Books #IWSG

InsecureWritersSupportGroup.com

Shout-out to Alex and the awesome co-hosts for today: PJ Colando, Pat Garcia, Kim Lajevardi, Melisa Maygrove, and Jean Davis!

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

Those who follow me on Goodreads (and saw some of my posts on my old blog), may know that I had a group of female friends in grades 7 and 8. Because of them, I got into reading the Baby-Sitters Club books. (I was so grateful when Logan joined the characters. Finally, a fellow guy. 😅) My cousin-in-law and I have been re-reading the series as it comes out in graphix novel form.

The impact of the BSC was that our friend group had something to discuss. We were a ragtag bunch. I believe only two of them ever did any actual babysitting. I was just glad to have people to eat lunch with who were capable of good conversation. (Yeah, I know, 🙊 I'm mute. But my ears work just fine.)

Beyond that, I recall reading a lot of horror back then, mostly Christopher Pike, Richie Tankersley Cusick, and RL Stine's Fear Street books. And, not in school, but at the big library, I found The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. (There was cursing! 🤯)

The impact of those books was just enjoying reading. Being left alone to read quietly, to just relax. It was excellent. 

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🕮 - J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge

https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website. Watch for special features: 

June 4- Audiobook Month - Ronel June 18- Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month - John

Giveaway winners

Congratulations winners!
Samantha won the $10 Amazon e giftcard.
Deborah won the naming of the "new level one" from the end of the story. 

#IWSG Fears

Woo! Celebrate winning another month of blogging. 
Another short story written.

https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website.

Please enter! 

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InsecureWritersSupportGroup.com

Shout-out to Alex and the awesome co-hosts for today: Feather Stone, Janet Alcorn, Rebecca Douglass, Jemima Pett, and Pat Garcia!

May 7 question - Some common fears writers share are rejection, failure, success, and lack of talent or ability. What are your greatest fears as a writer? How do you manage them?

I'm hijacking the prompt this month. My answer doesn't exactly follow the prompt.

In Top Chef Boston Season 12, Episode 9, "Big Sausage", the chefs had to create a dish inspired by a New England literary work. Gregory Gourdet served an Edgar Allan Poe-inspired dish of seared beef tenderloin, grilled hen, parsnip puree, beets, and crispy nori, inspired by "The Raven".

Granted, I can't cook (especially indoors) worth a damn. But ignore that a moment. If I had to do a dish inspired by Poe, I'd go with The Tell-Tale Heart. 

Get a beef or deer heart and some vegetables, especially tomatoes, and such for a casserole. 

Cover the dish with fillo dough, decorated to look like a hardwood floor. Then serve the dish to the table. Stare the people down while knocking on the underside of the table. Let them slice it up themselves. With the tomatoes 🍅 having it look all bloody. 

My silence would only add to the creepiness of the mood. 

"A heart under the floorboard?" Pretty obvious what story I put on the plate.

As far as fear, I think that would be served up. 🍽

May 7 question - Some common fears writers share are rejection, failure, success, and lack of talent or ability. What are your greatest fears as a writer? How do you manage them?

Okay, actual answer:

The greatest fear, or insecurity, I experience is that my writing isn't "perfect." A big part of that comes from a messed-up youth. My educational path was, in no way, traditional. (Especially not in modern America.) Grammatical rules vary by region. Modern Language Association and Chicago/Turabian style don't always match, for example. I use Grammarly. We don't always agree on articles, as one example. 



The story on my blog last month got ONE reread. I was publishing almost as I wrote. I didn't pre-schedule, like I usually do. There are probably mistakes. No "Beta" readers. I didn't run every scene through five different checkers. 

"What stories or poems or books or thoughts are suppressed because you haven’t yet moved on from whatever it is you’re working on now? " I read that somewhere once. And it stuck. Chase perfectionism, or focus on producing more? Finding the balance. That's a fear, worry, or insecurity with which I struggle.

Excuses cover up fear. Afraid the writing isn't good enough? Find excuses not to write! 

There's a quote (which I can't seem to find on Google) about the notion that we only fear failing at something which matters most to us. You can't fail at something you genuinely don't care about, or some idea along those lines.

😱😨🙀😜😕😬😣

https://www.facebook.com/groups/IWSG13/posts/3269890313169398/

I saw this IWSG post on Facebook. It mentions promoting your books and such at, among others, your local library.

https://www.facebook.com/NorthamptonAPL/posts/pfbid02LrC469aYeU8JfY1v4Tvn4E6VbqHmu6a7PTADq2VwfG8M9q2QFtXUvVLJvmbdhdg1l

This is the local library to me, the only one that has my books.

https://napl.chilipac.com/eg/opac/results?query=Dorner%2C+J+Lenni&qtype=author&fi%3Asearch_format=&locg=1102&detail_record_view=0


So it matters to me that the library stays funded. For whatever reason, most of the library funding comes from the school's budget. (Or is approved by the school board?)

https://northamptonapl.org/who-we-are/friends-of-the-library.html

$5 a year is the bargain to become a "friend" of the library. 

Those are my replies for this month. 

Alex- I'd like to volunteer for September to cohost.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you enter the giveaway-- it closes soon!

Reflections #AtoZChallenge 2025

• I am grateful I left Wordpress for Blogger when I did. The Wordpress blogs were being problematic for commenting. 
• Substack seems to only allow people who sign up to comment, so I was unable.
• I started following five new blogs
• I commented on all possible blogs. (Visual below)
• It was great to see how many blogs made it to the end! 

Some of my Favorite comments here this month:



https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/2025/04/win-atozchallenge-2025-fantasy.html Enter the giveaway! ⭐🤗❤

I added to my TBR and wishlist.
I also bought some books in April. The Parking Lot Attendant - by Nafkote Tamirat, Rise of the Machines: Human Authors in a Digital World - by Kristen Lamb

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My A to Z 2025 theme was a fantasy story. (And some of the process of writing it as well.) 🕮

- J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge

https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website.

Ztrangleterrs #AtoZChallenge 2025 fantasy

[Story scene post]

"You are the right choice. I have no doubt," Yarth says while swaddling the level one with a soft cloth. "Jaildarn was not focused on mastering travel and discovery. He mastered manipulation and hatred."

I nod and hold the bowl of soft food toward the little one. 

"There is one other task I must do. The arch, where the portal formed, I am supposed to destroy it." 

We feed the small one. More is swallowed than spit, so we call it a victory. Yarth carries the napping little one as we head to the cavern. 

Using my tools, I strike at the arch. The vine around it twitches. 

"Ever see a vine twitch?" I ask. 

"That's an Orange question," Yarth chuckles. "I think they call them ztrangleterrs. Dangerous, but not difficult to defeat." 

"If only we could ask one." I strike again. The arch collapses. The vine stretches out and grabs me. It wraps around my neck.

I hear Yarth scream my name as everything goes dark. 

Would Darterra send me to destroy the arch only to make me a level five? I wonder that as Luthais comes into view. 

"So, this is death? This is level five?"

Luthais smiles. "Yes and No. Darterra heard your pleas, and your rational reasons for them. The Valianter will do better with knowledge from a few leaders. Your jewel is cracked because it will grow and change, as you must try more. Brown will dominate your jewel, as you will always be a master of mountains. However, you must also be familiar with several other specialties. Just as the ones you will raise. No longer will anyone be a master in one area and lack knowledge in others. We will help you to teach them."

I have more questions. But Luthias fades from view. I hear Yarth saying my name and our little level one crying. My chest hurts. I open my eyes and find Yarth pressing on me.

"Ouch."

"Belp! What was that?" I look around. Yarth has the vine torn apart. The light in the cavern has faded. The jewel of the level one is the brightest light left. 

"We should get out of here," I say as I sit up.

"You were level five! Your jewel went dark. Then the crack filled with Red. I have never witnessed anything like that. And now, look, you have a glow again." Yarth points. 

I pick up the little one, who reaches to touch my jewel. 

"Looks like I'm a redesignation after all." I chuckle as I get up. "I know what we should call our little one."

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Key dramatic question that will take whole story to answer:

Could Belp have prevented all this death, how, and if so-- why didn't he?

And what led Jaildarn to become the cause of such annihilation? 

Have these been answered well enough?

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QUESTION -- How do you feel about the ending? 

https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/2025/04/win-atozchallenge-2025-fantasy.html Enter the giveaway! ⭐🤗❤

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My A to Z 2025 theme is a fantasy story. (And some of the process of writing it as well.) 🕮

- J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge

https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website.

Yarth #AtoZChallenge 2025 fantasy

[Story scene post]

"Yarth. Blacks rarely use our names among others. We're usually just known as a Black or Master Healer. But, among each other, I was called Yarth."

I move my arm back and forth, rocking the level one. "We need a name for this little one."

"Yes. And some food and clothing, I imagine. Come, let us go to the building of the Colorless. See what we can find."

"I imagine we're going to need to rename such places. I am grateful that you're here with me, so please do not misinterpret this, but I long for a Red."

Yarth chuckles. "I do understand. They could reach the level fives, get us some knowledge. It would be very useful. I can help keep the little one alive, but I have no useful skills to impart."

I find a white vegetable that looks similar to a rock. "I remember the Colorless boiling these and mashing them up for us when I was a level two. Perhaps this will do?" The level one is screaming, making my voice almost inaudible. 

Yarth takes the little one from me while I prepare the food. 

"Why would the world make me the Valianter?" I ask.

"The what?"

"Darterra said it's the one who raises this new generation, I guess. Maybe you're one too? I don't know. I fed Jaildarn when he was cold and hungry, like that little one. What if I hadn't acted that day? Would everyone be gone now?"

Yarth puts a hand on my shoulder. "If Jaildarn were honestly on the brink of becoming a level five that day, a Black would have come. We had to intervene several times among the Golds. Honestly, when the story of what you did reached us, we questioned if you were part Black."

"The story? You heard about it?"

"The Blacks, Reds, Opals, and Purples met to discuss your unusual interaction with that Gold." Yarth taps my jewel. "Though I only see Brown here, you may have been the original redesignation, for you acted above and beyond mastering mountains."

My cheeks flush. I use the tools of the Colorless to mash the boiled vegetable in a bowl.

---

Key dramatic question that will take whole story to answer:

Could Belp have prevented all this death, how, and if so-- why didn't he?

And what led Jaildarn to become the cause of such annihilation? 

---

QUESTION -- Have you ever felt regret for helping someone? 

https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/2025/04/win-atozchallenge-2025-fantasy.html Enter the giveaway! ⭐🤗❤

---

My A to Z 2025 theme is a fantasy story. (And some of the process of writing it as well.) 🕮

- J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge

https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website.

Xeata-Lidoffad #AtoZChallenge 2025 fantasy

[Story scene post]

Darterra tells me to reach into the crack. 

I pull out a level one. The tiny newborn fits in the palm of my hand. Barely bigger than a pebble. I run my finger over the tiny jewel. It glows bright with every color.

"Every color except Gold and Silver," I mutter.

"Xeata-Lidoffad will house those two. Go, destroy the arch. Take this life with you. The remaining Black is waiting. The two of you shall raise this young one, though you shall take primary responsibility. When it is time, I shall summon you to return to this place. More like this level one shall come to you. Teach them well. Never let the hate of the Golds be felt here again. Teach them to cooperate, to be a community, and to treat me well."

The way home feels much easier and faster, as if my feet know the way. Should I tell the young ones about Golds and Silvers? How the world was once divided? Or are they better off not knowing about the pain and hate? And how can I instruct them in the ways of any except the Brown? I only know how we lived. 

As my stomach rumbles, I consider that I do not even know how to feed this little life. I have survived these recent times by finding nuts and other raw ingredients I recognized. What about clothing? This little one will freeze if I don't figure out how the Turquoise created those. So much I know nothing about. 

The little one fusses in my arms as I reach the village. A tiny cry grows louder. The Black comes running.

"Belp? This is unexpected. Who do we have here?"

"You and I are the last of our kind. Darterra has charged us with raising the next generations, the redesignations. I have much to tell you. We need to name this level one. And, by the way, what is your name?"

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Key dramatic question that will take whole story to answer:

Could Belp have prevented all this death, how, and if so-- why didn't he?

And what led Jaildarn to become the cause of such annihilation? 

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QUESTION -- Have you entered the contest? The newborn needs a name!
https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/2025/04/win-atozchallenge-2025-fantasy.html Enter the giveaway! ⭐🤗❤

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My A to Z 2025 theme is a fantasy story. (And some of the process of writing it as well.) 🕮

- J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge

https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website.