Hello and welcome to the Focused on Story Blog!
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| I đŸ’—reading!! |
Are you a reader? I am. I love reading books. I have become a fan of listening to them also. I use the free Libby app to check out audiobooks from my library. Hoopla is another app you can use to check out books--Kindle and audiobooks. If you don't have a Kindle, you can download the free Kindle app.
Updated--You should be able to use Libby, Hoopla, Sora, and the OverDrive app while traveling internationally.
My daughter and I are taking part in the summer reading program at our library. Read 10 books by July 12. There are rewards along the way too and a grand prize for those who complete 10 books. I'm not reading the books for the prizes. Reading is a prize for me!
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| I can always write something! |
Because of reading, I became a writer. I've always had stories swirling in my brain. My mother pushed me to write when I was in her second-grade class. I must admit I was a social butterfly, so when I finished my assignments, I would tour the room talking to my classmates. My mother lectured me on how I was interrupting my friends and not allowing them to get their work done.
"Write a story when you are finished with your worksheet," she demanded. "Do not get up and bother your friends." Her beautiful blue eyes were always bluer when she was angry. Not wishing to upset her and get in trouble again, I began writing stories. Plus I had time to read too, so that made her happy also.
I loved reading my stories to the class. In seventh grade I wrote my first "novel" that suspiciously reminded one of my favorite story, Black Beauty. My grandmother, Ma, typed the manuscript from my hand-written pages from my tablet, a paper tablet not an iPad. Seeing that story as if it had been published in a book hooked me into writing more and more stories.
I am reserving my summer to read more rather than writing more. I am taking time to recharge the writing engine. Plus I have dug out some piano music and I am trying to bring back that great time of playing my piano. But it is way, way out of tune. So I can tell my husband those odd-sounding notes and weird chords are not my fault. Wink, wink.
Do you have plans for your summer? Reading or writing? Gardening? Traveling? Let me know!
UPDATES:
Click here to check out a new kind of interview at Connie Vines' blog. The title of this series of interviews is "Almost Live." I should explain, the interview is almost live--not the interviewee. I'm fine!
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| JQ Rose in front of the Atlanta Public Library Atlanta, Illinois |
I am thrilled to have received an invitation to speak at my hometown library in Atlanta, Illinois, in August. I spent lots of hours in that library as a child growing up in my beloved town. Now, to think I have my book, Arranging a Dream: A Memoir, on the shelf in that magnificent old building makes me misty-eyed. Plus, I get to share my message with my friends and readers to Dream BIG!
If you are in the Central Illinois area, halfway between St. Louis and Chicago on I-55, stop in on Saturday, August 20 at 10:00 am!!
BREAKING NEWS!
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| Half Off Sale at Smashwords |
If you are looking to load up your reading device this summer, my books from BWL Publishing are half price during the July Half Off Smashwords Summer Sale. That means they are only $1.50 each.
Click here to find my books at Smashwords.
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| Click here to receive the quarterly Rose Courier edition delivered to your inbox. The summer edition will arrive soon! It's not too late to sign up. Filled with photos, updates, freebies, new book releases and more! Thank you. |
3 comments:
Hey, J. Q. Yes, I'm a hybrid. Started out as a reader and then became a writer/reader. I can't imagine not being able to read a book. And it's so nice to have something to do with all the voices in my head. LOL I started in 8th grade with a play. Going through files recently, I ran across it. Amazing I've held on to it. Congrats on being able to speak at your library. I dearly love making presentations. Know you will do super. We are traveling and I expect to do a lot of reading, but hopefully well be able to crank out the bones of a short story. Mainly, I'm going to walk, shop, eat ice cream and fudge, sit on the porch and watch it rain. We're getting out of the oppressive heat. So grateful to be able to do that. Hope you enjoy your summer of reading. :) I shared.
Thank you for your good wishes and thanks for sharing. Have a great vacation. I likw your plans, especially eating ice cream and fudge!
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