Wow! Ten years for the Scribbler this month.

 

Ten years ago, the South Branch Scribbler came into being and what a ride.

 

I have so many things to be grateful for:

#1. My lovely wife, Gloria, who supports me.

 

Cool & talented guests from all over the world.

 

As of today – 773290 Page Views.

 

Over 400 posts. Mainly Authors and their stories.

 

Since the first of this year:

Zev Bagel of Shediac. Author

James Fisher of Miramichi. TheMiramichi Reader

Mary Lay of Great Britain. Author

D C Malcom of New Brunswick. Author

Susan Bernhardt of Wisconsin, US. Author

Kayla Geitzler of New Brunswick. Poet/Author

Sonia Nicholson of British Columbia. Author

Bruce Bishop of Nova Scotia. Author

Christopher Sweet of New Brunswick. Author

Susan White of New Brunswick. Author

Mark Scott Piper of California, US. Author

Sarah Butland of Nova Scotia. Author

 

Some artists. Some musicians. Some short stories - 

Check this one out.

Funeral Food

One of my favourites.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to my guests, readers & visitors.

More to look forward this year.

 Especially this.

Here’s a few books I enjoyed in the last year or so and you might want to take a peek at them. And a few I want to read.

Here's a few I haven't read yet but I will very soon.

 Enough for this week.

Join us next week and meet Barb Curtis of  Blackville, NB.

If you are an Author/Poet and want to share your work on the Scribbler, I am scheduling posts for the summer. Contact me at sbscribbler@gmail.com

Here's some reading pleasure for you.

Go here please.

The Story Behind the Story with Author Sarah Butland of Nova Scotia, Canada.

 

The first post of 2023 is with Nova Scotia Author, Sarah Butland.

This is her second visit to the Scribbler, and we are pleased to have her as a guest once more. To revisit her first posting, please go HERE.

She has lots of new books and she’s going to tell us about her newest publication.

 

Let’s hear from Sarah. 

 

 

Filling her days with writing adjacent to-do’s, Sarah Butland has always considered herself a writer and a fraudster. A total pantser, whenever Butland gives herself permission to write the characters show up and chat. While writing is a struggle for some, just finding the time is the challenge she faces as she works full time, plus freelances, and markets, and sometimes cleans the house, rarely but even folds the laundry sometimes.

At five years old Butland knew she was a writer and still lets that kid out sometimes through the page. Despite all doubts, discouragement and challenges, for Butland writing is as vital as breathing. Now living in Nova Scotia, she spent fifteen years in New Brunswick impressing teachers with her ability to create darkness, edit newspapers and often have her letters to the editor in the local newspaper published.

 

Working Title: Gaining It At 41

 

Synopsis: Annabelle's story isn't over. After being introduced to her in Losing It At 40, readers demanded more; Gaining It At 41 offers all that and more! A mix of romance, comedy and characters that will last a lifetime, Gaining It At 41 is a must read.

Annabelle says:

My age was a factor. Not to mention my contraceptive measures that failed and delayed menopause that I had to look forward to while raising a toddler. I asked about tying my tubes before the test was positive and they laughed, very unprofessionally, but I had the right. Abigail was a miracle, after all. A healthy miracle child, they told me, after numerous precautions taken not to have her exist at all.

 

 

The Story behind the Story: I wrote Gaining It At 41 as the sequel to Losing It At 40 which was in high demand. My second romance, Gaining Its premise was sparked when a friend mentioned Annabelle should get pregnant. Nothing else seemed to inspire me until that was mentioned which magically sparked the next step.

Writing romance has been interesting as it wasn’t my first genre of choice, not reading many in that category. With the recommendation of the genre gaining in popularity due to ereaders and readers not being ashamed of the racy covers, I thought I’d give it a try. What an adventure it has been!

Birthdays for me have always been skewed with emotions, false starts and forgotten wishes so this was my opportunity to write a birthday themed celebration that honoured a fresh start and a great day.

Within about three months I wrote the first book and, about a year later, another three months to write the second, something sparked. With a natural comedic tone, Annabelle reinvents herself when she turns 40 in Losing It At 40 (written before I turned 40 myself, not before I lost “it”) and in Gaining It At 41, Annabelle learns even more.

Gaining It At 41 to me is just wrapping up a chaotic, hilarious adventure of a romance with a nice bow with icing on top.

Website: Please visit my site at www.SarahButland.com to see what I’m up to, for a free award-winning short story and my latest review.

 

A question before you go, Sarah.

 

Can you tell us about the perfect setting you have, or desire, for your writing? Music or quiet? Coffee or tequila?  Neat or notes everywhere?

 

For me it’s never about the setting, it’s about the time. With limited time available to dedicate to the art, setting up the perfect place and finding the best drink cuts into the time I have to write. I simply open my laptop and let my fingers dance across the keyboard, hoping they make sense while blocking out the room. While I’m not organized at all, though would love to be, as a pantser I don’t need notes – just a blank page and a keyboard, and to stop checking Facebook.

Thanks so very much for having me here and for supporting Canadian authors!

 

 

Thank you so much for being our guest this week, Sarah. Wishing you continued success with your writing.

 

 

And a BIG thank you to my readers and visitors.

Who’s your favorite author?

 

 

 

What a Year it has Been!

 

The last post for 2022.

 

After a three-week break, I’m glad to be back with you wonderful visitors and readers. I won’t ramble on too much about what I did or didn’t do in 2022, nor too much about 2023 other than wishing you only happy things in the future.

 

The Scribbler had a terrific year with super guests and interesting posts.

78,500 page views in 2022.

No statistics on how many stayed.

Some highlights below.

These are the five most popular:

#1 - MJ LaBeff with 1905 page views Go HERE.

#2 – Janet Sanford – 492 page views. Go HERE.

#3 – Christian Brun – 489 page views. Go HERE.

#4 - Darlene Foster – 359 page views. Go HERE.

#5 – Heather McBriarity – 328 page views. Go HERE.

 

Most popular Page views.

#1 – SHORTS with 2270 page views. Go HERE.

    #2 – About Me with 1680 page views. Go HERE.

                            #3 – Father with 1007 page views. Go HERE.

 

 

I’ve had the good fortune of publishing two novellas this year, Father & Shattered Dreams, as well as my newest novel, Code name: Iron Spear 1941. I also participated in an anthology – Winter Paths - with eight other authors. The response to my stories has been overwhelming and I am so thankful to my faithful readers and new readers who take a chance on my stories.

 

For more info, please go here – Father

Shattered Dreams

Code Name: Iron Spear 1941

Winter Paths. An anthology.

 

  THANK YOU

 

There are so many people I need to thank, and I probably missed a few but I appreciate every share, every comment, every purchase of my books.

Gloria

Allen & Gracia

Sally Cronin

Anne Smith-Nochasak

A M Mawhinney

James Fisher

Leonard Shortall

MJ LaBeff

Stephen Shortall and Therese LeBlanc

Angela Wren

Merk Scott Piper

Caleb Pirtle III

The Seasonal Collective.

Debby Geis

 

There is lots of good things to look forward in the new year. Returning guests and New Guests. Some artists as well as authors.

Sarah Butland - Author.

Susan Bernhardt - Author. 

Kayla Geitzler- Author & Poet Laureate. 

Mark Scott Piper - Author.

Sonia Nicholson - Author.

Christopher Sweet - Author.

Margaret Eaton - Author.

Susan White - Author.

Shannon Beers - Artist.

….to be continued with more fun guests.

 

 

What’s coming for 2023!

 

The Alexanders. Vol 2. 1921 – 1930.

I am working on the first draft of I hope to have it ready for summer 2023.

The Roaring Twenties. Flappers and Speakeasys. The good years before the Depression.

Dominic Alexander watches his business grow, itches to be a father but fate works against him and Maria, his wife. In his adventures, he will encounter enemies, questionable friendships. There will be good times and sad times. Dealing with a criminal element trying to disrupt his business. Issues arise which people aren’t prepared to deal with in the twenties.

 

 

Shattered Series with Jo Naylor

I am almost finished the fourth installment in the Shattered Series. Not sure what the title will be yet but I’m leaning towards Shattered Hope. The story takes place in New Zealand. Jo is nicely settled in and avoiding all possible trouble spots, but…

When a new friend explains how her sister might be in trouble, Jo can’t stop herself from getting involved. A young man from Canada is missing and assumed dead. Jo’s not alone this time either. The parents of the boy missing have asked a good friend to intervene. Drake Alexander and Jo Naylor make a formidable team. What they uncover is one of the worst crimes possible.

 

 

Spring Paths

I’m planning my short story for the next Anthology with the Seasonal Collective which is targeted for November 2023. We will have two new members joining the Collective – Gianetta Murray of Great Britain and Eden Monroe of New Brunswick.

 

 

Planned for the future:

Fifth and final installment for the Shattered Series.

A novel based on my short story, One Bedroom Ark. Go HERE.

The next Drake Alexander Adventure which will take him and his team to Africa.

 

 

Other than that, I'd like to go on a trip somewhere with my best friend, Gloria. Maybe Spain.

 

I’d like to volunteer but can’t decide. I’m giving myself until the end of January to make a commitment.

Do you volunteer anywhere? I’d love to hear about what you do and/or some suggestions.

 

Thank you again all you valuable readers and visitors. May you only have happy things happen in 2023.