Following Your Dreams ~ by Diana Nixon

Today we welcome Author Diana Nixon, Founder and Editor in Chief of INKS AND SCRATCHES magazine.
                                        

Hello everyone!  It’s a pleasure to be a guest of this blog.

First of all, let me tell you a bit about myself.

So… I never thought I would become a writer. Back in high school I was sure I loved Law more than anything else in the world. Six years later, I got a Master of Law degree and dived into my new job as a lawyer. Which was never supposed to last forever.

Here goes a confession – when I was a kid, I HATED reading (smiles). That’s why it took me more than a decade to realize I couldn’t live without a book in my hands. I started swallowing one story after another, until one day I knew it – I wanted to write a book too. The ideas for Love Lines were overflowing my mind, so one month later I had a manuscript of 100k words ready to see the world.

Now what? I asked myself. Needless to say, I didn’t know anything about publishing a book. Excited about the idea of becoming a super popular author, I started sending my manuscript to different publishers. Just to receive their denials weeks later…

I can’t say I was devastated or anything. Probably because it was my very first book and I didn’t expect much from it.

Then a friend of mine came to my rescue and told me to try self-publishing. Back then, it wasn’t as common as it is now. Readers often compared self-published book with those released by the well-known publishers. And it was hard to gain their approval if there wasn’t a traditional published behind your name.

I thought I did a great job by writing a book and sending it to Amazon. But I was so wrong…

And so it was time to learn my first lesson – NEVER forget about

promotion. Now I know that promotion begins even before you start writing the first line of a new book. It all depends on how well readers know what you have in that mind of yours, and the ways to keep them on the edge on their seats until the moment they can read your new story.

Over the years, I realized that choosing to be a self-published author, you need to be ready to work 24/7, 365 days a year. Because even a short break will make you start everything all over again. Readers will lose their interest in your books and you will be as down as ever to write anything new.

One day, I came across an editor of a very popular, back then, literary magazine. She asked if I wanted to feature my works in that magazine. Of course, I was all for it. Until…

I saw how much I needed to pay for that advertisement.

I couldn’t afford it. It was beyond expensive even though my books sold well. So I declined the offer.

I think that was the moment I realized I wanted to do something to help other authors who always wanted to see their names in a magazine but didn’t know how to make it happen.

I started nursing the idea of opening a literary magazine. I talked to my friends who willingly agreed to become partners in that crime (smiles). I had an amazing designer to create a cover and there was an author I really wanted to interview because I always loved her books. So I contacted Wendy Higgins and patiently wanted for her response…

A few weeks later, I published the very first issue of Inks & Scratches with Wendy Higgins’ interview in it and her picture on the cover.

It was a true victory and I couldn’t be happier about it.

After some time, more and more authors started approaching me about featuring their books in the magazine and I knew I did the right thing by giving them what they wanted – a magazine, where everyone could talk about their stories, let their readers look inside their writing lives and maybe find new fans as well.

Today, the magazine is a home for everyone who has anything to do with writing, publishing and reading. We interview authors, we review books and we talk to readers. We discuss everything that a new author might face at the beginning of their career. And I truly hope it helps those who always wanted to create a story but were too afraid to go for it. Not to mention the happy smiles I can see on our featured authors’ faces when they receive a paperback copy of the magazine with their names in it. To me, as the founder of Inks & Scratches, it’s the best reward that I could have ever hoped for…

Visit our  WEBSITE to learn more:

Diana Nixon is an International bestselling author of contemporary

Diana Nixon

and fantasy romances. A Master of Law, she never thought she would betray the world of law and dive into fiction. She has written 19 books and can’t imagine her life without her fictional characters. She never stops thinking about the new story lines that haunt her dreams. She’s married and has two daughters - her biggest source of inspiration. She loves music, traveling, coffee, and chocolate. She believes that writing is the best cure, for everything can be healed with words.

Creativity, Creates Creativity ~ by Nicholas C. Johnson

Several years ago, I was sitting at my kitchen table, racking my brain about what I should be artistically working on. At the time, I really wanted to write short stories, novellas, or better yet, a novel. I just didn’t even know where to start. Not exactly knowing how to start, I just began creating art. Slowly, but surely, I began to chip away at creating things I was really proud of. Stories. Paintings. Comics. I think everyone has the innate ability to create something. Most people just don’t take advantage of that side of their brain.

When I first started out writing, I found people to write with. Having a writing partner or two helped me at the start of my journey. Another person can often help you fill in the blanks in your stories that you may not be able to see. I was writing all the time during those years. In notebooks. On my laptop. In the notes section of my phone. Some of these stories weren’t as good as I would have hoped and like many, I wondered when, and if I would get better at writing. Would I ever be able to come up with something I was proud of? Would I ever create something that would be published?

At first, coming up with things to write about was difficult. I desperately wanted my own Tolkien universe with a fully developed map and world. I never for a second realized how difficult creating something that intricate would be. I kept working on art nearly every day. Even when I couldn’t get anyone to read my work. The few people who did read what I had written often told me I needed to go back to the drawing board.

Eventually, something started happening. Every time I created a

new story or a new painting, I typically found I had another idea. Or I would think there was another story in the same universe. Or another painting that was similar to the last maybe with a few changes in colors. 

Ideas and creativity always seem to snowball. Now, years later, I have so many ideas I want to put into motion. There’s always something else I want to try, and another story to write. Another page to draw. Another canvas to splatter.

Not many artists become successful overnight (Not to say I’m a wild success.) Only after years of practicing, and hitting the pavement, have artists become successful enough to give up their day jobs (which I assume is what most artists secretly wish for.)

When I read the biographies of artists I admire, they very rarely achieved overnight success. No, most of these people worked for years. Created numerous projects of their own, or worked doing small pieces for another person’s project. Until finally those artists get noticed for their talent.

I think everyone can create something great. They just need to start working on what they are passionate about. Work at what you want to create every day. Sometimes you won’t get what you want out of the process. Sometimes you will get what you want out of the process. Other times you’ll create something really special because your plans will work out better than you hoped they would. Either way, during this time you will have created something unique and original to you.

In my oh so humble opinion, the more art you create the more art you will want to create. This all came to a head a few years ago for me. I was talking to one of my old high-school teachers and mentor (he is now a colleague) about what I had been up to artistically. I told him I enjoyed painting and writing and he asked me why I never worked on comic books. I had worked on comics in the past, but I never made this a priority. I took the advice seriously and began working on what I originally thought would be a graphic novel.

A graphic novel is categorized as a comic book that is one-hundred and twenty pages. When I had hit that magic number I knew that I had more blank spots to fill in. I knew I would need more time to finish what I started. I decided to make my graphic novel a continuing series called Callow Corvus. 

Callow Corvus is far from perfect, but I love it! I’m particularly

proud of the writing and the art that I’ve created in that series. The main character of the series, Carl The Crow (yes his middle name is The, no he does not like to talk about it.) Carl is always talking to me, and typically, whenever I put pen on paper, I can’t help but draw this character on the page.

I’ve currently been working on the Callow Corvus series for two years. In that time, Carl has taken on a life of his own. I have a group of people who are interested in the mildly-entertaining continuing adventures of my cynical crow. I’ve had both a doll and puppet created to bring Carl into more mediums. He’s been in advertisements and marketing campaigns for me. Recently I’ve been creating short comics in virtual reality, thanks to the help of Tilt Brush by Google. None of this would have been possible if I never tried to be creative, and bring my imagination to life many years ago at my kitchen table.

I want to say one last thing, there will be people who don’t believe in you. Plenty of them. They will not see your vision. They will not believe in your abilities. They will have the attitude of why don’t you just go home and watch TV like the rest of us. Forget these people. I believe in you.

My Best,
Nicholas C. Johnson

Nicholas C. Johnson, who creates art under the alias Bob Van Starr,

is an author of several comic books and an artist with paintings all over the world. Over the past two years he has published over ten comic books, and a Generation-Z Vocabulary work book. 

Before he began working as an artist and author, he was busy earning a law degree from Charlotte School of Law. Now, Mr. Van Starr lives in Beautiful Down east Maine where he enjoys spending time with his family and friends and working on his various art projects. 

For more information or to view this author's work please visit: 

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An author's life~by Joanne Jaytanie

As I previously mentioned in my last post, Never Say Never, I was invited to write in the collection, Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge with nine other incredible authors. We've all pulled together and promoted our collection for the past two months. Our efforts paid off, and the collection quickly made it into the Amazon Best Sellers lists. It’s been a real pleasure working with these women. I’ve learned a great deal from them, and I feel fortunate to have gotten to know each of them. I would join any one of them in future collections.



The Emerald City Writers Conference was held a week ago. Jacquolyn McMurray and I taught our first writers’ workshop. We discussed the pros and cons of writing in a collection. I would be remiss if I didn't say thank you to Jacquolyn for learning PowerPoint. It provided us with a great outline and a handout for the attendees.  

I attended Passport 2 Romance, hosted by Greater Seattle Romance Writers. This is my favorite event of the year. The event takes place in a hotel ballroom, and the line of readers waiting to get into Passport 2 Romance grows each year. What makes this event special is that authors are not allowed to sell. Everything we bring is to be given away. It puts everyone at ease and enables authors to chat with the attendees. 

The authors of the Christmas collection put together a huge basket and we raffled it off. The winner of the basket told me it weighed 31 pounds! 










This past Saturday, I attended my second book signing at the Kitsap Mall for National Book Month. It’s a nice feeling to meet local people and to chat with author friends that I haven’t seen much of lately. 

Best of all, I was thrilled and honored to be awarded the winner of The Emerald City-Greater Seattle RWA Best Blurb Contest for Published work with Salvaging Truth, Hunters & Seekers, Book 1.

The life of an author isn't just about writing. It's about networking, building friendships, learning, and giving back to the community. It's about celebrating our colleague’s wins and comforting a friend when they need extra support. Yes, writing is a solitary occupation, but it is also a community, and the friendships you build along the way are priceless.

To read my past blogs and to find out about my books go to my personal page.

Until next time…

Joanne

A Cautionary Tale ~ by Andi Lawrencovna

Let me begin by saying that this is a cautionary tale that has widespread implications for all walks of life and is not necessarily only applicable to writers or people using computers…though it is definitely more geared towards them.

You see, as the day began, I was doing awesome. I had just finished a couple Photoshop pictures that I was pretty dang proud of. They looked, in my humble opinion, pretty good. Now, to be fair, I didn’t “exactly” create the pictures. I was just putting words on them, because… Anyways, they looked good. I was super excited about them, couldn’t wait to show them off, and…issue one occurred.

Facebook, which I already “love” dearly, decided not to upload my photos. Okay. That’s fine. Whatever. But, as a backup system, there goes backup number one (I’m not going to mention foreshadowing here…but…you get what I’m not mentioning…).

Again, it’s fine. The pictures are saved to the jump drive I have plugged in, so all is going well.

I upload a picture for a friend. I upload that friend’s manuscript. Everything, surprisingly, goes through. The internet seems to be holding strong today without any shorts.

Whoop-de-do-ki-ay!

And then it happened. I was looking online for an action or an overlay or a something, perhaps that’s where the problems began in not knowing what I was trying to do, for Photoshop. I had a picture that I wanted to prettify and couldn’t figure out alone, and Facebook – LOVE THEM… – showed me an add for where to go to find said overlays and actions and whatnot.

The download was free!

What could possibly go wrong, right?

Not. Mentioning. Foreshadowing!

Now, before you start with the “oh no, poor you’s”, which will admittedly be deserved, ish, in a few moments, let me just say that my computer is fine. Nothing seems to have happened to my computer or gotten disrupted or infected or what not…knock on wood.

The jump drive, however – which I was saving the download to, and which had all my writing on it, particularly the few pieces which I was currently working on, not EVERYTHING, thank God, but the current most important stuff – was not.

Halfway through the download, with documents from the jump drive still open on my computer, I get a: “transfer cannot be completed; driver corrupted” message on my folder.

SO, of course, I did the smart thing and did NOT save the documents I had open to my computer where they were originally saved to the jump drive…no, I just closed them down unthinkingly.

I then proceeded to spend the next hour trying to finagle the jump drive into a spark of new life, because it had files on it that I HADN’T SAVED ANYWHERE ELSE YET!

A little backstory: I run a writer’s workshop group one Saturday a month. I try to pick topics that might be useful for the group, and one of the month’s topics was – saving your work to multiple sources so that you don’t lose it…

To be fair, I did not run that particular lecture but let the resident computer dude do it…

I did listen to it, though.

I did not follow the suggestions/instructions of Doug when he said: SAVE EVERYTHING AND THEN SAVE A BACKUP OF EVERYTHING!

Back to the present…

The files that I had just uploaded to Kindle to publish my latest novellas…are gone. I never saved them to my main computer, and now they have “poofed” out of existence on my “corrupted” jump drive.

My Photoshop awesome manipulation…is also gone, only the memory of my pretties left to sustain me.

The majority of my work is still safe, but the last edits of the latest pieces I was working on are no more, and I am back to square-ish-one. 

This is not the tragedy it could have been. My freshman year of college I somehow managed to bend a jump drive. I had just gotten a new computer, hadn’t saved over anything yet, and all of my writing was on that jump drive, which refused to open. My poor roommate came into the room and I was sitting on the floor rocking, and she asked: "What happened?" To which I responded, potentially melodramatically, but who’s counting: "My family died!"

I was holding the jump drive up at the time I said this. And she was also a writer. So she understood I did not mean my ‘literal’ family, but my imaginary made up ones which, for a writer, had consumed my life for some time. 

You would think that would have taught me a better lesson…but, apparently, it did not. 

Sigh. 

(shakes computer in muted rage while cursing everyone and everything silently in my head)

Long drawn out, useless SIGH!

There is a moral that I want you to take away from my ineptitude here. ALWAYS SAVE, DOUBLE SAVE, AND THEN SAVE AGAIN WHAT YOU ARE WORKING ON.

Whether it be a simple form for work, or a manuscript you’ve put your heart and soul into, make sure to save it. Make sure that if “it” is something you want to keep, that you have a safe place where you can keep a copy of “it” for the future. A story shared between family members, recorded from a grandparent for the future – make a copy of it, back it up, transcribe it so that it is not forgotten or lost or destroyed and someone can always find it. How many times in life have the simple things become misplaced only to be missed later on?

A jump drive is not the safest medium to save your work on. Nor a hard drive, nor the cloud or whatever. But saving something to multiple places gives you a better chance of keeping your work safe than only saving it to one.

Take my advice. Be safe, save your work, whatever that work may be, and then re-save it again. Don’t lose what you have because of a silly mistake or because of a corrupted file. Save everything, and appreciate it, because life changes and erases and goes by in a blink, and you never know what the next moment will bring.

The End.

(Who just went and re-saved all their work to somewhere else? I know I did…)

Magical Places by Author Victoria Zak

Have you ever been to a place so magical that when you left, you felt as if you left behind a piece of your heart? I have.

Back in September of 2018, Mr. Zak surprised me with a trip of a lifetime, two tickets to Scotland. I've always wanted to experience the Highlands firsthand but never thought I'd do it. I'm so glad we did because there's something to be said about Scotland’s luring magic. From rich in history to the people of today, Scotland is a real treasure.

We covered much ground in two weeks touring Glasgow, Glencoe,

Loch Ness, Inverness, Isle of Skye, and Edinburgh. To know exactly where I left a piece of my heart is hard to tell. There were many magical places I visited--castles, Abbeys, battlefields, and local pubs (the best fish and chips I've ever had.) 

However, nothing comes close to the Highlands. That’s where I left a piece of my heart. One of our firsts stops was in Glencoe. Deep valleys and towering mountains, I was speechless. Mr. Zak had pulled over so I could take in the moment. I hiked up a wee bit of a mountain to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
Next stop was the Isle of Skye. When they say that Skye is the jewel of Scotland, they’re not joking. So many beautiful iconic landscapes; The Old Man of Storr, Kilt rock, Dinosaur footprints at Staffin Beach, (No, we didn’t see any magical prints), Fairy Pools,

and The Quiraing, which is the most beautiful place I've seen with its misty soaring cliffs, green plateaus, and jagged rocks. Welcome to the wild Highlands. Again, a piece of my heart stayed behind.
     Once we had our fill of magical scenery, we toured Dunvegan castle and Eilean Donan castle. In one day, I found myself inside castles of warring clans. Yikes! Good thing I’m a Bruce😊
     Even though most of the time there was rain and wind, which wasn't bad, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Maybe sparked a few story ideas. The whispering voices of Scotland will call me back one day, and I can't wait to return.

Victoria Zak is an international bestselling author of Scottish historical/paranormal romance. She weaves magic into her timeless tales, reminding readers anything is possible, especially with a dragon by your side. Raised in Dunedin, Florida, the sister city to Stirling Scotland, it’s no wonder she grew up fascinated with anything Scottish. Add the ocean into the mix, and it’s easy to see where Victoria finds inspiration for her stories.

     When not writing, she enjoys historical research and hanging out at the nearest coffee shop. Currently, she resides in Maryland with her real-life heroes, her husband and two children. 

     Victoria loves hearing from her readers and may be reached at:

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