Friday Fun Facts: Two Emails That Made Me Happy This Week

I know, that isn't a very succinct blog post title, but I couldn't think of a clever way to condense it. Anyway, I got two so-fun emails from readers this week, I just had to share them with you.

One is from Judy, who read my novella Setting Sail as an early reviewer for the Passionate Kisses Boxed Set. She wrote to say, "Just finished Setting Sail this morning. Very very good. I hope everyone who buys it enjoys it as much as I did."

P.S. If you haven't ordered the set yet, you still have time before release day by clicking here!

The second was from one of my newsletter subscribers, who wrote in response to last week's Free Poem Friday issue: "Words cannot express - what an amazing poem!   Simply wonderful!  In fact, I forwarded it to my husband at work ~ thank you!"

P.S. You too can read these poems each and every Friday -- just sign up to receive my newsletter right here!

Happy Friday, everyone!

Writers' Wednesday: Events from Author Matthew S. Field

Hello local Hudson Valley writers!! Here's an event hosted by a colleague of mine who's published in both adult and children's fiction:

YOU have a story to tell. You may already have a manuscript or you may not yet have gotten your ideas on paper. Regardless of where you are in the process of writing your book, The Book Inside You Writer's Workshop will provide you with the knowledge, tools, and a plan to transform the book inside you into a book in print.

Bestselling novelist, biographer, and top inspirational journalist Sharon Linnéa and award winning children’s book author and novelist Matthew S. Field have announced the next in a series of successful The Book Inside You Writer’s Workshops, scheduled for February 7 and 8, 2014 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Middletown, New York.

Authors who want more information or who want to register can visit the official The Book Inside You Writer’s Workshop website, www.The-Book-Inside-You-Workshop.com, or call 845-987-2807.

Also from this author, if you're looking for a feel-good story in time for Valentine's Day, consider supporting his release day! 

The day before Valentine's Day is the official release on Amazon Kindle of 'Tiny Footsteps: A Short Story' written by my alter-ego, Matthew S. Field. It's my favorite among the short stories that I've published so far.

Chance is a business "road warrior" whose serendipitous meeting with Hannah, a pensive and melancholy auburn-haired beauty who drives a Jeep Wrangler and wears the cutest, smallest, and most "tricked-out" sneakers, appears to have changed his life. With a little cover from his executive assistant and a job that permits him to make his own schedule, something like a love, or at least a meaningful lust begins to flourish. Fate, however, is marching toward Chance as each day passes. Sometimes, Fate takes very tiny footsteps.

I'm asking all of my friends who are readers and/or who are readers of my work to buy, if you'd planned on buying, 'Tiny Footsteps: A Short Story,' on Friday, February 13, 2015 between 8 a.m and 5 p.m. at the following link: http://amzn.to/1GOYWae (It's more than an hour, but you get the idea.)

Thanks and Happy Valentine's Day . . . a day early.

Monday Mentionables: Where Story Ideas Begin

So I've been thinking about writing a Christmas novella (more on the reason for this later this week), but I really had no idea where to begin. I knew I wanted to set it in the town of Pine Point, because that's where my novel Summer's Song takes place, and if all goes well, this novella will be a precursor to a series set in that town. Beyond that, I had no idea who the characters were or what was going to happen to them.

Hmm.

So I was reading the Best Friends magazine over breakfast last week (put out by one of the biggest and best animal rescue organizations in the country), and I came across an article on people and their "pet soulmates" -- you know, those pets that somehow were more special than the rest, that you just knew would have a special place in your heart for all time.

And I started thinking.

What if my heroine is an over-the-top animal lover? What if the hero doesn't want anything to do with them?

And the ideas sprang from there. I've spent the last 5 years volunteering at an animal shelter, and I'm good friends with both the past and present managers, so I have a pretty good idea of what's involved. Besides, who doesn't love a feel-good animal story around the holidays?

So there you have it. I've written the first two chapters, and I have a general idea about the conflicts coming up, so while nothing's concrete, I have a much better idea of this story than I did a week ago.
And that, my friends, is where story ideas come from.

Everywhere.