Wednesday, May 2, 2018

We Have Lift Off!

Brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. Join us HERE!


We post the first Wednesday of the month.
The co-hosts for the May 2 posting of the IWSG are E.M.A. Timar, J. Q. Rose, 

Each month there's an optional question. Here's the one for May: It's spring! does this season inspire you to write more than others, or not?

My answer is "or not". Spring is when I must be outside. That's why, when I'm really into writing a story, I pray for rain and wind. That helps me stay indoors at my desk. Now with all this @!#%% beautiful sunny, balmy weather I have to use super glue to keep my tush in the chair.  Even that won't work for long. As soon as I look out my window and see that sky, I'm twitching to head out the door.

However, with this month being particularly busy in the Insecure Before Launch Department, I'm trying my darnedest to stay at my computer.



If you haven't heard, there's a new anthology out as of May 1! Tick Tock A Stitch in Crime is officially launched and to excellent reviews. If you haven't picked up your copy, it's not too late. Here are the buy links, and if you enjoy the collection, we hope you'll take the time to leave a review.


Let me introduce you to Heartless, my contribution to the collection. The story's set in 1873.


This is the question:



This is the scene: 

Ahead, an eerie glow brightened the night sky and black smoke billowed upward. The air was suddenly filled with ash and the heat of unbridled fire. From behind them came, the loud clatter of hooves and the clang of bells. Hawkins drove the carriage to the side as two steam engines, belching smoke and scattering hot embers, roared past. 

“Good, God!” Detective Scofield shouted. “Chicago’s burning.”



I hope you enjoy all of the stories in Tick Tock A Stitch in Crime. 
Also be sure to visit the other hosts today! They have some interesting posts to share. 
And whatever you do, keep that Insecurity at bay by JOINING us!






49 comments:

  1. Spring means a lot to do outside and it needs to be done before summer hits and it's too hot.
    Our third anthology!!

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  2. Congrats on the release! One down, one to go :-)

    I got my copy yesterday and started reading it. It's fantastic. Can't wait to get to your story.

    Cheers - Ellen

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    1. Thanks for all the support, Ellen. Hope you continue to enjoy the collection.

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  3. WOW! I love the snip-it! Buying the book today! Congratulations to you and all the authors :)

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  4. As soon as I realize my plants need watering, I'm out the door. LOL Congrats to all of the authors.

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    1. A true gardener. Great job on herding the crew of Tick Tock, Diane.

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  5. So exciting. I think Tick Tock is all over the Web today! Yay, thanks, Lee, and everyone for all the hard work! But that sunshine is calling...

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    1. Totally understand that pull to the great outdoors. I'm right after you, Yolanda.

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  6. Wow! Great blurb, Lee.
    Many congrats:)

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    1. Hi Sandra! Thanks for the visit and the comment. The Tick Tock crew is ever so grateful.

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  7. I have to agree about the effects of spring weather :o

    And it's so exciting to see our book everywhere!

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    1. It is exciting, Rebecca. We've worked hard for this day, so we should celebrate. Wish we were all closer and we could have a party.

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  8. Congrats on publication day! So exciting. And thanks for co-hosting this month, in the midst of the release!

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    1. Thank you, S.E. We appreciate your visit and congratulations.

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  9. Congrats again and I just tweeted. I've very excited for this book. :)

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    1. Hi Mina! How wonderful to see you here today. Thanks for the tweet.

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  10. Nice weather is the biggest distraction from writing, ever! But, I'll try to save my excitement and outdoor activities until summer! I love the excerpt. Congrats again on your story in the anthology!

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    1. Thank you, LIesbet. And here's to summer activities.

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  11. Cool, on the anthology. I don't know if I told you or not, but I like your new(ish) website.

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    1. Thanks Teresa. I made a few changes to accommodate mobil devices. I kind of miss Blogger still, but Wordpress does have some good features. They just take some mastering and I haven't really had time to do that. Great to hear from you.

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  12. I don’t think you can be too tough on your tush. It needs sunshine and fresh air too.

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    1. My tush appreciates that very much. It's on the way outside quite soon.

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  13. My unread towers are tottering. But I MUST add this one. And my weak-willed self will.

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  14. Congrats to all the authors included in this anthology. I'm looking forward to reading all your stories.

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  15. Good God indeed! Somebody do something!

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  16. The story you wrote promises to be fabulous. I've downloaded the Anthology and I'm looking forward to reading it. I know what you mean about not wanting to sit down when the weather is so gorgeous.

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    1. I'm hoping for fabulous. It's a period piece, so much more traditional and stylized than I'm used to writing. That's what's great about anthologies like this; they allow for experimenting.

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  17. You crack me up! Love your answer, Lee! I love the Victorian era and I loved your story.

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    1. Thanks, Gwen. I love to laugh, so your comment pleases me no end.

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  18. I write in the basement of our house, so I can't look out the window at all. Helps keep my butt in the chair.

    Thanks for co-hosting this month!

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    1. Did I mention I have terrible claustrophobia? If I don't have a window, I'm climbing the walls and my screams bring SWAT teams from three counties.

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  19. Spring always boosts my spirit. The newest anthology sounded so great I had to grab one. It's waiting on my Kindle.

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    1. I hope you'll find the stories exciting. Thanks for grabbing an eBook and here's to spring.

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  20. I feel exactly as you do about spring. Bring on the dark clouds and rain to make me sit and write!! LOL Thanks for sharing co-hosting duties.
    JQ Rose

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    1. It has been great to follow you around on our co-hosting day.

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  21. I do my writing mostly from my couch but really prefer the library. Although I"m unable to get to it much.

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  22. I write at the dining room table. Google lady responds to my request for "I'm forever grateful" sung by Juanita Bynum, along with more of her recordings. Then I can write.

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  23. As you know, Minnesota finally got spring. There's no staying inside. I have, however, done a few journal entries that are expanding on my story from the anthology. Being part of the anthology has been so fun. We have a great group of writers, stories, and they all stepped up in many ways to promote the anthology.

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  24. Spring means taking down the Christmas lights. Fortunately (?) the tree in the front yard fell down a in an icestorm a few weeks ago and took most of the lights with it, so that means less work for me!

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  25. I too like to go out when the weather is nice, but I have allergies and the weather where I live went from 40s to 80 in a few days. Not loving that so much.
    Tick Tock sounds cool. I like the premise of Heartless. I hope to read this anthology soon.

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  26. Ooh, the Chicago fire! A horrifying event to explore in a story. Congratulations, C. Lee!

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  27. I will be reading Tick Tock as I have ordered it on Kindle. I am usually glued to my chair with all the blogs and interesting articles I am reading on the internet besides doing my own posts. Looking forward to reading your story. :)

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  28. Congratulations again on the anthology release! And I'm with you: when the weather is nice all I want to do is be outside. I pray for rain when I need to write...unless I can force myself out to a cafe and write outside, then I can compromise!

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  29. Congrats to all the authors!
    This is a great collection!

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Your comments are most appreciated!