Creative juices, visionary thoughts, imagination, artistic inspiration, creative flow and other words and phrases all refer to creativity and flow of ideas. These are necessary for artists, authors, composers and others in artistic fields.
When I work as a pharmacist, I don’t need to get inspired to fill a prescription. I just do it while looking for drug interactions, allergies, and insurance issues.
But writing uses another part of my brain. I treat my writing as a career. I get up like any other morning, have my coffee, enter my office, and get to work.
If I hit a wall, I sometimes go for a walk or golf cart ride on the island near me. Sometimes, I go to the library or a local coffee shop for a change of scenery and a brain reset.
If you’re a creative, what do you do when you hit a wall?
These are some pictures of my area. Spending time outside helps me recharge and sometimes ideas come to me. Then I can return to my office and get back to work.
The Desert Sleuths chapter of Sisters in Crime hosted a conference this past weekend, and it was amazing. There was a panel led by Rhys Bowen with Edith Maxwell, Catriona McPherson, and Lois Winston.
The topic focused on staying creative.
If you’ve read many of my posts, you know I enjoy setting goals. After attending this panel, I’m going to start setting concrete deadlines to accompany my goals.
For instance, if I’m writing a story that does not have a contract yet, I need to remain focused as I write and set deadlines for myself. Also, if I have a contracted story, I should set personal deadlines before the story is due. So, by the time I turn it in to the publisher, it’ll shine.
I was also challenged to set goals for other aspects of my writing life. Marketing, working on my website, newsletters, blog posts, and social media should not be afterthoughts. I need to create with purpose and be consistent.
I would love for you to share your strategies on meeting deadlines and setting goals.
Next time, we’ll dive deeper into keeping our creative juices flowing.
The days are cooler and shorter. What’s cozier than curling up with a good book?
If you haven’t read all my books yet, this is a good season to catch up.
In a few months, Killer Secrets, the third book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series will release. Stay tuned for a cover reveal and more information on the release.
Clutter Free is the first book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series.
Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner.
Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Emma’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.
What are you looking forward to reading this fall?
It’s been a tough week in the United States, and I wanted to do an uplifting post. I discovered it is National Hug & High Five Day and the National Day of Encouragement.
Mark Twain said, “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
Let’s find ways to be kind, encourage others, give a hug or a high five today. Shoot, let’s do it every day.
I appreciate you all, and while I can’t give most of you a hug or high five, here’s a picture from my neck of the woods.
In August, I joined a small group of friends, and we looked at our goals from January. We discussed how we were doing on our 2025 goals. We also talked about new goals for the rest of the year.
We discussed other goals, like family, health, and spiritual goals. One of my goals is to finish writing the rough draft of my work in progress.
Do you set new goals in September? Or do you feel like your original goals are in place and they are good? Or are you just happy to have survived a hot summer?
I’ve been busy the past week working on Developmental Edits for Killer Secrets, the third book in An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery Series. I can’t wait to share this book with you all in the next few months.
This is not the cover, but there may be a kayak in the story.
Meanwhile, is anybody ready to say goodbye to summer and hello to fall?
Do you have any organizing tips as you prepare for a new season? I’d love to hear them.
In the Low Country, we don’t have many fall colors, and right now our focus turns toward disturbances in the Atlantic. Yes, it’s hurricane season.
I want to share a list of items you might want to keep in a disaster supply kit. This can come in handy if you’re leaving your home due to floods, fires, hurricanes, or other disasters.
I keep a first aid kit handy. In my disaster kit, you’ll find a portable radio with extra batteries, a NOAA weather radio, cash, mobile device chargers, bottled water, bedding and clothing, rain gear, blankets, towels, hand sanitizer, non-perishable food, pet supplies, toiletries, insect repellent, sunglasses, sunscreen, and important documents.
I hope the next few weeks are great for you. Stay safe and read good books.
The first time I met Hank Phillippi Ryan was at Malice Domestic. I was so nervous and excited, and I could barely say a word.
Gracious is a good way to describe Hank. She is kind and gracious. She’s an encourager, and she remembered me the next year when we crossed paths.
Her newest book will release on September 9, and I applied to be part of her Super Reader group. Let me tell you, All This Could Be Yours is a page-turner. Once you start, you won’t want to put it down. Did I lose sleep? Yes. Was it worth it. YES!
Here are my brief thoughts.
I’ve been a fan of Hank Phillippi Ryan for years. All This Could Be Yours is one of the many reasons I enjoy her books.
Tess Calloway is a best selling author with fans who love her. She’s on her first book tour. Instead of enjoying the experience, she’s torn with concerns at home, a stalker fan, and much more. There are twists and turns you don’t expect, and I didn’t want to put this book down for one minute.
I’m so excited about All This Could Be Yours that I ordered a copy from my local bookstore.
If you enjoy nail-biting, fast-paced, mysteries, you’re going to love the newest book from Hank Phillippi Ryan.
I hope you’re all having a great summer. I’ve been busy, including a trip to Gatlinburg to celebrate the birthday of my sister-in-law. It takes a special event to get this beach girl into the mountains.
The beauty of the Smoky Mountains was breathtaking.
We hiked, we got rained on, we played mini-golf, we got rained on, we ate out, we got rained on–do you sense a theme? We got rained on A LOT! But we had a great week! If you have the opportunity to get to the mountains, I strongly urge it.
Happy birthday, Carol!
Is it too early to think about Christmas? No. That’s why I’m participating in Cozies, Conversations, and More Facebook Group’s Christmas in July. The event is July 26, and I’ll be one of the hosts at 4:00 PM EST. I hope you can join us for the fun and prizes.
In October, I’ll be an author at the OBX Book Festival Books at the Banks! The beach is lovely in the fall. Books plus the beach? It sounds like a win-win. I’d love to see you there!
I hope you have fun plans for the holiday, and I hope you find time to read a good book.
We’re celebrating my sister-in-law’s birthday this week by hiking, playing games, and laughing a lot.
Happy birthday, Carol!
In book news, I’d like to introduce you to Annie McEwen’s book, Dead, White, and Blue.
It’s the 4th of July in the Wisconsin Northwoods, and no one is more excited than Emmy Cooper. She’s happy to be back in her hometown, settling once again into small-town living and helping her family run Cooper’s Cove, their lake cottage resort. Emmy and her teen crush, police officer Dean Erickson, are enjoying getting reacquainted, while she and bestie Whitney are closer than ever.Â
Lake Covington and its quaint namesake town are bustling with visitors celebrating during the annual three-day Independence Day Freedom Fest. Everything is Yankee Doodle Dandy until a local man with a reputation for trouble starts fireworks of his own. And the explosions just keep on coming when Emmy stumbles over a dead body at the celebrations!Â
The dead man is Jordan James, and as Emmy soon finds out, there’s no shortage of people who might want him dead. From a jealous jerk to a conniving cousin and even a former friend from his past, suspects are more plentiful than ants at a July picnic! Despite promises to stay out of the investigation, Emmy finds herself smack in the middle of it. Can she and Whitney figure out the truth and find liberty and justice for all?
Another cozy mystery that you’re probably familiar with, Bleeding Heart Librarian, begins on the 4th of July.
Emma Justice is friends with the local librarian and brings her extra flowers once a week. On a hot July morning, when people are gathered outside the closed library past opening time, Emma calls the police. The librarian’s body is found in the building and beside the body is a pink and white bleeding heart plant.
Tess Carranza was a lovely person dedicated to children and patrons of the library in Lutz, Texas. Tess recently confided to Emma about her fear someone was using the library to gather information to commit crimes. Emma didn’t get the entire story from Tess before her death, but now she’s determined to stop the crime and catch Tess’s killer.
I don’t know about you, but the first thing I pack when preparing to travel is books. Sometimes I’ve bought a book and saved it for the trip. And I always want to include a visit to at least one bookstore when I travel.
I enjoy exploring the world. I enjoy mountains, big cities, and other beaches.
Do you have your books picked out for summer travel? Or do you travel by reading books in different and unique settings?
Here are a few packing tips in case you do get to travel.
Sunscreen (Yes, I’m fair complected and need to pack it for any destination.)
Wear comfortable shoes, not necessarily new shoes.
Lots of people recommend packing cubes. What do you think?
A waterproof phone case is great for beach or hiking trips, especially if you’re going to see waterfalls.
Plan your outfits so you can mix and match. That way, you won’t pack as many items and you can buy more souvenirs (possibly books) to bring home.
I’d love to hear about your summer plans. I hope you have a great time wherever you are.
Jackie Layton 