Weekly Roundup

Newsletter & Book Announcement

Typically, my weekly newsletter is only available to newsletter subscribers.  But this week, I decided to post it to my blog as well, to give people an idea of what it contains and to see if they might be interested in subscribing. The entire contents of the newsletter are below.

Weekly roundup

To everyone new here to the list: Welcome to my newsletter! In the newsletter, I’ll share a link to some of the things I shared on social media that I thought were interesting. I’ll also include book news, cover reveals, and more goodies.

I have some exciting news this week: the fifth book in my Ghost Oracle series is now available at your favorite online retailerIt’s entitled “Camping with a Ghost” and here is the blurb:

Nick is out camping with his friends, and the last thing he expected was to encounter the ghost of someone he knows from school. After the trip, the spirit continues to appear to Nick, leaving him no choice but to investigate his classmate’s disappearance and attempt to discover what happened to him.

As he zeros in on the mystery surrounding his missing classmate, Nick uncovers several secrets surrounding the ghost’s demise, which attracts some unwanted attention from the murderer. As Nick gets closer to uncovering the truth—and finding his dead classmate’s body—the threats become increasingly more severe, and Nick soon finds himself in a deadly situation.

Meanwhile, the Shadow Demon has upped its game, and Nick has another encounter with the creature. This time, the demon has made its intentions clear to Nick, which means Nick must do everything in his power to not only protect himself and his boyfriend Gabe but his family as well.

Camping with a ghost

This was such a fun book to write! The last and final book in the series will be forthcoming. If you haven’t read the other books in the series, you can check them out at my website here:

If you enjoyed this newsletter, feel free to share it with your friends, and family. I would really appreciate it.

Okay, enough book chat. On to this week’s roundup!

Weekly Round-Up – Some Things I Thought Were Worth Sharing

  1. I love time travel stories so I may have to watch this: ‘The Adam Project’ review: A flashy time travel adventure with an all-star cast I also haven’t heard of this animated time travel series before – will definitely have to check it out as well – Undone: Season 2, Prime Video This April
  2. For my writer friends: Short Story Tips: 3 Successful Strategies to Write a Short Story. There’s also this: If You Want to Write a Novel, Start with a Plan: Stephanie Gangi on Writing Her Debut in Her Late 50s
  3. I stumbled across this article by Chris Guillebeau entitled “36 Ways to Live Differently” Lot’s of great wisdom here.
  4. Right now books are in danger – one can go a step further and say that imagination and ideas are in danger: The Power—and Necessity—of Reading Dangerously. Speaking of danger, here’s an article entitled, Why Stories Are Dangerous — And Why We Need Them Anyway. You might also be interested in this article about book banning: Brad Meltzer on how a community fought a school book ban in Pennsylvania and won: My book was banned. Here’s how we fought back
  5. Eye Candy – some of these are amazing! The Winners of Sony World Photography Awards for 2022. Oh, and let’s not forget about The Winners of the 11th Annual Mobile Photography Awards
  6. Well this sucks: HBO hit with class action lawsuit for allegedly sharing subscriber data with Facebook.
  7. Here are 10 women photographers and organizations that use their art to raise awareness and make a difference where they can.
  8. How a viral tweet turned into a queer coming-of-age graphic novel. Also, three authors recently targeted by the religious right and Republicans spoke out about being at the center of controversy: LGBTQ authors of banned books speak out on why their stories matter.
  9. Crime writers talking writing routines, research, putting in the work, and keeping caffeine levels: David Heska Wanbli Weiden Takes His Craft Seriously and His Coffee Very Strong
  10. Privacy Watch: 5 Easy Ways to Improve Privacy on Your iPhone Right Now
  11. Some writing tips: How to Pitch a Story: 10 Killer Pitch Tips. There’s also this article which some writers may find helpful: Don’t Overthink It: The Argument For Just Starting to Write. And if you suffer from self-doubt, then this may help: Dealing With Self-Doubt And Writer’s Block With Dharma Kelleher.
  12. Just for fun (and cuteness) 20 Photos Of Pets Proving That Nature Has A Great Sense Of Humor. And if you’re looking for something funny to read, here’s a breakdown of The Best Comedy Books of 2022 (So Far).
  13. Interesting article about the internet’s relentless deluge of images: The Empire of the Archive: On the Relentless Contemporary Deluge of Images
  14. A new series of Dr. Seuss-inspired books will feature diverse authors and illustrators.
  15. The Books Will Keep You Warm – A celebration of small-town libraries and retro mysteries.

Oh, and in case you missed it, Ernest Shackleton’s Ship Found After 106 Years

Camping with a ghost 2

Newsletter & Book Announcement Read Post »

Weekly Roundup – December 4, 2021

Weekly Roundup

Welcome to my Weekly Roundup where on Saturday, I post links to things I shared on social media throughout the week that I thought were interesting. I’ll also include book news, cover reveals, and more goodies.

Speaking of book news, I released a new book last week! It’s an M/M Christmas Romance novel entitled Christmas Cookies That Sparkle. It’s free if you have Kindle Unlimited. If not, it’s $2.99 on Amazon. Here’s a link to a post that I wrote about it.

By the way, I also send out this weekly round-up list each week to my newsletter. So if you wish to receive my weekly roundup in your email inbox each week, you can subscribe HERE.

So on to the roundup.

15 Things I Thought Were Worth Sharing

  1. Fascinating article on Indigenous Authors: How Indigenous Authors Use Horror Rooted in Tribal Traditions
  2. Someone Unearthed A 1997 Wired Article Predicting ’10 Things That Could Go Wrong In The 21st Century’ And Nearly All Of Them Came True
  3. I love these stories about entitled people: This Online Group Shames People Who Deserve A Special Place In Hell For Being Annoyingly Entitled
  4. After you’re gone, your files, photos, emails, and more stay behind. You can choose who can access them: How to Decide What Happens to Your Data When You Die
  5. New Google search features make it easier to find the right doctor: Making healthcare options more accessible on Search
  6. The year is winding down quickly: Here are 10 Fantasies to Let Go of Before the New Year
  7. Life balance for writers: Seven writers talk about balancing their creative lives with their day jobs, from bartending to construction
  8. Some interesting food for thought: 30 Americans Who Left The US Share How Their Lives Have Changed After Moving To Europe
  9. The Ironic Twist of Age: What It’s Like to Keep Writing at 91
  10. Just for fun: Some Photos Of Funny And Strange Things Spotted On The Subway
  11. A new crime fiction anthology looks at police oppression: S.A. Cosby on the Conversation Around Policing in America – And Why It Needs to Change
  12. It’s the holiday season meaning many of us will be taking a lot of photos. Here are Five tips for photographing during the holidays
  13. Looking to diversify your reading life? Here are 50 Notable African Books of 2021
  14. Eye-Candy: The Winning Photos from the Hasselblad Masters 2021 Competition
  15. “First you must believe you’re a writer: “How to Say “I’m a Writer” and Mean It

Oh, and in case you missed it: This looks amazing! “A Surreal New Bookstore Has Just Opened in China”

Christmas Cookies Cover jpg

Weekly Roundup – December 4, 2021 Read Post »

Weekly Roundup – August 14, 2021

Weekly Roundup

Welcome to my Weekly Roundup where each Saturday, I post links to things I shared on social media throughout the week that I thought were interesting. I’ll also include book news, cover reveals, and more goodies.

By the way, I also send out this weekly round-up list each week to my newsletter. So if you wish to receive my weekly roundup in your email inbox each week, you can subscribe HERE.

You may noticed that the blog’s been a bit quiet this week. That’s because we had a power outage that lasted several days. I’ll post about it on Sunday.

So on to the roundup.

15 Things I Thought Were Worth Sharing

  1. I actually love middle grade stories: Why Adults Should Read Middle Grade Books
  2. I’m guessing we forget there’s actual people behind the text: “Do we see others online as human?”
  3. Are you bored? That’s good! How Boredom Can Spark Creative Ideas
  4. Privacy Watch: Q&A: A guide to ‘spyware’
  5. Just for fun: College Admission Officers Share What Made Them Reject Would-Be Students (30 Stories)
  6. Some of these are soooo funny! “This Twitter Account Shares “Things That Are Technically True”, And Here Are 54 Of The Funniest Ones”
  7. For those insomniacs among us: 9 Tips For Achieving Better Sleep
  8. This is kinda fun: “Here’s What Famous Historical Figures Would Look Like Today (24 New Pics)”
  9. The Uncomfortable Rise of the Instagram Novel
  10. LGBTQ+ Photographers Redefining Wedding Ceremonies
  11. ‘Swan Song’ is a ‘love letter’ to disappearing gay culture, director says
  12. I love this person’s art: This Artist Creates Weirdly Cozy Illustrations Filled With Fantasy And Monsters (110 Pics)
  13. Time for housecleaning: 8 Reasons To De-Clutter Your Facebook Friends
  14. I love this kind of stuff. There’s A Group Dedicated To Sharing “You Had One Job” Fails. Here Are 64 Of The Funniest Ones
  15. Ready to move about? Here are 6 Ways to Be More Active (No Gym Required)

Oh, and in case you missed it: Article: Animals Are Getting Smaller as the Planet Warms

Weekly Roundup – August 14, 2021 Read Post »

Weekly Roundup – August 7, 2021

Weekly Roundup

Welcome to my Weekly Roundup where each Saturday, I post links to things I shared on social media throughout the week that I thought were interesting. I’ll also include book news, cover reveals, and more goodies.

By the way, I also send out this weekly round-up list each week to my newsletter. So if you wish to receive my weekly roundup in your email inbox each week, you can subscribe HERE.

So on to the roundup.

15 Things I Thought Were Worth Sharing

  1. There’s a few nuggets here: 10 Regrets Too Many People Will Have in 10 Years
  2. Thoughtful article: Sell This Book! Corporate publishing wants to turn all readers into renters. We’re trying to stop them.
  3. Just for fun: 35 Of The Funniest Things That People Accidentally Overheard Their Coworkers Say From Twitter’s #OverheardAtWork Trend
  4. Why can’t we sleep? How work schedules wreck our biological clocks.
  5. I could use a writer’s retreat right about now: The Benefits of a DIY Personal Writer’s Retreat
  6. Looking to improve your photography? Here are over 100 Photography Tips to Elevate your Photography
  7. How easy it really is to fall into the “perfect life” trap on Instagram
  8. The Productivity Gap – the disconnect between what we want (and sometimes need) to get done and what we actually can get done.
  9. Now you’ll be able to always identify those unknown birds: This App Identifies Birds by Their Songs
  10. Privacy Watch: A Slippery Slope? Apple Will Soon Snoop on Your Photos
  11. For something fun: ” From Harry Potter To Drag Superstar? Daniel Radcliffe Showcases His Drag Talents & Rump Shaking In The Newest ‘Miracle Workers’ Episode”
  12. Fantastic! I’ve always loved Mercedes Lackey’s books: LGBTQ-inclusive Valdemar fantasy universe is finally coming to television
  13. Not all fun is created equal: The Fun Scale: Understanding Types of “Fun”
  14. Explore what living the van life trend is like with an Australian photographer: Van Life in Australia with Photographer Charlie Blacker
  15. Netflix’s ‘Pray Away’ looks behind the curtain of the ‘ex-gay’ movement. Filmmaker Kristine Stolakis said she was driven to explore the controversial movement after the sudden death of her uncle, a conversion therapy survivor.

Oh, and in case you missed it: Imagine my surprise! “Facebook Bans Vaccine Hoax Researchers, Blames FTC”

From the Blog

  1. On Resentment
  2. Why I Flip-Flop between These Three Music Services
  3. Misowhat?
  4. Wordless Wednesday: What I Hate Seeing in the Water When Swimming
  5. A Chat about “A Star is Born”
  6. Streaming Movies (or not)
  7. Last Week’s Weekly Roundup

Weekly Roundup – August 7, 2021 Read Post »

Weekly Roundup – July 31, 2021

Weekly Roundup

Welcome to my Weekly Roundup where each Saturday, I post links to things I shared on social media throughout the week that I thought were interesting. I’ll also include book news, cover reveals, and more goodies.

By the way, I also send out this weekly round-up list each week to my newsletter. So if you wish to receive my weekly roundup in your email inbox each week, you can subscribe HERE.

So on to the roundup.

Weekly Round-Up – 15 Things I Thought Were Worth Sharing

  1. “Why Managers Fear a Remote-Work Future — Like it or not, the way we work has already evolved.”
  2. Just for fun (and cuteness!): 115 Of The Most Wholesome Rescue Pet Photos This July
  3. This beloved horror series is FINALLY giving the gays their due: New Chucky series will center on Jake Weber, a 14-year-old gay boy struggling to come out in his rural town.
  4. I’ve been hearing more and more about this lately: Why Is CBD Good For Your Mental Health? Find Out Here
  5. How your phone will make you a better photographer with your camera
  6. Going utterly penniless: why a Victoria man has gone two decades without money – he won’t touch money except to destroy it
  7. There’s a new Dexter reboot coming out: “Slick ‘Dexter: New Blood’ trailer shows our killer in a fresh habitat”
  8. Sundown Towns Are Still A Problem For Black Drivers: “It’s when you veer off to the back roads that don’t connect to the highway, that’s when you find yourself in trouble.”
  9. I couldn’t help but giggle with delight at this one: Another Pie in the Face for Anita Bryant: Her Granddaughter Is Gay
  10. This looks soooo good! Ghostbusters: Afterlife – New Trailer Breakdown and Analysis
  11. You’ve decluttered…now what? How to responsibly get rid of the stuff you’ve decluttered
  12. Millennials Share 30 Things They Wish Older Generations Understood In This Heartbreaking Viral Thread
  13. Wise words from older gay people to their younger selves
  14. Do you record videos on your phone? Here are some simple, yet powerful iPhone filmmaking techniques
  15. Digital Eye Candy: 68 Beautiful Pictures This Photographer Captured While Traveling The World

Oh, and in case you missed it: Gay Diver Tom Daley Wins First Gold Medal, Vows to ‘Carry On’

From the Blog

  1. My Dislike for Ads
  2. On Going Back to the Theater
  3. Wordless Wednesday – Truck in the Air
  4. The Critters in My Yard
  5. On Comparisonitis
  6. Should My Blog Have a Niche?
  7. Last Week’s Weekly Roundup

Weekly Roundup – July 31, 2021 Read Post »

Weekly Roundup – July 24, 2021

Weekly Roundup

Welcome to my Weekly Roundup where each Saturday, I post links to things I shared on social media throughout the week that I thought were interesting. I’ll also include book news, cover reveals, and more goodies.

By the way, I also send out this weekly round-up list each week to my newsletter. So if you wish to receive my weekly roundup in your email inbox each week, you can subscribe HERE.

So on to the roundup.

Weekly Round-Up – 15 Things I Thought Were Worth Sharing

  1. I love this person’s art: This Artist Creates Weirdly Cozy Illustrations Filled With Fantasy And Monsters (110 Pics)
  2. For productivity gurus: 7 Tips to Make You More Productive When Working at Home
  3. Some of my favorite movies in this list: 15 Movies to Cheer You Up When You Need It the Most
  4. 30 different pride flags hang together in a stunning celebration of joy and freedom
  5. Looking to meet someone new? Best LGBTQ+ dating apps 2021: The best options for gay folks
  6. Privacy Watch (this is definitely worth checking out): DuckDuckGO takes on Apple’s Mail Privacy Protection with its own feature
  7. D.C. Black Pride Award recipients to be honored July 21
  8. Looking for an LGBTQ Beach Read? 10 queer books we’re absolutely and completely loving this summer
  9. On the alarming implications of Amazon’s ever-growing share of the bookselling market.: Every Book Lover Should Fear This Graph
  10. Looking forward to this film – I enjoyed the book: Hulu debuts creepy and star-studded ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ trailer
  11. Pretty photography: If you enjoy eye candy, here’s a list of Photographers to Follow on Instagram
  12. “I Am The Chosen One But I Hate It”: People In This Online Group Share 30 Of The Most Annoying Book Tropes
  13. Tommy Orange tells the story of an overlooked icon who forever changed the way Indigenous people are depicted onscreen.
  14. LGBTQ+ Photographers Redefining Wedding Ceremonies
  15. Just for fun (though some are kinda creepy) – 86 Times People Went On Such A Terrible First Date, They Bailed In The Middle Of It

Oh, and in case you missed it: Passengers cheer as woman making anti-gay remarks gets dragged off plane

From the Blog

  1. My Love for Scootering
  2. A Change of Plans
  3. Exhausted by Toxic Politics
  4. Wordless Wednesday – In Deep Thought
  5. I wrote a Werewolf Book!
  6. Last Week’s Weekly Roundup

Weekly Roundup – July 24, 2021 Read Post »

Weekly Roundup for July 17, 2021

Weekly Roundup

Welcome to my Weekly Roundup where each Saturday, I post links to things I shared on social media throughout the week that I thought were interesting. I’ll also include book news, cover reveals, and more goodies.

By the way, I also send out this weekly round-up list each week to my newsletter. So if you wish to receive my weekly roundup in your email inbox each week, you can subscribe HERE.

So on to the roundup.

Weekly Round-Up – 15 Things I Thought Were Worth Sharing

  1. I’ve always been a fan of this show. Article: 5 really queer reasons we love ‘American Horror Stories’
  2. Some things to contemplate: 40 Hard Things You Need to Hear
  3. How photography allows us to bring back our dead and prove that we’re alive: Startlement and Stillness: David Searcy on Photography
  4. Do any of these resonate with you? “Stuff 38 Folks In This Online Group Would Do Differently If They Had Their Current Knowledge When They Were 15 Years Old”
  5. To brighten up your day: If You’re Feeling Down, This Wholesome Facebook Group Has Your Back (97 Pics Heartwarming pics)
  6. 1455 Literary Arts Summer Festival celebrates queer work
  7. Shutterstock has partnered with It Gets Better to challenge LGBTQ+ visual stereotypes and push for better representation of the LGBTQ+ community. What follows is one woman’s essay on why that matters: It Gets Better Collaboration: The Importance of LGBTQ+ Representation
  8. Privacy Watch. How Fear of Government Surveillance Influences Our Behavior
  9. If you want to get the most out of your phone’s video capturing capabilities, watch these tips.: 10 Tips for Shooting Better Videos With Your Smartphone
  10. People share examples of incorrect stereotypes about Religion, Race, Sexuality, Etc.
  11. If you like suspenseful movies: 10 best thrillers on Amazon Prime to wreck your nerves
  12. Racist trolls attacked England’s soccer team. Fans fought back.
  13. “Fun Facts” that aren’t true: 43 Annoying ‘Facts’ People Have To Finally Stop Believing In
  14. A new kind of Windows: Microsoft is bringing Windows to a web browser, and it will work on iPad and the Mac
  15. Respecting a Nonbinary Youth’s Name and Pronouns Can Be Life-Saving

Oh, and in case you missed it: Article: “People Are Sharing The Unwritten Rules Of Life And I Never Thought Of These, But I Agree”

From the Blog

  1. My Top 5 Quarter 1 Books
  2. Dwelling on Embarrassing Things
  3. Book Chat: The Art of Invisibility by Kevin Mitnik
  4. Wordless Wednesday: Badlands
  5. Some of my Favorite iPad Apps

Weekly Roundup for July 17, 2021 Read Post »

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