Author K. Williams Archived Pages

Words I WON’T Use – Open Book Blog Hop #530

May 25, 2026 By Captain Maiel 6 Comments

Topic #530

We’ve talked about our favorite words. Are there words that you despise and won’t use?

Welcome back to another Open Book Blog Hop, Friend! The authors included in this ongoing learning series wish to thank you for your reading. Even more so, we appreciate that you share our writing with friends. If you’re new to the series, welcome aboard. The authors engage and impress weekly. Prepare to become a regular reader.

Words are interesting creatures. The point of them is to carry meaning, which could invoke action and emotion alike. Symbols themselves, words are powerful tools humans developed fairly early in our evolution. Our ancestors were clever and knew a good thing when they found it. They also learned quickly to use them as weapons.

For the most part, I have not met a word I won’t use. However, there is a general rule I follow in regards to a certain grouping of words. Bigoted terms will not find a home in my work. Even though I write some truly deplorable characters, epitaphs/slurs don’t make it into my lexicon. I’ll swear like a trucker all day in conversation and even write C you Next Tuesday right out on the page, but there is no crossing these lines for me. Not even for demons.

Some might say, they are just words, or those people those words were used against use them now themselves. Well, frankly, Scarlet, I don’t give a damn. Lately, I’ve taken to calling this self respect. How you move in the world–your actions and words, they set a tone about you. Remembering that is wisdom. How would you like to be viewed? While I have potty mouth, I will not have a harmful mouth.

Swearing is one thing. Slinging slurs is another. Out of respect for family and friends, the general public, the history, and myself–I’ll stick to swearing. It is the very least I can do to move through this world with less harm. Slurs only exist for the harm, and it is up to those who have had it directed at them to choose to reclaim and defang the words as they see fit. It’s no different than disarming your attacker and turning the sword upon them.

Other than that, the majority of words are fair game. Yes, even moist. The decision to become a writer was purposeful and considered thoroughly. We writers hold a lot of power in our hands. We can inspire sweeping world changes, bring the strongest person to tears, and pull laughter from the belly of staunchly serious people. Writers entertain and they educate. Through written media comes culture and connection. Storytelling is as old as language itself.

Be careful with that power. Respect yourself and others in its use.

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See you next time!

The Smile File – Open Book Blog Hop #529

May 18, 2026 By Captain Maiel 6 Comments

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #529

Stolen from Deanna Martinez-Bey and Writer’s Digest: What is on your joy list?

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with truly good people. Most of my work centered around social services and helping the general public. It’s something I grew up with in my parents, and something I became focused on early in my education. There is no wonder that I eventually earned a fellowship for this in my writing and completed a Master’s Degree.

That career in service has had me down many a road. Training and conferences kept our eyes on filling our cups and balancing our lives with our work. You can’t pour from an empty cup, for instance. From leadership to coping, there’s a lot of skills to develop that are imperative to your career and well-being in such a field.

There were two pieces of advice that I carry with me these nearly 30 years of work:

QTIP – Quit Taking It Personal
The Smile File

What are these things?

Before I get into this, I want to say that these things have morphed into social media saves (like albums on FB, bookmarks on Insta, saves on TikTok) usually titled Joy or something like it. It’s a good tool!

The QTIP was taught me by one of my favorite bosses. I see you out there Patricia! She is why I got my degree and pushed through my days as staff support. She saw the best in me and saw that I could reach higher and do amazing things. Sure, I was probably hard to push into it, because I couldn’t see the trees for the forest in my despondency, but she was good at coaching. My leadership skills, ability to conduct a concise and focused meeting, and keeping a good mood all come from her.

Patricia had me tape a literal qtip to my monitor. At this time, we were taking calls from staff and the street, and they could get confrontational. From hello, some folks just don’t have any respect for others even when seeking their help. She made sure I never have to take people being foul, something that wasn’t supported in retail where I had learned my customer service. She also made sure that I understood none of it was personal, even when they said you.

Folks will call a phone line bent out of their mind about something. Whoever they get on the other end is about to catch the brunt of their frustration. Sometimes, that was me. Regardless of me in a position to help clear this all up, they would be nasty as could be, even lying on my name. That QTIP stood there quietly reminding me that they were talking to their frustration through me.

This wasn’t perfect, but it was a big help. Most calls ceased to escalate. If they escalated they ended until that person could call back in a calm manner. No one needs to deal with that. In fact, I believe customer service centers need to take this tack, too. Bring courtesy and respect back. Especially, bring back self-respect. Being rude to others only shows on you. Respect yourself.

So, how did I manage dealing with the build up of stress from these calls or interactions? That’s where a Smile File Comes in! This was taught to me early in my clerical days in a purchasing office. This job was great for getting my office bearings and giving me monstrous typing skills. I was in my early twenties and fresh out of working customer service in retail and a bank. Those jobs leave you traumatized by Karens. So there was a lot of healing on top of my training.

The Smile File was told to me by colleague with longevity in the procurement field. She understood exactly what I had gone through and what was needed to move on from it. Time and coping skills. Of course, I had to answer phones, and this was where I first started getting irate customers on the phone, to back up all that I had experienced in person at the previous jobs. It was a lot less, but the trauma was done and I braced and I stressed.

This colleague suggested I keep a folder (physical, email, computer) that housed communications that complimented my work or me, items that made me feel peace such as pictures or poems, and anything that simply made me smile for no reason at all. To this day, I have a smile file. I keep one in my email, a physical file, and a computer document file (for images and writings). As a writer, you’d keep inspiration, reviews, and kind emails in these.

a cartoon of a woman looking at a laptop with her hands held wide. Icons for twitter, facebook, and instagram adorn the laptop. She has a notebook and coffee on hand, likely researching facts

This even grew into my happy time playlist! Now, you might not know this was my happy song list from all the industrial, metal, and rap banging away in it, but it is loud and distracting. That means, the inner dialogue can’t beat me down, rehashing old wounds and slights. Can’t hear it! And the beats reenergize me. When you can’t stick your feet in the ocean, a good beat can wash off the muck of ass holes.

Do it for your best self.

We are never going to get away from all the cantankerous folks out there. Somehow they still find me regardless of how little I go out. They manage to work their way up to my front door in some manner–online, on my phone, on my ass in traffic. But I don’t care about them anymore. That trauma is healed. Not to mention that I have learned to out-Karen them, so they need to watch it. I look all sweet and quiet, but I will burn it all down if pressed. I learned to fight back and effectively.

Let me tell you, I wish I could gift this mouth/knowledge to my 20 year old self! So much of the suffering I went through because of unhinged people in the public was because I was prepared to be a kind and yielding figure, when I had a strong and fiery spirit. The depression mostly only comes back when I am squashing my needs and cramming myself into boxes other people put out for me.

Put up that QTIP to remind you that it’s misdirected energy and not to accept it into your life. Create a smile file to combat the muck put on you despite refusing to take it. Most of all, remember courtesy and respect is more about you and your image in the world. Good energy is just as contagious as bad. Choose good.

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Is This A Sweet Treat? Open Book Blog Hop #528

May 11, 2026 By Captain Maiel 6 Comments

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #528

Do you prefer pie or cake? Have you ever included either in your writing?

Have you ever watched the television series Supernatural (2005)? Those closest to me see a notable similarity between me and the character Dean Winchester. If you know the series and that character you know my answer to this question. Also, if you do a search of the recipes on this site, you’ll get a clue by what is missing from the question.

Now, let me let you in on a little bit of my life here.

^{Pear Upside Down Cake, The Answer is Cake – Winner of 2024 Birthday Cake Challenge}

Every year, about half way through, my birthday comes up. If you’re like me, you’re want a sweet treat to go along with it. My mom is a great cook and baker, and I love to see what she can manage to create with those skills. I swear to this day, she should have had her own restaurant. It would have been a lot of work, though, and probably where I’d be right now had she gone ahead with it. Not a bad thing! I follow in her shoes. Cooking is fun and an art.

When my birthday comes up, so does a round of deciding what kind of cake I want (or sweet treat). As a person who watches everything they eat to maintain their health and not fall down the cliff face of type 2 diabetes that I am genetically predisposed for apparently, this is a hard task. Sugar is an enemy! Cake only happens rarely. If I am going to put it in my face, it is going to be well worth the calories and sugar.

Pinterest used to provide me a means to track and think about this event. I’d find all kinds of delicious recipes that veered far off from the usual birthday cake. It wouldn’t do to just have birthday cake. Oh, no. I’m avoiding ill health and not being able to do this in the future, so it will count big time. Think more like Disney Food and Wine festival levels of cakes. Hand me a slice of marble with Crisco based frosting and I will be miserable!

No, I won’t have just any sweet treat. Thank you. This is serious business. Just like I have a specific drink for each meal (no, not alcohol, but wine or a beer may be on deck depending on what it is). Pairings and taste matter immensely to me. I told you I should be the restaurant arena!

That’s not the only Sweet Treat on the Table.

From time to time, I’ll opt for a pie instead of a cake for my birthday sweet treat. One year, I got a peanut butter pie. It was amazing! Why waste your day with something that is just average? It’s your birthday. Treat yourself!

I haven’t met a pie I didn’t like, in theory. The execution of said pie, however, is what brings it into question. Like above, the crust will matter. I can’t stand a crust that is clearly made with just vegetable shortening. Often, you will find this in premade and store bought pies. They remain fresh longer, but taste and texture is more like oily sand. If you introduce animal product like butter and lard, the shelf time is limited immensely. They must be refrigerated. The taste and texture is flaky and salty, providing the perfect stage for the filling.

Make a Meal with Culinary K #2 — ^{Culinary K Pies – Leek Pie – Mince – Strawberry Rhubarb – Apple (pre bake/post bake)}

Lard and butter included in the recipe make for the best piecrust. My preferred is a butter crust at the top of the list. The butter crusts often make use of shortening, but it isn’t so much it destroys the flavor and makes it greasy sand or weird dough leather. Lard is a good ingredient and ranks second for me. In a meat pie, lard would be top. It is what it is. Pairings matter.

The crust can make or break a this sweet treat, just like a crappy icing can destroy a good cake. Nothing is worse than ordering butter cream and it’s just whipped shortening. Look, we can tell. So stop it. I don’t care it’s what you grew up with. There is better. When feeding others, always do better. And now, I’m reminded of terrible chocolate chip cookies from coworkers, all dry and weird. Or fast food versions that cheapen the recipe with shortening. Argh, shortening…I know you didn’t use butter. Why am I wasting my slim amount of calories on this? (Vegans and those with allergies exempt.)

Moving right along…

My preferred pie is fruit pies. I absolutely adore these. From cherry to mince. Then, you can slip me a pecan pie. But, I also like meat pies. When the crust is banging, I’m smitten. When I was young, I’d love a slice of frozen premade apple pie from this one maker. The recipe has changed over the years, and I still will get one for nostalgia sake now and then. That said, if I’m buying, I gotta go to Jockey Street in Ballston Spa, New York, and get the farm Pie by the Smiths. I know they’re not skimping. (However, I prefer my donuts from Fo’Castle Farms on the completely other side of our area). I will drive all day for these.

That said, I am game for pie anytime, anywhere. While it can carry as much calories and the same sugar load as a cake, it is often fruit sugars from the filling in a pie, and those are better for you than straight up crystalized cane sugars. Not to mention, I don’t have to add as much sugar to my fruit pie. For apple, I don’t add any. The apples are chosen for their flavor and sweetness. Thus, my diabetic friends are able to have a piece, and I remain on target for my needs, too.

Regardless, I love a good fruit pie. Sometimes, a little vanilla ice cream (à la mode) on the side is the perfect dessert. Traditional cake and ice cream is too much sugar, too much blandness. A great cake doesn’t need a scoop. That said, it was a nice addition with the pear upside-down cake. So obviously, it depends! Flavors can enhance and take away. Add and omit accordingly. Caramel and vanilla pop, especially with a little spice. Chocolate gets muted. (Have a coffee with chocolate cake, tea with spice or fruit sweets.)

Does this choice find it’s way into my writing? Ask Claire about her preferences. Food is big in Blue Honor, like anchors to normalcy and well-being, notes of wealth and health. I don’t focus too much on food in Trailokya, although it shows up from time to time as segues and markers of change.

After all that, where does Boston Creme Pie fall? Click on the links in the scroll box below to see how the other authors answer this fun question. The hop will arrive in your inbox without having to search for us, making it super easy to follow. See you next time. Let me know if you have pie or cake for your birthday or what other item you prefer, in the comments below. A brownie sundae can be a nice alternative from the traditional!

To Keep A Diary- Open Book Blog Hop #527

May 4, 2026 By Captain Maiel 4 Comments

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #527

Have you ever kept a diary? Are you still keeping one?
How often do you add an entry?

I’ve always remained relatively impressed with people who keep a journal or diary. I don’t have that level of discipline. Nor do I have an exciting enough life to chronicle my days. This is why I turn to fiction writing. While I might think that my life is just average and of no remark, someone else may find it fascinating. For instance, the young man reading his Nana’s diary from the 1920s on TikTok. Holy cow is this both hilarious and eye opening about what life was like her time.

Condemning eyebrows aside, the truth is that diaries are of special interest to historians. So why don’t I think I need to bother to contribute to such record? I see myself as the historian and never the subject. Besides, recounting embarrassments is mortifying, and I really don’t think anyone cares to read braggadocios entries, either. What else would I write about?

You just write about your day.

Who is going to want to hear about me rising daily to get ready for work, go to work, and have a work day only to come home, make a dinner, get ready for the next day? My weekends? Oh, you mean sleep late, make breakfast, exercise, errands as needed, brush the dog, walk the dog…

You see what I mean. Should I be talking about the drama? I don’t like to talk about others. Speaking to my best friend about troubles and navigating those is one thing. Gossiping is not my thing. I could probably fill pages with the nonsense of my workmates, but that really makes me look gross. Whatever foibles others have, whatever difficulty I face at the day job–none of it is worthy of writing down. Firstly, as I stated, it’s gossip. Second, it doesn’t resolve the issue, and it gives them more power than they deserve.

What else could I write?

I could make a lot of stuff up, and pretend it is my diary. Back when I was young, I was given a cute little diary, pink with tiny hearts in rainbow colors, and a gold lock. Inside, it had all these interesting things about birthstones, horoscopes, and the like. I tried to write things down, but I found it boring. There was too much focus on self pity and railing against hardship. Depressing!

Perhaps that was my reality, but it did not help me to cope or grow. In fact, I lived in fear that someone might read the pages, and bully me. I was already bullied enough! I didn’t experience enough to log it. Too young to have a life, yet, it wouldn’t have added any insight into the life of a child of the 1980s. There are plenty of movies and videos to go on, regardless.

Journaling was something our creative writing teacher had us undertake for our high school class. I did not find this anymore interesting or of any help to my creative endeavors. I tried! It felt goofy and awkwardly personal for an adolescent already feeling panicked at the personal becoming public. Bullying, still ongoing, this was a huge risk, as it was a composition notebook we brought to school and class daily. Anyone could get hold of it.

Making the personal public.

The biggest takeaway for me on diaries and journals is that you make your personal thoughts and experiences public. As a person who largely keeps things to themselves, due to bullying and criticism, and just downright awful experiences with disclosure, I take a hard pass. This week my daughter presented a composition notebook she wants to keep as a diary. I encouraged it and promised I would never look, unless she was under duress and there was reason to think something might be in it to help. These are her sacred private writings. I’ll never get to see them, unless she openly shares them.

For many, journaling and diary writing is a very cathartic exercise. In addition, it can help a young person improve their writing skills. Don’t take my experiences and fears as how everyone should feel. Write your diaries and journals, and leave that record for future generations to revel in like the TikTok grandson. These things are actually quite important to the historical record.

Click on the other author contributions this week found in the scroll box below. Don’t forget to subscribe before you go. The hop will arrive in your inbox each Friday without having to search for us. Happy writing. We will see you next time!

open book blog hop, camera and a notebook on a vintage map

Zak Solo

May 4, 2026 By Captain Maiel Leave a Comment

Several years ago, you got a look at the outfit Zo wore in homage to the Star Wars franchise, and her favorite character. What you didn’t get to see is what Zak likes to wear on May the Fourth.

These two love dressing up and Halloween isn’t the only time they will get up to this. You can bet, they’d go to every Comicon they could manage, if allowed. Exhausting prospect. How would I get a thing done?

Oh, yeah! Before I forget. I was totally wrong about who is the better Han Solo. Zak made an excellent Solo, much to my surprise. Look at how cute Zak Solo is!

Which role do you think Bear and Alex would be great at? I can see Alex opting for Greedo, and he would shoot first, totally throwing that argument into a tizzy again. What a pot-stirrer!

Than again, perhaps he’s a great Boba-Fett? I don’t know. I also am not certain about Bear. We could go with the obvious: Chewbacca. Or, we could explore other roles, such as Vader? What do you think? So many to choose from. Maybe he’s Lando?

MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU!