write-brained scribbler – Page 2 – robin maderich – write-brained scribbler and crafter-on-the-loose

Pirates and Thieves

We, as writers, have it tough enough. Depending on the writing we do, we work for hours, days, even years to bring to light a single article, screenplay, book. Only to have them stolen by piracy sites like LibGen and others. And now of course, Mark Zuckerberg (for Meta), is the most recent subject of a class action suit regarding the theft of authors’ hard work, for the purposes of training Artificial Intelligence.

In essence, the pirated work has infringed on copyright and taken money directly from our pockets, and will continue to do so, because as you will see in the articles below (links attached), despite court rulings and settlements, not a cent is being received from the criminals. Please read these articles, share them, search for others—because they abound.

Release Day

After some unavoidable delay, the finale in my Shadow Journey series is finally out. Saying goodbye to these characters is basically like watching your kids grow up and leave home. Sort of. They are, after all, created by my imagination and not my flesh and blood. Even so, I’ll miss them. However, never fear, next year a collection of short stories will be coming out, revealing back stories related to the teens you’ve come to know so well. So be patient and wish me luck!

Thank you, readers, for following Grace, Duncan, Carina, Mika, and all the others through their trials and tribulations, their growth and the bonds of lasting friendship they’ve created. You all mean so much to me.

Robin (aka Jo Allen Ash)

The series finale! Final-ely

It’s been, if not a long time coming, at least longer than I had originally anticipated. But yes, the finale to the Shadow Journey series, In Darkness We Break, is finally releasing on October 15th! Twenty-twenty-four, in case you need clarification, because I actually could have meant next year. That’s what it felt like, anyway.

Sharing a little inspiration

Here’s an inspirational quote I thought I’d share for all you writers out there! it’s like a gentle kick in the butt. 🙂

It’s worth any writer’s while to get a draft onto the page, because truly, editing in your mind isn’t quite the same in terms of progress. And if you’re like me, you end up forgetting a lot of what’s up there in the gray matter without some physical notation to provide you with a placeholder.

The blank page is your nemesis, believe me.

There’s only one…

F is for Fantasy

Yes, I currently am writing a dark fantasy series (the Shadow Journey series, writing it as Jo Allen Ash), but that’s not what this post is about. It’s about, well, SPRING and a fulfillment of the next letter in my challenge. The challenge I stood up and declared I would meet. I thought I’d have it finished in March. Fat chance, apparently. I’m only on the letter “F” for crying out loud.

E is for Excellent

Yes, I’m cheating a bit. But I’m also pulling my hair out between writing, marketing, writing, yardwork, writing… Well, you get the picture.

At any rate, I came across this article about the uses for silica packs (you know, the little packets filled with silica pellets that come nearly in everything?) to keep them from your trash and in use. The great thing is, once they are filled with moisture, you can dry them out in the oven to reactivate them. This, I did not know!

So, Enjoy this Excellent article Explaining the Efficient use of silica packs! (PS: I tried to Embed it, but for some reason it didn’t work. However, the article is worth the read!)

Reusing Silica Packs

D is for Delight

I had another D word in mind when I initially sat down to write this blog. Demented, however, would have been a rather brief but virulent topic. Instead of venting, I settled on something more, well, delightful. Something simple to maybe lift the spirit.

First, we’ll start with daffodils, those lovely harbingers of Spring. Mine are as yet mere buds, perhaps delayed by the all the snow we had recently. However, I dug up this photo of mine from a prior Spring.

C is for Constant

Like the ringing in my ears? No. Well, yeah, sure, if it helps the point.

When we are very young, the constants in our lives seem so very certain. Or maybe just my life. As a child, I had been privileged to live a life where I didn’t experience a ton of fear and insecurity. I know that was not the same for many in this country and around the world. I never expected to find myself without a roof over my head or in the middle of chaotic violence or any number of things people faced and still do on a daily basis. That would have been, in my young mind, absurd. We were fed. We played in the sun. Summers were long. Friends were everywhere. Families meant everything.