IWSG DAY, JULY 1, 2026, CHANGES IN PUBLISHING By PAT GARCIA

Welcome to our SEVENTH IWSG Day of 2026. 

IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex J. Cavanaugh. 

At IWSG, we believe in the power of sharing and encouragement. Writers of all levels and genres can express their doubts and concerns without fear of judgment. Our community is a haven for all insecure writers and a source of encouragement and support for others.

So, if you're a writer seeking a supportive community, IWSG is the place for you. Join us and experience the benefits of sharing your journey with like-minded individuals. The link below will lead you directly to us.

nsecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

The awesome co-hosts for the July 1 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Ronel Janse van Vuuren,Cathrina Constantine, and Jacqui Murray!

There are so many changes taking place in the publishing industry. I am still assessing what I need. I would love to read a book that gives step-by-step instructions for preparing a book with Scrivener, for example.

Wishing all of you a wonderful Fourth of July, and be safe. 

Shalom shalom,

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, JUNE 3, 2026, OBSERVATIONS OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE THAT HELP ME SPIN A STORY BY PAT GARCIA

Welcome to our SIXTH IWSG Day of 2026. 

IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex J. Cavanaugh. 

At IWSG, we believe in the power of sharing and encouragement. Writers of all levels and genres can express their doubts and concerns without fear of judgment. Our community is a haven for all insecure writers and a source of encouragement and support for others.

So, if you're a writer seeking a supportive community, IWSG is the place for you. Join us and experience the benefits of sharing your journey with like-minded individuals. The link below will lead you directly to us.

nsecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the June 3 IWSG posting are Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!

OBSERVATIONS OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE THAT HELP ME SPIN A STORY BY PAT GARCIA

I write multicultural Romance and Romantic suspense, and my topics stem from what I observe whenever I'm out and about in Europe. Depending upon the plot, these people become my major or minor characters. 

The first thing I ask myself is whether they would fit into my main plot, or whether I need subplots to increase the suspense. 

I like my stories because I'm introducing concepts from the Bible: that God is no respecter of people, meaning my main female character doesn't have to be white, blonde, or red-haired. It is a new way of looking at life, and it challenges people to be open and to live life more meaningfully.

Have a lovely month of June, and take care.

Shalom shalom

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, May 6, 2026, Pleasant Words Are Like A Honeycomb, Sweetness to the Soul and Health to the Bones.(Proverbs 16:24 NKJV)

Welcome to our fifth IWSG Day of 2026. 

IWSG is a writers' support group created and led by Alex J. Cavanaugh. 

At IWSG, we believe in the power of sharing and encouragement. Writers of all levels and genres can express their doubts and concerns without fear of judgment. Our community is a haven for all insecure writers!

This group is an immense help to many of us, as we are willing to share our insecurities and successes or offer encouragement and support to others.

So, if you're a writer seeking a supportive community, IWSG is the place for you. Join us and experience the benefits of sharing your journey with like-minded individuals. The link below will lead you directly to us.

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG, and our hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the May 6 IWSG posting are Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi.

The most frequent question I have received since July of 2025 is, "When am I going to start writing again?"  

After losing five very close family members and friends within six months, unexpectedly, in the last half of 2025, I wasn't able to write.

It was a difficult struggle to get back up, as I said last month. But since my return, I have received lots of encouragement from my readers. Their favorite question is When will you start writing again, and it has helped me tremendously.

 

I wish you all a lovely day, and stay safe. 

Shalom shalom

IWSG DAY, APRIL 1, 2026, WRITING WITH MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND By Pat Garcia

Welcome to our fourth IWSG Day of 2026. 

IWSG is a writers’ support group created and led by Alex J. Cavanaugh. 

At IWSG, we believe in the power of sharing and encouragement. Writers of all levels and genres can express their doubts and concerns without fear of judgment. Our community is a haven for all insecure writers!

This group is an immense help to many of us, as we are willing to share our insecurities and successes or offer encouragement and support to others.

So, if you’re a writer seeking a supportive community, IWSG is the place for you. Join us and experience the benefits of sharing your journey with like-minded individuals. The link below will lead you directly to us.

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG, and our hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the April 1 posting of the IWSG are Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass!

WRITING WITH MUSIC  IN THE BACKGROUND

I love music. It is literally buried deep in my heart and my bones. I don't have my music categories set up in any particular order. I know that might seem confusing to some people, but for me it is not. Thus, my setlists include blues, jazz, gospel, worship, classical music, Rhythm & Blues, Country, etc. For example, it is Easter, so I am listening to the first song of Part 2 of Handel's MESSIAH, the classical version, but I’m also listening to the version by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. I have So Be It God by Elevation Worship, and I have added a couple of Anita Baker’s songs and the incredible Whitney Houston, which make me dance and get me out of sitting at the computer for too long.

I love having different music categories. For me, music is truly universal. 

I wish all of you a lovely Easter and happy writing. I am finally getting back into the groove, and it feels good just to see my characters come alive. 

Shalom shalom,

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, MARCH 4, 2026, BOOK LAUNCHES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CHOOSING THE RIGHT STRATEGY By PAT GARCIA

Welcome to our Third IWSG Day of the year 2026. 

 

IWSG is a writers’ support group created and led by Alex J. Cavanaugh. 

 

At IWSG, we believe in the power of sharing and encouragement. Writers of all levels and genres can express their doubts and concerns without fear of judgment. Our community is a haven for all insecure writers!

 

This group is an immense help to many of us, as we are willing to share our insecurities and successes or offer encouragement and support to others.

 

So, if you’re a writer seeking a supportive community, IWSG is the place for you. Join us and experience the benefits of sharing your journey with like-minded individuals. The link below will lead you directly to us.

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG, and our hashtag is #IWSG.

 

The awesome co-hosts for the March 4 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Natalie Aguirre!

 

 

 

 

BOOK LAUNCHES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CHOOSING THE RIGHT STRATEGY

I am going to start out with the truth that I don’t do much on book launches, but I plan to do more this year. I want to do something different, something that catches the eye and is filled with newness that catches the eyes of people and makes them think.

I plan to combine podcasting with photography on each book cover and maybe develop an audio version. Since I live in Germany, I am also considering publishing a German version. 

Most of my ideas have come from being a part of IWSG. Writers who have visited my blogs have left comments and offered help, and their suggestions have taken me one step farther. 

 

Have a wonderful month of March. 

Shalom shalom,

 

Pat Garcia

 

 

IWSG DAY, February 4, 2026, EVERY NOW AND THEN ON A RAINY DAY By Pat Garcia

Welcome to our Second IWSG Day of the year 2026. 

 

IWSG is a writers’ support group created and led by Alex J. Cavanaugh. 

 

At IWSG, we believe in the power of sharing and encouragement. Writers of all levels and genres can express their doubts and concerns without fear of judgment. Our community is a haven for all insecure writers!

 

This group is an immense help to many of us, as we are willing to share our insecurities and successes or offer encouragement and support to others.

 

So, if you’re a writer seeking a supportive community, IWSG is the place for you. Join us and experience the benefits of sharing your journey with like-minded individuals. The link below will lead you directly to us.

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG, and our hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the February 4 posting of the IWSG are J Lenni Dorner, Victoria Marie Lees, and Sandra Cox!

EVERY NOW AND THEN ON A RAINY DAY

First, let me apologize for not getting back to the people who commented on my January post. I was still recovering from a very bad flu. My body was screaming REST, and I obeyed.

So now to my post for February.

I have written and published seven short stories on Amazon and D2D, and I enjoy reading them again when I need to relax. Sometimes I see things I would like to change and document them in my journal, but so far I haven’t re-edited them because I don’t think they're bad enough to warrant a new edition.

Take care and have a lovely month of February.

Shalom shalom,

Pat Garcia