Conversations With Colleen: Meet Author, Vashti Quiroz-Vega, @VashtiQV

Hello, everyone! My books and I are featured at Author, Colleen Chesebro’s blog. I’d like to invite you to visit her blog and check it out. If you enjoy the interview, please share it on social media. I appreciate the support. Happy Friday!

 

 

via Conversations With Colleen: Meet Author, Vashti Quiroz-Vega, @VashtiQV

Poetry Friday ~ Instagram

Hi, everyone! Welcome to The Writer Next Door (Blog).

I’m Vashti Quiroz-Vega (Vashti Q).

 

Let’s talk about Instagram. I joined Instagram a while ago but I created the account, managed to post some pictures and then never looked at it again for months. There was a lot going on in my life at the time and I couldn’t handle another social media site. I’ve gotten a lot more involved on Instagram in the last few months and I plan to stick with it, because it’s actually a great site. Now, I’m not claiming to be an expert. I’m still learning and making mistakes left and right but I’m beginning to catch on. I just discovered how to do an Instagram story and I’m having some fun with that.

I love photography and art, so at first, I had joined Instagram to look and share beautiful and interesting photos and art. Now, I realize that Instagram is a lot more than just a gallery for pretty pictures.

Did you know that Instagram has been around for about 9 years already? Did you know that influencers are charging up to $100,000 for a sponsored post?

Like Facebook and Twitter, hashtags are also used on Instagram and posts with at least one hashtag average 12.6% more engagement. As authors, we know the importance of engagement. And speaking of authors, Instagram is now the new social media place for writers. It’s a place where creativity and bookworms abound. So here are:

10 Instagram Tips for Writers | Jane Friedman

Book cake from the launch party of ‘A Touch of Gold‘ by Annie Sullivan

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Also check out, 25 Instagram Facts That You Want To Know – PastBook

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As authors, it is extremely important for our work to be seen. What’s the point of writing books if no one knows about them or reads them? I believe we can gain visibility, followers, and increase sales by being active on social media and my favorite sites right now are Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

If you haven’t joined Instagram yet, give it a try.

Check out my Instagram and follow if you like.

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UPDATE:

I’m done with the first draft of The Rise of Gadreel! Yay! I’m busy doing my first round of edits. I’ll probably do one more round of edits after this one, before I send it to my beta readers.

Here’s today poem for Colleen Chesebro’s Poetry Prompt Challenge. It’s the first challenge of the month, so it’s ‘Poet’s Choice of Words’.

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BOOK

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See me, read me, please!

I was written in her blood

for your enjoyment.

Unread I’m not a story.

Reading me will make me live.

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I’d like your opinion on my WIP’s title, The Rise of Gadreel. What do you think? Is the title interesting, intriguing? You can be completely honest.

 

Poetry Friday ~ Clear & Nature

Hi, everyone! Welcome.

 

August sort of crept up on me this year. My AC is working doubly hard since it’s sweltering hot outside. Thank God for afternoon showers to cool things off. August is a big month in my family because my sisters and I all have birthdays this month. We even have a couple of cousins born in August too.

Anyway, today I wanted to talk a little about book covers and the genre of your book. Do you think book covers are important? What should book covers actually do? I believe that book covers are important because they’re the first impression your book makes on the reader. I know there’s a saying, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ but many people do. I’ve actually heard people say that they can tell the difference between a traditionally published author and an indie author by the book cover.

Of course, what’s most important to me is the content inside but first, you have to attract the reader to your book. An intriguing cover will tempt the reader to pick up your book and once the book is in his or her hand the next natural thing to do is to turn it around and read the blurb and that’s when you hook them with your fabulous writing. A good cover needs to grab attention immediately, be striking, beautiful, clean and professionally made, but also let readers know instantly the basic genre.

The reader should know whether your book is a fantasy, horror, romance, sci-fi . . . by looking at your book cover. The cover also often convey the geographical locations and the main character’s age and sex which is also important.

I can’t stand it when a book misrepresents itself. Call me crazy. Also, and this may seem random, let me mention that the categories on Amazon are getting more and more ambiguous every day. It’s getting hard to figure out a book’s genre. I understand that putting general categories like Fantasy, Romance or Horror alone is not good for the Amazon algorithms but some people get so creative with these categories that they’re confusing the heck out of some people (including me).

If you wrote a horror book and there are ghosts and witches in your story then Kindle store>Horror>Witches>Ghosts are great categories, but I’ve seen some weird combinations that don’t make sense and it’s obvious that the author did it to climb up the ranks. And I’m telling you, your book may come up in the ranks at first, but readers are not going to be happy when they think they’re getting a romance novel and instead are getting hardcore erotica.

I found a great article that can help you make the most of the Amazon Categories while still representing your book accurately. Read this and you’ll thank me later. How To (Ethically) Hack Amazon Categories | David Gaughran

Okay, the bottomline is to be honest about the genre of your work and make sure your book cover, blurb and Amazon Categories clearly represent that genre.

**Check out the book covers below. I’m sure you can’t mistake their genres. If you’re interested in more info. about a book click on its image.

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Your book’s genre should

be expressed plainly or

readers won’t like it

 

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In honor of my birthday, both books in my Fantasy Angels Series are on sale, through the weekend, for 99¢! Please take advantage of my birthday special and spread the word. Thank you!

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Clear and Nature are this week’s prompt words chosen by Colleen Chesebro ~ The Fairy Whisperer.

*The catch is that we can only use the synonyms to these words in our poems.

Colleen hosts a challenge that anyone could participate in called, Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge every Tuesday, and you have until Sunday to create a post featuring your Haiku, Tanka, Haibun, Etheree or Cinquain poem. She is an author and poet, and also does book reviews and so much more on her blog. Be sure to check it out.

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Happy Friday and thanks for the visit! 

Poetry Friday ~ Kind & Shift

Hello, everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

 

Can people really change? Is there an age limit? Can a person be too old to become their best self?

I understand we’re all born with certain characteristics and traits inherited from our parents and other family members but aren’t our personalities also molded by how we grew up? Our environment? Our education?

I woke up this morning thinking about this; can a person after years of being a certain way suddenly change? Or is it too late for some?

I believe personality can change, especially over time. Using myself as an example, I know I’ve become more responsible and emotionally stable as I’ve gotten older. In addition, events in my life have caused changes in my attitude and character traits. I’ve also made choices through the years to change certain aspects of my personality. Does that mean I’m a perfect saint? Absolutely not––but I’m working on it.

I also believe that adults can change their character, no matter their age if they see that the present way they conduct themselves holds them back or causes them losses or harm. Your personality isn’t hardwired or a matter of genetics. I sense that our human nature is complex, yet capable of growth. You may differ in opinion and that’s okay.

So, what is the (my) bottom line? Unless you have a genuine personality disorder you can change and even those people with personality disorders can change if they seek treatment.

So there you have it. Whatever you believe there’s no excuse for being unkind or intolerant––you can change your behavior and way of thinking and be the best version of yourself.

 

Today I wrote two Cinquain poems. I hope you enjoy. 

 

 

BEFORE . . .

 

Before

I was someone

I didn’t want to be

I was sad, lost, and invisible

I changed

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Before

I became strong

I knew what it was like

to be weak and undeserving

I changed

 

 

 

Kind and Shift are this week’s prompt words chosen by Colleen Chesebro ~ The Fairy Whisperer.

*The catch is that we can only use the synonyms to these words in our poems.

Colleen hosts a challenge that anyone could participate in called, Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge every Tuesday, and you have until Sunday to create a post featuring your Haiku, Tanka, Haibun, Etheree or Cinquain poem. She is an author and poet, and also does book reviews and so much more on her blog. Be sure to check it out.

♥

Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Poetry Friday ~ HOME

Hi, everyone! Welcome to my blog!

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FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH POETRY CHALLENGE COLLEEN CHESEBRO WANTS US TO TRY SOMETHING NEW – A PHOTO PROMPT!

**USE THE ABOVE PHOTO AS THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR POEM. ASK YOURSELF QUESTIONS AND TELL A STORY. BE CREATIVE! WHAT DOES THIS PHOTO SAY TO YOU?

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“Where is home? Home is where the heart can laugh without shyness. Home is where the heart’s tears can dry at their own pace.”

~Vernon Baker

 

 

Home Is Where We Love

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Beyond the black door

there are rooms and furniture

tastefully arranged

A home built with love and dreams

The sweetest sort of heaven

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“There is a magic in that little world, home; it is a mystic circle that surrounds comforts and virtues never known beyond its hallowed limits.”

~Robert Southey

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Poetry Friday ~ Pretty & Ugly

Hi, everyone! Welcome to my blog. 

 

 

Did you know that the average life of a butterfly is around two weeks? Some species only live a day or two and other species are capable of living around nine months. It makes me sad to think that such a beautiful creature’s life is so short.

On the other hand, Cockroaches are filthy, immortal scavengers that are unaffected by radiation. In a post-apocalyptic world, it will be these dirty little critters that survive. Okay, they’re not really immortal but when you read facts like: a roach can live a week without its head, you begin to wonder. The truth is that as long as there is shelter and food, cockroaches can comfortably live in a home or business for years, creating massive infestations.

Anyway, the average moth can live up to five weeks. Some people see moths as the butterfly’s ugly cousin. I’m not sure that’s true, since I’ve heard of some species of moths that are quite beautiful.

This week’s poem is a double Tanka. I hope you enjoy.

 

 

Pride & Envy

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As a butterfly

you wore your wings high with pride

looking down on worms

forgetting what you once were

a crawling caterpillar

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No plain butterflies

just lovely flowers in flight

while the moth looks on

Counting the days to their end

Death comes in a week or two

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Pretty and Ugly are this week’s prompt words chosen by Colleen Chesebro ~ The Fairy Whisperer.

*The catch is that we can only use the synonyms to these words in our poems.

Colleen hosts a challenge that anyone could participate in called, Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge every Tuesday, and you have until Sunday to create a post featuring your Haiku, Tanka, Haibun, Etheree or Cinquain poem. She is an author and poet, and also does book reviews and so much more on her blog. Be sure to check it out.

 

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read. I appreciate it. Have a great day!

Poetry Friday ~ Plan & Spend

Hi, everyone! Welcome. I appreciate your visit.

 

 

 

A Nonet . . . 

Narcissist

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You made me doubt my own sanity

with your consuming gas-lighting.

I am tired of your methods.

I spent my entire life

trying to please you.

A person with

a twisted

disease.

Sad.

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Signs and symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder

• Grandiose sense of self-importance. …

• Lives in a fantasy world that supports their delusions of grandeur. …

• Needs constant praise and admiration. …

• Sense of entitlement. …

• Exploits others without guilt or shame. …

• Frequently demeans, intimidates, bullies, or belittles others.

*Tips for spotting and coping with a Narcissist

 

Plan and Spend are this week’s prompt words chosen by Colleen Chesebro ~ The Fairy Whisperer.

*The catch is that we can only use the synonyms to these words in our poems.

Colleen hosts a challenge that anyone could participate in called, Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge every Tuesday, and you have until Sunday to create a post featuring your Haiku, Tanka, Haibun, Etheree or Cinquain poem. She is an author and poet, and also does book reviews and so much more on her blog. Be sure to check it out.

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Is there a Narcissist in your life? How do you cope with a person who has a narcissistic personality disorder? Have you had a run-in with a true Narcissist? I’d love to read your insights in the comments below.

Poetry Friday ~ Influence & Perception

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Welcome, everyone! Thank you for visiting.

Influence and Perception are this week’s prompt words chosen by Colleen Chesebro ~ The Fairy Whisperer.

*The catch is that we can only use the synonyms to these words in our poems.

Colleen hosts a challenge that anyone could participate in called, Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge every Tuesday, and you have until Sunday to create a post featuring your Haiku, Tanka, Haibun, Etheree or Cinquain poem. She is an author and poet, and also does book reviews and so much more on her blog. Be sure to check it out.

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When your soul is bared

the judgment of others is

so often unfair.

Don’t let their opinions

control the way you reason.

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You’re criticized by

what makes you unique––

opinions, not facts. 

You know you’re doing something

right when people are talking.

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Poetry Friday ~ Beginning & Consume

♠

 I mentioned my trip to New York City in my previous post, so I thought I’d share a few pictures this week. Although I enjoyed my visit to NYC, the huge crowds, hurried pace, peculiar smells, and loudness was not for me. At first, it was exciting but after about six days I was over it. Like the saying goes, NYC is a great place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there. Of course, millions (8.623 million (2017)) of people live there and love it and that includes my sister Kathy––to each his own.

I would definitely visit again because there are so many amazing things to see and do. If you’ve never been I do recommend you go at least once. You won’t be disappointed.

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Beginning and Consume are this week’s prompt words chosen by Colleen Chesebro ~ The Fairy Whisperer.

*The catch is that we can only use the synonyms to these words in our poems.

Colleen hosts a challenge that anyone could participate in called, Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge every Tuesday, and you have until Sunday to create a post featuring your Haiku, Tanka, Haibun, Etheree or Cinquain poem. She is an author and poet, and also does book reviews and so much more on her blog. Be sure to check it out.

 

Hurrying Human Tides

 

New York

The Big Apple

Fast walkers devour streets

My leisurely Miami pace

annoys

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St Patrick’s Cathedral seemed incongruous in the midst of the surrounding modern skyscrapers. I was mesmerized by this palatial church’s architecture and luxurious adornments.

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We saw King Kong on Broadway and we loved it! I was so impressed with the puppeteers. They controlled every facial gesture and movement the giant ape made and they almost disappeared into the shadows on the stage as they did so, except in times when they wanted you to see them––it was fascinating.

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Another thrilling part of my trip was visiting the New York Public Library. What an iconic building! The literary treasures they must have stashed away in there. There were special areas where the public could not enter, so of course, my imagination went crazy wondering what literary masterpieces must be hidden from the masses.

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Well, I hope you enjoyed my Cinquain poem and the NYC pictures I shared. Thank you for stopping by and have a happy Friday!

 

Poetry Friday

Hello, my friends! I hope it’s been a happy day so far.

 

This week I was inspired by my friend, Annette Rochelle Aben to try a Shadorma.  The Shadorma is alleged to be a Spanish poetic form but no one knows for sure where it originated from. It’s made up of a stanza of six lines.  It is a syllabic poem with a meter of 3-5-3-3-7-5.  It’s a fun and simple form with an enjoyable ebb and flow to the lines.

 

It’s the first of the month! Poet’s choice of words!

*The catch is that we can only use the synonyms to these words in our poems.

Colleen hosts a challenge that anyone could participate in called, Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge every Tuesday, and you have until Sunday to create a post featuring your Haiku, Tanka, Haibun, Etheree or Cinquain poem. She is an author and poet, and also does book reviews and so much more on her blog. Be sure to check it out.

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Freshly Hatched

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Awaken

from a different

kind of sleep

peck peck peck

chaotic scuffling begins

the egg cracks open

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Quickening

curiosity

peep peep peep

chirp chirp chirp

A twenty-four-hour tussle

rewarded with feed

Thank you for stopping by! Enjoy the rest of the day!