Author Archives: LAL

How I Finally Got On the Audiobook Bandwagon

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This year started off rather stressful. As a result, I was in a major reading slump for the first 6-weeks of 2019. I finished exactly 1 book and that was on January 1.

I had my Goodreads 2019 reading challenge set at 78 books (1.5 books per week).

By February 15, I was 11 books behind with no relief in sight.

If you know me at all, you know that reading is a major part of my life. I love all things books. I love literary places, literary nick-knacks, literary prints, bags, shirts, and literary references. Bookstores are a second home (and maybe my primary if I ever get around to developing my bookstore idea). And libraries are my haven.

So to go over a month and a half without reading, well let’s just say it didn’t help the funk I was already in.

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Writing Contest: My First Entry

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I actually read the fine print—the official rules & participation agreement— of the Flash Fiction Challenge 2019. And as I read it, nothing in the rules prevents me from sharing my story on my own blog. As the rules state, I still own the copyright.

I also learned by reading the fine print that I won’t find out how I did until midnight September 11. (The second challenge of Round 1 starts September 13).

The waiting is the worst part.

And I said I might share my story once Challenge 1 of the first round is closed. It closed last night at midnight EDT. So at least temporarily (I’m not sure how long I’ll leave this post up), I’ve decided to share my first entry to the NYCMidnight’s Flash Fiction Challenge 2019.

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Where I Enter a Short Story Writing Challenge

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A couple months ago, I saw an advertisement for a writing contest by NYCMidnight—The Flash Fiction Challenge. It cost a little money to enter, but winners receive prizes (first place receives $5,000!).

Like the impulse buyer I am, I immediately signed up. Who can resist a writing challenge? But I promptly had buyers remorse. I’ll never win. What was I thinking? And then I proceeded to forget about all it.

Until two days ago.

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Let’s Talk About Civics: The Basics

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Last week, I introduced my new Monday series: Let’s Talk About Civics. This series will be an ongoing conversation about civics, including how the U.S. Government works and the rights and duties of U.S. citizens.

To start off the series, today’s post is about civics fundamentals. A civics 101 if you will. This post focuses on the foundation of the U.S. Government (what ideas lay the foundation of the government) and the basics of the U.S. Government system.

For most of you who attended an American school, this is rather basic information you (hopefully) learned at some point. But we need to understand the basics before discussing the rights and obligations. And I hope this makes us all take another look at our government as well as generates some good conversation.

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