Every Lie We Told: Part V – The End Behind the final graphic for Every Lie We Told: the wheat field, the reaching hand, and the question of what survives when the walls fall.

Every Lie We Told: Part V – The End

Behind the final graphic for Every Lie We Told: the wheat field, the reaching hand, and the question of what survives when the walls fall.

Every Lie We Told: Part IV – Battle Lines After years of silence, the dam has been breached. Mark and Jen retreat behind distance, each wondering if love can survive the fallout.

Every Lie We Told: Part IV – Battle Lines

After years of silence, the dam has been breached. Mark and Jen retreat behind distance, each wondering if love can survive the fallout.

Every Lie We Told Part III: The Downward Spiral In Every Lie We Told Part III: The Downward Spiral, gravity takes over as Mark and Jen fight to hold on.

Every Lie We Told Part III: The Downward Spiral

In Every Lie We Told Part III: The Downward Spiral, gravity takes over as Mark and Jen fight to hold on.

Every Lie We Told: Animals Every Lie We Told Part II - Animals Desire. Jealousy. Guilt. Part II steps into that wilderness where instinct blurs with intention. Where love, once gentle, begins to bare its teeth. This line by Paul Verlain and Arthur Rimbaud captures the ache of wanting what cannot coexist with peace. It's a space Mark has deliberately built for himself, one he strides into with confidence, pausing only when his intellect whispers a warning.

Every Lie We Told: Animals

Every Lie We Told Part II - Animals Desire. Jealousy. Guilt. Part II steps into that wilderness where instinct blurs with intention. Where love, once gentle, begins to bare its teeth. This line by Paul Verlain and Arthur Rimbaud captures the ache of wanting what cannot…

Every Lie We Told: Days Gone By A glimmer through cracked glass. Rumi reminds us that love endures almost anything. Every Lie We Told begins with that fragile light.

A cracked golden lamp, a flicker of light, and Rumi’s words on love’s endurance.

Every Lie We Told by M.J. Ortmeier begins with Part I – Days Gone By.

#EveryLieWeTold #MJOrtmeier #RumiQuote #UpmarketRomance #BookLaunch

A little behind-the-scenes for Every Lie We Told — from blank page to book launch. Grateful for everyone who’s followed our writing journey.
#EveryLieWeTold #MJOrtmeier #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthors #BlankPage #AuthorLife #UpmarketFiction #CreativeProcess #BookLaunch2025

A Blank Screen I opened Word and saw something I haven’t seen in a while. Tabula Rasa. A blank page. Do I still remember how to start one? It feels like we’ve been doing nothing for a whole decade but editing the story of Mark and Jen, and the slow unraveling of their marriage. Which is kind of true. We started Every Lie We Told in 2017.

A Blank Screen

I opened Word and saw something I haven’t seen in a while. Tabula Rasa. A blank page. Do I still remember how to start one? It feels like we’ve been doing nothing for a whole decade but editing the story of Mark and Jen, and the slow unraveling of their marriage. Which is kind of…

A Reformed Stripper WARNING: TITLE IS CLICKBAIT!!! Part of my job is to return unsold books to a distributor, and one of my favorite parts of this task–for more than one reason–used to be stripping the covers off the paperbacks that have the little “s” in a triangle near the barcode. That symbol means the book is “strippable.” Thence, the stripping. Often, co-workers from different departments stop by my desk to ask with great concern why I’m doing that.

A Reformed Stripper

WARNING: TITLE IS CLICKBAIT!!! Part of my job is to return unsold books to a distributor, and one of my favorite parts of this task–for more than one reason–used to be stripping the covers off the paperbacks that have the little “s” in a triangle near the barcode. That symbol…

Writing Tips From a Disorganized Mind I specifically remember lying on my stomach on the bed in my room as a teenager, staring at a blank piece of paper (yes, actual paper and a pencil). My favorite writing surface in this position was one of the big “Illustrated Stories from the Book of Mormon” books, specifically the one where the puma is about to leap out of a tree onto Lehi or Moroni–or whoever–strolling along in his belted tunic and sandals.

Writing Tips From a Disorganized Mind

I specifically remember lying on my stomach on the bed in my room as a teenager, staring at a blank piece of paper (yes, actual paper and a pencil). My favorite writing surface in this position was one of the big “Illustrated Stories from the Book of Mormon”…

Peace and Quiet in the Time of Pandemic On one side of the breakroom in the television station where I work is a wall of floor to ceiling windows that lend it plentiful sunlight. Even on cloudy days or after dark, it’s a peaceful place to hang out when I need a connection to the outside world. As a newscast director, I use a lot of expensive, high-tech equipment that doesn’t play nice in sunlight.

Peace and Quiet in the Time of Pandemic

On one side of the breakroom in the television station where I work is a wall of floor to ceiling windows that lend it plentiful sunlight. Even on cloudy days or after dark, it’s a peaceful place to hang out when I need a connection to the outside world. As…

Planning the Spontaneous “Writing Twitter’s” December Hot Topic of 2019 is pantsing versus plotting—writing by the seat of your pants as opposed to outlining the story before beginning to write. If you saw the first draft of this post, you’d know I’m a pantser, which, given what I’m telling about myself, is ironic. It doesn’t matter either way,… Continue reading Planning the Spontaneous

Planning the Spontaneous

“Writing Twitter’s” December Hot Topic of 2019 is pantsing versus plotting—writing by the seat of your pants as opposed to outlining the story before beginning to write. If you saw the first draft of this post, you’d know I’m a pantser, which, given what I’m telling about…

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Black Mirror Glaze

Black Mirror Glaze The evidence is gone, the error consumed. Only the following written account remains. We were watching British Baking Show when Michael said he liked mirror glaze cake. He didn’t ask me for one, or say that he would…

https://mjortmeier.com/black-mirror-glaze/

Polka Dots Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit quis, luctus non, massa. Fusce ac turpis quis ligula lacinia aliquet. Mauris ipsum nulla metus metus ullamcorper.

Polka Dots

Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit quis, luctus…

1 Dress 3 Looks Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit quis, luctus non, massa. Fusce ac turpis quis ligula lacinia aliquet. Mauris ipsum nulla metus metus ullamcorper.

1 Dress 3 Looks

Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit quis,…

Sneak The Style Out Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit quis, luctus non, massa. Fusce ac turpis quis ligula lacinia aliquet. Mauris ipsum nulla metus metus ullamcorper.

Sneak The Style Out

Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit…

Bohemian Style Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit quis, luctus non, massa. Fusce ac turpis quis ligula lacinia aliquet. Mauris ipsum nulla metus metus ullamcorper.

Bohemian Style

Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit quis,…

Beauty Over Money Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit quis, luctus non, massa. Fusce ac turpis quis ligula lacinia aliquet. Mauris ipsum nulla metus metus ullamcorper.

Beauty Over Money

Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit quis,…

Buy Less Choose Well Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit quis, luctus non, massa. Fusce ac turpis quis ligula lacinia aliquet. Mauris ipsum nulla metus metus ullamcorper.

Buy Less Choose Well

Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit…

Polka Dots

Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit quis, luctus…

Bohemian Style

Curabitur sodales ligula in libero. Sed dignissim lacinia nunc. Curabitur tortor. Pellentesque nibh. Aenean quam. In scelerisque sem at dolor. Maecenas mattis. Sed convallis tristique sem. Proin ut ligula vel nunc egestas porttitor. Morbi lectus risus, iaculis vel, suscipit quis,…

Conubia nostra per inceptos himenaeos Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta. Mauris massa. Vestibulum lacinia arcu eget nulla. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Curabitur sodales ligula in libero.

Conubia nostra per inceptos himenaeos

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta.…

Pellentesque nibh aenean quam in scelerisque Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta. Mauris massa. Vestibulum lacinia arcu eget nulla. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Curabitur sodales ligula in libero.

Pellentesque nibh aenean quam in scelerisque

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper…

Nulla metus metus ullamcorper vel tincidunt Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta. Mauris massa. Vestibulum lacinia arcu eget nulla. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Curabitur sodales ligula in libero.

Nulla metus metus ullamcorper vel tincidunt

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta.…

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta.…

Cras metus sed aliquet risus a tortor Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta. Mauris massa. Vestibulum lacinia arcu eget nulla. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Curabitur sodales ligula in libero.

Cras metus sed aliquet risus a tortor

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta.…

Quis ligula lacinia aliquet mauris ipsum

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta.…

We write love stories with a scalpel in one hand and a match in the other—surgical, intimate, and a little bit dangerous. If you like your fiction emotionally layered, a little messy, and full of hard-earned hope, we’ll get along just fine. #writingcommunity #booksky

Freshmen

Falling in love wasn't a choice. Staying in love is.

If you are looking to do your part in saving democracy, I highly recommend you buy and read ONE book:

Howard Zinn’s a People’s History of America.

It’s a MUST read. It’s not for the faint of heart, but we are at war for the soul of this nation & you have to be hardened to face the fight

READ IT!

Going forward, I'm calling all bodies of water Gulf of Mexico.

Long Island Sound? Gulf of Mexico.

Lake Placid? Gulf of Mexico.

Chattahoochee River? Gulf of Mexico.

My half-full tumbler of Perrier? Gulf of Mexico.