…ssshhhh… the NON-secret of Author online self-promotion…
…as much as we storytellers dabble in fiction, fantasy and folklore, finding the elusive silver bullet that drives our masterpieces to the top of the bestseller lists is unlikely to be appear under our pillow like some equivalent of the tooth fairy’s offerings… for almost a decade now (my, how time flies when ye’re enjoying yerself, eh, Mabel?), I’ve derived more pleasure than ever I could have imagined by becoming a writer… Lady Luck has bestowed her blessings liberally in the sales/downloads column, aggregating more than 100,ooo copies across all my Jack Calder crime thriller titles, and my wee guide to using the SOSYAL NETWORKS as a scribbler, SELF-PUBLISHING STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL SALES…
…I’m often asked what’s the secret to the marketing and promotion WURK that goes into being a modern scribe… okay, I’ll spill the beans… ssshhhh… there is NO secret... but for what it’s worth…
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Let’s Talk
Okay, I’ll write, you read. But we’ll both smile, and that’s what Fridays are all about.
Do y’all do Talk To Text?
I do not. Siri cannot negotiate my accent.
Siri cannot negotiate The Mister’s accent, either, but he’s in denial. I dunno why. His accent is thicker n mine.
That’s the kinda thing Siri can’t negotiate.
Siri be all, “I don’t know what you mean, Jolene,”
I repeat, “Fifty-six-hundred Haverferd.”
“Sorry, I didn’t quite get that.”
“You useless bitch.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“Five Six Zero Zero Hay-ver-ford.”
“Here’s what I found.”
“Pretentious cow.”
*POKES MAP HARD* like it will hurt Siri
Ain’t nobody over here usin the language of power like, “I journeyed to the desert upon my anonymous horse.”
UH. NOWA.
That’s for work.
It was so.
And if my mother asks any of you, I wore metallic loafers. Cause I just couldn’t suede.
Happy Friday…
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WHY NOT YOU: MAKE NO EXCUSES. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
#Motivational #WHYNOTYOU
MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Keep pushing toward your goals. ACT ON THEM. LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES!
DON’T GIVE UP! IF YOU LOVE IT AS MUCH AS YOU SAY YOU DO. DON’T GIVE UP
SOME PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS SAYING ALWAYS HAVE A SECOND PLAN from your MAJOR plan. BUT, IN MY MIND ONCE I SET MY MIND TO IT I AM GETTING THAT GOAL. IF I DON’T GET THE GOAL (I AM GETTING THE GOAL), I know I gave the first plan all the attention and focus it needed. 100%. Most of the time when you give something YOUR ALL. Well, most of the time you will reach it because you have that burning desire to succeed. If he or she can do be successful SO WHY CAN’T YOU BE SUCCESSFUL AS WELL? BE HUNGRY FOR YOUR GOALS! SUCCESS IS WHAT YOU ARE HUNGRY FOR SO GO EAT!
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Mesmerizing Animated Masterpieces
10 Low-Cost Ways to Market Your Book
This is a guest post by Lisa Wheatley. Lisa Wheatly works for Top Aussie Writers in her spare time, where she creates unbiased essay service reviews. Lisa believes analytical thinking and an enquiring mind are her strongest points and does her best to put them to good use. She is a consultant to young entrepreneurs and feels that her understanding of the human mind allows her to accurately assess the abilities of young businessmen.
10 Low-Cost Ways to Market Your Book
For most writers, writing and publishing a successful book is a difficult task. That’s not because of hundreds of hours of hard work are the only way of coming up with enough quality for the readers. Nope. It’s something else.
You see, good writers can or can’t be good marketers. It’s the same with everyone else – we excel at something, and we suck at something else. In most cases, freshly…
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Unsteady
Years ago, I had an “incident” with a fun house barrel. A and I, along with my brother, his wife, and their two boys, had taken our girls to a local fair (years before our son was born or even thought about). The small town agricultural fair is pretty much tradition for anyone who grew up where we did, and we were introducing our daughters to the wonders of midway rides, which I strongly believe was the foundation for their current love of theme parks and roller coasters.
On this night, we came to the so-called “Fun House” and my brother took the three oldest kids inside. Our four kids were almost exactly a year between each, and he went in with our 3-1/2 and 1-1/2 year old girls, and his 2-1/2 year old son while my sister-in-law, A and I waited outside with the 6 month old.
We chatted and…
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I’m Not the Woman I Once Was
I’m Not the Woman I Once Was, I Know the Hurt, the Battle Within.
I’m not the woman I once was… I’m not the mama I once was… but I’m me, please take me as I am, full of flaws… I know the hurt, the battle within.
My own mother was devoid of feeling towards most of her children, and I was the perfect black sheep in her eyes. She wasn’t affectionate, didn’t hug, or show love as I grew up. If she did show to any my siblings, I never once saw it. I told myself that I would the opposite with my own children, if I were to be blessed by God and given the gift of children.
I was blessed with three boys and one daughter (from my second marriage). My first born died in utero (inside me), labor was induced, and Shane was stillborn. I was crushed, and in an abusive marriage. My second son, Gene, was born ‘blue’, but he rallied around and with the grace of God, he is now a machinist. Sam, my youngest, was born and I thought life would be good. I lavished love, hugs, and kisses on both boys, and eventually left their abusive father.
I rose above an extremely abusive childhood and later marriage, to learn faith, love, and motherhood from my son, Sam, courageous fight with cancer. Sam suffered horribly, and I loved him so much. “I want to go to heaven, Mom”. How would you respond? I told Sam, “We don’t always get what we want in life, and you might just have to come back to me.” Who was I to be selfish? Why didn’t I let Sam go to heaven? Sam ended up passing away at age five years old; after I begged his father to ‘let him go’ the third time after his heart was restarted. I was broken, and full of shattered shards and bits of life, as we know it.
I’m not the woman I once was… I’m not the mama I once was…
– Many on social media know that I’m not who I used to be, but you don’t need to shun me. Take me as I am, full of flaws… I know the hurt, the battle within.
– I’m different now… a different ‘me’. It has been this way since October 1990. Please acknowledge me and not try to make feel like a leper. Each individual has their own path in life, people come and go, change happens, and life goes on. Each person is their self, yet change changes them to varying extents. Accept me as I am, and I will do the same back to you. I know the hurt, the battle within.
– When I remarried, my new daughter never got the chance to know the ‘me’ before the new me. Rachel – you never got to know the first ‘me’ before ‘the new me’. I’m sorry you never got to meet the ‘first me’ – you may have liked that ‘me’. I did my best as you grew up and afterwards, yet I was never ‘there’ for you in the way I should have been, and for that I’m sorry. I know the hurt, the battle within.
– When Sam died, and after the tubes were removed, I rocked him in my arms for about 20 minutes. My body was torn apart and I could barely even breathe. I know the hurt, the battle within.
– I kissed Sam’s corpse over and over, and messed up his lips (he had been intubated and required lip filler), and nothing was ever the same. I know the hurt, the battle within.
– I’m sorry to both my kids on Earth, Gene and Rachel, and to my husband, for always being there in my physical form, but yet not ‘really there’. Imagine a zombie mother living in the house and baking cookies yet she isn’t really ‘there’. A mother going to Boy Scout events, field trips, musical events, sports games, and the like, but one part seems missing. I know the hurt, the battle within.
– As each year passes by, I am more ‘there’ but know that moments do happen and always will happen. You see change is inevitable, and some parents change even more so. I know the hurt, the battle within.
– For us baby boomers who have lost, we never had enough pictures, and never will. Thankfully the millennial generation, have tons of instant pictures thanks to electronics. Life has taught me that if you are a parent, just love your children, say it and show it every day. Spoil them from time to time, (as it doesn’t hurt to give a little sometimes), and those are moments to treasure. Don’t let Valentine’s Day be a day of showing your love; make every day that day – a day full of love. You only have the here and now so make the most of it, and you won’t be sorry. I know the hurt, the battle within.
Words for Those Who Have Not Lost a Child or Children
Does it get any easier after losing a child? Somewhat…
Is it possible for a parent to be happy their child/children are perfect in Heaven above… and feel peace with that? Sure… (It took me twenty-three years for Eli and somewhat less for Joshua.)
Can a parent ever “get over” losing a child? No. This is the KING of loss. We can be happy that they are perfect in Heaven and sad at times when we miss them the most.
Bereaved parents are continually re-writing each day, as they try to cope with their new “normal.” This won’t change. We will think of our loss when other children reach milestones such as their first tooth, first steps, first words, kindergarten, holidays, best friend, graduation, prom, falling in love, first kiss, learning to drive, getting married… the list is endless. There will always be reminders of our loss.
The WORST things you can ever say to a parent who has suffered the KING of loss, even after one, ten, twenty, or more years? “You should be over it by now,” or “Move on with life.” You see, we are moving on with life. We just do it one hour… one day at a time… re-writing life as we go along.
~ Mary Schmidt, February 2017
Yellowstone – Have you been there?
Yellowstone – Have you been there? Such a gorgeous national park. In case you haven’t, allow me to share just a few photographs and paintings of this spacious and wild park.
Old Faithful – one of the most talked about features of Yellowstone.
Lower Falls – I painted this one.
Yellowstone River – Again, one of my paintings of this beautiful and rugged park.
Excelsior Geyser – One can see many different views of this geyser.
What would Yellowstone be without a few bison?
I hope you enjoyed viewing just a small part of Yellowstone National Park. If you wish to peruse more of my paintings, photographs, and art works, please visit my gallery here.
