The Month in Writing: My Favorite Things and Tips

Writing is hard work, which is why I'm always on the hunt to improve my craft and dream up new story ideas.

Take a look at what I've been reading this month and a few other things that inspired me.

Articles:

Neil Gaiman's Eight Rules of Writing

Writing tips from one of my favorite authors.

Quotes for Writers:
Make a fool of yourself. 

Everybody does at one time or another. :P

 

Infographics:
Instead of 'Look' Use

I love these helpful worksheets.

 

Cool Stuff for Writers:

Working Fountain Pen Necklace 

I want one!

Writing Fuel:

One Minute Cinnamon Roll In A Mug

Salivating yet?

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Did you miss last month's writing tips and cool stuff? Click here.

Have you checked out my other posts on writing?

• How to Write A Novel, Part 1: Let The Journey Begin 
• How to Write a Novel, Part 2: Brainstorming, Drafting, and Getting Organized 
• How to Write A Novel, Part 3: Editing Like A Pro  
• How to Be a More Productive Writer 
• The Importance of Rewriting 

Fantasy, Psychological Horror, and Writing Rants - My Interview with The Writing Train

Why did I choose fantasy for my debut novel?

What have I learned after writing my third book?

What's next after the Strange Luck series?

Find out the answers to these questions in my interview with The Writing Train. 

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Have you checked out my other interviews yet? You might enjoy these too:

• Roughing It In the Rockies - Saturday Symposium with K.J. Simmell 
• The 7th Question - My Interview with Simon Goodson
• Writing, Lovecraft, and Kickboxing - My Interview with Mistral Dawn

Five Good Luck Objects from Around the World

I LOVE references to strange objects, peculiar charms, and customs. Here are five mentions of good luck charms from around the world.

Acorns
According to Norse folklore, acorns and oak trees were thought to bring good fortune. The Vikings associated oak trees with Thor, the god who created thunder and lightning with his great anvil and hammer. Because the tree attracted lightning, it was sacred to Thor. The Vikings believed that the fruit of the oak tree, the acorn, was spared Thor's wrath, so Vikings placed a lone acorn on their windowsills to protect their houses from lightning.

The English oak tree is the national tree of England and symbolizes strength and endurance. It’s abundant in English folklore and history, from Celtic religious leaders who worship in oak groves to lovers reciting their wedding vows under its sturdy branches.

Bezoars
This “charm” is a mass that forms in the stomach of goats, deer, and other animals. Many cultures believe that crushing the bezoar into powder could save a poison victim, while others dropped the bezoar into a glass to check for poison before drinking. Carrying the stone is thought to offer protection against illness and bad fortune.

The Buttercup
There are endless floral motif symbols in Victorian jewelry, but perhaps none as favorable as the delightful, buoyant, sweet, and simplistic, golden yellow buttercup flower. They symbolize happiness, friendship, and new beginnings.

A Boar on a Hat
The idea of a lucky pig actually has a long history in Europe. Small metal boars were used as amulets or attached to helmets to give good luck to soldiers in Northern Europe.

A Creepy Doll Giving the Thumbs Up
The little good luck charms were called fumsups, after the fact that they all gave little thumbs ups. They became popular in the1880s, reaching their peak in popularity during the First World War.

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Don't forget to check out these posts too!

• Strange, Rare, and Dark Things - The Peculiar Antiques of Strange Luck
• Cabinet of Curiosities - How I Got Into Antiques

Blog Milestone - 15,000 Pageviews!

The Golden Cricket hit a milestone this week - 15,000 page views. WOOHOO!

Thank you to everyone who reads my blog, and for all of the awesome comments. You guys seriously rock :)

To celebrate, I thought I'd showcase the top three posts I've featured on The Golden Cricket thus far.

Here we go:

1)  How To Write Historical Fiction Without Really Trying - Guest Post by Christie Stratos: This article was one of my very first guest posts I featured on the blog. It's written by fellow author, Christie Stratos, who also happens to be my editor.

If you've ever wanted to write historical fiction, but don't know where to get started, you have to check out her post.

2) TBT Writer - Confessions of a Sugarholic: Each month (give or take), I try to post something I wrote way back when accompanied by an awkward pic. I call is #TBTWriter, or Throwback Thursday Writer.

This particular bad story was written about an ice cream sundae. Get ready to laugh! Check it out. 

3) TBT Writer - Good Ideas, Sometimes: Remarkably, the third most-viewed post on The Golden Cricket is another Throwback Thursday story.

In this post, I share the very first book I wrote, pics, and a peculiar dedication at the front. Hope you enjoy it.

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What's your favorite post on The Golden Cricket? Share below.

Have you checked out my articles about writing? You might enjoy these too:

• How to Write A Novel, Part 1: Let The Journey Begin 
• How to Write a Novel, Part 2: Brainstorming, Drafting, and Getting Organized 
• How to Write A Novel, Part 3: Editing Like A Pro  
• How to Be a More Productive Writer

Review of “Strange Luck” & “The Nightmare Birds” by Amie Irene Winters PLUS Early Look at “A Darling Secret”

These lovely reviews by Sunshine Somerville started my week off wonderfully. :)

Take a moment to read the latest kind words about my books!

Strange Luck

"I loved the complex and unique use of memories. It was a great way to shape the fantastical world Daisy finds herself in, and it was a neat way to bring so many fantastical elements together – in a world of happy memories and dreams, anything goes! Overall, I’d recommend this for anyone who likes YA fantasies that give you a mystery to figure out."

The Nightmare Birds

"I loved how the plot thickened and you were never really sure what to believe – and Daisy wasn’t either. Is her own mind tricking her? Is Mr. Black telling the truth after all and there’s going to be a huge twist on everything we thought we knew as a reader so far? This story definitely kept me turning the pages as I tried to sort it all out. I liked how certain things from the first book tied in here, but it’s definitely a new story. And the end certainly suggests Daisy has more to learn."

Click here to read the full reviews AND read an excerpt from A Darling Secret.

COVER REVEAL of A Darling Secret

I'm beyond thrilled to reveal the cover of A Darling Secret, which will release September 22, 2017. This is the third and FINAL book in the Strange Luck series.

The uber talented Humbert Glaffo created the cover. He's the same designer who did the covers of the first two books.

    

So without further ado...

I love the movement, colors, and mystery of the cover. It really captures the essence of the story and I hope you love it as much as I do :)

Pre-order A DARLING SECRET Today!

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