Let the Holidays Commence

September 22nd, often called the Autumn Equinox, is traditionally considered the beginning of fall, with December 21st marking the beginning of winter. But I have to say, traditional though I may be, that just never quite sat right with me, in large part because I am a Christmas enthusiast and couldn't quite reconcile the idea that winter decor would have to either A) be placed around the house during the fall, or B) wait all the way until the week of Christmas.

Just no.

So crazy though it may seem, I long ago decided that autumn should start at the beginning of September, and winter the beginning of December. Thus, it is by no means crazy that I should begin setting out fall decorations September 1st.

And what are fall decorations if not merely a gateway decor for Halloween, am I right? So yeah, I may or may not have already begun hauling out my Halloween decorations, and I feel not one iota of shame. (Note: I am also one of those annoying people who puts out Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving.)

So I guess what I mean to say - if you're still with me here - is yay, the start of what I like to call Holiday Season (the magical time of year encompassing Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years) has begun!

My husband and I celebrated by watching one of my favorite Halloween-adjacent movies tonight, the delightfully gruesome Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. Gotta love a good fairy tell retelling with automatic weapons, sibling action-duos and best of all, witches.

Insecure Writers Support Group

It's the first Wednesday of the month and time for another Insecure Writers Support Group post. A big shout out to Alex J. Cavanaugh for starting this great outlet for writers looking to help one another and gain support. I'm so excite to be one of this month's co-hosts and can't wait to get around to everyone's blogs. 

This month I'm facing a bit of a challenge. What do you do when you feel like you're stuck in a bit of a publishing black hole? My manuscript hasn't seen the light of day in ages and I'm starting to think that my agent may have lost my number . . . 

I'm not really sure where to go at this point. I'm trying to work on something new but feel very uninspired. Any other writers out there facing similar challenges? What are you doing to climb back toward the light? 

Insecure Writer's Support Group

It's the first Wednesday of the month and time for a new Insecure Writer's Support Group post. Thank you so much to Alex J. Cavanaugh for starting this wonderful outlet for writers, and all his co-hosts for their hard work keeping it running so smoothly. If you're an insecure writer looking for some support, check us out here!

I don't have a lot to say today other than, hi! It's been a long time (so long in fact I have to re-sign up for IWSG . . . good thing it's always there when you need it). I've been away from my blog for a while, distracted with new-Mommy-hood, and it's sometimes a little daunting to dust off the old typewriter (aka. my laptop) and dive back in. It's so nice to have IWSG to come back to for my first post. 

I'm going to try to get around to as many insecure writers as I can today between nap times and play dates, but for those of you I don't get to right away, good luck with all your struggles this month. Can't wait to come by and meet you!

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Well, apparently the IWSG post I wrote and scheduled for publication yesterday failed to upload. But it's better to be a little late than never, right? Anyway, the Insecure Writer's Support Group is a blogging community dedicated to struggling writers where we can get together and offer each other encouragement. If you're interested in joining us, check us out here!

This month I'm thinking of a new story, one that is firmly founded in the Christmas tradition. But I can't help but wonder if that's a good idea in today's environment? Is it a good idea to write a story wrapped up in a Christian holiday, thus alienating secular and non-Christian readers? To be clear, this story has nothing to do with religion other than the holiday it springboards from. But I can't help but worry it falls in to deep a niche for a broad audience. 

December Brings a CassaStar Special

It's December! My favorite month of the year, full of twinkle lights and Christmas carols - or menorahs if you're celebrating Hanukkah. Either way, it's a the best time of the year and I can't wait to celebrate as a first time Mama. Two months isn't too young to bake Christmas cookies is it? 

Regardless of what holiday you're celebrating this December, there's a special treat coming your way. CassaStar by Amazon best seller Alex J. Cavanaugh is on sale for only $0.99! This special only lasts for a few more days, so head over to Amazon and get a copy of your very own right here. I guarantee it'll make for great cold weather reading!  

The Best of TV's Thanksgiving Episodes

It's Thanksgiving, a day for giving thanks, eating way too much food, and doing what Americans do so well . . . watch television (whether it be football, the Macy's parade, or cheesy holiday movies). In honor of this auspicious holiday, I've compiled a list of what I consider the greatest Thanksgiving related TV episodes. 

The Best of TV's Thanksgiving Episodes:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Season 4 episode 6 - "Pangs"

Perhaps one of my all time favorite Buffy episodes ever, the Scooby gang must battle the ghosts of some severely pissed off Native Americans hell bent on vengeance. With the return of Angel and a blisteringly sarcastic Spike, it's definitely one of the series' greatest hits. 

Best line: "Bear, you made a bear. Undo it! Undo it!"

Gilmore Girls - Season 3 Episode 9 -  "A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving" 

Any of you other Gilmore Girls fans out there celebrating the Netflix revival of the series? I can't wait to see what they have in store for us. But can it possibly live up to one of the funniest GG episodes of all time? We'll see. Four Thanksgiving feasts in one day? No problem for this mother and daughter duo. 

Best line: "Well, you caught me at a good time, ladies. I've already gone through the five stages of grieving. Denial, anger. . .I don't remember these two, but they were served on the rocks with salt!" 

How I Met Your Mother - Season 3 Episode 9 - "Slapsgiving"

I've always loved the way How I Met Your Mother starts a bit in one season and carries it on throughout the course of the series, and no bit is more memorable than that of the slap. Marshall's hand, Barney's face. Fantastic. And the best slapisode? Why Slapsgiving, of course. 

Best line:  What is this feeling, that's put you in your place? A hot red burnin' on the side of your face. You feel the blood rush to your cheek, the tears that fill your eyes. And your lips are trembling, but you can't speak. You're tryin', oh, you're tryin' not to cry. You just got slapped, oh, across the face, my friend. You just got slapped, yes, that really just happened. Everybody saw it. Then everybody laughed and clapped. It was awesome. Wait, you just got... slapped.

Friends - Season 4 Episode 8 - "The One with Chandler in a Box" AND Season 3 Episode 9 - "The One with the Football" 

My friends and I all get together every year and have our own "Friendsgiving" in which we eat turkey and pie, and then waddle our way to the TV and laze away the rest of the day watching Friends Thanksgiving episodes. We all argue which one is the best (my friend Sami would be shocked I'm not writing about the Brad Pitt episode), but I can't ever decide between "Chandler in a Box" and "Football", so I nominate them both. Not just the best Thanksgiving episodes of the series, but possibly the best episodes of the series all-together. 

Best line: "Is everybody else seeing a troll doll nailed to a two by four?"

And there you have it, my favorite Thanksgiving TV episodes. There are many more I'd love to mention, but I'm in a food coma from everything I ate today and this was as much as I could manage. I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving!

Insecure Writer's Support Group

It's the first Wednesday of the month and time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post. A big thank you to Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh for starting this amazing group where writers with insecurities can connect and support one another. If you're interested in joining us, check at the IWSG here!  

My insecurities this month are a bit more complicated than normal. Far from worrying about when I'll find time to write or how I'm going to get back into the swing of things, this month I'm worried about having something important to say. As F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said "You don't write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say". And I can't help but wonder sometimes if the stories I write really say anything of value. They're fun and I certainly enjoy writing them, but is that enough?

Do any of you ever wondering if what you're writing matters? If you're words have any value? If they really say anything? 

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And a special note to all IWSG-ers: 

We are still trying to get the IWSG site listed as one of Writers’ Digest’s Top 100 Best Websites for Writers! Please email them at writersdigest@fwmedia.com, subject line 101 Websites, and suggest the IWSG - http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/