San Francisco Writers Conference podcast.

Listen in as Ask Joey and Brooke Warner talk about the pros and cons of indie publishing on the SFWC Podcast today! https://buff.ly/2yl7EzS

https://www.facebook.com/112732798786104/posts/2990255104367178/?substory_index=0

Your comments and suggestions are very welcomed!

UK US Bocelli MH TRAILER :30s [4.12]

Your comments and suggestions are very welcomed!

Fiction University: Identifying a Loss of Momentum vs. Writer’s Block

This article gave me hope because for the last three days my brain has gone on strike!





Fiction University: Identifying a Loss of Momentum vs. Writer’s Block: By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Some days, we sit down to write and the words won’t come. Are we blocked? Maybe not. Even before the p...

Your comments and suggestions are very welcomed!

Fiction University: What's My Motivation? Tips on Showing Character Mo...

Great tip! Sometimes, as in the first book of my series, the angel feels he is responsible for the virgin however it is she who went looking for him.

martacweeks.com





Fiction University: What's My Motivation? Tips on Showing Character Mo...: By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Knowing what motivates a character to act not only makes for a great read, it also makes it easier to pl...

Your comments and suggestions are very welcomed!

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Fiction Series

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Fiction Series: Avoid inconsistencies when writing a series and keep your readers happy by reviewing these five common mistakes found in fiction series.

Your comments and suggestions are very welcomed!

Novel Writing: 10 Questions You Need to Ask Your Characters | Writer's Digest

Novel Writing: 10 Questions You Need to Ask Your Characters | Writer's Digest: BY BRENDA JANOWITZ You simply cannot write a good novel without knowing your characters inside and out. Here are the top 10 questions you need to be able to answer about each of your characters:

Your comments and suggestions are very welcomed!

Myth and the Environmental Crisis

Myth and the Environmental Crisis

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Starting Ayekah The Damned with inciting incident in The Sylph’s Tale

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Fiction University: 14 Days of Writing Prizes, Starting...NOW!

Fiction University: 14 Days of Writing Prizes, Starting...NOW!: By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy It’s the season of giving, so I

Your comments and suggestions are very welcomed!

About Magical Realism

Thank you Oprah Magazine, the authors listed on the Magical Realism article are some of my favorite and could list several more. I, so far have thought and called my series Fantasy based on Mythology but that category has not felt entirely correct and because of this article I realize that Wings of Immortals- my series is Magical Realism. Information on my series can be found at: https://www.martacweeks.com/

Your comments and suggestions are very welcomed!

How to Write a Novel: My Proven 12-Step Process

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Fiction University: Online Resources

A site full of great information!



Fiction University: Online Resources: *Updated April 2019 These are just a sampling of the many great (and some of my favorite) sites out there for writers.  Must-Visit Writ... Your comments and suggestions are very welcomed!

Fiction University: Five Ways to Grow Your Novel

Needed to read this and almost skipped. I will also read other articles sited in paragraphs and share them on my author's page. Thank you.



Fiction University: Five Ways to Grow Your Novel: By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Last week I talked about what changes in your scenes , and reader Maria D'Marco made a wonderful comm... Your comments and suggestions are very welcomed!

Fiction University: Lessons Learned from a Decade in Publishing

Fiction University: Lessons Learned from a Decade in Publishing: By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy Looking back on ten years as an author—and what I’d have done differently if I could have. This week ma...

Your comments and suggestions are very welcomed!

MODEL TRAIN DISPLAYS AND VIDEOS

The below Vimeo address' are not active links, they should be typed or copied and pasted into the browser window. Each vimeo address will go directly to the associated video.

NCNGRR Model Train Layout @ Nevada County Fair Grounds

vimeo.com/269416811

Welcome to the Nevada County Fair-Grounds and NCNGRR model train display and club. This HO narrow gauge and O gauge layout represent the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad that ran between Nevada City, Grass Valley and connecting with the Southern Pacific RR in Colfax, California. The NCNGRR operated from 1876 to 1942. 

On The Scales S1 E1 NCNGRR Museum Interviews

vimeo.com/311112493

Introducing a new program titled 'On The Scales: Weighing in With Model Railroaders'. We will be showcasing local model railroads of all scales starting with big scale in an introduction to the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum in Nevada City. Episode one is an overview of the museum featuring key museum volunteers.

On The Scales S1 E2 NCNGRR Museum Railbus Ride

vimeo.com/317874646

Narrow Gauge Rail Bus Tour: A glimpse of the NCNGRR & Transportation Museum rail bus tour including narration to showcase this premier attraction of the museum, which operates on weekends May to October each year.

On The Scales S1 E4 Tin Plate RR with Chuck Brasher

vimeo.com/328555312

We continue our On The Scales: weighing in with model railroaders programming with Season 1 Episode 4 Tin Plate RRs. We're visiting with Chuck Brasher of Grass Valley and his magnificent O and standard gauge train collection. All of this collection is from the 1930s/40s era when model trains were still considered toys. Sit back, relax and be delighted.

On The Scales S1 E5 DRGW and RGS O and On3 Scale RR With John Bridges

vimeo.com/340002551

On The Scales: Weighing in with model railroaders S1 E5 travels to the home of John Bridges in Nevada City and his O & On3 scale train layout; modeled on the narrow and standard gauge railroads of Colorado, John has recreated in a rather small space, the sense of open mountain and valley railroading n Colorado's gold mining boom years.

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:  Johnweeks18609@comcast.net

Hi and welcome! : How I wrote On Wings Of Immortals-series

Hi and welcome! : How I wrote On Wings Of Immortals-series: I wrote book two Virgins first and because of questions from workshop readers wrote book one The Sylph’s Tale. Then book three, Rolo. I a...

How I wrote On Wings Of Immortals-series

I wrote book two Virgins first and because of questions from workshop readers wrote book one The Sylph’s Tale.
Then book three, Rolo.
I am currently editing a complete version of The Sylph’s Tale which will be ready to be published next month, possibly under the name Ayekah the Damned.
Have book four in the works.
The Sylph’s Tale, published incomplete as a novella, has excellent reviews on Amazon.
The screenplay version Ayekah the Damned is an award winner.
I am looking for a publisher.
Webpage: martacweeks.com click On The Wings Of Immortals series.
On Wings Of Immortals -series

'It Was The Right Thing To Do': NYPD Officers Speak Out After Their Act Of Kindness Goes Viral

"...blessed be the mercifull....


'It Was The Right Thing To Do': NYPD Officers Speak Out After Their Act Of Kindness Goes Viral: Three NYPD officers are being praised for their act of kindness.

114-Year-Old In Harlem Celebrates Her Birthday, Record As Oldest Person In United States

Awesome!!! Happy 114 birthday Alelia Murphy!!!!

114-Year-Old In Harlem Celebrates Her Birthday, Record As Oldest Person In United States: Surrounded by family and wearing a crown, Alelia Murphy celebrated her 114th birthday – continuing her reign as the oldest living person in the country.

Interview with author Jo Chandler

For my 2nd author interview, I selected the award-winning author, Jo Chandler.

From years ago when Jo and I were in a writing group I found her story, This Side of Forever, to be an honest view of what alcoholism and addiction do to families and teens. Having battled addiction and in counseling addicts and families I find that Jo's novel, This Side of Forever, can open a door of hope for parents and teens.     

My questions and Jo’s answers:


Q. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
A. I think I always knew writing was in my bones, but it wasn’t until I became a reporter for my high school newspaper, the Manikopa, that I began to write in earnest. When I became editor of the newspaper during my senior year, I knew I’d found my home. But even then, it didn’t occur to me that I would write for a living.

Q. When did you first consider yourself a writer?
A. I dropped out of college in my junior year to get married. During that time, the writing was the furthest thing from my mind. After my divorce, I landed a job as the district marketing manager for a cellular company. My job entailed writing an array of marketing materials, including press releases, mail inserts, and statewide intercompany communications. Then I got fired. (Cellular technology was not my forte.) Rather than find another job, I decided to strike out on my own as a freelance journalist. That decision led me to a career writing feature articles for magazines and newspapers. I finally believed I was a writer. Writing fiction came much later.

Q. Do you have a specific writing style?
A. I know in advance where I want my story to go and what I want to accomplish. I can usually see the novel’s arc in my mind. I jot down notes to keep me on track, sort of like writing a grocery list. I make another list of what I need to research and a third list of who I need to interview. Here’s where it gets a little nuts. I gather together all of my final notes (handwritten, typed and printed from various websites) and literally go through and number each paragraph by hand, according to where it will appear in the story or novel. I have been using this method for decades.

Q Is your novel based on someone you know or events in your own life?
A. People often ask me if This Side of Forever is based on my daughter’s life. The answer is yes and no. Annie Bloom is not Crista. But the relationship between Annie and her mother came from that place in my heart where mother/daughter bonds can never be broken. The other characters are a compilation of teens I knew growing up (including two who died as a result of alcoholism) and young people I’ve known as an adult.

Q. What was the hardest part of writing your novel?
A. The hardest part of writing my novel was when it was finished. I’m an extrovert/introvert, which simply means I love people, but I don’t love trying to market myself and my work. I will sign books anywhere, anytime, and I have spoken to many middle school and high school English classes. I thoroughly enjoy both of these events. I have difficulty cold calling potential venues and convincing them to book me. This is where a publicist comes in handy. But even with an agent or publisher, today’s authors are expected to have a solid marketing plan. I’m determined to be more aggressive when my next novel debuts.

Q. How did you come up with the title?
A. I believe our true home is a spiritual realm of pure oneness and joy in which we come to know God as a being of limitless, changeless love. What we think we experience while we are on this planet (This Side of Forever), is nothing but an illusory blip on our Divine journey.
Q. Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?
A. My first hope is that readers relate to Annie as she faces the death of her best friend through the bottom of a bottle and cheer for her recovery. The message I want them to come away with is that no matter how horrible we think we are, no matter what unforgivable thing we think we did, we are innocent in the eyes of Love. And Love is all there is.

Q. Do you have advice for other writers? Also, sites and groups you recommend.
A. Here is some advice I wish someone had told me. Never stay in a critique group where you are made to feel bad about your work. A good critique group should be sensitive and supportive in their comments. Your success should be their first concern. Also, network with other writers. I’ve been a member of California Writers Club, Sacramento, and CWC San Joaquin County. I was also a member of Gold Country Writers and Northern California Publishers and Authors until I moved out of the area. I’ve met so many wonderful people through these clubs. Writers are my tribe.

Q. Can you share a little of your current work with us?
A. I am on the final revise/edit of a novel I call Street Girl. It’s about a homeless girl who lives with her mother along the Sacramento River. When her mom disappears, thirteen-year-old Zoe is left to fend for herself. The seed for this novel was planted when I read about a homeless preteen in the Sacramento area whose parents vanished, leaving her completely alone. Beyond that, my novel is pure fiction.

Q. Is there anything else you would like readers to know about your life as a writer
A. As I said before, I spent most of my career writing nonfiction. It seems I had a knack for it. When I decided to switch gears and enter the world of make-believe, I thought it would be a fairly simple switch. It wasn’t. There was a steep learning curve. I remember taking a class from a well-known author. She was a wonderful teacher who didn’t hold anything back when it came to improving my work. There were times during that class when I felt like giving up. But, after the tears stopped, a voice inside reminded me that writing stories is what I do. It’s who I am. I can’t imagine my life any other way.

www.jochandler.com
jo@jochandler.com
Facebook.com/AuthorJoChandler