For those who haven’t watched it yet, here’s my presentation on word and page count last month at the Annapolis chapter of the Maryland Writers’ Association, shortly before Beneath the Deep Wave was published.
Here’s the handout:
And here’s the original post that inspired it:
Be sure to watch my previous writing presentations as well!
That’s right. I find it hard to believe that Beneath the Deep Wave will be available in a few weeks (on the 23rd). Ever since Mystical Greenwood first premiered, many people have been asking and asking when sequel would come. Well, the wait is almost over. I won’t be a one-book author for much longer. I am excited but also nervous. Hopefully, critics will feel I’ve gotten better and not that I’ve lost my touch.
Don’t forget you can still preorder the Kindle for Beneath the Deep Wave. Print copies will come after the release.
You can mark it to-read on Goodreads as well, and you can preorder the paperback and Nook through Barnes and Noble. Other vendors offer eBook preorders too.
Many thanks to Sally Cronin and Fae Corps for helping to promote it as well.
In the meantime, a micro memoir I wrote, “Eight Ball Corner Pocket,” is featured in the newest issue of Pen in Hand from the Maryland Writers’ Association.
You can mark it to read on Goodreads.
Also, on the 21st, I will once again be giving my presentation on word and page count, this time for the Annapolis chapter of the Maryland Writers’ Association. It’ll be via Zoom only. So please register and join me at 7pn Eastern Time! Information can be found on the MWA website. You can help promote it on Facebook too!
Speaking of the Maryland Writers’ Association, registration is open for their annual conference in October. Early bird prices are available for one more week. I’ve signed up, and I hope to sell some books there. See you there if you can make it!
Now the pressure will be on to complete the third and last book in the trilogy. I imagine I will be besieged with the same questions.
A lot has been happening over the last few months. First off, this week I gave a presentation on word and page count for the Maryland Writers’ Association Frederick County chapter. I meant to record it for my YouTube channel. Sadly, I did not. Oh well. Maybe I’ll do that next time I give it.
For those of you who’ve followed me for a while, you may remember me discussing this topic before. For those of you who haven’t, here’s that post:
Kindle and Nook preorder links are now available for Beneath the Deep Wave! The latter is also on Goodreads!
Sally Cronin featured another of my blog posts from last year in her Posts from Your Archives series. Thanks, Sally!
A new poetry anthology is available featuring six of my poems, courtesy of poets Robbie Cheadle and Kaye Lynne Booth, who not only featured me but also allowed me to discuss my experiences with poetry as part of their Treasuring Poetry blog series a year ago. Many thanks to them, and also to Merril D. Smith for featuring a video of me reading one of my poems, which I’d written in college, as part of the anthology’s blog tour.
Check out my Poetry page for purchase links!
Here are the latest additions to my collection of inscribed books.
I purchased Marissa D’Angelo‘s novel The Cursed Spirit and Captain Michael J. Dodd’s Chesapeake Bay Odyssey at the 2022 Maryland Writer’s Conference.
I got a copy of Who Can Best Work and Best Agree when Charles Matulewicz visited Odenton Lodge #209 (yes, I am a Freemason).
I purchased Lewis F. McIntyre‘s A Gathering of Eagles, F. J. Talley‘s Twin Worlds, and Millie Mack‘s Take a Dive for Murder at the 2023 Maryland Writers’ Conference.
Check out the others:
If you’re a poetry lover and are looking to read some holiday-themed poetry either now or later in the year, check out this anthology from Southern Arizona Press featuring mine!
You can also mark it to read on Goodreads!
Many thanks to Zee Kelley for promoting Mystical Greenwood.
Happy Presidents’ Day to all my fellow Americans!
If you missed my presentation on manuscript and book format last month at the Maryland Writers’ Association Annapolis chapter, here it is on YouTube:
It was a hybrid meeting, both in-person and online, and it was my first time recording a presentation on Zoom. Here’s the handout:
For those of you who’ve been following me for some time now, if some of this sounds at all familiar, I did a post on this subject many years ago:
With the holidays approaching, I hope you’ll consider buying either Mystical Greenwood (remember, the second One with Nature novel is being edited!) or one of the anthologies that features my work, such as the Christmas anthology I mentioned that features one of my short stories, “The Red House.”
It’s on Goodreads too! This was a short story written during my high school years that I’d thought lost, along with “Crossing the Estuary” in Fae Dreams. But I rediscovered both, thankfully, and here they are.
I’m continuing to edit the sequel to Mystical Greenwood. Remember, the holidays will be coming, and books make great gifts! Be sure to browse my publications. Happy reading!
Greetings, everyone. This month I’ve got some recent appearances as well as some upcoming ones to share.
First, here’s a sermon I gave at Nichols-Bethel United Methodist Church in which I discuss my journey, personally and in writing, with social media, as I have mentioned gradually in past posts, as well as with physical clutter, with references to The Social Dilemma and The Minimalists. Even if you aren’t Christian or religious, I hope you’ll be inspired to consider placing more value on the people in your lives than in your physical possessions and digital presence. If you have trouble with the volume, there is closed captioning.
Be sure to check out Minimalism, and, if you have Netflix, The Social Dilemma and Less Is Now.
Also, here’s another poetry anthology from Southern Arizona Press featuring my work!
I am scheduled to appear on a new episode of the Hidden Gems Author Podcast. Stay tuned. I will be sure to share a link.
Also, I will also be giving a presentation at the Annapolis chapter of the Maryland Writers’ Association next month on manuscript formatting. You can promote it on Facebook too. You can attend either in person or via Zoom. Hope to see you there!
Last week, on Independence Day, I appeared on the podcast The Chapter Goddess Chat, hosted by author and editor Madilynn Dale. If you didn’t get to watch it, here it is:
You can also listen to it on Spotify and read an interview I did with Madilynn on her blog. I had a wonderful time, and if you are a writer looking for a podcast to appear on, I highly recommend you check out this one!
And yes, like I said on the podcast, I’m no longer on Twitter and Tumblr, and I’ve chosen not to feature links to my LinkedIn profile on this site anymore.
Many thanks also to Sally Cronin for featuring my novel on her blog again! Also, check out Robbie Cheadle’s review from last year!
Early bird registration is now open for the Maryland Writers’ Conference! Visit marylandwriters.org to learn more. I hope you’ll sign up!
Finally, another anthology appearance is up! My poem “Nighttime Crickets” was featured in a new anthology from Southern Arizona Press!
Also available on Goodreads!
A few things have been happening over the past month. To start, many thanks to author and blogger Sally Cronin for featuring a blog post I did last year in her archive series:
The holiday anthology featuring my short story isn’t out yet. However, my sonnet “Knights in Shining Armor” was featured by Southern Arizona Press in their new poetry anthology Castles and Courtyards.
I hope you’ll read and review it, along with my other published work! If you’re a poet looking to get your poems featured, be sure to check out SAP’s current submissions!
Additionally, I recently learned that a micro memoir piece that I wrote has been accepted by an online religious literary magazine, WOTL!
If you’re interested in giving a presentation at the 2023 Maryland Writers’ Conference, the Maryland Writers’ Association is accepting submissions! It’ll be in person in October, so you know.
At the beginning of this year, I made a resolution to be more positive. It hasn’t been easy, but after the Easter holiday, I was resolved to keep faith in myself and continue toward that resolution. Even after Easter, though, I have still found myself feeling low and battling self-doubt, which makes me question my previous accomplishments.
Nevertheless, I know need to keep going, and I may have to reevaluate my Internet and social media habits even further as well. I’ve tried being more productive and mindful of my time, though I’m not sure I’m satisfied yet. But at least I’m aware of this, and I know I need to once again remember to believe in myself.
Change happens all the time. As someone who suffers from Asperger syndrome, I can tell you that change to routines and patterns, stepping outside of my comfort zone, has never been easy. Change, especially when it occurs outside of my control, sends my mind spiraling, and I feel trepidation.
But change can lead to benefits. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been making efforts to cut back on social media time, but I’m also seeking to change my online habits, too. During the COVID shutdown I spent more time online, especially Twitter. I did get the word out about my work more and made some new connections, but now the hashtags I followed haven’t helped with book sales. The same’s been happening with tweets asking for book recommendations. These habits and the time spent on them and other sites feel more like a hindrance. To counter them, I’ve tried walking more, and for that, I’m glad.
With most sites, I’ve gotten down to generally 1-2 logins per day. Nevertheless, that is also something that could change in the future. Sometimes, I’ve found myself going up again if I need to do something specific, like website maintenance. I’ve felt if I can limit myself with those moments, I’m fine.
Nevertheless, the temptation is still there, and it can eat time. Plus, I’m aware these efforts could turn into new patterns that could become just as constrictive and worrisome. I need to curb the scrolling, searching, and that addictive, time-eating cycle that can result, but simultaneously, I also shouldn’t try to control everything, because anxiety always comes from not being perfect. It’s been said that with reviews, quantity over quality. With online time and content, it’s the opposite. Now I need to put it into practice.
Likewise, I’ve tried getting back into the writing routine I’ve mentioned before. Sometimes it doesn’t happen, and other times I do not get the word count I’d like, but I need to remind myself that progress is progress, no matter how small. I need to see the fun in writing again, as author Nour Zikra put it. This year, I hope to be more positive about my writing, my online/social media time, my habits, and, most of all, myself.
I realized through prayer that I need to think more positively. Then, at the beginning of Advent, when I was feeling low and anxious again, after an earnest prayer to God, I opened my copy of the Bible without any specific section in mind. It opened to Psalm 77, and as I read it, I knew my prayer had been answered. Even if you’re not Christian or religious, I hope you too will remember all the good that’s been in your life when distressed. If I need to make changes to meet new circumstances, I will have to do so.
P.S. Enjoy these videos of my readings from last year’s open mics!
The collection continues to grow.
I was able to get my copy of Lewis F. McIntyre‘s The Eagle and the Dragon inscribed at the 2019 Maryland Writers’ Conference.
It was at a meeting of the Annapolis chapter of the MWA that I had my copy of Lucia St. Clair Robson‘s Mary’s Land inscribed.
Michele Chynoweth and I exchanged books during the pandemic, which is how I got The Jealous Son.
I purchased A. L. Kaplan‘s Star Touched at the 2021 Maryland Writers’ Conference.
I don’t remember where exactly I got Damn the Rejections, Full Speed Ahead, but I think it was a gift from one of my relatives years ago.
Be sure to check out the previous post of books in my inscribed collection:
Andrew McDowell