Out and About at This Writers Life

 Interviewed at This Writers Life where I dish about writing life and a secret about Windmaster Golem. https://thiswriterslife.com/2020/11/03/tuesday-guest-blogger-helen-henderson/ 

 ~till next time, Helen

 

Cover Reveal - First Change: Legends From the Eyrie

Designing a cover. Do you want a tantalizing scene of the fantasy word? Your name is larger print that the title? Or a half-naked hunk?

These are a few thoughts that went into the design of the cover for First Change: Legends From The Eyrie. 

What made things more challenging was that this was the fifth volume set in the world of the dragshi. For those who haven't followed them, the dragshi are more than just a man or woman, but two beings—one human, the other a  dragon. The pair share one body in space and time and are able to change forms with the other at will. But be warned, a dragon form comes with more than just the freedom of the sky.

Unlike the four full-length novels which recounted the tales of the trader girl Anastasia and the Dragshi Lord Branin Llewlyn, First Change is a collection of several novellas and short stories. None of the tales are related other than they all take place in the world of the dragon shifters. The events take place in a different era, with different characters. 

A cover design could use elements from all the stories or from just one. In the end, Fire and Ice was used as the basis for the cover design. The setting of the Nerelan equivalent of the Far East, a beautiful empress, and the green token that determined her fate were the elements selected. And so without more ado, here is the cover for First Change: Legends From the Eyrie. And thanks to Fantasia Frog Designs fro creating it.

  
For more information on the legends of the dragshi told within First Change, click on the cover.  

And here's a list of sites where First Change is available for pre-order.

https://www.books2read.com/u/49PMZp

Guest Post by Emily Johnson

Today I welcome Emily Johnson as a guest to the Journey to the Stars blog who shares What Everyone Ought to Know about Workplace Organization

Workplace organization is a key to productivity boost, no matter where you work. A well-organized workplace can affect your productivity growth and, therefore, you can work faster.

Being inspired by OmniPapers manual about workplace organization, we've collected the best tips about this art.

Organize your workplace

A perfect workplace should have two zones: computer and non-computer ones. When you need to use your computer, go to the first zone. If you have some tasks to do away from your computer, go to the second zone. For example, you can call colleagues, read best practices, or take a break.

Clean up your writing place

Successful people claim that your writing place should be well-organized. Throw out drafts and notes you have or hide them into a locker. To keep all items you use daily, use boxes or drawers. Don't forget to put live plants (an aloe, a cactus, an azalea, etc.) to boost spirits and clean the air. If you feel tired, take a pause and drink a cup of green tea as it contains L-theanine that can improve brain functions.

Update gadgets

All workers have gadgets they use daily for business purposes. To stay productive, you need to update all gadgets you have. Plus, it is a good idea to use digital gadgets that might help you work efficiently. For example, buy a digital highlighter or a smart pen to translate and transfer texts to your computer.

Add comfort and health.

If you want to stay energetic, you need to take care of your health. While you're looking for a comfortable office chair, pay attention to the following: it should support the lower back and have arm rests. Plus, if you want to stay healthy, you need to use mini elliptical trainers while working, stand up from time to time, or work standing to reduce a risk of health diseases.

Your inspirational boosters

Every person has something that inspire him or her. It's very important to decorate your workplace with such boosters, so don't hesitate to put your favorite photo, a painting, or a quote to stay inspired while working.

There are many ways to boost productivity at work, and people should know all of them from A to Z. As soon as you start working efficiently, you'll start achieving more in your life.

After reviewing the infographic, click on it for more tips.





Thank you Emily for the interesting and informative tips. If you've enjoyed the post, click on the infographic for more tips.
 
About Emily: Emily Johnson is a writer and a content strategist of OmniPapers blog and contributor to many websites about blogging and writing. You can always find more works of hers on Twitter. 

~Till next time, Helen

The Home Front -- A Different Side of War

Programs by local experts are great ways to acquire information. A favorite tip of mine is to take a topic and look at it differently--to write about a different aspect.
 
Traditionally, Memorial Day and Veterans' Day programs cover an individual soldier, a unit, or a particular battle or conflict. To change the perspective, consider what “Total War” was like for those who were left behind in town when others went off to fight in distant parts of the world, to defend our way of life. All residents were involved in different ways from selling war bonds, to planting victory gardens, or even working in factories.

Letters connect home and hearth. They may be saved in a shoebox in the back of the closet, and  years, or even generations later, published in a book. One of my favorites is Upon the Tented Field: An Historical Account of the Civil War as Told by the Men Who Fought and Gave Their Lives.

Others letters including a father's advice to his son were included in Hearth and Sand: Stories from the Front Lines and the Homefront. (buy links.)

To all who served on the frontlines, thank you for your service.


~Till next time. Helen