What’s up Orise? – And continued editing of my second book of the River Fork series.

September 7, 2026September 7, 2026 / jmorise / Leave a comment

HEY YOU GUYS out there! I Googled my book and found it advertised at Walmart!

As non-fiction?

It is fiction—every bit of it—says so on the Copyright page, “This is a work of fiction.”

That's me with my new notebook PC. My Muse is whispering in my ear.

However, it is a nice surprise on my part to see it promoted on Walmart’s website.

I often wondered how an author got featured in Walmart. Do you, or anyone you know have a book featured in Walmart’s book section?

I am editing my second book. Polishing it up as book two of The River Fork series.

Genre: YA, Historical, Fantasy, and Romance.

It has the same characters found in River Fork: The Bear in the Storm, but two years later, in 1959.

Yeah, the kids have grown up some, and things are becoming obvious to these New Hampshire characters…life is not the same wherever they go. Travel south and things change. A lot!

There is more to life than than they suspected—secrets, suspicion, hate, love, healing, faith, trust, and…magic?

And Roach? Oh, she is a handful. Ask Gram. She’ll tell you.

Read Roach’s story when it is published. Let me know if you like her better now than before.

I highly recommend you read book 1 first—River Fork: The Bear in the Storm. Then you will understand book 2.

Do you want to keep hearing from me?

Not daily or weekly. Only when I need to share.

If you want to hear from me, please subscribe AND write in the comments section, “What’s up Orise?”

When you are a Subscribed “What’s up Orise” patron, you will be one of the first to know what I’m up to.

If you offer helpful comments that I decide to employ in my writing, I’ll mention your name in the acknowledgements page of my next novel.

Now, how do I tell Walmart River Fork: The Bear in the Storm it is a work of “fiction?” Any ideas on your part?

Your Review Matters: Spread the Word About River Fork!

July 19, 2026July 29, 2026 / jmorise / Leave a comment

River Fork: The Bear in the Storm by J. M. Orise
<a href="https://jmorise.com/2026/05/31/river-fork-the-bear-in-the-storm/">
<img src="w3c.png" alt=""> W3C Home
</a> — Click book cover image to order. Thank you, J. M. Orise

But how do I write a review?

1. I never wrote a review. I won’t know what to write.

Examples can be found on the reviews section of an author’s page.

For example, go to https://tinyurl.com/joslinktowritereview.

Check other author reviews for more examples.

Reviews help sell books, and encourages authors to keep writing.

2. Where on Amazon do I post my review?

Write a review wherever you purchased the book on the Internet.
- For example, on Amazon, go to your account purchases.
Click the image of object your purchased.
A window appears for you to write a review. Be sure to include a number of stars to rate the book.

You may also write and email a review to jm@jmorise.com.

Be sure to sign your name and add your e-mail address.

Your review could be included in an updated version of the book, or on the author’s blog with only your signature name (your e-mail addresses will not be included on J. M. Orise’s blog posts, nor on any updated versions of a book).

Be sure to follow the author, J. M. Orise to see what she’s up to now!

River Fork: The Bear in the Storm

May 31, 2026May 31, 2026 / jmorise / Leave a comment

Series 1 of 2

Order Here!

River Fork Fron cover set up as a link to order your copy.

< Click the cover image and place your order!

Will Tim find the strength to navigate both the storm outside and the storm within?

Although small for his age, Tim will be 13 in three days, and Dad is gone? With Tiny Bear’s help, a magical bear Tim and his dad believe in, Tim knows he can find Dad. It rescued Dad before, it could do it again.

It’s his only hope to get Dad back. But where is Tiny Bear?

After reading, please leave a review, and follow me.

Oh! And leave a comment below.

Thanks.

Writing Update: I need more time.

October 6, 2024January 14, 2025 / jmorise / Leave a comment

And two funerals in one season are two funerals too many.

I think of mortality…my mortality.

As if I have time to do that.

I feel out of control. But we are never in control. Of time. Our time.

I had the time of my life. Why do they say that?

Are they having fun, or are they now without time?

We do the best we can: eat, sleep, move, think, talk, laugh, cry, smell the flowers, pat our pet, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, create, tune out disinformation, learn how to research information, read any book we choose, pray, sing, decided what we want to do with our body— save Democracy.

Will Time come to me and say, “Do you know what today is? What time it is?”

I’ll say, “It’s not my time.

I’m busy doing stuff.

I need more time.

Will you leave me alone so I can do all this stuff?”

Stuff never ends.

Hm-m. I may be on to something here.

Only Time will tell.

A Sequel Added to the Process

February 27, 2022February 27, 2022 / jmorise / Leave a comment

I was told, years ago, that it was a good thing to have a sequel…not a guarantee, but a help.

It took many, many years to write my first Manuscript. I just wrote, struggling to get it right. I managed to obtain several critiques from talented, published authors. Later I sought and got more than one beta reader’s input.

Learning HOW to write is very hard work. Although I had lots to learn, I found it to be lots of fun. I still enjoy learning how to write fiction.

While years passed before I finished the first story I believed in, a sequel was nagging at me. Therefore, once the first MS was completed, I pulled out the few pages I had started for the sequel. Fitting it in my crazy, busy life, I started writing it last summer. Presently, I am working on the climax of this second manuscript.

I hope to publish both manuscripts at some point. But that is the rub…HOW and where to publish. I hope to Indie publish with help from a team of professionals who will guide me.

My goal: To tell a story important to me and share my views with the MG reader and a sequel (which is two years later with the same characters) with the YA reader in story form. A story of life, love, loss and freedom—coming of age.

Anyone willing to provide suggestions on how find a good editor for proofreading a 50,000 word YA novel and suggest how to publish will be much appreciated.

Also, how do authors promote their presence and their work?

Social media boggles my mind. My platforms are FB, Twitter, and WordPress. I have blogged for several years, talking about me and often comment on my writing journey…I get a lot of “hits,” a fair amount of likes, but very few responses.

Speaking of Interuptions…

February 6, 2022May 30, 2022 / jmorise / Leave a comment

I’m managing Hubby’s care. He underwent surgery a few days ago. Due to Covid restrictions, I wasn’t allowed inside the hospital.
We have a slew of doctor appointments coming up and wouldn’t you know, thinking I had it “all together,” I planned a sneak appointment for me, in between errands, to get a professional hair trim, and still show up in time for Hubby’s release from the hospital.

So, I went to the grocery, hurried home to put food away, then had a quick lunch/snack. As I was getting ready to head out, something hard as rock presented itself in my mouth.

What?

In a split second I realized what had happened. I was right. And my plans abruptly changed.

A bridge composed of two connected crowns detached from my teeth. The crown covered two teeth. The first two after my canine and a third tooth was a cantileverd molar. The two teeth were in perfect conditionm but were sacrificed to support a bridge and ultimately a sculpted molar. A “floating” molar replaced a molar which had been incorrectly removed from my right upper jaw years ealier by another dentist. (After removal, he said it was a perfectly strong tooth. He had attempted to relieve me of a pain in my jaw and temple. The pain returned after the extraction. Over time, it went away….and I was missing a tooth. Not a happy experience.)

This complicated bridge was installed forty-seven years ago. 47! I was told it could last thirty years—if I was lucky. At that young age, thirty years seemed an eternity. So I agreed to have it done.

The set is polished, and still new looking. I am hopeful a dentist of great talent will re-install the set, even though the first tooth I had sacrificed to make this crown possible had now broken off at the gumline. The second tooth, which was reshaped to accept the crown as well, is still in position. So there will be some serious pain in drilling and poking, I’m sure. Perhaps the last canterlevered molar can be cut off the set, then a tooth implant can be installed in its place, thus giving me a sturdier bite. This idea for the last molar is based on now learning that a cantilevered crown is not a very good setup…it would have ultimately failed over time. Well the time is now and it is a very inconvenient interruption.

Is there ever a good time for interruptions?

However, there is some good news. Hubby is home and slowly getting better. We will be walking within a week or two in our favorite woods path. Our daily habit. That is not an interruption. That is a planned event. I’ll make an appointment to have my hair trimmed some day soon—I hope.

Like and leave a comment. Appreciate it.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Are you a Beta Reader? Want to swap?

November 16, 2020February 6, 2025 / jmorise / Leave a comment

Hello fellow writers, authors, publishers, readers,

I’ll swap with Beta Readers for my YA historical, paranormal manuscript. Approx 53,000 words. Want an honest critique. I’ll do the same for you.

Theme: loss, guilt, frustration, anger, love, acceptance, hope and coming of age.

The setting: 1957, New Hampshire, fictional farming town on the Saco River, cradled in the White Mountains.

Tim will be 13 in 4 days. His two friends are 15 and 14. Each has experienced loss.

Synopsis:

Tim’s refusal to accompany Dad cost him his dad.

His dad had spoken of the bear with magical powers. But Tim hadn’t asked enough questions. Where and how could he find this creature? He and and his friend, Charlie, go on a quest to the Saco River, searching for the bear. Tim hoped it would bring Dad back. But an unexpected storm unfolds.

The boys are trapped in a cave with little food. How can they find the bear if they are trapped? Tim has to convince his friend to believe in the bear, that it will rescue them like it had rescued his dad years before. But did Tim truly believe?

Tim’s roller-coaster emotions confuse him. Is he angry at Dad for leaving? He doesn’t think so. But then—

Please leave a comment, share and like if you truly like.

Helpful critiques are always welcome.

Thanks for reading.

So what about that Manuscript thing… ?

March 12, 2020 / jmorise / Leave a comment

Oh. River Fork?

I had planned a coming of age, YA story. With a bit of fantasy aka paranormal.

Why did I write it?

As a former teacher, I encouraged my high school students to write. Several of my students had dealt with a major loss. They wrote about it, but no one talked about it.

Neither did I—Mother died in a fire. My sister and I witnessed the event. I was five, sister was seven. We never forgot. We never talked about it. Nor did father. Assumptions and rumors spread.

During my teaching career, a story slowly evolved in my head. Picture book? Children’s book? Family story book? My brain cranked out scenarios. It was a morass of imagery. How would I best present my idea? I wasn’t a writer. I wrote poetry. Still do and tuck it away in a briefcase. But writing a book?

I’m an artist. So, I started with cute pictures and poem-like stories.

The story grew. I dropped the cute — loss is not cute.

I needed a plan, feeling, a theme, a plot, etc… . What did I get myself into?

My head said, put it into words. I began writing, finishing the Manuscript the year I retired because I had more time to myself.

Then I researched the writing craft, improved my writing skills and investigated publishing options. Needless to say, publishing surely changed from when I first put pen to paper.

The story:

Timeline: 1956-57
Theme: the loss of a parent.
Setting: River Fork. A farming and logging community. In the mountains near the Saco River.
Characters: Three neighboring friends: Tim, Charlie and Roach. Tim will be 13 in three days. The others are teens.
It is about coming of age, death, forgiveness, hope and faith. Oh, and there is a budding romance.
There is a bit of paranormal (no magical potions, witches, vampires, violence, etc…)

So, Has Anyone Reviewed It?

The Manuscript has been line critiqued and gone through lots and lots of revisions.

A year ago I found three beta readers.

Results:
I did not write to the YA audience. It is suitable for the Middle Grade audience. Disappointment for sure here.

Okay. I asked for an honest review.

I received three great reviews. Two people pointed out what didn’t work and what could be done to make the story more interesting. One Beta Reader recommended a few resources. With expert advice and suggestions, I learned a lot. I am grateful.

So. I’m doing lots of editing, developing my characters and setting a bit more. And DUMPING stuff that was kind of iffy even as I first wrote it.

If it’s IFFY for the writer – It most certainly will be IFFY for the reader. DUMP IT. Ahhh. Yes. You’ll feel better. I did.

Once this latest revision is complete, I’ll need a couple of Beta Reader(s) again. Then on to an editor and publishing—self-publishing.

tbwavestandbyjo-2017-72dpir

For those who work with me in this endeavor, your name will be mentioned in the credits and you will receive a free digital copy of my novel once it is published.

The sequel—Roach’s story—sits in my laptop. Waiting.

Please like, comment and share this post.

Thanks.

J.M. Orise

So what about that Manuscript thing… ?

July 2, 2018March 12, 2020 / jmorise / Leave a comment

Oh. River Fork?

I had planned it as a coming of age, YA story. With a bit of fantasy aka paranormal.

Why did I write it?

As a former teacher, I encouraged my high school students to write. I found several of my students had dealt with a major loss. They wrote about it, but no one talked about it.

Neither did I—Mother died in a fire. My sister and I witnessed the event. I was five, my sister, seven. Needless to say, we never forgot. We never talked about it. Nor did our father. Assumptions and rumors were spread.

During my teaching career, a story slowly evolved. Picture book? Children’s book? Family story book? My brain cranked out scenarios. At first it was a morass of imagery. How would I best present my idea? I wasn’t a writer. I wrote poetry. Still do and tuck it away in a briefcase. But writing a book?

I am an artist. So I began with cute pictures and poem-like stories.

The story grew. I dropped the cute — loss is not cute.

I needed a plan, feeling, a theme, a plot, etc… . What did I get myself into?

My head said, put it into words. I began writing, finishing the Manuscript the year I retired. Then I researched the writing craft, improved my writing skills and investigated publishing options. Needless to say, publishing has surely changed since I first put pen to paper.

The story:

Timeline: 1956-57
Theme: the loss of a parent.
Setting: River Fork, NH. A farming and logging community. In the mountains near the Saco River.
Characters: Three neighboring friends: Tim, Charlie and Roach. Tim will be 13 in three days. The others are teens.
It is about coming of age, death, forgiveness, hope and faith. Oh, and there is a budding romance.
There is a bit of paranormal (no magical potions, witches, vampires, violence, etc…)

So, Has Anyone Reviewed It?

The Manuscript has been line critiqued and gone through many revisions.

A year ago I found three beta readers.

Results:
I did not write to the YA audience. It is suitable for the Middle Grade audience. Disappointment for sure here.

Okay. I asked for an honest review.

I received three great reviews. Two people pointed out what didn’t work and what could be done to make the story more interesting. One Beta Reader recommended a few resources. With this expert advice and suggestions, I learned a lot. I am grateful.

So. I’m doing lots of editing, developing my characters and setting a bit more. And DUMPING stuff that was kind of iffy even as I first wrote it.

If it’s IFFY for the writer – It most certainly will be IFFY for the reader. DUMP IT. Ahhh. Yes. You’ll feel better. I did.

Once this latest revision is complete, I’ll need a couple of Beta Reader(s) again. Then on to an editor and publishing—self-publishing.

tbwavestandbyjo-2017-72dpir

For those who work with me in this endeavor, your name will be mentioned in the credits and you will receive a free digital copy of my novel once it is published.

The sequel—Roach’s story—sits in my laptop. Waiting.

Please like, comment and share this post.

Thanks.

J.M. Orise

I Remember Stuff Like That

February 17, 2018March 12, 2020 / jmorise / 1 Comment

Why Is Sunday Longer Than Monday?

Every Sunday. Always the same. No one ever moved. Like they ate glue and got stuck. It was so boring.

Why is Sunday longer than Monday?

At six years, Sunday proved the longest day of the week. Once home from church, the hours passed so-o-o very slowly.

Dad napped on the sun-room divan wearing his Sunday suit pants, white shirt rolled up to his elbows, and his tie draped over the maple lounge chair nearby. The Sears and Roebuck catalog lay on the floor, inches from his fingers. Mom was somewhere in the house doing Mom things.

Oh how many more hours before the end of the day?

The neighborhood kids vanished. They had been at church, dressed up fancy, boys with leather shoes, crooked neckties, buttons showing. Girls in dresses with pretty flowers and petticoats and shiny patent shoes. This fancy clothing was not for running around at the park up the street from our house where I spent nearly every day of the week. Were the kids pining to be out of doors too or did they have company?

Sitting alone on the front porch, watching cars drive by, what would I do?

One Sunday I decided to wash clothes.

wolverine waching tub and machine

I filled my tiny washing machine with water, begged Mom for a little Tide detergent then gathered my doll’s clothing. There I sat, rhythmically cranking the miniature plungers up and down, dislodging the make believe filth from my sedentary doll’s clothes.

The glass faceted wash tub sporting a mini-wringer, squeezed water from the wet laundry. With laundry suitably clean, I filled the washer with fresh water, rinsing the soap from the fabric. One more wringing and I was done. Afterward, I scattered the wet clothes on the porch floor near the sudsy and rinse water puddles.

Well, I made a mess of the porch. But the sun would take care of that for me. Besides, I had something else I wanted to do. I wasn’t sure what that was yet? It had to be something fun to make this gosh-darn-long-Sunday go away.

The dog. Where was the dog?

Sorry, kid. Sunday is sleep day. Go wash some doll clothes or something.

“Tiny!” I called, leaving my naked doll sun-bathing, patiently waiting for someone to pick her up, perhaps dress her in her nice, clean clothes. I suppose Mom did her Mom thing, cleaning up the front porch while I searched for Tiny. Don’t quite remember that part.

Never knew what happened to the little wringer washer. It disappeared somehow.

Leave me naked one more time and I’ll… !

wolverine washing machine toy

Anybody out there remember those long Sundays or perhaps that little Wolverine washing machine? I found a picture of it tonight. It is just as I remembered.

I hope my memories last longer than those gosh-darn-long-Sundays of long ago.

Sleep well my friends.

I think tomorrow is Monday. Yess!

Please leave a comment and share.

Thanks.