#ScribesAndMakers 1.21 — Share an author quote you find meaningful.

It'll always be something from Mary Shelley when it comes to me.

"Nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose - a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye."

This reflects Shelley's belief in the importance of purpose and focus in life, and I can heavily relate. It's something I should remind myself of more often as well.

#WritingCommunity #MaryShelley

#ScribesAndMakers 1.25 — You're going on a creative retreat. What's the most important thing you need to bring with you?

Books for breaks, packed clothes and stuff, CBD, laptop, notebook(s), lots of chargers, and a few pairs of my bluetooth earbuds, etc. You gotta be prepared!

#WritingCommunity

#ScribesAndMakers 1.26 — Tell us about a memorable live music experience.

It was 2015 and I spent the entire weekend camping on the beach in Seaside Heights, New Jersey for a music festival of sorts. They're called stopovers. Long story short, Mumford & Sons get their buddies together, all their friends and their bands, and put on a hell of a show for a few days. It's brilliant. Local bands play for a few days before as well for those who are either in the area or camping, and it brings in a ton of business for the area. I had the best weekend ever, made a ton of friends, danced my heart out, enjoyed the time with my dad, and had such a blast. What a lovely time that was.

#ScribesAndMakers 1.27 — Are you good at threading needles?

Heck no. I have Multiple Sclerosis. I'll be honest here... Neuropathy and nerve damage keep me from doing work like this with my hands. I do miss it, though.

#ScribesAndMakers 1.28 — What's the most stressful thing about your creativity?

This ties in perfectly with the #WritersCoffeeClub answer that I just wrote, but the answer genuinely is the same thing: patience. Having patience, or rather, *finding* it can be the most stressful thing in the world when it comes to the creative process, but it's integral. You can't rush yourself.

#WritingCommunity

#ScribesAndMakers 1.29 — What's the most rewarding thing about your creativity?

It's seeing and rereading the finished product. Not only that, but let's add in the comments from my readers. Just knowing that your writing can bring others joy and comfort makes the entire process and the chaos of it all so worth it.

#WritingCommunity

#ScribesAndMakers 1.31 — Share something about your creative work this month.

I can definitely do that. This is a bit of a funny scene in the midst of the chaos.

#WingsOfQuietLonging #ParanormalRomance #Romantasy #Fantasy #Vampires #Werewolves #Ghosts #Romance #Victorian #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity

#ScribesAndMakers 2.1 — What's one creative thing you'd like to get done this month?

More editing for "Wings of Quiet Longing" and to get some new chapters uploaded. I know and understand myself well enough to know that I should never ask for more. Now, if I get more done, that'd be great too, but I won't put any pressure on myself. It never ends well.

#WritingCommunity

#ScribesAndMakers 2.2 — Do you have any annual traditions not tied to holidays?

Let's talk about my story... Vampiric holidays, of course, and ones for the werewolves. Pagan holidays. Things of that sort. My current WIP is a gothic and paranormal romance. It calls for the scarier things when it comes to traditions and holidays.

#WritingCommunity

#ScribesAndMakers 2.3 — What's a creative project you would give someone for their birthday?

I have a small circle of friends from Discord and we're all authors and artists. For birthdays, we might write or create things for each other. We also do a Secret Santa project as well every year! These are friends I've had for a decade or so.

Usually, for the friends I've done things for, my gifts have been stories related to Doctor Who, just because I *know* what makes my friends smile and what they really love. Giving is fun. Creating something to give someone is even more fun. It comes from the heart.

#WritingCommunity

#ScribesAndMakers 2.4 — Our next featured creator is a comic artist. Tell us about a comic strip or web comic you enjoy.

If you asked me about an artist for comics I love, I would have said Rachael Stott. But for comic strips and the like, my heart says Calvin and Hobbes or The Peanuts. Always. Reading the funnies/funny pages in the newspaper gives me an insurmountable joy.

#ScribesAndMakers 2.5 — You now have the same occupation as the main character of your current WIP (or book you are reading/last read) What job are you doing?

I'm an author! How ironic is that?! Also, I'm suddenly amazing at painting. That one's a surprise.

#WritersOfMastodon #WritingCommunity #WingsOfQuietLonging

#ScribesAndMakers 2.6 — Our featured creator makes graphic novels. As a reader, which do you think is more important in a graphic novel, art or words?

Every single part of a graphic novel is important. But here's the thing... It would only be a novel if the art wasn't there or wasn't even worth looking at. Just food for thought.

#WritersOfMastodon #WritingCommunity

#ScribesAndMakers 2.8 — How do you define a book? Do audiobooks and graphic novels fit your definition?

First off, I hate when people say that audiobooks don't count as reading. I roll my eyes so far back that I can see my brain. In my eyes, even comics count as reading as well. Why shouldn't they? It's ALL reading. They all count. They're all a part of the creative writing process and enjoying the work that others have labored over. It's all literature.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon

#ScribesAndMakers 2.10 — What is the most out-of-character creative thing you enjoy? That thing that never matches the assumptions about you.

Ooooh, what a fantastic question. My friends and family know me so well, and that makes this one really hard to answer for me. I might have to say (in reference to new friends) that it might be my affinity for #LEGO. I was featured in the magazines as a kid, had a fully built LEGO city (which was all original), even made a few sets that they sold, and still go to conventions and stuff these days. I'm a big ol' nerd.

#ScribesAndMakers 2.11 — Aside from the official birthday song and the ubiquitous Beatles song, is there a song about birthdays you like?

Does 50's In Da Club count? Because, hell yes. I'm a big fan, always have been.

https://youtu.be/5qm8PH4xAss?si=nJomq2aA6ytOU1EE

#50Cent #Music

#ScribesAndMakers 2.13 — How well do you sing? If you don't consider yourself a good singer, do you sing anyway?

I was in choir when I was younger and then even select choir as well. I still sing, but not *nearly* as well. I'm probably yucky now. Also, random fact, my girlfriend is actually a classically (opera) trained singer.

#ScribesAndMakers 2.14 — How are things going for you this month, creatively or otherwise?

I wrote a bit yesterday and today for the first time this month. It was absolutely therapeutic. I also read the other day for the first time this month as well. That was nice. And I've read some more since then, too. I had to say goodbye to my sweet girl earlier in the month, so it's been a tough one. I'm missing my pretty black kitty, Esmeralda. I've also had a lot of medical procedures. All in all, it's been a hard month for me.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon

#ScribesAndMakers 2.16 — Do you have a favourite decade of music? Which one(s)?

Of course. 50s-60s music will always have my *entire* heart. It's my favorite time period. Some of my favorite groups: the Drifters, the Platters, Solomon Burke, the Four Seasons, Elvis, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, etc.

#ScribesAndMakers 2.17 — Share a fun memory from a past SAM prompt.

I could never ever choose just one! That's so totally not fair. This entire project has given me so much joy. It's such a fun hashtag to take part in, and I've made some great buddies from it.

#WritingCommunity #WritersOfMastodon