Em Dash Abuse

I am an em dash abuser. I tend to use the quick symbol all over the place. I type in em dashes wherever a comma would suffice. Sigh.

In The Elements of Style, Strunk and White said, "A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses."

I think my em dash habit is due--in part--to the way I speak. I speak in em dashes!

I have a few examples from The Keeper's Promise below. You see how I originally typed each phrase and how I fixed them.

This was why Bryce loved Shucker's Point--why he had stayed here when many others had left.

It now reads:

This was why Bryce loved Shucker's Point, and why he had stayed here when many others had left.

Sometimes I didn't really need the em dash at all.

that she wasn't a vicious killer--or a psychopath.

Just one simple conjunction works fine:

that she wasn't a vicious killer or a psychopath.

Everyone needs an editor. I have been very grateful for mine.

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Needing a Rom-Com?

 

Reading a romantic comedy at the beach is the best way to spend your time in the sun. At least, that's what I would do. So I wrote one.

One reviewer said, "...lovable characters with a constant flow of miscommunication, misunderstanding, and misadventures. Result: a cute, fun read." You can get it free with Kindle Unlimited but it also comes in a paperback, which is better for beach reading. 

    Find it here:  https://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Wanted-Penelope-Marzec/dp/1522398058

Be safe in the sand.

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My Memorial Day Wish

It never ceases to amaze me that the human race has survived this far. For one thing, earth is not a stable environment. Tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, mudslides, sinkholes, and fires threaten us on a regular basis. Our precarious situation is made even worse by war. Billions of dollars are being used to kill other human beings as countries regularly drop bombs on each other. 

Meanwhile there's the threat of disease. Hantavirus and Ebola are frightening illnesses. Not enough money is spent on finding ways to prevent the spread of these horrible plagues. Not enough money is spent on research to discover vaccines to eradicate these afflictions.

Yet, with clear threats to the entire globe, many people continue to argue and blame each other for the problems. 

Why can't we get along? Why can't we have peace?

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The Promise of Beach Plums

 Hubby and I went to Sandy Hook just in time to see the beach plums blossoming. In order to have beach plums, we need pollinators. So, I was delighted to see this bumble bee helping out the process. Beach plums are not very big--about the size of a grape, though not as sweet. But the fruit makes a very tasty jam. Of course, other animals like beach plums. For instance, the herds of deer on Sandy Hook enjoy the fruit, too. 

Hopefully, there will be a few beach plums for me to nibble on come fall. But simply seeing the white blossoms all over the Hook was a cheerful site. Kudos to the bees, too. 

LOVE’S GIFT Is the Winner!

LOVE’S GIFT was the First Place Winner in the historical category of the NJ Romance Writers’ Golden Leaf contest. I joined the NJ Romance Writers way back in 1988, when I didn’t know much about writing a book. I learned quite a bit over the years. So, I am grateful to NJRW for helping me along in my publishing journey. 

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The Way Mom Made Pysanky Eggs

 My grandmother was Slovak and my grandfather was Czech. So, my mother dyed Easter eggs in her own Slavic way. At Easter she used a straight pin pushed into the eraser, dipped the head of the straight pin into the hot wax of  a candle, and applied the wax to an egg. Then she dyed the egg. Once the egg dried, she applied more wax and dipped the egg into another dye. There are special wax pens, called kistka, that apply the wax in a more efficient manner. But Mom always used the straight pin stuck into an eraser to do the job. Also, Mom never followed any specific pattern. She was an artist and enjoyed making up her own designs.

I’ve continued to use Mom’s rudimentary approach to decorating eggs for Easter. My daughters usually join me in this endeavor. It’s a slow process that leaves ample time for talk. So, while our eggs are not the fanciest pysanky eggs, they are made with care, following an old tradition. Also, we don’t blow out the inside of the eggs. We eat the boiled eggs. 😁

How do you dye eggs? What are your Easter traditions?

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My Contest Winning Books

Reviews are very important to all authors. A positive review can help to convince someone to buy a book.  There will always be negative reviews, but those are often outweighed by the many readers who appreciated the story.

Contests are helpful in selling books as well as long as the contests are reputable ones. Several of my books have been winners or finaled in contests, which is why I call myself an award-winning author--because I am. 

The first book of mine that was published, SEA OF HOPE, won the 2002 EPPIE Award Winner for Best Inspirational Novel.

HEAVEN'S BLUE was an EPPIE Award Winner for Best Inspirational Fiction.

PATRIOT'S COURAGE won the NEST Award (National Excellence in Story Telling) for Best Inspirational. 

THE COWBOY'S MIRACLE won third place in the Ancient City Romance Writers' Heart of Excellence Readers' Choice Award and was named a finalist in the EPIC eBook Awards. 

LOVE'S GIFT is a finalist for the Golden Leaf Award from the New Jersey Romance Writers.

THE KEEPER'S PROMISE was an EPPIE finalist for Inspiration Fiction in 2009. (This book was later released as THE KEEPER'S SECRET by Prism Lux in 2024.

IRONS IN THE FIRE was awarded Best Small Press Paranormal in the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards.

Those are the accolades for several of my books. However, there are far more reviews than awards. Most of my books are very inexpensive and some are available with Kindle Unlimited. Many are also available for free from Hoopla and Libby library apps. 

Take some time off and read a good book! 

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