Wow, can you believe it, the holidays are upon us, one down and the 2nd one will be here in just a few weeks? Hey, how did you do with the Black Friday shopping? You know what, I avoided that mad scene and just stayed home. The thought of being caught up in the middle of a mad house of over zealous people make my skin crawl. I can't stand it, even though I know a lot of people walked out of those stores with some fantastic deals. I am finding out more and more, I'd rather do online shopping around this time of year. I don't mind waiting for my packages to come in the mail. I get excited because it's like the UPS man is bringing me a present. LOL Who doesn't like presents?? I mentioned the holidays, well Thanksgiving is over and we had a great time at my house. Lots of food. I love cooking for special occasions. I think I get that from my parents, bless their souls. However, I just wore myself out and ended up taking a nap while company was here. I couldn't help it, I just climbed into the bed, pulled the covers up over me and was out like a light for a couple of hours. Was that wrong? No it wasn't because the company was my big family. They didn't mind if mom had to have a nap. I usually don't do that. My 60 something body must be going through some changes....hey did I say that? Ooops! I wonder what Christmas will bring. Oh yeah, I'm planning on cooking and preparing all over again. Hopefully I will skip the nap on December 25th. Speaking of Christmas, are you finish making out your shopping list of gifts? I hope you added some books to that list. A lot of people think that electronics make a great gift for kids and this is true, but don't forget the good old fashion gifts that never get out dated. You can keep turning the pages over and over again. Okay, you know what I am talking about now. Do not let your kids fall out of love with reading a good book. These things still exist in this modern world. But, if your child insist on an electronic gadget, get them one that will let them read books so they will always be ready to let their imagination soar. Since I mentioned books and since I am a children's author...Ho Ho Ho, now would be a good time to mention my titles that are on Amazon.com. Hey, you can order them online...now that is convenient. Broken Voices A New Home for Her Cubs Wohali and the Little People Itchy Scratchy Spots The Race is on! Along came Jelly-Beanz Author: Winona Rasheed
November is here and it is cold outside. I think we are going to get either rain or snow sometime today. Don't know which, all I know is something is going to come out of the clouds that are hanging over DC. Guess what, I got my writing on again this morning, I worked on my Ella Rose book and bringing out the presence of two more characters for the new situation. I must say, these two male figures are something else. But hey, what can I say, they have the attitude of 11 graders, looking for their swag as they try to get the attention of Ella Rose who is not your typical teenage female. Six pages written so far, and I am not sure how long this is going to be, but I am thinking this might be a good long read. In other words, it might not be a short story. You know I am good for writing short stories. But this one may turn out to be different. We will see. But so far, so good. I am pleased with what was written today. Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I made my grocery list out. Yeppers, I am cooking up a storm. I love cooking for special holidays. I love the smell of turkey roasting, that lingers all through the house, not to mention the baked goods. I think I am going to make a Caramel cake. I saw that on Facebook and my mouth started to water, which means I must make it. Dunkin Hines here I come. I gave up on making homemade cakes a long time ago. I for some reason, just can't do it. I mess them up every time and ended up putting them in the trash. It got so bad, my husband would tell me in the mornings before going off to work, not to bake a cake because I was wasting ingredients and money. But, I didn't listen and everyday there would be a whole messed up cake in the trash. All this happened when I was a newly wed. You know how you do when you want to impress and show off your skills. Oh well, that's why Dunkin Hines is my friend to this very day. Oh, and don't ask me about my peanut brittle like cookies and my rock hard biscuits that would kill someone if you threw them at someone's head. Those were some funny days way back then. I can laugh at them now since it is 2013. How many of you out there on FB play Candy Crush? That's what I've been doing in my spare time and when I unwind. That game is so addictive and I love it. So many people are way ahead of me. Getting through those levels, wiping out the cotton pickin chocolates because they keep getting in your way, and that just drives me nuts. I never thought I'd ever say I hate chocolate. LOL I am on level 64 or is it 65? I have a long way to go to make it up in the 3 digit levels. But, I don't care, I am not in a rush, because I have other things to keep me occupied and busy. Like I said, that's my unwinding game. Oh, my granddaughter is in a school play and she got a major part. They are doing "The Wiz". She gets to sing and act and dress up as Evilene, the wicked witch of the west. I must say......the girl is awesome. A star will be born on December 11. That's when they give their performance. Hubby almost has his new garage finished too on the outside, just in time for the winter. It looks good too. He put up doors, siding and windows. it looks like a little cottage sitting in our backyard. I can see a little garden back there. Oh, I forgot, that's his little space. However, I don't think he will mind if I add my little touch to the outside of his man cave. Well, it's that time again, time for me to go and think about dinner. How am I going to fix this chicken and pasta dish? I have something concocted in my head, I hope it comes out like I plan for it. If it does, it's going to be mouth watering good. One thing for sure, it will not turn out like my homemade cakes and biscuits of long ago. Have a good one y'all.
Boy oh boy, what a day, what a day! It is Saturday afternoon and I have so much going on physically and the wheels are even turning around in my head as I find myself multitasking and thinking. For one thing, I got in the mood to change furniture around, wash clothes, clean up and finish working on my freelance article that is due on Tuesday. While doing all of this, I heard a voice in my head. Guess who it was...."Ella Rose," coming out of the dark. My character is coming off her vacation and wants me to continue writing about her and her handicapped quandary. I tell you, she is speaking to me loud and clear too. The ideas are just swimming around in my head like crazy, especially one in particular. I believe this idea is what she wants me, the writer/author to workout. Meantime, I need to do a little research behind the subject matter before I start writing. I have to get the bits and pieces together in my head before I can make it a reality and a full size puzzle. It's like playing connect the dots. Anyway, I am excited. I knew she'd be back when she was ready. I just had to wait for her to make her entrance and she did so today. Okay, do I sound like a crazy person? What did you expect, hey I'm a writer for Pete sakes! This is how things work out before I sit down to write. Just believe it will all come together in due time.
Oh and by the way, did you know that "Broken Voices", starring Ella Rose is one of my best selling books? It is doing super great up at Amazon.com in both eBook and paperback sales. Gooleee! (said in my Gomer Pile voice). Well, time to go, I just heard the mailman drop some bills in my mailbox. Better go grab them before someone else snatches them up....perhaps they will pay them for me if they do.
Well, here it is almost at the end of the week, so since I am just sitting here checking my emails, Facebook and Twitter; I decided to update my little blog. School started this week and so far, so good. It has been a long time since I've dealt with getting kids off to school, but it is all coming back to me as I get my granddaughter ready to go. All I can say for now about this experience is that school uniforms are a big head ache, even though I do understand why they do it. I was out trying to find all black shoes, that was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Found two pair, but my granddaughter only liked one. Can't believe she didn't like the POLO. She said those shoes were for old people. LOL Can't you tell she is a teenager? Well that was the other day, she wore the shoes all day yesterday, (the ones she wanted) and this morning while walking to school, they hurt her feet." See, I told you the other ones were better." That's what I said to her. Now she has to walk around with hurting feet today. She is going to be miserable and not in a good mood. Y'all know what it is like when your shoes hurt your feet. When school is out, I just may take a pair of flip flops with me so she can walk home in comfort. I bet she is wishing she picked out those Grandma looking POLO shoes. My opinion, I thought the shoes were cute, stylish and for the young.
On a happier note: yesterday my awesome publisher friend, Catherine Burr gave me some good news about one of my books, my number one top seller "Broken Voices", sold 20 copies in just two days. These weren't eBooks either, they were paper back books. Wow, that is just awesome! To all those who just bought a copy of this book, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are going to enjoy reading the pages as you get to know all about Ella Rose. She is going to pull at your heart strings. Can you tell I love to promote? I am seriously thinking about a "Broken Voices" Book 2. Just have to figure out where Ella Rose wants to go with it. I am waiting for her to talk to me. Sounds a tad bit crazy doesn't it? But know and believe that author's characters do speak to them. We are sane individuals.....at times. Oh and guess what else happened in my busy world, I got some more endorsements on LinkedIn. Bring me the work people! I just love what I do!
I see that Weebly has made some changes/adjustments to the website. Oh boy, now I am going to have to learn my way around all over again. But that is okay, I am ready for the challenge.
Well, it's time for me to end this, I need to hop on over to another site and see what is going on in the freelance writing world. Maybe I can pick up an article to work on; just something to keep me busy and my mind occupied while I wait on Ella Rose to come off her vacation. Meantime, If you haven't read this book, you should rush right out and get it. Read it on Kindle or read it the old fashion way through a paperback book. You can get it and my other children books at Amazon. Y'all know that's my favorite online store.
I've been all over the net leaving my review about this book that I just read from one of my author friends. Doesn't the title just grab ya? If it does, you should read what she wrote on the pages of this book.
Author Dragica Lord is letting the cat out of the bag, showing the kinds of drama and chaos that can take place on social media sites. It just blows my mind just thinking that this stuff exist among adults...that's right, I said adults.
Author Dragica Lord, explores the inside of phacebooking in such a way, that the reader is not only entertained by the reading, but educated on the "heads up" of how evil minded people think, connect and work. She turns this fiction into reality, relating how twisted words and gossip can turn someone's world upside down and inside out, even to the point of suicide and in the name of friendship,
I give this book a thumbs up, a must read for those who enjoy being on social media sites, absent all the drama. I personally enjoy my time spent amongst family and friends on my favorite hangout spot, and thank goodness the drama that exist in this book does not run in my circles. So it pays to know who your real friends, buddies and homies are. You can weed out the drama and chaos if you can recognize the enemies, foes and mischief makers. Author Dragica Lord, shows you what type of people to weed out of your friend list when you see their existence. She highlights their personalities as they go about on their ego trips. This is a great read for young adults as well as the older generation......but wait, there is a sequel coming with this title and I am sure that the author will be doing it up in book 2 as she did with Phacebook Drama 1, setting the scenes. Stay tuned for "Phacebook Murders" in the making.
Well hi there. I know it has been a while since I wrote anything in my blog. It seems I have not strutted my stuff all summer long. Here it is August already and school will be starting back at the end of this month. Though I haven't been doing any writing, I did get my little flower garden planted and so far so good. However, one of my little Lilac bushes did not make it. Guess I will have to dig it up sometime in September and plant something else for next year. With all the plants that I put in the ground, I won't see anything remarkable until next year...but as long as they are growing, that's all that matters and they are growing. You know, that was a lot of work.
My hubby is still working on the garage. It looks pretty darn good. I can't wait for him to finish so that he can start storing all his tools and stuff and get this backyard back in order so I can plant more shrubs. Right now....wood piles are everywhere. But I am not complaining, after all, he is retired and staying busy. He is going to paint the garage grey to go with the trimming on our house. I will take a picture when he has it all in order, but not before than.....I'm looking at sometime in the late fall or early winter before he has it all finished.
Meantime, yesterday I was looking out my back door and lo and behold, a huge raccoon decided to strut itself in my yard. I was scared to death. He looked like a monster. I was just about to go grocery shopping when I saw him; needless to say, I was scared to go outside to get in the car. I had my "lookout" check the side of the house before I ran outside to the car. I most definitely wanted to be back in the house before it got dark. I was so afraid I was going to find that thing sitting on my front porch waiting on me to come back home. Needless to say, I did not sit out on my porch after dark that night.
Something fabulous happened to me too, I woke up this morning, (a brand new day) to find my author friend, sent me a copy of her latest book called "Phacebook Drama". I was so excited. The cover is awesome and I love the title. I am charging my tablet so that I can read it later on today. It looks so good. You know I will give a review of this awesome book so that I can inspire you to purchase it from Amazon, (my favorite online store.)
Well, that's it for today, I hope your day is as fabulous as the one reading this.
You know what, I just love me some Fridays....for one thing, today is pay day and I have a little jingle in my pockets. But you know the what the best thing that happened to me today is......? Hold your britches cause I am about to tell ya. My good publisher friend, Catherine Burr just informed me that "Broken Voices" is in the spotlight again on Amazon.com. That's right, it's on the best seller list again, coming in at # 75. Now that is pretty darn cool! Ella Rose is still doing her thing and making this author happy. Now don't tell me you don't know who Ella Rose is by now. Okay, for those of you who don't know, Ella Rose is the main Character in "Broken Voices", and she is quite unique in her own special way.
She will amaze you as well as pull at your heart strings for the situation that she is in and the ordeal that she has to face as a teenager. No wonder she is making headlines on Amazon.com. This book should be in all the libraries, junior highs, middle schools and high schools. Hey, it should even be sitting on a shelf or a desk in your home. I believe that this story would also make a great book report too. I know this because I am the author and this is my baby that I bought to life. You can get to know her like I know her..........if you read the book.
Sometimes, you just have to face it....things aren't always what they seem. Let's face it writers/authors.....free doesn't necessarily mean free. You got to read the fine print or if you can read the last page before you sign up to something that advertises free promotion. This is one little canary who isn't singing her book promoting praises today. Want to know why? I will tell you. You might as well sit down, grab a cup of coffee or a cold drink, cause this might take awhile. In yesterday's blog, I was all gung-ho (is that even a word?) about a promoting opportunity that I found while searching for ways to promote my books. Don't you love that part of being an author? I don't mind it at all, because you gotta do what you gotta do. It's part of the author's package. You can't have one without the other if you plan on being successful. I started off yesterday with listing one book and had plan to do a couple more today and then I was going to wait and see what happens. This was my work agenda for today. After all, it does take time to get the listings submitted. After a couple of cups of coffee, I was ready to begin my author workout for today. I went to the webpage, pulled up my profile and began to put in all the required information to list two more books that I claim as being the author of. This included putting in the book descriptions, and excerpt, ISBN numbers and uploading the covers. I should be pleased, right? After all, it was my intention to upload all ten of my books so that they could get maximum exposure. Lo and behold, when I came to the last step of this promoting deal and went back to click on the promote button, I find out that in order for my books to get the necessary exposure and publicity, at least for one month, I would have had to pay out $150.00 for the three books that I have listed before they would go out over the internet and into the hands of potential buyers. Who can do that when you are on a limited financial budget? When I look for free ways to promote and strut my stuff, free is what I want and what I expect to get when I am uploading and typing my fingers to the bone. But sometimes, you don't find out until the last step that there is money involved. Thank goodness I did not upload all my books and their information. Like I said earlier, I was going to see how the first three books did before I submit the others. If I would have seen some results from my efforts, I would have continued with this website. You know what this means, don't you? I am continuing my search and pulling my stuff from this one particular website. After all, what good is it there if it is just going to sit there and collect cobwebs? By the way, I am not too fond of spiders anyway. Will this canary sing again......you bet cha, because this disappointment is just temporary; I have a list of potential promoting sites to go through. But first, before I register my name anywhere, I will be investigating like Perry Mason (I can't think of any current TV investigators) before I commit myself. Remember, you should do the same too. Here's my List of potential book promoting sites. Check them out, maybe you will find some that you
1. Book Daily ($$$$) 2. Kindleboards.com 3. Fileby.com (A lot like Twitter) 4. jacketflap.com 5. amsaw.org (the author's place) 6. blackcaviar-bookclub.com 7. published.com 8. writersvision.com 9. writersmanual.com (they are suppose to give online interviews) 10 bookhitch.com 11. twitterlit.com
Monday is starting out on the good foot. After been in the slump for a few days, my writing inspiration is coming back off its vacation. As a matter of fact, I am working on a new young adult book. Actually, I just started on it yesterday, so it is still in its early stage, as a matter of fact, as of today it is about two pages long. The title and characters are in place and my draft is now sitting on my kitchen table and the scribbles are handwritten on my handy yellow tablet. The characters are introducing themselves to me. I must say, these are some strong-minded, captivating young ladies in thought-provoking situations and they want me to tell their stories....so that's what I am working on. Now, will it be a short story.....I don't know yet. Will it be a novella or a chapter book? I don't know that either. All I know for now is that the writing flow has begun, where it takes me we will just have to wait and find out. After all, this is something you can't rush through.
Since my writing inspiration is off vacation, I even started working on Shades of Inspiration Newsletter for the month of May. I figured out what to put in it. Oh yeah, it is also full of inventiveness, creativity, allowing for reader participation. Giving them something to think about. After all, I just don't want you to read, I want you to remember and recall, even if you have to do a little soul searching, a little digging. Hahaha.....when was the last time you did a little Home Work, A little investigating? Anyway, sometime today, I will continue work on this project....I'm half way there, which means I am going to beat my deadline and I love the sound of that.
Well, it is now time for me to get back to Sasha, Madison and Alexis......Oh yeah, These are the names of the characters in book #10. Perhaps with my next blog and if I am further enough along in the storyline, I will reveal the title. Even though I love working around deadlines because deadlines energize me.......this story is not far enough along to be given a deadline for it to be completed. Humm, I wonder.....should authors give themselves a deadline when it comes to writing a draft for their next masterpiece or a "best seller?" Can you really put a time limit on creativity? Quite frankly my dear.......I don't think so. (What did you think I was going to say?) By the way, I loved that scene......Do you know what movie I am referring to?
My inspiration corner is calling me....wanna know where this spot is, it's in my kitchen. At least that's where it starts out from.....sitting at the kitchen table; when the draft is completed that's when I bring the good stuff to my desk and my computer. Does that sound a bit whacky? Oh well......that's me and that's how I do it!