Wednesday, February 2, 2022

IWSG & Jeremy Hawkins Tribute

 It's the first Wednesday of February, which means it's time for another edition of the Insecure Writer's Support Group.


Created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the IWSG exists so writers can give and get support from fellow writers. This is your opportunity to air your insecurities without risking mockery, because this group is as supportive as they come. Anyone can join. Simply click on Alex's name and put your blog on the list. We post the first Wednesday of each month. Be sure to hop around and visit some of your fellow writers.

The co-hosts this month are: Joylene Nowell Butler, Jacqui Murray, Sandra Cox, and Lee Lowery!

The optional question this month is: Is there someone who supported or influenced you that perhaps isn't around anymore? Anyone you miss?

Woof. Loaded question for me after the last couple years, so I'll just say yes and leave you with a quote from my grandma after I sent her a copy of one of my horror collections: "This is a nice little book you've got here."


Jeremy and I were co-hosts of the A-to-Z Challenge years ago. In fact, my banner is the one he made me, which is why it still says I'm a host on it. I kept meaning to ask him if he could remake it without that, because I didn't want to part with the design since it's exactly what inspired the name of my blog to begin with. But I hate asking people for things, so I just kept it up despite it saying I was a host.

The team in 2012 consisted of Arlee Bird (of course), Damyanti Biswas, DL Hammons, Matthew MacNish, Elizabeth Mueller, Jenny Pearson, Konstanz Silverbow, Stephen Tremp, Tina Downey, Jeremy, Alex, and myself. Tina and I were brought onto the team after we challenged each other to visit ALL the other A-to-Z participants after the challenge had closed. We ended up running the Post A-to-Z Road Trip. I believe Jeremy made us a graphic for that, as well, but I don't seem to have it anymore.

There was a fun trio with Jeremy, Tina, and I during our tenure with the challenge. A lot of joking around. Unfortunately, we lost Tina several years ago. I hope their friendship can continue now.

One of our points of connection was movies and old movie theaters. It was fun discussing our experiences, each with a different old theater (mine was the Elsinore in Oregon, which reverted back to being a playhouse and now may be closed, IIRC; his had been a vaudeville theater, but I don't know the name). We'd both worked in theaters, as well. At one point, Jeremy donated a canvas art piece of his to the conference where I volunteered, Pikes Peak Writers Conference, for a silent auction to raise funds for the organization. 

In the last couple years we spoke mostly via Facebook and weren't as close as we'd once been, simply by virtue of distance and no longer working together. My heart goes out to those who were closer to him and to his family. He was fun, genuine, and kind, and his absence leaves a hole in the online community that can't be filled, just as Tina's did. They were both far too young to be gone and had so much to give the world with their presence.


My newest book came out yesterday! I'm so excited to share this book with you!


Whether you're looking to add short stories to your repertoire as a solo pursuit or in addition to novel writing, The Business of Short Stories covers every aspect from writing to marketing. Learn the dynamics of short story writing, where to focus your editing efforts, how and where to submit, how to handle acceptances and rejections, what to do with reprints, and how to market yourself and your stories online and in person. The information in The Business of Short Stories has been distilled from over a decade of short story publishing experience so you don't have to learn the hard way. You'll find information on submission formatting, cover letters, querying a collection, sending proposals to writing events, how to create a website, SEO, social media, and so much more. This is an invaluable resource for short story writers.

There's never been a better time to get into short stories!

$3.99 for e-book | $13.99 for paperback

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Reviews posted:

Skavansieur Review Blog

Wonderland Press

Focused on Story by J.Q. Rose


My ongoing book tour schedule is as follows:

January 12 - Beth Camp - Beth and Writing - Part I of Q&A
January 12 - Jean Davis - Discarded Darlings 
January 13 - diedre Knight - Stream Pebbles - Part I
January 14 - Michael Di Gesu - In Time 
January 17 - Jemi Frasier - Jemi Frasier - Q&A
January 18 - diedre Knight - Pensive Pens - Part II
January 18 - Toi Thomas - The ToiBox of Words
January 18 - Victoria Marie Lees - Victoria Marie Lees
January 19 - J.Q. Rose - Focused on Story by J.Q. Rose - Her Favorite Short Story (I already know which one it is, and it's one of my favorites, too!)
January 19 - Rebecca M. Douglass - Rebecca M. Douglass, Author
January 24 - Alex J. Cavanaugh - Alex J. Cavanaugh - Top Five Movies About Writing
January 26 - DeAnna Knippling - Wonderland Press & Writing Craft - Q&A
January 27 - Diane Burton - Diane Burton - Her Favorite Short Story
January 27 - Elizabeth Seckman - Elizabeth Seckman - Her Favorite Short Story
January 31 - Annalisa Crawford - Blogging with My Fountain Pen - Her Favorite Short Story
January 31 - Jemima Pett - Jemima Pett 
February 1 - Beth Camp - Beth and Writing - Part II of Q&A
February 2 - Michelle Wallace - Writer-in-Transit - Q&A
February 9 - C. Lee McKenzie - C. Lee McKenzie, Author - Her Favorite Short Story
February 11 - Sandra Cox - Sandra's Place - 3 Quirky Food Facts

And a thank you to Natalie Aguirre, The Faerie Review, and my brother Alex Kenoyer for individual shoutouts!

May you find your Muse.






27 comments:

Jemi Fraser said...

Congrats again on your release. I've got my e-copy!!
I didn't know Jeremy well - just through a few interactions on his blog. He will surely be missed by many. Sounds like a truly wonderful guy!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Congratulations on your new book, Shannon. Your schedule looks busy. Best to you.

Bish Denham said...

Lovely tribute to Jeremy. Even though I didn't know I can tell from your post and other's that I've read that he was well liked.

Congratulations on you new book! Busy schedule you got going there. Have fun!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That is an excellent tribute to Jeremy. Keep the banner!

cleemckenzie said...

Loved your story about working with Jeremy.

I look forward to hosting you on the 9th!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

You had a special working relationship with Jeremy. He was far too young.

Tonja Drecker said...

Congrats on the release! And I did have to smile at your grandmother's words.
I have no doubt you'll truly miss Jeremy.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Congrats on your book and for giving us an inside look at Jeremy's life as a fellow blogger and writer.

Fundy Blue said...

Such a lovely and personal tribute to Jeremy, Shannon. I didn't know him, but you helped me appreciate why he is so well thought of. I didn't know Tina either, but I certainly remember all the wonderful tributes to her. I shall remember Jeremy too. It's heartbreaking when someone dies too young. I am sorry for the loss of your friend. Wishing you success with your book!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Shannon - a brilliant tribute to both Tina and Jeremy ... sounds like a great working relationship. Tina was a delight ... but sadly I never knew Jeremy - yet obviously did through his designs for the A-Z challenge.

Good luck with your book and your tours ... I've seen you around - take care and all the best - Hilary

Beth Camp said...

Thank you for sharing more about Jeremy, though I didn't know him at all. Nice to now remember his creativity (and generosity) every time I see your logo. So looking forward to reading your book on short stories which now resides on my Kindle! May the coming month be a good one for you.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thank you for sharing a wonderful tribute about Jeremy!

And Congratulations on your book!

Yvonne Ventresca said...

What a nice tribute to Jeremy.

Congrats on the new book!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the new book! Your grandmother's quote is priceless!

Thanks for the lovely tribute to Jeremy. I only knew of him through Alex, but in reading all of the tributes to him, it's clear that the world has lost a great guy. I've always loved your header image and am not surprised to learn that Jeremy created it. His graphic work was awesome.

Adrienne Reiter said...

Beautiful post. Thank you for sharing. Congratulations on your new book!

Debbie D. said...

A lovely tribute to Jeremy! I didn't know him, but I have one of the A to Z coffee mugs he designed. He did a nice job with your banner too. It's easy to remove objects or text from an image with photoshop. I'll email you about that. Congrats on the new book! My copy has been downloaded to the Kindle. Wishing you much success with it!

Donna K. Weaver said...

Beautifu! <3

Computer Tutor said...

Great tour! I'm impressed. I'll try to visit. Your book sounds interesting though I'm not a short story writer. Best of luck with it!

Mary Kirkland said...

What a nice tribute.
Congrats on your book.

Olga Godim said...

Wonderful tribute to Jeremy.
Congratulations on your book release.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

And thanks for sharing memories of Jeremy.

Liz A. said...

I think I need your book. I was so sad to hear about Jeremy even though I didn't really know him. Some of us have been around the blogosphere so long we kind of know who the big players are.

Rebecca M. Douglass said...

This month's topic is making for hard reading. I'm sorry for all the people you have lost.

I never knew Jeremy, but was one of the little people who used his A to Z banners without thinking about where they came from.

Damyanti Biswas said...

This is a moving tribute to Jeremy.

Congratulations on your book, and can't wait to host you!

Victoria Marie Lees said...

I've got your Business of Short Stories book. Can't wait to find time to begin reading. All best to you, Shannon!

H. R. Sinclair said...

Congrats on the book release. Short stories are hard to write but so good to read! 😁

Sandra Cox said...

See you Friday:)