Stacy Verdick Case's Blog

Got My WRITER Hat On!

I was having a discussion the other day with a writer friend and she mentioned writing triggers.  The little, quirky things that we writers do to get prepared to write.  For some it’s putting on the right (write) music, having their favorite beverage on hand, or sharpening all your pencils so you’re ready to go.

I told her that I literally put on my WRITER hat and go to work.  Yes, I have a WRITER hat. That’s me wearing the darn thing in the photo (heck yeah I filtered that thing!) .  It’s like putting on my uniform.  It’s a signal to those in my family that I am currently at work.  It might look like I’m staring aimlessly out into nothing but I am actually working (and you can’t prove otherwise).

Whenever I wear it out of the house at least one person will ask me about my writing which acts like a double bonus for me.  They usually want to know where I got it.  Well I got it from Writers Store[image error] Along with way too many other things to mention (oh if you insist chat pack, software, writing books, moleskins, etc.).

The Writer Hat with no filter

My friends at Writers Store[image error] have agreed to offer at 10% discount for readers who want to acquire their own WRITER hat.  coupon: AFF10CODE17 This code is valid through March 31st so get over to the Writers Store[image error] and get yours today!

The links are affiliates but it won’t cost you any extra. Use coupon code AFF10CODE17 at checkout for 10% off this awesome hat!

Write Your Novel In 5 Easy Steps

1001 Chapters: Lessons Learned from Scheherazade

Write In Spite

The 21st Century Literary Legacy

The post Putting On My Writer Hat appeared first on Stacy Verdick Case.

Sometimes when I sit alone too long in my room I start to wonder things that might be a little too existential for some people, but I still wonder.

For instance, this morning I was reading about The Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson and I wondered in a hundred years will there be a book that’s called The Blog Posts of Stacy Verdick Case?  I mean isn’t that what I’m doing here? Creating short essays for you to mull over. While it would be so cool that people might be thinking of me posthumously is this a good representation of me or my writing. Um, probably not.

What are the literary foibles of our generation that will make it into the next century? Blog posts? Facebook status updates? Tweets? Google plus updates?

There are books of Tweets now like The Twits: Real Celebrities. Real Tweets. Real Funny. (really?).  Will our culture be judged by 120 character observations?  Will be judged by Kim Kardashians Selfie book? And if we are, will it be noted as the beginning of the decline of our civilization? Like we judge the fall of Rome at the point when they valued beauty before all things?

Maybe I shouldn’t be left alone for extended periods of time.  I’m not sure it’s healthy for me to ponder these things.  Now at least I’m not alone.  I bet you’re thinking about it too now.

Sun, Sun Go Away

The Internet is Dehumanizing Us

Because I Have A Kid

Stacy Verdick Case is the Author of the Catherine O’Brien mysteries and the host of the MyTalk 107.1 Podcast The Not Boring Book Show.

The post The 21st Century’s Literary Legacy appeared first on Stacy Verdick Case.

How do you write a novel?  I get asked  this a lot as if the person asking is looking for a magic formula. Unfortunately, there is no magic.  Writing a novel is hard work, plain and simple.  But I do have a few tips that can help smooth the edges of the process a little.  Here are my top 5 tips to get your novel writing on track.

1)  Find your writing spot – every writer needs a space to write.  For some it’s an office in this home (lucky them), for others it’s a commandeered corner of their home.  Stephen King famously wrote Carrie at a makeshift desk in the laundry room.  Read more about that here.

2) Pick your writing time– You will need to know what time of the day you write best. If you’re more creative in the morinigns get up and hour early.  If you’re more creative in the evenings go to bed an hour late. If you can write anytime great! Grab time as often as you can.  You have to make time to write, it doesn’t just appear and when you do guard that time like gold.

3)  Gather Your Writing Tools – This is so important to the writing process. Computer, pen, pencil, music . . . whatever you need to write.  Have it ready and with you so once you start writing you don’t have to stop. You can waist a lot of valuable writing time running for this that and the other.

4) Sit Down and Write – It sounds simple but I know too many want to be authors who do anything but write. Shut the door.  Turn off the internet.  Marshal all your concentration.  Focus on just your story and don’t stop writing until you reach your writing goal for the day.  Do not stop to edit before the whole story is written.  You might never get the whole story told.

5) Have Faith – This is so important especially when you’re starting out.  Have faith in yourself because you will hear negative outside voices (and some times inside) when you chase a dream.  Tune them out and keep going one page at a time.

1001 Chapters: Lessons Learned From Scheharazade

Five Tips to Keep Pace In Your Fiction

I Quit! A Writers Journey

Stacy Verdick Case is the Author of the Catherine O’Brien mysteries and the host of the MyTalk 107.1 Podcast The Not Boring Book Show.

The post Write Your Novel In 5 Easy Steps appeared first on Stacy Verdick Case.

Well it only took two month (and a little more if you’re counting) but it’s finally here!  The Not Boring Book Show!

This is our getting to know you episode.  So tune in to find out what the show is all about.

Click the link to download this episode and listen to learn our favorite book so you can enter our giveaway!  Or use one of the other ways to enter.  We’re giving away an awesome prize pack to one lucky winner that includes a book bag with our logo on it, a signed copy of both Angela’s and Stacy’s book, a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card, $10 Starbucks gift card  and more!

Enter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post The New Show is Finally Here! appeared first on Stacy Verdick Case.

Happy Banned Books Week Everyone!

Yes, in this day and age I’m sad to say that books are still being banned. I’m re-posting this photo I took some time ago of banned books attacking me (yes that really is me under those books. Enjoy and fight book banning wherever you find it!

~S

When Banned Books Attack!

The post When Banned Books Attack! appeared first on Stacy Verdick Case.

Hi All!!!

I would appreciate your time in filling out this poll.  I’m always curious to find out how people discover new reads.  If you wouldn’t mind filling out this poll and letting me know I would be ever so grateful! You are helping me out a lot!

The post How Do You Find Your Next Read? Your Input Will Help A LOT!! appeared first on Stacy Verdick Case.

Jason Matheson of The Jason Show

I have a confession to make.  I don’t like going to the State Fair.  I’ll wait while you corral your disbelief.

Ready? Good.

It’s true.  I have managed to avoid going to the Minnesota State Fair for 22 years.  I don’t really enjoy crowds of people who are wandering with no regard for others.  I don’t enjoy the heat and humidity.  The smells, the noise, the parking, pretty much it all just makes me shudder.

People who love the fair always say, “But the food!” Yeah, I’m unimpressed with food on a stick and if I get the desire for a pronto pup there are so many local fairs that I can go to with much less effort to snag that golden gem.

This year however two things made me  take that dreaded trek to Falcon Heights. 1) my daughter was old enough to understand that this is something that is potentially fun and 2) the Twin Cities Chapter of the Sisters in Crime put out a call for authors to sign on Read and Ride day. I was whipped.  I agreed to go to the fair.

Had a chance to sign for fans!

Each day leading up to the day I had to go to the fair brought me anxiety until the day finally came.  I got up early, marshaled my resources, packed the kid and husband in the car and headed out.

I have to say, I couldn’t have written a better day.  It was sunny but not hot or humid with just a hint of a breeze that day.  School started early in some areas so the lots weren’t all full, the crowds in the AM weren’t epic.  It wasn’t so bad.

We went to see the Jason Show, rode some rides with the kidlet, ate some fair food (still over prices and over rated) and generally had a nice time.

There was the added benefit of being able to meet some fans at the Sisters In Crime booth, meet some awesome ladies from the library (check out the amazing shirts!), and I was able to squeeze in some interviews with my fellow sisters for the new radio show!  You won’t want to miss that episode.

I have to say, if I could be sure that next year would be as amazing as this year was I’d go again.

Fellow Twin Cities Sisters In Crime members at the 2016 MN State Fair

Maybe. Oh that just gave me anxiety.  We’ll have to see!

Many blessings to you all!

~S

The post Sisters In Crime at the Minnesota State Fair appeared first on Stacy Verdick Case.

On July 18th one of my heroes passed away.  My Grandmother June Gimse was 90 years old and had suffered several strokes that took her memory from her, so her passing wasn’t totally unexpected but somehow it was.

I never thought she could die.  In my head Grandma is larger than life.  Maybe that’s why it’s taken me so long to put anything about her down on paper.  Everything I say or write seems so pale and inadequate to the task of describing her or my love for her.

Grandma enchanted me.  I think that’s the closest I can come to an accurate description.  Don’t get me wrong, I have not created in my mind a revisionist perfect person.  Far from it.  She was remarkable in the way that she was perfectly imperfect.

This photo of her angel is an awesome illustration of what I mean. Notice anything different about this angel?  I took this angel home when we moved Grandma into the nursing home.  A small memento that I could keep near me to remind me everyday of Grandma. But something about it bugged me. Every day. What was it?

Then one night I saw what was bothering me. Her wings.  They’re upside down.

Grandma had apparently broken the angel’s wings off (or maybe it was one of the grand-kids who did it-I may never know) and she repaired it. The fact that they’re upside down is just so her. It’s fixed. No, it’s not perfect but life is not perfect. Something that Grandma knew so well.

Grandma faced so many set backs in life. Her husband died leaving her with 3 young girls to raise. A father-in-law who owned her home who tried to take the home away from her. No education or skills. And a world that told her to give up her girls because there was no way she could raise them on her own. Everywhere she turned someone was telling her, “You can’t succeed.”

This is why she is my hero. She worked several menial jobs to earn money while she put herself through college so she could become an accountant.  She took her father-in-law to court to keep her home and won.  She kept her girls with her and raised them all.

This was not the life she had envisioned, but she never pitied herself. She never lost her faith in God. She never lost her sense of humor, of love, and of compassion. When she got knocked down, she would rise. If the world threw another curve her direction she would meet the challenge the best she could.  Her favorite song was Keep On The Sunny Side and she lived it.

Grandma didn’t believe things couldn’t be done.  There was always a way. It may not be the best way or the most perfect way, but she would find A way. She went after what she wanted in this life.

She inspires me. Her strength in the face of what to me is unimaginable circumstances is the thing that legends are made of, or heroes are born from.

Her angel watches over me everyday and reminds me that life isn’t always perfect. So put your wings on anyway you can and get to living with what you have.

~S

The post Heroes & Angels appeared first on Stacy Verdick Case.

So this comes up occasionally and it came up again so I thought I’d address it publicly and then you can all tell your friends.

I was asked why I don’t have a comments section on my blog. Well, I’m gonna tell ya.

It’s no secret that I think the internet is dehumanizing all of us (check out this post for more on that). Because of all the trolls out there who like to hide behind anonymous avatars I had set up my blog to allow moderated comments.

Well between the trolls (seriously get a life) and the spammers (you too), I was spending way too much time popping into my blog to moderate hateful and potentially harmful comments. My time is better spent elsewhere, so I shut off comments all together.

I get that there are people who genuinely would like to interact with me and to them I say please join me on my Facebook Page or Twitter. Yes people can still sign up with fake profiles but that’s a lot of effort just to be mean and it’s so easy to block them there.

So it’s not that I don’t want to interact with people, I just don’t want to spend my life playing goalie against the worlds hateful and malicious people. I hope you all understand.

~S

The post Why No Comments? appeared first on Stacy Verdick Case.

Here we are again.  More of the real me because my bio is crap.  To read more about why I’m writing this series click here.

This is something I’ve been thinking about for awhile.  My music collection is so eclectic that I sometimes wonder if I have multiple personalities.  See I feel close to you so I can tell you these things.

I don’t discriminate when it comes to music. If I like it I don’t care what genre it’s in.  Sometimes when I’m feeling a little freaky I put my iPod on random and just let it roll. I love to see my husband’s face when he’s in my car and we go from Halestorm to Susan Boyle and then a classical piece comes on.  He looks like I just suggested we drive off a bridge embankment.

Come to think of it my reading is like that too.  Business books to romance to mysteries, to literary fiction. Ever since I started hosting a mystery show everyone says, “It’s not a mystery.” when the tell me about a book they liked.  Makes me a little sad that they think I’m so limited.

So be on notice, I am eclectic.

The post The Real About Me – Part 7 appeared first on Stacy Verdick Case.