kimlajevardi

My news is my little dragon book about a world turned upside down by a tyrant, an unexpected dragon pairing, and forbidden witchfire won first place in The Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Gold Rush literary contest. I found out Saturday night. On top of this contest, Dragon Embers is also a finalist in The Pacific Northwest Writing Association’s contest as well. I’ll know how I do in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed!

Time for my Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) post. The fantastic co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Liza at Middle Passages, JH Moncrieff, and Jemima Pett!

If you haven’t already visited the talented writers of this nervous group, click on the image below to get whisked away to a world of creative tales told by a myriad of keyboard junkies. You’ll thank me later. Now, time for the interesting stories of the day.

This bear just won his own award, and it’s the best category to be in if you’re getting ready for a long sleep.

https://apnews.com/article/fat-bear-week-alaska-katmai-04538e13c022fcfc08344aac8eeace5e

It turns out zombies may in fact be eating our brains.

https://www.livescience.com/health/aging/zombified-cells-may-drive-aging-and-scientists-are-devising-new-ways-to-get-rid-of-them

This month’s song is a throwback. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/O2ur063fMhs

Happy Anniversary to The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG)! Fifteen great years. Stop in and say hi to the amazing writer’s who gather monthly to share their insecurities with this crazy writing life. That’s it for me today. I’ll see you next month.

My YA fantasy book about dragonriders, a world turned upside down by a tyrant, and a friendship capable of destroying a kingdom was just named a finalist in The Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association contest.

My YA fantasy book about dragonriders, a world turned upside down by a tyrant, and a friendship capable of destroying a kingdom was just named a finalist in The Colorado Gold Rush.

It’s time for August’s post for The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG). The awesome co-hosts for the August 5 post are Shannon Lawrence, Diedre Knight, Liza, andPat Garcia! 

The optional question this month is – as a writer/author what is something you regret? Or something that you wish you’d done differently in your writing process?

Huh. I don’t think I can express regrets per se. Every mistake I’ve made has led me to where I am now, and I am in a pretty good place. I guess the only thing I can wish for is that I would have been quicker at learning my process. But, as I mentioned, I’m not generally one who indulges regrets. So, enjoy the weird news of the day and my closing song instead of spending much time on my non-answer answer.

In the weird news of the day, inconvenient guests. I wanted to make a joke about rodents of unusual size, but I’ll keep it to myself. 🙂

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/capybaras-make-surprise-stop-at-brazilian-legislature_n_6a7352e9e4b02974827c204d

I leave you with a song. Enjoy, and I’ll see you next month.

I’m on a couple of panels at Killer Nashville this year as are my fellow Sister in Crime sister/brother (I totally heard a Helena echo from Orphan Black as I wrote that). Come see us!

Happy monthly posting for The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG)! It is a time where writers from around the virtual world gather to share a little bit of their writing journey with others. Give a few of them a visit. Today’s post is being co-hosted by Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!

The optional question this month is – Do most of your story ideas come from one place (the news, dreams, etc.) or do they hit from all over the place?

My story ideas hit from a variety of places. My first book was a combination of a personal experience and a story on the news. My second book came from a picture prompt for a short story contest, and I just knew it was way bigger than the short was allowing. My third book was a combination of an image of a girl on a porch combined with a ripped-from-the-headlines idea, and my fourth book came from a dream. Since the news played a part in two of my books, it won’t surprise anyone when I say it’s time for some news.

That is one spunky coyote.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coyote-stuns-biologists-by-swimming-2-miles-to-alcatraz-island_n_69fa6014e4b016ec076c35df

I leave you with a song. See you next month.

Welcome to the monthly post for The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG). We’re a group of writers who linger too near our keyboards all of the time but especially the first Wednesday of the month. Join us. My awesome co-hosts for the May 6 posting of the IWSG are Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun!

The optional question this month is: What was the most inspiring feedback you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?

The absolute best feedback I’ve ever received was from a beta read of my current book. Handwritten in the pages of my climax was the word BITCH (she meant me), and a page or two later when the outcome of the scene was clear, the same reader had a sad face and the word heartbroken scrawled in large text. The scene had 100% done it’s job. Now, time for some news.

Chonkers is my news tidbit this month. I heart Chonkers.

https://apnews.com/article/chonkers-giant-sea-lion-san-francisco-pier-b265382b50fbb07a0debb0db8b25d4b5

In science news, quantum position verification is destined for a high-tech facility near you. I continue to be amazed by quantum mechanics and now it shows that you can know if “the call is coming from inside the house.” Did I just date myself?

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/quantum-physics-location-security

I leave you with a song. Enjoy and I’ll see you next month.

https://youtu.be/fKopy74weus?si=DcGzNK0QY1VInxUT

Happy April Fool’s Day! It’s time for my monthly post for IWSG. Our awesome co-hosts for the April 1 posting of IWSG are Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass! Check them out.

The optional question this month is: if you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

In the past, I’ve often had songs that I listen to specific to a book, but I can’t listen while I’m writing. I need total silence to gain flow. My current speculative thriller, though, has a pretty specific playlist of Taylor Swift songs which have actually worked their way into the book. It all started when I heard Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? and it sparked a scene. After that, a handful of other songs became intricately linked with my growing story.

Next up, news and a song (any thoughts as to what it will be?).

First up, a jumping kangaroo. Run, Chesney, run!

https://apnews.com/article/kangaroo-petting-zoo-wisconsin-escape-e5368b274706c2051fab54a73de8c777

A little quantum physics rounds out my news. I have become obsessed with the quantum world. Enjoy!

https://phys.org/news/2026-03-pairs-atoms.html

I leave you with the promised song. See you next month.

https://youtu.be/751hV_AVPBA

Happy Posting Day! I almost forgot to post, so I’m going to make this quick. Click the image above to visit other blogs, but here’s a song for your troubles. I’ll see you next month.

https://youtu.be/3gxxW5NqICc