Designs

Photographer: Reggie Deanching – R+M Photo

Cover Model: Vince

They call me crazy, lethal—psychotic.

I’m all those things and more.

The darkness calls to me, sending me spiraling out of control.

But one woman calms me, bringing me back from the edge when I’m about to lose it.

She’s my savior in every way possible.

But she doesn’t even know I exist. Yet.

I see the way she struggles, trying to maintain her sanity.

I won’t let her go down the same path as my mother.

She won’t be another statistic.

There’s only one thing for me to do—take her.

It’s not kidnapping if you know the person.

She didn’t believe me when I said that.

But I’m not worried about it. She’ll soon find out there are worse things than being hitched to my wagon.

I’ll cherish the ground she walks on for the rest of my life, whether she’s in it or not.

She is my priority, the only reason I continue to live when the darkness takes over.

I’m not naive. Just because I want Anna doesn’t mean I can have her.

I am not a good man, but I am the man for her. I will protect her with my life, slaughter anyone that tries to take her from me.

And when an enemy threat looms, I’ll remove them just like any other baddie.

There is no surviving when The Phantom is calling to me.

I’m a stay at home mom that loves to read. Some of my favorite titles are Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Horatio Hornblower. I started writing when I was trying to come up with suggestions on ways I could help bring in some extra money. I came up with the idea that I could donate plasma because you could earn an extra $500/month. My husband responded with, “No. Find something else. Write a blog. Write a book.” I didn’t think I had anything to share on blog that a thousand other mothers hadn’t already thought of. I decided to take his challenge seriously and sat down to write my first book, Jack. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing. From there, the stories continued to flow and I haven’t been able to stop. I hope my readers enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them. Between reading, writing, and taking care of three small kids, my days are quite full.

HOSTED BY:

First Friday Lunch – Nano update & Writing through the Holidays!

Join me as I talk about my Nano experience and Writing through the Holidays!

New Release – Seasons in the Dark Anthology

My short story “Chill of the Reaper” will be in the BisMan Writers Guild’s Seasons in the Dark Anthology.   This is my second short story in an Anthology, but my first with The BisMan Writers Guild.   Here’s some more information.

Title: Chill of the Reaper part of the “Seasons in the Dark” Anthology 

Author: Tina Holland

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date:  December 1, 2022 

Publisher: BisMan Writers Guild

Blurb:

Daredevil Daisy Heyer is dead, stuck on earth, and avoiding a persistent reaper who’s been chasing her through the centuries.   Being a ghost sucks but it’s better than hell.   Daisy had been a bad girl in the Wild West and she has no guarantee which direction the reaper will take her. 

Simon Travers has been a reaper for over one hundred and twenty-five years.  He’s successfully brought every soul to heaven or hell, except Daisy Heyer.  She was his first and the one that got away.  He has time though, because once dead there is no going back. 

After a spell is cast making Daisy flesh and blood, will she stay on earth or feel the Chill of the Reaper?

Excerpt: 

Daisy woke with a kink in her neck. Weird. She stretched on the sofa. Wait! She didn’t sleep or get kinks. She shot straight up. Too fast, she realized, when a pounding started in her head. She placed her left hand on her temple, willing it to stop. “Collette!”

Colette came running down the basement stairs. “Holy craft. You’re flesh and blood.” 

 Daisy didn’t bother to hide her sarcasm. “Really? I hadn’t noticed. What did you do?”

Colette looked at the beige carpet as if fascinated by a non-existent pattern. 

Daisy tapped her boot on the carpet. “Well?”

The witch pinched her index finger and thumb together. “I may have tweaked Nana’s spell a bit.” 

She threw her hands up. “A bit!?”

Colette crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “I just wanted you to find true love.” 

“True love?” Daisy suddenly felt a great desire to go back to sleep. 

“Yeah. I’ve given you forty-eight hours in mortal form.”

“Collette, I haven’t been mortal in a hundred and twenty-five years. What the hell am I supposed to do in two days?” She was suddenly anxious to return to her former self. 

“Daisy, if you find true love, your soul won’t be bound for hell.” 

“I get into heaven?” Could she after all these years? 

“I’m not a hundred percent certain, but my research clearly indicated a soul could not go to hell if it felt love.” 

“Anything to not go to hell.” Daisy hadn’t lived the best life. She had been an independent woman of the west and rather than earn money in easier ways, she’d taken to a life of crime. “Okay, so how do I find true love?” 

“Well, first we need to change your wardrobe.” 

Daisy looked down. She was wearing the clothes she’d died in, with a crimson starburst pattern on her chest and her six-shooter strapped to her hip. A change was definitely in order. “I’ve always wanted to be a blonde.” 

Buy Links:  Amazon 

About the Author:  

Tina studied Journalism at University and then went to work for a fortune 500 company working in Logistics for over 20 years.  She now writes full-time and helps her husband run his Crop Dusting business in the summer months.  When she’s not writing she likes to travel, read and spend time with her critters.  

Social Media Links:  

Website – www.tinaholland.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/author.tina.holland

Twitter – https://twitter.com/haveubeenaughty

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/tina_holland

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/haveubeenaughty

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to those of you in the United States!  I’ve always liked this time of year.  It’s all the good food and visiting family without the pressure of gift buying.  I’m thankful for my family and friends.  I hope you all have a wonderful celebration whatever it is.  Be safe!

AuThursday – Gabriella Balcom

Please welcome Gabriella Balcome to The Clog Blog!  Gabriella, can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I live in Texas with my family, work full-time in the mental health field, and I’ve loved reading and writing my whole life. I write fantasy, sci-fi, horror, romance, literary fiction, children’s stories, and more. I’ve had 360 works accepted for publication and was nominated for the Washington Science Fiction Association’s Small Press Award in 2020. Clarendon House Publications awarded me a publishing contract when one of my stories was voted best in the book in which it appeared. My anthology of short stories, On the Wings of Ideas, came out afterward. In 2020, I won second place in JayZoMon/Dark Myth Publishing’s Open Contract Challenge (a competition in which around one hundred authors competed for cash prizes and publishing contracts), after which my novella, Worth Waiting For, was published. I self-published a novelette, Free’s Tale: No Home at Christmas-time and Black Hare Press released my sci-fi novella, The Return, in 2021. Five others pend publication.

How do you make time to write?

I work full-time but plan in writing time before and after work.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Writer’s block isn’t something I’ve had trouble with. I usually have the opposite problem, with ideas flooding my mind all the time, to the point it’s hard to keep up with them.

Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.

I love several genres and write in each of them, too. Many things appeal to me, and all types of ideas come to me, so I don’t restrict myself to just one genre.

How are you publishing your recent book and why? (*e.g. Indie, traditional, or both)

I’ve published both ways, but mainly via traditional publishers. That’s been easier this far because I haven’t had time to publish more myself.

Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?  How does this affect your work?

Introvert. It makes it harder for me to publicize my acceptances and ongoing steps, not to mention handling marketing.

What is your favorite motivational phrase?

Never give up.

I also like:

You can do anything.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Believe in yourself and NEVER give up. Also, having your work edited is always a good idea.

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

https://m.facebook.com/GabriellaBalcom.lonestarauthor

AuThursday – Chistina Nordlander

Please welcome Christina Nordlander to The Clog Blog!  Chistina, can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I was born in 1982 in Malmö, Sweden, but fell in love with an Englishman (now my husband), and moved to England in 2001. I went to the University of Manchester and hold a Ph.D. in Classics and Ancient History. Nowadays, I live outside Birmingham with my husband and two cats.

How do you make time to write?

I’m unemployed at the moment, so I have more time than I really want. Essentially, I spend the evenings writing. I give myself a set time each day, and once that’s up, I take it easy. Or edit.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Yes. Sometimes motivation comes, and sometimes it doesn’t. Nowadays, farmers can irrigate their crops so that lack of rain doesn’t automatically equal famine, but we haven’t figured out how to get inspiration on tap.

Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.

I don’t really have a set genre. I prefer speculative fiction, primarily dark fantasy and horror. Can’t say for sure why; it just seems to be the form most of my ideas take.

How are you publishing your recent book?

Traditional

Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?  How does this affect your work?

Introvert, definitely. I suppose that makes it easier to write since I like to withdraw and avoid distractions. On the other hand, I might well find more opportunities for publication if I were more extroverted.

What is your favorite motivational phrase?

Pain is just weakness leaving the body.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

When trying to publish your work, send it everywhere (short of obvious scammers, obviously), and don’t give up. I got my first story published in a very narrow small-press anthology that I’d heard of by chance. After the first one is published, you’ll get an enormous boost of self-confidence.

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

My Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=79474&fan_landing=true

and Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/christina.nordlander.332/

Do you have an excerpt you’d like to share with us?

The woman, a physician or nurse, got ready to remove the slippers. She started pulling at one lace and underneath was a lipped stripe of red. I still had sensation, because I screamed. Someone came with a pair of scissors to cut up the shoe proper. Perhaps that wouldn’t hurt as much. I knew it would pull up chunks of flesh. I knew they would cut my feet to ribbons.

~from “The Contents of the Shoes”