Author Archives: Deb Gorman

About Deb Gorman

Deb Gorman is an author, blogger, and speaker who escaped from a 9-5 job in the medical field to pursue what she really loves—words, words, and more words. A lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest, she writes fiction and non-fiction in between long walks through orchard country with her husband, Alan, and playing with their German Shepherd, Hoka. You can catch up with Deb on her website, debggorman.com, and email her at debster145@gmail.com

Reader Friday-Name That Tune!

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Fridays are fun around here at TKZ. We talk about writing, marketing tips and tricks—but wait! Yes, we can cover those writing topics and more on Fridays, but let’s have a bit of fun.

Today we’re going to indulge in some nostalgia.

What was your favorite music when you were a teenager? Tell us the genre and the artist(s) you couldn’t get enough of. Did your parents approve, or did you have to be an undercover listener? Has your choice of tunes changed now that you’re a *grown-up*?

I’ll start:  My parents introduced me to Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, The Ames Brothers and the like. My friends introduced me to Creedence, the Monkees, and the Eagles—for covert listening, of course.

I liked all of it then . . . but now? I’d listen to that second group of artists every day and twice on Sundays.

Okay, your turn–what’s your fave music from back in the day? And how about your characters–are they music lovers? What tunes do they gravitate to?

And thanks for playing Name That Tune!

 

 

Reader Friday-Happy 2nd of July!

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And you thought this would be a 4th of July post!

Well, technically, that’s what it is. Here’s the deal . . .

Reading up on the history of our country’s birth pangs, I discovered that our independence was actually declared by those dusty forefathers of ours—not on the 4th—but on the 2nd of July. I probably should have learned this in middle school (and probably did), but somehow it was not saved in my internal hard drive, aka, brain.

We celebrate our independence on July 4th, the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed.

 

All that to ask you TKZers:  What is your favorite part of celebrating the 4th (or 2nd) of July?

 

 

 

Reader Friday-That Stinky Mood

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Thinking back to my teenage years, it seems like I was in a bad mood about something most of the time. You’d think I would have outgrown those sour moods by now. Sigh.

I don’t get moody as much anymore, nor (heaven forbid!) about the same life stuff as when I was younger, but sometimes a mood strikes—one that causes me to slam my laptop closed and walk away.

You?

I ran across this website the other day:  Moods and Writing

It contains 5 tips for shooing away the doldrums in order to get back to work.

Listen to some upbeat [or your favorite] music.

 

“Music affects mood, so choose something that gets you happy and dancing. Try listening to it for just 5 minutes before you start writing, and see if your session doesn’t go better than you thought it would.”

 

Eat some dark chocolate. (My favorite!)

“Chocolate is good for you, and studies have also found that it can boost levels of the good-mood neurotransmitter, “serotonin,” in your brain. It also boosts dopamine levels, which will give you more energy. As if you needed another excuse to eat some chocolate! Just try to be sure it has at least 70 percent cocoa.”

Give someone a hug.

“A loved one, friend, pet—give someone a quick hug before you start writing. It lowers stress and stimulates the release of oxytocin, which helps boost mood.”  (And the cool thing is, you’ll usually get hugged back!)

Dress up. (Not so sure about this one, but hey, it’s worth a try!)

“This can be particularly helpful if you’ve been in sweats all day. Put on something you like and that you think makes you look good. Studies have found that clothes really can affect our mood! (Read more about that here: “What Are You Wearing? Why Writers Should Care”) Better yet, choose something colorful. Green and yellow are associated with happiness, red with energy, and blue with calm.”

Look at nature images—and make sure they contain some green. 

“Studies have found that simply looking at pictures of nature can help relieve stress and put you in a better mood. If you want to boost creativity too, make sure the pictures have some green in them. (In other words, no winter pictures!) Studies have found that green helps stimulate creativity.”

 

TKZers—what would you add to this list? What is your surefire way to combat a stinky mood so you can get on with the fun stuff of writing?

 

Reader Friday-Holiday Magic!

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Did you know there are holidays out there that no one has ever heard of?

I went down a cyberspace rabbit hole the other day and found this website–https://www.holidayscalendar.com/topics/weird/ .

Here’s some favorite never-heard-of-holidays I found.

Z Day—January 1st:  “For years, people whose last names start with a “Z” were the last to be chosen in any alphabetical system, and this day corrects that problem. On this day, people with last names starting with a “Z” get the chance to go first, ahead of anyone else. At least in theory. These individuals are automatically moved to the front of the line, even if it’s only for one day of the year.” No joke! Click on the link if you don’t believe me…

World Sword Swallowers Day—Fourth Saturday in February:  “It’s our opinion that most people don’t know someone who swallows swords for either fun or profit. If a person does, however, they should thank them on World Sword Swallowers Day—a holiday that celebrates this ancient art and the people who practice it.” Someone give that guy a drink of water!

 

And, last but not least . . .

Take Your Houseplant for a Walk Day—July 27th:  “This holiday is observed on July 27th, and it gives everyone a chance to bond with their plants and probably get a few strange looks from their neighbors as well.”

Those are just a few. Check out the link above and share your favorite with us—or come up with your own!

Question:  Do any of these weirdo holidays spark ideas for short stories?

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And speaking of short stories, check this out! An awesome collection of short stories by our own JSB–read for pure pleasure or craft teaching–or both!

Click on the cover to view on Amazon…

 

 

 

 

 

Reader Friday-On the Thirteenth

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There’s some weird stuff out there about Friday the Thirteenth. Consider this from our fine friend, Wikipedia:

One source mentioned for the unlucky reputation of the number 13 is a Norse myth about twelve gods having a dinner party in Valhalla. The trickster god Loki, who was not invited, arrived as the thirteenth guest, and arranged for Höðr, the god of darkness, to shoot Balder, the god of joy and gladness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Balder died, triggering much suffering in the world, which caused the number 13 to be considered unlucky.

Kinda sounds like a plot for a thriller novel, yes?

Writers can be quite superstitious. I wrote a Killzone post back in February touching on how quirky some (or all?) writers are. You can read that post here.

Since today is Friday the 13th, I thought we’d share some of the weird superstitions that are out there. Cue Twilight Zone music. Or maybe X Files—

Here’s a few more I ran across:

Never stick your chopsticks straight up. In Japan, poking chopsticks down into your food is a big no-no. The utensils look like the unlucky number four, which means death, and also the incense sticks used at funerals. Another tip: Don’t point your chopsticks at anyone. That’s just plain rude.

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Don’t go home right after a funeral. In Filipino tradition, if you go straight home after a funeral, a bad spirit could tag along and wreak havoc on your life. Stop at a restaurant first to stay safe.

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Keep your new shoes off the table. (Say what?) In Britain, it’s considered bad luck because it symbolizes the death of a loved one. Back in the day, placing someone’s shoes on a table was a way to let the family know that they passed away. Nowadays, it’s also just bad etiquette.

And if you’re dying (heh, heh) to learn more about superstitions around the world, go here.

TKZers, what are some strange superstitions you’ve heard of; or maybe share some from your own family archives. And in your writing life, do any of your characters have weird superstitions?

(I’ll be in and out today, and will monitor as I can…)

 

 

Reader Friday . . . D-Day

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Today is D-Day. No, not Deb’s Return to The Killzone Day. I am glad to be back, though! Thank you to those who filled in on Fridays during my hiatus.   😊

Now, let’s talk about the real D-Day.

We often usurp the term D-Day to describe events of lesser import—such as work assignment deadlines, bills due, even personal stuff, like weddings or maybe divorces finalized.

But the real D-Day back in 1944 was (and still is) a day to remember. Because it was a day that sealed the fate of one of the real enemies of mankind.

According to my D-Day research, “Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful liberation of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. The operation was launched on 6 June 1944 (D-Day) with the Normandy landings, Operation Neptune.” (From Wikipedia)

Many books have been written, and many movies have been created about this period in history. I happen to be one of those movie-goers who would choose a war movie over a romance every day and twice on Sundays. But what’s important is in the next paragraph.

I will be forever grateful for those brave men and women who fought these battles, and for those who gave their lives on this day. Which brings to mind a 102-year-old gentleman, the father of a friend of ours. Still spry, with a sense of humor and a knack for the flirt, he is one who thankfully returned to his family.

Many Americans, along with our allied forces and their families and loved ones, however, gave their all so that I can sit here writing this post for you to read. Sometimes I just can’t wrap my head around that. I ask myself, if I’d been in that generation, would I have been willing to sacrifice myself, or a husband or child?

Think a moment. Try to imagine what our world would look like if this day had never happened, and those enemies had not been defeated.

I think, maybe, our world would be much different.

Comments welcome.

 

Reader Friday-Deep Impact

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Do you happen to remember this movie, released in 1998?

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

I do . . . it had all of the requirements to get my attention (and some popcorn): Great title, favorite Hollywood stars, disaster, and political intrigue. I think we even watched it twice. Nowadays, we don’t have to go to the movies to get most of that on a daily basis, right? Ahem . . . ’nuff said.

The movie, however, isn’t the topic of conversation this Friday. Just the title.

There was a guy in my life (and he’s still in my life) who has had the most profound impact upon me. All I need to know about how to do life on planet earth has its roots in him. Integrity, honesty, compassion, generosity, and humility were lessons I saw lived out every day of my life, and still, by this man.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Yep, you guessed it! My Dad. Navy veteran, businessman, husband, and father to two boys and two girls. He just turned 92 last month, he has memory issues, but he’s still the Dad I grew up knowing and trying to emulate. Thank you, Dad!

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TKZers, please share with us who has had the deepest impact upon your life, either personally or professionally. And has that person crept into your writing?

Inquiring minds want to know!

 

(This will be my last TKZ post for a couple of months or so while I take a break and deal with some *real* life current events. My stellar teammates will be stepping in to post on Fridays until I return. But never fear, I won’t be gone…just lurking around corners, spying on you, and enjoying my time off.)

🙂

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Reader Friday-Playing With The Storymatic

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We’re going to have a bit of fun here at The Killzone today. At least, I’m pretty sure it’ll be fun…

Have you heard of The Storymatic? Check out this website. It’s also available for purchase on Amazon. There are several versions of the game also–even one especially for the kiddos in your life.

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So, here’s what I’d like to do.

I have chosen four “story prompt cards” from the box. See below.

There are two “plot” cards and two “character” cards from which to build a story.

Then, (and this is the audience participation part) you will use the prompts to write the first line or first paragraph or so of the story and share it with us right here on TKZ. Sound fun?

Here’s our assignment:

CHARACTERS: House Cleaner, Investigative Reporter

PLOT: Something Inside The Wall, Safety Deposit Box

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Now it’s your turn, TKZers. Give us the first line or paragraph of your story using the above prompts. Don’t hold back now!

Look for mine in the comments. Let’s go for it . . .

 

 

 

 

Reader Friday-Let’s Have Coffee!

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What and where is your favorite place to have a cuppa joe, either alone or with a pal?

Here’s mine: Sundance Espresso.

It’s located in Selah, Washington–a little burg about 4 miles down the road from Yakima, where I live. It’s a great little place, owned by some very special folks, and is a business staple on the main drag going through town.

They serve coffee drinks, sandwiches, muffins, and other snacks. They also feature some handcrafted gift ideas. But the most important item they sell is good old-fashioned friendly service.

Oh . . . and did I mention they stock local authors’ books, including mine?  🙂

 

If you’re ever in central Washington, you must stop in when that coffee craving comes over you.

Let me know . . . I’ll meet you there!

 

 

Reader Friday-Authors Are Weird

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Did you know that authors are certifiably weird?

How many weird things can you see in this picture?

Well, maybe not all the time, but there are some quirks and strange foibles amongst us. Maybe you have some of your own, but today is not confession time. Aren’t you glad? (I am…)

I ran across a website the other day when I was supposed to be writing. Here’s the link:

Weird.

The website reveals some strange and wonderful habits and aberrations of some of our favorite authors, from James Joyce to Victor Hugo to Truman Capote, and more.

For instance, did you know that James Joyce liked to write while lying on his stomach? He used large blue pencils and wore a white coat while writing. Why? Check out the website if you’re curious.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

 

 

Here’s another: Truman Capote was quite superstitious. He never started or finished a piece of work on a Friday. He also changed his hotel room if the numbers added up to 13. And, here’s weird . . . there were never more than two cigarette butts in Capote’s ashtray. He kept the extra ones in the pockets of his coat.

 

 

TKZers, that’s just a few. Check out the website if you’re curious enough, or are experiencing brain freeze this morning.

Also, please share with us any quirks you happen to know about authors. We have to stick together, right?