Monday, June 24, 2019

"Classic Ginger" It Goes On and On and On - Rerun #multitasking

I used to consider myself successful at multi-tasking, but now I'm beginning to question my capabilities. The more I do, the more I have left to do.  How does that work?

This morning I awoke to 300 emails, even though I'm on digest.  I skim the digests, but all I see in the subject line are: excerpt, promo, contest, new release.  OMG, it seems that everyone who was a "reader" when I first started this venture is now an author.  I spent several hours yesterday on Facebook and anything I posted was lost in the avalanche of book promos.  I pictured authors everywhere huddled at their computers, vying desperately for the attention of a "reader."  Yes, I know authors read, too.  I do, but I'm looking to tap into someone who isn't competition.  Is that selfish?  I don't think so. All who have books available are hoping to find the mother lode of readers and achieve a best-selling status.  Honestly, it's more like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack.

When I got to my individual emails, I found the usual few word posts: Thank you, I'm sorry, I forgot, I'd like to blog, put me down, happy birthday, happy holidays, condolences, and of course, I'm blogging at ______today, please stop by.

As much as I want to support my fellow authors, if I visited every blog or attend every FB event to which I've been invited, I would never get anything else done. So how logical am I if I expect my fellow authors to visit mine?

I've already given up Farmville and most other games on Facebook, taken a leave of absence from my critique group, gone  digest on most of my yahoo loops, and tried to find a new avenue of promotion on the Amazon Communities, only to be beaten to a pulp by some of the folks there who are very territorial.  It seems there are those who don't like authors who talk about their own work.  What's up with that?  If I don't, who will?  I still crave Farmville, but I'm staying strong.  I imagine my crops have all withered and died, and I've probably been reported for cruelty to my animals.  I'm sure my farm is generally in  bad repair, but there's no way I can have a look without wanting to fix everything.  At least I kicked the habit on my own and didn't even need counseling.

Honestly, the towel is looking pretty good lately.  I've considered throwing it in a few times, or at least waving a white flag, but I'm too invested in my love of writing to quit.  I keep visiting shared links and viewing success stories written by authors who had sold hundreds if not thousands of copies on Kindle. I want to post that announcement just once.

I have several works out now, so maybe one of them will be my ticket to stardom... or at least a few sales.  :)  You can find them all on my Amazon page, and I'm always working on something new.  Coming soon, The Pendant from Books We Love, Sarah's Soul from Books we Love (as soon as I finish it), and I'm working now on Desperation's Bride.

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Life Events in My Stories—Here’s the Real Scoop! By Connie Vines



This Month’s Topic: Has an event in your life, or that of someone you know, or one covered in the news ever worked its way into one of your stories?
I believe we are all influenced by our environment and, being social creatures, we are also empathetic to the people we encounter in life.


Each of my novels, short-stories, and blog posts touch on an event in my life, a factual experience in someone’s life.

When I was writing for children’s magazines my topics included historical events or modern-day mysteries.  My YA historical novel, Tanayia-Whisper upon the Water, has excerpts from newspapers of the 1800's for chapter intros. I experienced the wind and the sadness which still surrounds Wounded Knee, I’ve dance at Powwows, and made fry-bread for hungry children. 

Having been interview (unexpectedly) by a news crew, I know the irritation you feel when someone shoved a mic in your face (Lynx’s interview scene in Lynx, Rodeo Romance).  

I believe the true test of a writer is researching a subject and making the event seem real to the reader that he/she can ‘live the story’.  Obviously, writers have never been a 16th century pirate, or a vampire, however, these stories are written and are believable.  Non-fiction worlds are created, we mourn the death of our beloved fictional characters, we fall in love with a hero or two.  

Since I grew up in a military family, relocation was a way of life.  My characters are seldom stay-forever-in-one town people. I am able to share the force of a hurricane, a tornado forming on the plains, sea-salt and sand in your clam-bake meal, the smell of a swamp, and fragrance of cafĂ© au latte on a cool May morning in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana.

**  
From Tanayia—Whisper upon the Water:

My gaze narrowed. Each day I watched Anna Thunder hide her slice of bread in her skirt pocket. I did not why. Each night I watched.  She did not bring the food from her pockets, nor were there crumbs leaving a trail among her belongings. 

“Why? Why do you ask this?”

The Comanche was thin. Her arms were like the bare branches of a sapling tree. Anna Thunder did not eat the bread she hoarded.

“Will Apache bring bread?” she hissed.

My stomach growled. Sister Enid had returned last evening and supervised the breakfast meal today. The oatmeal had been thin. There was little nourishment for my growing body. The bread Sister Kathleen gave me kept the pains of hunger from my stomach. I did not want to give my food to my enemy.

**
Please visit the blog sites of these wonderful writers and read the stories she/he have in store for you!

Happy Reading!

Connie





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Friday, June 21, 2019

NATIONAL TAKE YOUR DOG TO WORK DAY – June 21, 2019

Every year employees across the country bring their dogs to work the Friday after Father’s Day. It’s National Take Your Dog to Work Day.

A celebration of the companionship between canine and human, National Take Your Dog to Work Day hopes to inspire others to adoptions from shelters and humane societies.

HOW TO OBSERVE

To find participating employers and to download a toolkit visit Pet Sitters International.  Use #NationalTakeYourDogToWorkDay or #TYDTWD to share on social media.

HISTORY

Take Your Dog to Work Day originated in the United Kingdom in 1996.  Then in 1999, Pet Sitters International founded the first day in the United States.


I am aware that there are companies: Amazon, Purina (and many others I'm certain) that allow you to bring your pet work.

However, I would check with your employer before bringing Rover or Boots to work  to celebrate this special day.

To help avoid coworkers’ pet peeves, here are 14 rules for bringing dogs (and cats) to work.

1. Make sure no one objects

“The problem: not everybody loves pets. Staff may suffer from allergies/ phobias/or didn't enjoy animals running around. "


2. Check the company's or your insurance

“Even the most docile of dogs could become hostile in an unfamiliar environment or around other pets, so make sure you're covered in the event that a dog [or cat] acts out."

3. Establish pet-free zones

“It's a lot more distracting to have an animal join meetings than it is to have them wandering the main floor [or parked in an office]. Set some ground rules for where pets can roam free, and where they should steer clear.”

 4.  Ensure your office is safe for pets (pet-proofed)

“Things like cables, cords and open trash bins can all be tempting for pets. Pet proof your office space to be sure it's safe.  It also helps if cats and smaller dogs wear a bell on their collar so you know when they're under foot.”


5. Pets must be supervised by its ownerImage result for poodle birthday gif


6.  The pet must be OK around other animals

7. The animal can't be super hyper

8. Come prepared

“Make sure that if you bring your dog in to work, that they have everything they will need throughout the day."

9. Clean up after your pet

10. Take a photo or two to remember the day.


Image result for take pet to work day 2019
Credit Photo: PetSitter


Happy Take Your Dog to Work Day!

Connie 



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