Congratulations to Chrys Fey and Her New Book!

My awesome blogging buddies know I am a big fan
of the Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG).

In the spirit of giving back to the IWSG,
today I am congratulating fellow member Chrys Fey on the release of her latest book:
Keep Writing with Fey: Sparks to Defeat Writer's Block, Depression, and Burnout.

Not only is Chrys the author of great fiction and non-fiction books,
she is an editor at Dancing Lemur Press which publishes the IWSG anthologies, 
and she is a moderator for the Insecure Writer's Support Group on Goodreads.
She does so much for IWSG members, so I'm happy to cheer her on!

As I write this post, I've read about half of Chrys's book.
It arrived a couple of days ago when my husband brought in the mail.  

"Oh, look who's bought another book!"
Terry said, as he waved the Amazon package at me and shot me The Look.

Ignoring The Look, I quickly tore open the package and began reading.
I was not disappointed.

Catching the first spark, I said to Terry, This is a good book."

Three or four sparks in I added, "This is a really good book." 

Then I jumped to Spark Seventy-two and exclaimed, "I love this book!"

Writing Sparks and Creative Fire

August 8, 2015

© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue

All Rights Reserved

And I do! 
By now I have carefully read about fifty-five of Chry's eighty-one sparks

and skimmed through others, and I can't wait to read the entire book thoroughly!

 Image Provided by Dancing Lemur Press

Chrys has a clear, compassionate, and sometimes funny voice,

and I felt like she was speaking directly to me.

She is someone who has slashed her way through the thorny thickets

of writer's block, depression, and burnout and come through.

As someone who has hacked through those same thickets,

it was refreshing and hopeful to read her words.  Hopeful,

because the thing about those thorny thickets is that they keep springing back.

You think you have them firmly tamped down, you turn around,

and there they are, sprouting rapidly again.

Chrys gives you effective tools to combat and control those nasty thickets.

I love the structure of the book, with its eighty-seven sparks

to inspire, motivate, and help the you.

The sparks contain excellent writing and creative exercises

that will help you improve and grow as a writer,

even if you're not dealing with writer's block, depression, or burnout.

Each spark can be read in a few minutes,

but the reader will linger on its content much longer.

In one part of her book, Chrys offers doses of Bactine

to mitigate the pain of writer's block and writer's burnout. 

For example, the first dose,  Bactine #1, soothes with its application:

"If you are afraid that you're facing writer's burnout or if you have writer's block,

or even if you're not sure...share your struggle with others." 

I'm grateful for Chrys doing exactly that.

To me, her book is like a book of daily devotions.

I can open it to any Spark at any time and read

something informative, healing, or encouraging.

When I began reading Sparks, I knew that it would have

a prominent spot on my writing references book shelf.

But I've changed my mind.  I'm keeping it on my nightstand.

I hope you read Chrys's book.  I'm betting you'll want to keep it

on your nightstand instead of your writing craft reference bookshelf!

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved

    

  

Here is information on Chrys Fey's book:

Catch the sparks you need to conquer writer’s block, depression, and burnout!

When Chrys Fey shared her story about depression and burnout, it struck a chord with other writers. That put into perspective for her how desperate writers are to hear they aren’t alone. Many creative types experience these challenges, battling to recover. Let Keep Writing with Fey: Sparks to Defeat Writer's Block, Depression, and Burnout guide you through:

•        Writer's block

•        Depression

•        Writer's burnout

•        What a writer doesn’t need to succeed

•        Finding creativity boosts

With these sparks, you can begin your journey of rediscovering your creativity and get back to what you love - writing.

Book Links

Amazon / Nook / iTunes / Kobo / Goodreads

Author's Note:  

When I shared my story about depression and writer’s burnout, I received many emails, comments, and Facebook messages from other writers thanking me for my bravery and telling me about their own trials.  That really put into perspective for me how many people suffer from depression and/or burnout in silence. I had no idea those individuals were impacted by these things, just as they hadn’t known that I was, because my outward presence to others was always happy and smiley and bright. After the supportive response and upon realizing how many writers in my online circles were struggling, too, I wanted to do something to help. I was candid with my experiences and blogged about the things that assisted me through the rough times in the hope that it would aid others. 

During this time, I recognized the need for writers to receive support, guidance, tips, reminders, and encouragement during their writer’s block, depression, and burnout. That’s how I got the idea for this book. A book not just about depression or only about writer’s block, but both, and much more. Since you have picked up this book, that means you may need assistance with one or all of these areas, and I sincerely hope you find what you need here...that tiny spark to get you through whatever you are going through.

As always, keep writing.

Keep believing.

Keep dreaming.

Chrys Fey

Chrys Fey is the author of Write with Fey:  10 Sparks to Guide You from Idea to Publication and the Disaster Crimes  series. She is an editor for Dancing Lemur Press. She started her blog, Write with Fey, to offer aspiring writers inspiration, advice, and hope. Visit her blog for more tips on how to reverse writer's burnout. At the age of twelve, she started writing her first novel, and since then she has been a dedicated citizen in the writing world.

Reviews:

“Gracious, there are so many tips and lessons in this book that I dare anyone to pick it up and not be writing furiously by the last chapter.” - C. Hope Clark, author and founder of FundsforWriters.com

“Her no-nonsense approach feels like advice from a good friend, doled out in easily digestible bite-sized pieces.” – Janice Hardy, author and founder of Fiction University

“This is one book every writer should have in their arsenal.” - Best-selling cozy mystery writer Elizabeth Spann Craig 

Where to Order Chrys Fey's Book:

Keep Writing with Fey:  Sparks to Defeat Writer's Block Depression and Burnout

Released – July 14, 2020

$17.95, 6x9 trade paperback, 256 pages

Print ISBN 9781939844729 / EBook ISBN 9781939844736

Writing / Self-Help: Depression – Stress Management

Amazon -

https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Writing-Fey-Writers-Depression-ebook/dp/B0849R9S8R/ 

Barnes & Noble -

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/keep-writing-with-fey-fey-chrys/1136384744?ean=9781939844743 

iTunes -

https://books.apple.com/ca/book/keep-writing-with-fey/id1497044824 

Kobo -

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/keep-writing-with-fey 

Goodreads -

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50983917-keep-writing-with-fey