IWSG Update 10/2020: Is It Over Yet?

3:51 PM Elizabeth Seckman 63 Comments


Yes, it is still 2020. There's no way around it. We just have to get through it. 
On the bright side, in a few years, we'll be able to brag about being survivors. 
Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. And smile. 


Insecurities for this month are pretty much the usual kinda stuff...what else does 2020 have in store for us all? Yesterday, boy #4 was driving down the road and a tree limb fell from a bank onto his car smashing the front end and windshield. He's fine, thank God. The car, however, was totaled. How so very 2020. 

Keep saying it...stuff can be replaced. It will be all right. 

It did put me behind posting this. I am my usual procrastinating self and I'm still getting things done on an as needed basis.
One day. One day, I swear, I will have my work done ahead of schedule. Like the Ninja. 

And I'm going to start being a better blogger. I've been getting myself oriented and situated at my new day job (2020 has pushed the field of social work wide open! Where there is instability, chaos, and isolation there is a greater need for mental health services, so I'm back in an office...and being an even slower writer.) 

But I miss you guys and will be making my rounds. 

But there is good news! 

I have a new book coming out October 12th!!


Pre-order now! 
Cover art by Al Diaz AKA Father Dragon

Some hearts are fixer-uppers, hers is a total flip.

For Danni Lowry, going home for her aunt’s funeral means facing reality, and that’s not something she’s eager to do. Since leaving North Carolina, she’s lost her money, her husband, and all hope for happiness.

She goes to the memorial, but regret hits her on arrival. She is about to leave when she bumps into Fisher, her childhood friend and one-time sweetheart. For him, she will stay for the memorial that challenges her grief… and her sanity. During the service, Danni swears she sees her aunt—the dead one—bouncing about, making fun and cracking jokes.

Certain she’s lost her mind, Danni tries again to go, but Aunt Max won’t allow it. She is a reminder that Danni has obligations. There is the hotel. It is now Danni’s, and a sensible person would flip it before selling it. There is young Darby, the orphaned teen her aunt was adopting. Danni couldn’t leave the child homeless. And finally, there is Fisher— loyal, dependable, heart-skippingly-handsome Fisher. The guy she didn’t realize she missed until he was gone.

Fisher offers to help her with the renovations hoping she’ll stay long enough for him to convince her they are meant to be together. Danni agrees to the help and to the friendship, but nothing more. She will not lose Fisher to love. Not again. It’s better to stay friends. Friends don’t break up like lovers do.



This month's optional question: When you think of the term working writer, what does that look like to you? What do you think it is supposed to look like? Do you see yourself as a working writer or aspiring or hobbyist, and if latter two, what does that look like?

I imagine a working writer as this magical creature who strides to the bank with stacks and stacks of checks to cash. A bit like a unicorn, they're elusive little creatures often avoiding the din of the not-yet-successful writers they might have known in their previous lives as struggling wordsmiths. 

As I read the second half of the question, I realized I misunderstood the first part of the question, but in my tenacious attempts at finishing this post and hitting publish, I will simply say: 
Write for pleasure, hope for profits. Enjoy what it is you're doing. 

Many thanks to our host and leader, the Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh. And a HUGE thank you to our co- hosts for this month: Jemima Pett, Beth Camp, Beverly Stowe McClure, and Gwen Gardner!


Join our Reading Community with the Goodreads IWSG Book Club!

For October/November, we will be reading Animal Farm by George Orwell to study symbolism.
Discussions will take place in November.


Mark your calendars for the next #IWSGPit Twitter Pitch Event!


The next #IWSGPit will be in January 20, 2021
8:00 am - 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time

Create a Twitter-length pitch for your completed and polished manuscript and leave room for genre, age, and the hashtag. On January 20, 2021, Tweet your pitch. If your pitch receives a favorite/heart from a publisher/agent check their submission guidelines and send your requested query.



Image by Anita S. from Pixabay

63 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your new book! That's an awesome cover by Father Dragon!
    I think you are definitely a working writer. I hope social work gives you plenty of time to imagine possibilities, as well as do the awesome work involved. You are a hero!
    And yes, 2021 needs to get here soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Father Dragon did do a great job.

      I missed social work, so I am happy to be back in the job.

      Delete
  2. Congrats on the new book! And I'm glad your son is ok. Definitely sounds like a 2020 moment.

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, it's not every day a tree falls on you, unless it's 2020. LOL

      Delete
  3. Whooboy, glad your son is okay. I'm sorry to hear that the car is totaled. That sucks. Grats on the book! Woot! I hope your office job treats you well.

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    Replies
    1. We felt very blessed it wasn't worse than it was. The tree limb went punctured the windshield and popped the hood up blocking his vision completely. It could have been so much worse.

      Delete
  4. We're all struggling, so it's all right.
    Congratulations on the new book!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh my goodness! Right on his car? Yes, totally 2020. We may wish it away, yet I fear November might bring about something even worse.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep. Straight down from a hillside into the road. We have plenty of signs that remind WV drivers to watch for falling rocks; I suppose we need one that says "timber".
      We are a deeply entrenched nation. Let's pray we can remember we're all Americans first, Democrats and Republicans second.

      Delete
  6. Thank goodness boy #4 is okay, Elizabeth! And congratulations on your latest release!

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  7. Oh so glad to hear son #4 is okay. Yes, truly a 2020 moment. Though I've had some good things happen this year, it has been tough, especially now when summer is over. I can't wait to read the new book!!! Love the cover!

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    Replies
    1. I hate saying good bye to summer in the good times, much less with all of this. Maybe we can write summer stories and pretend it's summer?

      Delete
  8. Glad your son is okay. And that you have a new job. Congrats on your new book!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Natalie!

      I feel very blessed. Many aren't so lucky.

      Delete
  9. Congratulations on your book!!!
    Wow! What happened to your son could have been tragic! I am sooo happy to read he didn't get hurt!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Cathrina! I think I saw you have a new book out too that I need to check out, right?

      Delete
  10. Glad to hear your son is okay. Whew!

    All the best with the new book!

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  11. So glad your son was all right. How frightening. Love your comment: so 2020.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catchy, right? My kids are tired of me saying it. LOL

      Delete
  12. I love your advice and I’d love to be a unicorn :)
    Congrats on the new book!

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    Replies
    1. I'm so glad it made sense. I started with a certain mindset, then realized I had most likely misunderstood the question, but didn't have the energy or brain cells left for a rewrite.

      Delete
  13. Glad your son is okay. What a shock though!

    Did I miss the news about your job, or are you just sharing it now? Either way, congrats, hope it goes well.

    I've got your new book pre-ordered :-) And looking forward to getting stuck into it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for pre-ordering!

      I have been so bad at updating! I don't know if I've mentioned it or not. I started mid August as the Family Resource Coordinator for my county. I always loved social work, so with all the boys out of the house, I thought, "What better time to fill my plate to full again and just stay busy for the rest of my life?" LOL

      Delete
  14. Oh gosh, I didn't realize you were so far along on your book. When is it available for pre-order? AND I'd love to feature it on the blog.

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    1. I don't know that I mentioned it. I've been too obsessed with my historical and the follow up to to About Her. It's available now for pre-order and will be released October 12th.

      Sandra, you're probably noticing that I am a bit scattered, right?

      Delete
  15. I'm really glad your son is okay!

    And a big congratulations on your upcoming release!

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  16. Congrats on the new book. That stinks about your son's car, but things can be replaced indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  17. That was a scary thing about a tree. At least your boy is OK. This year just sucks for everyone.
    Congrats on your new book. Nice cover.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is a trial year, that's for sure. I console myself by imagining how bad 1918 was and then I feel a bit better. By comparison, I think we're getting off easy.

      Delete
  18. Yipes, I sure am glad your son's guardian angel was on the job to protect him. That accident could've been so much worse. Think of it as a very bright spot in this otherwise maddening year.

    Going back to the social work you love and publishing another book are pretty darned bright, too. Congrats on both accounts. The plot sound so familiar... did I maybe read a draft of it? No matter. I pre-ordered it, and I know I'll love it.

    Take care, kiddo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He did have a guardian angel, that's for sure! I do think of it as a bright spot. There is always that reality in my head that there are so many people who get phone calls that aren't that lucky. There are tragedies in life and there are hiccups. This was a hiccup.

      You have read this book. A few years ago when it was still in the draft stage. Maybe you'll see changes that you suggested. :)

      Thank you for pre-ordering!!

      Delete
  19. OMG! I'm glad he's okay. But the car... Ugh.
    I pre-ordered the book! Can't wait!

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    Replies
    1. I know you've had your own fair share of car replacing to do. Yes. It's a headache!

      Delete
  20. Oh man, I'm so glad your son is okay. The car can be replaced. Unfortunate though. Congrats on your new release and your new job. Stay safe out there!

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  21. Scattered. Ha. Aren't we all?
    I'm looking forward to another wonderful read.

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  22. Thank you Patricia! I will!

    And you're right. Cars aren't cheap to replace, fortunately he doesn't really need a car for anything but getting back and forth to school.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Love your tagline. Perfect. Glad your son is okay. That must have been scary for him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!

      He was very shaken up. I suppose it's good to get to experience how quickly things go awry without any real harm.

      Delete
  24. Another book? I'm proud of you. How do you do it?
    CONGRATULATIONS, Elizabeth!
    Keep on keepin on and rocking it all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I get chubbier every year and I have dust bunnies I could probably get added to the national historic record

      Delete
  25. A tree, wow. So glad he's alright! Congratulations on the new book. Yay, something great to read! I think we all want to be the elusive unicorn writer. Hope is eternal!

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  26. Chaos and mayhem... Expect sightings of Dean Winters and Littlefinger. But yes, things can be replaced; the people we love can't.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm enjoying my current read. Wink. Wink.
    Is the weather cooling there?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you have great taste in reads. :)

      We have a freeze warning for tonight. I'll have to bring my plants in. Ugh

      Delete
  28. Did it freeze?
    Got a little frosty here.

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    Replies
    1. No, but it did get very chilly. I had to flip on the heater.

      Delete
  29. This year has been terrible for my in one way and good in another. Terrible because I have been unable to find a job after loosing mine last October. No money coming in means not being able to enjoy the time I have off or to even get much needed home repairs done. Im bored and have gained 15 lbs.
    On the good side, I have loved spending a lot of time with my husband, taking bike rides and walks during the day with other stay at home neighbors. We have also been free to spend more time at our beach place.
    I’m ready for a new year and for everything to go back to normal.
    Congrats on the new book! I just purchased It for my Kindle.
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is not a good time for job searches. Covid has put a lot of life and businesses on hold. You're a smart woman to make the best of it. I know you're a talented lady, so I'm sure you will think of something to do or will find a job. But you never know, you may have something better to do by the time life gets back to normal.

      Thank you so much for picking up the book. I hope you enjoy it.

      Delete
  30. That twitter pitch is wonderful for authors looking for a home. Good on IWSG.
    YOU have a great evening. Hope your muse is hollering in your ear.

    ReplyDelete

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