WELCOME TO NOVEMBER
I don’t think it’s my imagination. As you get older, time speeds up. It’s a physics law of some sort, a little known scientific fact that many of you younger folks probably don’t understand. Trust me, it’s true. Now into my 68th year, I can say without hesitation that time is going at warp speed for this old man.
Well, this is a blog about writing, not time, so let’s get started.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Truth is, I’ll never know all there is to know about you just as you will never know all there is to know about me. Humans are by nature too complicated to be understood fully. So, we can choose either to approach our fellow human beings with suspicion or to approach them with an open mind, a dash of optimism and a great deal of candour.” Tom Hanks
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
As we start out on this writing journey, I think it is vital that we build relationships with our readers. There are many blog writers who follow this blog, and I think you understand this concept. I have always tried to respond to every comment made on my blogs and my articles. It’s the least I can do if someone has taken the time to write to me, but more importantly, it is building a relationship that hopefully will last a lifetime. Now, some of you may see that as self-serving, and I suppose it is to a certain extent . . . but still, writers are in the people business, and as such our job is to connect with people. I thoroughly enjoy meeting new people. True, some people bug the hell out of me, but for the most part, I find people fascinating, and I love having online relationships with people around the world. It is one of the true joys of my writing journey.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
Do you remember what it was like just starting out in this blogging world? How important it was to gather new followers, and how exciting it was when someone actually committed to your blog?
Well keep that memory in place as you say hello to my friend Linda, who just started her first blog, The Creative Corner. I invite you…I ask you as a favor…to stop by and follow her. I guarantee you are going to learn more about cooking and other crafting endeavors than you ever knew before, and as an added bonus you are going to enjoy some quality writing. Please follow this link.
TO ALL WOMEN READING THIS
Here’s a recent article by a friend of mine…Deb…who has an important message for all women. Please take the time to read it and internalize it. You are all important to me.
ANOTHER SOCIAL MEDIA SITE
I’m late to this party, but for those of you just as tardy as me, I invite you to take a look at Flipboard. I have had good returns by downloading my articles on that site, and you just might find it worthwhile as well. Follow this link to sign up at Flipboard and thank you, Linda, for the original suggestion.
THE FIRST NOVEL BY A DEAR FRIEND
I call her my Lil Sis, but her real name is Cynthia Cahoun, and she recently published her first novel, “Marina’s Broken Grave.” I just happen to believe it would make a great Christmas present.
FANSTORY
When I have some spare time I like to check out Fanstory. It’s a little-known site where contests are constantly being offered to writers, kind of a laid-back site where there is little pressure and you can hang with other struggling, and successful, writers. Check it out if you’ve got a hankerin’.
THAT’S IT FOR TODAY
My latest novel, “Shadows Over A Hangman’s Noose,” is still on schedule for release late November. For those of you who follow the “Shadows” series, I think you’ll be happy with the results. Here is an excerpt from that new novel:
I’m no psychiatrist or psychologist. I don’t know a damned thing about how the human mind works, why one abuse victim will become a counselor while another will become an abuser, why serial killers snap and feel a need to destroy innocence, or why one day a soccer dad buys an AR-15 and unloads a magazine in a crowded mall. All I know is the aftermath stains us all forever, and the whys will visit us in our dreams until the day we draw our last breath.
The second case I had as an army investigator was a child abuse case, a little nine-year old girl in the hospital for a broken arm, doctors and nurses suspicious about bruises on her upper arms. They made the phone call that dragged me out of bed at two a.m. on a muggy night near Fort Hood, Texas. The girl, curly blond locks pasted to her forehead, her mother holding her good hand, told me she fell down the stairs and she was so sorry she bothered everyone, and mom nodding and saying her daughter was just clumsy like her mommy, laughing with a little too much nervous energy to appease me.
I coaxed an address out of her, drove to the off-post housing and found dad, a master sergeant, sleeping the sleep of the innocent. He wasn’t too happy, me waking him up, and he was even less happy when I mentioned the bruises on his daughter’s arms, and he was downright pissed when I asked him if he had anything to do with those bruises. He pulled his right arm back, fixing to turn out my lights with a massive punch, and I snap-kicked his kneecap.
That was ten years ago. The master sergeant is still in prison on three counts of child abuse, a history of beating his three kids in some confusing attempt to quiet the demons only he could see and hear.
No, I’m no psychiatrist. All I know is the stain never goes away, and rabid dogs need to be shot.
GOTTA GO
Thanks for stopping by. See you next week. Happy Writing to all of you!
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Love your message here today and also the plug for Cyndi’s novel, as well as Deb’s article. Seriously, you are so kind and supportive. So, coming from you the advice I know is golden. Thanks always BNill for that and more. Happy Tuesday once again!! 🙂
That’s what we do, isn’t it, Janine? Writers help other writers. It just makes sense to me. Thank you for being you.
You are so right! As authors in today’s world, the only way to look at the big picture is to look at what is right in front of us and that is the relationships that we develop. There was a very short period where we could just write a book, make it free on Amazon kindle for 5 days and our books would soon start sell. Now, however, we have to go back to the platform that involves developing relationships with like-minded people. With so many people on their phones and on social media, we can easily get lost in the crowd. Today we have to get to know people, and I mean, REALLY get to know them. As the saying goes, “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care!”
I love that saying, Donna! Thanks for sharing it. It’s good to see you again.
Thank you again for sharing my article, Bill. I very much appreciate your friendship; it is one of my many blessings in life!
It was my pleasure, Deb! Best wishes to you.
Drop the mic!
Man, Bill that was quite a teaser. I will be running to pick up this novel. I also want to say what a pleasure it is to be considered a friend. You take such good care of your readers who cannot help but become a friend in the end.
Marlene, the feeling is mutual, my dear friend. Thank you for always being here for me. I gain strength knowing people like you care about my words.
Oh how wonderful to see Cyndi’s book is live! Also, I DO remember the excitement of the first blog starting and how cool it was to get a “like.” I will check out The Creative Corner blog for sure. HUGs for your day xx
I appreciate you checking out the new blog, Christy. Thank you! You are a good human being.
You shared lots of valuable information here for your readers. Your excerpt only leaves us wanting more. This will make great Christmas gifts if it comes out in November. You call yourself old but you are only just getting started. The best is yet to come. .
Dee, I certainly hope you are right about that “old” situation. Thank you so much.
Oh Bill, thirteen years from now your time would be moving more swiftly, believe me,- especially if you are behind with great ideas of yesterday’s. Yet , building relationship at any circumstancesis never ending process as far as I know it will continue endlessly.
I do believe you are correct, Michael my friend. As long as I’m building relationships I’m still breathing, and that’s a win for me.
Great excerpt, Bill. And thanks for those links. Deb’s hub was quite an eye-opener. I’m glad she’s going to be all right.
Thanks so much, Zulma. I always enjoy your visits. Stay longer next time and I’ll brew up some coffee for ya!
Oooh…I never could turn down a coffee and a chat. 🙂 Sorry for the fly-by but I’m getting ready to spend the day at four different craft exhibits tomorrow and I still have to get my shopping list ready and bring out the suitcase to lug all the goodies home in. Have a great weekend.
You do the same, Zulma! Sounds like fun!
This is a wonderful article, Bill. You are so right about time getting faster! And you’re so right about how wonderful it is to have connections all over the world. You are admirable in how well you have kept up with all those connections and have passed on advice and wisdom. Thanks for the suggestions. I’ve already checked out Deb’s hub and will definitely check out the Creative Corner. And I’m waiting for Cynthia’s book to come out in print! Your teaser has me wanting to read more of yours, too! Keep doing what you’re doing, Bill!
Aw, thanks Vicki! I’m always happy hearing from you. I’m waiting for Cyndi’s book in print too, being the dinosaur I am. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
Great to hear so many shout outs today. I will check out Flipboard–and thank you!
Thank you Audrey. I’ve got a great interview coming up on Tuesday. Hope you can make it.
Bill
Catching up a bit here, liked the excerpt from the book.
I heard about Flipboard from Niume and some good results there with the Niume articles. I’m keeping to one or two themes on Niume and well away from themes I write about in HP.
Keep it up bro.
Lawrence
Good plan, Lawrence. I do like that site but I need to spend more time there.
Thanks for all the nudges and links, Bill. I actually just finished reading Deb’s article on HP. I was devastated, but you’re right – it’s a message all women need to read.
I didn’t know CarbDiva now has her own blog. I’ve just subscribed. I always enjoy her articles.
Congrats to Cynthia for publishing her novel. I know she’s been working on it for quite a while. I just came from Amazon. The description sounds intriguing and I’d love to buy it, but I only see it in Kindle format. Cyndi, do you plan on offering a paperback version?
I’m waiting for the latest in the Shadows series, Bill. Gotta add it to my growing William D Holland collection!
Sha, I know Cyndi is going to eventually do a paperback version, and it should come out soon. As for the Shadow series, the next one should be published by December 1st. Thanks for thinking of me.