Independence Day!

Independence Day is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States, on July 4, 1776.

This picture to the left is my dad in the Marines at 18. We have a family full of men who have served in various branches of the military. I know many of my family members have served in the Marines, Army, Navy, and Air Force. While I have friends and former students who also served in the Coast Guard, I'm not certain if any of my family members did.

Some time ago, I shared a post about the history of our national anthem if you'd like to check that out here: https://writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/2023/06/national-flag-day-and-star-spangled.html

Thank you to all of the men and women who have served, or are currently serving, our country in ANY way. You are appreciated more than you know.

I'm spending some time celebrating with family and friends. I hope you are all able to do the same.

Are you reading any great books this week? Anything you recommend about the armed forces or fighting for independence?

Three of the Best Texas Authors

While there have been, and continue to be, many fine authors from the great state of Texas there are three I might deem as the most significant. These writers have had a unique impact on the culture of not only their home state, but arguably upon the nation itself if not the whole world.

1. John Howard Griffin - In the Deep South of the 1950’s, a color line was etched in blood across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Journalist John Howard Griffin (from Mansfield, Texas) decided to cross that line. Using medication that darkened his skin to deep brown, he exchanged his privileged life as a Southern white man for the disenfranchised world of an unemployed black man in 1959. What happened to John Howard Griffin—from the outside and within himself—as he made his way through the segregated Deep South is recorded in his searing work of nonfiction titled Black Like Me. I never had the pleasure of meeting this author as he died when I was two. However, I did read his work while I was in college in the 1990s. His audacious, still chillingly relevant eyewitness history is a work about race and humanity every American should read and is widely recognized now for its contributions to the North Texas written word.

2. Max Lucado - He is a well-known Christian author who was born in San Angelo, Texas. He has written dozens of books including You Are Special, Just Like Jesus, and When God Whispers Your Name. His approachable and relatable writing style has earned him a massive following, and his books have been published in multiple languages and sold millions of copies worldwide. I began reading his work when I was in high school and while I did not care for his foray into fiction, I still find a lot of value in his nonfiction. I even had the opportunity to visit his church in San Antonio a few times and enjoyed his sermons in person.

3. Tim O'Brien - Born in Austin, Texas and having served in Vietnam, Tim O'Brien is an American novelist best known for his book The Things They Carried. A powerful exploration of war and its effects on soldiers, The Things They Carried was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize and is widely considered one of the best books on the subject. I had the pleasure of attending a writers' conference where he spoke and later had the opportunity to interview him. I found both encounters enjoyable and enlightening. You can see that interview in Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Vol. II.

How about you? What authors do you feel have made some of the most significant contributions to American society?

National Flag Day and "The Star - Spangled Banner"

In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14th to commemorate the adoption of the flag of the United States of America on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. This is also the day the United States Army celebrates its birthday. 

On September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key penned a poem which was later set to music and in 1931 became America's national anthem, "The Star - Spangled Banner." The poem originally titled, "The Defence of Fort M'Henry," was written after Key witnessed the Maryland fort being bombarded by the British during the war of 1812. The sight of those "broad stripes and bright stars" inspired thousands. If you've never heard the story before, try the video below. 

Have you ever heard this story before? Do you know the words to this poem/song? Can you think of any other piece of writing that has influenced thousands?

IWSG: Impactful Books

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive. Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

JUNE 4 QUESTION - 
What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult?

MY ANSWER - There are so many! In high school: To Kill a Mockingbird - this book filled my senses and made me examine the type of person and parent I one day hoped to be. It's also one of the few movie adaptions that didn't disappoint after reading the original story. Flowers for Algernon is another one that stayed with me as I had previously no experience with the mentally handicapped. Just as the previous book, it reminded me to respect and treat others kindly no matter the differences. Tuesdays With Morrie is a wonderful reminder to cherish loved ones and prioritize appropriately because you never know how much time you have. There are also a number of series that took up much of my time. Anne of Green Gables was a wonderful reminder that it was acceptable to read and enjoy classic literature as much as contemporary. Alongside Little Women it made me believe writing was an acceptable pastime as well. I also spent a lot of time with the Sweet Dreams romance series (I think there were over 200), the Nancy Drew Files (I believe there were over 100), Fear Street (I think there were around 50 in the 1990s - there are more now), and the Christopher Pike series. While I certainly read many other enjoyable books, these series took up many hours of my teen life in the 1990s.

Sweet Dreams Book Series

Nancy Drew Files Series by Carolyn Keene | Goodreads

Fear Street - Book Series In Order

Christopher Pike - Book Series In Order

What about you? What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult?

National Audiobook Month

June is National Audiobook Month, when hundreds of retailers encourage people to give listening to books a try. These businesses run various promotions and discounts to get more listeners interested in the format.

The Audiobook Publishers Association has spearheaded audiobook month for a number of years. Audible, Kobo audiobooks, Google Play Books, Storytel, Scribd, Audiobooks.com, and dozens of others offer audiobooks. 

Did you know you could access complete audiobooks for FREE on YouTube?

To learn more about the history of this celebration check out: National Audiobook Month 2024

Have you tried an audiobook? Which are your favorites? When do you listen to them?

Memorial Day 2025

This week, we will be celebrating graduations, Memorial Day, and the start to summer vacation. If you're looking for ways to celebrate: Graduation and Spring/Summer Opportunities

Thank you to all those who have served and continue to do so. I hope you all enjoy a safe and relaxing holiday. Happy Memorial Day 2025!

10 More Submission Opportunities

 1.) Chicken Soup for the Soul has a call out for six different anthologies right now. To learn more, check out: https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics

2.) BLACK ORCHID NOVELLA AWARD
https://www.nerowolfe.org/htm/literary_awards/black_orchid_award/Black_Orchid_award_proc.htm#qualifications - Deadline May 31, 2025. Each entry must be an original unpublished work of fiction that conforms to the literary tradition of the Nero Wolfe series. The mystery should be “traditional” in flavor. The crime must be solved using the deductive abilities of the sleuth. No coincidences. The killer must be known to the victim. No random psycho shootings. The characters (male or female) must have an engaging relationship. There needs to be some wit. The timing could be retro or current. There should be no explicit sex or violence. Entries must be 15,000 to 20,000 words in length, and submitted by the deadline. The prize is $1,000 and publication in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine.

 3.) INDIE AUTHOR PROJECT ANNUAL CONTEST - https://indieauthorproject.librariesshare.com/iap/ - Deadline May 31, 2025. For authors, this contest is a powerful way to elevate your careers and writing goals, powered by the library community. The winners of this contest will receive: $2,500 to the 1st place winner and $500 each to two runner-ups in each genre; honors at the 2026 Indie Author Day Reception at ALA Annual; opportunities to promote your book(s) at public libraries; inclusion in a full-page print spread in Library Journal; and opportunities to earn royalties through the IAP Select collection (ePUB format required for eligibility). Must be indie published in Mystery/Thrillers, Romance, SciFi, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, General/Contemporary, Fiction, Memoir, or Young Adult. Author must live in the U.S. or Canada.

4.) RINKS AND ROMANCE WRITING CONTEST - https://www.inkitt.com/contests/rinks-and-romance-2025 - NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 30, 2025. Win a Galatea Publishing Contract and $300, a free year of Galatea Unlimited, an Inkitt VIP Badge, and a feature on our Instagram! Second place $150, third place $50. Both come with other perks. Share your most heartwarming or thrilling hockey romance and keep readers hooked. We encourage writers to submit original stories that blend the intensity of hockey with the depth of romance. Whether it’s a tale of forbidden love, second chances, or rivals-to-lovers, your story should bring the rink to life and captivate readers. Entering the contest is free; all you need to do is publish your book on Inkitt and submit it on the contest page or from the contest tab in your work settings.

5.) STORYHOUSE GENERAL NONFICTION STORIES -https://www.storyhouse.org/contest2025.html - NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline June 30, 2025. Any appropriate nonfiction topic is eligible.  Stories must be true, not semi-fictional accounts.  So-called "creative nonfiction" will not be considered. Stories from any country are fine, although they must be written in English. Language in the stories should be free of words or scenes not suitable for children, since many children read the stories and some actually post their stories. One prize of $200 for the winner, $100 for the runner-up, and certificates of achievement for all finalists.