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leomaretan-author.bsky.social
@leomaretan-author.bsky.social
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leomaretan-author.bsky.social
Took a break Thursday to learn about decorating cookies from Kathy Murphy-Ott at the Portage Center for the Arts. How did I do?

#WritersLife #cookies #amwriting
November 22, 2025 at 10:09 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
Prompt: The newspapers called Jon intrepid for surviving a week lost in the cave before finding his way out. They didn't know...

Tell the rest of the story.

For more about intrepid & other words: leomaretan.com/leomas-weekl...
#AmWriting, #LeomasWeeklywords, #wordbuilding, #writingprompts
November 18, 2025 at 6:58 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
I am pleased to announce that I have joined Scribe Hive Publishing, a women-owned publishing cooperative.
My Middle Grade fantasy Away with the Fairies, will be released in Q2 2026.

Full blog: leomaretan.com/my-debut-nov...
#amwritingfantasy #amwriting #ampublishing #writing #writingcommunity
November 15, 2025 at 5:42 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
I'm in southeastern Wisconsin but my roses are budding again. This picture was taken on 4 November. Not sure what's happening. It hasn't been THAT warm.

Is anyone else in the area seeing this?

#garden #gardening #nature #NaturePhotography
Photo of pink rose with two additional buds. Taken from side.
November 7, 2025 at 4:28 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
In A Recipe for Disaster, 1st book in Ted Fearson's Magical Recipes series, a cookbook causes more trouble that its recipients expected.

Love fantasy with lots of heart and liberal sprinkles of magic? Even if you're outside the MG age range, check out this book.

#books #fantasybooks #mgfantasy
October 31, 2025 at 1:42 AM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
In The Reliquarian's Muse, 3rd entry in E.L. Winters' Guild series, Emma MacLeod must unravel the mystery of a powerful relic despite muse's 'help.' Without destroying anyone.

For lovers of fantasy with lots of magical troubles and a lack of gory stuff.

#amreading #booksbooksbooks #fantasybooks
Coming this Halloween Picture of The Reliquarian's Muse cover 31 October 2025 Would you like to meet your MUSE face-to-face? Newly appointed Reliquarian for the Guild Emma MacLeod meets hers. He's narcissistic, mischievous, and trouble follows him around like a puppy. Available at: https://scribhivepublishing.com/product/the-reliquarians-muse/ and Amazon.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:47 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
In the Halloween spirit, Leoma's Weekly Words offering for this week is: widdershins. Traveling the opposite direction of the sun was considered unlucky.

For more about this and other words: leomaretan.com/leomas-weekl...
#AmWriting, #LeomasWeeklywords, #wordbuilding, #words, #writinginspiration
October 28, 2025 at 8:53 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
Excerpt from Tunnel Vision. My Upper MG portal fantasy takes the characters from Limerick City to the Faery Lakes in search of Bommer's missing cousin. #wipsnips #amquerying #sffwriters #writingcommunity #writersky #amwriting #authors #writerandreader #writers
Picture of Bommer's world - the Thomond Bridge. Picture of a lake and tree region representative of the Faery Lakes. Text: “What have we here? Looks like three young eejits tryin’ t’ call a fairy without knowin’ the danger in it.” I stood as tall as I could, which admittedly was only a little over four feet. “We are not trying to call fairies. Who are you, anyway?” The strange little man scowled. “Who am I, laddie? Who are ye to be knockin’ on that doorway without an invitation?”
October 19, 2025 at 9:35 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
Leoma's Weekly Word for this week is: endemic. Red pandas are endemic to the forests of the eastern Himalayas.

To learn more about this and other words, visit me at: leomaretan.com/leomas-weekl...
#AmWriting, #LeomasWeeklywords, #wordbuilding, #words, #writinginspiration
October 12, 2025 at 7:50 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
Leoma's Weekly Word for this week is: hubris. In Greek mythology, Arachne challenged Athena to a weaving contest. She was turned into a spider. Classic hubris.

To learn more, visit me at: leomaretan.com/leomas-weekl...
#AmWriting, #LeomasWeeklywords, #wordbuilding, #words, #writinginspiration
September 29, 2025 at 9:25 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
Leoma's Weekly Words offering for this week is: florid. It can mean either red-faced or overly flowery in design or speech.

For more about this and other words, see me at: leomaretan.com/leomas-weekl...
#AmWriting, #LeomasWeeklywords, #wordbuilding, #words, #writinginspiration
September 21, 2025 at 8:28 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
After an unplanned summer break that I spent editing two books, Leoma's Weekly Words is back. My word for this week is: eclectic. Like my tastes in reading books. 😺

To learn more about this and other words, come see me: leomaretan.com/leomas-weekl...
Leoma's weekly word is: Eclectic. This week's word shows diversity of interest. Image is of a multi-story library with stairs cutting across it. Link to https://leomaretan.com/leomas-weekly-words is displayed.
September 14, 2025 at 10:51 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
My word for this week is: pysanky. I remember decorating eggs in this way as a child, though I'm not Ukrainian.

To learn more about this and other words, come see me: leomaretan.com/leomas-weekl...

#AmWriting, #LeomasWeeklywords, #wordbuilding, #words, #writinginspiration
April 19, 2025 at 9:02 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
Update to Goal: To finish the edits on my WIP, Dream Songs, by 31 March. DONE. I sent the mss to the Book Coach yesterday. Woohoo! If I can do it, so can you. #amediting #AuthorGoals #AuthorsOfTwitter #authorscommunity
April 1, 2025 at 1:48 AM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
My word for this week is: diaspora. The Irish diaspora peaked during the years of the Great Famine, between 1845 and 1852.

To learn more about this and other words, come see me at: leomaretan.com/leomas-weekl...

#AmWriting, #LeomasWeeklywords, #wordbuilding, #words, #writinginspiration
March 28, 2025 at 2:24 AM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
My weekly word is: cattywampus; My research indicated this word is now used mainly in the American south. But I grew up using it in Wisconsin. Go figure.

To learn more about this & other words: leomaretan.com/leomas-weekl... #AmWriting, #LeomasWeeklywords, #wordbuilding, #words, #writinginspiration
March 21, 2025 at 2:54 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
Broken-hearted widow Kate Killian seeks escape from everything that reminds her of her loss. Takes a long term job in Kuwait, where alcohol is illegal & public affection socially forbidden. Then she meets Colin Hastings. "Escape to Kuwait" by Leoma Retan. #A #R #WF #LuckyPit #PopUpPit #PopUpPitA
An Agent's Guide to Escape to Kuwait by Leoma Retan Pitch: After the unexpected death of her husband, American engineer and project manager, Kate Killian escapes constant reminders of him by accepting a one-year assignment in Kuwait. Irish ex-pat Colin Hastings offers hope for a second chance at love. But with her Kuwait assignment ending and the CoVID pandemic restricting travel, Kate must decide whether to accept reassignment to Alaska, likely separating them for good, or risk her career to be with Colin. Featuring: Second chance romance; Exotic Primary Local: Kuwait (In 2019/2020 I lived and worked there for ten months); Living and working in an unfamiliar culture; Effects of quarantine outside the U.S. Quote: “Two.” Tears rose inside me as Colin’s lopsided grin, displayed on my phone screen, overlaid all the other images. A life-sized specter of Mark as he was at our last New Year’s, when we’d hosted the party, seemed to appear next to me, smiling in apparent approval. “One.” As the countdown oscillated between yellow and green, I ached to touch Colin. My fingers tightened and nearly broke the stem of my champagne glass in frustration before I forced them to relax. The ball exploded into a rainbow of sparkling shards that split into colored ribbons chasing each other around the walls and ceiling, moving faster and faster until they created the illusion that we were inside a glittering ball of light. I drank half my glass of champagne in one gulp as cries of Happy New Year filled the space. My lip reading is spotty at best, but I thought Colin said “I love you.”
March 17, 2025 at 10:17 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
Broken-hearted widow Kate Killian seeks escape from everything that reminds her of what she lost. Takes a long term job in Kuwait, where alcohol is illegal & public displays of affection socially forbidden. Then she meets Colin Hastings in Escape to Kuwait. #A #R #WF #LuckyPit #PopUpPit #PopUpPitA
After the unexpected death of her husband, American engineer and project manager Kate Killian escapes constant reminders of him by accepting a one-year assignment in Kuwait. Irish ex-pat Colin Hastings offers hope for a second chance at love. But with her Kuwait assignment ending and the CoVID pandemic restricting travel, Kate must decide whether to accept reassignment to Alaska, likely separating them for good, or risk her career to be with Colin. Currently querying the second chance romance, Escape to Kuwait. Picture of desert, the iconic Kuwait towers at night, and Kate leaning against Colin.
March 17, 2025 at 3:05 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
In honor of St. Patrick's Day, memories of one of my favorite places in Ireland, Killarney Lakes, which Ray and I visited years ago. Booked into a B&B for a day, stayed for 3.

You can find me at: leomaretan.com

#amwriting #writerslife #ireland #memories #StPatricksDay #travelphotography
March 17, 2025 at 2:47 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
Book Review: Sand Castles and Second Chances by Lianne James.

49-year-old Lucinda Flowers, whose marriage has imploded, to be both relatable and engaging...

For more: leomaretan.com/leoma-retan-blog

#bookreview #LianneJames #Romance #booklovers #fiction #SecondChanceRomance #WriterLift
March 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today" - FDR

#Writers Stop paralyzing yourself with self doubt. Just write!

leomaretan.com

#Tuesdaythoughts #amwriting #TuesdayMotivaton #writingadvice #amediting
March 12, 2025 at 4:11 AM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
My weekly word for 9 March 2025: coruscating; it was brought to mind when I used it in my WIP & a critique partners asked its meaning.

To learn more about this and other words: leomaretan.com/leomas-weekl...

#AmWriting, #LeomasWeeklywords, #wordbuilding, #words, #writinginspiration
March 11, 2025 at 2:42 AM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
Update to Goal: To finish the edits on my WIP, Dream Songs, by 31 March. Now at 59% of total. In the past 7 days I beat my plan by 3059 words, a new record. Help keep me on track. I'll do the same for you when needed. #amediting #AuthorGoals #AuthorsOfTwitter #authorscommunity
March 6, 2025 at 3:59 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
If money wasn't an issue, where would you prefer to live?
A. Cabin in the woods
B. Small town
C. Suburb
D. Large City

If there's somewhere more specific you're longing for, let me know.

#amwriting #WritingCommmunity #QUESTIONOFTHEDAY #storiesbyLeoma
March 5, 2025 at 2:25 PM
leomaretan-author.bsky.social
From Confucius: "Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Let me do and I understand." Good advice for writers. #Tuesdaythoughts #amwriting #TuesdayMotivaton #writingadvice #writers
March 4, 2025 at 3:51 PM