Author: Jackie Houchin

First, I am a believer in Jesus Christ, so my views and opinions are filtered through what God's Word says and I believe. I'm a wife, a mom, a grandma and now a great grandma. I write articles and reviews, and I dabble in short fiction. I enjoy living near the ocean, doing gardening (for beauty and food) and traveling - in other countries, if possible. My heart is for Christian missions, and I'm compiling a collections of Missionary Kids' stories to publish. (I also like kittens and cats and reading mysteries.)

Last ‘Group Post’ in 2025 – a Holiday Story

by WinR members

“In 150 words or fewer, use (most of) these holiday words in a story: snowflake, candle, cookie, bell, star, and mitten. Your story can be funny, magical, reminiscent, or adventurous—it’s up to you!”

  1. Jill Amadio

“Despite the snowflakes landing on her nose and eyes (the only parts of her uncovered) as she trudged along the lane in Boston, she kept hoping for a glimpse of the stars. It was her sole method of navigation, and she longed to see Venus, her home planet.

Suddenly, she spotted a small dark object a few feet ahead. Curious, she picked it up, noting five leather tubes, four next to each other, and another, shorter tube separated from the others (a mitten!). The object appeared to be similar to her own three tubes for each hand. She threw it back onto the snow as she heard a deep booming sound coming from the pointed structure up ahead (a bell tower!).

She stopped to listen as the booms changed tone quickly, and she realized this was what mortals called music. She entered and saw a myriad of little burning candles on a stand. Was this a code?

She ran outside, fumbled in her pocket to retrieve her “nallimachine,” and pressed the shifter button. Instantly, she shot up into the sky, through the snow clouds, and into a triangular craft that had its door already open.

“SoiurmmegivomortChristmasalsii,” she gasped. The pilot nodded and pushed a series of knobs, sending the craft into space.

.

2. Maggie King

Every year, my daughter Molly and I watch Christmas movies. When The Bells of St. Mary’s ended, I started Frosty the Snowman and went to the kitchen to heat hot chocolate for the two of us. Outdoors, fat snowflakes fluttered in the air, covering the ground in a thick, white blanket. I picked up one of Molly’s mittens from the floor.

“Mom,” Molly cried from the family room. “The star is crooked!”

I handed Molly a mug of fragrant hot chocolate and straightened the star on top of the tree. The tinsel on the branches reflected the lights in jewel colors of red, green, and blue.

“Mom, can we leave Christmas cookies on the mantle for Santa?”

“Of course, darling. And you get to pick the cookies Santa will like.”

Molly squealed in delight. “I love Christmas, Mommy.”

“So do I, darling. So do I.”

.

3.  Jackie Houchin

Mittens, my black-and-white tuxedo kitten, jumped from my bed to the bookcase by my window and wiggled her head through the slit in the curtains.  I heard her “chat-chat-chatter” at something outside, but I was too cozy in my bed to get up and see.

She started “running” her front paws on the cold glass, making a squeaking sound, and jingling the bell on her collar.  “Meow,” she said, pushing through the curtain to stand on the windowsill, her tail twitching.

I popped the rest of my gingerbread cookie into my mouth and climbed out of bed. “Brrrrr.” I stuck my head between the curtains to see what Mittens saw. She was purring as loudly as an electric pencil sharpener now!

“Awwww,” I purred too. In the neighbor’s upstairs window across from mine was my friend’s new white Persian kitten. She had a big red Christmas ribbon around her neck. 

“Hi, Star!” I said and waved Mittens’ paw at her.  She squeezed her golden eyes shut briefly and smiled.

.

4. G. B. Pool

A bell went off in young Bobby Gentry’s head last year when he tried catching a glimpse of Santa and his reindeer, which he did every Christmas Eve. He saw something flash across the night sky, followed by a shower of snowflakes that looked like glittering stars.

He planned all year for this next Christmas Eve. He picked out the prettiest cookie his aunt had made for the holiday party earlier that evening and stuffed it in his pocket. It was broken by the time he got home, but it would have to do.

He left a note, the cookie, some mittens for Santa to keep his hands warm, and a handmade card. In the note, Bobby said he didn’t want anything for himself, but would Santa deliver this card on his journey.

The card featured a lopsided cake and three candles. Written inside were these words:  Happy Birthday, Jesus.

.

5. Linda Johnston

Who Saved Who?

Wearing a jacket and boots, Ava approached her car outside her Indiana home as snowflakes fell. Christmastime was nearing. Today was growing late, and a star glowed in the darkening sky.

She and her husband, Bret, had no kids yet, and Ava was lonesome since Bret had suddenly left town for business.  Well, she knew where to go. She and Bret had already made the decision. Now, it was time.

Driving carefully, Ava soon reached the pet shelter where a candle burned in the window. Exiting her car, she pulled on mittens for the short walk inside.

And yes! She was met at the entrance by volunteer Sue, with a special dog leashed beside her: an adorable, abandoned Papillon mix.

“Hi, Lucy!” Ava knelt to offer a small dog cookie.  As Lucy ate it, Ava stood and looked at Sue. “Is she–?”

“She’s yours after we finalize paperwork.”

Ava smiled and picked Lucy up. Christmas in their household would be wonderful.

.

6. Renee LeVerrier (guest)

A Haiku

Mom’s cookie tins hold

Stars and snowflakes, mittens, bells 

Reach in for childhood

.

7. Barb Bland (guest) 

All the other women in my family were up to their eyebrows cooking, shopping, wrapping, and decorating for Christmas, so I volunteered to look after my three-year-old niece, Lizzie, who was sick in bed. In her darkened bedroom, I told her about The Star and the heavenly angels appearing to the shepherds watching their flocks by night. 

“The German Shepherds?” she interrupted.

I realized that her next-door neighbor had two dogs of that breed and that Lizzie was too young to have yet learned about nationalities, so I simply laughed and said,  “Yes. The German Shepherds.”

.

 

Hope you all enjoyed the stories.  Got any of your own to share??

 

Be Thankful!

by Jackie Houchin

Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin;
God our Maker doth provide
For our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come,
Raise the song of harvest home.

Henry Alford, 1844

This familiar old hymn reminds me of Pilgrims and Thanksgiving.  As it happens, my favorite holiday occurs on the last Thursday of November.  To me, Thanksgiving means distant family gathering together, good food, laughter, games, turkey and pumpkin pie, a chill in the air, and perhaps a family walk in the neighborhood to “digest” that second piece of pie.

As writers, we have much to be thankful for: ideas, good words, venues, promotions, agents and editors, readers, and (sometimes) reviews.

On this blog, we’ve talked about ideas and how we get them, good words and how much we enjoy writing them (even IF our readers seldom notice), and the various ways we promote our work. Recently, it’s been at author signings and book fairs.  ALL things to be thankful for.

As readers, we’re grateful for good books in the genres we love, authors who keep those books coming in the series we’re addicted to, blog posts that encourage and inspire, lyrics to songs we enjoy, and even those pithy/humorous ditties we see on Facebook.

Writing words and reading them. What a joy!

Writers can show their appreciation for readers by consistently producing well-written books, stories, and articles, meeting readers in person, and (yes!!) offering the occasional discount or freebie book!

Readers can show their gratitude to authors by sharing their fave books (or blog links) with friends, and by word-of-mouth or written reviews.  A two-line review is not THAT hard to write!

So readers, what are YOU grateful for this November?

(We at The Writers In Residence are delighted that you show up each week!)

I’m always thankful for words and eyes to see them, good words put together in marvelous ways, and most of all, for THE Word of God.

All the world is God’s own field,
Fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown,
Unto joy or sorrow grown;
First the blade, and then the ear,
Then the full corn shall appear:
Lord of harvest, grant that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be.

Once upon a time…

by Jackie Houchin

Once upon a time, in a WAY long time ago, before I had a smartphone, a computer, an online presence, or even a typewriter, I wrote with a pencil, on lined school paper.  I wrote letters (to pen pals and cousins), stories (mostly tragically romantic vignettes in far-off places), and I wrote in small daily diaries.

You know those little books, about four by five inches, with a strap that wrapped across the pages and fit into a lock on the front, and had a half-inch, flat key to secure it. I mean, even a fork or a good slap could open them! 

The pages were dated, but you had to fill in the year. And you had to write quite small if you had a lot to say, like I did.  Wow, did they hold secrets!  And souvenirs – another good reason for that little strap and key. I wrote about feelings, events, boys, teachers, embarrassments, fights, dreams, disappointments, and things or people who made me mad, jealous, or envious.

One day, I found and opened a thirty-five-year-old diary like that. Oh, my goodness!  I slammed it shut and looked around me. Then I carried it to a small chair in a corner of the bedroom and opened it again.

I wrote THAT?  And that? Oh, my!

I laughed. I cringed. I even cried a little. A couple of times, I gazed off into space, seeing and reliving a sweet incident.  I’d smile and sigh.

How would my life be different if THAT had happened? Or hadn’t happened? Or if I’d said something else? Or acted quickly, nicely, or at least not selfishly? What if….?

What if? 

That’s the way fiction writers often dredge up a story idea or outline. What if such and such happened, or someone said or did THAT?  

I glanced down at the diary and thumbed through the pages, stopping now and then to read a heavily underlined passage.  WHOA!

I eventually put the little book back into the cardboard box with maybe eight others like it.  I’ll read them all, I promised myself.  I’ll write a story or two.  Is there enough for a book, I wondered?  

I stretched the duct tape tightly across the flaps and penciled “diaries” on the front. Tomorrow we will take the last of these attic finds to our new house.  After all the unpacking and settling in, I will dig out these diaries and sit at my computer, and type, “What if….?”

Halfway down the busy freeway to the new house, traveling at 65 mph, our heavily packed pick-up truck hit a pothole. In the passenger side mirror, I saw a small box jump and pitch itself over the truck’s railing. When it landed, the box split apart.  Small square objects flew out and bounced into the bushes growing close along the side.

“OH!” I cried.

“What?” my hubby asked.

“My diaries!  Didn’t you tie the boxes down?”

“I did!”

“But…”

There was no place to pull over. No going around. No going back, either along the freeway… or to that youthful time long ago.

I sat stunned.  Then I laughed, imagining some homeless dude living in the bushes finding and being entertained by my teenage drama and angst. Or maybe a gang of miscreants wearing orange vests and carrying plastic bags would come by to clean up the roadside trash, and find them. 

Hey, my stories could be read in jail! Perhaps even traded among the inmates for snacks or phone calls. Juicy sections could be copied on the backs of old envelopes and reread a hundred times. Pages might be torn out and passed on to new inductees as the old timers were released. My audience would grow! I might become “a best-selling author!”  

Well, maybe not.

Anyway, that’s why I never wrote the “Great American Novel.” 

Did you ever write in diaries?  Do you keep a journal now?  If so, is what you write  “stream-of-consciousness” or does it have a specific purpose?  Have you ever reread your previous ones from a year ago, or many years past?

GROUP QUESTION #3 – Settings & Research, Where & How Much?

By WinR members & guests

  1. Where & when do you set your stories? 
  2.  How much research do you do on that time & place?

MIKO JOHNSTON: I’ve done extensive research for my historical fiction series, set primarily in and around Prague during the first half of the 20th Century, to give it authenticity. That includes using real places, people, events – even moon cycles accurate to the day – alongside my fictional characters. Some information has been unobtainable (at least in English), so when I can’t make it accurate, I aim for plausible. 

*

G. B. POOL (Gayle):  The setting I use in my novels or short stories depends on what the story is. So many of my private detective stories are set in Los Angeles because that city is known for its “high crimes and misdemeanors,” as we saw in these old black and white detective movies from the 40s and the great TV detective series from the 60s and 70s. I watched them all. I like having my contemporary private detectives walk that same turf. My spy novels are set in various countries during WWII, the Cold War, and into the later part of the last century. That might sound like a long time ago, but I lived through part of that time, so I know the later era.

As for how I write about those other times before I came on the scene, I watch a lot of old B&W movies and see what places looked like back when they filmed them and how they dressed. It’s a great way to “see” history when you didn’t live through it.

*

JACKIE HOUCHIN:  My dozen stories for 4th to 6th grade kids are set in present-day Malawi, Africa. However, many of the people in the surrounding areas still live in very primitive circumstances.  My goal in these stories was to show upper elementary kids in America how a missionary family (with 6 children) would live among and interact with less than modern circumstances, and still have fun. (And get into trouble!)

Most of the research I did was hands-on.  I visited Malawi five times, spending a couple of weeks each. I went into villages, watched kids doing chores, caring for babies and animals, and playing primitive games.  I ate the food and learned a few words. I cringed at the sight of humongous insects and scary witch doctors. I lived with a missionary family each time, seeing how they “made do.” I had lots of fun, asked questions, and took copious notes!  I also never caught malaria, meningitis, typhoid, or HIV. Whew!

*

DIANE ASCROFT (Guest): My Century Cottage Cozy Mysteries are set in Fenwater, a fictional small town in Canada, during the 1980s. The place is far from where I now live in Northern Ireland, but I grew up in Toronto, Canada, and often visited the real town of Fergus that Fenwater is inspired by. I loved the place and thought it would be a great setting for my stories.

For my series, I wanted to create a place that beckons readers to step in and stay a while, so a fictional version of Fergus was perfect. Setting my books in Canada during the 1980s is also a nostalgic journey back to my homeland. It was forty years ago when I was a young woman, so it’s a pleasure to spend time writing about the place.

*

JILL AMADIO:  I set my contemporary mystery series on Balboa Island, Newport Beach, CA. My amateur sleuth is a British gossip columnist banished for a year at the request of the royal family, tired of her perceptive comments. She is from the fishing village of St. Ives, Cornwall, my own hometown, which allows me to recall its pub built in 1310, my school, the beaches, my father’s pharmacy, my mother’s dance academy, and the pantomimes she produced every Christmas.

My research to jog my memory is a delight as I have several travel books on the British Isles, reminding me, too, of London, where I was a newspaper reporter. I also keep up with the news in Cornwall.

*

ROSEMARY LORD:  I have been writing mostly about Hollywood in the 1920s and 1930s.  I’ve always been fascinated with this era, and learned a lot more when researching my non-fiction books, Hollywood Then and Now and Los Angeles Then and Now.

I do a lot of research, which I find fascinating, and sometimes get far too carried away with that!  I love to show how either simple or how difficult life was one hundred years ago,  compared with today’s world.

I must confess that writing mysteries set today, when crimes may be solved using cell phones and today’s technology rather than old-fashioned “gum-shoe” sleuthing, leaves me cold!

*

MAGGIE KING:  My stories are set in Virginia in the present day. Most take place in Richmond, the state capital. It’s a city rich in history and culture, and it boasts two major universities. Many of the residents, myself included, moved here from other parts of the country and the world.

Charlottesville and Fredericksburg are also Virginia cities featured in my work. A few months ago, I posted here about a research trip I took to Charlottesville. It’s important to get the details right!

To date, I’ve been content to set my stories in contemporary times. But contemporary times are distressing, so I’m tempted to try my hand at something historical that will involve significant research.

*

LINDA JOHNSTON:  These days, I set all my stories in the present, although I used to also write time travel romances. But these days. my romances, romantic suspense, and mystery stories are set today, since I now enjoy the present more than the past. 

I’m currently writing mostly romantic suspense stories, in my own successive miniseries for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. They’re all set primarily in fictional towns, so my characters can get into different kinds of trouble with the law and get out of it without my stepping on real law enforcement toes. My recent mysteries, though, were set in real areas in Alaska, for fun. And of course, I’d visited Alaska.

*

Thank you, ladies! 

Listening to Stories: Why I Love Audiobooks

By Jackie Houchin

The first audiobook I ever listened to was Robinson Crusoe, from Books On Tape, way back in the 1970s. I was cleaning multiple horse stalls twice a day back then, and I needed an escape!  An adventure on a deserted island with a guy named Friday had me hooked. I rented hundreds more.

Then I found Audible and began cautiously buying digitally recorded books. Currently, I have an account that allows me to buy 25 books per year for a nicely discounted price. Others are available through Amazon/Audible.

Later, I discovered Chirp, a deeply discounted audiobook seller. Sometimes I can get a book for as little as $0.99!

Libby is a library app that allows you to rent books and audiobooks at no cost. But friends tell me they usually have to WAIT for books to become available.

*****

  • For this post, I decided to try Libby.  The app is free, but you need a library card.  I put in my Mission Viejo Library card number & pin. Thousands of book titles appeared. 
  • I narrowed my choices to “audiobooks,” “available,” and “juvenile” to get a list of 4th-6th grade books. (Quick to read for this blog post.)  I selected “The Sherlock Files: The 100 Year Old Secret” and pressed “Borrow.”  And there it was, with cover, synopsis, reading time, volume, and speed controls.  I could keep it for 21 days.  FREE.  Okay, not bad. 
  • I finished the 3-hour book. It was fun, and the narration was good.  When it was over, I simply pressed “Send Back,” and the book was gone.  Easy-peasy.
  • I did search for other books, and of the three that I wanted, none were stocked at my library.  So that’s a bummer.  But I will definitely go back to Libby.

*****

Yes, I am addicted to listening to books.  Here’s why.

  • AVAILABILITY.  I can listen to books anytime and anywhere. I have Bluetooth, so I do not wear clunky headphones. No one can tell if I am on a spaceship to Mars, helping Lane Winslow solve a murder in 1941 British Columbia, or learning about Extra Virgin Olive Oil. While I walk, drive, wait for appointments, wash clothes (or floors), and cook, I can be entertained or educated. 
  • NARRATORS.  Good narrators transport you to times and places far away. (It is the next best thing to travelling.) In a series, a repeat narrator immediately puts you into the familiar setting with people whose voices you already know.
  • NO EYE STRAIN. Audiobooks don’t stress your eyes. These days, my eyes become blurry and sting when I read print too long.

Okay, there are downsides too, and you have probably guessed the first big one.

  • COST.  A newly published audio bestseller can cost $25.00 or more. Yes, you own it, but you cannot share it with a friend, give it away, or sell it.
  •  The annual fee at Audible averages $9.15 per book, so I usually save these credits for new, popular (expensive)  books throughout the year.  
  • Chirp is far more reasonable, but their books are not as new, and often are a genre I do not want to read.  
  • But now, of course, I’ve found the Libby lending library.  I suspect the choices are limited.  But I’ll give it a try.  After all — FREE!
  • NARRATORS.  Some are horrible. Sorry, but it has to be said.  I will not buy or rent a book narrated by Scott Brick.  And there is a woman too…  Audible is good about that and will refund the cost if you return the book quickly.
  • BOOK REVIEWING.  If you are a book reviewer like me, audiobooks make it harder to pick out quotable lines or memorable details. With print books, you can bookmark, highlight, or pencil in notes. But, unless you want to immediately jot down a note, it is difficult to find details you missed (or forgot) in an audiobook. 
  • When reviewing one, I usually write out a rough draft immediately after finishing the book. Then, to ensure I am spelling characters and place names correctly, I will often check them on the website. 
  • Unfortunately, “hearing” something doesn’t stick in your mind the way “seeing” it does. 

Yes, I still read print books.  I have to; not all books are recorded!  But I try to avoid fine print and extra-long tomes. Hence, the middle-grade books. (HEY! Some of them are fantastic!!)

I also read digital Kindle or Book Funnel books, where I can adjust the font size. However, on my phone, that means flipping pages quite often. (I don’t have an e-reader.)

###

So, do you prefer audio, print, or digital books for your reading? What are your reasons?  Do you have a favorite audiobook you can recommend?  How about a favorite narrator?

***By the way, CHIRP now has THREE audiobooks by our own Linda O. Johnston on sale for just $3.99!    “3 Pet Rescue Mysteries”

###

PS: I know it’s difficult to comment on this website, so if you like, you can respond to me via my email at Photojaq@aol.com, and I’ll post your comment here.
















	


	





	

		
		
A Group Question:  Co-Writing with a Famous Writer?
	


	
	
	

		
Occasionally, each (or several) of us Writers In Residence answers a question about some aspect of writing or publishing.  Here is this week’s Q&A for you.  (Some of the answers may surprise you!)


Q:  If you could co-write a book with any author, living or dead, who would it be, and what genre would you choose? 


.


JACKIE HOUCHIN. “I would love to co-write a book with MARY STEWART (no longer living). She wrote suspense mysteries with a young, adventurous female heroine. Her books took her to countries around the world; Greece, France, Italy, Austria, Crete, Lebanon, and England. Perhaps I got my wanderlust to travel the world from reading her books. (I was 13 when I read the first.) There was always a handsome man who could be a bad guy and always a scary situation.


Oh, to write like that!  I would let her do most of the writing, I fear, but every time her protagonist or the man in the scene would light up a cigarette, I would edit that out immediately. (haha).  That would probably be my ONLY part of the collaboration.  Or … I’d set some more of her romantic suspense in more countries!


###


MIKO JOHNSTON.  “I don’t think I would want to co-write a book with another author, as I can’t see how two writers could successfully balance their styles. I’ve read mystery compilations where two best-selling authors combined their characters into a single story with mixed results. However, I have contributed short pieces to anthologies over the years and would be happy to do so again.


###


BONNIE SCHROEDER. “I would love to co-write a book with the late, great KURT VONNEGUT Jr.–something in the dark humor/satire genre.


###


 


G. B. POOL.  “There are so many authors I have read and admired through the years, from Ray Bradbury to Michael Connelly, James Patterson, Nelson DeMille, Thomas Thompson, Arthur Conan Doyle, James Ellroy, Robert B. Parker, and Steven J. Connell, all of whom are sitting on my bookshelves right now…their books, not them personally. Several of these writers I actually met, but as for co-writing with any of them, I don’t write like they do, and I don’t want to change my writing style just to have my name linked with theirs, even though the publicity would be magnificent.


But there is one person that I would have loved to co-write with. He was doing some early research on a mass murder that happened back in Texas at a KFC drive-in decades earlier and hinted that he wanted to write about it. He never had the opportunity to finish that endeavor.


The man was my husband, Richard Pool.


A few years after he passed away, I started reading the many journals he had written after he had been diagnosed with cancer back when he was twenty years old. On the fifth page of the very first journal, he mentioned that he wanted to be a writer. He was an avid reader and liked all the authors I liked. We had several of the same books in our respective collections. He wrote that being a writer was just what he wanted to be, but life got in the way of doing that. He moved from Texas to California and met me at the bank where we both worked. Richard knew I wanted to write. He told me before we got married that he would make my dream come true. We married. He got a better job and then another, making enough money to allow me to retire early and write. I did just that.


We had a great life together, and then he passed away. I started reading his journals and read that part about him wanting to be a writer. He gave me his dream.


If I could write with anyone, I would like to write with Richard. It would be what both of us wanted.


###


ROSEMARY LORD. “I would like to co-author books with ENID BLYTON, the famous children’s author from my own childhood. Apart from the delightful “Noddy” books for the little ones about a wooden doll, “Noddy in Toyland,” Enid Blyton wrote wonderful mysteries for older children: “Adventures of The Famous Five” and others about “The Secret Seven.” They had all sorts of fun on ‘Adventure Island’  during their summer holidays. Total escapism and good, clean fun!! Seems like fun to write!


###


LINDA O. JOHNSTON:  “Not sure how I’d do co-writing with someone else, but if I had to choose someone to write a book with, it’d have to be one of the well-known authors who also use dogs in their books, such as Kathleen Donnelly, Margaret Mizushima, Diane Kelly, David Rosenfelt, Spencer Quinn, C.B. Wilson, or Teri Wilson—some of whom I know already.


But I’ve never considered co-writing with any of them before! And the story would have to be mystery, romance, or romantic suspense, depending on who my co-writer was.


###


Dear “The Writers In Residence” readers: who would YOU aspire to write a book with if you had the chance?  Comment or let me know at photojaq@aol.com.





	


	





	

		
		
“On Top of Spaghetti” (And the Italian Westerns!)
	


	
	
	

		

On top of spaghetti
all covered with cheese
I lost my poor meatball
when somebody sneezed.

It rolled off the table
and onto the floor
and then my poor meatball
rolled right out the door!

It rolled in a garden 
and under a bush.
Now my poor meatball
was nothing but mush.

The mush was as tasty
as tasty could be, 
and early next summer
it grew into a tree.

The tree was all covered
with beautiful moss.
It grew lovely meatballs
in a tomato sauce.

So if you like spaghetti
all covered with cheese
hold on to your meatballs
and don't ever sneeze!




But speaking of Spaghetti Westerns, do you know how they got that name?  You guessed it – because they were filmed in Italy (some in Spain or France).  They were also called Italian Westerns and Macaroni Westerns.


These films were popularized in the mid-1960s thanks to Sergio Leone. His film-making style and money-making success ensured that 500 of these films were made in Italy between 1964 and 1978.  He made Clint Eastwood famous with his trilogy of “Dollar” films. (A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More. and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.)


Spaghetti Westerns were made with relatively low budgets. To save money they were shot at the Cinecitta Studios (like Universal Studios in Rome) and various locations in Italy and Spain.  (God’s Gun was filmed in Israel.)


Spaghetti Westerns were originally released in Italian.  Most featured multilingual casts.  To get around this, sound was NOT RECORDED at the time of shooting. Dialogue and sound effects were added post-production. 


Some of the sets and studios built for these Spaghetti Westerns are now theme parks that the public can visit. (The photo at right is in Andalusia, Spain.)


There you go.


Now you know. 


Does this encourage you to, 1) Write a funny poem? 2) Try your hand at writing a film script? or 3) Write another Western series that becomes wildly popular, like, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry,  the Sundance Westerns series by Peter McCurtin, or the multiple Westerns by William J. Johnstone. 


Happy writing!


###


 https://www.reddit.com/r/etymology/ 


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaghetti_Western










	


	





	

		
		
What to Write When You Don’t Know What to Write.
	


	
	
	

		
by Jackie Houchin


    

  • Prompts help.
    • 

  • Other people’s ideas help.
    • 

  • Daydreaming out the window helps.
    • 

  • Deadlines help.
    • 

  • Contests help.
    • 

  • Tragedies or celebrations MAY help.
    • 

  • Anger MAY help if directed.
    • 

  • Copywork MAY help.
    • 

  • Unfinished manuscripts MAY help.
    • 

  • Praying (if so inclined) MAY help.
    • 



But what WORKS?  What can get your thoughts sparking and your fingers flying. What can set you on a course from A to B (with subpoints) or from Inciting incident to Denouement?  


Threats? Muses? Overdue bills?  Screaming? Pulling out hair? Ai? 


Wait….Ai?


Okay, I’m going to ask a ChatGPT assistant that question. I easily signed up, familiarized myself with a couple short questions, and then posed my dilemma.


(Oh, and I thought I needed to name my Assistant if I was going to use it. How about Charlie?) 


Meet Charlie.  


He’s not the sharpest pencil in the holder. He basically told me most of the things I’ve written above in a slightly different way. 


Here’s “Charlie’s” list of “helps”.






















1. Free Writing:


    

  • Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and write continuously without worrying about grammar or structure. Let your thoughts flow freely; often, this can spark ideas you weren’t consciously considering.
    • 



2. Prompts and Ideas:


    

  • Use writing prompts to kickstart your creativity. For example, websites and books offer daily writing prompts, or you might start with “What if…?” scenarios that encourage imaginative thinking.
    • 



3. Mind Mapping:


    

  • Create a mind map around a central theme or topic that interests you. Branch out with related ideas, characters, or themes that come to mind. This visual representation can help organize your thoughts.
    • 



4. Write About Your Passion:


    

  • Reflect on topics or hobbies you’re passionate about. A blog can focus on your expertise, a hobby, or experiences you want to share. Writing about what you love can inspire authentic content.
    • 



5. Read Widely:


    

  • Read articles, books, and blogs in various genres. Exposure to different styles and topics can ignite new ideas or give you insight into what resonates with you.
    • 



6. Explore Personal Experiences:


    

  • Consider your own life experiences, emotions, or challenges you’ve faced. Personal stories often resonate with others and can be a rich source for blog posts, articles, or fiction.
    • 



7. Observe Your Surroundings:


    

  • Take time to observe the world around you—people, places, situations. Noticing everyday life can inspire ideas for fictional characters, settings, or events.
    • 



8. Set Goals:


    

  • Define what you want to achieve with your writing. If it’s a blog post, think about the message you want to convey. If it’s a short story, consider the theme or moral you want to explore.
    • 



9. Experiment with Different Genres:


    

  • If you’re unsure, try writing different genres or formats—a poem, a letter, or even dialogue. Experimenting can help you find your voice and lead to ideas for longer pieces.
    • 



10. Join Writing Groups or Workshops:


    

  • Engage with other writers in workshops, online forums, or book clubs. Sharing ideas and feedback can help stimulate creativity and lead to collaboration.
    • 



11. Create an Outline:


    

  • If you have a vague idea or concept, outline the main points or plot. This structure can act as a guide and make it easier to expand on your thoughts.
    • 



12. Give Yourself Permission to Write Badly:


    

  • Allow yourself to write poorly without judgment. The first draft doesn’t have to be perfect. Just get your ideas down; you can refine them later.
    • 



By using these strategies, you can overcome writer’s block and find inspiration for your blog, articles, stories, or any other writing project. Don’t forget to enjoy the process—exploration and creativity are key to finding your unique voice!


…


Well, not very creative.  I asked Charlie for MORE suggestions.  Here’s what he gave me this time.


.


“If you’re looking for ways to ignite your creativity and really get your writing flowing, here are some more active and engaging techniques to help you spark ideas and motivation:






















1. Change Your Environment:


    

  • Sometimes a change of scenery can help. Try writing in a different location – a café, park, library, or even a different room in your home. New surroundings can stimulate fresh thoughts.
    • 



2. Engage in a Creative Activity:


    

  • Participate in activities that aren’t directly related to writing, such as drawing, painting, or crafting. This can help free your mind and lead to unexpected inspiration.
    • 



3. Use Music or Soundscapes:


    

  • Create a playlist that suits the tone of what you’re writing or listen to soundscapes that inspire a mood (like rain, ocean waves, or bustling city sounds). Music can enhance creativity and help set the scene for your writing.
    • 



4. Set a Writing Challenge:


    

  • Challenge yourself with quick writing exercises, such as composing a short story in 10 minutes or writing a poem from a random word generator. Short time constraints can boost creativity.
    • 



5. Visual Inspiration:


    

  • Browse through images on platforms like Pinterest or Unsplash. Find a picture that resonates with you and write a scene or story inspired by it.
    • 



6. Interactive Writing Prompts:


    

  • Find interactive storytelling games or writing prompts that require you to make quick decisions or choose paths (like “Choose Your Own Adventure” games). This can stimulate your imaginative side.
    • 



7. Use Creative Apps or Tools:


    

  • Explore writing tools or apps designed to prompt creativity, such as “The Most Dangerous Writing App,” which encourages you to keep typing without stopping.
    • 



8. Engage Your Senses:


    

  • Take a moment to close your eyes and focus on each of your senses. What do you hear, smell, feel, or taste? Write a descriptive paragraph based on your sensory exploration.
    • 



9. Flash Fiction:


    

  • Write a complete story in 100 words or less. This constraint can force you to focus and be intentional with your word choices, leading to new ideas.
    • 



10. Interview Your Characters:


    

  • If you’re working on fiction, write down interview questions for your characters and answer them in their voice. This can deepen your understanding and lead to new plot ideas.
    • 



11. Use ‘What If?’ Exercises:


    

  • Take a mundane situation and apply a ‘What If?’ scenario. For example, “What if someone found a hidden letter in their attic?” This can help you explore unexpected plot twists or themes.
    • 



12. Journaling:


    

  • Keep a dedicated writing journal where you jot down random thoughts, dreams, or observations daily. This habit can lead you to uncover hidden ideas over time.
    • 



13. Connect with Other Writers:


    

  • Have a brainstorming session with a writing buddy. Discuss ideas, trade prompts, or even start a writing sprint together, encouraging each other in real-time.
    • 



14. Limit Distractions:


    

  • Turn off notifications and clear your workspace of distractions. Sometimes a focused environment can help ideas flow more freely.
    • 



Finding your flow might take some experimentation with different methods until you find what resonates with you. Don’t be afraid to try out various techniques and see what gets your creativity sparking and fingers flying across the keyboard!






..




























 






 


Again….. 


 


Not quite the help I wanted. (They tell me the better ways I ASK for help, the better RESPONSES I’ll get, so I guess I need practice there.) 
















 




























 


 


Readers, how do YOU decide what to write?   (Please share your secrets!)


 


Have YOU ever tried Ai?  (If so, how? And are you happy with the experience?)






 


 















	


	





	

		
		
How Do Writers Choose the Titles for Their Books & Stories?
	


	
	
	

		
This week the Writers In Residence members answered a “group question.” 


 How do you choose the titles for your books or stories?


1.  Rosemary Lord:   For me, titles flow as part of whatever I am writing at the time. Sometimes, the title comes first, maybe snatched from a song title or a poem. But the titles have to fit the setting, period, and essence. The title has to match the “inside” and be intriguing or evocative because it is the first thing that catches the reader’s attention. 


Once, I thought a writer friend’s book titles were heavy and pretentious, a bit “off-putting.” I felt bad for her as I thought her big publisher chose them. I was going to make a “diplomatic” suggestion.  Then she said SHE had come up with all her titles!  Oops!


.


2. Maggie King:  There are so many ways to choose a title. It’s not my strong suit, so I often collaborate with others. For Murder at the Book Group, my agent helped. When I re-released MABG as Death Turns the Page, my songwriter husband helped. I don’t recall how the title for Laughing Can Kill You came about, but I think “I” thought of it.  For Murder at the Moonshine Inn, I brainstormed with a friend and her son. The son suggested the title based on his many visits to redneck bars (much to his mom’s surprise).


I had an easier time coming up with the titles for my short stories on my own. Maybe being “short” made the titles more apparent.


.


3.  Madeline Gornell:  I’m not being flippant, but they seem to come to me out of the blue. Maybe from dreams?  Or TV?   I say, don’t worry about it, they just come.”  Hmmm.


.


4.  Miko Johnston:  For me, a good title hints at the theme and tone of the piece before it’s read and summarizes it afterward. Some titles came easily, like calling my short story, featuring a nameless protagonist who creates “art” By Anonymous. Others took a while to find the right title – years in the case of my series A Petal in the Wind – a perfect metaphor for my character.


.


5.  Linda O. Johnston:  I generally consider titles for any new series and the book I’ll next be working on as I’m starting to plot them.  I jot them down, often on the computer, and modify them as new ideas come to me. And, of course, I anticipate that my editors will most likely modify them again once I submit them, although I do get to approve any new ones.


.


6.  G. B. Pool:  This is a fun question. When I’m pondering a new book or short story, the title almost always comes right as I’m coming up with the plot. I couldn’t tell you which came first. This is when I’m actually writing the story, not just tossing around ideas.


I have had a title before I had a plot. I mention this fact in the book of short stories I’m working on right now, called  Bits and Pieces. This book is the result of several folders I keep of story ideas I’ve written down, newspaper articles I have saved, or ones a friend like Jackie Houchin has sent me over many years. These “bits and pieces” of ideas just might prompt a story. These are all fragments of an idea, and most have no title listed.


I have changed the title of a story once or twice, but that comes about only if I totally redirect the plot into something entirely different and the title just doesn’t work anymore.


One title I came across in a folder that I haven’t used yet is: “Just Shoot the Archbishop and Pass the Brandy.” All I have is the title. No story. A story may never come of it, but I mention it in this upcoming short story collection just to show how writers work. But I do think the title has to fit the story, the two coming as Siamese twins seems to work.  


.


7.  Jackie Houchin:   It’s never been published, but a “woman’s fiction” book I wrote had the title of Sister Secrets. It’s about three women who have the same mother but different fathers. They each have a long-standing “secret” that has returned to haunt them. As the story unfolds, each sister’s strengths and talents help unravel and resolve the secret that is keeping another sister captive.


In my children’s short stories set in Africa I tried to make the titles be “teasers” for stories that middle-grade kids would enjoy.   Dead Mice,   The Eyes in the Well,  and  Deek’s Wild Ride were a few.


All my titles come to mind in the process of writing the story. They just fit.


###


READERS:  If you enjoy these “Group Questions” and have one YOU would like to ask us, please mention it in a comment below or forward it to me at Photojaq@aol.com 


Remember, if you comment, first click above on the TITLE of this post. (How do writers….)


.





	


	





	

		
		
Mystery Books to TV Series
	


	
	
	

		
by Jackie Houchin


After reading Maggie King’s intriguing post last week about writers and an old movie, I realized that many of the mysteries we watch on cable (Acorn and others) are based on books by mystery writers.


We have watched many of The Murdoch Mysteries, set in late 1800s Toronto. The original writer of the books is British Canadian author Maureen Jennings. Her most recent book (2019) is HEAT WAVE, which introduces Murdoch’s son as a police detective in 1936. It has not been made into a TV show (as yet.) She is 86.


We enjoy most of the episodes, and although they have evolved into semi-comedic, some are absolutely silly. We stopped watching them for a while! 


How much can an author control content once the series is bought? (Probably none.)


.


We have also enjoyed many, many episodes of The Midsomer Murders. Caroline Graham is the British author of the Inspector Barnaby mysteries. Her first five Barnaby books formed the basis of the Midsomer episodes.


The plots are complex and sometimes dark but have a touch of comedy, primarily as Barnaby interacts with his wife, dog, and sergeant. As of Oct. 2024, Graham was still alive at age 93.


Can an author still write books after her books are bought for television?  Would they automatically be a part of the filmed series? Hmm.


.


P.D. James is the author of the darker Adam Dalgleish mystery series, which has 14 books and a few TV episodes we have just begun watching. She (Phyllis Dorothy James) was an English Baroness. She wrote 14 books about the Poet/Detective and was planning a 15th when she died at age 94.


If you have watched them, have you ever noticed how they frame his face with a peculiar expression for the last few seconds of the episode?  I like it.


.


Of course, Dorothy L. Sayers wrote the clever and popular Lord Peter Whimsey novels adapted into a TV series. Along with mystery, there was the added pleasure of a romance. (Such a handsome and wealthy sleuth!) Sayers lived 64 years.


My absolute favorite Lord Peter Whimsy book was THE NINE TAILORS. I wonder if it was ever made into a TV episode or film?


.


Very recently on PBS, we watched the 4-season adaptation of Frank Tallis’ book, Death in Vienna, the diary of Dr. Max Liebermann (based on Sigmund Freud), a fictional Viennese crime solver, with his pal Detective Oskar Rheinhardt, in the series Vienna Blood.


They were well-written, had strong plots and vivid characters, and were very cinematic. The setting (Vienna and Istanbul) was gorgeous.


They say there will not be another season because the story in Tallis’s book is finished.  Hey, that didn’t stop Midsummer Murders…. 


.


Two more present-day shows follow.


Dark Winds is a new series on Acorn (4 episodes so far) based on Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn and Chee novels.


It is on my list to begin watching. I’ve read many of Hillerman’s mysteries, so I hope these are good.


.


And lastly, we have also tried the new series on Acorn, Case Histories, based on Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie private investigator books, also set in England.


The first one was pretty good. Brodie investigated and unraveled several cases, either distinct or entwined with each other. There was a sex scene, however, which I didn’t enjoy watching.


We will try another and decide.


.


Of course, we have watched many old and newer adaptations of Agatha Christie’s and Arthur Conan Doyle’s  Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and Sherlock Holmes novels.


And I know YOU can name many more shows that you watch.


.


My first question is, which do you enjoy more, books or screen adaptations?  And what is the “why?” for your choice?


I enjoy the books, but I must admit that my decreasing vision makes reading fine print daunting these days. I get more involved in watching the actors (especially the settings) in the series’ episodes.  


My second question for authors is, other than the monetary reward, why would you like (or dislike) to have your books made into a TV series?