Shiny New Documentary
Like many in my circle, I watched Shiny, Happy People on Prime Video. It is the latest in a too-long list of cult documentaries available for streaming. More than a limited series about the Duggars, it is a scathing piece on the practices of the IBLP. The Institute of Basic Life Principles was advertised as…
Speaking of Issues …
It isn’t always easy to speak about the issues of the day. Mostly because our issues are as varied as our personalities. Now that communication isn’t hindered by distance, it has become easier to add like-minded individuals to our communities by going online. Social media groups and well-curated feeds provide us the opportunity to safely…
The Anti-Heroine
When I taught the Wednesday night Adventure Bible Club for 3-6th graders at my former church, I made it a point to focus on Bible stories. I know. A radical idea, right? While I did teach some familiar passages, I also went out of my way to introduce the kids to some of the “untold”…
Cover Art and Artist
AKA, My Most Beautiful Blog Post. https://raneedesigns.me/ The books I write are not mine alone. Once the theme and motifs reveal themselves in the story, I contact my cover artist, Kaylene Skwarczynski, and we discuss what singular symbol could represent the story. She’ll then take that idea and create a work of art. When we…
Small Celebrations
Right now, I’m sitting on my bed, hunched over, and typing this week’s blog post. In about two minutes, I’m going to have to change positions to relieve the crick in my back and the ache in my knee, but at this perfect moment, everything feels comfy. [Aaaannnddd foot shift.] Looking out my bedroom door,…
Reading, Writing, and Recipes
I’ve had the displeasure of having had both reading and writing blocks. It was frustrating and even anxiety-inducing. How could someone who LOVES books suddenly feel that passion go cold? Reading block isn’t talked about much, but it not only exists, but it’s also pretty widespread. My last experience with RB occurred after I pushed…
Writing for Cows
My husband drives for Uber, and one of the perks of working for that company is the weekly challenges. When drivers complete a set number of rides, they get a bonus. Sometimes the bonus is significant, sometimes, not so much, but every little bit helps. Because we’re both fans of Bob’s Burgers, we’ve taken to…
Successfully Independent
Women’s International History Month is over, and it’s time for Indie April to begin. Since I am both a woman and an independently published author, I’m celebrating both. Many people I interact with online understand what independent writers do and the work we create. They encourage us and recommend our books to other readers. They…
Five Things I Learned from This Year’s Internation Women’s History Month
Preparing weekly blog posts for March has encouraged me to appreciate again all the things women are. Here are five things I’ve learned while celebrating women this month. 5. Women are encouraging. Over the past month, I’ve read hundreds of posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter written by women. The vast majority have been positive,…
The Time to Speak
It happened again. I put the main character from my current WIP in a horrific situation, giving her an inciting incident so she could move forward with her story, only to have a beta reader remark that it was “almost as bad” as something a loved one had gone through. I want my work to…
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Marbeth Skwarczynski, Author 