From the Twitterverse

NOTE: I don't know what the future holds for Twitter, but, despite how h3llish it's been for others, and I know, there have been many cr@ppy and horrific moments for me too, the platform has been a boon for my writing life, and in more recent years, my artwork. I met many individuals, coalitions, organizations, advocacy groups, and publishing industry pros I admire and respect. I also learned about and was able to support Black and brown creators and small businesses. I learned to online network more, how to be self-confident, and trust in my voice. Yes, a social media platform did that for me. 

Since I don't know what will happen, I'll be posting handfuls of some favorite tweets. 

Below are some posts from when I was in my MFA graduate program (links are still active):

This is my 2nd #PaulAuster - "Mr. Vertigo" is devilishly fun and feels like #RayBradbury on speed. #requiredreading #gradwork

1:37 PM · Feb 4, 2014

Opinion: I am a beneficiary of chain migration -

#immigration - This article written by a fellow #MFA alum! 

http://tallahassee.com/story/opinion/2018/01/19/opinion-am-beneficiary-chain-migration/1034370001/ (via @andrewjskerritt)

11:36 PM · Jan 19, 2018

D@mn, I found my #MFA #thesis! #furry

https://utampa.dspacedirect.org/handle/20.500.11868/77/browse?type=author&value=Welsh%2C+Carmen+K.+Jr.

9:53 PM · Aug 28, 2019

Why This #Poet Says There Is No 'Single Story Spun On A Single Tongue' - Poet Dr. #EricaDawson was the #director of my #MFA program when I graduated!! She was on the #PBSNewshour this Monday!! Sweeeeeet😍🤩💖 #StarstruckandProud #BlackWomen

pbs.org

Why this poet says there is no 'single story spun on a single tongue'

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-this-poet-says-there-is-no-single-story-spun-on-a-single-tongue?fbclid=IwAR1whxwpylvMCHvRZYzAWkmJZz1oiXw77Fm2QU6xynXpUIBvl4PLWXzwZ24

2:17 AM · Feb 16, 2019

Year of Champions: Thanks to #TinaIsaacs, local #writers know they are never alone - THIS IS ONE OF MY FRIENDS FROM MY #MFA #WRITING PROGRAM!! #Malaysia 

Read more at https://star2.com/topics/yearender-2017/2017/12/30/year-of-champions-thanks-to-tina-isaacs-local-writers-know-they-are-never-alone/#ZD3S2v1t7BvWlc58.99

https://star2.com/topics/yearender-2017/2017/12/30/year-of-champions-thanks-to-tina-isaacs-local-writers-know-they-are-never-alone/

9:35 PM · Jan 1, 2018

Why I Don't Do Creative Work In Public Anymore

Somebody asked the Twitter #WritingCommunity what is one's ideal place to write.

Someone responded they would like to write in a café but instead, prefer dead silence, writing on a couch when everybody else is asleep, and that's practically me!  

I need (total I've belatedly learned doesn't work for me since I'm neurodivergent and I get what are now called 'intrusive thoughts') some silence, white noise, or my countless playlist titles on loop.

I'm also introverted and could never write in a cafe. Too many folks milling around. 

I also draw and can't tell you how many times folks will interrupt while you're working. 

I can people-watch and eavesdrop and later distill into things once I'm home. 

Why I can't, as a creative, do my work out in public is because much of mainstream society doesn’t think creative working is 'work' at all.

That's why in my webcomic, my artist/writer MC prefers the library (like I used to), or she works in the rear of her local bar. Lights low and enough folks talking to create white noise for her. 

Before, she had to field off advances, flirtatious, and pick-up lines, but now she uses them in her own work... And holy cr@p, I think I just came up with another scene I should draft soon! Hahaha 

Why the Disrespect of Comics Still?

Last week, a well-known author whose story was required reading back in grade school, made a disparaging comment about graphic novels. They pretty much dismissed and even insulted fans who were graphic novel readers, myself included. Immediately, because it was social media, people swarmed into her comments. 

The first to strongly contest the author's words were, of course, the graphic novelists! The graphic novelists not only explained what got them into their field, some even mentioned how they struggled to read when they were young and that comics helped open the doors to the world of books. Then came the librarians and educators, citing that because of a variety of obstacles students and young people face academically, whether it's a first language not English at home, or a host of learning and reading disabilities, educators and librarians cited that when students and youth struggled to read, graphic novels were their keys.

This lauded author's comments reinforced my understanding that comics and images with text are still not respected as art and literature in the U.S. Since subscribing to the periodical, World Literature Today, I have sadly seen that, while comic books and other illustrated books are derided in the States, other countries, most notably in French-speaking Europe, French-speaking African countries, in parts of the Middle East and Latin America, the graphic novel, comic books, and even comic strips are still judged in award ceremonies that celebrate literature and the arts. As far as I can read, it seems that the U.S. is still behind in uplifting the idea that books that combine images and text can share the same space as other great works of literature and the classics. 

I am not ashamed to say that as an aspiring graphic novelist, and as a consumer of comics with other books since I was a child, the author's words hurt me. I was also a fan of this author's book when it was chosen as the title my junior high class had to read. Other students were not happy but I was. I knew that sitting in my family book case was a 60s hardcover with psychedelic-type artwork waiting for me. I also blogged about my love for this story and its film. Also, I am currently an educator, so I was hit twice by their comments.

I remember being taken to Barnes and Noble's basement with my big sister to scour for bargain books where I found 25-50 cent mass market paperbacks of illustrated Flintstones novels and Peanuts comic strip collections. Now, the graphic novel publisher, Fantagraphics has been collecting a lot of classic Sunday Funnies titles and I regret that my paperbacks did not survive to be worth anything now! I also read many of the classic literature in my junior high library when a press started to publish these works into pocket-size graphic novels. Small enough for me to read in class and hide in my pocket or sweater so I didn't get bullied by other students.

To make a long story short, the author did re-post many of the comments and responded that they would learn from their mistake. But, I still do not understand this vitriol and derision towards a medium that is some centuries old -- we thought comics were younger than they really were, until caricature graffiti was discovered on Egyptian pyramids and that in a Japanese museum lies a 1000-year-old scroll with anthropomorphic animals engaged in human sports and other human activities, long before Beatrix Potter's ancestors were a gleam in their parents' eyes.

We must change this narrative, and though the author apologized, it seems that people need to be schooled more about how comics actually help to expand the world for its readers while making fans and creators into a tight-knit family. 

My social media promos for CATCHING FEELS

I've been posting as many mini-promos and announcements as I can for my upcoming scifi story CATCHING FEELS.

[NOTE: Click here if you want to learn more about Kyanite Press - Kyanite Publishing LLC or click link for the Facebook image caption!]

Here's what I've posted so far to Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. I've also posted to both blogs. Now, all I need is to update the news on my dedicated website, Tabber the Red.

[Twitter: If you haven't seen my news yet, the follow-up to my SF story THE HUMAN NETWORK has been accepted by @KyanitePress! It's called 
 CATCHING FEELS and it comes out February 2020!]

[Facebook: My science fiction story CATCHING FEELS was accepted by Kyanite Press/Publishing for their AMAZING JOURNEYS AND EXOTIC DESTINATIONS Volume 2 Issue 2 February 2020!

Link: Kyanite Press - Kyanite Publishing LLC http://kyanitepublishing.com]

[Kyanite Press' Twitter account: We had one more name to add to the list for V2i2, and here it is! 

Welcome back @[my Twitter handle]

[Twitter: I'm excited for CATCHING FEELS to appear in Kyanite Press Vol2 Iss2 Feb 2020!
It's the continuation to THE HUMAN NETWORK.]

[Twitter: I'm so happy that CATCHING FEELS will be included in this! It's a follow-up to THE HUMAN NETWORK and now this *feels* like a real series to me!]

From the Land of Twitter

When I get an idea in my head, or I'm nursing a story, I'll either jot it in one of my journals or I'll rant about it in a series of tweets (or lately, in a Twitter 'thread'). Here's my latest rant expanded so there's more here than on my Twitter timeline.

I seem to take a lot of influence from the story Country Mouse, City Mouse. That theme became my canine Mafia furry historical stories. Yet, lately, I ended up thinking about an old idea remade into a graphic novelette. Will revise old drawings accordingly before I draft the scenes.

I already have a squirrel and a rat characters. And no, the rat isn't a bad guy but a love interest. I'm so sick and tired of certain animals being demonized in stories. Such tales have real-world impacts. Right now, wolves are still hated and feared globally. And sharks are thought of as continuous eating machines.

My influences with Romance will come from Harlequin and Avon. I'll use regional ecology where my main characters are indigenous animals to a given area.

In this case, my squirrel will be from the  Midwest and my rat will be from the Northeast. Both characters will be urban beings but have early ancestral roots in a rural past. And I'll say no more.

When I start to draft these scenes, I'll post on my Instagram. I'm also struggling to find a publisher for these ideas. Where can one get short comic stories published? And at my own pace? I'm not good with deadlines, and even worse when it comes to artwork. In the meantime, stay tuned, Dear Readers.

From the Twitterverse

I did about two pages from the current sci-fi series and felt I wasted my day.

The scene is quite important and if I keep it in my Jamerican's POV, it truly shows the alien-ness of her child's father, someone who's been masquerading as human for so long. There's still more to write from this scene.

Also, for the Google Docs manuscript from the same series, I haven't finished the SMS-patois scene between her and her bestie Barbadian friend. I need to continue to type and revise THAT scene and the scene right after before I can consider it DONE.

However, this morning, I re-watched a favorite Korean film of mine (I bought the VCD almost 13 years ago) called "My Little Bride" and then watched a new film that was wonderful, and a bit raunchy (tee-hee), also from Korea called "Love Clinic" so that was good.

When Someone Compliments You...

Some weeks ago, I got into a verbal disagreement with someone online who began to cyberbully. I've learned with years being on Twitter to immediately BLOCK and report when such a situation occurs. I was in a funk afterwards, but, then something wondrous happened.

Another creative popped up - the person was following another follower of mine - and began to ask me a series of questions about my writing. The person began to ask about a story I wrote about a decade ago! To top it off, the person tweeted quotes from it that I had to re-read my own story to be reminded. For over an hour and a half, we chatted and the person brought up how reading my stories has encouraged them to tackle their own writing... WOW.

[Here are screenshots of the convo. I erased our actual Twitter names for privacy purposes]

via Redcap Goblin

via Redcap Goblin

Writing is a solitary venture where we dearly need our communities! So when somebody compliments my writing, I hold onto these like treasure! *UPDATE: the person is a new follower and I am their new follower too!*

2nd Interview with Ms. MaryAnn Kempher!

As you all read, I interviewed my awesome tweep, MaryAnn Kempher, in April of this year to much fanfare of her debut novel,  Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder.

Now, the sequel Forever Doomed will soon be released! 

~~~~~~

Thanks so much for hosting me Carmen.

~~~~~~

1. We want to know, how has life changed for MaryAnn Kempher since "Mocha, Moonlight and Murder" debuted?

How has it changed? It hasn't. Right after Mocha was published, I started writing my next book; Forever Doomed.

2. Did you expect most of what came from that novel's debut? Or did anything in the experience of publishing a first novel take you by surprise?

Upon Mocha's publication, I was as happy and proud as I thought I'd be. What took me by surprise was that I think I had unrealistic expectations. I don't think I realized just how many books are out there for people to choose from, and how difficult it would be to stand out in the crowd.

3. We know characters are often a combination of people we knew/know or various aspects of ourselves. Were those characters based on people in your life? And/Or yourself?

Elements of my personality can be seen in Katherine. She's a little of a smart mouth, and so am I. The dialogue between her and Scott could easily occur in my house between me and my husband.

4. I was taken in by how breezy "Mocha" was. And with its unpredictability, family secrets, weird inner monologues, and self-doubts, I must tell you, the tone and its spirit felt very Japanese lit to me. What do you think of that assessment?

I like the term breezy. Mocha's not meant to be a "serious" book, with twenty-dollar words. It's meant to be fun, and entertaining, and something you'd enjoy reading at the beach or on the couch with a cup of cocoa. I'm not familiar with Japanese literature, so I don't know what you mean. :)

5. With all that was going on in "Mocha", the novel felt very grounded, not soap-operatic. How did you manage that?

Thank you. I think it's because of the dialogue, it's very realistic. I think it's how friends and family talk.

6. Now, "Forever Doomed" will be out! I'm excited about this! Is it a sequel to "Mocha" or a standalone? What can you tell us without spilling the beans?

It's both a sequel and a standalone. You can read Forever Doomed on its own, but a lot of the characters from Mocha are in it. If you read Mocha first, it's like running into old friends. You get to see what everyone is up to--but you don't need to have read Mocha to enjoy Forever Doomed.

7. This is a silly question, but what genre would you put your mysteries under? A lot of  times, readers tend to be very genre-centric.

I googled Mystery subgenre definitions. FOREVER DOOMED has the elements of am Inverted/Howdunit and a Whodunit.

8. Since we are a writers' and artists' blog, what compelled you to a sequel? I know, silly question, but it's different for different writers.

Once I'd finished writing Mocha, I realized that while I enjoyed writing the romance between Scott and Katherine, what I'd enjoyed writing the most was the mystery element. So, I decided I wanted to write another book that was more mystery focused.

9. I have to tell you, I don't read mysteries, I prefer to watch them on TV. But now, I know I will start reading them more because of "Mocha". How does that make you feel?

Very flattered. Thrilled that you liked it. Hopeful you'll like the next book.

10. Any words to the readers? And when can we get our hands on "Forever Doomed"?

I'm super excited about this book. If it's well received, it will be a series. I really like combining a scratch-your-head mystery with a dollop of romance. Forever Doomed should be available on the Kindle and Nook sometime during the first week of December. Paperback within the second week.

Bonus question (You definitely don't have to answer this one): How was MaryAnn Kempher's Thanksgiving?

Both good and sad. I'm very blessed and thankful to have a healthy, happy family, but we lost our very much loved dog to cancer just a few days before Thanksgiving. We will be forever thankful for the time Daisy was with us, but will always miss her.

Please be sure to visit my author Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaryAnnKempher?ref=hl

Once Forever Doomed is available, I'll be shouting it from the rooftops, or at lease on Facebook. :)

 ~~~~~~

Author MaryAnn Kempher

My Twitter handle is https://twitter.com/maryannkempher. 

Interview with Ms. MaryAnn Kempher!

Image courtesy of Author

Hi Carmen (Kay) ☺

Thanks so much for hosting me. 
~~~~~~

Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder was released on April 14^th, my birthday.

Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is romantic suspense. It will appeal to romance lovers, because Scott and Katherine (eventually) have such a fantastic friendship, that blossoms into something more. They really like each other and the reader will really like them. It will also appeal to readers who love a good mystery: a woman is brutally murdered three blocks from Katherine’s. She sees the killer as he’s preparing to dispose of the woman’s body, but manages to outrun him. He finds out who she is and starts stalking her.

1. What was the hardest part of writing?

Having the discipline to sit down and actually write. Having the strength to ignore the refrigerator and television isn’t as easy as it might sound, not when they’re just feet from the computer.

2. What books/authors inspired you to become a writer?

Hands down Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. The witty banter between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice inspired the dialogue between my two main characters. The mystery element of Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is all Agatha Christie. She’s my mystery hero.

3. What are your best times for writing? (Your circadian rhythm)

In the morning, after the kids have gone to school. I have to have quiet, or at least no interruptions.

4. I know you're dieting, but forgive me, I have a sweet tooth also! What are your comfort foods? While writing? And outside of writing?

Jeez, when am I not dieting? I’m a weakling when it comes to brownies, cakes or chocolate ice cream. Love sweets. While writing, I don’t eat a lot. The time of day I usually eat too much is in the evening. I love to eat while watching television.

5. When you're up against a brick wall (writer's block), what do you do to unwind and get unstuck?

I’m there right now. I’ve started my second book and am having a hard time. What usually works is to just walk away from writing for a little while, to take the pressure off myself.

6. What's your writing schedule like?

I don’t have a firm schedule. I usually sit down at the computer around ten in the morning for about three hours.

7. What does MaryAnn Kempher do for fun?

Gosh, I’m so boring. I really am. I read, go to the mall, go out to eat, see a movie. Everyone else in the world seem to be having so much more fun than me, but when I think about doing some of the things they’re doing-it looks like work. Oh, I’m lazy too.☺

8. Any words of wisdom and advice to other writers?

Before you start writing, go buy yourself some self-help books in the genre you want to write. There are few things you’d attempt to do without first getting some instructions on the best way to do it, why is writing any different?
~~~~~~

Author MaryAnn Kempher

My family moved to Reno NV, where Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is set when I was 15. I currently live in Florida with my husband and two children, two dogs and one cat. My favorite authors are Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. My guilty pleasures include any and all sweets. I love all cake, cookies, brownies, and of course a grande Café Mocha.

My Twitter handle is https://twitter.com/maryannkempher. 

You can reach me on Facebook: Author Maryann Kempher

My website is: http://mkempher.com

Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder can be purchased at:

http://amazon.com

http://www.barnesandnoble.com