characters – Page 2 – Alexie Linn, the Author, and Homespun Rebel

Posted on May 16, 2024May 14, 2024 by Alexie Linn

Audiobook Review: Save Money, Learn and Be Entertained with Your Ears!

Got Your Ears On? Here’s how to 1)Save Money! 2)Learn! 3)Be Entertained! All with your ears!

How often does your jet-speed commute turn into a ‘hurry-up-and-wait’ parking lot? Or an appointment flip-flop into cooling your jets in a waiting room? Then there’s the inevitable rehearsal that went overtime and yada, yada, yada.

What do you do to survive none the worse for wear?

Here’s a simple solution.

Read a book with your ears!

Schann Stewart, Alexie Linn, and Audible have partnered to bring you a brand-new audiobook that’s yours for the asking.

Have you met the players?

Schann Stewart is a voice magician. She sings. She plays all the parts in a story, including the horse and donkey. She entertains.

You’re already getting to know Alexie Linn, the author, quite well.

And Audible? Think Amazon! And Bounty!

How do you score this phenomenal sanity saver?

It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3…

Here’s how to keep your eyes on the prize and read a book with your ears — for free!:

Request a code and snag the book
Listen, learn, and laugh
Post a fast and easy review

What could be faster, simpler, and easier than that?

And here’s today’s featured cozy for your parking lot ‘control something in your life‘ pleasure…

In “The Secrets of the Tainted Trough”, imagine waking up from a nap to see a donkey and a horse peering through the screen door, both desperately thirsty. Would you give them a drink? And then what?

Sally, an energetic 87-year-old woman, faces this exact dilemma. Intrigued by the animals, she decides to investigate why they keep returning to her property. What she discovers shocks her to the core – their water trough is contaminated with a body. But whose body is it? And how did it end up in the water trough?

With no one else around but a goat, chickens and a pup, Sally wonders if the body could be their missing caregiver. As the mystery deepens, she must grapple with the fate of both the animals and the unknown person in the trough.

Join Sally on her thrilling and perplexing journey as she unravels the truth behind this mysterious misadventure.

Prepare to be captivated by the twists and turns in “The Secrets of the Tainted Trough”, a tale filled with suspense, intrigue, and unexpected revelations.

Grab a code here

Spring into the Cozies!

Here’s NEWS your wallet won’t want to miss…

There’s a new way to buy Sally the Loner eBooks in town that could knock your socks off. It will save you, at the very least, a buck a book! It’s fast. It’s easy. And you’ll love it!

It’s spring, but it’s still cold on the floor. Put your socks back on and I’ll tell you how to save a buck a book, or more.

Alexie Linn has partnered with Lemon Squeezy. Lemon Squeezy is a super quick, mobile friendly, all-in-one checkout platform. It lists a multitude of benefits, but fraud-prevention, multi-currency, fast, and mobile friendly snagged my attention right off.

I tried it. Yep, I bought my own eBooks to check it out… and it works! Just like they say. It’s Super Quick and Mobile Friendly.

Today, all 13 of the Sally the Loner series are uploaded and ready for you to buy. You can download them in Epub, Mobi, or Pdf – right on the site! A receipt flies right to your email account. It’s awesome. And here’s how to turn the key to the savings library:

Go to alexielinnauthor.com. Click through to the book you want. Click the ‘Buy direct from the author’ link. Voila! Done!

And now onto the Spring into the Cozies…

More NEWS!

Book 12 is published and available for your reading pleasure.

Get ready to embark on a whimsical and mysterious journey with Sally, a woman who has always been pet-free, as she grapples with the unexpected appearance of a black and white billy goat in her dooryard.

This goat has no intention of leaving and becomes a constant and quirky presence in Sally’s life, pushing her beyond her comfort zone and into world of goat-related antics and misadventures.

Join Sally as she navigates the challenges of this unexpected visitor and discovers the surprising connections that can be formed when we open ourselves up to the unexpected. In this captivating twelfth installment of the series, prepare to be charmed by the humorous and heartwarming tale of Sally and the goat that defies all expectations.

Click here to get right to The Goat that Wasn’t; A Baa-d Mystery author deal page.

And here’s more goodies to feed your cozy cravings …

Posted on April 4, 2024March 28, 2024 by Alexie Linn

The Quest for Identity: Adventures of Fictional Figures

Speak up Characters! – What Happens Next?

It’s not the infamous writer’s block. Neither is it brain-burnout or a blank page staring back at me. It’s simply a control issue.

When the conversation doesn’t come bubbling out or the scene is flat and boring, I blame the characters. But the real problem is me. I’m trying to control the characters instead of letting them play it out while I tend to the mechanics of it all.

The mechanics that make the book a readable page-turner. Mechanics like:

Are their actions logical?
Is their information sharing accurate?
How’s their grammar? Is it concise and acceptable?
Is it clear who’s talking?
Are they rambling on and need to put a sock in it?

Here’s an example of me trying to control the characters. It happened to me just last week.

My current work-in-progress – ‘The Goat that Wasn’t – A Baa-d Mystery’ – was becoming dry-as-dust. Oh, there was lots of mystery. There has to be anytime a strange goat comes bombing into your house and takes over… But halfway through the story there still were no bad guys!

No antagonists jumped in to stir the pot and raise more havoc than a presumptuous goat. No bodies appeared. Sally hadn’t whomped anyone with her walking stick. Nobody was holding anybody hostage. It was a story of all good guys!

Huh?

I’d plucked the characters from my own well-cultivated garden and added a few weeds with beautiful flowers. Why aren’t they performing well and thriving? They seemed to be all greens and no fruit.

I feared book 12 in the Sally the Loner series with an attention-grabbing title and 2 covers to choose from were going to fizzle and die before ever leaping out of the computer and into the world of readers.

After three days of worrying it, I practiced my own preachings.

‘Get out of the way and let the characters write the story. It’s their tale to tell.’

I did. They did. And coming soon is ‘The Goat that Wasn’t – A Baa-d Mystery’. Watch for it. But first…

I need your help… Sally and the gang are keeping mum.

With two covers vying for first place, I’m boggled. Which one grabs your curiosity first? Please cast your vote for Cover 1 or Cover 2. Thank you, thank you.

On that note; Take this lesson to heart in your own writing endeavors to let the characters do the storytelling. You’re just there for the mechanics. And the covers. And the description. And the…

But while you’re waiting for the debut of ‘The Goat that Wasn’t – a Baa-d Mystery’, you might also like to get acquainted with these characters…

Posted on January 5, 2024January 4, 2024 by Alexie Linn

Attention Parents of Youngsters – Is Choosing Books for Your Teeny Bopper a Frightful Experience?

I say teeny bopper because the powers-that-be can’t decide the age group of young adults. Some say a young adult is 18-25 years old. Others identify a young adult as 12-18 years old. I choose the term teeny bopper to cut down on confusion.

For this post a teeny bopper is from 12-18 years old. Give or take a year or two because not all youngsters fit an age mold.

In case you haven’t noticed, by the time your child reaches the ripe old age of 12-years-old, they’re flexing their wings to test their flight path.

What can you do to encourage successful test flights?

Please understand that I am not a child psychologist. I am simply the proud and relieved mother of three honorable full-grown daughters. And I was once a teeny bopper. I confess that what I am about to share with you has not been tested on young sons. You have to be the judge of that.

But back to the matter at hand; choosing reading material for teeny boppers.

What I came to tell you about is a series of books that follow a teen girl in her journey of dealing with events youngsters are faced with daily. Events like her mother with cancer. Bullies. A vanishing father. And a friend of another color to name just a few.

The protagonist’s name is Mary Linn Hassenpfeffer (the p is silent). She’s about 15-years-old. And she’s doing the best she can to grow up in her own chaotic world of changing schools often, caring for her mom while her dad is on the road, and learning about life. She’s conquering the thorns in her side without turning to props like drugs or alcohol.

But she’s not perfect. She has a goto hobby that helps her cope and raises many eyebrows.

Her hobby throws her into mysteries to solve and snap judgements she has to make to survive.

Her life is an adventure to spark your – and your child’s — imagination.

The takeaways include:

Confirmation that daily challenges happen to everyone
Confidence in your ability to make good decisions in your own shoes
Flash tests happen. Do your best to write the test and move on.
Having a helping others hobby is good
Embrace friendships that appear by accident
It’s good to think and act independently of the crowd

Could Mary Linn’s teen stories be a help in guiding the path of your own youngsters – excuse me – teeny boppers?

Learn more about the Mary Linn series of books. Incidentally, this cozy prequel novelette to the series is free. And only available through this link. It’s not in any bookstore.

Check it out. It might be exactly what you’ve been looking for…

7 Lessons I Learned from Writing Books

If I knew then what I know now about writing for readers, would I have taken the leap?

How do you answer the question, “What don’t you know?”

With those two questions out of the way, let’s get right to today’s lesson…

Lesson #1 — I’m Not the One in Control.

When I took the plunge the picture in my head was akin to being the puppeteer. Me maneuvering and manipulating all the little puppets around the stage to create an entertaining show. The reality is all the little puppets doing their own thing while I wrestle with each one to do it my way. They win. My job and mission is to corral them into a coherent and cohesive story.

Lesson learned? Myself is all I have control over… most of the time.

Lesson #2 — Everything takes Time.

I can outline the story, build the sets, cast the characters, and even write the first draft for a cozy mystery in about two weeks. Then the real work begins…

The cool downs prior to each of three painstaking edits, the prepping and posting to my website and the distributors.

Next up is promoting. That never ends. Each new book is like raising a child. They leave, but they’re never gone. And they all require time.

Lesson learned? Time ticks off, no matter what. Do your best to use it productively.

Lesson #3 — File for Retrieval

Do I remember my mindset when I started writing ‘Unexpected Blessings’ nine years ago? Did I file it under Grief Recovery? Or is it in the Joan Freed file? After searching for about an hour, I found it. I’d changed the name on the file the last time I put it away.

Lesson Learned? File in the protagonist’s folder and never, ever change the name on the file.

Lesson #4 — Plus One Rules!

My house runs well on ‘plus-1’ for supplies. When I buy a can of soup, I buy 2. When I slip a quart of engine oil into my cart, I slide in two. And when I need water wipes, I grab an extra for a backup. While I don’t buy two computers when one fails, I learned the hard way to keep a thumb drive in the slot and update it daily for a copy… just in case.

Lesson learned? Keep one backup copy of every manuscript separate from the computer.

Lesson #5 — Blessings come in all sounds, sizes, and shapes

Interruptions usually translate as frustrations. But I have found that whether it be a phone call or a knock on the door, it’s more often a blessing in disguise.

For instance, the phone call from my long-lost daughter to say she’s coming home. Or the gift of Alaska smoked salmon that is being delivered from my friend in the far north. Or a call from an avid reader looking for the eta on my work in progress.

Lesson learned? Count the interruptions as blessings. They really are priceless.

Lesson #6 — Writer’s block has many names

Brain freeze. Senior moments. Writer’s block. In my case, they are all a temporary frame of mind that comes from stress. Worry of what the next word or paragraph will be that is sure to hook a reader to keep reading. Maybe all the characters are out for recess. They don’t ask me. They just do it and leave me in the lurch. But if I slow down and wait for the characters to return, we’ll be on a roll again.

Lesson learned? Take a breath. Do something else for a minute while the hooligans I call characters gad about. Like the three little kittens who’ve lost their mittens, they’ll come home with wild stories to tell.

Lesson #7 — Some say I’m crazy. I’m okay with that.

I see or feel the eye roll. It happens when I’m getting ready to tuck myself into bed at sundown. And it comes from those who are not morning people.

Not long ago I had a text waiting for me when I rolled out and booted the computer at 2 AM. I answered it. And got a reply! But the texter was just on his way to bed. Did he feel my eyes roll?

Lesson learned? We each march to our own drummer. How boring life would be if we didn’t.

And there you have it. 7 lessons I’ve learned that are directly related to the business of writing.

What lessons have you learned? Email me here to share.

But to answer the question of if I knew then what I know now, would I have pursued this career in writing fun, provocative, and interesting books?

Yes! It’s my way of giving back and encouraging you.

Cheers!

You’re Running Out of Inspiration? Here’s How to Get a Refill.

If you’re Running out of inspiration, here’s how to get a quick and easy refill.

The Symptoms of Inspiration Leaking

You feel it. You hear the tire slowly deflating but you don’t have a spare to yank out, crank on and get on down the road. That’s the miserable sound of inspiration oozing. It is warning you to stop overworking it and take action to keep your prose running smoothly.

Then there’s the inspiration leaking characters

Does it feel like your characters act like they’re all taking a long winter’s nap at the same moment. But it’s not winter! How will you wake them up? More inspiration oozing.

Here’s how to stop the outflow.

First, identify what’s causing the inspiration to drain.

Where’s the leak? Is it:

Lazy writing – it just lays there, refusing to dance
No interaction – Needs outside input
Mind-boggle – Too many distractions or demands to focus on your character’s needs

It is NOT Writer’s Block!

There are those that label the malady Writer’s Block. But blockage requires enemas. And, sometimes, trips to the hospital. On top of that, blockage requires lots of manual labor to get through, around, or over.

These are all negative factors in a productive life. In my opinion, that is.

But stop! Don’t make it harder than it is. I’m all about DIY positive fixes if it’s at all possible.

And here’s 6 ways of how to tell the inspiration attendant to fill-er-up.

Self-talk

Jot down, read, and repeat a mini mantra that goes something like this:

‘I am driven to write lively, entertaining prose from quirky, memorable characters. I listen to the characters. I hear the characters. I encourage their individuality to take over the story’.

Make it as long or short as you like. And in your words.

Just say what you want to do. And blame it all on the characters.

What-if game changer

Play the ‘What-if’ game with your characters.

What-if Superman came flying overhead and crash-landed in your pool? Would that be a topic of conversation? Do ya’ think?

Sally the Loner plays this game all the time. And what characters she meets up with! Even a kidnapping Big-foot and a man-size doll that worries about his designer shoes.

It’s fiction. Anything can happen. Encourage it. There’s always editing if its superfluous.

Throw a wrench into the works with a new character

If Superman crash-landing in your pool isn’t a wrench with a memorable personality, I don’t know what is. Do you?

Read the headlines

A few minutes ago, when inspiration to write this piece was deflating, a headline caught my eye.

It was about a solar powered water desalination plant that might fit right into the Second Chance Ranch scenario. The ranch that might become a spin-off of the Sally the Loner series.

What headline can wake up at least one of your characters?

Grab an inspirational quote

Is one of your characters a wise old guru? Will an inspirational quote fit right in to your dedication for the story? And fill up your inspiration tank at the same time?

Here’s one I like…

“Life is about accepting the challenges along the way, choosing to keep moving forward, and savoring the journey.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

If all else fails

Give the problem to an AI (artificial intelligence) app. That action and result is sure to get you throwing down the gauntlet to beat it at its own game. Isn’t it?

Refill Your Inspiration Summary

When you find yourself leaking inspiration, take action to plug the leak, refill the tank and get typing again.

Put:

Self-talk
What-if game
A new character or event
Read the headlines
An inspirational quote
Artificial intelligence

to the test. And run with it.

Running out of inspiration is just that. Your tank (or tire) is frightfully low. You can make it to the air pump if you act fast. Before it fizzles to flat or that last fume is gone.

Are you re-inspired yet? Keep filling until you are. You can do it.

Cheers!

P.S. Grab a look-see at Sally the Loner. She’s an inspiration in her own right… or is it write?

Behind the Scenes of a Productive Author

Does this happen to you? It happens to me.

Each time I decide what I want to be when I grow up, a picture comes into my head. The picture invariably is of me (and my team) with the shiny finished product with throngs of people lined up to buy or use that gorgeous piece I’ve created. Cash is flowing. People are jubilant and crying for more…

But is it that simple?

Hmm. Not so much.

I’ve flipped career paths several times over the years simply because of the behind the scenes demands.

Demands like:

Graveyard shifts because I’m a morning person. I turn into a pumpkin at sundown.
Working with a redneck crew that shun and torment a woman in their midst.
Micro managers that must give permission for a bathroom break when it will affect no one else on the floor.

It’s easy to block out the details of what goes into the production of a product. Especially when you have no clue until you get there; having leapt smack into the bubbling pot of goo.

So, in preparation of your leap into becoming a productive author, here’s a peak at what goes on behind the scenes to get a book from thought to publication at Alexie Linn, Author.

The Inspiration:
- Ask the question. Define the problem that needs a solution. (The reason for writing the book)
- Who are the characters that have the problem? What is each character’s quirk?Does the protagonist need a sidekick?
- Make the antagonist 3 dimensional. Why are they so darned antagonistic?
Outline the story — make a gazillion decisions:
- How does the story begin?
- What led to the problem?
- Where is the problem happening? Research places.
- What are the options to fix the problem?
- Refine the options with what happens along the way
- Research the options for suitable fixes
- Attempt to fix the problem
- Keep working the fixes until one clicks.
- Will the chosen venue work?
- Tie up all the loose ends… or leave them dangle?
Write the story:
- How much material have you to work with?
- What’s the slant? What are you selling to whom?
- Who will be reading it? A pre-schooler or a scholar?
- Average 5-letter words or 20-letter words?
- How many chapters? About how many words per chapter?
- How many total words?
  - Is it a:short story (1,500-30,000 words);
  - a novella (18.000-40,000 words);
  - a novel (40,000-150,000 words);
  - a flash fiction (300-1,500 words); or
  - a nonfiction (25,000-150,000 words)
- Decide whether to start at the beginning, middle, or end.
- Look for a publisher (write and submit a proposal) or indie publish (write the proposal for yourself or just skip it)?
Publish the Book
- Prepare the manuscript for indie publication
- Write or rewrite the description
- Select key words or phrases for search engines to snag —
- Design the cover
- Write and arrange for Pre-order ads
- Run the editing gambit (See Publishing Checklist)
- Publish to the website with available when date
- Format the MS for E-book and Print versions
- Upload to the server(s) – Phew! — Almost done…
- Prepare the narrator’s version of the manuscript
  - Remove photos and anything else that the narrator should not read or describe.
  - Compile an audition script; including character ages and voice inflections like a stutter, lisp, or an accent.Select a narratorNegotiate a contract with the narrator
  - Upload the narrator version of the manuscript
Promote, promote, promote
- Order author copies of print versions for promotion and gig sales
- Schedule book signing and sales gigs
- Post the new book to social media servers from the website often and frequently
- Write the blog
Repeat steps 1 through 5

And there you have it. A nutshell peek at behind the scenes of Alexie Linn, Author.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this behind-the-scenes journey and are now more prepared to dive into the very busy life of authorship.

The inspiration, outline, write, and publish process takes about 30-days for this author. Promotion never ends.

I’ve seen books promising you can do it all in 7-days. And I just opened an email from a homesteading blogger that her 85,000-word book is finally done. Her project took 5-years.

We each work at the speed that best suits us… or that providence allows. The most important step is to keep plugging away at it. Artificial intelligence does it faster. But it will never do it better than you. Strive for perfection, but keep going to the end.

Posted on April 8, 2023 by Alexie Linn

10 Words Never Used

10 Words Never Used in Alexie Linn Books

Words are the verbal windows to the world. And I am an extremely literal person. One would think I have to use each and every word in the dictionary to tell the story precisely. But I don’t. Why not?

There are several reasons I don’t use every word in the dictionary to tell a story. How many do you agree with? How many do you apply to your own writing style?

Alexie Linn books are written for all ages and backgrounds to enjoy. No dictionary or doctorate is required to live the tale.
Each character chooses their own dialogue and dialect. At this writing, none of my characters have had a need to flaunt their ability to read, remember and share jargon or vulgarities. But you never know. One might bully his or her way in when an obnoxious antagonist is called for.
Parlance (jargon), without a reason, can detract from the moral of the tale being told. I consider jargony and rarely used words the same as links in webpages that carry you off to the dark unknown… never to return.

Does this mean I never use a word that will stretch a reader’s vocabulary? Not at all! If an idiom is the best word for the situation, it appears. Have fun with it.

And here are the 10 words never used in Alexie Linn books… Yet.

Agelast – One who never laughs

Atrate – Dressed in black

Callipygian – Having large, round, succulent buttocks

Caruncle – The triangular pink areas at the corner of your eye

Limerence – The state of being infatuated with someone

Metanoia – Spiritual transformation

Minimus — Your tiny toe or finger

Osculator – One who loves or one who is loved

Oxter – Armpit

Pauciloquent – Concise

Vallecula – a groove. An anatomical depression or crevice, as between the hemispheres of the brain.

Now that I’ve listed these ten words never used, I might find a reason to use them. Will you?

Enjoy the Journey,

Alexie Linn

The afterthought…

Thank you to The Language Nerds for helping out with this post.

P.S. Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and follow me on Facebook. New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

BUT! If you only want updates and pre-order deals of new releases of Books, Vellas and Audibles, the easiest way is to follow me on Amazon. When you get an email notice of a new book release, simply ask for it by the title – or for all the Alexie Linn authored titles at your favorite retailer.

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on November 11, 2022 by Alexie Linn

Sally’s Character Secrets – Revealed!

Why didn’t I know about Sally’s character secrets? I’m her creator, for crying out loud!

Because, while she came into being through my imagination, I don’t direct her every thought or move. Although I do have to crack the whip to tame her now and again.

Once a character has their own avatar, they take over and tell me who they are, their beliefs, and what they like. And I let them.

Here are a few of Sally’s character secrets that I pried out of her:

She wishes she had a greener thumb. Successful gardening is challenge she’s never conquered.
A pint of Ben and Jerry’s is her favorite summertime supper… or a pint of red, ripe strawberries dipped in whipped cream.
She loves to travel. But hates packing up her van – and unpacking it when she returns.
Anticipating a road trip gives her night terrors. She says it would be fine if she could just get in her van and go…
Fear of scorpions makes her throw-up. It’s the only creature – so far – that she has to make herself squash instead of relocating it.
She has no mirrors under bright lights. Why?
She gives pack rats at least a day to move on before she sets the trap to ‘rehome’ them. Then assures them they’ll be happier in their new estate when she sets them free four miles away.
She loves living alone. But wants a companion to share experiences with… like the county fair, camping, and making tamales.

Characters grow into their own, if you let them. Each one will speak their own dialogue, if you let them. Even Leon, who has now appeared in two of the Sally the Loner MysAdventures, wrote his own script. He caught me by total surprise when he shape-shifted from a knight-in-shining-armor to a …

I know that there will be more of Sally’s character secrets to reveal as she journeys into her next MysAdventure… and the next… and the next…

But Leon may be done with his shape-shifting stunts… unless…

How are your personas coming along? Are they there yet? Do they ever get there? Only your characters know for sure.

“Mua-ha-ha-ha…”

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S. Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and follow me on Facebook. New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Posted on August 6, 2022 by Alexie Linn

Profanity in Your Prose – Character Builder? Or Cop-Out?

Do trash-mouthed characters move a story forward? In what way? What do we learn (or teach) from people who seem unable to make a statement or tell a story without vulgarities spewed throughout?

But a tale told without antagonists to spark action is boring to say the least. Not every character in life or fiction is polite, respectful, or happy.

What’s a writer to do?

How can an author build a foul-mouthed, mean, miserable character without spewing offensive expletives throughout the dialogue?

That is the mission of this post… To help you create characters with mind-blowing flaws but make the story reader-friendly and increase your readership base by doing it. It’s all part of the art of emotion-filled prose, my dear.

Do this: Use actions in place of words to build smutty, profanity spewing characters.

Can you love a character who trips handicapped people with their walking stick, cuts full school busses off in traffic, or bullies their way into the front of the line?

He made a fist, his forehead smooshed, he opened his mouth and I quit listening to his story… but trottted away to escape the hot air he spewed.

How about a character who flaunts their wealth while smirking in needy, fire-ravaged or tornado-flattened neighborhoods?

How lovable is a person who spits on the sidewalk in front of you?

What’s the character of a person who tosses litter (or puppies or people) out the door or window?

These are just a few of the ways to build a nasty character without ever having them waste valuable words that move the story forward every step of the way.

What action stabs your instant reject button for an individual in real life?

There is so much more to a person (or character) than the size of their vocabulary… If profanity is required to tell the story… is it a story or a rant?

On that note…

Happy Trails and Tales,

Alexie Linn

P.S. Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks……Free Audiobooks…..

Click here to join our Audible Lovers Cornucopia group. It’s free and where you’ll find links to Free Audibles for your listening and reviewing pleasure.

The easiest way to get updates is to follow this blog and follow me on Facebook. New posts should appear on the Alexie Linn page – if I’ve held my mouth right… 😊

Subscribe to my You Tube Channelto not miss a fun and entertaining Book Trailer. They’re short. They’re mesmerizing. And they won’t waste your time.

And just one more thing. Here’s where to find and follow me on Goodreads. Please do to get in on all that Goodreads has to offer. Goodreads is always at the very best price. It’s FREE!

Read a book with your ears!

It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3…

Here’s how to keep your eyes on the prize and read a book with your ears — for free!:

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What can you do to encourage successful test flights?

But back to the matter at hand; choosing reading material for teeny boppers.

But she’s not perfect. She has a goto hobby that helps her cope and raises many eyebrows.

Could Mary Linn’s teen stories be a help in guiding the path of your own youngsters – excuse me – teeny boppers?

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Lesson #1 — I’m Not the One in Control.

Lesson #2 — Everything takes Time.

Lesson #3 — File for Retrieval

Lesson #4 — Plus One Rules!

Lesson #5 — Blessings come in all sounds, sizes, and shapes

Lesson #6 — Writer’s block has many names

Lesson #7 — Some say I’m crazy. I’m okay with that.

And there you have it. 7 lessons I’ve learned that are directly related to the business of writing.

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The Symptoms of Inspiration Leaking

Then there’s the inspiration leaking characters

First, identify what’s causing the inspiration to drain.

And here’s 6 ways of how to tell the inspiration attendant to fill-er-up.

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I’ve flipped career paths several times over the years simply because of the behind the scenes demands.

So, in preparation of your leap into becoming a productive author, here’s a peak at what goes on behind the scenes to get a book from thought to publication at Alexie Linn, Author.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this behind-the-scenes journey and are now more prepared to dive into the very busy life of authorship.

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10 Words Never Used in Alexie Linn Books

And here are the 10 words never used in Alexie Linn books… Yet.

Now that I’ve listed these ten words never used, I might find a reason to use them. Will you?

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Why didn’t I know about Sally’s character secrets? I’m her creator, for crying out loud!

Here are a few of Sally’s character secrets that I pried out of her:

I know that there will be more of Sally’s character secrets to reveal as she journeys into her next MysAdventure… and the next… and the next…

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Do this: Use actions in place of words to build smutty, profanity spewing characters.

There is so much more to a person (or character) than the size of their vocabulary… If profanity is required to tell the story… is it a story or a rant?

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