Joining the HHH Blog as a Contributor
February 12, 2026 by Denise M. Colby in category Columns, The Writing Journey by Denise Colby, Writing tagged as Denise M. Colby, writers life, writingI’m excited to share that starting this month, I’ll be a regular contributor to the HHHistory blog. The HHH blog is the Heroes, Heroines, & History blog. It’s mission? Uniting those who love to write about history with those who love to read it.
I’ve been following this blog for a while now. There’s such a wide range of history being shared. The rules are simple. Do not duplicate any topic that has already been written.
Although there have been some posts about California, I was happy to see that there wasn’t specific topics related to the flooding, the rebuilding over the existing city of Sacramento, and several other points of history that I’ve researched for my stories. So as an HHH blog contributor, I get to write about all those things.
My first hhh blog post is February 14th
My first blog is titled Sacramento, California Origins and How They Dealt with Floods. Much of my content I had found when I wrote When Plans Go Awry, but I also found new content, including an image on the Sacramento History Museum’s Instagram page, showing how much devastation occurred because of them.
I have gathered a lot of research and fascinating tidbits over the years, but I couldn’t put it all in my stories. Now I have a place to share the details. My posting date each month is the fourteenth, and my first post goes live on February 14. (I can’t share a link until it is live).
I would love to have you join me.
Sign up to receive the posts here on the main page. https://www.hhhistory.com
Or sign up for my newsletter to receive the link to the post each month.
Denise M. Colby loves to share about her writing journey (see all her posts here), including her word of the year (this year it is BALANCE), her novels, and all the things in between. You can visit her at her website and blog at www.denisemcolby.com or on her facebook or instagram. Please note: some links include Amazon Associate links where Denise can earn from qualifying purchases.
0 1 Read moreRain, rain, and more rain…
February 11, 2026 by Jina Bacarr in category Jina’s Book Chat, Writing tagged as book, Deadline, rain
We writers live in a different world when we’re on deadline… nothing gets dusted, wash piles up, dishes done only when we run out of coffee cups.
I’m struggling (as always) with this book, trying to fit all the pieces together; my research books look like I’m building the pyramids, and my characters are yelling at me to hurry up.
Still, that’s no excuse for being late here, but I am. Late. But not I’m giving up, so here’s a short video about the lovely rain we’re having.
And a poem to go with it.
I
I’ll be back next month… and thank you for listening!
Jina
0 0 Read moreLove Wins Anthology
February 5, 2026 by Tracy Reed in category WritingI am so excited about an upcoming anthology to support pancreatic cancer and in memory of Twyla Turner.
LOVE WINS: STORIES OF HEAT, HEART, AND HOPE, a limited-edition charity anthology, celebrates the power of love in all its forms. Couples navigate between the pull of the past and the promise of the future with courage and passion. From curvy girls to tough guys, from tender new adults to seasoned older adults, these multicultural and interracial lovers invite us to savor the joy of living, loving, and believing. Dive into Love Wins, an anthology of diverse romances, featuring uplifting tales of hope, celebration, and second chances, curated in memory of our fellow writer and romance lover, Twyla Turner.
✨💜✨Participating Authors ✨💜✨
K. T. Bond
Harper Black
A.J. Buchanan
Gabbi Grey
Olivia Huxley
Gabbi Powell
Tracy Reed
Alexa Santi
A.M. Roark
Other Books by Tracy Reed
Tardy Slip
January 30, 2026 by Dianna Sinovic in category Quill and Moss by Dianna Sinovic, Writing tagged as fate, short fiction, tardiness, writing
Most of the seats at the DMV were filled when Charla arrived, license renewal form in hand, and she ended up taking an unoccupied plastic chair against the far wall. She had an hour and maybe a smidge more to get her new license before Sam started docking her pay for being late from her lunch break.
She’d meant to renew weeks ago, when the notice first arrived, but lateness was programmed into her psyche. Her license was now expired, and what with people getting stopped routinely and forced to show their IDs, she worried about driving with a permit no longer valid.
The room was subdued despite the crowd of fifty or so, with conversations kept muted. As a chime sounded at intervals, a steady stream of people rose from their chairs, made their way to the counter and conferred with the official on the other side of the plexiglass window. Six numbers lay ahead of Charla’s, with the clock ticking. She studied her expired license: Only four years had passed, but she grimaced at the image that stared back. The smile, tepid; her hair a mess, and that sweater, making her round face rounder.
“Those cameras are designed to make us look like criminals.” The man seated to her right was shaking his head, showing her his own license, which did indeed show a portrait that could have graced a wanted poster.
Charla, laughing, shoved hers back in her purse. “We’ll see what they capture of me today.” She checked her phone. “If they call my number before my break ends.” She’d missed doctors’ appointments, movie theater starts, and parties because she was always running late. Why couldn’t she ever be on time?
Her seatmate was soon off to the counter. The room slowly emptied, but Charla’s number still lagged, now behind two others. She had exactly five minutes left to complete the renewal. So much for lunch. Maybe Sam would let her sprint to the Wawa for a quick sandwich if things were slow at the dealership when she returned.
At last, she stood at the renewal counter and handed over her paperwork and old license.
“Waited a little too long, did we?” The clerk’s tone was kind despite the snark of his words.
“I kept meaning to get here,” Charla said, her face warming. “And then it was too late.”
The clerk checked her information on his computer screen. “It’s never too late.” He grinned. “The good news is that you’re not so late that you have to retake the written test.”
“I’d have to do that?” She was not prepared for any exam.
“Only if your license was more than six months overdue.” He directed her to sit back in the chair. “Ready for your picture?”
She patted down her frizzy hair and smiled half-heartedly at the camera. She should have primped in the bathroom before her number was called. Too late now.
Within ten minutes, she was done. Her photo caught her smile—and the wild patch of hair that always stuck up. Now fifteen minutes past her lunch break, she left the DMV lot and sped up the road.
Two blocks from the dealership, cars stacked up behind flashing police lights.
More delays. Sam’s annoyed face loomed in her mind. Was this the day she lost her job? Time was never her friend.
Turning onto a side street, she looped through an adjacent neighborhood to reach her workplace from the opposite direction. The Wawa store was on the way, so she stopped to buy a snack to get her through the afternoon—and early evening, to make up for the extra half hour she’d “borrowed.”
Traffic was backed up on this side of the wreck, but Charla cut through a parking lot to reach the dealership. She hustled to the door, feeling like the tortoise in the race against the hare of time. A fire truck pulled up to the wreckage, and sirens continued to blare.
Instead of an angry frown over her tardiness, Sam’s face showed only relief. Several salespeople joined him, and Charla was wrapped in a sudden cocoon of welcome.
“You’re safe,” Sam said. He stepped forward as if to hug her, but stopped when she backed up. “We were so afraid you got caught up in that mess.”
Charla’s shoulders relaxed. “I was running late…” As usual, she almost added.
For once, time had been on her side.
More of Dianna’s Stories
What My 2026 Writing Process Looks Like
January 12, 2026 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby, Writing tagged as Denise M. Colby, Planning, writing processIt’s a new year and I’m sharing what my 2026 writing process looks like for my first post of the year. Part of this is for me to do an honest review of what is working and what is not. It also reminds me of what I need to do. I’m currently coming out of an editing phase and need to dive into writing the next book. Remembering what works for me helps. I did some of this in my December 2025 blog post as I reviewed my word for the year – flourish
Then I thought it would be helpful to write it out and share it. Holding myself accountable, but also providing others with ideas that they may have not tried yet.
I have found that there are multiple things needed in order to complete a manuscript. Some of this is what comes inside of a person. Determination. Discipline. Action.
But as many authors have asked as they write. What type of action? How do I find time? What type of schedule do I keep? How do I know if I’m doing the right things? What comes next? Asked a bazilion times, over and over.
Writing is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
When I got my contract, I had my first book finished and two rough drafts done. Or what I thought were rought drafts. I had to literally start over, and so the dates I had comitted to, I had to figure out how to deliver. It took my twelve years to write and publish the first book. Six months to write the next three. Add into that mix, editing sessions, proofing sessions, cover design, back matter, inside matter, launch team, promotions, newsletters, and the list goes on. There are a lot of things to juggle.
And you know what? I did it. I’ve released three books in the last two years, with the fourth one releasing in May 2026. Check out my Best-laid Plans Series page on Amazon.
It’s amazing when we have deadlines how we make it work.
But I also got more streamlined the further I went. This has helped me immensely.
The Writing Process I Morphed Into
By far there are a few things I know now I can’t live without in order to write, and I will continue to use these writing processes for 2026.
First is my critique group. Their feedback and support has been a continuous blessing. We send a chapter a week when we need something reviewed. Not all of us are in the writing phase so it’s not everyone sending a chapter a week. This helps. It’s like a rotation. And it has worked for us.
The next thing on my list would be the writing sprint group I belong to. It would be very easy for me to sleep in, get distracted by laundry, or not show up when it’s only myself. But having a 7am zoom call with others writers has helped not only finish three books, I have resources at my fingertips to ask during our five minute breaks.
So if you do not have a community of writers to work with, I suggest joining a local writing group, or an online group. There are many available by genre or in general. Ask here what you are looking for and I can provide links to one of the five groups I belong to (yes, five – and I love them all in different ways.)
I also set realistic weekly goals for myself. I love to cross out something on a list. So I write out all the chapters I need to write, figure out how many writing sessions (I use twenty-five minute sprints where I can write at least 500 words as my calculator) I need to do, then plan for so many words in a week.
When editing, I create a page with the chapter numbers and put a sticker by them to tell me they are done. All of this adds fun, accountability, and helps me see my goals accomplished.
Other writing tools I’ve used and will continue in 2026
Focus@will – this website has allowed me to pick music and sounds that fit my mood, and helps elevate my brain focus while writing. I feel I write stronger when I use it. It has a timer so I keep to the twenty-five minute sprints I’m now used to.
Scrivener – this is the software I use to write my manuscripts
Apple notes – I started using this two years ago and it has worked well. It syncs between my computer, phone, and ipad, so that when an idea hits, I can capture it and then access it when and where I need to. I have built a lot of folders within notes. One folder by book. When writing the book, I have scene ideas and brainstorms, then later I put all my launch info in one note (with links).
I’ve added a research folder and put all the links to things there as I find things. Yes, Scrivener has a place for research but I use that for book specific things. The research I’m leaving in notes work across my series. So in some ways I’ve made a little story bible within notes for easy access.
Other folders I’ve added include a social media folder where I type out my posts first (so I can control the spacing and links), as well as marketing folders for newsletters, bookfunnel promotions, blog posts (I have all my links on a page). This has come in handy when I’ve needed to find things quickly. Much faster than trying to find the file I saved.
2026 Writing Process improvements
I always love starting a new year with reflection and planning. Even though I hope this year is more of the same writing process I’m already doing, I hope it continues to become more refined. so I can write and publish more books.
What is part of your writing process wheelhouse that you can share with all of us?
0 0 Read moreFeatured Books
THE SHORT & SWEET OF IT: When the Right Word Is a Short Word
How do we say more with less? Can short, simple words make what we write so clear that the reader gets it? Or will it remind them of reading a child’s board book?
More info →
THE DAY BAILEY DEVLIN PICKED UP A PENNY
Oh, Boy! Oh, Bailey!
Find a penny, pick it up; just don't bank on Lady Luck.
