Author Life Journal - July 29th, 2024

Don't Panic!

There are few things in an author's life that are more stressful than losing an entire story! I came across this stressful event last week when I went looking for a short story I wrote and couldn't find it anywhere! I did a search of my entire file system, but nothing came up! Well, I was pretty proud of myself for not totally panicking, but I did have to give myself a few pep talks and pray. Why am I sharing this event? Well, I figured I could save you from making the same mistake I did by sharing what happened.

At first, I thought I had accidentally deleted the file. Thankfully, that was not the case. After searching for it for almost a week, I finally located it within another document. I had written the story inside an old blog content master file. I remember thinking at the time that saving it there would be fine, but I was wrong! Thankfully, if you delete your story, there are sometimes ways to get it back. However, if you are weird like me, keep the following tip in mind and save yourself the unwanted adrenaline rush: File each story in its own file under its own name. And most importantly, don't panic!!

Until next time,

Ondrea Keigh

Current Read: Fire Strike by Clive Cussler

Please be aware that I am a Bookshop.org affiliate and earn from qualifying purchases through links in this post.

Author Life Journal - July 5th, 2024

My house is almost finished being remodeled after mold was found. I have been living out of a suitcase for five months and am desperately looking forward to having my tiny home back!

Hopefully, very soon, I will be back in my favorite writing place and able to get my life in order again. I have felt entirely out of whack work-wise! I can't wait to be in a place where I can fully focus without distractions interrupting my writing. I have so many projects going on (some I am not fully certain will see the light of day any time soon)! I just need my quiet place back to get them all organized and published in the right places at the right times.

However, in the last five months, I have learned many things about myself, namely that I have way too many clothes and that I am actually capable of keeping up with work even on the move and in unusual locations. This information is encouraging, as I have always wanted to work and travel. Now I know I can!

Now I'm off to do my reading for the day!

Until next time,

Ondrea Keigh

Current Read: 2001, A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

Please be aware that I am a Bookshop.org affiliate and I earn from qualifying purchases through links in this blog post.

Summertime Changes: Find Out What’s New and What's Coming Soon!

It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.

Quote by C. S. Lewis

This summer there are some changes coming! Most of them will take place in the Let's Talk Books! newsletter, but there will be a few new things on the website and right here in the blog! I think these changes will be great additions for readers and also will help me as I work to simplify a few things as the number of writing projects increases this year and next. Today, I am excited to announce some of these changes!

What's New Around the Website?

I am super excited about a special change on the website! If you have never heard of Bookshop.org, it is an online bookshop where your purchases not only supply you with great books but also help support indie bookshops around the US and the UK! This shop has a wide variety of books, and Lyonsword Publishing now has its own shop! This means you can help support indie bookshops and Lyonsword Publishing simultaneously by purchasing books through the Bookshop.org links you see around the website (Like the one on the blog homepage!). Please be aware that I am a Bookshop.org affiliate and earn from qualifying purchases.

Writing Journal Name Change

To make the blog a little more personal, I have decided to change the writing journal to be more about an update directly written to my readers! The Writing Journal will now be called the Author Life Journal. As usual, you will be able to find updates on my writing projects, but I might also give some fun life updates and some hints about what is going on in the Author Life Newsletter each month!

Writing Fun is Moving and Getting More Fun!

If you are not on my newsletter email list, now is the time to join (sign up here), as some super fun updates are coming very soon! This update is still in the works but will involve the Writing Fun blog category and will take place sometime this summer! Stay tuned and sign up for my email list for further updates!

Share Your Thoughts!

As the C. S. Lewis quote above reminds us, change is necessary for improvement and discovering new things. But change is not the only helpful thing. So is feedback! I would love to hear your thoughts on these changes! Please leave a comment and let me know what you think! If you haven't yet joined the email list, make sure you do so today so you don't miss out on all the fun!