Insecure Writer's Support Group - Feb 2014

This group posts every first Wednesday of each month.
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG

Purpose: 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!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. Be sure to link to IWSG page and display the badge in your post.

Thank you to our host, Alex J. Cavanaugh and today's co-hosts: Sheena-kay Graham, Julie Musil, Jamie Ayres, and Mike Swift.
Visit them to say hello ;)

Earlier this year I made a promise to myself to try to reach out to others.  This is one of my shortcomings - it always has been. I'm the listener at a party and the quiet one whom not too many people notice (at least I think so). I don't do 'drama' and can usually tell whether I would get along with someone just by looking at them. It's weird, but it's true. And it's not about their look, per say, but about the vibe I get. It's like a sixth sense and it freaks me out sometimes.

So, for the past month I have been reaching out more and I've begun to shatter that shell of social awkwardness. What did I find? A lot of new friends (online of course) who not only it seems have their own insecurities but have also extended their hand to help over and over again. I feel blessed to be part of such an amazing author community. Now, you may not have seen it on this blog because I've been publishing under a pen name Lacey Silks. For the past year and a half I've dipped my toes into writing and publishing adult romances.

My family and friends have known about it since the beginning and have been very supportive. Many of my Lacey readers know that I write under Marta Szemik, and told me they've read my books. I've never kept it a secret, but also never found a good opportunity to share this information on this blog until now - because I really would like to come out of my shell, and perhaps this way I could find some readers who could crossover to Lacey. So this is me pushing past my awkwardness and shy nature to reach out.

If you like to read erotic romance and romantic suspense, there are a few short stories available for free that you can try (My First, My Last, Bossy Request, Mistress Claire - everywhere except Amazon as I'm still trying to price match it). From Feb 5th until Feb 7th I'm also reducing the price on Layers Deep to $0.99, book 1 in the Layers Trilogy. I hope you enjoy!

What are your insecurities this month? Do you know anyone who's shy? 

Coincidences

It makes me laugh when reviewers reading my books comment "this is too big of a coincidence," or "this could never happen in real life." This really surprises me because a lot of the so called 'coincidences' in my novels are taken from real life situations - ok, not the fantasy ones, but the regualar fiction - yeah, coincidences happen more often than we know.

For example:

* After naming one of my characters and publishing my book, I found out there's an author who goes by that name -oops!
* Another characters - well it just turns out that his first name is the same as one  best selling author uses for her MC (which I didn't know), and his last name is the same as another best selling author uses for that MC. I guess I just choose them well ;)
* My characters happen to be in specific places at a specific time which changes the course of their story

OK, some real life scenarios now:

* We took a skiing vacation two years ago, just hubby, me and the kids. First time in our life at this ski resort, 8 hour drive away from our house. We go to our chalet/condo and guess what! My cousin is staying right next door! Nope, we didn't discuss the trip with him.

* On that same ski hill, we're standing in a line to go up on the gondola and someone calls my name I'm not sure how she recognized me because most of the time on a ski hill I look like this (hey, I like to stay warm):

I guess I must have taken my goggles and mask off for a moment, because a friend, who I've never been skiing with, called me.

* Now this one will blow your mind:

Spring 2001: Me and hubby go on a vacation to Cuba. We stay at a resort in Holguin and meet a very nice couple with whom we spend the rest of our vacation. We go snorkeling every day, play Foosball in the evenings, just a great time! We exchange addresses, emails, phone numbers and will definitely stay in touch (this is the key) as they live in the next province over.
Well, we lose their info and can't get in touch with them.

Fall 2005: We have a 2.5 year old and a 7 month old and go to Cuba with our parents but stay in Cayo Santa Maria. Two days later, we get a Hurricane warning and end up being evacuated (10 hour bus ride from hell) to a resort in Holguin. This resort is right beside the one we went to in 2001. Now being there, with two small kids, you can imagine we don't have quite a lot of time to ourselves and we don't want to burden our parents. But while at that resort, middle of the day, they do take our kids and we have a couple of hours to ourselves. We take our snorkeling equipment and go for a walk, turning right to go to the same beach we snorkeled at in 2001. As we walk we reminisce about the great time we had here last time.
As we walk, we see a couple on the beach who looks familiar, with a 3 year old boy. Guess who! Yup, it's the same couple we met in 2001!!!
I just couldn't believe it and neither could they. It turns out they lost our information the same way we had lost theirs. Of course we exchange our addresses and emails and phone numbers once again etc.... They come to our resort that evening for a drink. We have a great time and absolutely cannot believe our luck.
We go back home to Canada, I look for the address - AND IT'S LOST!  Please note that I'm not someone who loses things like that. Neither is my husband. Was it fate? Will we ever meet them again?
I hope so, because I truly believe in wild coincidences, and that's why I put them in my books.

Do you believe in wild coincidences?