UPDATE: The winner is…Lisa Carter!
*~*~*

I bought this little brainstorming tool years ago at some writers’ conference. “Story Cubes” is (that looks wrong, but I promise it’s not) a brainstorming game. You roll the dice and whatever pictures appear face up are the ones you use to riff off a story.

Here’s the roll…

Do any of these symbols tell you anything? You can pick some or use all of them. Tell me a story, or just a glimmer of an idea, for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!  

Psst! Look at yesterday’s blog, too, because there are many open contests! Enter while you still can!

UPDATE: The winner is…Denise!
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“There’s nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos.”
~ John Hightower

~or~

“Might, could, would — they are contemptible auxiliaries.” ~ George Eliot

Both of these quotes are talking about the same thing. The opposite of taking the middle of the road or dreaming about what you might-could-would do is having the courage to take the plunge, to go all in.

The photo was one I found on a stock photo site when I typed in “Courage”. It made me laugh. I can’t imagine what would go through a bird’s mind before taking that leap. And before you think, “It’s just instinct” — have you seen videos of crows problem-solving? One on FB the other day showed a crow dropping pebbles into a water bottle to raise the level enough his beak could reach. I’m not sure any of my kids would’ve figured that one out. 🙂

I’d love to hear a little story about courage you’ve witnessed or experienced—big or small. Comment for a chance to win a free download from my backlist of books!

Open Contests

1. A Pretty Little Puzzle & a Ton of Open Contests! — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Tests of Courage (Contest) — Win a FREE book!
3. My Book-Meme Goddess (Contest) — Win a FREE book!
4. Michal Scott: African-American Opera: My Latest Rabbit Hole (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Ready for Spring? (Puzzle-Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Rita!
*~*~*

I had my COVID shot yesterday, and some folks asked me to give them an update on any reactions I might be having. The numbness in my lips and the slight woozy-headed feeling went away by late afternoon. This morning, I woke up with my arm feeling like it’s bruised, but that’s it. My SIL told me to be ready for fatigue, but I had insomnia last night—which is not unusual, so that wasn’t a problem for me. A little discomfort is well worth not dying. Folks, go get your shots!

So, it’s Monday. After last week’s Snowmageddon, we’re having a week of rain. We were under a tornado watch last night and had some limbs come down. A funnel cloud was seen but never touched down. So, we’re knee-deep in mud and won’t be drying up anytime soon. The first day we have sunshine, I’m going to start working on the pool because I can’t wait for the warm weather! I hope you’re all doing well and looking forward to Spring like I am! Maybe the puzzle will help you get into the mood. 🙂

Puzzle-Contest

Comment for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card! Tell me what you think this picture is all about. Is there a story here?