A Dash of Words with Loleta Abi Romance Author

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Five Links…5/24/19

Loleta Abi

Writing:

1. https://www.janefriedman.com/why-read-women-writers-bill-wolfe/ “While scrolling through my Facebook feed some years ago, I came across a link to Bill Wolfe’s website, Read Her Like an Open Book. Someone had posted a link to a book review he’d written, and I’d clicked on it, finding myself at a website dedicated to reviewing and showcasing books by women.

As a female writer, I admittedly find myself rolling my eyes when males express surprise if they’ve enjoyed a novel by a woman, or when they brazenly don’t accept that men and women (and everyone in between) are equally competent writers, so I naturally thought Bill Wolfe’s book review blog was a refreshing idea. Who better than a man to persuade other men that women’s books are worth their time? (After all, men who refuse to read women certainly aren’t likely to listen to any woman who tells them they should.)”

2. http://booksbywomen.org/writing-short-stories-about-women-with-complex-trauma/ “It wasn’t until 1992 that Dr. Judith Herman coined the term complex trauma in her seminal book Trauma & Recovery. I was deeply immersed in a healing process, inclusive of traditional therapy, 12-step fellowships, consciousness raising workshops, bodywork, spiritual outlets and creative exploration. Unbeknownst to me at the time I was desperately trying to cobble together a comprehensive treatment plan that would address the traumas and resultant developmental disasters incurred from a history steeped in chronic child abuse.”

3. http://booksbywomen.org/what-has-helped-and-hindered-my-writing/ “What has helped and hindered my writing? I spent a few weeks thinking about this and watching myself to see what items applied to me and what reasons I was using as an excuse not to write. The main reasons that I found myself using this last year has been my health.

I suffered from migraines in the past year and as anyone who has had them can tell you, writing is something that you cannot do when one hits. However, I realized that I hadn’t been writing even when I didn’t have a headache and I wondered why?

After some soul searching, I realized that my confidence had taken a hit. I was afraid to write. Why did my confidence take a hit? I realized that I had read some older reviews that were less than nice about me. I listened to some, so called friends who said they could write better than I could; however, they have never published anything. When I allow these outside forces to enter my thoughts, they make it hard for me to believe in my own ability to be creative and write. So, I came up with excuses that hindered my writing.”

4. https://stevelaube.com/why-is-writing-a-hook-so-hard-for-me/ “I love hooks. As a writer, I work hard on my hooks. As a magazine editor, the hook was often the best way for a writer to make a good first impression on me. And, as an agent, the hook is the first and one of the most important criteria I use in evaluating a book pitch, proposal, or manuscript.”

5.

Research & Fun Bits:

1. https://romanceuniversity.org/romance-universitys-relaunch/ “We hope you love the new look of Romance University as much as we do. We’ve been working away behind the scenes to bring you a fresh experience and more organized content. In all honesty, the reorganization is still in process because there is so much incredible content here. It’s taking time and resources to give every article the love and attention it deserves.

If you didn’t catch our announcement about Romance University becoming a part of Steele Ridge Publishing, which is co-owned by Adrienne Giordano, Tracey Devlyn, and Kelsey Browning, you can get up to speed here. As you can see, since we launched Romance University in May 2009, much has changed in the world of publishing and in our careers. We want to bring the knowledge we’ve gained back here to the site that helped launch those careers.”

2. https://killzoneblog.com/2019/05/use-it.html “Okay, first things first.  My most recent post dealt in some detail with a surgery I was facing to fuse three vertebrae in my cervical spine.  I am thrilled to report that even the doctor is surprised by the speed of my recovery.  There’s some post-op discomfort to deal with, but that improves every day.  Last weekend, I was able to attend a black tie event (Bond-era ascot in lieu of tie), and I made it all the way to the end.

And the nerve pain that triggered the procedure in the first place is entirely gone, save for some lingering numbness in my thumb, which I’m told will likewise go away with time.” My own surgeries may serve as research for the future as well.

3. http://storitorigrace.blogspot.com/2019/05/language-of-worlds-belated-march-april.html “Late again, but I just couldn’t miss out on these questions on Liv’s Link-up! Today I’m talking about Nzelt who is one of the main villains of the Red Hood series and he’s a … special fellow. He is an Isamaour which is a humanoid being that lives in the north and can manipulate matter at will, though Nzelt is nearly completely black because he’s used his abilities too much. I have a full bio and interview centering around him too!”

4. https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2019/05/22/the-saga-of-today-2/ “I took today off for my annual exam. This is because sometimes there is blood involved and I did not want to go back to the office under those circumstances.

On my first appointment I saw one doctor, then he kicked me to the curb. After that I saw Dr. Rowe. I liked Dr. Rowe, because he talked to me in plain English and took time to answer my questions.

After three years, Dr. Rowe has kicked me to the curb. I hate how modern medicine does this.”

5.

Some Things More Serious:

1. https://romanceuniversity.org/approaching-year-end-by-natalie-damschroder/ “Time is a constant. We impose a logical structure on it because it makes life easier. And then we put greater importance on specific elements of that time, like the end of the year. In reality, just because the calendar flips, that doesn’t mean anything really changes. One day follows the next with the same demand and rewards. But it still feels significant. It’s a marker, even if it’s mostly mental. And we all approach it differently.”

2. http://blondewritemore.com/2019/05/19/how-to-clean-your-house-like-a-writer-amwriting-amcleaning/ “After waking in the morning you will make an important decision about the day ahead: are you going to work on your novel as that deadline is getting dangerously close or are you going to try to forget about both?

Simply reassure yourself that literary miracles (like hitting your deadline) can be achieved in twenty-four hours…once the family have gone to work and school, a wash has been put on, the dog has been walked, the cats have been fed, you’ve gone to the supermarket and browsed Facebook.

Just smile and mutter the magic phrase: once I sit down at my laptop…later, my novel will finish itself.

Feeling optimistic opt for a much-needed house clean.”

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Teaser Fiction & Poetry:

1. https://rachelpoli.com/2019/05/19/short-story-sunday-265-card-part-three/ “Lilah sat behind George’s desk. She leaned back in the chair, propping her feet on the surface of his desk, and swiveled back and forth. She pouted her lips together deep in thought at the meeting they just had with Richard Wiley. His wife, Beth, had been acting strangely for a few weeks before she disappeared without a trace only taking her keys and car with her. What was really strange was that she had called George the week before but never gave any information on what was bothering her.”

2. http://butismileanyway.com/2019/05/20/chai-and-a-chat-33-chaiandachat/

3. https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/2019/05/19/why-i-write-poetry-guest-post-by-robbie-cheadle/ “Writing poetry, for me, is an escape valve that I use to download my thoughts about situations and circumstances that cause me great stress and turbulent emotion. I have never been a person who wrote poems about beautiful things and nature, although I enjoy reading this type of poetry myself as I find it soothing.

My poetry is usually an outpouring of emotion, often fueled by my own inability to find a solution or remedy to a given situation. I express myself in words to release my anguish and I find it does work well for me.”

4. http://jenanita01.com/2019/05/20/flashfiction-99-word-challenge-for-carrot-ranch-literary-community-poetry-3/ “May 16, 2019, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that goes in search of trees. It can be one particular tree, a grove, woods, or forest. What makes the tree worth seeking? Go where the prompt leads!”

5.

Book Reviews, Cover Reveals, and Author Interviews:

1. http://lizlovesbooks.com/lizlovesbooks/latest-reads-stop-at-nothing-tammy-cohen/ “A mother’s job is to keep her children safe.

Tess has always tried to be a good mother. Of course, there are things she wishes she’d done differently, but doesn’t everyone feel that way?

Then Emma, her youngest, is attacked on her way home from a party, plunging them into a living nightmare which only gets worse when the man responsible is set free

But what if she fails?

So when Tess sees the attacker in the street near their home, she is forced to take matters into her own hands. But blinded by her need to protect her daughter at any cost, might she end up putting her family in even greater danger?

There’s nothing she wouldn’t do to make it right . . .”

2. http://lizlovesbooks.com/lizlovesbooks/your-deepest-fear-david-jackson-blog-tour-review/ “‘Sara! Remember! Victoria and Albert. All I can say. They’re here. They’re-‘ 

These are the last words Sara Prior will ever hear from her husband. 

As DS Nathan Cody struggles to make sense of the enigmatic message and solve the brutal murder, it soon becomes clear that Sara is no ordinary bereaved wife. Taking the investigation into her own hands, Sara is drawn into a world of violence that will lead her in a direction she would never have suspected. 

For Cody, meanwhile, things are about to get personal in the darkest and most twisted ways imaginable . . .”

3. http://mariacatalinaegan.com/2019/05/18/defined-by-others-by-m-c-v-egan/ “This is a profound look at relationships and their darker side. It explores familial, friendships and romantic relationships with a bright light shined in the worst corners. Manipulation, betrayal, and pain are in the forefront. To be so manipulated, even from grave, made for a lot of food for thought. At the end of the day, to me, we are all responsible for our own actions and happiness. I won’t say how this is relevant or how things play out because it really unfolds perfectly and I wouldn’t want to spoil that. It will certainly leave you with a lot to ponder about love and vulnerability.”

4. http://owlnpussycatbookpromo.blog/2019/05/19/the-long-road-home-romantic-murder-mystery-by-carolyn-m-bowen-4/ “After a lifetime of being protected and sheltered by her parents, Kate is thrown into a state of turmoil after their sudden death. With nowhere else to turn, she finds herself living with her fiancé, a conniving businessman who is well on his way to becoming a corrupt super-lawyer. At the same time, Kate’s father’s law firm houses more secrets than a politician’s hard drive. Later, she receives a shocking surprise when a long-lost half-brother enters her life. Can Kate rise to these challenges, discover the truth and re-emerge as a stronger, smarter version of herself?”

5. http://mariacatalinaegan.com/2019/05/20/love-song-standards-series-boxed-set-books-1-3-by-cynthia-roberts-contemporary-romance/ “If you love Contemporary Romances with relatable, flawed characters who
are sometimes wounded or broken and eventually find that kind of love
we all dream of, you’ll love this series titled after some of the
greatest love songs of all times.”