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Chris Bodor's avatar

Happy Saturday. Thanks to my unpredictable GI issues, I am up an hour early this morning and I am going to make the next four hours as productive as possible. In four hours, I will have my morning coffee. With no caffeine in me, I am in a semi-meditative state. Words are following through me. I just got issue four of my lit mag completed. I am using the template to cut and paste and create issue five. If issue five is done by April, then I can have copies available at my April St. Augustine PoetFest. https://linktr.ee/stapoetfest. This annual literary festival is a fitting way to celebrate creative writing and reciting for National Poetry Month. If I don't reach my issue five goal, then I can still be somewhat successful, by having this issue (issue four) available at the tableling events, since the contect will still be fairly fresh. Thank you again for the check Saturday check in. Much appreciated. I am now going to write a 500 word article on spoken word artist collaborating with a local musician to create an album of a dozen songs.

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David McIlroy's avatar

You're certainly keeping busy Chris! Hope all the writing went well today.

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Chris Bodor's avatar

It certainly did. I wrote a Substack instead of the other thing I was going to write.

https://open.substack.com/pub/ancientcitypoets/p/spotlighting-florida-poets?r=1knmls&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

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Peter Hyson's avatar

Happy Saturday - and thanks for another thought, David. And in answer to your question, I'm just finishing editing the third title in my Cotswold Capers cozy murder mysteries. The novella - The Taste of Death - and full length A Fair Cop are on Amazon or to order thorough bookshops. If they make you smile and peek your interest - I'm content! Good luck with your.

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David McIlroy's avatar

Sounds intriguing Peter - love the Cotswold Capers title!

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Peter Hyson's avatar

Thanks, David. It's all very. tongue-in-cheek!

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In Days Gone By's avatar

Thank you for your post but I couldn’t get the shock of seeing cucumber and what looks like chilies on the same plate as eggs and bacon - I know the world is going mad but this really a step too far and whoever composed that picture needs to be spoken to severely. Perhaps the very thought of it will give someone the germ of an idea for a new novel.

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David McIlroy's avatar

Haha you're not the first to be shocked at that David!

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The Braver Mom's avatar

Yes we made it to the weekend! Happy weekend my friend! 😊👋

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David McIlroy's avatar

You too!

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Masaru's avatar

Happy Saturday, friend! The links you provided were indeed great reads; thank you for this.

I am just starting my writing journey myself, and I enjoy following along with your content so far.

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David McIlroy's avatar

Thanks Magnus, glad you found them useful!

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C.J. Heck's avatar

Happy Saturday backatcha ... You asked, so I'm sharing. No novel. No interest in writing one. I have 3 children's poetry books, a book of short stories and flash fiction, and a poetry book that took me 40 years to write. I have another seven books done and ready to go to a publisher, I just need the heart and soul to go through the whole process of sending manuscripts out again. I wish you the very best with your novel! I'm proud of you ...

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David McIlroy's avatar

Thanks CJ! Sounds like you've composed quite the collection yourself!

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C.J. Heck's avatar

At 74, my energy level isn't what it used to be. I may have to rely on children or grandchildren to find a publisher! (laughing). Again, I wish you the best, David!

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WENDY TOMLINSON's avatar

I'm a talker but like you, I understand the power of listening. I remember going to network meetings years ago and I talked, talked, talked... But I did very little listening. This is totally the wrong way to go about networking. Listening is a powerful and important skill for anyone to learn.

Congraulations on your novel.

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David McIlroy's avatar

Thanks Wendy! Yes listening is crucial - it took me too long to figure that one out.

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Anne Brooke's avatar

Happy Saturday to you too! Very exciting news about the upcoming novel, and thank you also for the listening tips - very useful indeed! My latest completed novel is paranormal mid-life romcom An Unexpected Haunting in which ghost-hunter Alicia battles bravely with mischievous ghosts, mystical runes and a very important library. Here's the link: mybook.to/HauntingBrooke Now on to the first coffee of the day ... :-)

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David McIlroy's avatar

Thanks Anne! Your novel sounds very interesting indeed, I'll have to check it out!

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Anne Brooke's avatar

Gosh, thank you! That's very kind.

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Jill Downs's avatar

I am an educator. 30 years in elementary education. My teaching life included 21 years teaching first grade. I then moved to reading intervention and I am currently living out my career as a reading coach for teachers. I say this because incorporating writing into classrooms is a passion for me. I wrote my first children’s book this year to inspire writing for young authors. With the help of a very special foundation we are publishing young authors. I hope to reformat my own book because it’s not sitting well with me. The funny thing is kids don’t see that. They get the story. They love it. I know what it needs but they don’t. They have helped remind me to stay grounded and remember my purpose for writing. I am listening.

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David McIlroy's avatar

That's awesome Jill! Have you got a link for your book?

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Jill Downs's avatar

Thanks! I’m wondering how difficult it would be to reformat the book with some new edits and illustrations. If that is feasible, then what would rebranding look like? Or should I just let it be knowing the kids loved it? I don’t really like that one. 🙂

Molly Meadow’s Christmas Wish https://a.co/d/d2J3Xne

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Sarah Styf's avatar

The book sounds fascinating! I'm excited to learn more about it 😊

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David McIlroy's avatar

Thanks Sarah! I'll be sharing more about it over the coming weeks/months. 😊

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Jack Everly's avatar

Wonderful post-you do truly great work. Thanks much for everything!

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David McIlroy's avatar

Thanks Jack, very kind of you!

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ric leczel's avatar

I love your posts, great information. I spent time in prison, and wrote over 150,000 in 8 months, from poems, book ideas, letters, and more. I'm writing here and on mxdwn.com, but I'm stuck on the book - a memoir of things learned in prison - at about 16,000 words.

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David McIlroy's avatar

Keep at it Ric!

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Cork Hutson's avatar

Was just settling down in my favorite man-chair with a steaming mug of Seattle's Best 6th Avenue Bistro roast when I opened your post this morning. So, here's to the Saturday morning cuppa' joe ...

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David McIlroy's avatar

Love it Cork! Every man needs his own chair.

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Karen Lynne Klink's avatar

My debut historical fiction novel "At What Cost Silence?" was published in October last year with She Writes Press. The second book in "The Texian Trilogy" series in being copyedited and will be published in April 2025. "At What Costs ..." is a story of two neighboring plantation families that is a microcosm of a country on the brink of the Civil War, encompassing a variety of issues: love and friendship between men, relationships between fathers and sons, sibling rivalry, slavery, and the position of women in society.

I love your two photos.

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David McIlroy's avatar

That sounds fascinating Karen! Share a link if you can.

And thanks, my wife took them - it was a beautiful morning in the mountains!

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Sol's avatar

Hi David,

Love your stuff. Hope you don't mind but I've quoted you in my new Medium Story today. You really got my brain thinking so thanks for that.

Player One

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David McIlroy's avatar

Don’t mind at all! 😊

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Arman Khodadoost's avatar

Great stuff again David. I used to be the introvert of all introverts like you until i learned to ask questions and then shut up and listen!

One minor thing - your header shows your logo twice. not sure if you knew this?

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David McIlroy's avatar

Thanks Arman! Oh I didn't realise that about the header, thanks for letting me know!

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Arman Khodadoost's avatar

Youre welcome. I figured someone would have mentioned it by now. would want someone to do the same for me. cheers to more amazing writing!

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