kimlajevardi

It’s time once again for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. We’re an anxious gaggle of worrying writers, bodies curled over our keyboards, fingers cramping from agitated typing. It’s an image to behold. Don’t allow yourself to miss it.

The fabulous co-hosts today are Patricia Lynne, Lisa Buie-Collard, Kim Lajevardi, andFundy Blue! Yes, one of them is me, and I did call myself fabulous. What can I say?

In place of answering the optional question this month, I’m instead sharing the winners of the anthology contest. Way to go!

Oddly Suited by LG Keltner
Sea of Sorrows by AV Brown
Behind the Catcher’s Mask by Jennifer Lane
A Diver’s Ball by Angela Brown
Fearless Heart by Deborah Solice
The Dark Charade by CD Gallant-King
The Cog Prince by Elizabeth Mueller
Flower of Ronda by Myles Christensen
Remedy by Chelsea Ballard
Charleston Masquerade by Carrie-Anne Brownian 

The top story has the honors of being included in the title. LG Keltner’s story came out on top! The official title of our next anthology – Masquerade: Oddly Suited. Congratulations, LG. (She was also in the top spot for our first anthology, Parallels: Felix Was Here.)

The IWSG Admins spent many hours reading the entries and fourteen were sent to our special judges. We certainly wish to thank them for taking time away from their own work to read the entries:

Elizabeth S. Craig, author
Kelly Van Sant, agent at Red Sofa Literary Agency 
Elana Johnson, author
DL Hammons, Write Club founder
S.A. Larsen, author
Kristin Smith, author
Gwen Gardner, author and previous IWSG anthology winner

That’ll do it for my IWSG post. Time for some news.

*****

I love the collective sense of humor our police have. This is just another social media win from the same people who have given us the fabulous lip sync battles. The men and women in blue have won the internet.

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5c2bb132e4b0407e9085b790

This is the second year in a row I’m posting about a Santa gathering. I had no idea Claus World was so happening. Hang ten, guys!

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5c2136e3e4b08aaf7a8b855a

In science this week, a possible secondary reason for one of our planet’s mass extinctions: supernovas slayed our water beasts. Megalodon didn’t stand a chance against radiation. I can’t really say I heart the science of mass extinction, but learning about it helps us know how to protect ourselves in the future. I definitely heart that!

https://www.livescience.com/64286-supernova-killed-megalodon-pliocene-extinction.html

That’s it for me today. See you back here in seven.

Merry Belated Christmas! We had an illness-based celebration, but I was still with my most important family member–my son–so even a surprise fever on his part couldn’t ruin the day. Besides, binge watching Breaking Bad and eating Chinese made up for a delayed present day. Anyways, time for some news.

This first story makes me question certain people. How can anyone hate on dragons? I’m dumb-founded.

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5c184340e4b02d2cae8c69e3

A complilation of weird stories of the year. You’re welcome!

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5c184086e4b02d2cae8c65e8

Science takes a look inside the moon. Why? Because we can.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181219093919.htm

That’ll do it for me tonight. See you back here in seven.

Happy Wednesday! It’s a very happy Wednesday for this teacher. I’m on break for the next two and a half weeks. Ah … the kids were off the rails yesterday. Deep breath. The world is good now. Time to share that good in the form of great news finds. You’re welcome!

I must visit this German town. It’s not that I’m necessarily an Elvis fan, but I’d love to see everyone boogeying as they walk.

https://www.npr.org/2018/12/06/674116968/elvis-presley-helps-pedestrians-cross-the-street-in-german-town

Some people suck, but then there are others who are awesome. The package thieves are in the first category and the engineer in the latter. Major props for the glitter/fart spray combo. Brilliant!

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5c18c976e4b02d2cae8cd646

Last, but definitely not least, a newly discovered form of life. Science matters, and this article is just another example of why.

http://m.nautil.us/blog/what-a-newfound-kingdom-means-for-the-tree-of-life?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication

That’s all for relaxed me. See you in seven.

It’s Wednesday once again. We’re getting close to Christmas, very close. I can’t wait. I’m off after next Tuesday, and my son comes home from college. Yay and yay! I love this time of year. But right now, time to take a little news break. 😉

I know what I want for Christmas. They should have just dumped some caramel and nuts on it and given everyone a spoon. Yum!

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/german-chocolate-factory-spill-makes-sweet-street-n947301

He got so excited. Maybe just a bit too excited.

https://news.sky.com/story/runners-finish-line-celebration-doesnt-go-to-plan-11576971

For my science story this week, I only have one word to describe it: DUDE. You’ll understand once you read it.

https://www.physics-astronomy.org/2018/09/scientists-believe-they-have-just_15.html?m=1

That’s all for me tonight. See you back here in seven.

It is the first Wednesday once again. Time for my posting for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG).  The fantastic co-hosts for the December 5 posting are: J.H. Moncrieff, Tonja Drecker , Patsy Collins, and Chrys Fey. Thank you!

The optional question for this month is: What are five objects we’d find in your writing space?

I love this question! I have a cool writing space. Come closer, let me prove it.

First up is the sentimental portion of our journey. The collection of family memorabilia handed down to me from my grandmother and great aunt. I have a portrait of my great-great grandmother, her wedding shoes, marriage certificate, a portion of her dress, her desk, and her diploma from high school. Additionally, I have a cool tapestry hanging on the wall my husband brought back from Iran. To feed my ego and keep the writing insecurities at bay, I have displayed all of my certificates from writing contests where I won or placed for my first novel. For my reader and writer heart, piles and piles of books. My closet even has two book shelves with books. I am that person. And last, but most certainly not least, I have my Harry Potter wand from Universal. Total dork here–I admit it happily.

Writing spaces are important, and I have made mine represent me as fully as can be accomplished.

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Time for some news.

This first story has a dog with some real skills. I see a bright future if the league can cough up the bones his agent will request. *Giggle*

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5c07b35ce4b0a6e4ebda3a65

This museum would be a trip. I must admit to having had at least one of their “disgusting” entrees, though. I had guinea pig when I visited Peru. It tastes like chicken. Really.

https://www.livescience.com/64029-disgusting-food-museum.html

In science this week, gravitational waves. It turns out Einstein’s Theory of Relativity was correct in that gravity does not leak while passing through space. No leakage and possible mass. Mind blown! Einstein still rocks years after his death.

https://www.livescience.com/64191-einstein-graviton-live-science.html

That’s all for tonight, folks. See you back here in seven.

An important post from a fantastic writer. If you’re in the market for epic fantasy in January 2020, look for Ghost Dragon by David Slayton.

http://www.davidrslayton.com/dream-on-and-persist-even-if-its-just-to-spite-the-ones-who-say-you-cant/#comment-1855

Hidey ho! Never used that phrase before. It popped into my head, and, well, I just had to share. You’re welcome! It’s Wednesday once again, and as such, time for some news.

First up, a gigantic cow. Like the kind of cow that makes all of the others in the field look like toys. Steak-lovers everywhere are probably salivating, but he’s safe. Sorry.

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5bfdc8fbe4b0d23c2137850a

The cow made me animal focused, so here’s a heart-warmer about frog ladders. Some people are just good.

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5be48941e4b0e84388957123

Last, but not least, science. My heart gave a little pitter patter typing science. I am such a dork. Annyyways, engineers have flown the first airplane without moving parts. Our modern day Wright Bros. moment. Love!

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181123135137.htm

That’s all for me tonight. See you again in seven.

Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble, gobble. I’m taking this week off to eat, spend time with family, and to enjoy some downtime. I hope everyone out there can do the same.

See you in seven.

Hello all! Tis the season of eating and gobble gobbles. We’re eight days away from turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, pie, and …. My mouth is already salivating. I can’t stop thinking about the pie. Yum! Time to distract my mind from my stomach. News it is.

Drunk raccoons. *Giggle* Time to sleep it off in a cell, guys. *Giggle* Is one of them named Otis? *Big Dork Giggle*

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5bebdafce4b0783e0a1db81e

This next story only deserves two lines: That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5be45e73e4b0dbe871a84eca

Time for some science. This is so cool. Water dragged into earth’s interior via subduction in far greater quantities than previously thought. And yet, water is not missing from the oceans. Science digs to find answers and finds just as many questions. I love this!

https://www.livescience.com/64091-earth-is-eating-its-oceans.html

That’s all for me tonight, folks. When I see you again next week, I will only be one day away from eating. Come quickly. I’m hungry. 😉

It is time once again for a posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. We’re a fun group of nail-biting, coffee-swilling, chocolate -popping, basket cases. Quite the picture, huh? If you’re even a slight bit curious, click on the picture and surf the blogs. You won’t regret it.

Our phenomenal co-hosts for the November 7 posting are: Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Ann V. Friend, JQ Rose and Elizabeth Seckman. Thank you all!

The optional question this month: How has your creativity in life evolved since you began writing?

Hmm … you would think that as a writer, and as a writer that has devoted greater and greater amounts of both brainpower and time to more novels, that I would also find creativity spilling out of my head like curlicues. But, alas, no such curlicues. I have zero drawing skills. I do enjoy photography, but my books suck up so much time that I haven’t taken much in the way of pictures in a while. Acting would freak out the introvert half of me.

So … writing gets all of my creativity. There are worse things, my friends.

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Time for some news.

When I first read this story, my main focus was to ask why the lady didn’t just keep her dog in the house. But, the more I thought about a gold-digging dog who scammed burgers, the more I realized that she was really his hungry partner in crime. Don’t you think? 😉

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gold-digging-dog-pretends-to-be-a-stray-to-get-hamburgers-from-mcdonalds-owner-says/

I’ve posted the link to Reddit’s ‘Shower Thoughts’ forum before, but I couldn’t resist sharing another thread. Cheese is just a loaf of milk? I laughed way too hard at that one.

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5bdc4213e4b04367a87ba4f8

Last but not least, archaeologists have finally uncovered a device used in building the immense pyramids in Egypt. When they described the contraption, I could picture people thousands of years ago slowly inching the rock slabs up the slope. I really heart science!

https://www.livescience.com/63978-great-pyramid-ramp-discovered.html

That’s all tonight, folks. See you back here in seven.