Posted in blog, Readers Intrigue

The Idea Behind Dying to Tell

Written by: Val Collins

I was thrilled to get the opportunity to record the first chapter of my latest thriller, Dying To Tell, for Readers Intrigue, but the opportunity didn’t come without its challenges. At first, I recorded away happily, but when I listened to the finished recording, I realised no non-Irish person would understand a word. Irish people speak too fast at the best of times, but apparently, we speak even faster when we’re reading. So I recorded it again, and again, and again. And to be on the safe side, I even added subtitles.

Now, about Dying To Tell. It’s the fifth book in the Aoife Walsh Thriller series. But you don’t need to read the others to know what’s going on. Each book is a separate story, and the only characters that are in all five books are Aoife, her family, and her best friend, Orla.

The inspiration behind Dying To Tell? Well, it’s the easiest plot I ever came up with. It came straight from a story my mother told. Many years ago, a woman she knew was lying on the beach with her new husband. The woman fell asleep, and when she woke, her husband had disappeared and was never seen again. Isn’t that some story? All I had to do was give the couple names – Matt and Nicole Gallagher – and the story practically wrote itself.

So, there you have it – Dying To Tell is a journey where reality mixes with fiction, and secrets lurk in every corner. Does that sound like your cup of tea? Well then, grab your cosiest spot and let’s unravel the unknown together.

Get your copy (affiliate link)

Posted in blog, Our Neurodiverse World

My ADHD Brain

Written by Molly Foss

Being on Randi-Lee’s show was a new and fun experience! 

Some days it’s hard to talk about having ADHD; it feels like I’m just telling other people all the ways that my brain lets me down by not being normal. 

But as Randi-Lee and I mentioned, having ADHD makes my brain work differently, and that’s not always bad. (I’ll admit it’s not always great, either. I’m not one of those “ADHD is a SUPERPOWER!” people.)

I’m amazing at trivia games; I somehow excel at escape rooms and all kinds of puzzle games. If you need a strange workaround built out of questionable supplies like MacGuyver, I’m your girl. 

With my camping website, I realized there weren’t any trusted brands that made a completely battery-operated baby monitor. I thought of many different ways to work around that and wrote an article about them.

A while later, I got an email from a guy who read my article and used it to create a battery-operated baby monitor for camping! (Affiliate link)

It’s fascinating how all of our brains work differently, but when we work together and use each other’s strengths, we can get a lot farther than we could individually. 

I could never host a podcast, but I’m glad that Randi-Lee can and that she’s using her powers to help break stigmas surrounding mental health. 

Remember friends, it’s not stupid if it works!

Posted in blog, Write or Die Show

We Need Compassion & Empathy – Dementia

Written by: Katie Marie

It was an amazing experience to appear on Randi-Lee’s show. Such a wonderful opportunity to talk with a compassionate and enthusiastic person about things that mean a great deal to me.

Those being writing, in particular in the horror genre, and the invisible challenges many of us face, like mental health and dementia.

I truly believe that by improving the conversation around dementia (and other mental health issues), we will normalize the condition and make it less frightening, which will increase society’s wider awareness of it and improve services and treatments.

I think one way to improve the conversation around these topics is by having plausible and ‘realistic’ representation in fictional works. Positive representation can help the misunderstood to feel more visible and accepted.

It was a part of the reason I wrote my novella, A Man in Winter.

Arthur, whose life was devastated by the brutal murder of his wife, must come to terms with his diagnosis of dementia. He moves into a new home at a retirement community, and shortly after, has his life turned upside down again when his wife’s ghost visits him and sends him on a quest to find her killer so her spirit can move on.

With his family and his doctor concerned that his dementia is advancing, will he be able to solve the murder before his independence is permanently restricted?

A Man in Winter examines the horrors of isolation, dementia, loss, and the ghosts that come back to haunt us.

In 2014, there were an estimated 5 million adults with dementia, and it is projected to be nearly 14 million by 2060. So, it is essential that we have a better understanding of this disease to increase our ability to interact with compassion and empathy.

Podcasts like this are a key element of the conversation, and it was a joy to be involved.

Get Katie Marie’s book (affiliate link).

Posted in blog, Readers Intrigue

Ancestral Memory to a Book

Written by W.L. Hawkin

Thank you for the opportunity to read from my romantic suspense novel on Readers Intrigue. Reading aloud to my students was one of my favorite things to do when I taught high school English. Here’s a little more about the making of LURE.

I wrote the first draft of Jesse and Hawk’s story thirty years ago when I lived in rural Ontario. I was something of a wild child and quit high school with only grade ten. In my mid-thirties, I felt the need to graduate, so returned to high school by registering for one correspondence course at a time. Along the way, I enrolled in a course called Native Ancestry that changed my life.

One night, I was sitting at my kitchen table reading the chapter on Animism—the belief that all beings, be they rocks, trees, deserts, fish, or winds, are alive with spiritual force—when I realized I knew this. I totally resonate with this. That epiphany set me on a new path. I’d just started my B.A. in Indigenous Studies at Trent University when I wrote the story of Jesse and Hawk. I was reading books by Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) storytellers; learning with traditional teachers and Elders; going to powwows and feasts; attending ceremonies; and soaking up a culture I resonated with. Then one day, my seventy-five-year-old mother casually said, “I’m not surprised you’re into this. My great-grandfather married an Indian. She was Tuscarora, and he was Dutch.” I don’t know if there’s such a thing as ancestral memory, but perhaps my mother was right. While researching my ancestry, I connected with a previously unknown line of the family who confirmed my mother’s story and sent me a tin-type photograph of my Indigenous great-great-grandmother. 

I found the manuscript of the thirty-year-old draft, wrapped in brown paper, a few years ago while packing to move. When I read it, I was surprised and intrigued. It was a romance! I started to rewrite it, then Jesse found the bones of a missing Indigenous girl in her shed. Ruby Little Bear started to speak, and the story took off in another direction.

If you’re curious to know more, go to my website: http://bluehavenpress.com or drop me a line at wendy@bluehavenpress.com.

Get the book (affiliate link).

Posted in blog, Write or Die Show

BE KIND TO YOURSELF

Written by: SG Blaise

It was such a pleasure to talk to Randi about my writing journey. So much has changed in the ten
years since I set out to write The Last Lumenian saga.

In the beginning, one of the biggest challenges for me was not knowing how long it would take
to finish the first book. It felt like a never-ending journey with no specific end date. (Little did I
know what it feels like after publishing!) I had to learn to accept the uncertainty that came with
writing a book, become more patient, and enjoy the journey.

The other biggest challenge was not having readers and, as such, not having feedback on the
book. It helped tremendously to be part of an R&C group, and also, having my family read it as
each version was done made the process more bearable.

Lastly, I discovered that the writing journey does not end with getting my book published–that
was only another beginning for a different journey with many more twists and turns. I learned to
enjoy what may come and celebrate every mini-milestones when they come my way. But most of
all, I learned that no matter where I was on my journey, it was vital to be kind to myself as I was
my own biggest critic.

Get SG’s book here (affiliate link)

Posted in blog, Write or Die Show

Belief

By Susan Gold

Randi’s Write or Die Show – YouTube is bringing forth open conversation of hope, truth, and light for all of us to share.  The jewel of a podcast program is a forum of discussion centered around mental health issues. Though specifically for writers, Randi is masterfully producing inspirational episodes for our global community. I was grateful for the opportunity to have a conversation with Randi on the show, and though I was nervous, she put me instantly at ease to share my own story as a first-time published author and the trajectory of the journey.  It was during our conversation I realized my main coping strategy is belief. Belief in my journey, belief in all the players and circumstances that have come my way as the conduit of soul evolution. Toxic Family: Transforming Childhood Trauma into Adult Freedom is the finished piece, and I welcome you to join me for more if you feel called at susangold.us 

Posted in Uncategorized

My Favorite Coping Skill

by Linda S. Plunkett, PhD

First of all, let’s describe why we would need to use coping skills. Life throws us many challenges. Our futures will inevitably present us with many unforeseen problems and issues which may temporarily throw us into a state of temporary panic as we feel anxious and unprepared to deal with the future. Coping skills, depending on whether we choose good ones or those not-so-good, may either help us or hinder us from ultimately finding resolutions to our problems.

I have learned through personal experience that procrastinating or putting off, or not dealing directly with the issue at hand many times only causes more problems down the road. Knowing the problem is still looming causes more anxiety.

Therefore, I have found that, personally, the best course of action for me is to face the issue head-on by using the following strategies:

  1. As I purposefully take calm breaths to ease my body and mind, I take time to journal or write down all the facts regarding the challenging situation at hand. Putting all the trauma in writing tends to bring me greater mental clarification regarding the situation that needs to be addressed.
  2. In conjunction with the above step, I also choose to further calm my mind and spirit by praying and
    taking the issue to God in prayer, asking for His wisdom and help to have a better understanding to deal with the issue at hand. James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all.”
  3. Finally, as I have taken time to consider input from others or do further research, be open to possible
    solutions that present themselves, realizing that this too shall pass. Our problems are temporary. As
    my mother once reminded me, “There is a solution for every problem.”

Visit www.LindaSPlunkett.com to learn more about her story and her books.

Posted in blog, Write or Die Show

Osso Safe on the Write or Die Show

Author: Sabrina Osso

It was a pleasure to be interviewed by Randi-Lee Bowslaugh, on her insightful and easygoing podcast show, Write Or Die Show.  Randi made me feel very comfortable throughout the interview.  We had an excellent conversation about therapy, turning pain into power, the process of healing, and how we are making residency safe for all through our Osso Safe Certifications.  We spoke about taboo subjects but made them un-taboo by speaking about them openly and honestly, which would benefit any audience. 

My main coping strategy is to breathe deeply throughout the day.  This anchors me to the present moment as much as possible, and it allows the space to let things be ok. 

I actually speak of deep breathing in my children’s book, Home Safe Home, For You and Me.  The book is a tool for both children and adults alike.  For kids, whether they are safe at home or not safe at home, the book teaches that their voices are powerful and that they do have choices when it comes to their residency.  The book serves to give them courage to speak out and name who they feel safe with because they choose respect and safety.  For grandparents, parents, and teachers, the book serves to educate them and the children in their lives about how important it is to practice respect and safety in the home.

Randi, thank you for being a wonderful host! 

Get your copy here (affiliate link).

Posted in blog, Write or Die Show

Wisdom

Written by: Jeff Rasley

I hope your listeners find our discussion during the podcast about depression and suicide meaningful. It was for me. I thought they might find an excerpt from 72 Wisdoms about the incident in which I “talked down”, or “listened down”, my classmate interesting.


From the book…
My usual walk was from my house down to the beginning of the Mill Race, which is a canal that snaked past the backyard of our house on Gra-Roy Drive. The Elkhart River flows into a reservoir and then out the other side of the reservoir over a low-head dam. Some of the water from the reservoir is diverted through a controlled head gate into the Mill Race. The area below the dam and along the river is surrounded by woods with a well-worn trail from the feet of neighborhood kids. Either the dam or the end of the trail
through the woods was my usual turn-around destination for those troubled teen-years walks.

One late autumn evening, when I was sixteen, I walked down to the dam after dark. I don’t remember the specific issue I was pondering, but I’m sure it was some form of adolescent angst or alienation. I planned to station myself on the top of a concrete flood-wall which overlooked the near side of the dam. If I stood on top of the flood wall, I could listen to the water rushing over the dam and see moon and star light glowing on the placid water of the reservoir. Whenever I did that, the view and sound of the tumbling
water in the darkness both calmed and excited my adolescent soul. I usually felt renewed, less anxious, and empowered on the walk home.

As I quietly approached the flood wall that fall night, I was surprised to see a figure already standing on top of the one-foot wide wall. It was too dark to make out the person’s features clearly, but as I got closer I could tell it was a girl, and she was crying. I cautiously made my way up near her on top of the wall, and gently asked if she’d like to talk.

It took awhile before I recognized the girl was a classmate of mine. I barely knew her. She lived on the other side of town, and we ran in different social circles. But I did recognize the figure in the darkness that night as her. Through tears and with a choked up voice, Vera told me that she had planned to kill herself by jumping off the wall into the water flowing over the dam. I was shocked, but, as best as I could, kept my voice calm and level. My immediate plan was to keep her talking.

I don’t remember exactly what I said to her. I know I mostly encouraged her to keep talking. She told me about some truly terrible things that had happened within her family. I won’t go into details beyond mentioning that what she related included sexual abuse. I think we talked for at least half an hour. She decided not to jump. She asked me not to tell anyone at school that she had intended to commit suicide.

Whenever I saw Vera in the hallways at Goshen High School, we never spoke of our encounter that night by the dam. In fact, I don’t remember ever speaking to her again while we were in high school. But when we made eye contact passing each other in the hallway, we nodded in recognition. I saw gratitude in her eyes.

I saw Vera at a class reunion a couple decades after high school graduation. We talked for a few minutes, and I learned that she was doing well. She had a career, marriage, and children. Without mentioning why, she hugged me and whispered a quick thank you into my ear as we parted.

… The “wisdom” of this chapter from the book is that at critical times the best thing we can do for someone in need may be to just be there and listen. All of us will need that kind of compassionate presence sooner or later. Thank you, Randi, for letting me share one of the 72 Wisdoms with your listeners and readers.

Get the book here (affiliate link)

Posted in blog, Readers Intrigue

Travel Inspires

Written by: Barbara Ann Briggs

I really enjoyed recording the first chapter of Pilgrimage on the Path of Love for the Readers Intrigue podcast. It was a pleasure working with Randi. The inspiration for writing Pilgrimage on the Path of Love arose during my travels in India. The sights, sounds, tastes, smells and interactions I had with people from so many diverse backgrounds inspired me to pen down my observations and reactions as I travelled. Each person I met shared a fragment of their life with me and the multi-colored fragments, like beads on a thread, wove the necklace I wore, an inner adornment, composed of cherished memories of a country to which I feel deeply connected. 

https://amzn.to/3ZhWxyp

Pilgrimage on the Path of Love was awarded a five-star medal from a Readers’ Favorites Reviewer who said: “Pilgrimage on the Path of Love is a portal to an artfully detailed world of beauty, love, and awareness…Barbara Ann Briggs writes for the free spirits, adventure enthusiasts, and wisdom and spiritual depth seekers. The audience is encouraged to love and embrace others regardless of their religious beliefs, and this core message is key to achieving world peace. I recommend it to the world.

Get your copy here (affiliate link)