Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 146 of the podcast and it's February 14, 2024 as we record this. Happy Valentine's Day! Main Topic: How to Maintain Your Business During Crisis PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast.  This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan.  Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre   Comments/email from listeners:  Questions from listeners:   Announcements:  Go to valerieihsan.com/retreat for info on this year's writing retreat in August. Reading in Eugene, OR on March 8th (Friday). I'm in a new anthology by Tsunami Press with my essay "Eye Contact." • Stay tuned for new series stuff from Erick. UPDATE:  Valerie:   in Turkey; mother-in-law in ICU for the last week; no change for the last two days Sound Effect https://wordcrafters.org/nonfiction-imagery/ class on Wednesdays starting in May 15th for six weeks "Exploring Imagery Through the Senses in Creative Nonfiction" hybrid class (virtual and in person)       Erick:   finishing up new series stuff while rewriting novel in Strange Air period piece (30s and 40s), paranormal baseball season -- releasing short pieces based on baseball season calendar; baseball scout is main protagonist     Just finished:  Glucose Revolution by Jessie Inchauspé  Jane and the Man of the Cloth by Stephanie Barron I'M READING:      Up Next:    The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton Erick's Reading:  The Devil Himself Dollar Sign on the Muscle Show Notes:   Grief and brain fog are exhausting. Do what you can to stay inspired and maintain motivation, but above all: Be kind to yourself and be self-aware.       Next Episode:  Resources:  Thinking in Pictures by John Sayles "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Kemp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching.   Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Valerie's new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. I've published our 2022 Book List on the website: valerieihsan.com/podcast-news   The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE407 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)   Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor   Writer Craft Facebook Group Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account   Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick’s free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account    Patreons:  https://patreon.com/valerieihsan    https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries