author events, Moravian Sons Distillery, National Novel Writing Month

NaNoWriMo Day 5

November 5, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

The wind picked up in the afternoon blowing leaves and sweeping my gardens, so I skipped the daily walk..

I am definitely a morning writer through and through no question about it. Whatever I don’t get done by 1 p.m. doesn’t get done. Even the characters in my stories know that. They stop cooperating.

I logged in 2,063 words and I am sending the protagonists off into the unknown, not without a fight, both in the story and real worlds.

Now stilling pears

Our son Jake with his family came over to work in our Moravian Sons Distillery. This is our second production season. First, Jake and Ludek had to unload the non-pasteurized apple cider from Hill Bros Cider Mill in Sparta, our major supplier. It was a total of 450 gallons of sweet and tart apple cider that will turn into hard cider.

To read more go to http://moraviansonsdistillery.com

Back to my writing marathon as the uphill roller coaster climb continues. I decided to stick with the roller coaster plotting method for now.

Each day of NaNoWriMo is completely different.

Uncategorized

November podcast episodes

November 4, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

Tune in to these spring and summer episodes during National Novel Writing Month, and keep climbing the NaNo roller coaster to the peak. I moved it up the steep hill with a jerk declaring ‘Singapore is Ours.’

November schedule of For the Love of Books Podcast

Whether you’re a participant or not in the 50k-word challenge, catch up with spring and summer authors, still coming author Chris Stark and NaNoWriMo Halfway.

Nov. 3 Nikki Mitchell, Nightshade Forest

Nov. 10 Mikel Classen, True Tales

Nov. 17 NaNoWriMo 2022 halfway episode with authors Emma Palova, Jean Davis, and Vera West

Nov. 24 Reader of the Year, nominee, Diana Duell

Nov. 30 Kristoffer Gair, The Beautiful Moment

books, bookstores, literature, local author, National Novel Writing Month, Uncategorized

NaNoWriMo Day 4

November 4, 2022 emmapalova 1 Comment

Even though the clouds moved in, we still held onto the upper 60s with rain in the afternoon. The November weather definitely made its mark on the start of NaNoWriMo.

Like on a real roller coaster, I pushed the story forward with a jerk to the ‘Singapore is Ours’ declaration by the protagonists and left it with a new chapter opened. I logged in 2020 words. Again I like the number, but I wish I could have pulled off more.

I am going to flip back to the beat sheet plotting method rather than the roller coaster, which is more like a labyrinth. This morning it led me to these dead-end streets and side streets.

In my other role as a journalist, I am working on a story about a hometown salon celebrating its 10th anniversary. The salon survived the Covid horror and competition from other salons.

You can buy my books locally at Shabby Chicnanigans next to Curtis Cleaners and Bettie’s Pages on Main Street just in time for holiday shopping.

Thanks Michelle.

Shabby Chicnanigans opens next to Curtis Cleaners

book podcasts, Indie authors, writing

Nikki Mitchell’s Nightshade Forest

November 3, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-9b6zq-1304f67

In case you missed this summer episode with author Nikki Mitchell about her Nightshade Forest release.

Enjoy.

daily writing, National Novel Writing Month

Day 3 NaNoWriMo 50k challenge

November 3, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

Roller coaster plotting method

It’s day three of National Novel Writing Month and the temperatures steadily hold in the upper 60s, even reaching 71 in the afternoon in West Michigan.

I wrote happily this morning 1,708 words not banking any extras for rainy days aka holidays. I have introduced the inciting incident into the story which made my heart beat faster.

Inciting incident

Exactly as depicted in the roller coaster plotting method. With sweaty palms and a racing heart, I stopped before the steep climb and went for a walk to alleviate the pressure of excitement.

There is something about the roller coaster plotting method that keeps you on the edge, just like on the real ride. You hold your breath and wait for what happens next.

Last year I used the beat sheet method. But I’ve learned both from my podcast author guests and from meditations that change pushes you forward. It was the jerk I needed as I reverted back to my most productive time, morning writing, and afternoon reporting.

I inserted a long break in between so it doesn’t feel like I am working all the time. The afternoon visit to the Lowell Arts Gallery was a sheer pleasure. Janet Teunis made it easy. I felt like back at home with the other artists setting up.

The sun is setting now so I should head back.

More tomorrow.

November reruns of spring and summer episodes of For the Love of Books Podcast

Nov. 3 Nikki Mitchell , Nightshade Forest

daily writing, National Novel Writing Month, Uncategorized

All Souls Day

November 2, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

“Her DNA, heart and soul are in every square inch of the trail system that we all enjoy.”
Unknown

The second sunny day in a row in the high 60s in November in Michigan. I logged in 1,862 words with NaNoWriMo. After writing I hit the trail and met the patrol guy, who has been patrolling this beauty for the last 12 years.

The Book of the Dead (Omega) was open today at St. Pat’s Church along with the list of the dead in 2022 for signing.

On the trail remembering Betsy Davidson

Also remember a soul who left us on Sept. 5, 2022. I’ve done several stories with Betsy Davidson about the Fred Meijer Flat River Trail for Ledger’s Behind the Scenes feature series. An astute businesswoman and a community leader in Lowell, Betsy was always fun and light-hearted.

She was honored that the Ledger featured her.

May you rest in peace, my dear friend.

National Novel Writing Month, Uncategorized

Day 1 NaNoWriMo

November 1, 2022 emmapalova 1 Comment

It’s Tuesday, November 1st in Michigan. My dashboard is showing 64F.

I attended All Saints Day mass at St. Patrick’s in Parnell at 7 a.m. The general store across the street wasn’t even open yet.

But I managed to run into an old friend who was already grumpy.

“Nothing has happened yet,” I said. “You can’t be grumpy.”

“Yes, it has,” he said. “I woke up.”

This was the first day of National Novel Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo 50k word challenge. I logged in 1,777 words because I like the number plus it was 100 words more than the required 1,667 daily log-in word count.

For the first time ever, I ate my lunch on the porch in the November sun in West Michigan after I got done writing. I will savor that forever.

The lovely day ushered in a mix of emotions that a new project always carries. I even managed to walk the trail listening to the creek. The creek was bubbling its song undaunted by the fall. I threw a few rocks to listen to the sound of the rock entering the water, and measured the depth by the hollow sound.

Our fifth grandchild Henrik celebrated his first birthday today. I remember last year’s tension about the unknown of NaNo and the new grandbaby. Nothing has changed, the tension is the same.

Some guys are showing off water skiing in November in Michigan. Heck yes, that’s cool.

You rock. Happy birthday, Henrik. Love always.

Uncategorized

November 1

November 1, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

November 1

author events, book podcasts, fiction, Halloween, Uncategorized

Happy Halloween from horror authors

October 31, 2022 emmapalova 1 Comment

Halloween is the eve of All Saints Day followed by All Souls Day. In some traditions, Halloween is viewed as a “thin space” where souls slip back and forth between this world and beyond.

Listen to these amazing authors Andrew Allen Smith, Craig Brockman, Matthew Hellman, Robert Williams, and ghost author Stacey Rourke on For the Love of Books Podcast with host Emma Palova.

Psychic Liotta from Rourke’s ‘Corpse Queen’ sees the beast in the crystal ball as she leads the way into the darkness.

book podcasts, Indie authors, writing

Horror authors take you where you’ve never been before

October 28, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-3ns54-12fcaf2

So, step aboard this terror ride, with no harnesses allowed or sunglasses, you need to see it all. Psychic Liotta’s crystal ball shows the way; from a caged monster, death by beast Wendigo, lightning, and by the angry waters and the northern woods.

Horror authors Andrew Allen Smith, Craig Brockman, Matthew Hellman, Robert Williams, and ghost author Stacey Rourke drag you deep down the rabbit hole, where there is no light. But be careful, you might like it there.

In this special Halloween episode, Smith read from his ‘Another Slice of Fear’, Brockman from ‘Dead of November’, Williams from ‘A Yooper’s Tale’, Hellman from ‘The Biting Cold’ and psychic Liotta came alive from Corpse’s Queen by Rourke.

Find out what inspires these authors or if anything at all will stop them from taking you over the edge. Participating in the panel discussion were authors Diana Plopa and editor-publisher Victor Volkman.

A sincere thank you to everyone who made this possible.