IWSG DAY, March 3, 2021, My Reading Preferences by Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone, 

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

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

 

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

 

This group is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others. 

 

 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

 

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the March 3 posting of the IWSG are Sarah - The Faux Fountain PenJacqui Murray, Chemist Ken, Victoria Marie Lees, Natalie Aguirre, and JQ Rose!

 

 

Submissions: 

 Fiction - A Time To Love: My novel has been accepted by a publisher. More news to come in the future. 

 

Flash Fiction:  my flash fiction pieces have opened the door for me to become a part of the RAVE Writers  International Society of Authors (RWISA). Membership is by invitation only, and I'm Georgia Peach happy.  One or two of the stories will be published in their Anthology. 

 

It's Christmas 

The Red Wheelbarrow 

Until Death Do Us Part

Caged Birds Don't Sing

 

Non-Fiction: A Spotlight On My Childhood  In The Deep South -This piece was chosen by the RWISA to sit on my RWISA Introductory page. 

My newsletter is up on my author blog, I would appreciate you checking it and if you like signing up for it. I will send it out once every quarter (4 times a year). The website address of  my author blog is https://patgarciaauthor.com/newsletter/

 

Short Story: Turn The Light On, Released on February 23, 2021.  It is published and I am now in the process of building the promotion. For those of you who have volunteered to help me, I have not forgotten you. I will be getting in touch. 

Turn The Light On received on February 26th the Nonnie Jules' Seal of APPROVAL, which declares it to be an amazing read, and I am thankful.

 

 Blurb

**Would you ever accept a dinner invitation to meet a stranger who never spoke one word to you during your time together?  And, would you accept that you couldn't even sit at the same table with them? How about, you don't even know their name and you continue this "game" for months?*

 

**Meet Della Cartwright.  A superstar at what she does professionally, but when the tall, mysterious, Italian stranger, Alessio Terracina, enters her world, she begins to question her judgment and everything about her.*  

 

**In this short story which takes place over the course of one day, this otherwise savvy businesswoman is led into making decisions that could jeopardize her professional life and maybe even cost her her freedom. But, the greatest danger ... just might be to her fragile heart.* 

 

 

 

My Reading Preferences

 

 

 

My reading preferences are totally different from what I write. I read wide. Meaning, I have learned to read almost any fiction genre, and I read most Non-Fiction to include two newspapers. I believe that being versatile in my reading helps me write my Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Women's Fiction stories. 

 

It helps me to relax, especially when I am working on the sticky middle of a novel. Sometimes nothing else helps but picking up a non-fiction book that highlights some of the things that I am striving to incorporate in my story. Sure, the non-fiction book is very detailed, but it gives me ideas or opens up avenues of thought closed to me. 

 

We are sometimes blinded by the forest and can't see the trees when we are writing, and that's where reading wide, way outside of my own genres, help me.  

 

Wishing all of you a lovely March month. 

 

Shalom aleichem

  

 

 

 

 

Pat Garcia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IWSG DAY, February 3, 2021, Blogging and Friendship by Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone, 

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

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

 

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

 

This group is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others. 

 

 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

 

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the February 3, posting of the IWSG are Louise - Fundy Blue , Jennifer Lane, Mary Aalgaard, Patsy Collins at Womagwriter, and Nancy Gideon!

 

 

 

Submissions: 

 Fiction - A Time To Love, A Novel– Submitted September 18, 2020, Still Outstanding

 

Flash Fiction: Still Outstanding

It's Christmas 

The Red Wheelbarrow 

Until Death Do Us Part

 

Non-Fiction: A Spotlight On My Childhood  In The Deep South -Still Outstanding

 

Short Story: Turn The Light On, To Be Released February 23, 2021

 

Thanks to all who have volunteered to help me. I will be getting in contact with you soon. 

 

Blogging and Friendship

I don't blog often, but blogging has opened the doors for me to find like-minded people who like to write Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Women's fiction with a tad of fantasy. They have become people that I turn to when I am uncertain about my writing, especially Grammar, and when I have a question, I expect an honest answer. We don't agree all the time, but that is okay with me. Who does? But they have a character trait within them that is priceless––the heart to respect even when we disagree.

 

Wishing everyone a lovely month of February.

 

Shalom aleichem,

 

Pat Garcia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IWSG DAY, JANUARY 6, 2021, READING By Pat Garcia

Happy New Year!

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

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

 

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

 

This group is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others. 

 

 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

 

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the January 6, posting of the IWSG are  Ronel Janse van Vuuren , J Lenni Dorner, Gwen Gardner Sandra Cox, and Louise - Fundy Blue!

 

 

Submissions: 

 Fiction - A Time To Love, A Novel– Submitted September 18, 2020, Still Outstanding

 

Flash Fiction: Still Outstanding

It's Christmas 

The Red Wheelbarrow 

Until Death Do Us Part

 

Non-Fiction:  Still Outstanding

A Spotlight On My Childhood In The Deep South

 

Short Story: Turn The Light On, To Be Release on February 14, 2021

 

Thanks to all who have volunteered to help me. I will be getting in contact with everyone as soon as the book cover is finished, and my manuscript has been read by a professional proofreader. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading

 

 

There are many books out in the Literary Hemisphere, and it isn't easy to judge whether a book is well-written unless one reads it. That said, let me say that I read lots of books. It is very seldom that I run across a book that has lots of mistakes. 

 

However, if I bought a book containing numerous errors, I must admit that I would read it until it is finished. If I knew the author, I would communicate with them by email and tell them what I found respectfully.  I have done this. I was at a church conference in Amsterdam in 2009. I liked the speaker and decided to buy his book. When I got home, I saw so many mistakes but continued reading. After reading, I sat down and wrote the speaker a letter. That letter got me my very first editing job. 

 

Thus, I do try to be non-judgmental and keep reading until the end. 

 

Wishing you all a great 2021.

 

Shalom aleichem,

 

 

 

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, DECEMBER 2, 2020, BREAKTIME By Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone,

 

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

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

 

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

 

This group is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others. 

 

 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

 

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the December 2 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Sylvia Ney,Liesbet @ Roaming About Cathrina Constantine, and Natalie Aguirre!

 

 

 

Submissions: 

 Fiction - A Time To Love, A Novel– Submitted September 18, 2020 Still Outstanding

 

Flash Fiction: Still Outstanding

It's Christmas 

The Red Wheelbarrow 

Until Death Do Us Part

 

Non-Fiction:  Still Outstanding

A Spotlight On My Childhood In The Deep South

 

Request for Help

My very first Short Story will be published on February 14, 2021 on Amazon, and I am looking for authors to do a cover reveal and reviews. If you can help,  please send me an email, and I will get back to you. Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breaktime by Pat Garcia

 

This year has been a severe year with lots of stress for me, and the pressure had nothing to do with Covid. My break times have helped me get through the year. I learned  some time ago to plan my time off in conjunction with the Bavarian School Calendar. When school is out in Bavaria, I take my breaks and step back to read and do book reviews of the many books I have purchased but have not yet read. 

 

Therefore, I am looking forward to December 18^th or 19^th. That's when the Bavarian Schools go on their Christmas vacation, and so will I. 

 

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a safe passage into the year 2021.

 

 

Shalom aleichem,

 

 

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020, DREAMING THINGS THAT NEVER WERE AND ASKING WHY NOT, BY Pat Garcia

Hello Everyone,

 

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

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

 

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

 

This group is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others. 

 

 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

 

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the November 4th posting of the IWSG are Jemi Fraser, Kim Lajevardi,L.G Keltner, Tyrean Martinson, and Rachna Chhabria! 

 

 

 

 

Submissions: 

 Fiction - A Time To Love, A Novel– Submitted September 18, 2020

 

Flash Fiction: 

It's Christmas 

The Red Wheelbarrow 

Until Death Do Us Part

 

Non-Fiction: 

A Spotlight On My Childhood In The Deep South

 

 

 

 

 

Dreaming Things That Never Were and Asking Why Not

 

I was 17 years old when I heard the speech from Robert Francis Kennedy that would change my whole perspective about life.  His inclusion of a saying by George Bernard Shaw as he spoke to the University of Kansas hit me right between my eyes. It was a bullseye, and the effectiveness of his words inspire me even to this day. In fact, I googled to find and read it once again while writing this IWSG article, and I am still inspired. 

 

"Some people see things as they are and say why?  I dream things that never were and say, why not?"

 

 I learned that my avenue to changing my focus was through my writing. Only then could I live a successful and engaging life by my own standards and not by the standards of others. Dreaming of things that never were and asking myself why not has moved me to walk my talk as I write, and not worry about the many mistakes I make. That quote has given me the courage to step out and be different, and it has given me a healthy and thankful view of God's creation. 

 

Shalom aleichem,

 

 

Pat Garcia

IWSG DAY, OCTOBER 7, 2020, A WRITER AT WORK By Pat Garcia

 

Hello Everyone,

 

 

It is IWSG Time!

 

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

 

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

 

This group is an immense help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes, or giving encouragement and support to others. 

 

 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

 

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

 

 

The awesome co-hosts for the October 7 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pett, Beth Camp,Beverly Stowe McClure, and Gwen Gardner! 

 

 

 

 

Submission: The Writer Magazine – Non-Fiction Challenge – Rejected. However, I received a great critique that took away the sting of rejection. The editors gave me a dynamite critique with some great encouragement. Their biggest problem was they thought the piece was too short.  

 

Fiction - A Time To Love – Submitted September 18, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A Writer At Work

 

 

I am a writer.  

 

As a working writer, I have a set schedule.

 

My routine starts with a set time to get up mornings. I go through my daily routine consisting of taking a shower, meditating in my Bible, breakfast, reading two newspapers on my iPad Pro, and simply sitting in my living room or my patio and thinking, letting my mind run free. Without this daily routine, I would lose me. I do it regardless of whether I write or not. It is a 365-day or 366-day thing for me. 

 

 I never answer the phone before Noon. If there is an emergency, the people who know me send a text message, and I call them back. 

 

I am usually in my office from 11:30 to 17:00. Then, I take a three-hour break After my break I read or review a book I need to do for an author, play my piano, or knit or attend a meeting in Zoom. 

 

Now that I'm close to having a book published, I must make time for marketing. I've heard some good stories about marketing and some horror stories. But I'm excited about the marketing process and look forward to learning and implementing it. 

 

Did I expect all this work to come upon me as a writer? Absolutely! That I can shout out. I never thought it would be easy for me. Deep within me, at a very young age, I knew I wanted to write no matter what and would be willing to pay the price. 

 

 

Shalom aleichem,

 

Pat Garcia