“The key to life is accepting challenges. Once someone stops doing this, he's dead.” – Bette Davis
From the moment I agreed to be a part of the challenge at the Blog Book Tours forum, I wondered what I was thinking. I struggled to post a blog or two a week, why had I just volunteered to write daily? I still don’t know what was going through my mind or why I accepted the challenge, but weighing everything, I’m glad I did. From the start date of January 5th until today, the last day of the challenge, I did not miss one day of blogging. I have mixed emotions about the experience.
On the down side, I did spend a few anxious hours here and there worried about coming up with an idea, especially when I had houseguests and friends in town. I worked less than I should on my second novel. I’d spent so much more time on my computer, I believe my husband was planning an intervention and checking into the possibility of surgically removing my hands from the keyboard. With the challenge ending, my marriage might now be saved.
On the plus side, I feel proud that I stuck it out after I said I would do it. I learned so much along the way that I now feel more comfortable with blogging. It’s exciting to see my Technorati rating go from the lowest which is a 1 into the high teens in such a short time. I was introduced to many excellent and interesting blogs. I ‘met’ talented authors in a variety of genres, illustrators, editors, publishers and more. My list of books I want to read has grown immensely.
However, the very best outcome is that I feel like I made new friends. I hope that we all stay in touch by continuing blog visits on a regular basis. I want to thank every member of the challenge, plus Dani, Helen and Marvin, and all the other friends I made along the way. I appreciate your support, encouragement, and comments. I would have never made the finish line without your help.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Bette Davis, blog challenge, technorati,
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Lemonade Stand Forced to Close
“I think all bloggers should make a pact to let memes die a peaceful death.” – Jane Kennedy Sutton
I have the honor of receiving the "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" award from both Joan De La Haye and Chester Campbell. At first I groaned. Then I read the ‘rules’ and learned that all I needed to do was pass it along to ten other blogs. That’s easy enough I thought, sighing in relief. I wouldn’t have to dig any family skeletons out of the closet or reveal more embarrassing facts about myself.
I didn’t want to be the one to cause a meme to die, but I can’t think of a single blog to honor with the award. It’s not because there are no worthy sites out there—I found plenty. Spending more time than I care to acknowledge, my search for a site that had not been named or that had not previously posted this cute little picture, came up empty. Being an introvert, I am not comfortable going to a complete stranger’s blog, tapping them in the comment section, and yelling, “Tag, you’re it!” as I dash away. So I’d like to offer my apologies for being the one responsible for running this nice little stand out of business.
If there is any blogger out there who hasn’t yet received this honor but would like to, please let me know. I will be happy to edit this blog to include you. Otherwise, will someone please let me know if I am expected to return the award to some cyberspace closet to collect dust and await a host that can follow the simple directions?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: lemonade award, Chester Campbell, Joan De La Haye, cyberspace, tag, meme,
I have the honor of receiving the "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" award from both Joan De La Haye and Chester Campbell. At first I groaned. Then I read the ‘rules’ and learned that all I needed to do was pass it along to ten other blogs. That’s easy enough I thought, sighing in relief. I wouldn’t have to dig any family skeletons out of the closet or reveal more embarrassing facts about myself.
I didn’t want to be the one to cause a meme to die, but I can’t think of a single blog to honor with the award. It’s not because there are no worthy sites out there—I found plenty. Spending more time than I care to acknowledge, my search for a site that had not been named or that had not previously posted this cute little picture, came up empty. Being an introvert, I am not comfortable going to a complete stranger’s blog, tapping them in the comment section, and yelling, “Tag, you’re it!” as I dash away. So I’d like to offer my apologies for being the one responsible for running this nice little stand out of business.If there is any blogger out there who hasn’t yet received this honor but would like to, please let me know. I will be happy to edit this blog to include you. Otherwise, will someone please let me know if I am expected to return the award to some cyberspace closet to collect dust and await a host that can follow the simple directions?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: lemonade award, Chester Campbell, Joan De La Haye, cyberspace, tag, meme,
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Prolific Writers
“Some men have only one book in them; others, a library.” –Sydney Smith
When I read on blogbooktours that Nora Roberts has written 150 books, I was stunned. How can one author be so prolific? According to her web site, her first book was published in 1981. That means she’s written an average of five-point-something (math is not my strong point) books a year for 28 years with no time off for good behavior. Whew!
I wondered what other authors are prolific writers and Google came through for me again. Trivia-Library.com has a list of the 20 Most Prolific Authors and Writers in Literary History. It looks as if Nora has some catching up to do. She did not even finish in the top 20. According to the list, Mary Faulkner leads the pack at a whopping 904 books. Lauran Paine is second with 850. Prentiss Ingraham, Jozef Ignancy Kraszewski and Enid Mary Blyton tie for third place with 600 books each. L. T. Meade is at the bottom of the list with a mere 258 to her credit.
What makes their feat even more amazing is that these writers predated computers and possibly even the typewriter. Think of the number of hours they had to devote to their craft. I can only imagine the agonizing writer’s cramps these poor souls had to endure.
I ran across an article on Writing Information that mentioned Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) wrote from midnight to dawn almost every day of his life, thus turning out a million words per year. (I’m assuming this refers to his adult life and he didn’t emerge from the womb with a pen in hand.)
Sleep is something I find important to my well-being and temperament so his approach to an amazing word count won’t work for me. I’ll accept the fact I will never be a prolific writer. I’ll happily settle for writing books that number somewhere between one and a library.
Do you consider yourself a prolific writer? How much time to you spend each day writing?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Sydney Smith, Nora Roberts, Lauran Paine , Ingraham , Kraszewski , Blyton , de Balzac , Meade ,
When I read on blogbooktours that Nora Roberts has written 150 books, I was stunned. How can one author be so prolific? According to her web site, her first book was published in 1981. That means she’s written an average of five-point-something (math is not my strong point) books a year for 28 years with no time off for good behavior. Whew!
I wondered what other authors are prolific writers and Google came through for me again. Trivia-Library.com has a list of the 20 Most Prolific Authors and Writers in Literary History. It looks as if Nora has some catching up to do. She did not even finish in the top 20. According to the list, Mary Faulkner leads the pack at a whopping 904 books. Lauran Paine is second with 850. Prentiss Ingraham, Jozef Ignancy Kraszewski and Enid Mary Blyton tie for third place with 600 books each. L. T. Meade is at the bottom of the list with a mere 258 to her credit.
What makes their feat even more amazing is that these writers predated computers and possibly even the typewriter. Think of the number of hours they had to devote to their craft. I can only imagine the agonizing writer’s cramps these poor souls had to endure.
I ran across an article on Writing Information that mentioned Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) wrote from midnight to dawn almost every day of his life, thus turning out a million words per year. (I’m assuming this refers to his adult life and he didn’t emerge from the womb with a pen in hand.)
Sleep is something I find important to my well-being and temperament so his approach to an amazing word count won’t work for me. I’ll accept the fact I will never be a prolific writer. I’ll happily settle for writing books that number somewhere between one and a library.
Do you consider yourself a prolific writer? How much time to you spend each day writing?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Sydney Smith, Nora Roberts, Lauran Paine , Ingraham , Kraszewski , Blyton , de Balzac , Meade ,
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Hackers and Virus Writers
“In the old days, people robbed stagecoaches and knocked off armored trucks. Now they're knocking off servers.” -Richard Power
Several months ago, a hacker removed my husband’s yahoo email address book. I don’t mean they simply copied the info—after sending spam to every name listed, the data was wiped out as though the book never existed. It wasn’t the end of the world and he had the means for retrieving the lost information but it’s the senselessness of the act that bothers me. As a writer, my computer is my lifeline and to think someone can just sneak in and snatch something away is more than disturbing to me.
What makes a person take this sort of action against someone they do not know? What do they get out of it? Does it make them feel smarter than the rest of us? Are they actually proud of their achievements? Does it give them a thrill? I haven’t found all the answers yet but I did come across a couple of good articles on the subject.
I also learned that that virus writers and hackers are two completely separate groups. Virus writers, according to the article 7 Things to Know About Virus Writers, are predominately under the age of 30 and male. Their purposes vary from exploring code, to gaining notoriety or making some sort of political/social/personal statement. Their targets are generally random. The article goes on to say that it’s not that difficult to write a virus. Now that little tidbit is scary to me.
The article Hackers and Hacking by Doug Smith describes hackers as “…ordinary people with a great deal of curiosity, above-average skills with a computer, a good understanding of human nature, and plenty of time to kill.” According to the article there are arguments in favor of hacking (which was an eye-opener for me) as well as against. He gives some good advice on protecting yourself as well as a list of resources to stay current on new threats and to learn about tools that can protect your data.
Personally I think the argument in favor of hacking was pretty weak. To me there is no excuse for doing something that causes so many people so much distress. Hacking into anything that is not yours is no different than breaking into someone’s house or car. Planting a virus that causes a computer to crash or programs to be destroyed is like a form of arson without a match. I think offenders should be punished just like any other criminal.
What are your views? Do you have a hacking or virus story to share?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Richard Power, Hackers, Virus, Yahoo, address book, spam,
Several months ago, a hacker removed my husband’s yahoo email address book. I don’t mean they simply copied the info—after sending spam to every name listed, the data was wiped out as though the book never existed. It wasn’t the end of the world and he had the means for retrieving the lost information but it’s the senselessness of the act that bothers me. As a writer, my computer is my lifeline and to think someone can just sneak in and snatch something away is more than disturbing to me.
What makes a person take this sort of action against someone they do not know? What do they get out of it? Does it make them feel smarter than the rest of us? Are they actually proud of their achievements? Does it give them a thrill? I haven’t found all the answers yet but I did come across a couple of good articles on the subject.
I also learned that that virus writers and hackers are two completely separate groups. Virus writers, according to the article 7 Things to Know About Virus Writers, are predominately under the age of 30 and male. Their purposes vary from exploring code, to gaining notoriety or making some sort of political/social/personal statement. Their targets are generally random. The article goes on to say that it’s not that difficult to write a virus. Now that little tidbit is scary to me.
The article Hackers and Hacking by Doug Smith describes hackers as “…ordinary people with a great deal of curiosity, above-average skills with a computer, a good understanding of human nature, and plenty of time to kill.” According to the article there are arguments in favor of hacking (which was an eye-opener for me) as well as against. He gives some good advice on protecting yourself as well as a list of resources to stay current on new threats and to learn about tools that can protect your data.
Personally I think the argument in favor of hacking was pretty weak. To me there is no excuse for doing something that causes so many people so much distress. Hacking into anything that is not yours is no different than breaking into someone’s house or car. Planting a virus that causes a computer to crash or programs to be destroyed is like a form of arson without a match. I think offenders should be punished just like any other criminal.
What are your views? Do you have a hacking or virus story to share?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Richard Power, Hackers, Virus, Yahoo, address book, spam,
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Overused Words and Redundancies
“Words, like glass, obscure when they do not aid vision.” – Joseph Joubert
I find when I go back to edit anything I’ve written I come across the word ‘just’ far too often. I know this word should be used sparingly yet it seems to crop and spread through my prose like a fast growing weed. Sometimes I catch myself typing the word so I’m able to delete it on the spot. Then when I reread my work, I notice I included the word in the very next sentence.
‘Just’ is not my only overused word but it is my most annoying one. I also tend towards redundancies like shrugged his shoulders, stood up, sat down and fell down.
I’ve tried sticking notes on my computer screen and tacking a list of words to avoid on a wall near my computer. Even with the reminders right in front of me, the offending words and phrases find their way into my writing.
I found a great list of overused words and ideas to replace them over on My Writing Life but was surprised because ‘just’ is not included on the list. Am I just the only person who just insists on using that word? See what I mean?
Taking overused words to another level is the tradition at Lake Superior State University in Michigan. Each year they compile a list of words that should never be used again based on their overuse in the previous twelve-month period. On their 2009 list are words like maverick, carbon footprint, green, and staycation. I was surprised to find an emoticon had made the list. It supposedly looks like a heart and is used for the word love. The complete list can be found here.
Have you discovered a way to break yourself from overusing certain words? Are there words you think should be added to Lake Superior State University’s list?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: overused words, redundancies, Lake Superior State University, emoticon, Joubert,
I find when I go back to edit anything I’ve written I come across the word ‘just’ far too often. I know this word should be used sparingly yet it seems to crop and spread through my prose like a fast growing weed. Sometimes I catch myself typing the word so I’m able to delete it on the spot. Then when I reread my work, I notice I included the word in the very next sentence.
‘Just’ is not my only overused word but it is my most annoying one. I also tend towards redundancies like shrugged his shoulders, stood up, sat down and fell down.
I’ve tried sticking notes on my computer screen and tacking a list of words to avoid on a wall near my computer. Even with the reminders right in front of me, the offending words and phrases find their way into my writing.
I found a great list of overused words and ideas to replace them over on My Writing Life but was surprised because ‘just’ is not included on the list. Am I just the only person who just insists on using that word? See what I mean?
Taking overused words to another level is the tradition at Lake Superior State University in Michigan. Each year they compile a list of words that should never be used again based on their overuse in the previous twelve-month period. On their 2009 list are words like maverick, carbon footprint, green, and staycation. I was surprised to find an emoticon had made the list. It supposedly looks like a heart and is used for the word love. The complete list can be found here.
Have you discovered a way to break yourself from overusing certain words? Are there words you think should be added to Lake Superior State University’s list?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: overused words, redundancies, Lake Superior State University, emoticon, Joubert,
Monday, January 26, 2009
Kids Banned from Public Libraries
“A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life.” – Henry Ward Beecher
Congress has not yet done anything to correct the flaws in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. If they do not act soon, children under 13 may no longer be allowed in libraries. How can a society that proudly promotes literacy allow this to happen?
For more information read the article by The American Library Association (ALA) and the letter they sent Congress.
I realize this is not the most major problem facing our country at this time but that is no reason to allow an Act that may do more harm than good to become a law on February 10, 2009.
Here are some of the Representatives you may want to contact regarding the act:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi Washington, DC Office (202) 225-4965
Senator Chuck Schumer Washington, DC Office (202) 224-6542
Representative Henry Waxman Washington, DC Office (202) 225-3976
Senator Daniel Inouye Washington, DC Office (202) 224-3934
Senator Jay Rockefeller Washington, DC Office (202) 224-6472
I’m hoping I’ll not have to wait until my grandson is 13 to introduce him to the wonders of our local public library.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Beecher, Consumer Product Saftey Act, ALA, Congress, Pelosi, Schumer, Waxman, Inouye, Rockefeller,
Congress has not yet done anything to correct the flaws in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. If they do not act soon, children under 13 may no longer be allowed in libraries. How can a society that proudly promotes literacy allow this to happen?
For more information read the article by The American Library Association (ALA) and the letter they sent Congress.
I realize this is not the most major problem facing our country at this time but that is no reason to allow an Act that may do more harm than good to become a law on February 10, 2009.
Here are some of the Representatives you may want to contact regarding the act:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi Washington, DC Office (202) 225-4965
Senator Chuck Schumer Washington, DC Office (202) 224-6542
Representative Henry Waxman Washington, DC Office (202) 225-3976
Senator Daniel Inouye Washington, DC Office (202) 224-3934
Senator Jay Rockefeller Washington, DC Office (202) 224-6472
I’m hoping I’ll not have to wait until my grandson is 13 to introduce him to the wonders of our local public library.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Beecher, Consumer Product Saftey Act, ALA, Congress, Pelosi, Schumer, Waxman, Inouye, Rockefeller,
Sunday, January 25, 2009
I've Been Tagged
“Okay, now I’ve participated in a meme and it reminds me of a chain letter, so I think I’m probably done with them.” – Jane Kennedy Sutton
I had to look up the word ‘meme’ before I wrote my March 20, 2008, blog which is the origin of the above quote. How naïve I was.
I have just been tagged by Holly Jahangiri, Of Do I have To Spell it Out . I think this now makes for my fourth meme, but who's counting.
Holly mentioned that someone needed to come up with a new meme. I think all bloggers should make a pact to let memes die a peaceful death. However, I will continue to do my part until their demise.
This meme requires that I tell you seven random or weird facts about myself and then pass along the award to seven other blogs. I’m not sure if the following facts are random, weird or simply embarrassing, Anyway, here goes:
I once had to sign my own death warrant (required for our move to Saudi Arabia just in case I decided to break any of their laws)
Years ago I took a belly-dance class - the instructor was a popular stripper
I have an irrational fear of spiders, snakes and other creepy crawly things
When visiting Morocco, I was once asked how many camels I’d like in exchange for my daughter (I decided to keep her)
Last year I walked a total of 780 miles with my husband (he’s in charge of keeping track of our mileage)
I am directionally challenged and still look for my ring hand to distinguish left from right
My favorite family vacation of all time was our Kenyan safari
Whew! That was tough. Here’s my list of seven blogs:
By Cheryl Rushing
Tina Murray, Ph.D.
Today The Dragon Wins
Emma Larkins Emerging Author
Double M’s take on books, blogs, dogs, networking and life
Grandma Is A Writer
Shadows
In case anyone is thinking about it—No Tags Back! And, though it is an honor to be remembered, it will not hurt my feelings to be skipped by future memes.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: memes, You’ve Been Tagged, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, belly dance,
I had to look up the word ‘meme’ before I wrote my March 20, 2008, blog which is the origin of the above quote. How naïve I was.
I have just been tagged by Holly Jahangiri, Of Do I have To Spell it Out . I think this now makes for my fourth meme, but who's counting.Holly mentioned that someone needed to come up with a new meme. I think all bloggers should make a pact to let memes die a peaceful death. However, I will continue to do my part until their demise.
This meme requires that I tell you seven random or weird facts about myself and then pass along the award to seven other blogs. I’m not sure if the following facts are random, weird or simply embarrassing, Anyway, here goes:
I once had to sign my own death warrant (required for our move to Saudi Arabia just in case I decided to break any of their laws)
Years ago I took a belly-dance class - the instructor was a popular stripper
I have an irrational fear of spiders, snakes and other creepy crawly things
When visiting Morocco, I was once asked how many camels I’d like in exchange for my daughter (I decided to keep her)
Last year I walked a total of 780 miles with my husband (he’s in charge of keeping track of our mileage)
I am directionally challenged and still look for my ring hand to distinguish left from right
My favorite family vacation of all time was our Kenyan safari
Whew! That was tough. Here’s my list of seven blogs:
By Cheryl Rushing
Tina Murray, Ph.D.
Today The Dragon Wins
Emma Larkins Emerging Author
Double M’s take on books, blogs, dogs, networking and life
Grandma Is A Writer
Shadows
In case anyone is thinking about it—No Tags Back! And, though it is an honor to be remembered, it will not hurt my feelings to be skipped by future memes.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: memes, You’ve Been Tagged, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, belly dance,
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Productivity and the Weather
“Logic is in the eye of the logician.” –Gloria Steinem
When discussing places to live once we retired, my husband came up with a plan. His idea was to drive south from the Chicago area until we arrived at a location where the residents did not recognize a snow shovel. I can write anywhere, so I was willing. We ended up in southwest Florida six glorious warm years ago.
Therefore, it’s not surprising that I was shocked when I walked out to my car Thursday morning and discovered frost on the windows. This is Fort Myers. This is not supposed to happen, folks. We simply don’t do the frost thing here.
My first impulse was to go back in the house, crawl into bed and pretend it was all a bad dream. But I was on my way to Yoga class. To me the struggle to contort my body into impossible positions is worth the effort because of the corpse pose at the end of class. I feel grounded, at peace, and ready to write when I leave. I decided not to let a little ice deprive me of this pleasure.
Not only do we not own a snow shovel any longer, we also do not have an ice scraper. I didn’t want to mess up my karma by possibly crashing into someone so I knew I had to clear the front and rear windows. I dug around in my purse. The only tool I could come up with was a package of Tic-Tacs. Don’t laugh—it worked. Keep it in mind the next time you find yourself in this sort of predicament.
I made it to class and I made it home, but nothing felt right for the rest of the day. I find it hard to believe that my work habits can be so easily affected by the weather or temperature. Logically it would seem that I’d be more productive on days when it’s nicer to be indoors than out, but in this matter I defy my own logic.
Does the weather affect your productivity?
Tags: Gloria Steinem, Chicago, Fort Myers, Tic-Tacs, Yoga,
When discussing places to live once we retired, my husband came up with a plan. His idea was to drive south from the Chicago area until we arrived at a location where the residents did not recognize a snow shovel. I can write anywhere, so I was willing. We ended up in southwest Florida six glorious warm years ago.
Therefore, it’s not surprising that I was shocked when I walked out to my car Thursday morning and discovered frost on the windows. This is Fort Myers. This is not supposed to happen, folks. We simply don’t do the frost thing here.
My first impulse was to go back in the house, crawl into bed and pretend it was all a bad dream. But I was on my way to Yoga class. To me the struggle to contort my body into impossible positions is worth the effort because of the corpse pose at the end of class. I feel grounded, at peace, and ready to write when I leave. I decided not to let a little ice deprive me of this pleasure.
Not only do we not own a snow shovel any longer, we also do not have an ice scraper. I didn’t want to mess up my karma by possibly crashing into someone so I knew I had to clear the front and rear windows. I dug around in my purse. The only tool I could come up with was a package of Tic-Tacs. Don’t laugh—it worked. Keep it in mind the next time you find yourself in this sort of predicament.
I made it to class and I made it home, but nothing felt right for the rest of the day. I find it hard to believe that my work habits can be so easily affected by the weather or temperature. Logically it would seem that I’d be more productive on days when it’s nicer to be indoors than out, but in this matter I defy my own logic.
Does the weather affect your productivity?
Tags: Gloria Steinem, Chicago, Fort Myers, Tic-Tacs, Yoga,
Friday, January 23, 2009
What’s Great About Being a Writer?
“You always find things you didn’t know you were going to say, and that is the adventure of writing.” – John Updike
It wasn’t difficult to come up with ten items yesterday for my list of the hardest things about being a writer. However, it was even easier to list reasons why it’s great to be a writer. Here are ten (in no particular order) of the many reasons why I love being a writer.
Becoming so absorbed in what I’m writing that I lose myself entirely
The joy of rushing to write when the solution to a scene I’m stuck on hits me like a bolt of lightning or the idea for a new book or short story
Watching my characters develop and being surprised by where they lead me
The thrill of seeing The Ride displayed in the front window of a Barnes and Noble Bookstore
The excitement of my first television interview on WINK TV with Sarah Augusthy
Reading unsolicited good reviews of my work
The opportunities to meet other authors and to learn from them
Someone telling me how much they enjoyed reading my book
The euphoria I felt when I received a publishing contract
A sense of pride and accomplishment at seeing a project through to the end
What do you consider great about being a writer?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, John Updike, Barnes and Noble, WINK TV, Sarah Augusthy,
It wasn’t difficult to come up with ten items yesterday for my list of the hardest things about being a writer. However, it was even easier to list reasons why it’s great to be a writer. Here are ten (in no particular order) of the many reasons why I love being a writer.
Becoming so absorbed in what I’m writing that I lose myself entirely
The joy of rushing to write when the solution to a scene I’m stuck on hits me like a bolt of lightning or the idea for a new book or short story
Watching my characters develop and being surprised by where they lead me
The thrill of seeing The Ride displayed in the front window of a Barnes and Noble Bookstore
The excitement of my first television interview on WINK TV with Sarah Augusthy
Reading unsolicited good reviews of my work
The opportunities to meet other authors and to learn from them
Someone telling me how much they enjoyed reading my book
The euphoria I felt when I received a publishing contract
A sense of pride and accomplishment at seeing a project through to the end
What do you consider great about being a writer?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, John Updike, Barnes and Noble, WINK TV, Sarah Augusthy,
Thursday, January 22, 2009
What’s So Hard About Being a Writer?
“There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.” -Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith
Nathan Bransford received over two hundred comments when he asked what was the hardest part of being a writer on his January 14th blog. Obviously, a lot of authors have opinions on this topic. Finding a publisher for The Ride was my most difficult task. But, with that behind me, I couldn’t narrow the hardest part down to one item. So here’s a list (in no particular order) of ten things I find hard about being a writer:
Marketing myself and my book
Finding the time to work on my next project when there is so much to be done promoting my current release
Not playing solitaire when confronted with a blank computer screen and no thoughts
Book signings with low turnouts
Talking about myself during interviews
Juggling my writing life around my ‘real’ life
Finding someone to review my book and then worrying about what they might say
Developing thick enough skin to bounce off negative comments
Being put on the spot to write something clever at a moment’s notice
Learning the technology and finding the time needed make the most out of promotion opportunities on the internet
What do you think is the most difficult aspect of being a writer?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, Nathan Bransford, book signing, solitaire, marketing, Red Smith ,
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Some Puns Intended
“A good pun is its own reword.” -Author Unknown
Yesterday was a special day— along with the inauguration of our new President it was also my 38th wedding anniversary. Therefore, I did not spend much time at my computer. I also wanted to continue in my feel good mode so I decided to blog about something that makes me smile—puns. I know puns are sometimes frowned upon, but not by me. I enjoy and appreciate the clever use of language whether I find it in a poem, novel, essay or pun. Here are a few favorites.
The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.
The butcher backed into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his orders.
No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.
Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
In democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.
When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects!
My special thanks to Jerry for sharing these. If anyone has more to add, I’d love to hear them.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Puns, inauguration, wedding anniversary,
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Shopping Seasons in Bookstores
“Success is when reality exceeds expectations.” –John D. Gerhart
At the signing I did before Christmas in Sarasota, I thought most of the bookstore customers appeared to be stressed, unhappy or rushed. As though on a mission, they refused to let anything distract them from their goal. According to my personal unscientific survey, the average time they spent in the store was under fifteen minutes. Many shoppers came in only to purchase gift cards. I felt like an annoying roadblock on a busy freeway as I stood near my book signing table.
This Saturday, however, there were smiling faces and people willing to stop and visit even if they had no intention of buying my book. Some of the customers that were in the store when I arrived were still there when I left two hours later. It was refreshing to see so many browsers and buyers spending quality bookstore time.
I can only assume that the time of year had everything to do with the difference in customers’ personality changes and buying habits. I thought a pre-Christmas signing was ideal. Now my thinking is that unless the book has something to do with the holidays or is by a well-known author, after holiday signings are more pleasant and more productive.
Do your shopping habits change with the seasons? Have you found a particular time of year to be better for conducting book signings?
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Linda Chierico for arranging the signing event. Also, thanks to David and the other Clearwater, Fl., Barnes and Noble employees who worked Saturday, for making me feel so welcome. I’m not sure who is responsible for the window displays but I’d like thank them as well. What a great feeling to walk by Barnes and Noble and see my event poster surrounded by copies of The Ride displayed in the front window!
I sold a few books, had a good time, and the day exceeded my expectations so I consider the event a success.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, Barnes and Noble, book signing, Clearwater, Christmas, John Gerhart,
At the signing I did before Christmas in Sarasota, I thought most of the bookstore customers appeared to be stressed, unhappy or rushed. As though on a mission, they refused to let anything distract them from their goal. According to my personal unscientific survey, the average time they spent in the store was under fifteen minutes. Many shoppers came in only to purchase gift cards. I felt like an annoying roadblock on a busy freeway as I stood near my book signing table.
This Saturday, however, there were smiling faces and people willing to stop and visit even if they had no intention of buying my book. Some of the customers that were in the store when I arrived were still there when I left two hours later. It was refreshing to see so many browsers and buyers spending quality bookstore time.
I can only assume that the time of year had everything to do with the difference in customers’ personality changes and buying habits. I thought a pre-Christmas signing was ideal. Now my thinking is that unless the book has something to do with the holidays or is by a well-known author, after holiday signings are more pleasant and more productive.
Do your shopping habits change with the seasons? Have you found a particular time of year to be better for conducting book signings?
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Linda Chierico for arranging the signing event. Also, thanks to David and the other Clearwater, Fl., Barnes and Noble employees who worked Saturday, for making me feel so welcome. I’m not sure who is responsible for the window displays but I’d like thank them as well. What a great feeling to walk by Barnes and Noble and see my event poster surrounded by copies of The Ride displayed in the front window!
I sold a few books, had a good time, and the day exceeded my expectations so I consider the event a success.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, Barnes and Noble, book signing, Clearwater, Christmas, John Gerhart,
Monday, January 19, 2009
Noontime Book Chat
“The idea that no one is perfect is a view most commonly held by people with no grandchildren.” -Doug Larson
I have a short announcement today because my nearly twenty-seven-month-old grandson is demanding my attention and I love being in demand.
Beginning today, January 19, The Ride, is going to be the subject of the Noontime Book Chat. This is a weeklong chat with J. Kaye’s Book Blog hosting on Monday and Wednesday and The Printed Page hosting on Tuesday and Thursday. Both sites will have a wrap up post on Friday.
I am certainly proud The Ride was selected for this honor and I am looking forward to finding out what these book reviewer hosts have to say. And yes…I’ll admit…it makes me a bit apprehensive as well.
I hope you have the opportunity to visit both blogs and I look forward to your comments about the chats.
Now I am off to play with my perfect grandson!
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, Doug Larson, J. Kaye’s Book Blog, The Printed Page,
I have a short announcement today because my nearly twenty-seven-month-old grandson is demanding my attention and I love being in demand.
Beginning today, January 19, The Ride, is going to be the subject of the Noontime Book Chat. This is a weeklong chat with J. Kaye’s Book Blog hosting on Monday and Wednesday and The Printed Page hosting on Tuesday and Thursday. Both sites will have a wrap up post on Friday.
I am certainly proud The Ride was selected for this honor and I am looking forward to finding out what these book reviewer hosts have to say. And yes…I’ll admit…it makes me a bit apprehensive as well.
I hope you have the opportunity to visit both blogs and I look forward to your comments about the chats.
Now I am off to play with my perfect grandson!
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, Doug Larson, J. Kaye’s Book Blog, The Printed Page,
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Trickle Down Reading Habits
“My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there.” –Charles F. Kettering
Several months ago I read an article in nytimes. com about author P. J. Haarsma creating a video game based on Orbis, the planetary system where his preteen novels take place. Players need to read his novels in order to answer the questions in the game. Scholastic has come out with the first of a ten-book mystery series, The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan that is tied to a Web-based game. And, Random House Children’s Books commissioned online games for Brisingr by Christopher Paolini.
Associating a book with a video game is a brilliant marketing idea for targeting a youthful audience. And I am all for anything that encourages kids to read. However, the trickle down effect worries me somewhat. For instance, when these kids become adult readers, will they continue to expect video games and books to go hand in hand?
As they wander up and down the aisles of bookstores (assuming bookstores will not be a thing of the past) will they pick up a book and then put it down immediately when they discover there’s no game with it? If so…
Will their negative responses to purchasing plain old books force publishers to decline manuscripts that tell a great story if they can’t immediately imagine how it might be turned into a game? If so…
As part of the submission process, will authors have to capture the agent/publisher’s attention not with the first few lines of a gripping new novel but with the first few plays in a wonderful new game? If so…
Should I start playing video games now so I will have a better grasp on the books I may need to write in the future? If so…
How will I manage to find time to write in the present?
Like with the economy, I can’t see this trickle down stuff working, but then…only the future will tell.
What are your views on the next generation of readers?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Orbis, Kettering, Haarsma, Riordan, Paolini,
Several months ago I read an article in nytimes. com about author P. J. Haarsma creating a video game based on Orbis, the planetary system where his preteen novels take place. Players need to read his novels in order to answer the questions in the game. Scholastic has come out with the first of a ten-book mystery series, The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan that is tied to a Web-based game. And, Random House Children’s Books commissioned online games for Brisingr by Christopher Paolini.
Associating a book with a video game is a brilliant marketing idea for targeting a youthful audience. And I am all for anything that encourages kids to read. However, the trickle down effect worries me somewhat. For instance, when these kids become adult readers, will they continue to expect video games and books to go hand in hand?
As they wander up and down the aisles of bookstores (assuming bookstores will not be a thing of the past) will they pick up a book and then put it down immediately when they discover there’s no game with it? If so…
Will their negative responses to purchasing plain old books force publishers to decline manuscripts that tell a great story if they can’t immediately imagine how it might be turned into a game? If so…
As part of the submission process, will authors have to capture the agent/publisher’s attention not with the first few lines of a gripping new novel but with the first few plays in a wonderful new game? If so…
Should I start playing video games now so I will have a better grasp on the books I may need to write in the future? If so…
How will I manage to find time to write in the present?
Like with the economy, I can’t see this trickle down stuff working, but then…only the future will tell.
What are your views on the next generation of readers?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Orbis, Kettering, Haarsma, Riordan, Paolini,
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Cell Phone Novels Part 2
"All we're seeing now in the market are multimedia phones. It's clear that this isn't a fad. The cell phone is becoming a different device."– Brian Alger
About a year ago I wrote a blog about cell phones novels being all the rage in Japan . Not only did it boggle my mind that anyone could or would want to write more than a short text message on a cell phone, but that there was also an audience clamoring to read the stories.
I have recently discovered that the craze has migrated across the ocean. Cheryl Kaye Tardif is evidently the first person to write a novel on an iphone3G. The novel, Finding Bliss, is a work in progress. When asked why she would do such a thing, she said ideas come to her anywhere, anytime, so making use of her phone is ideal. She is also is receiving an incredible amount of publicity.
Books and blogs that give ideas on marketing to authors always say to think outside the box for ways to get your name out there and Cheryl’s done just that. Way to go!
While learning about Cheryl, I came across another surprise, textnovel.com. Fascinated by the rage in Japan, the founder, Stan Soper, decided to start an American site. I believe textnovel.com is fairly new, however, there are already many entries in every imaginable genre. I think the Mr. Soper has a hit on his hands.
One thing I am not clear on is how many words constitutes a text novel, though it appears to be considerably fewer than an old fashioned book with paper pages. I would call them short stories or even flash fiction. My guess is that these novels are perfect for anyone with a short attention span or little time to read.
For now, I plan to continue writing using my trusty computer keyboard and to keep utilizing my cell phone for making or receiving calls. However, I’ve learned after all these years to never say, “Never.”
Would you consider reading or writing a novel on your cell phone?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Cell Phones, Brian Alger, Cheryl Tardif, iphone, Stan Soper, textnovel.com,
About a year ago I wrote a blog about cell phones novels being all the rage in Japan . Not only did it boggle my mind that anyone could or would want to write more than a short text message on a cell phone, but that there was also an audience clamoring to read the stories.
I have recently discovered that the craze has migrated across the ocean. Cheryl Kaye Tardif is evidently the first person to write a novel on an iphone3G. The novel, Finding Bliss, is a work in progress. When asked why she would do such a thing, she said ideas come to her anywhere, anytime, so making use of her phone is ideal. She is also is receiving an incredible amount of publicity.
Books and blogs that give ideas on marketing to authors always say to think outside the box for ways to get your name out there and Cheryl’s done just that. Way to go!
While learning about Cheryl, I came across another surprise, textnovel.com. Fascinated by the rage in Japan, the founder, Stan Soper, decided to start an American site. I believe textnovel.com is fairly new, however, there are already many entries in every imaginable genre. I think the Mr. Soper has a hit on his hands.
One thing I am not clear on is how many words constitutes a text novel, though it appears to be considerably fewer than an old fashioned book with paper pages. I would call them short stories or even flash fiction. My guess is that these novels are perfect for anyone with a short attention span or little time to read.
For now, I plan to continue writing using my trusty computer keyboard and to keep utilizing my cell phone for making or receiving calls. However, I’ve learned after all these years to never say, “Never.”
Would you consider reading or writing a novel on your cell phone?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Cell Phones, Brian Alger, Cheryl Tardif, iphone, Stan Soper, textnovel.com,
Friday, January 16, 2009
Book Signing Horror Stories
“Do not seek to have events happen as you want them to, but instead want them to happen as they do happen, and your life will go well.” -Epictetus
I have a book signing event coming up on Saturday where I’ll be signing copies of The Ride. I’ve not done many signings so I searched the internet in hopes of finding helpful hints. Among the useful suggestions, I also ran across book signing horror stories. I don’t want to focus on the bad stuff, but I admire the authors willing to share their tales of woe and doing so with such a sense of humor. Here are a few of my favorites:
From Reading Under the Covers is a story about a lesser-known author who was seated next to Stephen King at a signing. I can only imagine how invisible that poor author became. Although, I think if I was sitting next to Stephen King, I might not care.
On Author, Author I read where only two people entered the bookstore during the signing and one of the two was related to the author. On this same site, is another story where the author’s books were accidently shipped elsewhere.
There’s a funny article called Dylan Jones: A bad book signing. He sold two books, so I’m not sure I’d consider it bad. However, the story that goes along with it is very funny and involves a customer who asked him to move out of the way.
My favorite was written by Bob Eckstein about his disastrous holiday book tour. It seems his tour coincided with some horrible winter storms. To me his story is even funnier because the book he’s promoting is The History of the Snowman.
I also discovered there is a book full of book signing mishaps called Mortification: Writers’ Stories of Their Public Shame by Robin Robertson.
I’ll try to take the advice of the Greek philosopher, Epictetus, and let things happen as they do happen. Still, I can't help but hope that my event will be a success and not one that will qualify me for a spot in any Mortification book sequel.
If you are able, please drop by Barnes and Noble at 23645 US 19 North in Clearwater, Fl., from 1 to 3 PM on Saturday, January 17. And, please pass the information along to and family, friends and acquaintances you may know in the area.
Do you have any book signing tips or horror stories to share?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, book signing, Epictetus, Dylan Jones, Bob Eckstein, Mortification, Barnes and Noble, Clearwater, Stephen King, Robin Robinson,
I have a book signing event coming up on Saturday where I’ll be signing copies of The Ride. I’ve not done many signings so I searched the internet in hopes of finding helpful hints. Among the useful suggestions, I also ran across book signing horror stories. I don’t want to focus on the bad stuff, but I admire the authors willing to share their tales of woe and doing so with such a sense of humor. Here are a few of my favorites:
From Reading Under the Covers is a story about a lesser-known author who was seated next to Stephen King at a signing. I can only imagine how invisible that poor author became. Although, I think if I was sitting next to Stephen King, I might not care.
On Author, Author I read where only two people entered the bookstore during the signing and one of the two was related to the author. On this same site, is another story where the author’s books were accidently shipped elsewhere.
There’s a funny article called Dylan Jones: A bad book signing. He sold two books, so I’m not sure I’d consider it bad. However, the story that goes along with it is very funny and involves a customer who asked him to move out of the way.
My favorite was written by Bob Eckstein about his disastrous holiday book tour. It seems his tour coincided with some horrible winter storms. To me his story is even funnier because the book he’s promoting is The History of the Snowman.
I also discovered there is a book full of book signing mishaps called Mortification: Writers’ Stories of Their Public Shame by Robin Robertson.
I’ll try to take the advice of the Greek philosopher, Epictetus, and let things happen as they do happen. Still, I can't help but hope that my event will be a success and not one that will qualify me for a spot in any Mortification book sequel.
If you are able, please drop by Barnes and Noble at 23645 US 19 North in Clearwater, Fl., from 1 to 3 PM on Saturday, January 17. And, please pass the information along to and family, friends and acquaintances you may know in the area.
Do you have any book signing tips or horror stories to share?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, book signing, Epictetus, Dylan Jones, Bob Eckstein, Mortification, Barnes and Noble, Clearwater, Stephen King, Robin Robinson,
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Birthdays and Copyrights
“Birthdays are nature's way of telling us to eat more cake.” –Unknown
When editing The Ride, I was asked to delete lyrics from a scene I had written although I had only used one line of a Beatle’s song and had even given credit to the group. My editor informed me that using lyrics requires obtaining written permission and can be quite expensive. Copyright protection, I learned, is for the life of the composer plus 70 years.
I am allowed, however, to use song titles. This made no sense to me but I complied because I’d rather not take the chance of being sued. To me the scene was much better when my characters were singing the words aloud together at the top of their lungs. But, hopefully the reader can still ‘hear’ what I wanted to get across.
With this in mind, I thought it interesting to read in the Encyclopedia of Useless Information by William Hartston that “Happy Birthday to You” was composed by Mildred and Patty Hill in 1936. This means that the song should not be sung in public without paying royalties.
How many times might servers burst into this tune during one night in a busy family restaurant? Think of the income these ladies are missing out on! Either Mildred and Patti are quite generous with the use of their song, not into lawsuits, or they’re not familiar with this copyright law.
I don’t want to break any laws. Therefore, before my family has a chance to sing a lively rendition of this traditional song to me today, I must warn them to use only the title and skip the lyrics if we’re in a public place. After that, well…I plan to eat more cake.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, copyright, Hartson, Encyclopedia of Useless Information, happy birthday,
When editing The Ride, I was asked to delete lyrics from a scene I had written although I had only used one line of a Beatle’s song and had even given credit to the group. My editor informed me that using lyrics requires obtaining written permission and can be quite expensive. Copyright protection, I learned, is for the life of the composer plus 70 years.
I am allowed, however, to use song titles. This made no sense to me but I complied because I’d rather not take the chance of being sued. To me the scene was much better when my characters were singing the words aloud together at the top of their lungs. But, hopefully the reader can still ‘hear’ what I wanted to get across.
With this in mind, I thought it interesting to read in the Encyclopedia of Useless Information by William Hartston that “Happy Birthday to You” was composed by Mildred and Patty Hill in 1936. This means that the song should not be sung in public without paying royalties.
How many times might servers burst into this tune during one night in a busy family restaurant? Think of the income these ladies are missing out on! Either Mildred and Patti are quite generous with the use of their song, not into lawsuits, or they’re not familiar with this copyright law.
I don’t want to break any laws. Therefore, before my family has a chance to sing a lively rendition of this traditional song to me today, I must warn them to use only the title and skip the lyrics if we’re in a public place. After that, well…I plan to eat more cake.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, copyright, Hartson, Encyclopedia of Useless Information, happy birthday,
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Rejection Letters
“No rejection is fatal until the writer walks away from the battle leaving dreams and goals behind.” - Jeff Herman
I don’t know of any writer that has not received a number of rejections before finding a publisher for their manuscript. I received plenty of rejections before finding a home for The Ride with ArcheBooks. Sometimes the ‘reject’ was a form letter, sometimes a short hand written note and many times receiving nothing at all was my only clue that my submission had not been accepted.
It’s hard not to take rejection personally but as an author it’s important to develop a thick hide. Otherwise, you may become so discouraged that you quit submitting. Though disappointed by my rejections, it helped me to remember I was not alone.
.
Rudyard Kipling received the following note from the editor of the San Francisco Examiner: “I’m sorry, Mr. Kipling, but you just don’t know how to use the English language.”
The Time Machine author H.G. Wells, was told, “It is not interesting enough for the general reader and not thorough enough for the scientific reader.”
Dr. Seuss was told, “…too different from other juveniles on the market to warrant its selling.”
George Orwell was told, “It is impossible to sell animal stories in the U.S.A.”
One of Mary Higgins Clark’s rejections for Journey Back to Love stated, “We found the heroine as boring as her husband had.”
One rejection of Carrie that Stephen King received said, “We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell.”
Each of these authors had the last laugh.
How do you handle rejection letters?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, ArcheBooks, Jeff Herman, Kipling, H. G. Wells, Dr. Seuss, Orwell, Mary Higgins Clark, Stephen King, rejections,
I don’t know of any writer that has not received a number of rejections before finding a publisher for their manuscript. I received plenty of rejections before finding a home for The Ride with ArcheBooks. Sometimes the ‘reject’ was a form letter, sometimes a short hand written note and many times receiving nothing at all was my only clue that my submission had not been accepted.
It’s hard not to take rejection personally but as an author it’s important to develop a thick hide. Otherwise, you may become so discouraged that you quit submitting. Though disappointed by my rejections, it helped me to remember I was not alone.
.
Rudyard Kipling received the following note from the editor of the San Francisco Examiner: “I’m sorry, Mr. Kipling, but you just don’t know how to use the English language.”
The Time Machine author H.G. Wells, was told, “It is not interesting enough for the general reader and not thorough enough for the scientific reader.”
Dr. Seuss was told, “…too different from other juveniles on the market to warrant its selling.”
George Orwell was told, “It is impossible to sell animal stories in the U.S.A.”
One of Mary Higgins Clark’s rejections for Journey Back to Love stated, “We found the heroine as boring as her husband had.”
One rejection of Carrie that Stephen King received said, “We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell.”
Each of these authors had the last laugh.
How do you handle rejection letters?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, ArcheBooks, Jeff Herman, Kipling, H. G. Wells, Dr. Seuss, Orwell, Mary Higgins Clark, Stephen King, rejections,
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Butterfly Award
"I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks." - William Shakespeare
Thank you to Cindy of Cindy’s Love of Books blog for honoring me with my second award blog award, The Butterfly Award. I’ve written about Cindy’s blog before but if you haven’t visited it yet, check it out. She does w
rite great book reviews.
This is a “meme” award (yes I know, it’s that dreaded meme word again, but I can’t ignore the honor), so it gets passed on. The rules for passing it on are: 1. Put the logo on your blog. 2. Add a link to the person who awarded you. 3. Award up to ten other blogs. 4. Add links to those blogs on yours. 5. Leave a message for your awardees on their blogs.
There are many excellent blogs and I can’t list them all so I’ve stopped at five. I’ve tried to come up with some great blogs that I discovered doing the blog-a-day challenge plus a couple of old favorites. They are.
Christina Rodriguez
Joan De La Haye
Nancy J. Parra
Cheryl Rushing
Sandy Lender
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Butterfly award, meme, Christina Rodriguez , Joan De La Haye , Nancy J. Parra , Cheryl Rushing , Sandy Lender,
rite great book reviews.This is a “meme” award (yes I know, it’s that dreaded meme word again, but I can’t ignore the honor), so it gets passed on. The rules for passing it on are: 1. Put the logo on your blog. 2. Add a link to the person who awarded you. 3. Award up to ten other blogs. 4. Add links to those blogs on yours. 5. Leave a message for your awardees on their blogs.
There are many excellent blogs and I can’t list them all so I’ve stopped at five. I’ve tried to come up with some great blogs that I discovered doing the blog-a-day challenge plus a couple of old favorites. They are.
Christina Rodriguez
Joan De La Haye
Nancy J. Parra
Cheryl Rushing
Sandy Lender
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Butterfly award, meme, Christina Rodriguez , Joan De La Haye , Nancy J. Parra , Cheryl Rushing , Sandy Lender,
Monday, January 12, 2009
What are Lawmakers Thinking?
“Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny.” -Edmund Burke
Once again our leaders have rushed legislation into law without thinking things through. I am a grandmother. I want nothing more than to be sure toys and books are made out of safe materials for my grandson. But the passed Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 is not the answer.
Evidently our lawmakers in their infinite wisdom have decided to put the onus of the safety of books onto the author and publisher and NOT the entity that produces the actual product. This is insane. I do not write children’s books, but as an author I know that once the manuscript is out of my hands, it is…well, out of my hands.
What their law means is that publishers and/or authors must pay fees in order to prove that each book published complies with the federally mandated requirements for lead and phthalate. Small companies and their authors cannot afford to pay $110 for an initial test for one batch of one title, and then up to $500 or more for a thorough test. This law will put authors and publishers out of business.
The printers are the people that produce the actual book. However, they don't have to provide any proof of testing and safety while they are the ones that have control over the materials used in books. Does this make sense to you?
Holly Jahangiri has written several excellent pieces on this legislation on her blog Do I Have to Spell it Out. Please stop by for a more in depth perspective.
I agree with their intention to keep our children safe but their way of going about it is ridiculous. What you can do is write to your elected officials and ask that this law be repealed and rewritten.
I think there may be a simple solution to this problem – ban imports from China until they can get their act together and quit producing products that kill people, babies, and pets. Mexico has banned the import of Chinese products so why can’t we?
What are your views on this legislation? What solutions do you have for solving this problem?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Edmund Burke, Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, legislation, Lawmakers, Chinese imports,
Once again our leaders have rushed legislation into law without thinking things through. I am a grandmother. I want nothing more than to be sure toys and books are made out of safe materials for my grandson. But the passed Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 is not the answer.
Evidently our lawmakers in their infinite wisdom have decided to put the onus of the safety of books onto the author and publisher and NOT the entity that produces the actual product. This is insane. I do not write children’s books, but as an author I know that once the manuscript is out of my hands, it is…well, out of my hands.
What their law means is that publishers and/or authors must pay fees in order to prove that each book published complies with the federally mandated requirements for lead and phthalate. Small companies and their authors cannot afford to pay $110 for an initial test for one batch of one title, and then up to $500 or more for a thorough test. This law will put authors and publishers out of business.
The printers are the people that produce the actual book. However, they don't have to provide any proof of testing and safety while they are the ones that have control over the materials used in books. Does this make sense to you?
Holly Jahangiri has written several excellent pieces on this legislation on her blog Do I Have to Spell it Out. Please stop by for a more in depth perspective.
I agree with their intention to keep our children safe but their way of going about it is ridiculous. What you can do is write to your elected officials and ask that this law be repealed and rewritten.
I think there may be a simple solution to this problem – ban imports from China until they can get their act together and quit producing products that kill people, babies, and pets. Mexico has banned the import of Chinese products so why can’t we?
What are your views on this legislation? What solutions do you have for solving this problem?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Edmund Burke, Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, legislation, Lawmakers, Chinese imports,
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Lesson Learned
“Man is the only animal that blushes. Or needs to.” – Mark Twain.
The guestbook on my site was set up to notify me whenever there was a signature. In my effort to improve my blog by tweaking here and there, I decided to remove this feature. I had not been notified of a signature for quite sometime so I thought I’d make room for something else. Imagine my horror when I discovered people had been signing.
My technical evaluation is that my notification doohickey decided to quit working quite some time ago. It worked when the book was first installed and I never thought to check back occasionally to be sure it was still functioning. How embarrassing! Now I am blushing as I extend my apologies to those people who took the time to sign. I have since sent responses, but some are over six months late in arriving.
The lesson I learned and would like to pass along is that if you have gadgets and such on your blog, you may want to check them occasionally just to make sure they are performing as they should be.
I removed my guestbook anyway because I didn’t want something like that to happen again and because I think technology has moved on. Don’t get me wrong, I still very much want to know you stopped by. You can do this by commenting on a blog; clicking on my email address; or you can click on my newest addition, ‘follow this blog.’
If you wonder what the ‘follow me’ button is, visit Morgan Mandel’s site. She gives a nice simple three-part explanation on how to add the gadget, follow people, and the reasons for doing so. Thanks to you J. Kaye Oldner for becoming my first follower and Sharon, my second.
When you visit a blog do you generally leave a comment? Are there any gadgets you recommend or any you would advise bloggers to avoid?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Mark Twain, blushing, J. Kaye Oldner, Morgan Mandel, follow me gadget,
The guestbook on my site was set up to notify me whenever there was a signature. In my effort to improve my blog by tweaking here and there, I decided to remove this feature. I had not been notified of a signature for quite sometime so I thought I’d make room for something else. Imagine my horror when I discovered people had been signing.
My technical evaluation is that my notification doohickey decided to quit working quite some time ago. It worked when the book was first installed and I never thought to check back occasionally to be sure it was still functioning. How embarrassing! Now I am blushing as I extend my apologies to those people who took the time to sign. I have since sent responses, but some are over six months late in arriving.
The lesson I learned and would like to pass along is that if you have gadgets and such on your blog, you may want to check them occasionally just to make sure they are performing as they should be.
I removed my guestbook anyway because I didn’t want something like that to happen again and because I think technology has moved on. Don’t get me wrong, I still very much want to know you stopped by. You can do this by commenting on a blog; clicking on my email address; or you can click on my newest addition, ‘follow this blog.’
If you wonder what the ‘follow me’ button is, visit Morgan Mandel’s site. She gives a nice simple three-part explanation on how to add the gadget, follow people, and the reasons for doing so. Thanks to you J. Kaye Oldner for becoming my first follower and Sharon, my second.
When you visit a blog do you generally leave a comment? Are there any gadgets you recommend or any you would advise bloggers to avoid?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Mark Twain, blushing, J. Kaye Oldner, Morgan Mandel, follow me gadget,
Saturday, January 10, 2009
What’s in a Name?
“Fate tried to conceal him by naming him Smith.” -Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
I am often asked if the naming of the main characters in The Ride was coincidence or intentional. The answer is—intentional. I had fun with the names Barbie and Ken. The dolls, with their shapely bodies, flawless skin, matching accessories, nice houses, and fancy cars represent perfect people and an ideal life. My characters, Barbie and Ken, couldn’t have been more opposite. On occasion my character, Barbie, even refers to the dolls herself. In one scene, when speaking about her husband, she says, “Our appearance may not resemble the dolls but out relationship is as plastic as they are.”
I’m also having fun with names as I write my second novel. Thinking up names caused me to wonder about some of the more famous literary characters. For instance if Rhett Butler of Gone with the Wind fame had been named Joe Smith instead, would the character have had the same impact? If Hannibal Lecter had been called, John Davis, would we have felt the fear run down our spine at the mere mention of his name? Or if the Great Gatsby had been the Great Jones…Well, you get the idea.
If you need advice on naming your characters, I’d recommend the article by Linda Schab of Wow! Women on Writing, How 2 Choose Character names for Your Novel. If you are writing a novel in set in a certain era, you may also want to check out this Social Security site. Here you can find a list of the most popular names for any year after 1879. It’s fun to visit even if you are not looking for a character name.
As a writer, how do you come up with character names? As a reader, how important are the names of the characters to you?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, Rhett Butler, Gone With the Wind, Hannibal Lecter, The Great Gatsby,
I am often asked if the naming of the main characters in The Ride was coincidence or intentional. The answer is—intentional. I had fun with the names Barbie and Ken. The dolls, with their shapely bodies, flawless skin, matching accessories, nice houses, and fancy cars represent perfect people and an ideal life. My characters, Barbie and Ken, couldn’t have been more opposite. On occasion my character, Barbie, even refers to the dolls herself. In one scene, when speaking about her husband, she says, “Our appearance may not resemble the dolls but out relationship is as plastic as they are.”
I’m also having fun with names as I write my second novel. Thinking up names caused me to wonder about some of the more famous literary characters. For instance if Rhett Butler of Gone with the Wind fame had been named Joe Smith instead, would the character have had the same impact? If Hannibal Lecter had been called, John Davis, would we have felt the fear run down our spine at the mere mention of his name? Or if the Great Gatsby had been the Great Jones…Well, you get the idea.
If you need advice on naming your characters, I’d recommend the article by Linda Schab of Wow! Women on Writing, How 2 Choose Character names for Your Novel. If you are writing a novel in set in a certain era, you may also want to check out this Social Security site. Here you can find a list of the most popular names for any year after 1879. It’s fun to visit even if you are not looking for a character name.
As a writer, how do you come up with character names? As a reader, how important are the names of the characters to you?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, Rhett Butler, Gone With the Wind, Hannibal Lecter, The Great Gatsby,
Friday, January 9, 2009
Truth or Truthiness
“Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.” –Spencer Johnson
When I started writing yesterday’s blog, I went off on a totally different tangent than I had planned. That happens often when I write, so I tend to just go with the flow.
I’m not using this blog to promote Oprah (like she needs that to begin with). But the point I meant to get to yesterday is why is Oprah blamed for memoirs gone wrong? I’m sure you remember the flak she took for James Frey’s book, A Million Little Pieces. More recently, she’s been criticized for not knowing that Angels at the Fence, by Herman Rosenblat also was doctored with a bit of fiction.
Straight from Hel has a really good and in-depth blog on this subject so I am just skimming the edges and voicing my opinion. Which is—writers should have the integrity to market their work honestly. If it’s a memoir with facts about actual events and real people, it’s non-fiction; if it’s a memoir embellished with things that did not happen, it’s fiction. How difficult is that to understand?
Perhaps a few authors have confused the definition of truth and Stephen Colbert’s word, truthiness. The definition of truth - the true or actual state of a matter (Random House). The definition of truthiness - the quality of stating concepts one wishes or believes to be true, rather than the facts (Urban Dictionary).
I believe most authors are honest and it’s not Oprah’s responsibility, or ours, to vet the authenticity of each and every memoir released. What are your views?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Truthiness, Spencer Johnson, Oprah, Frey, A Million Little Pieces, Rosenblat, Angels at the Fence, Colbert,
When I started writing yesterday’s blog, I went off on a totally different tangent than I had planned. That happens often when I write, so I tend to just go with the flow.
I’m not using this blog to promote Oprah (like she needs that to begin with). But the point I meant to get to yesterday is why is Oprah blamed for memoirs gone wrong? I’m sure you remember the flak she took for James Frey’s book, A Million Little Pieces. More recently, she’s been criticized for not knowing that Angels at the Fence, by Herman Rosenblat also was doctored with a bit of fiction.
Straight from Hel has a really good and in-depth blog on this subject so I am just skimming the edges and voicing my opinion. Which is—writers should have the integrity to market their work honestly. If it’s a memoir with facts about actual events and real people, it’s non-fiction; if it’s a memoir embellished with things that did not happen, it’s fiction. How difficult is that to understand?
Perhaps a few authors have confused the definition of truth and Stephen Colbert’s word, truthiness. The definition of truth - the true or actual state of a matter (Random House). The definition of truthiness - the quality of stating concepts one wishes or believes to be true, rather than the facts (Urban Dictionary).
I believe most authors are honest and it’s not Oprah’s responsibility, or ours, to vet the authenticity of each and every memoir released. What are your views?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Truthiness, Spencer Johnson, Oprah, Frey, A Million Little Pieces, Rosenblat, Angels at the Fence, Colbert,
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Daydreams
“He does not need opium. He has the gift of reverie.” –Anais Nin
Occasionally my daydreams include receiving that magic phone call from Oprah to appear on her show. I know it’s hokey but it’s not always possible to control the direction of the mind. Think what a copy of The Ride for every member of her audience would do to my book sales. The national attention the book would receive wouldn’t hurt either.
Math is not my strong point so I’m not going to give actual odds here. I’m simply assuming that with the thousands of books available, my chance of appearing as a guest on Oprah is only slightly higher than winning the lottery. Perhaps that is what daydreaming is all about—reaching for the nearly impossible.
I think it’s wonderful that Oprah has brought a great deal of attention to books and authors (even if I’m not one of them). With the book industry struggling like it is, I say we could use a lot more Oprahs in the world. Especially now when so many people want to emulate celebrities—whether they have any redeeming qualities or not. A pretty face, a hunky body, or simply a famous name, is all it takes to have millions want to follow their every move.
Wouldn’t it be refreshing to hear that instead of so and so being readmitted to rehab for the umpteenth time, they’re headed to their local bookstore or library instead? In a more perfect world, celebrity magazines would be filled with shots of superstars browsing in their favorite bookstore. Photographers would hound idols in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the book they were reading. And, if a lot of those photos contained the cover of The Ride…
Oops, there I go—daydreaming again.
What is your perfect world like when you daydream?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, Anais Nin, Oprah, daydreams, Tags: lottery,
Occasionally my daydreams include receiving that magic phone call from Oprah to appear on her show. I know it’s hokey but it’s not always possible to control the direction of the mind. Think what a copy of The Ride for every member of her audience would do to my book sales. The national attention the book would receive wouldn’t hurt either.
Math is not my strong point so I’m not going to give actual odds here. I’m simply assuming that with the thousands of books available, my chance of appearing as a guest on Oprah is only slightly higher than winning the lottery. Perhaps that is what daydreaming is all about—reaching for the nearly impossible.
I think it’s wonderful that Oprah has brought a great deal of attention to books and authors (even if I’m not one of them). With the book industry struggling like it is, I say we could use a lot more Oprahs in the world. Especially now when so many people want to emulate celebrities—whether they have any redeeming qualities or not. A pretty face, a hunky body, or simply a famous name, is all it takes to have millions want to follow their every move.
Wouldn’t it be refreshing to hear that instead of so and so being readmitted to rehab for the umpteenth time, they’re headed to their local bookstore or library instead? In a more perfect world, celebrity magazines would be filled with shots of superstars browsing in their favorite bookstore. Photographers would hound idols in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the book they were reading. And, if a lot of those photos contained the cover of The Ride…
Oops, there I go—daydreaming again.
What is your perfect world like when you daydream?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, Anais Nin, Oprah, daydreams, Tags: lottery,
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Bookstore Closings
“A bookstore is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking.” –Jerry Seinfeld
Independent booksellers have been struggling for years in their efforts to compete with the big box bookstores and Amazon. However, now even the big box stores are starting to close down.
David Streitfeld offered a good explanation of why this is happening. According to his December 27, 2008, article in NY Times.com, bookstores are going belly up due to the thousands of individuals who buy and sell books on the internet. Millions of books are now available for prices as low as a penny.
The good news is you can most likely find any book you want and save a lot of money. The bad news is that publishers, authors and local bookstores receive nothing from the sale.
With the economy as it is, I understand wanting to save a buck or two. As a writer, however, it sends chills up my spine. With more bookstore closings, more authors will be struggling, and more publishers going out of business.
My biggest worry is that the many wonderful hours I spend strolling up and down the aisle of bookstores, picking up books and flipping through the pages may become a thing of the past. Shopping on-line simply does not offer the same touchy-feely satisfaction.
I admit I use Amazon—frequently. I’ve also bought from individuals on-line a couple of times. But now I’m going to think twice about my buying habits because I don’t want to ever have to say, “Remember those good old days when you could actually buy a book in a store.”
Where do you buy the majority of your books and why?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Amazon, NY Times, David Streitfeld, bookstores, Jerry Seinfeld,
Independent booksellers have been struggling for years in their efforts to compete with the big box bookstores and Amazon. However, now even the big box stores are starting to close down.
David Streitfeld offered a good explanation of why this is happening. According to his December 27, 2008, article in NY Times.com, bookstores are going belly up due to the thousands of individuals who buy and sell books on the internet. Millions of books are now available for prices as low as a penny.
The good news is you can most likely find any book you want and save a lot of money. The bad news is that publishers, authors and local bookstores receive nothing from the sale.
With the economy as it is, I understand wanting to save a buck or two. As a writer, however, it sends chills up my spine. With more bookstore closings, more authors will be struggling, and more publishers going out of business.
My biggest worry is that the many wonderful hours I spend strolling up and down the aisle of bookstores, picking up books and flipping through the pages may become a thing of the past. Shopping on-line simply does not offer the same touchy-feely satisfaction.
I admit I use Amazon—frequently. I’ve also bought from individuals on-line a couple of times. But now I’m going to think twice about my buying habits because I don’t want to ever have to say, “Remember those good old days when you could actually buy a book in a store.”
Where do you buy the majority of your books and why?
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Amazon, NY Times, David Streitfeld, bookstores, Jerry Seinfeld,
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Best Books of 2008
"So many books, so little time." –Frank Zappa
I have read quite a few good books this year. But then I started checking out the lists of Best Books for 2008 and realized I have not read any of the top ten. Yet I read some excellent books. How can that be?
One reason, I believe, is that I have come across many new and emerging writers through various writing groups and conferences and have concentrated on reading their books this year. I know from my own experience with The Ride how difficult it is to find reviewers and to spread the word about new releases from unknown authors and small publishing houses. If any of these first time authors had been reviewed by some of the better known reviewers, would their books have made the list? Guess we’ll never know now.
If you are wondering what the best books of 2008 were, visit BookBitchBlog to find links to the picks by the Washington Post, NY Times, Amazon, Publishers Weekly, NPR and even Stephen King.
Many of the books on these lists sound excellent. But, if I start reading the best of 2008, I’ll most likely miss the best of 2009. Maybe I am simply destined to be a year (or two, or more) behind.
How many ‘best books’ did you read this year? Have you read a book that you think should have been included? Let me hear from you and maybe we can put together our own ‘Best Book of 2008’ list.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, bookbitchblog, Frank Zappa, best books 2008, Stephen King, NY Times, Washington Post, Amazon, Publishers Weekly, NPR,
I have read quite a few good books this year. But then I started checking out the lists of Best Books for 2008 and realized I have not read any of the top ten. Yet I read some excellent books. How can that be?
One reason, I believe, is that I have come across many new and emerging writers through various writing groups and conferences and have concentrated on reading their books this year. I know from my own experience with The Ride how difficult it is to find reviewers and to spread the word about new releases from unknown authors and small publishing houses. If any of these first time authors had been reviewed by some of the better known reviewers, would their books have made the list? Guess we’ll never know now.
If you are wondering what the best books of 2008 were, visit BookBitchBlog to find links to the picks by the Washington Post, NY Times, Amazon, Publishers Weekly, NPR and even Stephen King.
Many of the books on these lists sound excellent. But, if I start reading the best of 2008, I’ll most likely miss the best of 2009. Maybe I am simply destined to be a year (or two, or more) behind.
How many ‘best books’ did you read this year? Have you read a book that you think should have been included? Let me hear from you and maybe we can put together our own ‘Best Book of 2008’ list.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: The Ride, bookbitchblog, Frank Zappa, best books 2008, Stephen King, NY Times, Washington Post, Amazon, Publishers Weekly, NPR,
Monday, January 5, 2009
New Year Resolutions
“New Year's Day… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” – Mark Twain
I tell myself I don’t make New Year resolutions, but the truth is—I do. I simply don’t write them down or broadcast them. They are more like yellow sticky notes stuck on a lobe of my mind. Therefore, it doesn’t really count when I break them. Does it?
One of these notes says, “Starting today I will blog everyday until the end of the month.”
Those of you who know me well are probably asking, “What is she thinking?”
The truth is I’m not sure what I was thinking when I said, “Count me in.” But I’m hoping by going public with my intention, I’ll work harder to make it happen. Maybe it will also help if I refer to this task as a personal challenge and not a resolution.
Blogging was suggested to me by my publisher, ArcheBooks, and I’ve been at it for over a year now. I felt like a martyr when I made my once-a-week post. Only recently I’ve tried for two posts a week. So, I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to stick to seven. But, I’ll be doing this along with a group of writers from the Blog Book Tour Forum. Perhaps like exercise or dieting, I’ll have more incentive with a supportive group backing me up.
You can visit Blog Book Tours to find out more about the challenge and the forum. Hopefully you’ll even have time to stop by some of the other blogs involved.
Do you make New Year resolutions? If so, how long do they usually last? Has anyone ever succeeded to keeping their pledges for the entire year or more?
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you tomorrow.
Tags: blog tours, Mark Twain, resolutions, New Year, ArcheBooks
I tell myself I don’t make New Year resolutions, but the truth is—I do. I simply don’t write them down or broadcast them. They are more like yellow sticky notes stuck on a lobe of my mind. Therefore, it doesn’t really count when I break them. Does it?
One of these notes says, “Starting today I will blog everyday until the end of the month.”
Those of you who know me well are probably asking, “What is she thinking?”
The truth is I’m not sure what I was thinking when I said, “Count me in.” But I’m hoping by going public with my intention, I’ll work harder to make it happen. Maybe it will also help if I refer to this task as a personal challenge and not a resolution.
Blogging was suggested to me by my publisher, ArcheBooks, and I’ve been at it for over a year now. I felt like a martyr when I made my once-a-week post. Only recently I’ve tried for two posts a week. So, I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to stick to seven. But, I’ll be doing this along with a group of writers from the Blog Book Tour Forum. Perhaps like exercise or dieting, I’ll have more incentive with a supportive group backing me up.
You can visit Blog Book Tours to find out more about the challenge and the forum. Hopefully you’ll even have time to stop by some of the other blogs involved.
Do you make New Year resolutions? If so, how long do they usually last? Has anyone ever succeeded to keeping their pledges for the entire year or more?
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you tomorrow.
Tags: blog tours, Mark Twain, resolutions, New Year, ArcheBooks
Friday, January 2, 2009
Premio Dardos Award
“It's very validating when you are new in the industry to get awards. It boosts your self-esteem.” -Sheena Easton
Last year’s blogging ende
d on a high note when Cheryl Rushing nominated Jane's Ride for the Premio Dardo's award. Thank you, Cheryl. The Premio Dardos may not be an Oscar, Grammy, or National Book Award, but hey, I’ll take a pat on the back in any form.
Last year’s blogging ende
d on a high note when Cheryl Rushing nominated Jane's Ride for the Premio Dardo's award. Thank you, Cheryl. The Premio Dardos may not be an Oscar, Grammy, or National Book Award, but hey, I’ll take a pat on the back in any form.About all I can find out about the award is that Premio Dardos means ‘prize darts’ in Italian and that it is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing. How cool is that!
The rules are:
1) Accept the award by posting it on your blog along with the name of the person that has granted the award and a link to his/her blog.
2) Pass the award to another 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgement, remembering to contact each of them to let them know they have been selected for this award.
I didn’t list 15 blogs because some of my favorites have already have won this award. I’m naming the ones that haven’t (at least to my knowledge) received the honor.
Emma Larkins, Emerging Author
Shrinking Violet Promotions, Marketing for Introverts
Yvonne Walus, A novelist speaks on books, the universe and everything
J. Kaye’s Book Blog, Where Reading takes Priority
Cindy’s Love of Books
Straight From Hel
Life of a Publisher
Double M’s Take on books, blogs, dogs, networking and life
Mike’s Writing and Workshop Newsletter
Do I Have to Spell it Out
Blog Book Tours, New Books, New Authors, New Ways to Connect,
It’s rather obvious by my selections that I am most interested in blogs that deal with books and writing. If you write a blog or know of one you think I may enjoy, please send me the link. Also I’d love to hear from anyone that has more information about the Premio Dardos award.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Premio Dardos, blog awards, Sheena Easton, Oscar, Grammy, National Book Award
The rules are:
1) Accept the award by posting it on your blog along with the name of the person that has granted the award and a link to his/her blog.
2) Pass the award to another 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgement, remembering to contact each of them to let them know they have been selected for this award.
I didn’t list 15 blogs because some of my favorites have already have won this award. I’m naming the ones that haven’t (at least to my knowledge) received the honor.
Emma Larkins, Emerging Author
Shrinking Violet Promotions, Marketing for Introverts
Yvonne Walus, A novelist speaks on books, the universe and everything
J. Kaye’s Book Blog, Where Reading takes Priority
Cindy’s Love of Books
Straight From Hel
Life of a Publisher
Double M’s Take on books, blogs, dogs, networking and life
Mike’s Writing and Workshop Newsletter
Do I Have to Spell it Out
Blog Book Tours, New Books, New Authors, New Ways to Connect,
It’s rather obvious by my selections that I am most interested in blogs that deal with books and writing. If you write a blog or know of one you think I may enjoy, please send me the link. Also I’d love to hear from anyone that has more information about the Premio Dardos award.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tags: Premio Dardos, blog awards, Sheena Easton, Oscar, Grammy, National Book Award
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
