melissabanczakLeave a comment

3 authors roll dice for prompts then cut to write and come back and read their short stories – an episode of Books Cubed

Good Adventures,

This week we’re playing in the Roll-A-Prompt series again. This time, I’m joined by my co-author Lisa and our friend Kristina. I picked a random set of elements from the Genre Mashup Edition, we cut to write (so you don’t have to be bored while no one is talking) then come back and read. It was lots of fun. If you’d like to play along, the prompt is below. Grab some dice, roll for your elements, write and leave your story in the comments. I’ll read it on a future show. 

The prompt we use today is from our Roll-A-Prompt Writing Journal Genre Mashup Edition

Character

Roll 1 number 

Even = MC is alone

Odd = Roll again for a companion 

  1. Stand-up comedian
  2. Delivery driver
  3. First officer
  4. Masked horse rider
  5. Phoenix
  6. Welder

IF the MC is alone, add an object

Roll 1 Number

  1. Roll of pennies
  2. Embroidered slippers
  3. Drone
  4. Wedding ring
  5. Bag of dirt
  6. Syringe

Scenario

Roll 1 number 

  1. Getting fit for a spacesuit
  2. Boss dies in the middle of a job interview
  3. Car stalls in the fast food drive-thru
  4. Light never turns off
  5. Probe is discovered drifting in space
  6. Is there a troll under that bridge?

Now write and have fun! If you want to share in the comments. 

See you next time. Good a good book. 

Melissa

PS My latest release is How to Square Your Grouper

melissabanczakLeave a comment

Paranormal Romance Author TK Lawyer Reads to Us!

Good Adventures,

Grab a cup of tea and find a comfy spot on the couch. This week, paranormal romance author TK Lawyer is reading from one of her new books, Serenade. Enjoy!

Links:

TK on Facebook , Instagram, Twitter

TK’s Website

Serenade on Amazon, 

Borrow ebooks and audio from your library through Libby.

Ep 5 of Books Cubed featuring TK Lawyer

~~~

What do I write? Thanks for asking. 

How to Sex Your Snake. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

Pre-order for May 10, 2020 How to Square Your Grouper

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

That’s it for this week. Go read a good book!


Melissa

melissabanczakLeave a comment

How to Square Your Grouper is in Pre-Order!

Good Adventures,

My new June Nash Mystery, How to Square Your Grouper is on pre-order with a release date of May 10, 2020. Yay! To celebrate, I’m reading the first three chapters on the podcast.

Listen here.

Gifts from strangers are never good. Especially when they’re big bundles of drugs.

June Nash is back. In Key West on vacation. And not at all hiding out from her famous brother’s crazy fans, The Dewzers. It’s been a tough couple of months and she just wants a little peace and quiet. But life doesn’t work that way in June’s world. Drug runners have mistaken her for their contact and she ends up with a sailboat full of Square Groupers. Which the Coast Guard immediately takes off her hands. So she’s in the clear, right? Not even a little. Now she’s dodging bullets from rival drug runners as she tries to escape her mom’s attempt to bond and Morgan’s obsessive need to figure out why someone from their past has followed her to Key West. How do you go from sipping rum one minute to running for your life the next? With June, it’s just another Tuesday.

Links:

How to Square Your Grouper Amazon Barnes and Noble Kobo

https://melissabanczak.com

That’s it for this week. I’ll see you next time. Go read a good book.

Melissa

melissabanczakLeave a comment

Books Cubed Ep 59 Author & Acting Coach Guy Castonguay

Good Adventures,

This week on the show, author and acting coach Guy joins me from Vancouver. I hope everyone is healthy and as happy as you can be with this lockdown.

Links:

Guy’s Website 

Get the ebook of A Name for People Like me for on sale through April 20 for $2.00 US  

Behind the Scenes doc I shot and edited for the film On a Clear Day starring Guy.

I couldn’t find the actual film. If I do, I’ll post a link.

That’s it for now. Go read a good book.

Melissa

melissabanczakLeave a comment

Mystery Writing Prompts – 3 authors write live, you can play along too.

Books Cubed Ep 58

Good Adventures,

More live writing prompts this week! I’m joined by Lisa Mahoney, my co-author in the Roll-A-Prompt Writing Journal Series, and authors Jeannie Wycherley, Misha Safran, and Joan Mularz. They write, we chat, then they read. All in 30 minutes. 

This time we worked from the Mystery Edition and I’ve included the prompt we used so that you can play too! Our authors had about 20 minutes to write this time. After you’ve listened to the show, grab a six sided dice, roll for your elements, set your timer for 20 minutes and then share some or all of what you wrote.

Prompt Set: 

Roll your dice for your main character. Even= Your MC is alone Odd= Roll again for a companion.

  1. Cigar Maker
  2. Gymnastics Coach
  3. Lobster Boat Captain
  4. Retail Store Clerk
  5. Mall Ear-Piercing Kiosk Girl
  6. Survivalist

IF the MC is alone, add an object. Roll one number

  1. Air Conditioner
  2. Exit Sign
  3. Crib
  4. Quarter
  5. Bulletproof Vest
  6. Desk Calendar

Roll One Number for a Scenario

  1. Cleaning Up A Crime Scene
  2. Falling Into A Ravine
  3. Motor Won’t Start
  4. Unclogging A Stopped-Up Sink
  5. Kids Running Through A Broken Fire Hydrant
  6. Developing Film In A Dark Room

That’s it. Write down what you roll, set your timer, and get to writing! If you share in the comments I’ll read them in a future show. No time limit if you’re listening way off in the future. 

Links:

Roll-A-Prompt Writing Journal Series on Amazon. Kobo. Barnes and Noble. 

Our Guest Authors 

Joan Mularz: Website | Books on Amazon | Facebook  | Twitter 

Jeannie Wycherley: Website | Books On Amazon 

Misha Safran: Authentic and Wholehearted Joy Facebook Group for Women | Safran Consulting On Facebook  

That’s it. I hope you enjoyed today’s show. Don’t forget to comment. Go read (or write) a good book. 

Melissa

melissabanczakLeave a comment

For Quarantined Souls – Funny Videos and How long will your TP last.

Good Adventures,

As so much of the world finds itself in Quarantine, we need humor now more than ever. Here’s some things that made me chuckle this week.

How long will all that toilet paper last that some people, not you of course, hoarded? Click on the link and then scroll just a bit to the advanced option tab. Add in how many sheets per visit, how many souls in the house. How often you visit that special room.

Next – I was really looking forward to A Quiet Place 2. Next best thing is Emily Blunt doing a skit titled, A Quiet Plane. It starts at the 3:00 mark.

And Finally – Nick Heath a sports commentator who turns every day life into sport. You might need to scroll his feed a bit but it’s worth it.

I hope everyone is safe and healthy. Let me know what you’re doing to keep yourself busy.

Go read a good book,

Melissa

PS does anyone else hate the new wordpress as much as I do? It’s now so much harder to make a simple blog post.

melissabanczakLeave a comment

Books Cubed Ep 57 Spellbound Hounds and Wonky Witches

Good Adventures,

On this week’s show, I’m chatting with UK author Jeannie Wycherley about her two paranormal cozy series, Spellbound Hound and Wonky Inn.  (I’m having trouble uploading the show to youtube so for now, you can listen to the podcast version! I’ll add the Youtube show when it goes live.)

I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Books are a fantastic way to pass the time since we’re all finding ourselves in close quarters. Let me know what you’re reading!

Links:

Jeannie Wycherley’s books on Amazon. 

Jeannie’s Website.

~~~

What do I write? Thanks for asking. 

Get the free prequel to my June Nash Misadventure series and find to why a monkey was wearing June’s bra. https://books2read.com/u/3npXnK

Or dive right in and get the full length novel, How to Sex Your Snake. A pool of blood, a missing body, a famous brother accused of murder. June Nash has the worst luck. https://books2read.com/u/bxvJYq

That’s it for this week. Stay safe and healthy and go read a good book. 

Melissa

melissabanczakLeave a comment

Books Cubed Ep 56 Must Read Romance Authors

Good Adventures, 

Author Kayla Dawn Thomas is on the show this week, talking about romance authors you need should be reading.

Links: 

Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks

Today’s guest – Kayla Dawn Thomas

On Instagram – the rippedbodice

Agents of the Crown by Lindsay Buroker (five books not three!) 

Ain’t Nothing but a Pound Dog by Jeannie Wycherley

~~~

What do I write? Thanks for asking. 

Get the free prequel to my June Nash Misadventure series and find to why a monkey was wearing June’s bra. https://books2read.com/u/3npXnK

Or dive right in and get the full length novel, How to Sex Your Snake. A pool of blood, a missing body, a famous brother accused of murder. June Nash has the worst luck. https://books2read.com/u/bxvJYq

That’s it for this week. Go read a good book. 

Melissa

melissabanczakLeave a comment

Books Cubed: Ep 55 Favorite Podcasts – Disneyworld & Murder. Just not together.

Good Adventures,

Podcasts! I’m joined by my co-author Lisa Mahoney and we’re talking our favorite podcasts. She’s into murder and I’m into the mouse. What are your favorites? What else should we be listening to?

Links:

https://mouseandmore.podbean.com

Home

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connecting-walt-look-into-history-man-behind-mickey/id1154127358

http://myfavoritemurder.com

Home

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/exactly-right/i-said-no-gifts

Are you a writer who loves prompts? Check out our Roll-A-Prompt series. (also on Barnes and Noble and Kobo if you hate the River)

That’s it! See you next time. Go read a good book.

Melissa

melissabanczakLeave a comment

Books Cubed: Ep 54 Epilepsy Advocacy

Good Adventures,

If you have epilepsy or know someone who does, you’ll want to watch this week’s show. Epilepsy advocate Meghan Kennedy chats with me about her part in the new book, Visions: The Inspirational Journeys of Epilepsy Advocates.

You can also listen to the podcast. Check your app for Books Cubed or go to the homepage.

For a limited time, you can get the book for 30% off.

If you have an inspirational story of your own that you’d like to share, leave a comment.

I’ll see you next time. Go read a good book.

Melissa