We're in the season of Thanksgiving, and this year, it's been easy for me to count my blessings. They have been many, and I'm not speaking in terms of money, either. This year, like many other, I've had to make some difficult choices, and along the way, I always had my friends there. Even if they couldn't help me make the decisions I had to make, they were there to listen to me, to offer input, and to be there for me when or if there was fallout from my decisions. My friends are my biggest blessings because they are my family.

The blessings began early this year as I was gifted a cruise that was dedicated to Star Trek in February. I was able to go to the Caribbean and spend seven days aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise with Star Trek fans and celebrities.  

I was in at least two casts this year, and while that might shock some people that I count those as blessings, I was happy that I only had to endure casts and not surguries as I have many times before.

I've written so much this year, mostly for Red Shirts Always Die, which is the site dedicated to Star Trek, but I also finished a resource book for low-income families that will be coming out after the first of the year. 

My friend and I took a short trip so I could visit Buc-ees for the first time ever! What a store! It was a bit overwhelming, but I can see why everyone loves it. 

I"ve read more books this year than I have in a long time! There's a lot of great talent in this world! 

And that's where I'll stop for now even though there are so many more. What are your blessings? What are you the most thankful for in your life?

This was a question in a book called “3,000 Questions About Me,” and I thought what a perfect time of the year to answer this question as we close in on Halloween. I’ve culled out several more that fit this time of the year as well!

I’ve watched The Walking Dead and have seen a lot of zombie movies, and I’ve enjoyed them for the most part. The Walking Dead did get a little too gory for me, and I bowed out after the fourth season. But I think this question is a lot like “do you believe in ghosts?”

Some people really believe the zombie apocalypse is a possibility much like they believe we’re going to be visited by aliens from other planets one day. Personally, I believe more in life on other planets than I do in zombies. That said, what do I know? I can’t honestly say with 100% knowledge that zombies or ghosts don’t exist.

​So what do you think? Do zombies exist, and could we face an apocalypse one day? What is your favorite zombie movie? Mine will always be Warm Bodies! 

I don't watch a lot of television...at least not while a show is currently airing. I prefer to stream everything now as most people do. Sometimes, I'll watch a show more than once if I really enjoyed it because I figure I might have missed something as I was watching it the first time around.

In the #bookcommunity, we talk about book boyfriends and heroes that we wish could be real, and it's the same way in the television streaming world. Don't you just wish some of these people could be real? Here are my top three!

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The Resident quickly became one of my favorite shows when it debuted, and though it ended last year, I remain somewhat infatuated with Matt Czuchry who played Dr. Conrad Hawkins. Conrad was just the type of doctor, friend, and partner who could make anyone fall for him. Kind, caring, and protective, he never gave up and loved fiercely. That's book boyfriend material right there. 

Shemar Moore's Hondo is the epitome of the perfect book boyfriend. I was devastated when S.W.A.T. got cancelled after six season, giddy when it was renewed for a seventh and final season, and over the moon when CBS gave it yet another shot and an eighth season. I don't know if this will be the final one or not, but Hondo will always have my heart. He's strong, fearless, protective, ready to go to battle, dedicated to his friends, and just the type of guy you'd want right next to you every second of the day. 

Ian Anthony Dale first came to my attention when he was cast on the remake of Hawaii Five-O. He was originally a somewhat type of bad giuy, but he turned his life around and even joined Five-O. The strong, sensitive type, he had no problems with emotions, and he was another fierce protector. He would jump in at a moment's notice to save someone and wasn't the type of person to be crossed. He played the part well, and I was excited when Dale joined the cast of The Resident briefly in its final season because it was a chance to see a different side of him. Another picture perfect boyfriend!

Do you have actors/actresses that you could see in books? Or that you imagine are in your favorite books? 

Every now and then books just need to be updated, especially covers, and that's what I've done for Trusting the Law, my 1920s historical novella. Take a look and let me knwo what you think!

I love all kinds of music, and I love to find certain songs that I can write scenes to, whether it's a fight scene, a love scene, or even a dramatic scene. And I was fortunate enough to come across a song that was released by Chris Young in 2021. Right now, I'm slightly addicted to it. Have a listen and see what you think! 

I was first published in 2002. Twenty-two years ago. I still remember the day my agent called and told me I was going to be published. It was surreal. And it was a scam. I didn't know it at the time, but the publisher who'd accepted my book was an author mill. It churned out books left and right, setting them at such astronomically high prices, the odds of getting a friend to buy a book was slim. 

To be frank, the book wasn't that good. Oh, I thought it was at the time, but, honestly, reading back over it now makes me cringe. I knew little to nothing about plot and character arcs. But I was going to be published so I was over the moon. It didn't take long for reality to sink in, and as the weeks and months passed, and I discovered more about this publisher, I was disheartened and embarrassed. That was my first chance to get published, and I'd allowed myself to be conned because I was so caught up in the idea of being published that I didn't take the time to do any research or ask any questions. That was a hard lesson learned, but it wasn't the only one I learned from my first foray into publishing. 

Lesson #2 was not everyone in this industry is out for your best interests. It was a kick in the teeth to learn that my agent wasn't who she'd presented herself to be. It wasn't long after the publication of my first book that she and I went our separate ways, but only after I found out that she did next to nothing to help my career. That's why we need to be our own best advocates.

Lesson #3 was it's better to not be published than to be ashamed of your publisher. There are so many writers who want to be published today. I understand the feeling completely. That sense of "I need to be published" can make even the slightest nibble by a publisher attractive. Recently, a friend of mine told me she'd been contacted by a publisher who was interested in her book. That sent up a red flag because good publishers don't have to look for authors; the authors come to them. 

And Lesson #4 was that you'll never have a second first chance, but that doesn't mean your first chance has to define you. Since 2002, I've published over fifty novels and novellas and thousands of articles, essays, and short stories combined. I've taught classes to aspiring writers, have spoken at conferences and to groups, and have had some amazing opportunities I wouldn't have had if I hadn't gotten my start in publishing. Would my path have been easier if I'd been published by a better publisher? Most likely. But, as we've all heard before, it's not where you start but where you end up that matters. 

So whether you wish you'd never been published by a certain publisher or wish that you hadn't self-published your first book, you can choose to move forward, put that part of your past behind you, and give yourself a second chance that will be immeasurably better than your first. 

I was reading an article recently about ways to make additional income on the side, and one of the ways listed as start a blog. I previously wrote about freelance writing being considered a side hustle as well, and I think it's a bit disingenous to tell people that starting a blog is a good side hustle. It can take a long time to build up readers and start earning money from blogging. So for those people who need extra money now, blogging isn't going to help. 

If someone is looking to invest time and energy for something that will pay off in the long run then, by all means, a blog can be considered a way to do that. But many of these articles I've read that including blogging aren't taking into consideration that many of the people looking for side jobs need that extra paycheck sooner rather than later. And blogging is a long-term committment. One post a month isn't going to work if you're trying to build an audience.

I have readers that faithfully come to this blog even though I only update once or twice a month. That's because they know my schedule, but that's taken years. Ask any writer, and they'll tell you that when they first started writing their blogs, all they heard were crickets. 

So if you're one of those people who needs to make money on the side, there are plenty of ways to do it that will get you the money a lot faster than trying to build an audience with a blog. Not trying to be a negative Nancy here, just realistic. Blogging is great; it really is. I love to jot a post when I have the time, but I also know that it does take time and dedication, and if someone is already working hard to make ends meet, they may not have the energy or inclination to share their thoughts or energy with the world. 

But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe some successful bloggers do consider it a side hustle that has worked for them. I know there are plenty of bloggers who started off part-time and are now working their blog full-time. In that aspect, you have to start somewhere. Just don't expect to rocket out of the gate with 1,000 readers and advertisers begging to work with you. Realism is the key!