In the Know!

Writers' block is real, and it came at me with a vengeance, cloaked in what I thought was celebratory excitement at the point I released my thriller novel manuscript to beta readers. When I mustered the courage to face the truth, paralysis was poised to take control. I had to change my thoughts, my emotions, my mind. Listen to my strategies to address a personal variety of writer's block.

My next novel, a thriller entitled "Claim Denied" is coming soon. Email me at [email protected] for an advanced copy and/or for launching information.

"The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron (Three morning pages.) Note, I reference writing three morning pages but, to be clear, I didn't include it as a strategy for improving tennis ... only for addressing my writer's block.

"Short Tarot-Centered Meditation for Artists to Overcome Writing Fear" by Thea Fiore-Bloom (Scroll down to the middle of the page to find this meditation.)

"The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield.

Intro and outgo music: "The Amelia Island Sun" by Rafael Javadov

Interlude music: "Headache" by Dream Machine

Thank you for listening. [email protected]

DiannAbroad.com

I'm back to podcasting again after a 6-week hiatus and I'm writing goals for 2021. First, in order to look forward, I needed to look back to 2020...briefly, at least. This podcast does that: I look back and then talk about my 2021 goals with an eye to encouraging you to write your goals for 2021.

I mentioned two previous podcasts for your listening pleasure: 

"A Writer's Life: A Setting Surprise" 

Thriller: "Claim Denied" A Reading

Also, I developed a 2020 Goal setting worksheet. If you would like a copy, please email me at [email protected]. I'll send you a blank worksheet and a sample, as well.

Music for this podcast:

"The Amelia Island Sun" by Rafael Javadov and "Bach-6-3" by Courante.

Thank you for listening. Diann

DiannAbroad.com  

 

 

 

Schindler's latest book, "Claim Denied," is an electrifying international cyber-espionage thriller. It emerged from her experiences as a higher educational consultant at an American University in Kosovo. Publication is late 2020.

Blurb on the back cover:

Feisty and outspoken Margot Evelyn Hart and her fiancé, the charming and wealthy activist Andrey Orlov Stephen, left Minnesota to launch a new life abroad. Their plan: he'd work for the State Department and she'd teach English. Together, they'd make a difference in peoples' lives throughout the world. One country at a time, starting in Prishtina, Kosovo.

Within days of their arrival in Prishtina, her world crashed. Margot learned someone had killed Andy, a single gunshot to the back of his head. She refused to believe it until an ominous stranger banged on her door, and she learned undeniable facts.

Andy was dead and she was prey.

Margot knew one person in all of Kosovo. Andy's friend, Grey Valentin. She loathed the rotund and awkward know-it-all. But he was her only hope of untangling this traumatic murder.

Why would anyone want to kill her beloved Andy?

How had she become the hunted?

Can she decode the clues in time?

Will she survive?

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For more information about her virtual interactive book launching and publication information for "Claim Denied," email her at [email protected].

Music is "Journey" by Rafael Javadov. Click here for his Facebook page.

DiannAbroad.com

Thank you for listening. Please be sure to leave a comment and a rating. Thank you again.

Barbara Rein debuted her first book series in fourth grade, The Adventures of Cassandra McGillicuddy in Outer Space, complete with stick figures drawings. Admonished by her teacher for doing book reports on her own books (and didn't she have chutzpah), she put writing aside for years while stories piled up in her head. One day she opened her laptop and out they poured.

She's now an award-winning and Amazon-best-selling author.

She lives with her husband and dachshund, traveling with a well-packed suitcase between New York and Florida.

Barbara writes strange, fantastical, and downright weird short stories. Darkly brilliant tales that teeter on the edge of reality. Reimagined nightmares concocted from a childhood diet of macabre fairy tales and endless episodes of Twilight Zone.

She also writes chuckle-inducing personal essays inspired by the quirks and oddities that bounce her way.

Click HERE to purchase "Tales from the EERie Canal."

Barbara Rein Facebook Page

Barbara Rein Amazon Author Page

[email protected]

Edward St. John Gorey (February 22, 1925 – April 15, 2000) was an American writer and artist noted for his illustrated books. His characteristic pen-and-ink drawings often depict vaguely unsettling narrative scenes in Victorian and Edwardian settings.

DiannAbroad.com

[email protected]

Music by Rafael Javadov "The Amelia Island Sun" and Alexei De Bronhe's "To Take Courage."

Thank you for listening.

Linda M. Whitaker is a retail data scientist, and a writer of science and technology thrillers.  By day she plays with numbers, by night, with words.

Linda started writing around 2011 when she took her first mystery class with Ellen Hart, a prolific Minneapolis author.   Many years of learning and perseverance have finally led to her debut novel.

Linda resides with her husband in the mountains of Western North Carolina.  She loves running in the forest, gardening, cooking, and playing with her dog and cat.

Debut Novel, “The Crucible of Steele” - Thriller, near future Science Fiction

BUY on Amazon: US, CA, UK, etc

“Emiko's Story” - If you'd like to learn more about Georgia Steele's world, click HERE for a free copy of Emiko's Story as told through the teen’s eyes. Accompany Emiko as she goes on her search for Georgia. 

To learn more about “The Darwin Letters” and Sir Francis Galton, click on Whitaker’s Blog HERE.

"Elon Musk Announces Neuralink Advance Toward Syncing Our Brains with AI"

[email protected]  lmwhitaker.com   Linda M. Whitaker Author Facebook Page

Linda Whitaker Twitter handle:  @lindamwhitaker

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For the “In the Know” Interview Request Form, click HERE.

[email protected]       DiannAbroad.com  Click HERE for Diann’s new book: “Claim Denied”

 

Music by Rafael Javadov: “The Amelia Island Sun” and “Hunt Valley” ©Copyright All Rights Reserved 2020

Thank you for listening. Please leave comments and forward to your friends.

 

Readers love stories that take place in small towns. Everyone has something to hide. The characters are steeped in juicy stuff such as, pure and simple small politics, personal rivalries, hidden agendas, and petty vendettas that often have little to do the broader matters at hand - none the less, engaging drama.

Setting is more intimate in a small town. The characters are in a close-knit community. When characters are "close knit" it can be dreadful for the protagonist. Remember old man Potter from the Building and Loan in "It's a Wonderful Life"? The story wouldn't be a story without protagonist Potter.

When well done, we get involved and experience more emotion in the circle of personalities in a small-town story.

Diann lists a few classic small-town novels and discusses small-town movies.

Her latest novel is "Claim Denied".

DiannAbroad.com

[email protected]

Intro and out go music is "The Amelia Island Sun" composed and performed by Rafael Javadov.

Musical Interludes: "Golden Memories" by Vadim Derepa

In July 2017, I stayed in The Petite House (Airbnb) in Agde, France, a tiny village of 22,450 pop. a mile north of Cap de Agde, the seaside resort on the Mediterranean Sea. Giving this is the first week of the French Open, I thought it fitting I indulge myself and reminisce about this lovely village.

I mentioned VPNBaron - great way to watch the French Open Tennis Tournament live and free.

Take a few minutes to view the Agde, France Photo Gallery.

I also mentioned the video I made while I was there: Agde, France

[email protected]

DiannAbroad.com

Intro and outgo music is "The Amelia Island Sun" by Rafael Javadov. Interlude music is "Golden Memories" by Vadim Derepa.

Thank you for listening! Please leave a comment and review. Also please share with your family and friends.

Bona Hayes is a writer and editor who helps authors craft and self publish their works. Her goal is to take YOUR art and make it readable the way you hear it.  She works with you to engage and enthuse your readers.

Podcast: Dialogue 101

[email protected] www.bonahayes.com 

Dialogue 102: Creating dialogue to avoid "monomouth." Editor Bona Hayes and Diann Schindler provide examples of dialogue illustrating word choice, cadence, pet words and phrases, and reactions to stress, shock, and excitement. 

The term "monomouth" is mentioned in and borrowed from The Career Author (Zach Bohannon and J. Thorn) Podcast: The Dialogue Doctor: Jeff Elkins.

Millard Johnson, The Villages FL, Author, check out his books on Amazon.   [email protected]

Marjorie Speirs, Author and Blogger: "A Woman of a Certain Age" 

The latest book on Diann's night stand is Laura Kaye's "Hard As It Gets" - a romance.

Bona's night stand book is Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird - Some Instructions on Writing & Life"

Diann's Media Kit Page.  If you would like a free copy of the "Media Kit List," please email your request to [email protected] 

For more information about Diann's latest novel, "Claim Denied" click HERE . To receive publication updates, please write to her at 

[email protected]

Thank you for listening.  Please subscribe, leave comments and or requests. Also, forward to your family and friends.

Intro and out go music is "The Amelia Island Sun" composed and performed by Rafael Javadov.  Interlude music is "Russian Soap Opera" by Ilya Truhanov and "Golden Memories" by Vadim Derepa.

DiannAbroad, solo nomad, travel blogger, and travel photographer, captures her experiences working for the American University of Kosovo and facing a series of eye surgeries in Prishtina, the capital city of Kosovo.

After a very long 6 months, she escapes to Chiang Mai, Thailand, the Land of Smiles. There, she finds the zen-like serenity preys on her mind and allows her to see how she has repressed fear of blindness.

Diann goes on to illustrate how she managed to face her fears and change her mind.

Enjoy fun and substantive discussions about writing. 

Bona's Bite Size Nuggets recordings are released the fourth Thursday of every month.

This month's topic is DIALOGUE 101

For September 25, 2020 the topic will be DIALOGUE 102. To get a head start, check out "Your Guide to Writing 

Better Dialogue."  NY Book Editor

Bona Hayes is an editor who hears the words and cadence of written work much like a conductor hears a symphony. She has an ear for writing and combines it with her professional background in business communications, to edit manuscripts for authors.

[email protected]

Put sparkle in your writing!  Bona Hayes Website.

Bona Hayes Facebook Page

 

During this episode, Bona read some good examples of dialogue from her nightstand book:  JR Minard's "Coach in Cottage C".

Bona is also reading Dr. J's "Chemical [sex]X 2 just one more: An Erotic Chocolate Anthology."

 I interviewed Bona Hayes in a previous episode  Confessions with Editor Bona Hayes.  

 

Diann's nightstand book is Syd Field's "Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting".

[email protected]

DiannAbroad.com 

 

[email protected]  Diann Schindler Author Facebook   THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!   Music: Rafael Javadov The Amelia Island Sun and interludes Cerulean Skies by Ilya Truhanov.