Insecure Writers Support Group--January, 2016

Good morning, everyone! If it's IWSG day then chances are, one of my darlings is home sick. Ding, ding, ding! Yes, she is! Big Bear is fighting off an ear infection (which started on New Year's Eve). Little Bear had a fever of 102 on, wait for it, Christmas Eve. But it's okay! We had a wonderful time over break, spent many days in the sun in short sleeves down in N.C. visiting relatives and ate way to many cookies. (Don't tell Monkey).

Note to self: Stay in bed and hide on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

But enough bad news. I have some good news. The short story I submitted to the IWSG Anthology Contest made the cut. Yeah! (And to think I almost didn't even try.) Congrats to the other authors who will be included, especially L.G. Keltner on her top story!

Here's a question for you writers. I've been working on a historical novel that takes place right before the Civil War. It's going through another edit, but is very close to completion.

Many years ago my dad gave me some photo albums dating back to the 1860s containing portraits of our relatives. My husband thought it would be cool to use some of these ancestors' images for characters in the book. As I went through the album, it was amazing how well some of their faces matched my characters.

What do you think? Using old photos worked great for Ransom Riggs in his Mrs. Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children series. (Not that my photos are peculiar.) I wonder if my living relatives would support the idea or be horrified. Hmm . . .

Anyway, thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for creating this group and putting together the anthology contest. I also want to thank everyone who left such supportive comments on my December ISWG blog. Now it's time to get hopping, starting with today's awesome co-hosts: L.G. Keltner, Denise Covey, Sheri Larsen, J.Q. Rose, Chemist Ken, and Michelle Wallace.

Happy 2016, y'all!