Wednesday 2 May 2018

Tick Tock launch and IWSG May 2018

Yes, it's time once again for our group posting of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, where we can share our fears and insecurities without fear of being judged. Hosted (of course) by Ninja Cap'n Alex J. Cavanaugh, the co-hosts this month are E.M.A. TimarJ.Q. RoseC. Lee McKenzie, and Raimey Gallant.


But first, onto that big news I trailed yesterday. Feels like it's been a while coming, but the next IWSG anthology, Tick Tock, is finally here! It was actually released on May 1, but I wanted to give it a push on IWSG day for some more exposure.

The clock is ticking...

Can a dead child’s cross-stitch pendant find a missing nun? Is revenge possible in just 48 minutes? Can a killer be stopped before the rescuers are engulfed by a city ablaze? Who killed what the tide brought in? Can a soliloquizing gumshoe stay out of jail?

Exploring the facets of time, eleven authors delve into mysteries and crimes that linger in both dark corners and plain sight. Featuring the talents of Gwen Gardner, Rebecca M. Douglass, Tara Tyler, S. R. Betler, C.D. Gallant-King, Jemi Fraser, J. R. Ferguson, Yolanda Renée, C. Lee McKenzie, Christine Clemetson, and Mary Aalgaard.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these eleven tales will take you on a thrilling ride into jeopardy and secrecy. Trail along, find the clues, and stay out of danger. Time is wasting...

$14.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 204 pages, Freedom Fox Press
Mystery & Detective (FIC022000) / Crime (FIC050000) / Thrillers (FIC031000)
Print ISBN 9781939844545 eBook ISBN 9781939844552
$4.99 EBook available in all formats

“Each story is fast paced, grabbing the reader from the beginning.”
 - Readers' Favorite, 5 stars

“I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of thought-provoking crime stories.” - Denise Covey, author

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com

Tick Tock links:

Have you got your copy yet? I can vouch that this is an amazing bunch of stories.

So let us turn our attention to this month's IWSG question, which is: "It's spring! Does this season inspire you to write more than others, or not?"

Well, I think I've already mentioned this in a comment on another post - spring in Scotland is very variable. We just finished up with the snow the other week, had some glorious weather the last few days, and back to rain today. It's very much a pick'n'mix, a smorgasbord of weather modes, but I do appreciate things like daffodils popping up around the edges of the garden (nothing to do with me, I'm not greenfingered in any way). Definitely a time of new beginnings, but I can find things to inspire me in every season - I love the autumn colours too. I think we need to push ourselves to write no matter what the external circumstances, but then so many outside factors are inspiring in the life of a writer - a fragment of a conversation, an interesting piece of graffiti - so it's inevitable that things like the vivid light you can get in spring might get us feeling creative too. Something quite indefinable but there it is!

What about you? Don't forget to check out the other IWSG blogs here.

42 comments:

Sarah Foster said...

I don't think the seasons influence my writing in any way. It would be nice to get some kind of spring writing boost, though.
Congrats to all of the anthology authors!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I write in all seasons when I have the time. Just no time in spring.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm not greenfingered either. (Thanks, I like that word.)
Our third anthology is out!

The Cynical Sailor said...

I do have my copy of Tick Tock and started reading it yesterday. Great stuff! The thing about the weather in Scotland is that when you have a nice day, you really appreciate it. Cheers - Ellen

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

I write all year - try, too, anyway! - but summer is a good time to focus because I'm usually hunkered down inside with the air conditioning on. :)

Natalie Aguirre said...

Michigan sounds like Scotland this year. Agree we should write all year. I do write like that every day for my job, just not for me yet. Hope the weather gets nicer for you soon.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

I've seen this anthology everywhere today! Congratulations to everyone involved. Anthologies are always so exciting, so many different avenues to read. Our Maine weather has been a lot like yours - unreliable. It's like winter just won't end. I think that's why I like the autumn season so much. It's expected to be a little windy, a bit chilly, and less sunny, and it usually delivers that way. Spring here in Maine for the past few years has been so ornery and indecisive. It never knows what it wants to do. LOL

Ronel Janse van Vuuren said...

I'm not greenfingered either -- I stick to playing on the compost heap ;-)

Ronel visiting on Insecure Writer's Support Group day: Autumn Decisions

Christine Rains said...

Yay for the release of Tick Tock! It's an awesome collection. :) I totally agree we should be writing all year. The weather is weird here in the US Midwest. It thinks it's summer today.

Michelle Wallace said...

It's the end of autumn in my part of the world... and still very warm.
When it comes to writing, seasons don't really dictate whether I'm in a mood or not. To be honest, I haven't taken much notice.

The Tick Tock stories are fabulous!

Happy IWSG Day, Nick!
Writer In Transit

Crystal Collier said...

Yippee for the anthology!

Smorgasbord weather is the best. It's like life--full of the unexpected, including new challenges. =)

Jennifer Lane said...

Hey, Nick! Sounds like you might've been a judge for the anthology so thank you. Good point about random things inspiring writers. Hope you have a fab spring in Scotland!

cleemckenzie said...

Every time I've been to Scotland, I've wished I were a duck. I love rain, and Scotland never fails to deliver. As to daffodils, they inspire me every year, too.

dolorah said...

Greenfingered! I like it. I'm brownfingered. I still like playing in the yard though.

Karen Baldwin said...

Ah yes...pushing to write no matter what the season...or mood.

Chrys Fey said...

Every season offers inspiration and for many different things. Autumn always breathes fresh life into my world. :)

T. Powell Coltrin said...

That's a great group of writers included in the anthology. Congrats to all.

J.Q. Rose said...

Yes, I have Tick Tock on my Kindle. I love that pre-order option. Just order it and forget it, then, on release day, it's on my Kindle. Like magic.
JQ Rose

Anonymous said...

Not greenfingered! My new phrase of the season. I'm not inspired by seasons, per se, but I love autumn, whether it's cool and crisp, or wet and dark. I wilt in the heat and just want find shelter and take a nap.

Liz A. said...

Your spring is very different from our spring. I think I'd enjoy your weather.

Anonymous said...

Michigan is taking cues from Scotland it seems. We had snow all through April, then yesterday it was 70 and humid. Now it's in the 40s and cold and wet. =\

Jennifer Hawes said...

One good thing about snow is that is forces me to stay inside and write. I love getting out of doors!! Hopefully, the snow is gone--here and there.

Meka James said...

Need to get my copy of Tick Tock. Due to family stuff, I'm probably least productive in the spring/summer months because my boys are home from school and have all sorts of activities, camps, etc I have to play mom taxi for.

Cherie Reich said...

We've been having an unusual spring in Virginia--rather cold with some snow and a lot of rain. This week it's finally warmer--more like summer than spring--but I'll take it.

Sandra Cox said...

Hi Nick,
You just inspired me to go outside, get some of that vivid light and tap into creativity.
Have a productive one.

Sandra Hoover said...

Playing in the dirt & growing things ranks second only to writing for me! Yes, I'm a green-fingered gardener & since Spring is a time for planting, I love Spring. It's also a time of endless possibilities, but inspiration comes from everywhere, every season. I'm limited only by time or the lack thereof.

Toi Thomas said...

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog.
I'm very excited about the release of Tick Tock. Glad to see it's getting good reviews.
I like your term 'greenfingered'. Yeah, I'm not that either. ;)

Elizabeth Seckman said...

If anything, the longer sunnier days make writing harder because I am in the house less. Scotland sounds like West Virginia! No wonder so many Scots settled here a century ago. It probably felt like home.

Mark said...

The reviews look good, very cool:)

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Spring has been crazy even for those of us not in Scotland. My daffodils are about done, but the Tulips are looking fine.

Denise Covey said...

Tick Tock is a pretty good book. Kudos to the authors.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

There are great stories in this anthology. I think it will be a huge success.

Pat Hatt said...

We need to push ourselves indeed no matter the season. Write away and enjoy the day.

Diane Burton said...

You are so right, Nick. We have to write every day and not let the weather influence us. Daffodils are blooming in my front yard. They look so cheery. Enjoy spring.

Guilie Castillo said...

Wild daffodils!!!! I'd swoon over that for sure :) Curaçao, where I live, is dry-dry-dry, so pretty much nothing grows without human intervention. Like, serious human intervention: the tool-and-mulch-toting kind. Well, except cacti. Those grow without assistance. And just a few days ago, on one of the walks with the dogs, we came across about a million of them, all blooming. Amazing.

Yay for Tick Tock! Wishing the entire IWSG much success with it! And thanks for the empathy over at Writer-in-Transit... Sometimes a shoulder to lean on, even for a minute—and even cybernetically—is all we need :)
Guilie @ Life In Dogs

Patsy said...

I think I'm spending too much time getting inspired and not enough using that inspiration. As you say, I need to push myself to write a bit more.

Kalpana said...

I like that term you used - a smorgasbord of weather. Hahaha. As you so rightly pointed out, everything is an inspiration for writers - an overheard conversation, a moment observed, another person's writing which serves as a springboard for ideas and of course Spring itself :)

Darla M Sands said...

Your weather sounds rather like ours in Southwest Ohio in the USA. ~grin~ Happy writing!

Loni Townsend said...

Unpredictable weather makes for unpredictable times, but at least it's probably never boring!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi, Nick....

I agree... we need to write throughout all seasons, but I do feel that Spring, for me, does bring new opportunities. As you know, my memoir, was hatched this spring. LOL. Still writing, only have about a quarter done. Decided to take a break this morning and hop around the blogosphere...

CONGRATS to all in the anthology! I know it will be a great success!

JEN Garrett said...

I don't know if spring makes a difference, but this question was the one that convinced me to finally add my name to the challenge. Look for my post the first Wednesday of June!

رواد الحرمين said...

عزيزى العميل اهلا ومرحبا بك فى موقع مؤسسة الحرمــين للمقاولات العامة والعوازل
شركه عزل فوم بالاحساء و الرياض
الموقع الرائد فى عالم الخدمات المنزليه والاول بالمملكه العربيه السعوديه لما يتمتع به من خدمات مميزه ، فالبرغم من اننا مؤسسه ربحيه الا ان مزاولة نشاطتنا


شركه عزل فوم بجدة


شركه عزل فوم بمكة



شركه عزل فوم بالرياض كلها مرتبط على نحو وثيق
بتلبية طلبات وحاجات عملائنا ولتحقيق ذلك الهدف نقدم لك كافة الخدمات الشامله بالالتزام الصارم وبأرقى المعايير المهنيه المتطوره
فلدينا خبره طويله فى مجال مكافحة الحشرات والكشف عن التسربات وتسليك المجارى وعزل الاسطح وترميم وصيانه المنازل وتخزينه بكفاءة منقطعة النظير ، لا تتردد واتصل
بموقع مؤسسة الحرمــين فخدماتنا ليس لها بديل واسعارنا ليس لها مثيل ،ولدينا فريق عمل يتصل مع العملاء على جسور الثقه
والصدق والامانه فى العمل ، وهدفنا هو ارضاؤك وراحتك ، لا تقلق ونحن معك
لا تجهد نفسك ونحن تحت امرك ورهن اشارتك .
أبرز خدمات مؤسسة الحرمــين للمقاولات العامة بالدمام والرياض

شركه عزل فوم بالدمام