Authors Electric

Image Credit:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. It is ironic the longest month ever, January, is followed by the shortest, February. Writing wise, it gives me the shortest time to prepare my next author newsletter, due in March, but I discovered long ago the joys of drafting in advance so I add to my draft as the month goes on. I do likewise for my blogs and articles. It takes the pressure off.   I enter a number of reputable flash fiction and short story competitions in the year. It’s fun to do and a great challenge (and I always look for those where it is free or the fee is reasonable).    I’ve found it useful to take a week off any official deadline and make that the day I submit my entry. I pencil into my diary when I need to have my first draft done by, my first edit, my second one, and the final one to check for those pesky typos which have escaped the previous edits. I wish I could say there weren’t any but I’ve found it pays to assume there ...

  We pulled into the Starbucks at the bottom of the hill so that I could get some coffee. Then we started up the hill to Idyllwild, California, and she pulled the blanket over her head. I didn't have the radio on, because she prefers not to hear it, and I took it slow, and, as usual, there wasn't much traffic. The scenery is amazing, but she forbade me from saying, "Oh my god you have to see this." And you do have to see it. The landscape is slowly rising hills right up in your face, so close you can park, and hop out, and touch them. This closeness makes them look big. And they are bolder-studded, so they put me in mind of the Houses of the Holy cover. I think that's the cover they put me in mind of anyway. And, just five minutes or so in, you take one of the switchback turns, and there is the valley you just left, terrifyingly far below you already, and there is no guardrail, nope. Go ahead and drive the hell over if you've had enough, Idyllwild and the mou...