Glen is a professional photographer and often travels this beautiful state of Washington to take photos of nature. Shelly Wilkerson is an incredible artist. She’s the one who is doing illustrations for my new book A Bard’s Guide to Portal Hopping. We’ve painted together often, been in the same art associations, and meet for tea, or coffee, or a cocktail together. She lives just down the road from me and is a good friend.

Glen drove us up to Mt. Rainier’s Tipsoo Lake to be exact. I had never been there, but what a refreshing change!

It was cold when we got there and we were in the shade almost the entire time we painted. Of course, my water cup spilled all over my bag and so my extra shirt took a bath, but what the heck it’s supposed to be washed in cold water, so I guess that counts.

I had 2 5X7 canvases and finished paintings on them. Shel had one 9 X 12 and I don’t think she got done.

After we painted we went for a hike and that was lovely. If you haven’t taken a trail in Washington’s mountainous country, you might want to put that on your bucket list. Bring your pochade box if you’re an artist!

A Bard’s Guide is in the formatting stage and Shelly is working hard on the illustrations. They are SO awesome. You’ve got to grab this book on Kickstarter. I decided to do the leather version 8.5 X 5 with 70# paper and Shel’s fantastic illustrations in color. I can’t wait to show you.

There are so many people writing books. That’s good. It’s excellent therapy. I’ve heard authors talk about ‘competition’ but honestly, I don’t think any of us are really competitive. Not if we stay in our lane, write what we love and love writing.

Books are a consumable product. It’s like french fries competing with french fries. Once one is eaten, well then get yourself another one.

Readers read. Granted, some readers have favorite authors and read all their work, but what do those readers do during the time that author is working on their next book? Do they stop reading and wait?

Maybe, but I doubt it.

We, as authors, shouldn’t feel hostile toward other writers, nor should we be competitive. What we SHOULD do is help each other, especially if we’re independently published.

Because “self-published author” is a brand. And that brand is going to or already has developed a reputation. In a sense, whether we know it or not, we depend on every self-published author to have excellent writing skills.

We’re like a farming community. We grow books, and we have fields and fields of them. When one of us is down and needing help, we should be there like the farmers when they barn raise for each other, or crop sharing. It’s fruitless to think we need to push each other aside to get ahead. The more we irrigate our own crops by honing our skills, and then share that irrigation, the greener all our fields become.

So let’s give each other a helping hand! Be it in content making, editing, beta reading, promoting, or sharing the price of a booth at an event…however it works best for you! The gift is in the giving. We’ll all prosper.

I’ll be at the Kitsap Mall in Silverdale WA tomorrow with my books and 9 other authors. Come see us and get yourself a new read if you’re in the area. Coming soon, the Kitsap Fair and then the Blackberry Festival. If you’ll be at those events, and have a request for a particular title, let me know.

I’m still taking followers for The Bard’s Guide to Portal Hopping.

Follow the Bard

Is it because we recognize our own flaws whether we admit them openly or not?

When I wrote book 1 of Sword of Cho Nisi I decided instead of writing a male protagonist I’d switch to female, something I rarely do. But I refused to make the heroine of Rise of a Tobian Princess a super woman. Why? Because I don’t know what that looks like in real life. I can’t relate any more than I could relate to a perfect dad for Ian in Ian’s Realm; a dad who abandons his son.

Sure we all have flaws, baggage from our past, doubts, miseries, and weaknesses. But do we make fatal mistakes like Erika does? Some people do.

I have. And because the series is Noble Bright, I wanted to redeem her. I wanted to give her a promise for a better future. Even in Ian’s Realm, Alex finds a sort of redemption and Ian and his father come to a final understanding in Streams to Ashes.

I think these conclusions are important in stories. I think we all need to feel satisfied that there’s hope for our lives too, regardless of what we’ve done to hurt other people, or ourselves. Everyone has their ghosts in the closet. Everyone needs redemption.

On a lighter scale, I’m writing a flawed character now who has his heads in the clouds and his hands on a keg. His biggest mistake is not being bold when he needs to be and putting the bottle down long enough to discover who he really is.

Illustrations for this book are being created by talented artist Shelly Wilkerson.

Collin’s goal is to marry Madeline O’Sullivan but he never tells her. His flaws? He drinks, he steals, and he writes poetry. Most people would probably buy him a beer and leave him at the pub with a pat on the back. But I wanted to give him a life. So I’m showing how his weaknesses is keeping him from getting what he really wants. I started the short story series as a sort of Cyrano de Bergerac tale, where he uses his talents to help Robin Hood and Marian confess their love for each other. In helping them, he gets his first revelation of how powerful he could be, but he has many more missteps and some self awareness to overcome before there’s a happily ever after.

Creating these anti heroes is satisfying, because as I write, I begin to uncover ways I can overcome my own flaws. I think authors who dive into these very human characters are able to work out their own issues.

What do you think?

A Bard's Guide to Portal Travel

Enjoy your weekend.

I’ll be at the Port Gamble Music Festival with books and some of my art. I hope to see you there. Also I’ll be plein air painting with the South Kitsap Artist at the Red Barn during the Farm Tour here in South Kitsap.

A dear friend and wonderful writer (sweet romance) has an exciting campaign coming up. Please take a look at The Sister’s Grimm. Her books are beautiful and her writing fun!

Descendants of the infamous Brothers Grimm, two sisters defy dark magic and travel to fairytale worlds to rescue stolen children

Those of you who write probably have experienced this. A grand idea comes to you, you manage to get an outline sketched, you might even write a few chapters. And then life happens and you have to set your genius aside for an hour, a day, a week. Or else another idea pops in your head and that little beginning now slips into the slush pile.

I was sitting on this idea for sometime and I won’t bore you with how life tripped me up, but I’m amazed I actually got back to The Bard’s Guide to Portal Hopping. It’s just a collection of some fun little stories that follow the adventures of a starry-eyed poet chasing after his muse through fairy-tale lands. I’ve given you a few notes about it here on Substack the last few months.

The book isn’t finished. I have the last chapter to write. But I’ve talked my good friend Shelly Wilkerson into illustrating it and I’m really excited that she consented. Her work fits perfectly into the mood of the story.

Here’s her bio.

Coined as “Norman Rockwell Meets MAD Magazine”, Shelly Wilkerson’s art chronicles the coming-to-maturity of man and womankind in a light-hearted and heartwarming merriment that scoffs at aging. She means to capture the lighter side of the ‘Golden Years’ with her people in her conversation-piece paintings as they lay aside their bifocals to view life through rose-colored glasses in her Cat Companion Series. There are no models. She gets to know all of her characters as they come to life on her easel. Her revitalizing approach to art remains an example of our ability to laugh at ourselves. She’s managed to triangulate seemingly disparate circles from various backgrounds and cultures. Shel always felt herself to be a right-brained person in a left-brained world. Over thirty years of her career was devoted to Project Planning in high stress Planning & Scheduling positions in Nuclear Power, Aeronautics and Transportation in many parts of the country. For some reason her humor and artistic abilities continually were requested to provide underground cartoons and caricatures to document events or comical situations.

She began her art early when her parents stuck the hyperactive three-year-old in the back of the family station wagon with pad and pencil and told her to “Shut up and draw.” She has been creating since old enough to drag a cat or dog around and keep her audiences entertained with her ridiculous sense of humor. She and her photographer husband are menial servants for seven cats and have had three galleries in the Pacific Northwest. She has judged and juried art shows locally, has been featured in Southern Magazine, Air-Tran In-Flight Magazine and newspapers across the country. She owes it completely to being at the right place at the right time. Her art has been featured and sold at galleries across the country and she has provided book cover art for a known British writer. She does commissions currently including portraits, murals and “paint and sips” by those who know and request her for both instruction and comedic entertainment value.

So you can see, I’m lucky!

I hope you’ll come follow the campaign as the draft is polished and turns into a book!

Follow The Campaign

I think I’m on social media too much.

I am a people watcher since my childhood. When mom went to the grocery store for our week’s supply of groceries, my sister and I (with dad in the front seat of our Buick) would have to sit in the back and just wait. This is when I became a people watcher. I grew fond of the past time and found people fascinating. Moms, kids, dads. Back then people didn’t take dogs into the stores but there might be one or two of them in cars nearby to watch, and see what they bark at. That was fun. I brought that pastime with me throughout my life and found it helps when I’m at an event selling books and things slow down.

Well, needless to say, yesterday at Silverdale, Washington’s very popular Whaling Days, I found myself watching people again. Gorgeous people! And what I’ve been reading on social media struck me as such a very big lie. America is not racist! I’m seeing Blacks, White, Asian, Indian, Hispanic, Native Americans, vending, cooking their cultural foods and selling it, (delicious), performing, and being spectators. And the families are a beautiful blend of these different races. I mean, an actual melting pot. Absolutely gorgeous people, unique in every way, all of them.

So it makes me wonder, who is spreading these lies? Because normal people don’t seem to be bothered by skin color. Everyone talking with everyone else, buying products from everyone else, appreciating the skills everyone else has. It only leaves me to believe someone out there is trying to create discord where there isn’t any.

Please, can’t we just all be friends? Better yet, can’t we all just open our eyes?

Bless your week. Sorry this is late.

D.L. Gardner

This weekend I have the privilege of bringing my books to Gig Harbor, Wa and participating with other authors and artists by showing my wares at Peninsula Art Leagues 40th annual festival. This makes #6 or #7 for me. They used to close a street in downtown Gig Harbor for this fair, but eventually outgrew it and now they hold it in a beautiful park. Music, food, and curated art work. (Along with our books at the Literary Corner). Glass works, garden art, pottery, paintings. The art is amazing. No “commercial” work is allowed. I used to screen artists into this show for PAL. It’s a very competitive and prestigious collection of unique works.

One thing struck me though as I watched the crowd. Not many people were walking away with artwork. It saddens me. Being an artist myself, I know the expense, the work in creating, and the labor in piling displays and tents and the artwork into a truck and setting it all up. And then not selling anything?

There were many many people there enjoying the displaya. But how many years can these skilled artisans continue these festivals if there are no sales? I’m going to bring my checkbook today and make a purchase. We cannot let our artists suffer by treating them as museums rather than as people using their incredible skills to bring us beauty. Next time you’re at a craft show, or book sale, or art show I encourage you to plan on buying something, even if it’s a card or two. Hand crafted work is so much more valuable than some decor you’ll find at Target or Walmart. It’s made with love.

Have a wonderful weekend. And if you’re in Western WA, I’ll be at Whalen’ Days in Silverdale next weekend.

How to stay focused on your writing during summer.

If you find out let me know. I am maintaining a steady one paragraph a day accomplishment. It used to be I could write an entire draft in 15 days (my old NaNoWriMo entries proved that). Either I’m getting old and feeble and my mind is slipping from me, or there is just too much going on. (Family has moved back into this little house).

I have a few hacks that might work for you, some ‘don’ts’ (like don’t try to write when the seven year old is watching Youtube in the same room, or when the garden is screaming for water), I can give you this.

Mostly don’t be hard on yourself. Sometimes when your story has time to steep in the tea kettle of your brain, what you pour into your cup will come out rich and rewarding.

Here are some other suggestions for writers block, which often comes when you don’t have quiet for long periods of time:

• Kids? Ask them what they think should happen next in your story. This works with other adults too.

• Long walks in the woods or on the beach helps get the juices flowing. Take a notepad and jot down ideas, or dialogue, or whatever comes to mind.

• Hide away in your cave for an hour or so with your work. Sometimes if you aren’t noticeable, the crowd will forget you.

• If you have to stop writing, stop in the middle of a chapter. It’s harder to pick up where you left off if you have to begin a new train of thought.

• Schedule a block of time to write and stick to it. Early morning works best for me.

So to those of you who are writers, enjoy life in the “real” world as well and good luck with your stories whenever they manifest!

I’m working on book 4 of the Celtic Portal series, a short story collection that follows a love sick poet’s journey through fairy tales and other worlds in pursuit of his muse. There will be 2 more stories and then I will attempt to illustrate it and compile it into one book.

The Kingston Pirate Festival is tomorrow in Kingston, WA and I’m excited. Last year four other authors and myself set up a tent, put up tables, spread out our wares, and didn’t know what to expect after that. Well I should have expected more because I sold out.

https://www.facebook.com/KingstonPirateFestival

I’ve always loved attending the Ren Faire, Pirate festivals, and other fantasy events. It’s enjoyable to dress up- once a child always a child I guess - and to mingle with others, young and old, in our costumes. There will be music, food, games, and entertainment. And of course , vendors, which I and my buddies will be part of.

If I had found a house to buy in Kingston, WA when I was in the market, I would have jumped on it. I did look. But the thing about exceptional places to live is that no one sells because they love it there. Kingston is along the shores of Appletree Cove and Puget Sound. It’s a beautiful, forested community by the sea with no more than 2500 residents. The ferry stops there, so it’s not lacking for tourist traffic, but it’s small, with lots of country around.

Update on my work.

I have family living with us so finding quiet time is extremely difficult and has slowed my writing. I’m still working through the third short story of the Celtic Portal series. It’s a story about an Irish fellow named Collin, a poet and dreamer in love with an Irish lass named Madeline O’Sullivan. They’re both Fae who travel often into curious lands such as Sherwood Forest, Neverland, Oz, and Wonderland. Not together, mind you. It’s more Maddy making a trip for various reasons and Collin trailing after her trying to woo her back to Feyland. At the moment they’re in Neverland, Maddy under a spell cast by none other than Tinkerbell, and Collin confronting pirates with Peter.

I hope to be able to finish this one next week and start on the next.

I have drafts of the following: Book 4 of the Hoarfrost series. Much of my time has been spent working on, and promoting the ominbus of the first three books. Finally the draft for it has been approved. A huge, linen, hardcover with a dust jacket. We’ve reached a few stretch goals which also require my time to put together like the trivia PDF and the bookmark. I hope you take a look. The campaign has the eBook, the pretty paperback with edges, and the hardcover. Lots of rewards and we’re working toward a saddle stitch book as the next goal.

4 Day to Go for the Limited Edition

If I want to get much more writing done, I’ll have to take a short hiatus from marketing. Although I have in-person events every weekend all summer.

Other projects in the works are a sequel to Land of Two Moons and I want to do another Maurice the Dragon Rider book.

Thank you for following!

I’m extremely fortunate to live in an area where there are a lot of authors who like to get together and share marketing with each other. I have every weekend this month filled with events. Festivals, craft shows, even a salmon bake. I know that writing is a process that relies on solitude, but when I get together with my writing friends to market, something magical happens.

Few of us can afford to show our work at so many events. They’re expensive. Booth space are regularly $250 - $300 each, often more. The big ones go for as much as $1500 (The Victorian Christmas Market runs that price). But if you split the cost with 1 or 2 others, it makes it doable.

I sell more paperback and hardcover books than I do eBooks and that’s why. You probably won’t find a lot of reviews on my Amazon page because digital reading is not my strength. And I can owe my success to my network of other authors.

I encourage you, if you have books for sale, start a marketing group to share these events with other authors. In person sales are much more fun and you’d be surprised when your buyer’s eyes light up and they say “I can’t believe I met a real author!”

If you don’t know authors, you might know craft people you can vend with. I also do shows with our local art group.

And if you’re a reader…look for your local authors at these festivals, get a signed copy, have a chat, and THANK YOU.

Have a happy season. If you’re in Western WA here are just a few of my events coming up.

June

June 6 10:00am - 8:00pm
Gig Harbor Maritime Festival
Pioneer Street Gig Harbor.

June 13
Kingston Pirate Festival
2026 at the Mike Wallace Park in Kingston Wa

June 20
Kitsap Mall
Silverdale WA 10 - 6

June 21
Storm Water Park Salmon Bake 9 - 4
Manchester, WA

July

July 18, 19
Gig Harbor Summer Arts Festival
Sehmel Homestead Park, Gig Harbor

July 31 - August 2
Eatonville Music Festival

More events are posted on my website.

How is the Kickstarter coming?

With 11 days still left, The Hoarfrost Mystery Series is going strong on Kickstarter. This is a limited edition omnibus of all three books PLUS a new short story.

A daughter of murderers, a wounded heir, and a town of shady characters star in this romantic, often humorous 1879 omnibus.

We’ve unlocked several stretch goals already so you might want to see all the bonus material you can get just for backing. This is where purchasing on Kickstarter trumps just buying a book. All these extras are yours just for being there!

If we hit $6,000 all these PDFs will be put together in an illustrated saddle stitch book for physical tiers, and an eBook for digital tiers.

SO COME ON OVER

Read more

There are scores of festivals happening this summer and I hope you take a trip to some of them. Ren Faires, 250th USA celebrations, and annual festivals. I’m part of a marketing group where other authors (and artists) rent space for our wares and I haven’t found one that isn’t a lot of fun. We did the Mosquito Fleet Festival last weekend. I was in a 10 X 20 tent that my group the GGHLS put up but I couldn’t get anyone else to join me so I used 1/2 the space for some of my paintings. I actually sold one of my plein air paintings too, which surprised me!

I might bring this Posh and Nimrod painting with me to other events. It actually sold some copies of Another Man’s Storm!

In other news, The Hoarfrost Mysteries just earned a Project We Love from Kickstarter. I am changing the cover because I decided to give all the hardcover backers a dustjacket. There was a huge request for some artwork in the book. How can I refuse? Because of that, the blue didn’t go with the dustjacket, so I’m changing it back to grey and red and I think I might use this mysterious rose for the edges. I love the look. Let me know what you think!

I also added Land of Two Moons leather edition. I have 3 left out of the print run of 50. So these will be signed and numbered. You can find them in the add ons.

Pledge today

Have a great weekend.

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PLEDGE NOW

Just launched today with discounts for day one backers! One beautiful 616 page book with illustrations and mock up newspaper headlines, a fun mystery, sweet romance, humor and a ghost.

Book 1: Hoarfrost to Roses

Adele Johansson is the town outsider, desperate for a chance at redemption… Her parents are murderers, sentenced to hang, and she must live on the charity of an aunt and uncle she barely knows. Avoiding the advances of a perverted cousin whose intentions are less than honorable, Adele turns her attention to the mysterious lights swirling in the mist at night in the decaying grounds of the estate next door.

Grai Madison is on the brink of inheriting a vast fortune until fate steps in… Just before Grai can take command of his grandfather’s estate, he is brutally stabbed and robbed. Left for dead, he is saved by his spirit, the optimistic part of him who takes control of his body to save his life, and carries him to a hideout where they squabble over life and death, who’s to blame, and whether Grai can accept help from the young lady next door.

When Adele stumbles into the ruins that shelter Grai and nurses his wounds, Grai’s spirit immediately falls in love but convincing his other half to trust Adele isn’t so easy. All the while, the three of them must discover who his would-be killer is before the murderer comes back to finish the job .

Early Bird Discounts

Not enough ghosts? Try Book 2: Night Ice

In 1880, before women earned the right to vote the strong ladies of the Pacific Northwest town of Port Summerhill, including Aunt Eloise and Adele, pool their efforts towards women’s suffrage despite the ruckus coming from the saloon. That is, until a prominent spokeswoman for the movement is found dead on the back lawn of Adele’s uncle’s hotel.

Did Ramona Hoyt fall out the window? Or was she pushed?

When Adele’s uncle is accused of murder, Grai and Adele take it upon themselves to solve the mystery, and Grai’s spirit is more than willing to interrogate the dead woman’s ghost!

Looking for a motive isn’t hard in a wild territory where prohibition threatens the populace, sailors are crimped, opium is smuggled, ghosts abound, and no one knows their next door neighbor’s secrets. Stick around. It’s going to be a long winter.

It’s not a western if the Native Americans aren’t involved. Book 3: Wind in the Wilds

Grai fought hard to preserve his land from the railroad, but now the lumber mill is seeking a place to set up and cut down. Grai’s estate harbors old-growth timber perfect for the picking but Grai kept a promise to his grandfather to keep the forest pristine and allow the neighboring Salish tribe to live there peacefully.

When a friend’s livery stable burns to the ground, the residents of Port Summerhill are led by a former deputy (who has an agenda of his own) to believe the Salish were the arsonists. To keep the townspeople from rioting, Grai and Adele must prove the Salish tribe innocent. The stakes intensify when a body is found in the forest on Grai’s property and a young Salish woman flees the scene.

All three books now under one cover.

The texture of linen garnishes the special signed and numbered exclusive limited edition. The interior Victorian clip art and mock newspaper headlines with historical trivia and fictional embellishments bring Port Summerhill’s events right to your door in real time.

Join the fun on Kickstarter. Stretch goals forthcoming! Including real historical trivia and there’s even a mug in the bundle tier.

Exclusive to Kickstarter

When most of the country is celebrating good weather, graduations, and summer vacations, Memorial Day was set aside to remember loved ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country. So I want to take a moment to thank all the brave service people who enter the armed forces knowing what might be asked of them. And for those who fought and died for our freedom.

Throughout our history, the US has been involved 239 military conflicts. (wikipedia). That represents a lot of sons and daughters. I remember in the 60s when boys from our school were being drafted as soon as they graduated and sent to Vietnam. Not many returned and those who did were broken. I can only imagine what is was like for wives, mothers, grandparents, and younger siblings during WWII.

War is devastating and no one really wins. That mankind continually takes arms against each other only solidifies my belief in Christianity. That man is evil and needs a Redeemer. A country’s people could be pacifist, but somewhere on the globe that nation has an enemy that will attack and when that happens, they must defend themselves or melt into tyranny. It’s an endless cycle.

This weekend, let’s give a moment of prayer, thought, meditation, whatever is your way of tribute in honor of those whose lives were cut off while caught in the midst of war.

And then celebrate life because it’s ever so short.

A True Story based on letters that my sister-in-law wrote during WWII

I need a break from writing. The pain in my left hand isn’t gripping, but it is distracting.

So to occupy my time, I find myself veering off into my art again, only there is a dissatisfaction there as well. (See my art portfolio) So I’ve been taking some online workshops, seeking some advice from master artists, and trying to find the help I need for what I want to do, which is to be able to do concept art, and fantasy art in the medium I’ve spent 50 some odd years working in. Oil painting.

I can’t tell you I’ll be successful, but I’ve been getting some really good advice which I’ll be pursuing and hopefully some fruit will come of it. My ambition is to do the cover to my next book. I’m thinking the sequel to Maurice the Dragon Rider series.

I’m pulling The Keeper, Another Man’s Storm, and this next one aside as it’s own series. Those books aren’t the same category as the first three Cho Nisi books. they are lighter, more general audience, and I’m getting very little read through from the series because readers aren’t sure what to expect. So when I do this next sequel, I’ll re market the three. They deserve their own spotlight.

In any case, this crossroads is somewhat of a hiatus for me. When I get to writing again, I do want to finish the Bard short story series, a sequel to Land of Two Moons, and Maurice the Dragon Rider adventures.

Shop the series on KU

Right now all of those series are in Kindle Unlimited. If you are a subscriber, you might want to grab them within the next couple of months because they won’t be in KU after July.

For those who don’t do much on social media…good for you! There’s so much turmoil and ill feelings floating around, and now another disease, war and rumors of war. Crazy things happening. I found a meme that hit home.

It’s amazing when I think about how much reading does for my peace of mind. Some people call it escape…but is it really? I’ve always thought of it more as living in another dimension, like there’s so much more to life than the linear “reality”. There are worlds to travel to, worlds where we have a little bit more control.

I admit, I haven’t been writing much lately because of this silly splint that cradles my poor broken arm. Because of that, I feel a little lost. I need my worlds. But I begin physical therapy today and hopefully my arm’s confinement will be short lived. I have so much more to write!

I have been able to do some formatting on the Hoarfrost Mysteries series and I’m excited about what the book will look like. I’ve been making front page news papers for my illustrations. I have 3 right now to introduce each book, but I’m seriously considering doing a few more. They are tons of fun, grabbing some of Port Townsend’s history and inserting my characters into it. I guess that’s what is meant by ‘alternate history’? I don’t know but here’s my latest. The entire book will be done on 70# cream paper. The cover is being created by 48 Hour Books. I’m anxious to see what they come up with. I’ll show you as soon as I get a proof.

Follow Hoarfrost Mysteries Campaign

I’ve got some SF and Fantasy Kindle Unlimited books for you this morning if you’re in the market to fill your kindles. This promo includes Rise of the Tobian Princess and Ian’s Realm as well as a lot of other KU offers. Enjoy!

Thanks so much for sticking with me. I’ve been reading a lot of other author’s SubStack news posts and sometimes restack the ones that I find interesting so you may get a post from me that’s not a Tuesday Telling or Fantasy Friday post.

Enjoy your weekend, and don’t forget to make time to read!

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The maypole represents celebration, unity, renewal, fertility, and the arrival of spring, symbolizing community and the intertwining of life's cycles.

Have a wonderful spring!

I read three books last month. The Lost Princess by Lorri Moulton, Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, an the beginning of River of Dementia by my friend Pauli Pedersen.

A diversity in genre and writing styles and all of them held my interest. The Lost Princess is a fairytale and as is Lorri’s style, delicate in its simplicity, and entertaining. Knowing Lorri for a number of years as a faithful online friend, we often share our stories as we write them, collaborate on our marketing adventures, and make certain to give each other a good morning meme every day. Her books are an extension of who she is so it’s enjoyable to read her newest work. She also has these lovely Facebook parties where she posts beautiful dresses and you have to guess which teacups go with them. We’re celebrating May Day today! Stop by sometime and give her a like if you’re on Facebook.

I read Peter Pan because the next adventure of the Bard (i.e. the Bard of Shamrock Inn and the Bard of Sherwood Forest) will be taking us into Neverland and I wanted to read the original story by the author in order to ground my hero in Barrie’s world and not one fabricated by another rendition. I admit, I have never read the book, only see the play with Mary Martin and Disney’s rendition. The story was first written as a play in 1904 and then as a novel, Barrie is a Scotsman and so the story is written in a completely different style than any modern novel you might pick up. This is true about any book written in that era. Barrie uses the omniscient narrator, breaking the fourth wall to tell us the tale, which gives it its own personality. Surprising to me is the fact that Peter actually kills people, as do the pirates, in such a non-chalant way, that it contradicts anything Disney turned it into.

The third book I’m reading is River of Dementia, a book written by a friend whom I sat next to at the latest author event I went to. There’s a huge marketing group of authors here where I live and we do events all summer with each other. It’s not unusual for us to buy each other’s books. This memoir is completely out of my league but as a friend I am happy to read it. I’ve just started, but even though this is Pauli’s first book, the writing is phenomenal. She tells me she is in the midst of a novel, a mystery, and I can’t wait to read it. She has a wonderful way with words! The story is about her father and his journey through life, a journey that sadly ends in dementia, but it’s not the tragedy that makes the story so compelling, its the personalities of the family, the word smith of the author and the courage of the tale! I’m enjoying the book.

I’ve yet to choose my May reading. Books usually make their appearance spontaneously whether they are a friend’s, research for what I’m writing, or something that’s been on my bookshelf being neglected.

What are you reading?

Speaking of reading, Ian’s Realm’s 10th anniversary is free until May 4th. Feel free to grab a copy.

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Lorri Moulton and I started a series Celtic Portals. We were going to put our stories together but that didn’t completely work out. So instead, they are related in our first episodes. Hers is The Beginning, and mine is The Bard of Shamrock Inn. Three young ladies from the states take a trip to Ireland in search for the secret to a long lost relative’s treasure. (The Beginning). While in Ireland, they meet Collin (The Bard of Shamrock Inn) who promises to give them a “magical” tour of the countryside.

Of course, Collin has his own agenda when he gets a threatening letter from the past, and so his adventure splits off from the ladies in the short story the Bard of Sherwood Forest.

Read the Bard's Short Stories

Lorri’s preparing her stories of the ladies as they enter the magical forest and step into their respective portals. I’ll let you know when the next in her series is completed. I’ll probably be starting Collin’s next adventure (book 3) next week. Of course, there’s a cliff hanger in book two. I don’t want you to get to comfortable in your seats as there’s more adventure to follow!

For those following my injury, my hand is in a cast and I believe the cast is coming off on the 30th. I’ve been able to type, and this weekend will be my first live book signing for the year. Fortunately I have friends who will help me load my tubs of books. But if you’re in Western WA, I’ll be at an author event in Hoodsport along the Hood Canal at.

• Saint Germain’s Church Hoodsport

• 600 N Lake Cushman Rd.

• PO Box 222

• Hoodsport, WA 98548-0222

The Hoarfrost Mysteries Omnibus is still in prelaunch.

The injury set me back a little from planning the campaign and the book itself. I hope to be on it in the next week or so. I’m still composing what the book’s interior should look like. I’m considering doing some water colors for the chapter headings, but I need to heal first.

I’m also waiting to fulfill my last Kickstarter. Books are due to arrive today and tomorrow. If you missed a chance to get Land of Two Moons, I’ll have a few extra leather editions, but not many. I also have some book boxes that fit the paperbacks for my subscribers so if you want them, message me. These are $20 each.

For fans, I did make a mug to go with the series. Didn’t tell anyone until now. I guess I’m not the best marketer. But 4th Wall makes some really nice products. I’m my best customer mostly because we have a lot of coffee drinkers at my house and I’m forever trying to round up a mug for tea. The 15 oz cups are the best.

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Hoarfrost Mysteries, a 600 page three book omnibus is formatted. The cover will be grey linen with a red foil rose but I’m letting the printer design it for me. I’ll have red roses for the edges and I’m pretty sure I’ll do a slip cover but I’m still debating on that. End sheets yes. Other than that just chapter headings in the interior.

My fantasy series are both in KU now. That’s Ian’s Realm and Sword of Cho Nisi.

The Keeper has a free promo for 5 days starting yesterday. I really love this book. There are some tender moments in it between Maurice and the dragon.

Speaking of KU, here are some more fantasy stories for those of you who subscribe.

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Free

I also uploaded the short stories that go with this series, Silver Threads which is also FREE

Have a great week and thank you!

I’m writing this with one arm in a splint and typing with one finger. I ventured out in the mud yesterday embodied with guilt because I thought I was the one who let my grandson’s cat out of the house…the cat who doesn’t return. I waded my way up the hill searching for the rascal only to slide back down, slip and fall, catching myself with my hand. Much too much weight and pressure to keep from breaking something. Alas, it was my radius bone and my wrist that crushed into each other.

My first words, “oh!”

My second thoughts besides having to pay the price for losing the cat…”I really need to treat the characters in my books better.”

Flashes of those poor souls I let suffer in the wilderness with stab wounds, arrow holes, broken bones and black eyes were coming to get me. As I swing my hoody over my shoulder that nurses a sling, I hear Ian, Erika, Baron, Maurice, Grai and all the wounded supporting characters in my books limping around their respective campfires under the stars chanting “why me?”

Good question.

Because it makes your stories more exciting?

Seriously?

I’ll have to think on that one with the next Ibuprofen I swallow.

Have a very happy Easter and don’t go tromping in the mud with clogs on!

By the way…the cat came back!

I worked on my banner for the omnibus. Please follow!

Coming soon

What really surprises me is that, in this chaos, I’ve started not just one project, but FOUR. I’ve never worked on more than one project at a time, but it’s actually giving me more writing energy than I thought I had!

I’m just thankful I have a house these kids can come back to when they need it. My husband and I have been a stable influence on their lives. It’s a good thing.

Projects I’m working:

Hoarfrost to Roses as a omnibus. Yes it will be a Kickstarter so I’m working on the video in bits and pieces. I still need to write the script. One thing that’s harder to write than a short blurb for a story is a short blurb for a series! I’m getting practice. Can’t say I’ve succeeded yet!

After going through the first book again and editing it, I realize just how much fun I had writing this story. Grai and his ghost have captured my heart again. What fun conversations they have with each others. The idea is that Grai, who was brutally stabbed and left for dead, is rescued by his spirit and brought to his grandfather’s estate which was destroyed by an earthquake and fire. There' he’s hiding out. Adele, who lives with her uncle next door, and who has her own tragedies to overcome, finds them. Now Grai’s ghost is the tender, emotional part of Grai, whereas Grai in the flesh is cynicle and about to give up on life. His spirit tries to comfort him by revitalizing the beautiful roses in the garden with a magical touch of the spiritual. (Hence, the title Hoarfrost to Roses). Adele witnesses this magic and curiously trespasses onto the property, where Grai’s ghost finds her lovely and charming. Grai has his doubts. He’s afraid that his murderers might return and finish him off and grab the much coveted estate. His ghost tried to convince him to fall in love with Adele or to at least let her nurse his wounds.

Of course, the mystery is they need to find out who his would-be murderers are before they return and finish him off, grab the property and sell it to the railroad. This is all based on history of 1879 Port Townsend, WA.

Here’s a little tidbit.

Grai spread out on the bed and let his mind slip into a vegetative state, a defense mechanism he practiced when he found himself alone, away from Grai the spirit. Not only did daydreaming keep away the agony of knowing his family wanted him dead—but helped to relieve his physical pain. The longer he sat in the dark and was inattentive, the better he could manage life. So, he stared at the shadows on the rock walls that were cast by the lantern, listened to the silence that only a dugout could imprison, and felt the heaviness of the earth embrace him. He remained there, in this asylum he created, for the entire night. The darkness not only penetrated his environment, but his soul as well.

As if such despair had the shrillness of a ship’s whistle, his spirit answered the call and rushed into the root cellar, filling the chamber with warmth. He floated over the desk, studied the blueprint for a moment, and then pretended to sit on the chair.

“You didn’t work on the plans again?”

“I did a little work on the foundation. I had no reason to finish the blueprints if I can’t do the labor.”

“Hmm,” his spirit said, peering at the papers on the desk again. “I wish you had.”

“Why?”

“Because it helps you look to the future.”

Grai breathed a sour laugh. “What future?”

“Your future. You’re alive, Grai. There’s tomorrow. We can overcome this glitch that we’re experiencing!”

“I’d like to know how,” Grai answered him.

“Give us time. Healing.”

Time and healing—two elements Grai lacked. Time will slip away. The land will be sold. Without proper care, he will never be healed. And how would he ever be fully joined with his spirit again? The longer they remained apart, the more he pushed his life force away, just as he had unintentionally scorned the woman who came to tend to his wound.

“Adele,” he whispered. Somehow the darkness made it easier to see her and remember how gentle she had been, wrapping his wound while she bore a self-inflicted laceration—self-inflicted on his behalf.

“She sacrificed her blood to bring me medicine,” he said aloud. “Who would do such a thing? Why?”

“Because she loves you,” his spirit said.

“How could she love me? She barely knows me.”

“She’s getting to know your spirit quite well, if I do say so,” his spirit boasted. “Few people meet the entire better side of a person all at once. You see, while you suffer here in pain and belligerency, I can show her your good side. When we work as a team, we have an amazing advantage, Grai.”

“You showed her my arrogant side?” Grai asked. “While I treated her discourteously.”

“No, I wasn’t arrogant at all.”

“What did you say to her?”

His spirit gave him a look of surprise, as if he didn’t know if he should answer that question. When Grai returned his pretense with a snicker, the spirit succumbed.

“Oh, not much.”

“Not much about what?”

“I made her a bouquet.”

Grai rolled his eyes. “What are you trying to do to me?”

“I’m not trying to do anything to you. I like her, Grai. I think you do too.”

Grai leaned over and buried his head in one hand, holding his side with the other. Pain shot through him again. It seemed whenever something upset him, the anguish of the injury returned. He breathed deeply and gathered his thoughts. He had to make his spirit understand the gravity of their situation and stop him from treating their circumstance like a child’s game!

“Her uncle might be the person behind the attack. He wants this property. He knows my stepfather. Barrington is a big name in this territory. He has the money to get anything he wants. He has the money to get people to do anything he wants.”

“So now you think Barrington wants you dead?”

“He could very well have been the instigator,” Grai concluded.

“I thought you said your stepfather was the instigator.”

“And you told me I was wrong.”

“I said you could be wrong.”

“If Barrington paid to have me eliminated, and no one found my body, he might assume I came here. He could be sending Adele to find out.”

“That makes no sense, Grai.”

“Bonneville doesn’t know I’m alive, but Adele does, and Adele lives next door with the Barringtons.”

“So, now you think that Adele told him you’re here.”

“Yes. It’s possible.”

“And she nursed your wound because…?”

“I don’t know. Because she is who she is,” Grai answered, softening his voice. He didn’t know why she nursed his wound, nor why she cut herself to locate her uncle’s medicine.

This is just the first book. The characters go on to be amateur sleuths in other mysteries based on history. It’s a fun series to write.

(Late pledges are still open for Land of Two Moons.)

Lorri’s recipe campaign is live.

And Larry’s children’s book campaign is wrapping up.

Paid Subscribers get a little more updates for a different project I’m working on. See below.

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