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cj Sez: Passover (Pesach) begins the evening of Monday, April 22, 2024, and continues through April 30 just after sundown.

  It’s sadly incongruous to be sending my Jewish friends a Happy Passover greeting during this time of a terrible war in Israel. I pray the Lord will comfort those who suffer great loss, as I pray for peace.

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  Plan an in-store or online celebration at your favorite indie bookstore April 27, 2024. 

   Independent Bookstore Day is a one-day national party that takes place at indie bookstores across the country. (Happens every year on the last Saturday in April.)

 

   If you find you’re not able to support a local indie book store next weekend, not to worry. Any day will work fine.

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For Writers:

  On Jane Friedman’s blog, editor Tiffany Yates Martin offers some thoughts on Why Your Flashbacks Aren’t Working | Jane Friedman

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  The Mobile Writers Guild members are putting together a new anthology, using song titles as the title of their short story or poem. There is, however, a huge caveat: Writers (of all kinds of work) need to avoid quoting actual song lyrics “like the plague.” 

  If you’ve thought about using song lyrics in your story, read this: https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/quoting-song-lyrics-in-a-book-4-factors-fair-use

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Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go. 

    E. L. Doctorow

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  Remember how I had to miss posting a blog recently because my computer quit working? This week, it’s my minivan. Aaaarrrggghhh! I have to get it towed to my mechanic on Tuesday, so he can determine if the problem is fixable. The vehicle is only 16-years old. How can it not be fixable? Fingers crossed.

  Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you and yours.

cj

Now some words from my sponsors:

Escape the mundane via my novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA─fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a touch of Jane Bond romance. 

  The books are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.

  Nota bene: Angela Trigg, the RITA Award-winning author and owner of The Haunted Book Shop has a few signed copies of my paperback books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us

 

➜ Follow me on . . .  

➜ Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page

➜ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor

➜ BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson

➜ Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

 

Reading 'n writing

cj Sez: You know how, after receiving rejection after rejection, we writers worry if our writing will be “good enough” to get published?

  Feelings of inadequacy can often overwhelm any confidence of competency and send us running for a big spoon and the nearest half-gallon of ice cream (chocolate for me) for comfort. But think about this: Bona fide professionals, those people we consider successful, do not, cannot rest on their laurels. Okay, that’s a cliché, but truly, professionals continually work to improve and perfect their skills.

  Every time Donald Maass, author of WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL, leads a workshop on writing, I’d venture to guess he’s included something new since his last workshop. He’s a professional writer/lecturer/teacher who keeps polishing and improving his craft. Pro golfers take lessons; powerhouse baseball hitters have trainers as do Olympic runners and skaters. 

  The lesson is clear. The way for writers to improve their writing craft is to practice; i.e., they must read stories in all genres,* (but especially in their chosen genre), and network with fellow writers. And those tasks never cease.

  By accident or intentional research rabbit hole, I try to find some tidbit that I can incorporate into a work-in-progress or add to my growing list of helpful hints. Really, though, I love to learn something new most every day, Reader or writer, I wish you the same success.

[  *  Book coach Robin Henry’s essay on Jane Friedman’s blog explains more about how best to read to improve writing practice. Find out more here:    How to Read to Elevate Your Writing Practice | Jane Friedman  ]

 

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Tax Day is April 15, and I am breathlessly relieved that my taxes were eFiled—Friday, April 12. I was beginning to think I’d have to file for an extension, but hey, they got done…YAY! 

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  Okay, that’s it for today. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safe you and yours.

cj

Now some words from my sponsors:

  My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are fast-paced, thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a touch of Jane Bond romance (behind closed doors). The books are available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got a library card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.

  Little note: Angela Trigg, the RITA Award-winning author and owner of The Haunted Book Shop has a few signed copies of my paperback books in stock. TO ORDER, contact: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us 

➜ Follow me on . . .  

➜ Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page

➜ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor

➜ BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cj-petterson

➜ Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6