Guest Blogger: Debbie De Louise

Hello everyone, I'm handing my blog over to someone again. Hands the reins over to Debbie De Louise.

It's my pleasure to participate in the Solstice Publishing author's group winter blog tour by sharing a post about myself, my books, and my feelings about writing.

As a librarian, reader, and author, books and the written word have been very important in my life. I can't imagine a world without them. Writing transports people to places they've never visited within as well as outside of themselves. It entertains, teaches, amuses, and sometimes saddens. The saying "The pen is mightier than the sword" is true. Even before paper was invented or languages defined, storytellers played an important role in communities. They still do despite the fact there are so many forms of communication today. A good story has value whether it is read off a screen, through the pages of an "old-fashioned" book, or listened to on audio CD's or digital files.

Books have healing properties. It's been proven that reading has many emotional benefits, and what benefits your mind also positively affects your body. Have you ever found yourself so immersed in a book that you felt like you were one of the characters? Have you traveled in time with a historical novel? Been frightened by a horror story? Fallen in love with a romance? Surprised by the twist in a mystery? Excited by a scene in a thriller? Books can stir your emotions and stimulate your mind. Who needs drugs or other addictive agents when a story can relax or energize you? There are no limits to where your imagination can lead you with the pages of a book as your guide.

I remember when I first started reading in second grade. It was more fun to me than any of the games I played. I felt like I'd discovered a wonderful secret or found a magic spell. As I grew older, my love of books increased. I admired the authors who were able to make me visualize the worlds they created. Then I began writing my own stories to entertain myself. But I also had a dream that one day, like my favorite authors, I would also be able to reach people around the world and give them the gift of my words.

Publishing my own books today feels just as magical and not a little unreal. Seeing my books listed online or occupying a spot on my library or bookstore's shelf seems incredible. When people review my books or personally give me feedback, knowing that my words are being read through their eyes is nothing short of miraculous. Still, I know that there are millions of books out there and more being published every minute. How can I hope to compete? How can I make my dream come true and reach all the people who would enjoy my stories? That's the lament of new authors as well as old. I don't have the answers. The best advice I can give myself as well as other writers who want to stand out from the crowd is to write what comes from their heart. Readers identify with real feelings, and most fiction is based on reality. You're the only one who can write your book. Tell the story you'd like to read, and chances are others will be interested, too.

For more information about me and my books and stories including my Cobble Cove mystery series, connect with me through the following links:

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up

Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog (blog hosted by the cat character from my Cobble Cove mysteries who interviews other animal characters and some real-life author’s pets)

Cobble Cove Character Chat (Facebook page where you can interact with the characters from my mysteries):

I will be hosting an author hour on Monday, February 20 from 3-4 pm during Mystery Thriller Week

Some of the characters from my mysteries will be helping me post information about their books and offer some giveaways. For more information, visit the event page .

Also, look for my romantic comedy Novella, When Jack Trumps Ace, coming this February from Solstice Publishing.

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Thank you, Debbie for the wonderful post. See you all next time. -K.A>

#GuestBlogger

Guest Blogger: Nicole Luttrell

Hello Everyone, I'm happy to present the first of many times I'll be handing over my blog to someone else. Here you go Nicole Luttrell, hands over the reins:

Hi, my name's Nicole. I'm a writer. I kind of make a big deal out of that. Specifically, I'm a speculative fiction writer. That means I write horror, science fiction and fantasy. I wrote a book called Broken Patterns, and I sort of think it's the best fantasy book since Dragonriders of Pern.

Available on Amazon

Am I a little full of myself? Yeah, I'll admit it. Calling myself a speculative fiction writer a hell of a mouthful.

I also happen to be a professional author.

I love the hilarity of that sentence, you know? A professional author? I can't think of anything less professional, you know? I mean, think about it.

We make up stories and tell them to people for a living. We have imaginary friends and they talk to us. Lots of writers, like myself, write in our pajamas, on our couches, with a cup of coffee. We are the last people you'd think of as professional. We're really just big kids, playing with our imaginary toys.

Well, except that we don't just write in our pjs. We also write in waiting rooms, at red lights, during our lunch breaks. We write before our kids get up and after they go to bed. We write while other people go to the movies and go to bars and, you know, sleep.

We have to write in all of these times because most of us, including me, have day jobs. I have a full time day job, in fact. We write around jobs, school and families. In fact, a lot of us write around all three of those things at the same time. (Not me, though. I just have a full time job and two kids. Oh, and also a husband and too many pets.)

We weep over our writing, did you know that? We kill of your favorite characters, yes. But they were our favorite characters long before you ever heard of them. Characters don't just exist for us, they live inside our minds. Killing one is gut wrenching.

Of course, the rough draft is only half of it. Once it's done we start in editing. We edit, edit and edit some more. We edit our work until it glows. Until we could repeat the stories from memory. And sometimes we feel like we do that.

Usually, that whole repeating it from memory comes when we start promoting our work to everyone. Have you ever worked in sales? Imagine that, but all the time. The thing that makes it better and worse at the same time is that you feel like you're selling a part of yourself. So you really believe that everyone needs what you're selling, but you're also taking every rejection hugely personally.

Finally, when we're done with a book, we start all over again. Because writing's an obsession, one that we cannot escape.

So professional writer is kind of a ridiculous thing to call us. It's better to call us what we really are.

Addicts.

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Thank you Nicole for stopping by. I hope to do more soon. -K.A.

What It's Like Living in the Coldest Town in the USA

I live in Grand Forks, ND, USA. Location:

The temperature right now is -15°F. If you live here, we don't go by the actual temperature. We live by the "feels like" or "wind chill" which is at -35°F. Brrr.

You know you are in a cold place when there is a wind chill advisory.

I was curious to compare if there are any other cold places in the USA.

USA Today published an article, Brrrr: America's 50 coldest cities states, on February 2015. It lists Grand Forks, ND as number 2 in the USA right behind Fairbanks, AK.

Niche also published an article, Top 50 Coldest Cities in America, on November 2016. It lists Grand Forks as number one.

The Daily Beast also published an article, America's 25 Coldest Cities, on December 2010. It lists Grand Forks, ND as number 2 in the USA right behind Fairbanks, AK.

Do I really need to go on to prove it anymore?

One final point, I checked out the USA coldest city right now on this website.

Number 1 is Glasgow, Glasgow International Airport (United States) at -33.9°C which is -29°F. Grand Forks is the coldest now.

Now that I established how could it I should get to my point on what it's like living here.

1. It's not a big deal. You get used to the cold.

I'm not kidding. When it's cold out, you dress warmer, let your car warm up longer, and if you can help it, you don't go outside as much. My town had a dusting of snow last night after I snow blowed, and I'm not snow blowing until it's a little warmer out. Less than -10. *Insert joke here*

2. You wear warmer clothes.

Even as I said this, it isn't always right for everybody. I bought myself some long johns and a ski mask. There are others who will go outside in shorts and sweatshirts. I don't get it, and my son tries to. I force him to bring a coat where ever we go or we are not going. He wears it home from school.

3. You know when frostbite can occur.

For those who don't know, you will now.

The wind is S at 10 mph. So frostbit can occur in 10 minutes. Yikes!

5. You stay inside when it's cold.

Enough said.

6. Even our pets know it's cold out.

My dogs want to go out, and I watch them in a few minutes they run back in. I have an escape artist, my cat, and he doesn't try to get out at all during winter.

7. You can turn boiling water into snow.

This sound cool, and I would love to show my son this someday. I'm not to worried about picking a day because many will come. If I miss this year, there is always the next year.

The Science Behind Turning Boiling Water Into "Snow" on a Frigid Day

Check a video out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LFtYUUXJlE

8. You have some pride being able to handle the cold.

In December 2016, we had a blizzard Alivia in Grand Forks. One dumped 16.4 inches in three days with the majority being on the first two. Some parts of the town was closed down on December 5th because we needed to remove the snow so we can get on with our lives. My son and I were home that day. By noon the next day I dug myself out and went to work. My son didn't have school because not every part of the town was cleared out.

Just in time for another snow storm, January 2 & 3, 2017. Grand Forks had 9.2 inches. I took off half a day on the second to clear myself out. I don't even think this was called a blizzard.

To me this is what living in North Dakota is about. We have pride because we can handle it. I've talked to others and they can't believe the city doesn't close sometimes unlike their town. I tell them Grand Fork is used to it.

9. Snow days.

Something to look forward to when your young. My son has had three this school year so far. The school only scheduled two. *rolls eyes* Some years we don't even use them. They have a few makeup days for it.

10. You're used to the cold.

When I go on vacation, I wear shorts when it is 70°F out. I've seen other's in jackets and pants. They think I'm crazy. This is a repeat, but it should be said twice!

11. It's to cold to be mean.

I remember when I got stuck three times with my van last year. Each time someone showed up to help me by the time I called my brother to help. I think most of us know we may need the help and it's better to be kind then mean to others.

11. You must deal with snow plows.

My city does a fairly good job cleaning the snow. They do make mistakes and try to clear it up.

12. There's a lot of fun things to do in Grand Forks.

I'm to busy with writing and life to do anything but we have plenty of activities here. I've done a few through the years. Check out GF Parks for more info.

I can't think of anything else to say.

-K.A.