I Am a Storyteller! by J.Q. Rose #storytelling #writingstories #writing #readingoutloud

 

Fiction and Non-fiction Books by J. Q. Rose

Hello and welcome to the Focused on Story Blog!

I chose the title of this blog because I love stories!! Reading them. Writing them. Teaching how to write or tell them. Listening to them.

JQ presenting a life storytelling workshop

I broke into the writing business after we sold our flower shop and greenhouse operation in 1995. (uh-oh..that may be a spoiler if you're reading my memoir, Arranging a Dream!)

Pumpkins growing in our garden. 

I collected all of my courage to ask the regional newspaper editor, Rich Wheater if he would be interested in having some features on people and businesses in our local area. He asked me to submit an article, so I did. I wrote about a local farm family who raised pumpkins and sold the plump beauties displayed in long lines in their front yard. It was October, so it was a timely story. Rich accepted the story and many more that I penned about West Michigan. 

I learned a lot about writing for a newspaper and about writing crisp, to-the-point articles. I did not like it when Rich had to shorten the story to make way for advertisements! That's when I learned all the essentials, such as location, people or business names, time and dates for events, had to be at the beginning of the article. I always appreciated his editing the stories to improve the readability. 

When we decided to make our fifth-wheel camper our home full-time in 1998, I wrote about the RV industry for magazines and newspapers as we meandered across the country. I also wrote for e-zines, now known as online magazines, as a garden editor. The internet became my best friend for articles.

After a while, I tired of writing non-fiction stories and turned to creating fictional stories, a love of mine since I was in second grade. 

Your Words, Your Life Story

On this blog, I also encourage folks to write their fiction and non-fiction stories. I have many articles about helpful tools for writers.

Life Storytelling Evangelist! 

I am a storyteller, and I believe everyone has a story to tell. In fact, I am such a life storytelling evangelist, I created a journal from the life-storytelling workshops I have taught through the years. Your Words, Your Life Story: A Journal for Sharing Memories helps to guide readers through ways to spark memories and record their legacy for their families and friends, and/or publish them for the world to read their messages.

Listening to Stories

 Do you remember listening to your teacher read a story out loud to your class? Mrs. Beyer, my 8th grade, yes 8th-grade teacher, always read a story after lunch. Even at 13-14 years old, our class loved listening to the story. I had to read the heart-wrenching ending to Charlotte's Web because Mrs. Beyer was so emotional, she couldn't continue. Have you read Charlotte's Web? You'll understand.

When I taught third grade, I made a point to read to my kids after lunch every day. Every year, I read Charlotte's Web, and we all shared a teary moment. 

Diana Kathryn Plopa invited me to read a story out loud for her series of Indie Authors Read Aloud, so I am sharing the video with you. I hope you can take time for a break and enjoy listening to the beginning of Terror on Sunshine Boulevard. Some day I'll have to tell you the back story to this book!

The reading begins about 5 minutes into the video.

Click here to watch.

Do you love to listen to audiobooks? Do you love to read to kids? Please leave a comment below. I enjoy receiving feedback. Thank you.

Quick Tips on Vegetable Gardening
by J.Q. Rose

We celebrated the first day of spring on Sunday, March 20. Ready to plant your garden? Click here to download this quick read for 99 cents. Get started growing your veggies for 2022!

Wishing you a delightful spring season and a bounteous summer of gardening!

Podcast https://anchor.fm/diana-kathryn-plopa/episodes/Episode-Three-with-J-Q--Rose-and-Terror-On-Sunshine-Boulevard-e1etgkq

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHrZvVix9sE&t=5s

History of the National Women's History Project, Role Models for Girls #nationalwomenshistoryproject #rolemodelsfor girls

 

Women's History Month Theme

Hello and welcome to the Focused on Story Blog!

Last week, I highlighted International Women's Day, May 8, "a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day is also a call to action for accelerating women's equality."--National Women's History Project website

International Women's Day is an event through the National Women’s History Project (NWHP).

According to their website, this organization "was founded in 1980 in Santa Rosa,
California, to broadcast women’s historical achievements. We convinced Congress and the White House of the need for our nation to celebrate and recognize women’s role in history on an annual basis. As a result of our efforts, the week of March 8th (International Women’s Day) was officially designated as National Women’s History Week. In 1987, we led the successful campaign to have the entire month of March declared National Women’s History Month."

Now an international event, Women’s History Month is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with International Women's Day on March 8, and during October in Canada.

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Thank you to the NWHP for keeping women's history alive for future generations to learn about the amazing lives of those who have gone before them. Truly inspirational stories for the girls and women of tomorrow.

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It was my privilege to interview sixteen remarkable women for my non-fiction book for girls, Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women. The stories shared by each woman reveal how she aspired to a career when she was a girl and worked to make that dream come true. Middle School age girls will be inspired and entertained as they interact with the eBook filled with online links to videos and resources about each career. The paperback is available for classroom teachers and home school educators with a Reader's Guide included at the end of the book.

Below is an excerpt from Girls Succeed! about Dr. Catherine Bradley and her grandmother. They fit the 2022 theme of Women's History Month, Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.

Dr.Catherine Bradley

" 'From as far back as I can remember, I knew I wanted to be a doctor, and I had no doubt that I could do that since my grandmother was one,' said medical doctor Catherine (Cate) Bradley.

Cate's grandmother received her medical degree in 1937. At that time, it was unusual for a woman to be a doctor. She cared for her patients in a small town in Vermont. She was important to the members of the community and always went outof her way to help.

Cate's grandmother received an award from the American Cancer Society for her work in medicine and was respected as a physician, wife and mother of three daughters."--excerpt from Girls Succeed! Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women, Chapter 4, Dr.Catherine Bradley

Celebrating Women's History Month

Cate's grandmother was a trailblazer for women in the field of medicine offering care and hope to her patients and her community. 

Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women is available at major online booksellers.

Click here to download the eBook.

Click here to download the Paperback in color

Thank you for stopping in! Do you wish to recognize someone who fits the theme of this year's Women's History Month? Please leave a comment below. 

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

March is Women's History Month, Women's International Day is March 8, Medical Scientist Dr. Juanita Merchant #womenshistorymonth # internationalwomensday

Hello and welcome! March is Women's History Month. Every year on March 8, we celebrate International Women's Day. 

International Women's Day

According to the International Women's Day website, this special day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day is also a call to action for accelerating women's equality.

The National Women’s History Alliance formerly, the National Women’s History Project, is a leader in promoting Women’s History and is committed to the goals of education, empowerment, equality, and inclusion. 

The 2022 National Women’s History Theme
“Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope”

Honoring Women

From the National Women's History Alliance website-- "The 2022 Women’s History theme, “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” is both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.

The 2022 theme proudly honors those who, in both public and private life, provide healing and promote hope for the betterment of all."

Celebrating Women's History in March
International Women's Day is March 8
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It was my privilege to interview sixteen remarkable women for my non-fiction book for girls, Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women. The stories shared by each woman reveal  how she aspired to a career when she was a girl and worked to make that dream come true. Middle School age girls will be inspired and entertained as they interact with the eBook filled with online links to videos and resources about each career. The paperback is available for classroom teachers and  home school educators with a Reader's Guide included at the end of the book.

The theme for the Women's History Month is caregivers and those in the front lines of health care during this dangerous pandemic.

Below is an excerpt from the book about Dr. Juanita Merchant. We celebrate her work in providing healing and hope as a medical scientist in the field of gastroenterology and as a woman of color who blazed trails in the field of medicine for all women.

CHAPTER 9, DR. JUANITA MERCHANT, MEDICAL SCIENTIST 

“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut Dr. Juanita Merchant Confidence Counts 

Dr. Juanita Merchant

Understanding and Overcoming Our Differences 

When Juanita was in college in the 1970s, she almost did not get a chance to become a doctor. She had to struggle against those in authority who thought she was not capable of handling all the demands that come with being a doctor because first, she was a woman and second, she was an African American woman. 

At that time, many folks did not believe a woman could manage to work at a job that was considered a man’s job and deal with the responsibilities that came with it. 

Because of racism, some people believed an African American was not equal to them and therefore could not handle such a demanding job. One person interviewing Juanita for acceptance into a graduate program was surprised that she did not talk in street slang. He had jumped to that conclusion because of her skin color. Because he did not know any African Americans, he believed the untrue, simple generalizations about a group of people who were not like him. 

When someone is different from us, we may not understand the person. But instead of bullying or mistreating her, the choice should be to find out about and get to know the person. We are all more alike than different from each other no matter what color our skin, our religion or where we live. To prove the low expectations of her were incorrect, she confidently worked harder than the other students to confirm she was capable and worthy of achieving her goal to be a medical doctor and scientist.

Read the entire chapter in Girls Succeed!

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Girls Succeed: 

Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women

by J.Q. Rose

Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women is available at major online booksellers.

Click here to download the eBook.

Click here to download the Paperback in color

Thank you for visiting. Have you heard of Women's International Day or Women's History Month? Did you have a mentor when you were growing up? Now? Please leave your comment below.

To Write or Not to Write That Story by J.Q.Rose #IWSGbloghop

 

Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop

#IWSGbloghop

Happy IWSG Blog Hop Day!

Happy March!

What is the Insecure Writer's Support Group?

Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database, articles and tips, a monthly blog posting, a Facebook and Instagram group, Twitter, and a monthly newsletter. To find out more, click this link:  Insecure Writer’s Support Group

The purpose of the group is 

* to share and encourage. 

* Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. 

* Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. 

*It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! 

You're invited to become a member of this supportive group. Click here to sign-up.

Thank you to our awesome co-hosts for the March 2 posting of the IWSG Blog Hop-- Janet Alcorn, Pat Garcia, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!

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March 2 question - Have you ever been conflicted about writing a story or adding a scene to a story? How did you decide to write it or not?

When I began writing my memoir, Arranging a Dream: A Memoir, I was conflicted about several scenes. The first commandment when writing a memoir is to always tell the truth. Should I tell the truth about a couple as being mean and selfish? People who were well-known and loved in the community. They have passed away, but their family lives in the area.

Arranging a Dream by J.Q. Rose

The memoir covers the first year my husband and I purchased a floral and greenhouse business in 1975. The operation was located in Michigan, five hours away from our home in Central Illinois. Because we wanted to make our dream of working for ourselves come true, we bought the operation from strangers. We didn't know anyone in the community to ask about their reputation. Trusting the owners were honest folks, we packed up our belongings, said goodbye to friends and family, and two paychecks, we moved with our one-year-old daughter to Michigan.

Still, the worry about deciding if we made the right decision niggled in our hearts. Were the owners taking advantage of a young couple with stars in their eyes? We had no business experience and no floral design skills, only a dream to work hard and develop the business. We needed the owners to stay with us, teach us about the everyday workings of the operation, and share their experience in the flower business.

No, I am not going to tell you how the book ended. No spoiler here!!

To make the story read like a novel, I made the owners the villains. Everybody loves a villain, and conflict engages readers. We had plenty of conflict with the previous owners during that year. Because the book is creative non-fiction, I  chose to change their names since they have passed and could not tell their side of the story, as well as to protect their identity due to the family still living in the area. 

The amazing revelation as I wrote the story brought about an understanding of why the owners treated us like that. I try to stress in my life storytelling workshops that yes, the participants may be writing for reasons such as leaving a legacy to their families, but I don't believe a writer realizes how much she will learn about her own life until she reflects on the experiences through the lens of time. (Sorry for getting off-topic, but you must realize I am a life storytelling evangelist!)

Reviewers have called it inspiring and fascinating, so I feel I made the right decision to forge on with telling the truth and finishing the book.

Thank you for stopping in. 

Please leave a comment below. I am anxious to discover how bloggers have wrangled with writing or not writing their stories.

Click here to visit more bloggers during the blog hop! 

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catch-up

Last week was an active week in my book marketing life. A guest interview, an article, and a podcast popped up on the Internet during the same week!

If you have time to visit them now or later, please click the links below. Thank you!

BWL Publishing author badge

How the Internet Affects Your Brain Function at the BWL Publishing Insiders Blog

Click here for a thank you from author Shannon Lawrence featuring books by all the bloggers she visited while touring with her new writing craft book--The Business of Writing Short Stories.

Click here to visit Shannon's feature of her new release on this blog.

Click here to visit the Blue Million site where author Amy Merz shows off her clever way of conducting interviews.

Click here to listen to my reading of Terror on Sunshine Boulevard at author Diana Kathryn Plopa's Indie Reads Aloud podcast.

A HUGE thank you to all of my hosts!

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Please pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia 

and the countries involved in defeating the dictator.

Taking a Time Out for a Break at Tarpon Springs, Florida, and Guesting at Shannon Lawrence and Amy Merz Blogs

 

Hello and welcome to the Focused on Story Blog! I'm J. Q. Rose.

GT and I are taking our dear friends from Missouri to Tarpon Springs, FL today. I will definitely be sharing pics from this amazing, interesting, historical site later on the blog.

Terror on Sunshine Boulevard

REVIEW SNIPPETS

FL retirement community plagued by mysterious deaths... who knew it could be so fun?

"Creep" Factor in Florida - Oh, Yeah!

Fun in the Sun, Fright in the Night!

4.0Move Over Stephen King

A Real Page Turner

I wanted to pop in to share that my paranormal, horror novel, Terror on Sunshine Boulevard is featured at Shannon Lawrence's blog on Wednesday, February 23. Click here to visit Shannon's site and say hi!

Arranging a Dream: A Memoir

Interview at Amy Merz blog this week too! Click here to visit the Blue Million site where Amy shows off her unique way of conducting interviews.

Have a wonderful end of February!! Getting closer to spring every day!

Who or What Killed Mr. Tweeble? by J. Q. Rose #MFRWHooks #florida

 

Book Hooks--excerpts from novels

   Book Hooks Blog Hop #MFRWHooks

Hello and welcome to the Focused on Story Blog. 

Today we're joining the Book Hooks Blog Hop sponsored by 

the Marketing For Romance Writers Group. 

Each participating blogger shares an excerpt from their book. 

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Snowbirds are in Florida enjoying warm sunshine and gentle breezes. So I am sharing an excerpt from Terror on Sunshine Boulevard, a story about a snowbirding couple from Michigan who are lucky to spend their winters in Florida participating in all the fun activities in a community of snowbirds. 

But not so much fun this winter because the season is filled with terror, death and mystery.

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Terror on Sunshine Boulevard by J.Q. Rose
Scary, Mystery, Paranormal

"Fun in the Sun, Fright in the Night!"--amazon reviewer

BACK OF THE BOOK:  Rescuing a naked woman lying in a geranium bed? Investigating mysterious murders Not the usual calls for first responder Jim Hart. He expects slip and fall accidents or low blood pressure emergencies in his retirement community of Citrus Ridge Senior Community and Golf Resort. The ghastly crime scenes turn the wintertime fun into a terrifying season of death and mystery when the authorities cannot track down the predator responsible.

 Jim and his wife Gloria could escape the horror and grief by returning to their northern home, but concern for their friends and residents keep them in Florida. With the entire community in a dither over the deaths, the Harts participate in the normal winter activities of golfing, dancing, and pool parties with their friends to distract them from the sadness and loss.

 Can Jim and Gloria work with the authorities to discover who or what is killing the seniors on Sunshine Boulevard and stop the increasing body count?

EXCERPT: Terror on Sunshine Boulevard by J.Q. Rose

A few nights later, Mr. Tweeble woke up with a start when his dog Jingles began barking loud enough to wake him even if he wasn’t wearing his hearing aids.

Jingles, the star, in Terror On Sunshine Boulevard.

“Jingles! Jingles! Hush up, will you? It’s three o’clock in the morning. You’re going to wake the neighborhood with your barking.”

He remembered Jingles barking and whining like that when he drove his electric scooter near George McConnell’s house that afternoon. He had finally picked up the feisty terrier and put him on his lap to join the other curiosity seekers near the house. The dog jumped off and raced the other way until he was brought up short on his leash and howled until his master turned the cart around and left the area.

Jingles’ pitiful yowling broke into Mr. Tweeble’s memory.

Fearing his dog was sick, Mr. Tweeble rolled himself out of bed, fumbled putting on his glasses, and shuffled into the kitchen. Using the night light in the hood vent over the old stove to see the dog, he discovered the animal scampering back and forth near the back door.

“Jingles, come ‘ere, boy. Are you sick?” Mr. Tweeble picked him up and gently held the dog close to his chest. He switched on the ceiling light and studied the precious face he dearly loved. He checked Jingles’ brown ears and his brown and white furry body for any injuries and then cradled him to his rotund belly.

“It’s all right, little guy. Come on. Come on to bed with me. You must want to go out to chase a rabbit, eh?” As he slowly shuffled his way back to his bedroom with the dog, he wondered what was wrong. Mr. Tweeble made a mental note to check behind the couch for an “accident” in the morning.

He lay down on the rumpled bed and enfolded the trembling dog in his arms. Suddenly Jingles wriggled free and sprang up barking non-stop. He leaped from the bed and raced out of the room. A flash of searing yellow light filled the room blinding Mr. Tweeble, and the smell of his own scorched flesh burned his nostrils.

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Click here to download Terror on Sunshine Boulevard from your favorite online bookseller. Also available in paperback at amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Author J.Q. Rose

 ABOUT J.Q. ROSE- Whether the story is fiction or non-fiction, J.Q. Rose is “focused on story.”  She offers readers chills, giggles and quirky characters woven within the pages of her romantic suspense novels. Using her storytelling skills, she provides entertainment and information with articles featured in books, newspapers, and online magazines. 

Blogging, taking photos of their garden, nature, and family, Pegs and Jokers board games, travel and presenting workshops on life storytelling are the things that keep JQ out of trouble. She and her husband spend winters in Florida and summers up north with their two daughters, two sons-in-law,  four grandsons, one granddaughter, two grand dogs, four grand cats, and one great-grand bearded dragon.

↪Click here to visit bloggers participating in the #MFRWhooks  Blog Hop. Have fun!! 

Thank you for visiting.

February: Romance Novels for the Month of Romance

Deadly Undertaking by J.Q. Rose

Romantic suspense

Click here to find mysteries by J.Q. Rose at BWL Publishing

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Hello and welcome to the Focused on Story blog! 

Because Valentine's Day is February 14 in our corner of the world, February is the month for romance and the perfect time to read romance novels. However, I enjoy reading romance twelve months out of the year! How about you?

Dangerous Sanctuary
by J.Q. Rose
Romantic Suspense

Deadly Undertaking and Dangerous Sanctuary are romance novels, but also mysteries. In the writing business, they are known as romantic suspense because a mystery is included within the romantic story.

Below are the elements which romance readers expect:

💗 a spark ignites between two characters 

💗 the conflict that keeps them apart

💗 Happily Ever After (HEA) ending

Romance is the biggest selling genre and also the most checked-out book in libraries. It is a broad genre because romance can be found in paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy, historical, mystery, thriller, and literary romance stories. What a rich menu of choices for romance readers. 

Here are the Top Three All-Time Romances 

according to Reader's Digest--Do you agree?

1. Vision in White--Nora Roberts

2. Pride and Prejudice--Jane Austen

3. The Wedding Date--Jasmine Guillory

In the comment section below, tell us if you are a romance reader. Do you like your romantic story mixed in with another genre like mystery, fantasy or the paranormal? 

Thank you for visiting.

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Click here to connect and like JQ's Author Facebook page.

Happy Valentine's Day!!