Am I A Substacker?

Or just a stacker?

Hi lovely subscribers, grateful birds! (Still trying to come up with an awesome nickname for y’all; I’m open.)

I just hit a milestone of subscriptions and want to thank you for being here, reading my ilk of humor and observations as I age gratefully.

Now, for my big announcement. Horns please… (Couldn’t find a cute drum roll pic.)

I’m changing up my Substack. From now on I will post once a week to free subscribers and twice for paid.

Free=Every Wednesday, continued humorous essays from my goofy imagination.

Paid= Every Wednesday and Sunday, essays, plus access to archived material and you will also receive pieces from my work in progress novel. (It might be a YA novel. Still deciding.)

Storyline— A family dog believes his mission in life is to train his human sister but realizes it’s the mom who needs his help. Here’s a sample from earlier pages:

            …Mom drives. She’s not jolty like Breeder Lady Lila when I had to go to the vet. I don’t fall over when mom makes a turn. I bet she always drives. Dad sits up front. It’s only been ten minutes in the car and I spot an opportunity for a lesson. Henry and Juliette fight over me.

            “It’s my turn, Henry. You’ve been holding Alfie the whole time.”

            Henry hands me over to Juliette.

            In just that one deed I know that Henry knows how to share but it’s Juliette who needs to learn patience.

I purposely squirm out of her arms.

            “Stay, Alfie.”

            I break free and rub my nose against the window trying to get a whiff of fresh air.

            “Mom, he won’t listen.”

            “Let him be,” says dad Daniel.

            “He’s not trained yet,” mom Cassandra chimes in.”

            I stop panting and look at mom, waiting for the word, hoping she says it. And then,

            “You have to be patient.”

            She said it! She said the word, patient. The Big Dog in the sky told me that might happen. It’s really helpful when a human translates the lesson. Thank you, new mama. I think Cassandra is going to be my helper as I whip these kids into shape.

I look at Juliette, waiting for her response. She slumps back into the seat. As a reward for not arguing with her mama I climb onto her lap and give her a big wet kiss.

Juliette giggles, then in the next second, the corners of her mouth fall into a frown.

            “Mom? Will Alfie live as long as Murray?”

            “Murray was unusual, sweetie,” says mom. “Seventeen is a long time for a Springer Spaniel.”

            Juliette squeezes me and whispers, “Don’t leave me, Alfie.” She smashes her face into my fur. She’s still sad about Murray going back to the sky. I will have to fill her donut hole with love.

 Seventeen. My predecessor was on earth for seventeen years. He must have had a lot to do. And, got a lot done. Maybe I can live that long too. Boy, what I can accomplish in seventeen years. Maybe BD wants me to strive for that…

I’m always open to constructive feedback too. (Key word, constructive.) One of the benefits of GETTING OLDER is not being offended when someone critiques my work. Boy has that changed in the last thirty years. I went from pouty writer to thankful artist.

Also know, my novel will have serious chapters too. Any good story will include crazy challenges. A screenwriting guru told me to “Imagine your main character up in a tree— Now keep throwing stones at him. How do they respond?” (Obviously, the stones represent obstacles. A rather medieval image.)

Finally, Substack has a new addition to their site. https://substack.com/notes It’s like Twitter without the anger. It’s available to any subscriber. Check it out.

I love getting to know you through comments.

1. How’s your writing journey?

2. Any thoughts on YA—Young Adult vs. regular Novel? (Gen Z novel? Middle aged? Senior novel? Empty Nester novel? My back hurts novel?)

3. What’s your favorite breakfast? (My stomach stays in bed until 10 or 11. I ease into food with a paleo biscuit.)