10 Gift Suggestions for the Writer

November 23, 2017December 5, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 4 Comments

It’s hard to believe that we are coming up on Thanksgiving and the inevitable Black Friday Christmas rush! Buying for kids and grandkids that already have the latest gadgets is becoming more and more difficult, but I refuse to resort to the dreaded gift card.

Unlike our children, there are lots of great ideas for the writers in our life. So, to help you get a start on the madness, check out these great gift ideas.

My ten top suggestions for the writer in your life.

I would be remiss if I did not plug my own short story collection – Maybe Next Time – available on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback.

2. Gift a one-year subscription plus an extra goodie.

3. Available on Amazon:

3d-Rose, Please Do Not Annoy The Writer Black – Two Tone Black Mug, 11.oz

3d- Rose I Write What’s Your Superpower? Two Tone Black Mug, 11 .oz, Black/White

4. The Writer’s Toolbox: Creative Games and Exercises for Inspiring the ‘Write’ Side of Your Brain.

5. Ernest Hemingway Engraved Quote Pen – “In order to write about life, first you must live it.”

6. 5-Pc.Typewriter Coaster Set

7. On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft Special Edition by Stephen King.

8. Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft: A step-by-step guide to a better novel by Janice Hardy.

9. Say What? Second Edition: The Fiction Writer’s Handy Guide to Grammar, Punctuation, and Word Usage by C. S. Lakin.

10. a must-have collection from Writers Helping Writers. The Emotion Thesaurus, The Positive Trait Thesaurus, The Negative Trait Thesaurus, The Urban Setting Thesaurus, The Rural Setting Thesaurus, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus.

Happy shopping!

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story. I’m all ears and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilamgood, Contently, and Instagram. You can follow my reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

Gratitude a Too Often Missing Ingredient

November 22, 2017November 19, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 5 Comments

We all look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving. It’s a favorite holiday for most everyone I know. I mean, what’s not to like? Turkey, dressing, gravy, sweet potato casserole, green beans, pecan pie, and the lists of mouth-watering foods go on and on.

We gorge ourselves on great food and conversation, but by the time our meal is over we’re on to the next thing – specifically, Black Friday and grabbing up all those wonderful deals for Christmas! We have lists made and our plans laid out in detail from what time to start out to the stores to hit first.

Yet, during all of this Thanksgiving preparation and activity, we tend to leave out the most essential ingredient – genuine gratitude.

In all the hustle and bustle, we forget that the reason we are able to sit around a beautifully decorated table with food from end to end is that we are blessed.

We are blessed with the freedom to pray as we wish, to love those we choose, and a rich and prosperous nation.

We are blessed with a roof over our heads in which to present such a bountiful spread; blessed to have family and friends to in which we share this bounty. We are blessed with health, happiness, and a warm fire to sit by as the evening draws nigh.

So, this Thanksgiving let us truly be thankful when we gather together around the table. Share laughter, fond memories, and the love of gratitude we hold in our hearts for each other.

Happy Thanksgiving and may you and your family be blessed in abundance now and in the coming year.

Not by Aliens, Zombies, or Vampires

October 31, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 8 Comments

No, I haven’t been abducted by Aliens, taken by Zombies, or, turned into a Vampire.

Okay, that last one could be half-true (without all the blood). One thing for sure is my Insomnia has taken on a whole new dimension this month. So, forgive me if I haven’t been interacting as much.

I’ve been busy with the ChapterBuzz 10,000 Word Challenge. The goal was to write 10,000 words of a new or work in progress. I have been trying to finishing my novel, Hello Hell and this has helped tremendously.

Starting from around 2000 words of my original work in progress, I’ve changed the plot, added new characters and have written a total of 39,194 words! The Challenge ends today, but you can keep cheering me on at ChapterBuzz/Sheila M. Good.

In the meantime, here’s one of my first short stories, perfect for Halloween: Wrong Turn. Enjoy and remember – be safe.

Happy Halloween!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Join the conversation. Talk to me or tell me your story. I’m all ears.

Fun Facts About Labor Day

September 3, 2017September 2, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 2 Comments

Happy Labor Day! I don’t know where the time has gone. I’m already seeing, besides the obvious, Halloween decorations, Thanksgiving and Christmas decor lining the shelves of area stores. Too much! Nevertheless, it is September and Christmas will be here in the blink of an eye.

For our family, and I imagine yours too, this particular holiday marks the end of the summer and begins the preparation for our the two major holidays. When I think about how fast time is moving, I’m not sure we really think about which holiday we’re celebrating or why.

So, to commemorate this holiday and the end of another summer come and gone, I thought it would be fun to share a few fun facts about Labor Day. I would love to take credit for all this knowledge, but this brain only holds so much. I’m thankful someone somewhere is keeping notes.

According to the United States Department of Labor:

Labor Day, was created by the labor movement and dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It was designed to pay tribute to the “contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”
The first recognition came from municipal ordinances between 1885 and 1886. It wasn’t until 1894 that Congress passed the act making the 1st Monday of September a legal holiday.
It’s unclear but often disputed who the founder of Labor Day was, but what is not disputed is that the Central Labor Union (CLU) was behind the proposal. The CLU appointed a committee and a demonstration and picnic planned.
The first Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City.

And Just for fun, can you answer this question correctly?

Enjoy a safe holiday and remember to give thanks to all the hard working men and women who have made us such a prosperous nation. Happy Labor Day 2017!