Talkfest Blog

Featured image for “Kay Whaley, Part of a Winning Pair”
Anne Marie Duquette

Kay Whaley, Part of a Winning Pair

Sydney and the Christmas Star is the 3rd book in the Tales of Sydney series. I wrote the first book, published in 2019, as a gift to my two oldest grandchildren. My grandson is the…

Contest News | June 21, 2024

Featured image for “The Plot Line”
DWAA

The Plot Line

There are many types of writing. I was trained as a journalist, so my comfort level lies in reporting facts, providing analyses of data and recapping current events. But my ability to embellish or deviate…

Tips & Tactics | June 19, 2024

Featured image for “Dorothy Wills-Raftery – Siberian Husky Advocate & Canine Epilepsy Awareness Ambassador”
Anne Marie Duquette

Dorothy Wills-Raftery – Siberian Husky Advocate & Canine Epilepsy Awareness Ambassador

Anne Marie Duquette interviewed Dorothy Wills-Raftery the Winner of the 2023 DWAA Captain William Lewis Judy Special Award sponsored by American Legion Brick Memorial Post 348 with the entry “March 13 is K9 Veterans Day:…

Contest News | June 13, 2024

Featured image for “Self-Publishing Hat Trick”
DWAA

Self-Publishing Hat Trick

It seems pretty straightforward. Self-publishing is easy and accessible. Just create a document, find a platform, upload your story and wait for the clicks and payment to roll your way. Not! Anyone who has written…

Tips & Tactics | June 12, 2024

Featured image for “Interview with Lyn T. Garson, CVT, CCRP, responder and rehabilitator”
Anne Marie Duquette

Interview with Lyn T. Garson, CVT, CCRP, responder and rehabilitator

I am so honored to be a recipient of a Maxwell Award. I’m a writer and a Certified Veterinary Technician with over 40 years of experience in this field. I’ve spent the past 10 years…

Contest News | June 6, 2024

Featured image for “Best in Know”
Lisa Begin-Kruysman

Best in Know

Does the word “interview” evoke fear and apprehension in your heart and mind? Whether you are the questioner or the questioned, being asked or asking others about work and life experience, accomplishments, weaknesses, dreams and…

Tips & Tactics | June 6, 2024

Featured image for “How to Increase Media Coverage”
Merrie Meyers

How to Increase Media Coverage

Are you wondering how to increase media coverage for your newest publication, research or product? A survey conducted by Propel, a PR software platform, indicates extensive use of media pitches, despite limited success. The survey…

Tips & Tactics | May 30, 2024

Featured image for “Interview with Dr. Merrie Meyers, Second Chance Award Sponsor”
Anne Marie Duquette

Interview with Dr. Merrie Meyers, Second Chance Award Sponsor

The Second Chance Award should reflect the lives of older dogs that receive a chance for a new fur-ever home. Submissions are open to articles, books, blogs, TV segments, radio spots, videos, columns or other…

Contest News | May 30, 2024

Featured image for “Contest Winner Spotlights Others’ Accomplishments”
Anne Marie Duquette

Contest Winner Spotlights Others’ Accomplishments

I’ve been companions with canines for 50 years. Two of them were my mobility service dogs as I’m a disabled veteran, and I’ve had others as pets. Since 1988, I’ve worked at home as a…

Contest News | May 24, 2024

Featured image for “Editing Tips”
DWAA

Editing Tips

Here at the Ruff Drafts editorial desk, we spend our time reviewing and editing your submissions. We try to keep your story and voice intact while catching grammatical faux pas, misspellings and typos. It’s not…

Tips & Tactics | May 22, 2024

Featured image for “Tom Lonsdale, BVetMed MRCVS, Challenging the Status Quo”
Anne Marie Duquette

Tom Lonsdale, BVetMed MRCVS, Challenging the Status Quo

Thank you to all at DWAA for staging the competition and then providing generous peer group recognition for www.ThePetFoodCon.com and Multi-Billion-Dollar Pet Food Fraud. Dogs have been telling us for long enough, but mostly trivialized…

Contest News | May 20, 2024

Featured image for “Neil S. Plakcy, Serial Mystery Writer”
Anne Marie Duquette

Neil S. Plakcy, Serial Mystery Writer

I have been a dog lover since I was a little boy, and a dog dad for the last 25 years. I like to tell people that I spend hours every day researching my books—walking…

Contest News | May 16, 2024