During the 1800s when America was young and we were spreading out across the land from one ocean to another, talented people figured out that they could take their shows to the people. Musicians and performers from the east made fortunes out west bringing a taste of home to the farmers, settlers, soldiers and miners who were hungry for a little culture and entertainment. Continue reading The History of Traveling Shows
Our first anthology was for breast cancer research, it seems only fitting that our reunion anthology also be published for charity. Continue reading Reading for a Cure!
As a fanfiction writer in my early writing days, I loved the super supportive and fun fandom., I missed the camaraderie of my fanfiction group. I’d stayed in touch with a few friends from fanfiction (and some are in the cafe), but I was looking for that group dynamic again. Continue reading Creekside Cafe Chat with Suki McMinn
March 20th launches our 24th of 31 anthologies. This anthology is to celebrate the 5th anniversary of our first anthology. All proceeds go to breast cancer research. Continue reading A Very Special Reunion
Unfortunately, hate and prejudice are still among us even in modern times. Continue reading Words Matter
I chose to go with Cushing Publishing because I felt comfortable with Rose. Why did I doubt my choice? Continue reading Problem Child, Sometimes it is You!
Babe, it’s cold outside, but thankfully it is warming up. Bev Horvath and I took off for Hilton Head, South Carolina to work on our play for the upcoming raise the roof fundraiser for the Aurora/Richland Township Chamber of Commerce and The Venue’s mystery dinner theater event. We’re excited about the plans we’re making with Denise Bonner of The Venue, Cynthia Crane of Aurora Fossil … Continue reading Writers’ Retreat/Girls’ Trip
Imposter Syndrome I have recently seen several discussions on social media from Facebook to TikTok about Imposter Syndrome, and truthfully, I’m dealing with a bit of it myself. So, it goes to prove that being a writer, my first thought is to pin a blog and even doing a video on it. What is Imposter Syndrome, what causes it and why am I dealing with … Continue reading Imposter Syndrome
What is in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but what if instead of a rose, that perfect, sweet flower was called prickly bloom or thorn blossom. Would we then think of it as a symbol of romantic love? How important is it to you as a reader for the characters to have certain names or even the spelling … Continue reading Names…
Whew, September is almost over, and October is scratching at the window. I am enjoying the cooler weather and the change of the décor to autumnal colors. Fall is my favorite time of year. It is a time for bon fires, family, NaNoWriMo and holidays. For those of you who want to write, November is a great time to get started. NaNoWriMo stands for National … Continue reading Almost time for Prep-tober!
Only one day left to get the Harrell Family Chronicles for the low price of $1.99 each! You can purchase the ebooks directly from my website or from your favorite ebook retailer. Remy’s Dilemma https://books2read.com/u/4jBxKj Trent’s Melody https://books2read.com/u/bz1vK2 Roxy’s Betrayal https://books2read.com/u/boD5Na Janie’s Secret https://books2read.com/u/bpDq79 Willow’s Retreat https://books2read.com/u/mgEra7 Continue reading Last Day of Sale
I have learned as much from a new writers as I have from a seasoned author. Continue reading Connections & Information
I will be at the Fish and Farm Festival in Aurora Saturday, September 9th. Come by and visit if you’re in town and if you want, you can buy a book. Continue reading Remy’s Dilemma, The Harrell Family Chronicles finale!
How do you feel about setting, weather and events in your stories? Do you like to read about them? Do you write about them? Continue reading Let’s Talk About Setting
A Carefree Novel series by Leslie Ray I knew I’d made a huge mistake before I ever finished the first book in this series. I’d only bought first two books and I was devouring them. Thankfully, the third novel was only an email away. Continue reading My Big Mistake
Prepare to have your heart broken and put back together. Continue reading Book Review Summer 2023
Why do they make finding the right toothbrush so difficult? I went shopping for a new toothbrush not long ago. There were thousands of them, and I couldn’t pick out the one kind I liked from the multitude. Continue reading What ‘s the Deal with Toothbrushes?
Not all of the changes have been bad, some have created new jobs Continue reading The High Cost of Progress
Visit the town of Leeward for our finale with Remy’s Dilemma and follow the romance and suspense to a happy ending. Continue reading New Book Coming
I’m writing a bonus story for my newsletter with a wedding. As a reader, what part of the wedding do you want to know the details? I love the dress description, but I also want to know the groom’s expression when he sees his bride coming down the aisle. Continue reading Wedding and Other Special Occasions
What is one of your favorite summertime treats? Do you eat salt on your watermelon? Continue reading What is Your Summertime Favorite?
If the entire civilized world suddenly disappeared, how would you survive? Continue reading Creekside Cafe Welcomes Nieya Glen
I think if you are creative, whether you are an artist, writer or entrepreneur, you see new things and get inspired. Continue reading Vacation Inspiration
As a pantser learning to plan my writing has been difficult but if you are like me and you think about your story even when you aren’t writing then you are already planning. Continue reading Write Quickly and Efficiently
Write as if no one is going to read it. Pour everything you think and feel into it with no censor. Continue reading To Write Faster…
Everyone writes differently. Finding your own unique style of prewriting and planning is as important as finding your own writing style. Continue reading Write Faster…
Fiction is first and foremost written to entertain, but within our entertainment if we can also learn something or experience something, that is an added bonus. Continue reading Truth in Fiction
No one is completely whole and no one is perfect. Some of us feel on a deeper scale, but who better to quote than Socrates when he said, “The real philosophers are those who love to see the truth.” Continue reading Welcome BT Harris to Creekside Cafe
Why do we judge people who look different than us? Why not celebrate our differences? Continue reading Hair
New book release, author events, and more coming with the warmer weather. Continue reading It’s Spring and I’m Sprung!
What do horror stories and romance have in common? Continue reading Thrills, Chills and Romance…
and suddenly the world becomes a little smaller, strangers become neighbors, and our differences don’t seem so foreign because they are the uniqueness of a friend or the peculiarities of a neighbor, so they are not as frightening as those of a stranger, nor a foreign as someone living half a world away. Continue reading What We Can Learn from Ethnic Movies and Books…
As an indie-author/publisher we have to learn two or three different businesses. We wear many hats. Continue reading Wearing Many Hats
Women who behave rarely make history. We have freedoms now because someone was brave enough to fight the system. Continue reading Women’s History Month
As I’ve been researching cyberattacks and hearing about AI my brain combined the two. Continue reading AI & Cybersecurity
Books help me relax, relate and escape. Continue reading Book Reviews 2023: January-February
If you’d like to be a part of my research for my softball themed series, please fill out the questionnaire. Continue reading My Inspiration and Research
All of my stories have family as part of the theme whether it is the family we’re born with or one we create. Even though my stories are fiction, I feel it is important to portray honest relationships. Red Steel and Willow’s Retreat also show the family that comes about through shared experiences, such as being part of the local volunteer firefighters. Continue reading In Honor of My Interview with Jeff Aydelette of The County Compass
Success is just a leap of faith into the abyss and surviving the fall. Continue reading Success versus Failure
Toby yawned and his eyes drifted shut. The dream reminded him of the movie he’d seen, The Christmas Carol. Continue reading A Little Christmas Story
What are some things that make the holidays happier for you? Do you love decorating, baking, reading or watching movies? Continue reading Holiday Movies, Stories and Baking…
What are some of your favorite things about the holidays/ Continue reading My Favorite Things
I finally gave into my dark side and really had fun….I do believe in happy endings even if I have to blow things up and kill people to make it happen. Continue reading Holiday Gifts 99-cent eBooks
Inspiration was everywhere and I just had to filter it out. Continue reading What Inspires Me?
Smiling, your middle son hands you a cup and turns to his older brother and says, “I told you she’d be awake as soon as she smelled the coffee.” Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving Story
Some of you may have noticed a new addition to my banners and cover photos. Continue reading I’m an ALLi Ambassador!
Each short story or novel begins with a theme that I think has enough inherent conflict to build an engaging story on. GUNS, for example, is about the black-market trade in weapons. I had a friend who’d spent a career in naval intelligence, and he helped fill me in on that. Continue reading Welcome Phil Bowie to Creekside Cafe
Do you love a little mystery? How about a lot of mystery books? Continue reading Win A Bundle!
Vanity presses aren’t evil by any means. Many of them are a
great investment, as they offer a good number of services that take a lot off of the authors’ plates,
including editing and advertising. Continue reading Welcome Natalie Singletary to Creekside Cafe
Over 30 local authors and 100 titles on display at the New Bern Farmers Market November 20th. Continue reading Over 30 Local Authors with Over 100 Titles
Y’all come on out and see me at the Clayton Center in Clayton, North Carolina! I’m excited to spread my wings and take my books out to other places and people! My local community have been an awesome support group. I appreciate all of my friends who read my books and share my social media posts. I’m looking forward to meeting other writers and readers … Continue reading I’m Going to Clayton
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