Category: Writing

Award-winning author Laurel McHargue writes and publishes in multiple genres and shares tips on writing creatively and publishing.

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Books Laurel on Life

All Out of Fudge

… is what my husband heard!

Elk Hunting in Colorado, 2020
Here’s what really happened!

Show Notes with Links

  • Listen to my episode to hear how a misunderstanding led to hilarity during this year’s unsuccessful hunting season!
  • For more stories about the magnificence of the Colorado outdoors and the struggles I’ve endured while hunting with my husband, check out my book Hunt for Red Meat (love stories)!
  • This piece is published in the November issue of Colorado Central Magazine! You should subscribe!
Hunting the wily elk with my tireless husband!
NO TOUCHING!

Find my other work here!

Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Books Laurel on Life Writing

“Peace by Piece: 10 Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle!”

Fun lessons about life in an age of pandemic

The 2,000-piece “monster” I talk about in the book! So many memorable lessons!
Mark Lumb hosts this interview with Nadine and me about our new book! FUN!

Show Notes with Links:

  • Mark Lumb, creator of the Jigsaw Chill Zone Facebook page and YouTube channel, interviewed Nadine and me about our entertaining new book Peace by Piece: 10 Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle! Please follow Mark and share his links with anyone you know who enjoys puzzling. Mark’s YouTube channel showcases time-lapse photography of puzzle completions set to original music…very peaceful!
  • You may pre-order the Kindle version now, and the paperback version on September 7th! Our book is entertaining and informative with lessons about: patience and persistence, time, walking away, the sum of our parts, the little things, asking for help, focusing, seeking a different perspective, looking below the surface, and celebrating!
  • You’ll discover far more than 10 lessons in this relatable book!
  • You do NOT have to be a puzzler to enjoy our book!
  • Here’s the puzzle you see above: Coastal Escape
  • Please share with friends who enjoy self-help books and those who might benefit from some humor in this time of uncertainty!
NO TOUCHING!

Find my other work here!

Please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Books Laurel on Life Writing

Peace by Piece:

10 Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle!

Nadine Collier, book co-author, and her daughter, Sarah Collier, our cover designer!

My Michigan best friend and her daughter, Sarah, spent the past week with me finalizing our new book: Peace by Piece: 10 Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle!

We hope you will enjoy this “lite” life lessons book! It’s based on my experience completing my very first monster jigsaw puzzle, and every chapter ends with reflections from Nadine based on her years of experience as a licensed professional counselor! There’s something for everyone in this book, and you don’t need to be a puzzler to enjoy it!

Pre-order the e-version today! Both e-version and paperback will be available by Labor Day, so stay tuned for updates!

This is the puzzle that started the discussion about writing a book! It’s a CEACO brand 2,000-piece monster called “Coastal Escape,” and it proved to be a worthy challenge!
NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!

If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

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Books Laurel on Life Podcast

In Flight!

Wish I had wings!

My ducks have discovered their wings!
Listen to my latest COVID and Khaki Campbell Duck update!
The girls are still working on sticking their landings!
NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!

If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Books Writing

“Choices”

— a new microfiction story for my next DARK EBB: GRIM TALES collection!

Faced with an unbearable situation, a daughter must make a decision.
  • This is a 100-word (microfiction) short story! Please let me know what you think.
  • Find other short stories of horror, intrigue, aliens, and bizarre elements in my book DARK EBB: GRIM TALES
  • I’d love it if you’d leave a short review! Please let other readers know what you liked!
NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!

If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Books Podcast Writing

Meet Adam Ross!

A Positive Man Doing Great Things for his Community!

Author, entrepreneur, Star Wars fan, coffee lover Adam Ross!
Visit with us on YouTube!
“Just audio” here!

Show Notes with Links

We agree on some favorite TV shows!
  • Adam Ross agreed to be my first COVID-19 interviewee!
  • We discuss coffee–and different strokes for different folks!
  • Adam’s online shop: RosscoLorenzo
  • Adam’s entrepreneurial venture, including event planning for authors: RL Productions
  • We discuss the importance of having a positive attitude, particularly during troubling times
  • We talk about how many unique ideas exist in the universe and how every…single…person has their own voice!
  • We talk about NaNoWriMo and other motivational writing platforms
  • What has been Adam’s most difficult transition during the COVID-19 pandemic?
  • Lots of shout-outs to local business owners in Parker, CO who have helped him get established, and laugh about the hair dresser (because, well, as you can see in his profile photo…!) Specifically, Lynne Hurlburt of Parker Hair Xpress and Susan Bertolicchi of Kilwin’s Parker
  • I ask how his job as a paper salesman at Dunder Mifflin has interfered with his day job!
  • Find Adam across social media platforms by searching on RosscoLorenzo!
NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!

If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Laurel on Life

And Now, for Something Completely Different…

5 little Khaki Campbell Ducklings!
70 little videos of 5 little ducklings…and counting!

Some may say I’ve lost my marbles, but in the process, I’ve gained five tiny Khaki Campbell peepers! I recently decided that since I won’t be traveling for the far-foreseeable future, I might as well embrace the idea of creating a homestead on our new property.

I ordered five female Khaki Campbells from Murray McMurray Hatchery for eggs and entertainment, and I’ve learned soooo much already about how to raise happy, healthy ducks. Now I’d like to share what I’ve learned and continue to learn with you!

Please SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube playlist How to Raise Happy, Healthy Ducks! COVID Duck Chronicles to get a daily dose of ducklings, and ask me questions (or leave comments) as we go!

Thanks for visiting, and remember to wash your hands (both because of coronavirus and after handling birds!) Oh, and I’ll still be creating new episodes on my podcast Alligator Preserves, so stay in touch and subscribe!

Stay safe!

NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!

If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Laurel on Life Podcast

My Bizarre and Beautiful Visit

With friends breaking quarantine!

Khaki Campbell duckling image from: https://images.app.goo.gl/wy5yanh2Hv1A87hV8
Five of these little gals will arrive in the mail next week!
Listen here for more mental health wellness tips and an unusual quarantine-breaking visit!

Show Notes

  • More mental health wellness tips during quarantine from Dr. Donlon
  • Mental and physical preparation I did before my friends arrived from Leadville
  • Discussion and laughter about living under social distancing restraints and with face masks
  • Things we take for granted
  • Choices we can make!
  • Link to my latest newsletter: How Are You All Doing Out There?
NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!

If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!

Categories
Laurel on Life

Buzzfeed

You know you like it!

Yup! I did it! I submitted my first Buzzfeed post and it was really fun! Check it out here and tell me what you think!

Popcorn–It’s What’s for Dinner (or Lunch, or Breakfast)!

Dinner for two!
Mmmmmm! Smell the aroma of fresh, hot popcorn!
Categories
Laurel on Life Podcast

Q Diaries 35: Cinco de Mayo and Fractured Ankles

Sounds like a party, am I right?

Happy (?) Cinco de Mayo!
It’s just a lateral avulsion fracture of the malleolus!

Show Notes

  • I discuss why I’m clearly not yet a pro at walking, although I’ve been practicing this specific ‘sport’ for 60 years!
  • Props and sincere thanks to the entire ER staff at HRRMC! Thank you!
  • I talk about Cinco de Mayo parties with hopes that with life in the grip of a global pandemic, people will stop finding things to be offended about.
  • More mental heath wellness tips and confession about my own OCD tics.
  • Not sure where those Cinco de Mayo photos are…perhaps in the attic of our Leadville house!
NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!

If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!