A to Z II - N is for Niche

Yet another day is upon us, my friends! Which means that we are another day deeper into my personal A to Z challenge. Today's letter is n, which is for niche.

In this case, we are talking about a niche - a special talent for something. Joe's niche for being a sniper.

Joe was destined for his job. His father was a sniper. He was in the Army. Joe inherited his father's patience and keen eye.

In the Marines, Joe proved his skills as a marksman.

In the Detroit PD, he honed and perfected those skills.

It may seem odd or even horrible to call sniping a niche, but it is. It's Joe's  niche. It's his talent. He has patience that very few people have. How many people do you know can lay motionless for days on end, watching people, and not sleep? It's a skill. How many people can shoot with pin-point accuracy? Indeed, sniping is Joe's niche.

Everyone has a niche in this world. Joe's is being a sniper. Claudette's is painting. Mine is writing. What's yours?

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 15 (O)

 For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

And on the fifteenth day, there was O. O is for Originality.

They say every story has been told. I think many people would speculate that to be true. If that's the case, what's the point in writing more stories?

Because no matter what, each writer puts their own spin on the stories.

This could certainly be chalked up to a cliche story of self-discovery. It could be considered just another "if these walls could talk" book. But is it really? Are Corinne, Agnes, and Margaret really just flat, two-dimensional characters? Can you compare Pianissimo to another story line for line?

You could give two writers or even two hundred writers all the same prompt. You would, undoubtedly, receive two hundred different stories.

So perhaps every story has been told, but not all in the same way. Grab a copy of Pianissimo, and see for yourself!

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

A to Z '14 - Printing

For this year's A to Z Challenge, I am honoring my grandfather who passed away on April 3, 2013.



P is for Printing.


My grandfather was a many of many trades. His life experiences were innumerable and nothing short of amazing.

One of his biggest trades was printing and lithography. Cigar labels was a passion of his. They are beautiful works of art. He left us all his legacy in this gorgeous images.




Today, I am letting the images speak for themselves.


P is for Printing.

A to Z '14 - Niche

For this year's A to Z Challenge, I am honoring my grandfather who passed away on April 3, 2013.


N is nor Niche.

What is a niche? Is a place or position. We often talk about finding our niche in the world. It means finding the outlet that best supports our talents and passions.



How did my grandfather teach me about niches?


He showed me that despite my struggles, there was a place for me. In the world of writing, there is a place specifically designated for me: for my voice and style. There are countless writers out there. That doesn't make one of us more legitimate than another. We all have our writing niches, which makes all of us legitimate.



I think it's important for all of us to remember that we all have a niche - a place in this world. Just because there may be 50 other people who can do what you do doesn't mean you don't have your own specific talents. You have gifts that are unique to you. Those gifts are your niche. Use them, appreciate them.


Don't be competitive. That's ego talking. Instead, be supportive and be uniquely yourself. That's finding your niche.


Niches aren't just for a select few. They are for all of us. You have one. Find it and revel in it!


N is for Niche.