Friday, July 11, 2014

Writers Blog Post Tour

  Welcome to my Writer’s Process Blog Tour.  I was invited to participate in the huge tour by the wonderful Cathy Armato.  You can read her post here.  She is the voice of Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them pet blog.  Cathy is a champion of dog rescues and has volunteered at her local shelter for the past five years.  She and her husband left their jobs as corporate employees and now travel between Arizona and New York as business consultants.  They have two great dogs, Isis the Siberian Husky that she has trained as a service dog and Phoebe, a cutie that she adopted from one of the rescues where she volunteers.  She is currently working on a series about the volunteer work that she does with Isis and a fun series on 100 places to see with your dog!  If you aren’t currently following her blog, you are really missing out on some awesome posts.
   The requirements of the Writer’s Process Blog Tour are that I answer three questions and recommend three other writers to participate.  I’ll begin by answering the questions.


   1.    What am I working on?
I publish a new blog post every day of the week.  I try to write them all over the weekend and
To read an exert of The Returns,
click on the books in my sidebar.
give myself the weekdays to work on my third book in The Returns series.  Of course, this doesn’t always work out as planned and I find myself falling behind on my book.  Time management is my major demon, but I am working hard to exorcise it from my life.
  2.   Why do I write what I do?
This is an easy question for me.  I write Barking from the Bayou because I love dogs.  My blog gives me a venue to introduce great new products to my audience, provide helpful tips, help bring awareness to shelter pets, and I hope, make my readers smile or laugh.  It is also a wonderful way to practice the art of writing.  I write my book series for a different reason.  I love to weave funny adventures that take the reader out of the ordinary everyday life and make them feel good.  My books are based loosely on the dogs and cats that I have loved throughout my life.  They are not about my pets; I just use them as a blueprint for my characters.  The stories are about humans that died before their time.  They are returned to earth to fulfill their destiny in the bodies of dogs or cats.  They solve crimes, eat a lot of junk food, laugh, and discover that true friendship is one of the most important gifts in life.  The stories are set in New Orleans and I try to capture the essence of Louisiana’s most famous city.  The truth is that I write both my blog and my book because it is my true passion.  I just waited until my children were grown and my husband encouraged me to quit my full time job at a local high school library to pursue it.
  3.   How does my writing process work?
The process for my blog depends on my topic.  I do research on the subject
"Mom, there is nothing weird about me talking to you!"
that I will be featuring whether it is a product review or tips for pet parents.  Bentley, my Basset Hound, and Pierre, our “granddog” West Highland Terrier voice most of my reviews.  These are the easiest posts for me, because they speak in my books so I am used to them “talking.”  When I am writing my books, I use a completely different part of my mind.  It can best be explained as going to “my special place” where the story unfolds.  The characters just tell me the story and my fingers do the typing.  It isn't unusual for me to write a number of pages, only to have to go back to read them to see what actually happened.  I know that sounds weird, but as I said, it’s a different part of my mind.  It’s a very fantastic place to zone out and visit.
   That is it, my writing process.  I hope that you enjoyed it.  Now, I get to introduce you to three fabulous friends that are joining me on the Writers Blog Tour.
   My first invitee is Leiah Cooper.  She writes the blog “So I Read This Book
Meet my friend & editor, Leiah Cooper.
Today
.”  I met her after she featured a review of The Returns on her blog.  We became fast friends and she is now my editor.  Living in one of the most beautiful places in America; Golden, Colorado, she enjoys quilting and spending time with her houseful of pets.  Both of us are night owls and it’s not unusual for us to have a conversation in the middle of the night.  Leiah is one of the smartest women that I know and has lived a very adventurous life.  She is an avid reader and isn’t afraid to speak her mind on books or anything else.  I’m proud to have such an inspiring friend that has survived breast cancer and other things that would defeat many people.
   My second friend is Emma and her mom from My GBGV Life.  Emma is the
Don't they make a cute couple?
voice of her own blog and is absolutely adorable.  *She is Bentley’s cyber sweetie and he can’t wait to meet her in the fur next year.  Emma not only writes one of my favorite blogs, but she is a published author.  Her book, Tales of a French Scent Hound is available on Amazon.  What is a GBGV dog, you ask?  It stands for
Grand Basset Griffon VendeĆ©n, which is a mouthful, so she prefers GBGV.  Emma is also a model and her sweet face is featured on some pet products at Target among other things.  I was thrilled to meet Emma, her sister Bailie, and their mom Joy at this year’s BlogPaws conference.
   Last but certainly not least is Sugar the Golden Retriever.  Golden Retrievers hold a special
Flat Bentley brought Sugar some Mardi Gras beads at BlogPaws
place in my heart since I shared life with our wonderful Tucker for 12 years.  Sugar is the embodiment of the perfect Golden.  She is a happy, smart, and friendly dog that writes a fun blog including some of the most amazing dog recipes I’ve ever read.  We also met Sugar along with her mom and dad at BlogPaws 2014.  I was thrilled to find them just as sweet and down-to-earth as they appear in their blog.  Sugar also has a fun-filled children’s book titled, Sugar’s Furry Friend.  You can read my review here.  Sugar’s mom Rosalyn is a great friend and has been exceptionally helpful to me as I get the hang of the blogging world.
   These terrific bloggers will have their Writer’s Process Blog Tour entry in the next couple of weeks.  Of course, there’s not need to wait to follow them.  You can become fans today!  All three will provide you with fascinating information and fun.  Thank you for joining me on this exciting Writers’ Process Blog Tour.

   Don’t want to miss being a part of the Pet Parade this week.  I co-host with my friends Rascal and RoccoBasil the Bionic Cat,Jan’s Funny Farm, and Love is being owned by aHuskyWe don’t have any rules, just fun!






33 comments :

  1. Wow, that is really interesting how you describe your writing process for your book... I used to write chapter books when I was a kid and loved it. I sometimes do the same thing when I'm trying to go to sleep or something, but of course I'm not typing when that happens...

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    1. Thanks Ann. My characters often talk to me as I am trying to fall asleep. My husband has gotten used to me grabbing my Iphone and typing notes in the middle of the night. I've learned the hard way that I don't remember what they said the next morning. Haha!

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  2. I often think the best thought appear in twilight sleep as I call it - that time when you are not quite awake and not quite asleep - but then of coarse when they do appear - you are suddenly wide awake and have to write them down. Good look with the book :)

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  3. Really loved this little interview.

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  4. very good interview and how cool you met sugar

    retro rover

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  5. Great post and thank you again for asking us. It is fun to hear how you come up with your book ideas.

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    1. Thanks Emma! I'm so glad that you are participating. ♥

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  6. I always wondered how people wrote books; what their writing process was like. I wish I could write a book...but I'm not sure there is one in me. LOL I am sorry I didn't respond to your email about this...it got lost in the shuffle. However, someone else found me and asked me for next week...so I guess I need to tell my "story". This was an awesome post, MK! Thanks for sharing with us.

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    1. Hi Oz! I don't know if others write this way, but when I first started and opened that part of my mind it just happened. I completely understand the email shuffle! I'm just glad that you are joining. ♥

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  7. That was great! SO cool to learn what other people do in their writing process!
    Thanks for sharing, and you chose some wonderful bloggers to join in the tour!
    įƒ¦ husky hugz įƒ¦ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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    1. Thanks Jenna! I loved you Writers Process blog too!

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  8. I love how the writing process differs for everyone! I'm also glad I'm not the only person who easily hears other voices in my head. lol

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    1. Hahaha! I guess in some circles it might be considered crazy, but all writers are a bit insane! ☺

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  9. Between the book and blogging and hearing your process, it sounds like writing comes very quickly and naturally to you! Even with just a blog I experience writer's block and/or lack of enthusiasm to write.

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    1. Writing does come naturally, but not always as quickly as I'd like. I certainly don't run out of thoughts, only time.

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  10. Absolutely love reading about everyone's process, everyone is so different and it makes it that much more interesting. I was invited by Jenna, but you know me...just not enough time!

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    1. I know how busy that you are 24/7. I enjoy your writing style no matter how you go about it. ♥

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  11. I definitely enjoyed learning about your writing process. I promise you that you often make me smile or laugh, especially when the boys do a review....those are my favorites. I especially loved your description of your book writing process....your "special place". It sounds so interesting, and I imagine no one can talk to you when you're in that zone? Sometimes when I'm writing my blog my husband will come in and talk to me and later I'll tell him I have no idea what he said!
    That's a great group you passed this on to as well!
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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    1. I'm so glad that you enjoy the boys' reviews. They always make me laugh. No, I don't like being interrupted when I'm writing. It causes me to come crashing down from my special place. Haha!

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  12. We loved learning about you and your process! We know Sugar too! Not in the furs of course. (Did you know Oprah even knows Sugar?) Sugar is famous! Great post!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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    1. Thanks Murphy! Sugar was definitely a rock star at BlogPaws! She is such a sweetheart. ♥

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  13. We LOVE Emma and Sugar! And it's nice to meet your editor too!
    Our mom has different writing "demons" (ha) - and yes, she has to go to her "special place" when she writes scripts for her shows. Speaking of which, we think we're losing her this weekend to a deadline. Hiss!!!

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    1. Ugh! Deadlines would stress me out completely. Of course, if a publisher contacted me with big bucks, I think that I could learn to cope with one! LOL!

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  14. I think it is so awesome that you write books. I always wished I had that creative ability. Loved getting to hear a little more about your process and great choices to keep the chain going!

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    1. Thanks Kelsie. I appreciate your sweet words ♥ I'm so glad that you stopped by to visit.

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  15. I'm happe to read more! And I can't wait till you meet Emma :o)

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  16. Love all the pics of your fur friends. I enjoyed reading about your writing process. Happy Parading this week! ~RascalandRocco

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  17. Wow - wish I had a "special place" to go to while I write! I gotta pull all those words outta the ol' brain. My characters do "talk" to me at night as well when I'm trying to sleep. Sometimes I just want them to shut up already! But instead, I usually grab a notebook and jot down some notes in the dark that i can barely read the next day! :)

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  18. Loved reading about your writing process. I try to do a bunch of posts in advance too so I can catch up reading and commenting on others but too doesn't always work like that. Good luck getting your third book finished.

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  19. Tried write post on the weekend ... most of the time its not working :-( Can't believe you are writing your 3rd book. I've changed the tone of my blog ... sometimes its Sugar but most of the time "me" as a pet parent. Golden Thanks and we will post our writing process next week. Golden Woofs

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I'd love to hear from you! Bark back!