Monday, May 31, 2021

⭐Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tour Kick Off⭐ THE TRUTH BEHIND THE MASK by W.L. Brooks #Romantic #Suspense⭐



A Romantic Suspense Must Read…



By W.L. Brooks

Title: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE MASK
Author: W.L. Brooks
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Pages: 302
Genre: Romantic Suspense

BOOK BLURB:

Is Alexandra McKay the reason her sister Fletcher left town? Yes. Does that mean Alex wants to put her life on hold to bring the little beast back? No! But when she discovers her sister’s been abducted, Alex will do whatever it takes to rescue her.

Giving up his PI gig was tough, but Jake Keller would rather do that any day than partner up with Alexandra McKay. Unfortunately, if he wants to find his friend Fletcher, he has to work with Her Royal Pain-in-the-Behind-ness. Hot or not, the woman makes his jaw twitch.

Forced together by circumstance, and ensnared in a web of clues, the pair submit to their undeniable passion. But if they’re unwilling to face the truth, they will risk not only Fletcher’s life but their own chance at happiness.





“Get the hell out of there, Alexandra. Get the hell out or I’m coming in,” he warned through her earbud.

 “Just stick to the plan,” she hissed.

“I will if you will. Shit!”

 She got to the first landing. “What now?”

“Neighborhood security. Damn it all to hell.”

 “Show your PI license.” She cocked her head to the side. Was someone up here?

 “I know that, princess, but I’m going to have to cut off communication so we don’t get arrested. Get out of the house! Good evening, officers…”

Static filled her ears, and she slipped the earpiece out. There was no way she wasn’t going up to the second landing. Jacob would have to get over it. The wood under her feet groaned; she cringed. She glanced up the last few steps. Nothing. She tiptoed into the hall; it looked like some creepy maze. Wonderful.

 She walked with her back to the wall until she came upon the only room with light shining under the door. Putting her ear against the cool wood, she tried to make out any movement; again nothing. Dr. Drake didn’t have any pets or girlfriends, so what in the hell was going on? She took off her goggles and hooked them onto her belt; she didn’t want the light to make her hesitate. She took a deep breath, put one hand on the knob, the other on the door, and pushed it open…

 

 



  









W.L. Brooks was born with an active imagination.  When characters come into her mind, she has to give them a life- a chance to tell their stories. With a coffee cup in her hand and a cat by her side, she spends her days letting the ideas flow onto paper.  A voracious reader, she draws her inspiration from mystery, romance, suspense and a dash of the paranormal.

A native of Virginia Beach, she is currently living in Western North Carolina. Pick up her latest novel, Unearthing the Past – available now!

WEBSITE | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK

 

 




Unearthing the Past









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Thursday, May 27, 2021

⭐A Bookish Conversation with 'The Fragile Ones' Jennifer Chase⭐@jchasenovelist #pumpupyourbook #interview



Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and USA Today BestSelling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.  She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://authorjenniferchase.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jchasenovelist

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferChase

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2780337.Jennifer_Chase


Before you started writing your book, what kind of research did you do to prepare yourself?

I spend time making sure that the forensic and crime scene portions of my book, The Fragile Ones, is current and correct. Even though my background is in forensics and criminology, there are always new technologies emerging and fun twists that I can incorporate for readers. With every book, I find that I need to clarify things such as settings and perhaps some historical background. I love research. You learn something new! I have a tendency to dig further into research because it can often help for another book.

Did you pursue publishers or did you opt to self-pub?

I initially self-published and was happy doing that. I had thought about submitting manuscripts to publishers a crime fiction series idea, but hadn't had a chance. My current publisher, Bookouture, contacted me when one of the promotion and marketing specialist had read my work. As a writer, I have a million ideas and series running through my head, so I pitched the idea for the Detective Katie Scott series. I had wanted to write a series about an Army veteran that was a military K9 handler and now works cold cases for the local sheriff's department. It was a dream come true. The sixth book in the series will be out later this year.



If published by a publisher, what was your deciding factor in going with them?

I weighed my freedom as a writer, being my own publisher, against what a publisher had to offer me. The publisher handles all the editing, cover design, book synopsis, and promotion. Whew! That takes so much work and effort away from a writer's job—which is writing.

If published by a publisher, are you happy with the price they chose?

Yes, for paperbacks and audio. I would like to see the e-book a bit higher, but I understand that they use the lower prices for specials and the sales reflect their decisions.

Did you write your book, then revise or revise as you went?

It depends. I usually write a few chapters and then I revise as I re-read the story. It's generally true when it's a really important part of the story, such as a pivotal scene, crime scene, or when the killer is revealed to the reader—and the detective.

Did you consider making or hiring someone to make a book trailer for your book?  If so, what’s the link?

Yes, definitely. Pump up Your Book did my trailer. Here's the link: https://youtu.be/NGSF2iEGlD4

What’s your opinion on giving your book away to sell other copies of your book?

I think it all depends on several factors. For example, if you have a series that's been around for a while, then giving away the first in the series is fine, but only for a special period of time. But I don't recommend leaving it free forever. Being a writer means selling books and earning money for your product. E-books in particular are already at a reasonable if not cheap price, so I feel that most readers can afford to buy them.

What are three of the most important things you believe an author should do before their book is released?

Polish. Prepare. Promote.



What are three of the most important things you believe an author should do after their book is released?

Enjoy it and take a breath—you've earned it. Promote. Blog.

What kind of pre-promotion did you do before the book came out?  

I have an ongoing blog and author Facebook page, which I let readers know about the upcoming release of books and then when it's released. Along the way, I post articles related to the book and the series—crime topics, forensics, and K9 information. I change pricing on the previous book in the series to gain attention again. I set up a blog tour for interviews, articles, and reviews. And basically never stop promoting.

Do you have a long term plan with your book?

Since, The Fragile Ones, is part of a series, I plan on several more books in the series. It's important to keep the hype about all the books fresh and interesting for new readers.

What would you like to say to your readers and fans about your book?

Thank you. Thank you so much for reading and enjoying my Detective Katie Scott series. I mean that sincerely. Every day when I sit down at my desk and begin to write, I'm so happy and thankful that I have readers and fans that enjoy my stories. I have a job that I love and wouldn't be able to do it without all the readers.

 

Inside the Book


Title: THE FRAGILE ONES
Author: Jennifer Chase
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 300
Genre: Crime Thriller

BOOK BLURB:

“Please Mommy, can Tessa and I go play on the swing by the creek?” the little girl begs, pushing a blonde curl from her eyes. “We’ll stay together, and we promise to be safe.” Hours later, their mother waits anxiously for her darling girls to arrive home with a list of reasons why they are late. But the front door never opens…

When the bodies of eleven and twelve-year-old sisters, Tessa and Megan, are found at the bottom of a ravine—dressed in matching pastel summer outfits, their small bodies broken from the fall—Detective Katie Scott is called to one of the most shocking and heartbreaking crime scenes of her career.

Carefully picking through the fragile remains, Katie makes the first of many disturbing discoveries: the girls were not biological sisters. The youngest, Megan, is a DNA match to a kidnapping case years before. The tiny number burnt into her skin the mark of a terrifying killer intent on keeping count of his collection.

Her PTSD from the army triggered, Katie is left reeling as she maps other missing children in the local area. Has this twisted soul found a way to stay nearby his victims? Could he be watching now as Katie hits one dead end after another?

A wild storm building, matching a fiber found during the autopsy to a nearby boatyard is the break Katie needs. But when another girl goes missing, just as lightning strikes and the power goes out, Katie only has her instincts, her team and her service dog to rely on. As time runs out for Katie to finds the stolen child alive, who will become the next number on this monster’s deadly list?

Fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh, you better buckle-up for the ride of your life! BEWARE – this gripping crime thriller is guaranteed to keep you up all night!



Wow!!!… a page-turningnail-biting crime thriller!!… absolutely fantastic… had me completely hooked… filled with nail-biting suspense… keeps you on edge.’ Bookworm86, 5 stars

Excellent… nail-biting… had me enthralled from page one gripped through each twist and turn… jaw-dropping and totally unexpected… brilliant.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

My heart was in my throat… kept me tapping my e-reader screen.’ Robin Loves Reading, 5 stars

Oh, my goodness!… non-stop!’ Diane is Reading, 5 stars

THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS PUTTING THIS BOOK DOWN!!!!!… I was literally holding my breath… I HAD TO KNOW!!!!! As for the explosive ending? WOW definitely not what or who I was expecting.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

 


https://amzn.to/38AVsdG

⭐A Bookish Conversation with 'The Pilate Scroll' M.B. Lewis⭐ #pumpupyourbook #interview


M.B. Lewis is an Amazon #1 International Bestselling Author, and his books have also been on the Bestseller lists on Barnes and Noble Nook and Kobo platforms. The author of the award-winning Jason Conrad Thriller series has been on numerous author panels at writer’s conferences such as Thrillerfest, The Louisiana Book Festival, The Pensacola Book and Writers Festival, and Killer Nashville.

A 25-year Air Force pilot, he has flown special operations combat missions in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan in the AC-130U Spooky Gunship. Michael is currently a pilot for a major U.S. airline.

A proud Christian active in his community, Michael has mentored college students on leadership development and team-building and is a facilitator for an international leadership training program. He has participated as a buddy for the Tim Tebow Foundation’s “Night to Shine” and in his church’s Military Ministry program. Michael has also teamed with the Air Commando Foundation, which supports Air Commando’s and their families’ unmet needs during critical times.

While his adventures have led to travels all around the world, Michael lives in Florida with his wife Kim.

His latest book is The Pilate Scroll.

You can visit his website at www.thepilatescroll.com.


Before you started writing your book, what kind of research did you do to prepare yourself?

I knew part of the back-story would contain the Emperor Constantine, so I read a biography on him, and did plenty of internet searches as well. I’ve been reading the Bible daily, or mostly daily, for the last thirteen years. I also researched ancient puzzles, the development of paper, and other intricacies.

Did you pursue publishers or did you opt to self-pub?

I went the indie route. We have our own publishing company that we published my Jason Conrad Thriller series under. I did pitch to one agent, and him only, but he wasn’t interested at the time. That’s okay, he gave me some great pointers that made the manuscript better. I like going the indie route because I can establish the timeline for my book release.



If self-published, did you hire someone to format the eBook version for you or did you do it yourself?  Can you tell us what that was like?

I formatted the book myself. I use an iMac and the software program Vellum. I made the switch from Windows a couple of years ago and the time-saving has been amazing. What used to take me a week to do, hand-jamming into MS Word (which I still use to write on my Mac), I now do in a couple of hours.

If self-published, how did you determine the price?

It’s determined by the comparative market out there. The quality of my books are as good as traditionally published books in the marketplace, so they’re priced to match. Of course, since I’m an indie, I can adjust it how I see fit. Sometimes you have to bend and flex to reach your goals. Also, this is the first time I’ve printed a hardback. Because it is outsourced by another printer, you’ve got to price it high enough to return just a little (very little) profit when sold online.



Did you purposefully choose a distinct month to release your book?  Why?

Not really. The Pilate Scroll was completed for six months before it was released. Again, a benefit of being an indie; sometimes, life gets in the way. I pushed the launch back to April of 2021 for my own convenience and I’m glad I did. It also gave me more time to look at the book two or three “last” times.

How did you choose your cover?

I used Damonza, the same cover artist I use for all my books. The first two samples he gave me weren’t quite in the vein of the story. But when he sent the third, he nailed it. The cover tells you there’s an adventure inside, just waiting to happen!



Did you write your book, then revise or revise as you went?

I write straight through the first draft without any revision. I heard Brad Thor explain this years ago and I made total sense. He said, “Never be afraid to let yourself write a bad first draft.” His point was, if you’re constantly revising the book during the first draft, you’ll never finish. Keep pushing through the first draft and fix it in the re-write. I actually love the re-write process. I’ve rearranged paragraphs as well as chapters. Its where you fix the story so that it makes sense. I think new authors tend to revise while they write—I know I did on my first book. Part of that was because I was teaching myself the process. It took five years to write my first draft of my first book. But I wasn’t working on it full time, I went to three different aircraft schools, two different military educational schools, and finished my master’s degree during this time. Like I said earlier, life gets in the way.

Did you come up with special swag for your book and how are you using it to help get the word out about your book?  

I did! Quite by accident, I found these tiny scrolls with Bible verses on them! They are quite cool. I sent them with the hardcover book that I sent to the people who helped me with the book. I keep buying as many of them as I can, so I can give them out once I start having book signings.



Did you consider making or hiring someone to make a book trailer for your book?  If so, what’s the link?

No, I make my own book trailers using iMovie on my Mac. You can see them all here: https://www.michaelbyarslewis.com/media

What’s your opinion on giving your book away to sell other copies of your book?



It’s a necessity. It’s a very competitive world out there. As an indie author, you’ve got to get your book in front of readers. Fortunately, the digital age makes it not only easy, but affordable for the indie author to do this. It’s best to create what’s called a ‘Reader Magnet’. Something you can give away for free but is used to draw the reader to the rest of your books. Of course, the downside of giving away something for free, is that it usually sits in the e-reader longer or sometimes forever, because people are going to read what they pay for first.

What are three of the most important things you believe an author should do before their book is released?

  1. Find a good editor.
  2. Find a good proofreader.
  3. Find Beta Readers who will be honest with you.

What are three of the most important things you believe an author should do after their book is released?

  1. Start writing the next book.
  2. Keep pushing the book into the marketplace. Indie authors don’t have the advantage of big budget advertising. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
  3. Network, network, network.



What kind of pre-promotion did you do before the book came out? 

I redesigned my website and set up pre-sale links to all the major retailers. I had a cover reveal; first on my newsletter-then on my group page & author page. I got as many endorsements as I could as soon as possible. All of my social media pages were updated with the pending release date and pre-sale information. As the date got closer, I experimented with some pre-sale advertising on BookBub and Facebook, but not much. I also set up a lot of Amazon advertising, which has been running continuously for about four months. Two months out, I set up an eBook giveaway on Goodreads and I also had a newsletter signup where I gave away a Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible.

Do you have a long-term plan with your book?

Keep marketing the book, reaching new readers and expanding the audience. At some point, I may take the eBook exclusively to Kindle, but that remains to be seen. There are too many readers on those platforms right now to stop that lifeline. I’ll look into making an audiobook soon and people have talked to me about translating the story into a film. Like I said earlier, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. This book has such depth and breadth, there’s a lot of audience out there that are looking for a book like this, we’ve just got to get it in front of them.

What would you like to say to your readers and fans about your book?

The Pilate Scroll came out several weeks ago and the reviews have been fantastic! There’s nothing else out there like it. This is the kind of book that parents can read with their kids and actually have a conversation about what took place. As one reviewer said, “Fun read! My kid is at the level where he's ready for more exciting and mature topics, but the mom in me sides away from graphic or too 'adult' themes. This book was perfect! An engaging thriller that he really got into, and I enjoyed as well. (In fact, I had a hard time putting it down.) We're hoping Mike Lewis has another one in progress!” Check it out, you won’t be disappointed.

 

Inside the Book



 

A quest to save the world . . . a secret that could change it. Forever.

Kadie Jenkins is a survivor. Now part of an elite group of scholars and scientists, their mission is to stop an impending global terrorist threat. But when a colleague is murdered in Egypt, Kadie finds herself pitted against a foe more terrifying than the one they were trying to stop. Teaming up with a renegade pilot and her younger brother, they find themselves in a race against time, greed, and certain death. Can they uncover a 2000-year-old legend to save themselves and possibly the rest of the world?

PRAISE

“WARNING: Sleep deprivation likely. This Christian thriller is a page-turner; more like a page burner. Think Indiana Jones meets God’s Not Dead! M.B. Lewis decided to “take a risk” and write a Christian thriller and he has hit a walk-off homerun with The Pilate Scroll. From the opening page, you’re captivated by the action, intensity and intrigue, and especially the emotional connections, good and bad, among the characters. Along the way, the gospel of Jesus Christ is wonderfully-woven into the story, without being preachy but also theologically-sound. The “fictional historical” and the factual references throughout the book are so well presented it’s hard to determine which is which. It’ll have you doing extra research! Mike has written a gem. I can’t wait to see this on the big screen; it is worthy of being made into a movie. “

– David Jeffers is the Amazon Best-Selling Author of Man Up! What the Bible Says About Being A Man, Losing Evangelicals: How Christians Are Leaving Jesusland, and the Eavesdropping on God devotional series. David has appeared on Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk, Christian Television Network’s Homekeepers with Arthelene Rippy, and numerous radio interviews.

“If you took The Da Vinci Code and tossed it toward Raiders of the Lost Ark, you’d have this book! The Pilate Scroll is an exciting adventure from the very first page. It has everything—a strong heroine, a sweet younger brother, a true hero, and pesky villains who show up and wreak havoc. But it also has a strong faith thread that brings it all together. Katie, Brian and Duke are forced to search for a possible declaration from Pontius Pilate that could change history. I won’t give away the details, but it sure touched me! I highly recommend this book!”

– Lenora Worth, New York Times Best-Selling Author

“World-altering stakes meet sacrificial love in a story that lifts both the soul and the heart rate. M.B. Lewis handles a tough subject with sensitivity and grace while keeping the pages flying with realism only a been-there-done-that combat veteran can offer.” 

– James R. Hannibal, Award-Winning Author of The Gryphon Heist

“The many years that the author, Michael Lewis, has spent as a military and civilian pilot, flying internationally into fascinating cities and cultures all over the world, properly prepared him to write such an action-packed novel as The Pilate Scroll. If you love drama, mystery, and surprise, you will love this new book.  Amid all of the normal things that you would anticipate from this excellent author who is continuing to grow in popularity, Lewis adds a new spiritual dimension to this book. In sharing the drama of a team on a passionate mission, Lewis weaves into the story a spiritual dimension that is filled with the author’s excellent knowledge of the Bible, his deep understandings of the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the virtues of Christianity found in forgiveness, redemption, transformation, and healing. He also exhibits a deep knowledge of the sacred sites so familiar in the life of Jesus, as well as keen insights regarding the teachings of church fathers through the centuries.”   

– Dr. Karl K. Stegall, Pastor Emeritus
First United Methodist Church
Montgomery, Alabama

“Lewis courageously steps away from the mainstream to answer a higher call to deliver this epic Christian thriller. Well done!”

– Gary Westfal, Life Coach and Best-Selling Author, Goal Mind

“The Pilate Scroll is an emotional rollercoaster that includes everything; from good guys with hyper-spiritual awareness and faith to bad guys with questionable ethics or lack thereof… and the perfect combination of action and moments that pull at your heartstrings. Indiana Jonesmeets Ted Dekker in this fun, realistic portrayal of a tale that, if it were true – the world might be better off not knowing it ever happened. But the best part is, the author leaves that for the reader to decide. Without ruining the ending, let me just say there haven’t been many action novels that moved me to tears. This one did. God bless those that read it. And the author that wrote it. A highly recommended novel for believers and nonbelievers alike.”

– Jason E. Fort is the creator and author of Fortress Books 

“M.B. Lewis has created a heart-stopping suspense novel with faith at the heart of its main character, Kadie. The plot is original and genuinely intriguing, and so are the characters, especially Kadie, who is strong yet vulnerable. I like the way Lewis has crafted this character to be flawed and relatable, not a super-Christian without problems. This woman hasn’t felt her faith in a long time, but the events that occur in her life shake her. As you read, you feel for her vulnerable position, and really become invested in the mystery and intrigue crafted by the author. I also like the relationship between Kadie and her special-needs younger brother, Brian. You don’t have to be a Christian to enjoy this story of forgiveness and healing, but it is brimming with biblical themes and knee-deep in history and culture. The Pilate Scroll by M.B. Lewis is a must-read for those craving a top-tier faith-based suspense novel. Fans of Dan Brown will love this book.”

-Tammy Ruggles – Readers’ Favorite

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/3qeoaHg

iBooks → https://apple.co/307m29p

B&N → https://bit.ly/307i4Oj

Kobo → https://bit.ly/3bcA4Nu

Sunday, May 16, 2021

⭐Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tour Kick Off⭐ THE FIRE INSIDE: A COMPANION FOR THE CREATIVE LIFE by Lucy Adkins & Becky Breed #Creativity #Selfhelp

  


Wherever you are in your creative life---just tiptoeing in or fully immersed, The Fire Inside can be a source of encouragement and inspiration…





By Lucy Adkins & Becky Breed

Title: THE FIRE INSIDE: A COMPANION FOR THE CREATIVE LIFE
Author: Lucy Adkins & Becky Breed
Publisher: WriteLife Publishing
Pages: 290
Genre: Creativity / Self-Help

BOOK BLURB:

The underlying principle of The Fire Inside is that we all have within us vast untapped reservoirs of creativity, and when we recognize and begin to connect with that potential, our lives will open in ways we cannot begin to imagine. Many books have been written about the art and craft of individual disciplines of creativity. Yet few are so inclusive, so welcoming as this book, offering insight not only for furthering ones abilities in the traditional arts, but also in our day to day creativity, which so enriches our lives.

Based on the authors’ combined fifty-five years of teaching, working with writing groups and providing workshops on writing and creativity, The Fire Inside is written in a spirit of warmth and generosity. It invites the reader to:

Say yes to creativity and the nurturing it provides

Choose to live a bigger life

Uncover inner sources of inspiration and discover how “the magic” happens

Become a part of the creative community

Let go of forces that try to limit you

Develop skills for what it takes to live more creatively

Locate the “sweet spot” needed to build your life as an artist and creative being

Wherever  one may be in his or her creative life—just tiptoeing in or fully immersed in the life of the imagination, The Fire Inside will be a companion in that life, a source of encouragement and inspiration. The manuscript is composed short essays designed to provide a daily dose of support and motivation. It includes anecdotes, inspirational quotations and end of chapter meditations and exercises which ask Why not me? What gets in my way of being creative? In what unknown ways am I waiting to blossom. 

More and more, we hunger for meaning and for opportunities of self-expression. The Fire Inside, in its bite-sized essays which can be read in five or ten minute increments, speaks to that hunger, and provides a source of the creative nourishment we all need.




Deep within us, we have a yearning, a passion, a desire to make and to do, to create something out of our hearts and imaginations that did not exist before. To bring forth something new upon the earth. It is innate in us, this intense wanting, and when we are engaged in the specific type of creativity we were meant to do—whether it be painting, writing, making music, or designing a new way to educate our children—we experience what Martha Graham calls “a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening.” It’s what puts the spark in our eyes, the skip in our steps. It is the fire inside.
         Do you know that fire? Sometimes it manifests itself as restlessness,a vague dissatisfaction, a feeling that there is something important you must do, you have to do, to be true to yourself. It is the little ache you feel when you read a story that is heartbreakingly true and think I want to do that, or when you see a painting that stuns you with its power, and your fingers itch to pick up a paintbrush. Maybe it isn’t exactly clear what is burning inside, what you want and are put on earth to do. Or perhaps you know in your bones that you must write poetry, you must dance or die, you must create gardens of incredible beauty, but maybe you’re afraid that if you try you will fall flat on your face. You doubt yourself and your abilities. This is the way we humans are, having an intense wanting on one hand, fear and doubt on the other. But let us accept as an essential truth that we are all creative, wildly creative, each and every one of us— that we have vast reserves of untapped talents and abilities—songs only we can write, sculptures waiting to be born from the unique spirit that is us; and when we accept that belief and act on it, oh, then! We wake each day with a new animation, a vibrancy and passion. We feel like children let out of a stuffy classroom into a blue-sky spring day, and we can’t wait to see what we can do with it.
         The fire inside is the “something” that fascinates you, intrigues you, so that you go to sleep and wake up thinking about it. You want to study it from all its interesting angles and make it central to your life, keep working at it, falling short in your aspirations at times, but trying and trying again. And if you are not currently involved with something that brings with it such zeal, if you’ve kept your fire tamped down, unable to act on your passion for whatever reason, know that it is still there—the beginning of days filled with intense purpose and meaning, waiting for you.

The Highest Kite
         Imagination is the highest kite that can fly.
         —Lauren Bacall, By Myself and Then Some          The human brain is a remarkable thing. It keeps the body going, stores knowledge, analyzes, remembers, puts two and two together to make sense of the world, and somehow allows for the miracle of imagination. When we were children, we lived in worlds rich in imagination, allowing us to transform a blanket draped over a chair into a cave, the tree-filled ditch behind the house into a secret forest. We carried out endless adventures in the worlds we created, the synapses in our brains sparking with delight and excitement.
         But when we become adults and take on duty and responsibility, we don’t invite imagination out to play as much as we used to. The good news—especially for those wanting to live more creative lives—is that we can become just as involved in flights of fancy as we used to be, rediscovering the world in all its beauty, its design as well as its asymmetrical magnificence. Ask yourself: if you were a little seed in the ground waiting for spring to warm you and pull the green livingness of you up to the sun, what would that be like? If you were a baby robin in a blue egg in a nest, how would it be pecking your way into the world? Crazy questions, maybe, but ones that can stimulate us to bursts of creativity, and as Lauren Bacall suggests, that is a joyous way of living in this world.
         So, if you haven’t exercised the muscles of your imagination lately, why not start now? Not that you have to embark on a novel, necessarily, or begin work on the next Mona Lisa; you can begin simply and joyfully as children do. Look at pictures of art and imagine stepping inside the frames. Who would you talk to and what would you see? Or look outside your window and take note of the different elements there. Maybe you see a bird flying or tree branches swaying in the breeze, then imagine a conversation with that bird or that tree. It may come haltingly at first, in fits and starts, but when you let whimsy back into your life, the brain begins to work in new ways, mapping out new neural pathways. And like muscles gradually becoming stronger as you exercise, so does the imagination become livelier and more free-wheeling. You will find your life opening up, becoming richer as your mind discovers ideas for your next artistic project in the pattern of the night sky or the sound of the wind before a storm. Imagination can be the be-all and end-all for you; it can be everything.

 




  









Lucy Adkins earned her MFA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and is a writer of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Her poetry and short fiction have appeared in many journals and anthologies, and her first poetry chapbook, One Life Shining, was published by Pudding House Press. She co-presents the Nebraska Humanities program “Diaries and Letters of Early Nebraska Settlers,” and is a frequent writing instructor for OLLI, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and the Larksong Writers’ Workshops. Her book, Two-Toned Dress, was the winner of the 2019 Blue Light Press poetry chapbook contest.

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Becky Breed, a veteran educator, poet, and essayist, co-wrote and facilitated “Women at the Springs,” a Nebraska Humanities program empowering women to live more courageously, as well as “The Intergenerational Project” connecting elders and teens through stories to promote communication, writing, and use of the media. She has an Ed.D. in Education, and in addition to teaching at the university level, was the principal of a Gold Star School which was awarded recognition for significant improvements in reading, writing, and math. The students’ resiliency and drive to be the best they can be helped shape the fabric for several of the enclosed essays.

Together the two co-authored Writing in Community: Say Goodbye to Writer’s Block and Transform Your Life, which was awarded an “IPPY” in the Independent Publishers Book Awards. Writing in Community, the first book in their “Essential Writing and Creativity” series, along with the impact of Adkins’ and Breed’s many presentations and workshops led to their being named winners of the 2020 Lincoln, Nebraska Mayor’s Arts Award in Artistic Achievement in Literature.

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WRITING IN COMMUNITY: SAY GOODBYE TO WRITER’S BLOCK AND TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE

 






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