Summer Flowers and Adventure Escapes

Gems in the Garden

Summer's unofficially here, which means my garden is bursting with beautiful flowers. I forget how much I miss the flowers and birdsong until I'm able to throw open the windows and welcome spring back to NY. I often go out to the garden with my camera and forget to take photos because I'm enjoying the beauty.

Did you know that even a few minutes a day spent with nature can do wonders for your physical and mental health? Even tending a potted plant is beneficial...further proof that we were not meant to sit at a desk for hours, staring at a screen. Get out that sunscreen and pay Mother Nature a visit! She misses you.

Gems in the Ground

I've scaled back my writing engagements this year to travel with my husband in our travel trailer, affectionately dubbed "Libby" (and maybe collect some new stories to tell). Recently, we went to

Scam Alert for Aspiring Authors

Author Beware

I posted this on my Facebook page, but it's important enough that I feel it should be repeated here.

TO ASPIRING AUTHORS:

There have been a lot of spam emails targeting aspiring (or published) authors lately. It goes like this:

"Hi, I'm [insert name] of [insert entity], and I was captivated by your [insert your book title]. The [insert book details] was so [insert gushing compliments]. I would love to promote your book/publish/edit/whatever your book and get it in front of my audience of [insert astronomical number] readers. Contact me!"

These are ALWAYS A SCAM, made to look credible by the use of AI to get details from your book. Don't answer. Report spam and block them.

No one credible will approach YOU. It's almost always the other way around in publishing. The credible authors, editors, formatters, promoters, and publishers have way too much work on their plates already to voluntarily seek out an unknown quantity (or someone who, if published, isn't already a NYT bestseller). If someone DOES approach you without your prompting them, they're likely to have a credible, verifiable reference (e.g., "Our mutual acquaintance, So-and-So, gave me your name."). You should be able to verify with So-and-So that this is, in fact, the case.

A real editor, formatter, promoter, or publisher will not seek you out. They'll wait for you to send a query letter, then respond accordingly.

Don't fall for it. Please, for the love of that potential bestseller inside you, don't fall for it. These scammers are just looking to steal your money, your work, or both.

Rule of thumb: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

The Spark

 
Inspiration From Everywhere

One doesn't live life in an insulated bubble. From the moment we draw our first breaths, we touch, and are touched by, events of the world around us. That goes in particular for writers. Everything we experience becomes a part of the inspiration for our work. The people around us can't help but color the worlds we create in our books. And the art... Art might be the most magical source of inspiration there is. Books, paintings, music... Any form of creativity.

I find music to be one of my most powerful sources of ideas. One song might spur the writing of an entire scene or chapter. If I could bottle that feeling, I wouldn't hesitate.

The summer I wrote the majority of FREAK FRAT, music was the engine that kept me clicking away at the keyboard. Every time I turned on 95X, a local radio station, it seemed they were playing another song that rushed me back to my computer. Maybe it was the genre of the book (urban fantasy), the demeanor of the characters, or some combination thereof, but the music blended with my story and made magic.

This summer, I met Kara, who works at 93Q and 95X. Both of us were delighted to meet each other—me, a big fan of both radio stations, and she, an avid reader. Kara bought a copy of FREAK FRAT (and I fervently hope she loves it). She also forwarded the news that 95X was, in part, the soundtrack to my book to her station manager. As a result, I am beyond thrilled to be attending Amy's Slumber Party 2026. All this because of the magic spark that is inspiration.

I believe good things create good things. Because of music, I've been able write books that might never have happened. Because I've written and published books, I have made wonderful lifelong friends. I've had adventures I couldn't have imagined as a girl, scribbling in notebooks in my room. Not a bad life.

Moral of the story? Don't ignore that spark. It's the beginning of dreams.

Having a Heat Wave!

 

Summer Heat and Streamlining Events

This past weekend, The Wandering Wordsmiths were at Freya Fest. The heat this year was intense, even with the precautions of a tent, fans, ample water, and cooling towels. It was rough on us and on our visitors. Given that, my co-founder Patricia and I have decided we're going to have to be pickier about the events we attend when extreme weather is a possibility. It's not easy to admit when you're getting older and less tolerant of the heat, but this weekend convinced me that my health has to take priority. I'll still be doing signings with the Wordsmiths, just fewer and more selective ones.

I'm so grateful for all the readers and authors I've met doing this gig for the past couple of decades. Being a writer is such a huge part of my life. That part isn't ending. It's just the beginning of another chapter.

See you out there on the road or anytime online!

Drink Some Water! 💦

Mental Health Mantra

You've seen the memes on social media: Drink more water. Get some sun. Turn off the television. Though Mental Health Awareness month is in May, it's important any time of year. Summer is coming soon to the Northern Hemisphere, and with it the opportunity to get out into the sun and shake off those cold-weather blahs.

Even if you're not able to get outside, summer is your chance to open a window and chase out the stale air. You can do the same with your mind. Stuck in a loop of old ideas? Challenge them with a new book, a new podcast, or some creative expression through art, cooking, crafting, or design. If you're not the crafty sort, pay a visit to the zoo or a museum. A little movement and a new locale are great for helping you switch mental gears.

Finding Your Reset Button

"Health" is my watchword for this year. That means I need to focus on mind, body, and financial wellness. This spring, I went on a writing retreat at Mt. Hope House, a historical bed and breakfast in Rochester, NY. After a few setbacks of various sorts this winter, I was having a rough time getting back into writing. The visit to the retreat was just the thing for jarring me out of my rut. Between that and some fresh creative pursuits, I'm feeling much better and ready to get back to putting real words down. If I falter, I can always remember the expression of this fellow who was hanging in the dining room at the B&B, "Cavalier" by Alex de Andreis. He looks quite ready to scold me for slacking off, doesn't he?

I hope you find time for your own reset, too. If you have a favorite pastime for unwinding, I'd love to hear it. Stay healthy, and Happy Reading!

Book Signings / Waiting for Spring

 

All the Book Signings!

It never fails to amaze me how fast my calendar fills up after the holiday break. This year, I'm appearing at a few new venues, as well as an added appearance at Baldwinsville Public Library. You can see my current list of events at https://www.nickigreenwood.com/news/index.html#events.

(Not So Patiently) Waiting for Spring

I don't know about you, but this time of year, I am aching for spring to arrive. Officially, the Northern Hemisphere will welcome spring on March 20th, but sometimes, the snow lingers for weeks after the calendar date of spring. Flowers may wait until well after that.

How I combat the late-winter blahs? I decorate! Regardless of whether spring has "officially" arrived, I refresh the decor around the house with faux and real spring flowers and plants. I play birdsong on my speakers. If the temperature allows, I open windows to allow much-needed fresh air inside. Finally, there's always the satisfying feeling of spring cleaning. I will pick a room and refresh it, and at the same time I might clear out closets and drawers to donate unused items.

While those of you in the Southern Hemisphere are about to welcome fall (my favorite season), here in NY I can't wait for the weather to warm so I can get out into my garden. If you're in the North, Happy Spring! 🌸