Tag: creativity

Thursday Tea Party

Hi all! Pull up a seat! So much on my mind… I am a wee bit squirrel brained lately. All that it takes to distract me is a shiny object in my side view.

First… I want to express my grief at the sad demise of Grant Thompson. He was way too young to die. *a moment of silence *😭

Now, I think that I promised a Tea recommendation? I love tea. Homemade, store-bought, hot or iced. I prefer sweet, but anymore I settle for adding splenda. One of my favorite store-bought teas are Stash Black Chai Spice. I prepare it with half milk and half water and it is a luxurious treat.

I have been working on the publishing company a lot here lately. It has been a learning experience. I am learning about contracts and the messy part of publishing… That moment when crap hits the fan. It is frustrating when it is your work with snafus… It feels like failure when you are handling other authors work. I am blessed with authors who understand and are patient with me.

Fae corps anthology Under the Mists is available in Ebook format… However as the platform that I chose to use for the paperback is still in Beta… We are looking at a month wait for the paperback. We are still going to be trying to get it in as many hands as possible because these stories are really worth the read.

I am quite sure most of you saw the call for submissions that I shared yesterday. Fae corps has two new anthologies in the works. We are going to do another fae story one, this one about light fae. We are also going to do a poetry collection.

Fae corps is also pleased to announce that we are going to be representing Ms Deedra Nichole in her In a small world series. We are in contract negotiations now, but I have no doubt that we will be able to do it.

I submitted 3 poems in a call for submissions that I found on wordpress. One of the three was accepted. My poem is supposed to be published on August 5th. With all of the feels of failure in the publishing… This felt like a win. I will take it.

Oh… And soon the next edition, the summer edition, of Creative Rising Ezine will be publishing. I will share the link to subscribe as soon as I get it.

Hmmm I think that is everything…. So I will be back tomorrow with some sort of tips on writing…. So for now… Time to gather tea leaves.

Under the Mists promo

Thursday Tea party

So, here we are again… Sugar? Cream? Oh my… Is there enough room for all of you to squeeze in?

Serena tells me that she has broken the block and is writing again on Life, guilt, and undeath. She apparently now knows how it will end. Here’s hoping that she finishes soon, as I can’t wait to read it.

My sister and I have started a publishing company. fae corps publishing will be releasing our first anthology in July. Under the mists will feature stories about the dark fae by some truly amazing authors. This has been an amazing journey. Serena has a story in there, along with five others. We are going to be spotlighting authors and artists on our blog. If we get enough submissions we will also do a quarterly Ezine.

I know that Dream Drips is still relatively new… But I am over halfway through the writing for Ink Splashes. I think that I will be releasing it in July. I might be mistaken… But it is something to keep an eye out for.

I have been accepted in the summer edition of Creatives Rising. My poem Serendipity will be included in there. The other creatives who are involved are so wonderful. I really am excited about this edition. I will be posting the subscribe link when they give it to me.. Watch for it.

If you are an indie artist or artist and want to be seen somewhere new go over to the Fae Corps blog and submit your work. We will be doing spotlights and posting poetry, short stories, art, and photgraphy that we feel shows the quality of indie work.

All in all it looks like the next couple of months are going to be fun. What do you have coming up? Anything fun?

Time flies

Tuesday I did a “date” with my teenage daughter. This is time for her and I where she is the absolute center of my attention. Don’t get me wrong… She always has my attention. However, as mom, there is a million things that have my attention. Our dates are where dad, house, writing, and other assorted hats that I wear are thrown in the closet for the time we are together. This time we watched some television (her choice of shows) and made bath bombs.

Bath bombs are apparently more her craft than mine. She was brilliant with the crafting. Hers stayed together better, and generally were neater.

Making bath bombs were easy and fun. The recipe we used was:

1 cup baking soda

1/2 cup Epsom salts

1/2 cup citric acid

1/2 cup corn starch

1 tbsp water

1 tbsp mineral oil

1 tsp essential oil

4-6 drops food color

She made some neat variation in the color of the bombs. I only had picked up a very basic mold set as I was unsure whether or not we would enjoy it or not. She wants to continue with crafting them, so I have been eyeballing some other equipment on Amazon.

Y’all would not believe the mess this made. My dining room is covered in a layer of dust.

Black food coloring comes out a dark green.

You really have to put some pressure on the mold to get the bombs to hold together. There is a definite need for patience with this.

I was responsible for the “half ” bombs. One I made split after being set to the side to dry. The bombs need to sit for 48 hours to dry.

Mistakes were made. But isn’t that part of the fun?

The drying rack at the end of the making. All in all the bath bombs were not incredibly expensive to make. Walmart carries many of the supplies cheaply. It was a fun adventure with my girl.

Insomnia attacks

Since I am sleep deprived and have no spoons to spare… Here is some poetry to make up for the lack of a post.

Tuesday Tea party

I have some announcements and I just generally felt like rambling a bit. First… Let’s get the announcement portion done.

This week my writing advice on Friday will be about poetry. Depending upon the response I may do more about poetry. We will see.

I have been accepted to write poetry for Creative Risings Ezine. I will be posting the links and information as I have it. However, I do think that this issue is going to be amazing. Not only is the topics interesting, but the creators are an amazing bunch.

Under the mists is in the editing process. The stories are all really good. I am personally excited to be working on this project.

I have submitted some poems to a couple of lit mags. I await to hear if that will bear fruit. If it does, I’ll be posting links and probably a bunch of excited whoops. Lol

Ink Splashes has been flowing. I just started it a couple of days ago and I already have 17 poems out of the 70.

The first week in June, from the 3rd until the 7th, I will not be posting any posts. I am going on a road trip to see my brother, my son, my grandson, my dad, and my aunt and her family. It’s not that the trip is all that far. It will be around 550 miles round trip. I just plan to focus on my family for the trip.

Whew. That was a lot of announcements. I feel like I am forgetting something. Y’all already know that Dream Drips was released. I have been doing reasonably well at posting on my Patreon. There have been a couple of art delays where I had to post it the next day. I have caught up both times. I have been collecting art prompts, so I can keep doing a daily sketch for patreon… And because it helps me improve.

I try to set goals for myself and the stuff like writing and art. My writing goal is 500 words or a poem a day. I used to include a blog post as a “or” in that but I have gotten my blog posts on a schedule… Somewhat. With 500 words it gives me leeway. My children’s books are often less than 5000 words in total. Honestly the current W. I. P. Is middle grade and will be longer than the others. However, if I am working on Serena’s stuff… Well 500 words is better than none. Slow progress is better than none. Well, even though I love to draw… I have been avoiding setting a goal.

Then I was scrambling for content for patreon. I have been doing mostly writing here. So I needed something that I was not really doing here. I wanted to feel like my patrons were getting some unique content. So when I read about the mermay drawing challenge, I figured it was worth a shot. And I also about the same time decided to do a digital art piece here for Wordlessly Wednesday. So, I think it is time to add an art goal. Besides the digital piece for here on Wednesday, I am going to attempt a drawing of some sort daily. It is how I will improve.

Wow, I said rambling but this post ended up way longer than I intended. So tell me, is there something that you want to see me draw?

Attack of the plot bunnies!

As with most authors… I have more ideas than I will ever be able to write. Sometimes having such a potent imagination is a bit of a curse. So, what is there to do when your mind is overrun with the bunnies?

First, I recommend that you keep your writing projects to no more than two active at a time. I realize that most people recommend that you keep only one active. I think that it is easy to burnout if you push forward with a project that is not flowing. By having a second project, you have a small ability to swap off as the need arises.

Second, keep a note of the ideas as they come. Yes, write them down! You will forget them. Trust me. I have been dumb enough to believe that I didn’t need to do this. Much to my regret.

Visit the ideas list periodically to find the next project. It really is that simple. I also tend to do that with poetry prompts. What will not work one day may work to inspire another day. Inspiration sparks different depending upon the day.

So, where do you hide your ideas? Mine are all on digital notes. 😊

Release day links

Today I will be doing another post, but as Dream Drips is completely Live I wanted to share Patricia’s Links.
Come see me on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/pattimouse)

my author page on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Patricia-Harris/e/B012U5ZRD2

This is what’s out for all editions.
Will post for each as i finish them. All Books will have three links. Amazon with two links and then one for everywhere else.

=============================
A Pocketful of Poetry
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/mVB1np

================================
Creative Juices
———————————-

<Mobi>
https://tinyurl.com/ydgqoept

<Paperback>
https://tinyurl.com/y9s5xrom

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/3J8AKK

================================
word play
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback> http://www.amazon.com/Word-Play-Patricia-Lynn-Harris/dp/1519794983/ref=la_B012U5ZRD2_1_6_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1451694114&sr=1-6

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bMQ0YB

================================
Sacks of Wit
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bWzaKM

================================
Pip the Pup
——————-

<Everywhere Else> https://www.books2read.com/u/bWzaKM

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

===============================
Bedtime Tales I:
The Teddy Bear Picnic
———————————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

===============================
Bedtime Tales II: The Princess Lost
———————————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

===============================
Life Drops
———————————

<Mobi>

<Paperback >

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/4DlaNP

===============================

Wayward Dreams
———————-–———-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/m2vjer

================================
Prompted Prose
————————–

<Mobi>
https://tinyurl.com/mqua3so

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/boZzGv

================================
Dream Webs
———————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/38rNMZ

===============================
Literary Drops
———————-

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/md0eWy

================================
Word Petals
——————–

<Mobi>

<Paperback >

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bMQ0YB

================================
Soul’s Door
——————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>

<Everything Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/47ZpYE

===============================
Music for the soul
——————————

<Mobi>

<Paperback>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1980990573/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_KgKwBbF0F9934

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/bQ9o9w

================================
Poetry Kisses
———————–

<Mobi>

<Paperback>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1717918581/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ObKwBbE57D724

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/47Zpx8

================================
Temporal Verse
—————————

<Everwhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/4jDOR2

<Mobi>

<Paperback>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1386556556/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Fs2UBb8RTBX47

================================
Soul Drops
——————–

<Mobi>

<Paperback>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1731159471/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Q7k6Bb1FX5SJS

<Everywhere Else>
https://www.books2read.com/u/m0g5QY
================================
Spilled Verse
———————

<mobi> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MXLYKQP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_d7GqCbCJRMQ2X

<paperback> https://www.amazon.com/dp/1794353003/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_krXqCb4AFYYK4

<Everywhere Else>
https://books2read.com/u/3LGr6X
================================
Dream Drips
——————–

<Mobi> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RVCCP82/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_knK3Cb4YPT96N

<paperback>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1098837096/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_RnK3Cb82E1QEC

<Everywhere Else>
https://books2read.com/u/4Nan7N
================================

Thursday truths

First thing, I have published Dream Drips. I will be posting a new release link post as soon as it is completely live. (Takes up to 72 hours.)

My poetry has been accepted for the summer edition of Creatives Rising Ezine. I am always honored to be chosen to contribute.

I have been doing a weekly digital abstract piece for my wordless Wednesday blog. So far it seems to be well received. I think that I shall continue with that.

I came to the realization last night. As a publishing company, we have done 23 books. 21 for me, (3 children’s books, and 18 poetry), and Serena has 2(a novel, and a novella). Serenity Studios has only been a thing since 2010. That seems so amazing to me.

Also, a minor note. I noticed that I had neglected to upload the ebook version of Soul Drops to Amazon. There was a good reason for this. I use draft2digital for most of my eBook publishing. However I had decided that I didn’t like how Amazon was set up through them. So I had done soul drops paperback on kdp… And the ebook through d2d. The problem is… Because I did not like the set up… I ended up not complying with the required information on d2d for amazon. Forgetting that I had done soul drops that way. I realized that today. So I fixed it. It will be live in 72 hours.

Wordless Wednesday