Hey, all! Would you look at this, three posts from me in a week, haha. Today, I am welcoming the wonderful C. Lee McKenzie to the blog to s...

Hey, all! Would you look at this, three posts from me in a week, haha. Today, I am welcoming the wonderful C. Lee McKenzie to the blog to share about the awesome new anthology she is a part of called Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime.

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Hi Alexa,

Thanks for sharing news about Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime on your blog today.

Why is it a good idea to submit a short story to one of these themed anthologies? In my opinion there are several:

• If you're an unpublished author, this is a great opportunity to be in print and have credits to put on your bio. 
• If you'd like to try out a different writing style or switch from your usual category, this is the perfect time.
• If you've written novels and want a change, the short story gives you that opportunity.
• If you love to write short stories, here's a chance to perfect this genre. 
• If you've never written to a theme with the idea of putting your unique spin on it in a prescribed number of words (an excellent writing exercise), here's your chance. You'll learn a lot.
• If you're interested in expanding your author network, the anthology will put you in touch with other writers.
• If you're a seasoned book promoter you get to use your experience, but with support of other authors. 
• If you're not familiar with book promotion, here's a chance to learn from those with more experience.
• This will be my fourth themed anthology. With each one, I've learned something new about writing, publishing, and promoting, so I'm kind of a cheerleader.  I think readers will find this one has some excellent stories.

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Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime

An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

The clock is ticking...

Can a dead child’s cross-stitch pendant find a missing nun? Is revenge possible in just 48 minutes? Can a killer be stopped before the rescuers are engulfed by a city ablaze? Who killed what the tide brought in? Can a soliloquizing gumshoe stay out of jail?

Exploring the facets of time, eleven authors delve into mysteries and crimes that linger in both dark corners and plain sight. Featuring the talents of Gwen Gardner, Rebecca M. Douglass, Tara Tyler, S. R. Betler, C.D. Gallant-King, Jemi Fraser, J. R. Ferguson, Yolanda Renée, C. Lee McKenzie, Christine Clemetson, and Mary Aalgaard.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these eleven tales will take you on a thrilling ride into jeopardy and secrecy. Trail along, find the clues, and stay out of danger. Time is wasting...

$14.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 204 pages, Freedom Fox Press

Mystery & Detective (FIC022000) / Crime (FIC050000) / Thrillers (FIC031000)

Print ISBN 9781939844545 eBook ISBN 9781939844552

$4.99 EBook available in all formats

Reviews:

“Each story is fast paced, grabbing the reader from the beginning.”

- Readers' Favorite, 5 stars

“I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of thought-provoking crime stories.” - Denise Covey, author

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure 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. www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com

Tick Tock links:

Amazon. B&N. iTunes. Kobo. Goodreads. Tick Tock Mystery Facebook. Tick Tock Mystery Blog.

Thanks again for hosting us, Alexa.

Lee

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No problem! Thank you so much for coming!

So, have you ever written for a themed anthology? Ever read one? Have a favorite? Can’t wait to hear from you, and thanks so much for coming, C. Lee!

Oh. My. Goodness. This movie ! It was beyond incredible, and it’s because it has everything : moments of hilarity and moments of gr...

Oh. My. Goodness. This movie! It was beyond incredible, and it’s because it has everything: moments of hilarity and moments of gravity; heart-pounding action sequences and heart-breaking emotional scenes; wild car chases through crowded, neon-lit streets, and meditative moments on an African hillside, just two soft voices and the wind in the yellow grass. It felt more realistic and down-to-Earth than most superhero movies; yet at the same time, the sweeping, sci-fi country of Wakanda was like seeing Asgard on Earth. Every section of the Wakandan lives featured Star Wars level advancements, yet they were woven seamlessly into the African jungle and perfectly complemented their culture. It was impossible, it was brilliant, it was beautiful. I don’t know if I’d say it was my favorite superhero movie, but more than many of the others, it was my kind of movie: action-packed but thought-provoking, painful yet hopeful, totally science fiction yet absolutely real.

The best part of all, though, was the characters. There was T’challa, the young ruler: nervous but noble, wise, and caring. Shuri, the princess: brilliant and witty, but surprisingly brave and wonderfully steadfast. Okoyé, the general: powerful, loyal, and shockingly deadpan (the expressions she gave people though). And Nakia, the spy: shrewd, smart, servant-hearted, and zealous about serving the rest of the world. Even the villain was a true character in his own right, a person with a passion that you could almost understand—even though, of course, he went about fulfilling it in completely the wrong way.

All-in-all, Black Panther is an excellent film. If you like action movies, you should see it. If you like sci-fi movies, you should see it. If you like political thrillers, you should see it. Somehow, it manages to be all of the above and weaves it all together into something superb.

GUESS WHO FINALLY SAW BLACK PANTHER THIS WEEKEND. This number was so sweeping and celebratory in the theaters! I can’t describe wha...

GUESS WHO FINALLY SAW BLACK PANTHER THIS WEEKEND.

This number was so sweeping and celebratory in the theaters! I can’t describe what was happening, because spoilers if you haven’t seen it, but I loved the exposition of Wakanda and the representation of the culture. As a whole, the soundtrack was marvelous (wink, wink), a mix of classic Marvel music with tribal African beats and vocalization. It made a surprisingly epic combination and perfectly complemented the incredible, thought-provoking, deeply relational, and emotional movie. If I can pull my thoughts together enough, you'll see a full review on Thursday, but we'll have to see how that goes down. ;)

Have you seen Black Panther? Any epic movies or soundtracks you love? Can't wait to hear from you, and I'll see you in the comment section!

First & Then by Grace . If you’ve been around for a while, you know my favorite part about stories and writing is always the character...

First & Then by Grace. If you’ve been around for a while, you know my favorite part about stories and writing is alwaysthe characters, haha. Well, Grace’s most recent review features some kids that certainly seem to be worth reading.

What’s the Focus? by C. Lee McKenzie. MORE CHARACTER TALK. Well, technically it’s about the four focuses of a story, but one of them is the characters. If you’re struggling to figure out where your story centers, this would be an awesome one to read.

Why You Will Like Lirael by Shar. I love the sound of the magic system and of Lirael herself! A quiet, bookish heroine in a fantasy book? I’m gonna have to see if my library has this one.

Side Charries and a Villain by Faith. Okay, these characters sound so epic though! Like, I read parts of the post with my mouth hanging open, haha. I need her to finish and publish soon!

Meet Dominique by Sarah from Empowered Women Collective. So this one’s actually about a real-life person: an real-life beautiful and inspiring real-life person with some real-life wisdom to share: about love, strength, and even social media. I highly recommend giving this a read. :)

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Well, that’s it for this week? What’s your favorite focus or the focus of your story? Tell me about a favorite character or quote (from your book or one you’ve read lately)! Can’t wait to hear from you, and I’ll see you in the comment section!

Haven’t finished this one yet, but I wanted to chat about books this week, so I decided to do a post about the one I’m into right now. :) ...

Haven’t finished this one yet, but I wanted to chat about books this week, so I decided to do a post about the one I’m into right now. :)

Description From Author Website:

Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and trade valuable enchantments for Isobel's work. But when she receives her first royal patron - Rook, the autumn prince - she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes, a weakness that could cost him his life.

Furious, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt's ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then perhaps even love, a forbidden emotion that would violate the fair folk's ruthless Good Law. To save both their lives, Isobel must choose between sacrificing her Craft or using her art to defy the ancient malice of the fairy courts... for Craft may hold more power over the fair folk than she ever imagined.

I’m a little over halfway through and I’m kind of in love, lol. I’m not really sure how it’s going to turn out, but I’m fascinated by the world: the richness of the descriptions, the complex way the characters act and react and carry themselves, the way the Fair Folk interact with humans and Craft: their wide-eyed wonder and starving wildness. As for the mains, Rook is insensitive and arrogant, but he’s also kind, respectful, and strangely adorable; there have been enough hints to his backstory that I’m pretty sure I know what it is, but I’m still hooked enough to want to actually read the rest. Isobel is creative and wise, but she’s also susceptible to her feelings (though I suppose we all have slips of the brain for love) and she’s occasionally more forthright than is likely healthy for a human in her situation. But still, all the qualities together make her more human, make both of them more human; they have hearts, and I can see them aching and beating on every page. All-in-all, I’m enchanted and excited to watch this simultaneously swift and slow unfolding to see how it all turns out in the end.

One thing I really like is the falling in love. There’s some instalove and some... unwise decisions because of it, but in the end, I really like the portrayal of her confusion in it all. How Isobel tries to pick apart her emotions, examining each one to see what’s real, then comparing them with her love interest’s to see if his are real. It's complex and thought-provoking, instead of just, "head over heels, I'M IN LOVE WITH HIM." Which is different and neat.

This is my favorite quote so far:

Seeing a confession of love in his eyes was nothing like hearing it declared aloud. This was a look that would make time stop, if it could. Soft and sharp at once, an aching tenderness edged with sorrow, naked proof of a heart already broken. Here I stood in a dragonfly dress, holding arm, and he knew our time was almost over.

The exposition and descriptions are all like that: so beautiful.

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So what have you been reading lately? Have you seen this one before? Can’t wait to hear from you, and I’ll see you in the comment section!

So I went to a concert this weekend. And got to see Tobymac, Hollyn, and Aaron Cole live. via GIPHY All of them were incredible ...

So I went to a concert this weekend. And got to see Tobymac, Hollyn, and Aaron Cole live.

via GIPHY

All of them were incredible and absolutely worth standing out in 30-degree weather, with freezing rain and snow cascading onto my already sick body (happened to get a cold the night before the concert, so that was nice). Earlier that day, I wasn’t sure I was gonna make it, but honestly, the first set alone, Aaron Cole, was 110% worth coming out.

I hadn’t heard much of Aaron Cole’s music before, but I was utterly captivated the second he came on stage. His authenticity and energy was so inspiring to watch; there was something about the way he performed that was just... so genuine and real, you’d have to see it live, and I could just feel his excitement about getting to be on stage and perform and talk about what Jesus has done in his life and to use his own story to help bring others’ stories to Christ. It was truly amazing, and I was enraptured from beginning to end.

So, of course, this meant I looked up all of his music the second I got home (well, technically the next day), so I could show his songs to you guys.

So what did you think of the song? Have you seen any awesome live acts lately? Can't wait to hear from you, and I'll see you in the comment section!

Empowered Women Collective Website .  My IRL friend Sarah just launched her new blog, all about empowering other women through authentic s...

Empowered Women Collective Website.  My IRL friend Sarah just launched her new blog, all about empowering other women through authentic stories and viewpoints of strength. I even got to help out with some of the behind-the-scenes in the first few posts, so I can’t wait for you guys to see all of them. :D

Snow White Party by Skye. GO CONGRATULATE HER AND CELEBRATE HER AWESOME STORY!!! I AM SO EXCITED FOR HER WIN!

The Power of Words Tag by Charisma. She has some great answers to my questions. I especially love the last two: that quote is fantastic and it makes me excited about just getting to live life. Also, I gotta know what a book with that title would be like.

Cover Reveal by Julian Daventry. This is actually Julian hosting another blogger’s cover reveal, but if you’re into fairytale retellings, CHECK THIS OUT. The cover is gorgeous, and the description pulls you right in. All of the sudden, I am pretty excited for May 28th, lol.

Julian also shares here about her own WIP: what went into some of the musical sections in her book and what music she uses for inspiration. It’s really neat!

Grantech Opening Scene by R. M. Archer. This excerpt was exciting for me, so it counts, lol. Seriously though! The ending is so epic and suspenseful.

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Well, that is all I got for this week! Do you have any special stories behind the music of your novel? Posted any excerpts lately? I’d love to check them out! Can’t wait to hear from you, and I’ll see you in the comment section!