Several months ago, I got bogged down and stopped my short story reviews. I'm not ready to begin reviewing yet, but I will mention some good reading available now.

Mysterical-E is an e-zine featuring mystery short stories. http://mystericale.com/current-issue/ Also included in this free magazine are interviews and articles.

The current issue of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine is packed with great stories. I'm halfway through the September - October issue. http://mystericale.com/current-issue/ 

​Happy reading!

I'm sharing an article by debut author Jason Henry Evans. His experiences mirror my own, although I'm small press published while he is going Indy. The point is, don't give up. https://pikespeakwriters.com/2019/08/my-journey-to-publication/ 

Not the end of the world. The end of my novel.

If you're a writer, you know finishing a novel means you've been to "the end" many times. While I am doing the final polish of my manuscript, I know my editor will have her own opinion on whether the novel is done or not.

I'll make my deadline. Not without a few gallons of coffee, but I'll make it.

And I even had time for a weekend dash to Roswell to visit an old friend.
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I am envious of writers who find the time to blog, attend conferences, volunteer, and promote their work. I was able to do some of those activities, in moderation, until recently.

Facing a publishing deadline, I had to prioritize. That's easy. I decided to make my fiction-focus the new book for Annie's Publishing. Once it is finished, I'll return to other projects.

Life will go on as usual.

A month into the novel, in order to stick to a schedule allowing me to complete the book on time, I stopped reviewing short stories. Then I stopped blogging, for the most part. A topic for an entire blog is my decision to stop attending conferences.

My day job became more demanding. I'm planning to retire in a few years. We have set the date. But until then, I need the job and the great benefits. The balancing act must continue a bit longer.

Family suddenly needed more attention. I found myself fighting to find time for basic fitness, or reading a novel. 

I still stuck to my writing schedule. The new novel is in first draft form. Critique group will review the final chapters next week. One last edit by me, then it's off to my editor.
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Success, right? I have another month or so of work on this book when the editor's comments come back, then life returns to normal.

Not so fast. I have been stressed out a lot lately. This goes beyond having a deadline. I've worked to deadlines many times. I decided to identify the stress in my life, and cull out those things I can.

Today I unsubscribed from several news sites that pop up in my email with screaming headlines. No more screaming.

I'll hit Facebook next, and silence the "friends" who constantly rant or repost political stuff that raises my blood pressure. If we can't have civility in our daily discourse with people we call friends, then I choose to opt out. In fact, it might be best to hop off the social media merry-go-round from time to time.

I'm taking a break. 

With any luck, you'll find me out walking or running. Maybe sitting on the deck watching the flowers grow. I might finally make some progress on my to-be-read pile. And finish fiction projects begging to be written.

Summer is short. Life is short. Find the positive in each day.

​Today I offer a peek behind the curtain to the struggles and triumphs of writing. Here is my advice to aspiring authors, while readers may find it interesting to learn what goes into the creation of their favorite fiction.

You can read my article on the Pikes Peak Writers blog: https://pikespeakwriters.com/2019/07/7315/

I received a nice review of Survive Or Die from Jason Half.

"I have always been a fan of mystery settings that isolate a group of people and plots that turn up the tension. J. Jefferson Farjeon's Mystery in White has his travelers stranded by a snowstorm in a country manor where murder may have just occurred, while Agatha Christie brings And Then There Were None's fated guests to Indian Island, with no means of escape. Catherine Dilts makes good use of her woods-and-mountains Colorado backdrop to trap and challenge her characters, and she keeps the perceived safety of civilized society just out of their reach." 

You can read the entire review on his website. https://www.jasonhalf.com/blog/book-review-survive-or-die-2019-by-catherine-dilts 

For Mystery Thriller Week, I offer a peek behind the curtain to the struggles and triumphs of writing. I give my advice to aspiring authors, while readers may find it interesting to learn what goes into the creation of their favorite fiction.

1) Pantser or Plotter?
Writers will ask whether you are a pantser or plotter. A pantser writes by the seat of his or her pants. Page one, blank screen - GO! A plotter creates an outline of the story before beginning. Many writers fall somewhere in between, doing some outlining, but not hesitating to depart from the outline if the story veers in a new direction. Which are you? It may take years of writing to decide. You may also discover that being a pantser works better for one story, while careful plotting is required for another. Experiment. 

2) Don't hurry.
There may be anecdotes about people writing a best seller or classic in a weekend, or a matter of mere weeks. Good luck with that. My best work has taken time. Due to deadlines, that time is often compressed, but the work will not be cheated of the hours.

On that same note, don't rush to get your work before agents, or push it prematurely into self publication. After you have written "the end," set your story aside. Days, a week or two, even a month will allow you a fresh perspective. 

3) Don't quit the day job.
When I first became published, I joked that I'd be able to earn my living from writing on the day I retired. Sadly, this is probably going to be the truth. The economic reality of writing is harsh. Short story author R. T. Lawton has quite a bit to say on this topic in his article: https://www.sleuthsayers.org/2017/03/while-were-at-it.html 

I'm not saying it can't be done, but the majority of folks I know who are writing full time are retired, or are supported by a spouse. Be cautious before you leave that paying gig. A steady paycheck, health insurance, pension, and paid vacation are non-existent for the self-employed writer.

4) Learn the business.
As budding authors, we crave learning the art and craft of writing, but the business end? Not so much. How can you learn, besides reading books or blogs? Join a writing group attended by successful authors. By joining the Mystery Writers of America, I was fortunate to meet published authors who freely shared their experiences at local chapter meetings. Libraries may offer writing workshops, or can direct you to local writers' groups. If you attend a conference, include sessions on the business aspects of writing.

I'm not talking strictly about the financial side of business, although learning the best method to track your income and expenses is important at tax time. You will need to know how to write a synopsis. (Hint - you can't do much better than Pam McCutcheon's how-to book.) Where to find agents representing your style of fiction. What is the proper etiquette when pitching to an editor at a conference. If you want a career writing, treat it like any other business, and educate yourself.

5) Renew the joy.
Writers can burn out, just as in any profession. I have heard complaints from the entire spectrum of writers, whether unpublished or multi-published. At some point, it becomes a job. Maybe even drudgery. You begin to hate your story, dread sitting in front of the computer, and doubt your sanity for thinking you had the talent to write fiction. Before you throw in the towel, ask yourself these questions.

Who is stopping you? A negative person in your life? Someone who needs your attention, whether a child, a boss, or an elderly parent? Yourself? Can you turn the negativity into motivation? "I'll show them - I am a writer!" Find a way to balance the needs of people in your life with your own goals. If you're not happy and healthy, how can you be a good parent, spouse, employee, caretaker?

Why did you begin writing in the first place? A book inspired you? Did you escape pain through reading, and want to give someone else that gift? Do you have fond memories of being read to, or reading in a favorite comfy place? Revisit your earliest motivation to be a writer. 

What did you have to say that was so important, you were willing to sacrifice other aspects of your life in order to hammer out words for hours on end? Is that message still valid? Your message, or theme, doesn't have to be lofty. Distracting readers from their worries and problems with an entertaining story can be more valuable than any deep literary tome. 

That moment will return when suddenly the words flow. The scenes click together. The characters jump off the page. You become lost in your own story. You remember the joy of writing, and why you started on this crazy journey. 

You can do this. Even if you have to write in snatches of stolen time. Even if you have to battle doubts, whether from people around you, or yourself. A good deal of success in writing is mere persistence. That is a trait we can all nurture.

You can find the Mystery Thriller Week group on Facebook.

Join me on my final stop on the Survive Or Die blog tour at Pulp and Mystery Shelf. I reveal how I became a published author, why I write cozy and amateur sleuth mystery, and three tips for people wanting to become authors. Read here.

On Kings River Life today, you can read my Earth Day themed article on the benefits of abandoned mines. While the detritus of 19th century mining might sound incompatible with environmental stewardship, bear with me. Sometimes attempting to fix one ecological issue exacerbates another. Read here.

Also on Kings River Life is a fabulous review of Survive Or Die, my novel touching on the issue of abandoned mines. Read here.