Stephen Burckhardt's Blog: My Blog Ramblings, page 30

Friday Funnies: Murphy's Law Wins Again!

Hello My Happy People!

It's Friday, I'm stressed, and behind in my work ... so let's just get to it!

Have a great weekend people!!!

Enjoy,

Dianne

Q: What did the baby zebra say when he saw a piano?

A: “Mom?”

Q: Why do chicken coops have two doors?

A: Because if they had four doors, they’d be chicken sedans.

Q: Why don’t you trust stairs?

A: Because they’re always up to something.

Q: Why couldn’t the bicycle stand by itself?

A: Because it was two tired.

Q: How can you befriend a squirrel?

A: Just act nuts and he'll love you.

Q: Why can't dinosaurs talk?

A: Because they’re all dead.

Q: Did you hear the rumor about the guy who invented LifeSavers?

A: They said he really made a mint.

Q: What’s better than Ted Danson?

A: Ted Danson and singin’.

Q: Did you hear the camp ground was on fire?

A: It was in tents.

Q: why do you hate Russian nesting dolls?

A: Because they’re so full of themselves.

Q: What do you call a boomerang that never comes back?

A: A stick.

Q: What did the pirate say on his 80th birthday?

A: “Aye matey!”

Q: What’s green and has wheels?

A: Grass on a skateboard.

Q: How can you watch a fly-fishing tournament?

A: On live stream.

Q: How does Harry Potter get down a hill?

A: Walking … JK, Rolling.

Q: Why don't they make a pencil with two erasers?

A: Because it would be pointless.

Q: DId getting a neck brace really help you get over our past?

A: Yes, once I got it fitted, I’ve never looked back since.

Q: Why did you enter a pun contest?

A: Because I knew 10 puns and I figured one of them would win ... but no pun in ten did.

Q: I thought you went shopping, why don't you have any bags?

A: I went to buy camouflage pants, but I didn't see any in the store.

And Last but not least ...

Q: How was the wedding you just went to?

A: It was emotional! Even the cake was in tiers.

73 Bad Puns In 5 Minuteshttps://youtu.be/zz_1mz_JrJ0My Husky Really HATES My Bad Jokes and Puns!https://youtu.be/0nL7qLewWGI,Important Podcast Links

Listen to our podcast, Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt, every Wednesday on any of these providers and more. Check your favorite for listings.

​

Featured Podcast Providers:

,Buzzsprout ,Apple Podcasts ,Spotify ,Amazon Music

Burckhardt Books Pages:

,Subscribe to Our Newsletter ,Members Only Page (Join FREE and stream our new audiobook at no charge. Plus, you get access to our Book Banter Interview Archive) ,Writing Prompt Challenge (Rules and submission links on Writing Prompt Challenge page)

About Dianne:

,Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author What is a ,Chiari Malformation, a ,Syrinx (Syringomyelia), and Hydrocephalus? Want to know more about the host of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt (formerly Whatever Wednesday with Dianne burckhardt)? Check out ,Episode 1: Who Am I?

Support Our Book Banter Buddies (guest interviews):

,Allie "Book Historia" Alvis website (Episodes 23, 24, & 25: July 20 & 27, Aug 3, 2022) Book Historia Social Media: ,Bite Sized Book History - YouTube Channel ,Twitter ,Instagram ,Fore edge painting TikTok artist mentioned in interview (Episode 23) ,Horn book mentioned in interview (Episode 24) ,Lisa Sillaway "Social Media Professor" (Episodes 26 & 27: Aug 10 & 17, 2022) ,Social Media Professor on Facebook Guinea Pig Lab

Past Guest Interviews:

,Mark L. Redmond website: The Box M Gang (Episode 8: March 23, 2022) ,Buy The Box M Gang on Amazon ,Buy The Box M Gang on Barnes & Noble Booksellers ,DJ Jamison, Amazon Author Page (Episodes 21 & 22: July 6 & 13, 2022) ,Two Truths and a Lyle free book promotion

Future Guest Interviews:

,Kavo Creative Studio - Mastering Videos for Makers (TBA)

Support Us:

It's even easier now to support Burckhardt Books and our Book Banter Podcast, many options are no cost to you. ,Click here for more information.

Book Banter EP 25: Allie "Book Historia" Alvis! Part 3

Hello My Happy People,

I am happy and sad today to bring you the finale to the interview with Allie "Book Historia" Alvis. It was such an amazing time getting to catch up with my friend and I learned so much from her in this interview. She really is a fascinating person and if you have not checkout out her social media, you need to get on that ASAP!

In this episode, we talk about Allie's numerous publications from professional journals to her personal blog. Allie shares her love of making informative videos on her YouTube channel and how the pandemic led her to get back into sewing and the creation of her Etsy page where she sells book accessories.After such an incredible career what could Allie possibly want to explore next?

Check out the podcast and find out.

Next week, we have part one of two of my interview with Lisa Sillaway, The Social Media Professor. She will be sharing her best practices for how anyone can improve their social media presence and increase their following.

I learned some great tips to improve my social media presence and our conversation gave me the jump start I needed to finally get our TikTok page setup. If your business relies on social media to reach its target market, you will want to hear what The Social Media Professor has to say!

Have a great one!

Dianne,Important Podcast Links

Listen to our podcast, Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt, every Wednesday on any of these providers and more. Check your favorite for listings.

​

Featured Podcast Providers:

,Buzzsprout ,Apple Podcasts ,Spotify ,Amazon Music

Burckhardt Books Pages:

,Subscribe to Our Newsletter ,Members Only Page (Join FREE and stream our new audiobook at no charge. Plus, you get access to our Book Banter Interview Archive) ,Writing Prompt Challenge (Rules and submission links on Writing Prompt Challenge page)

About Dianne:

,Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author What is a ,Chiari Malformation, a ,Syrinx (Syringomyelia), and Hydrocephalus? Want to know more about the host of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt (formerly Whatever Wednesday with Dianne burckhardt)? Check out ,Episode 1: Who Am I?

Support Our Book Banter Buddies (guest interviews):

,Allie "Book Historia" Alvis website (Episodes 23, 24, & 25: July 20 & 27, Aug 3, 2022) Book Historia Social Media: ,Bite Sized Book History - YouTube Channel ,Twitter ,Instagram ,Fore edge painting TikTok artist mentioned in interview (Episode 23) ,Horn book mentioned in interview (Episode 24) ,Lisa Sillaway "Social Media Professor" (Episodes 26 & 27: Aug 10 & 17, 2022) ,Social Media Professor on Facebook Guinea Pig Lab

Past Guest Interviews:

,Mark L. Redmond website: The Box M Gang (Episode 8: March 23, 2022) ,Buy The Box M Gang on Amazon ,Buy The Box M Gang on Barnes & Noble Booksellers ,DJ Jamison, Amazon Author Page (Episodes 21 & 22: July 6 & 13, 2022) ,Two Truths and a Lyle free book promotion

Future Guest Interviews:

,Kavo Creative Studio - Mastering Videos for Makers (TBA)

Support Us:

It's even easier now to support Burckhardt Books and our Book Banter Podcast, many options are no cost to you. ,Click here for more information.

Manic Monday: Trapped in Social Media ...

Hello My Happy People,

We had a wonderful weekend here in Düsseldorf and I hope it was fantastic where you are. So many great things have been happening behind the scenes here and I can't wait to reveal all to everyone, but I have to wait for some of it.

My podcast is now on the major podcast streaming services online and we have had almost 250 shows downloaded just from the Buzzsprouts site alone. Not too shabby when you consider I have no advertising in place for it other than me posting on my own social media. Doing the podcast is so much fun and I LOVE talking to people about books. I have more great guests coming up, keep watching here for names and dates.

I have also finally starting figuring out TikTok. I had created an account a long time ago, but then never did anything with it. I finally looked into it and have started creating a little content for it. It's going pretty well so far. I've gotten a few hundred views on the first few videos I have posted. I plan to do a few today I didn't get finished last night then I'm getting off social media!

I am thinking I will have to relegate social media work to the weekends and use the week for writing, because I am getting way too many social media accounts going. Too many times I have found myself getting online to work on something quickly and look up to find it is four hours later, I have to make lunch or dinner, and my writing time has just disappeared. And then there is the "death scrolling" as I have dubbed that bizarre fascination with just scrolling your timeline feeds endlessly looking at all the things posted there. I know I have been using this for writing avoidance. P.R. has been trying to help me curb these bad habits but even the occasional helpful shout from the living room of "are you writing?" does not always keep me focused when cute puppy videos are plentiful.

I am determined to finish this book! Part seven, Into the West: Family Ties is coming along, but at such a painfully slow rate. I am very happy with how the story is unfolding and I think in part the pace is due to the fact I know there are no more books coming after this one. Because of this, I have to get everything in and how I want it before publishing. I cannot just add in something into the next book I missed in this one (as I have done before), because there will not be a next one. So where the stories just spilled out of me before in a stream of conscious kind of way, this time I am being much more thoughtful about the story. It is so not like me, and I don't really like it, but I'm doing it.

I think I may have decided what my next book will be. I have been thinking about a "not quite cozy" murder mystery with a slight paranormal twist to it. It's about a retired FBI profiler who suffered a psychotic break due to an episode involving psychometry, where they accidently picked up images from a piece of evidence collected from a serial killer's home. After medical treatment she goes back home to Kansas where she start an animal rescue ranch and tries to live a quiet life, but things do not always work out how you plan.

I have been wanting to write my autobiography about going through all of the brain surgeries and my recovery but I was kind of hoping for something really good with my writing to happen like hitting a paid bestseller on at least Amazon with one of my books. I've hit bestsellers lists for free books several times but I would really love to do it with one for paid books. I wanted to have a real high note to end my autobiography on. If I win the SHEro award this November, that would be a fantastic ending. We will see ...

I think that covers most of the updates for today. So if you have TikTok, please check us out there @burckhardt_books. I think I have all of our social media switched over to some variation of Burckhardt Books or Burckhardt Books Authors. I am trying not to keep posting the same exact thing on every platform so people have a reason to follow us on all of them. But it's just me creating content and writing so I do cross post the same things when I am short on time. Which, let's be honest, is most days.

Thanks for sticking with me, people! It's much appreciated!!!!

Now, go forth and be happy!

Dianne,Important Podcast Links

Listen to our podcast, Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt, every Wednesday on any of these providers and more. Check your favorite for listings.

​

Featured Podcast Providers:

,Buzzsprout ,Apple Podcasts ,Spotify ,Amazon Music

Burckhardt Books Pages:

,Subscribe to Our Newsletter ,Members Only Page (Join FREE and stream our new audiobook at no charge. Plus, you get access to our Book Banter Interview Archive) ,Writing Prompt Challenge (Rules and submission links on Writing Prompt Challenge page)

About Dianne:

,Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author What is a ,Chiari Malformation, a ,Syrinx (Syringomyelia), and Hydrocephalus? Want to know more about the host of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt (formerly Whatever Wednesday with Dianne burckhardt)? Check out ,Episode 1: Who Am I?

Support Our Book Banter Buddies (guest interviews):

,Allie "Book Historia" Alvis website (Episodes 23, 24, & 25: July 20 & 27, Aug 3, 2022) Book Historia Social Media: ,Bite Sized Book History - YouTube Channel ,Twitter ,Instagram ,Fore edge painting TikTok artist mentioned in interview (Episode 23) ,Horn book mentioned in interview (Episode 24) ,Lisa Sillaway "Social Media Professor" (Episodes 26 & 27: Aug 10 & 17, 2022) ,Social Media Professor on Facebook Guinea Pig Lab

Past Guest Interviews:

,Mark L. Redmond website: The Box M Gang (Episode 8: March 23, 2022) ,Buy The Box M Gang on Amazon ,Buy The Box M Gang on Barnes & Noble Booksellers ,DJ Jamison, Amazon Author Page (Episodes 21 & 22: July 6 & 13, 2022) ,Two Truths and a Lyle free book promotion

Future Guest Interviews:

,Kavo Creative Studio - Mastering Videos for Makers (TBA)

Support Us:

It's even easier now to support Burckhardt Books and our Book Banter Podcast, many options are no cost to you. ,Click here for more information.

Friday-ish Funnies: Feels like a Manic Monday

(Photo by Mizuno on Pexels.com - busy-woman-working-remotely)

Hello My Happy People.

I know today is not Friday, but Saturday is Friday adjacent, so we are going to go with a Friday-ish funnies blog today ... just go with me on this. I have been driving myself crazy here trying to get everything done on my social media, and have time to spend with my better half P.R., do housework, do the podcast, and write the last book in the Into the West Saga Serial and ... I am burning myself out.

For me, that is a very, very bad thing. When I get too stressed, I have more neurological episodes and I start making a lot of mistakes, which has started happening. So the thing that might end up getting forgotten once in a while will most likely always be the blogs. Honestly, not a lot of people read them or share them so they do not give an equivalent return of engagement for the effort required to write and post them. So, while I will never intentionally skip one, they are are top priority and I might forget one now and again, like yesterday.

I was very preoccupied because we were celebrating something for P.R. and I was working on making some videos to finally get my TikTok account going (which you can see the first two videos below). I thought it was about time to put something on there since we have had that account for a while now and done nothing with it. Plus, I (think) I have figured out how to make the audiobook downloadable from my website for everyone. If that is working correctly, then I can start work on the final versions of all of the audiobooks. However, I'm a little on the fence about doing that at the moment.

I am not sure audiobooks are going to provide the return on investment needed to create them at this point. I have not seen a lot of interest in the FREE version of the Into the West: The Orphan Train audiobook so I'm wondering if putting in the months of work to create all the audiobooks for "sale" will be profitable. I think we will see how it goes with the free giveaway audiobook over the next month and decide where to go at that point.

If you want to help test out the downloadable audiobook of Into the West: The Orphan Train, you can just scan the QR code or go to our new Burckhardt Books General Store page (

The full and complete audiobook version of Into the the West: The Orphan Train is 100% free, but the download does require you to give us your email address because it emails you the file.

But, never fear! We do not spam you with a load of hogwash, I mean I forget to post my own blogs sometimes so you know I am not going to be sitting around thinking up content to email you about. We do not sell or share your information either, so you know your info is safe with us.

But I think that is enough business for today, how about we get to the funnies?!!!

Have a great weekend my happy people!

Dianne

Q: After his crops failed, why did the farmer decide to try a career in music?

A: Because he found he had a knack for creating sick beets.

Q: What inventions of the last 100 years do you think is the best?

A: It has to be the dry erase board, it's the most remarkable.

Q: Doctor, why do I never seem to get sick Monday through Friday?

A: You must have a weekend immune system.

Q: Where do pirates buy their hooks?

A: They get them at second hand stores.

Q: What do you think Frenchman wearing sandals?

A: Philippe Flop.

Q: Which Presidents in US history were the greenest?

A: The Bushes.

Q: What is it called when you find a wooden shoe in your toilet?

A: Clogged.

Q: Why is it always cheaper to host a party in a haunted house?

A: You don't have to buy drinks, it's already filled with spirits.

Q: Have you heard about the new corduroy pillows?

A: They're really making headlines.

Q: Why do you think Marvel should use the Hulk more for advertising?

A: Come on ... he’s already one big Banner.

Q: Which days do you think are the strongest?

A: It has to be Saturday and Sunday, because the rest are all weekdays.

And last but not least .... (This one is an age test)

Q: Siri was acting weird today. I asked her, "why do you keep calling me Shirley?"

A: But then I realized, I had accidentally left my phone in Airplane mode.

Actually Funny Dad Jokes // Bros in Hatshttps://youtu.be/j4Rcf9yH2NoThe brilliant and hilarious Hugh Jackman vs Ryan Reynolds feud that is some brilliant advertisinghttps://youtu.be/nUS1vpq-6rYTikTok Video One @burckhardt_bookshttps://video.wixstatic.com/video/2c304a_401d56e319b6455994fc372d6271e5a4/1080p/mp4/file.mp4,Important Podcast Links

Listen to our podcast, Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt, every Wednesday on any of these providers and more. Check your favorite for listings.

​

Featured Podcast Providers:

,Buzzsprout ,Apple Podcasts ,Spotify ,Amazon Music

Burckhardt Books Pages:

,Subscribe to Our Newsletter ,Members Only Page (Join FREE and stream our new audiobook at no charge. Plus, you get access to our Book Banter Interview Archive) ,Writing Prompt Challenge (Rules and submission links on Writing Prompt Challenge page)

About Dianne:

,Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author What is a ,Chiari Malformation, a ,Syrinx (Syringomyelia), and Hydrocephalus? Want to know more about the host of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt (formerly Whatever Wednesday with Dianne burckhardt)? Check out ,Episode 1: Who Am I?

Support Our Book Banter Buddies (guest interviews):

,Allie "Book Historia" Alvis website (Episodes 23, 24, & 25: July 20 & 27, Aug 3, 2022) Book Historia Social Media: ,Bite Sized Book History - YouTube Channel ,Twitter ,Instagram ,Fore edge painting TikTok artist mentioned in interview (Episode 23) ,Horn book mentioned in interview (Episode 24) ,Lisa Sillaway "Social Media Professor" (Episodes 26 & 27: Aug 10 & 17, 2022) The Social Media Professor's Social Media: ,Facebook ,Twitter Instagram Guinea Pig Lab

Past Guest Interviews:

,Mark L. Redmond website: The Box M Gang (Episode 8: March 23, 2022) ,Buy The Box M Gang on Amazon ,Buy The Box M Gang on Barnes & Noble Booksellers ,DJ Jamison, Amazon Author Page (Episodes 21 & 22: July 6 & 13, 2022) ,Two Truths and a Lyle free book promotion

Future Guest Interviews:

,Kavo Creative Studio - Mastering Videos for Makers (TBA)

Support Us:

It's even easier now to support Burckhardt Books and our Book Banter Podcast, many options are no cost to you. ,Click here for more information.

Book Banter EP 24: Allie "Book Historia" Alvis! Part 2

Hello My Happy People,

I am so excited today to bring you the second part of the three part interview with Allie "Book Historia" Alvis. We has such an fascinating talk about book history, publishing and rebinding techniques, types of books and book elements developed over the years, and so much more. I seriously could have talked to her all day long!

Today we chat about Allie's life after grad school and what it was like to land her first job at the Smithsonian in Washington DC. She shares a great story about the time she was asked to babysit "something" in the special collections reading room.

She also shares one of her "babies" she was able to work with at the Smithsonian. The book is from the 1490's and she shares what makes this particular volume so incredible. You can read Allie's article about the book by clicking the photo of the photo to the left.

We end the interview today with our discussion of the Horn Book. This early children's book design is so innovative for the time period and something I think you will find to be very interesting. If you love books like we do, you will not want to miss this interview! I personally have listened to it several times while editing it all and I am still impressed with Allie's interview every time I listen to her.

Don't forget, next week we wrap up our interview with Allie as we discuss her work at Type Punch Matrix and her social media endeavors as "Book Historia" throughout social media. Don't forget to check out all her sites. Links are listed below.

Following Allie in our lineup beginning August 10th we have The Social Media Professor, Lisa Sillaway. She is going to share the best practices for anyone who wants to grow their following on social media whether it is for a start-up, the seasoned entrepreneur, or indie authors like me. I am sure everyone who uses social media will find something useful in this interview.

So now it's time to check out the podcast and be sure to go forth ... and be happy.

Enjoy!

Dianne,Important Podcast Links

Listen to our podcast, Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt, every Wednesday on any of these providers and more. Check your favorite for listings.

​

Featured Podcast Providers:

,Buzzsprout ,Apple Podcasts ,Spotify ,Amazon Music

Burckhardt Books Pages:

,Subscribe to Our Newsletter ,Members Only Page (Join FREE and stream our new audiobook at no charge. Plus, you get access to our Book Banter Interview Archive) ,Writing Prompt Challenge (Rules and submission links on Writing Prompt Challenge page)

About Dianne:

,Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author What is a ,Chiari Malformation, a ,Syrinx (Syringomyelia), and Hydrocephalus? Want to know more about the host of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt (formerly Whatever Wednesday with Dianne burckhardt)? Check out ,Episode 1: Who Am I?

Support Our Book Banter Buddies (guest interviews):

,Allie "Book Historia" Alvis website (Episodes 23, 24, & 25: July 20 & 27, Aug 3, 2022) Book Historia Social Media: ,Bite Sized Book History - YouTube Channel ,Twitter ,Instagram ,Fore edge painting TikTok artist mentioned in interview (Episode 23) ,Horn book mentioned in interview (Episode 24) ,Lisa Sillaway "Social Media Professor" (Episodes 26 & 27: Aug 10 & 17, 2022) The Social Media Professor's Social Media: ,Facebook ,Twitter Instagram Guinea Pig Lab

Past Guest Interviews:

,Mark L. Redmond website: The Box M Gang (Episode 8: March 23, 2022) ,Buy The Box M Gang on Amazon ,Buy The Box M Gang on Barnes & Noble Booksellers ,DJ Jamison, Amazon Author Page (Episodes 21 & 22: July 6 & 13, 2022) ,Two Truths and a Lyle free book promotion

Future Guest Interviews:

,Kavo Creative Studio - Mastering Videos for Makers (TBA)

Support Us:

It's even easier now to support Burckhardt Books and our Book Banter Podcast, many options are no cost to you. ,Click here for more information.

Manic Monday: It's a Secret, shhh ...

Hello My Happy People,

I hope you are all healthy and living the good life! Right now there are so many cool things going on here and I am so bad about keeping secrets, it's killing me. Unfortunately, I have to keep things under wraps for a little bit longer. Not everything going on has to do with Burckhardt Books, some of it is just general life stuff, but my life affects my writing so in some ways, it's all connected. Just know, I will share more as things unfold.

Today is a dedicated writing day after this blog is posted. I want to finish this book, Into the West: Family Ties, as soon as possible. It is coming along well, but soooooo slowly. It is as agonizing for me as I am sure it is for those of you who have been waiting for it. However, I am happy with how the story is developing and that is the most important thing. I have always said I wanted to write compelling stories first and everything else comes second.

I have decided to try writing two books at the same time after I am finished with the Into the West Saga Serial. I am going to try my hand at a paranormal mystery and I want to start writing my biography, Free Bad Haircuts with Each Craniotomy. It will focus on my accident, the discovery of the neurological issues, what it was like living through seven surgeries in six months, the time I died briefly after the fifth brain surgery, the years and years and years of painful recovery, and how fantastic my life is now even with the issues I still have to work with (or around) everyday.

My hope is by sharing my story, it will be inspirational to someone else who might be faced with physically debilitating medical issues and with people telling them they will never be able to live a healthy, productive life again. I mean, I am pretty lazy at heart, so if I can pull myself up by my bootstraps, I have great faith in other people being able to do the same and I want to step up and support them in their attempts.

I was thinking if I worked on a fiction and a nonfiction at the same time it might work out well, because working on one would give my brain a break from the creative process of the other but still keep me writing everyday. Or it might be too confusing for my special brain, but there is no way to know until I try. If it's a total disaster I will just pick one and go from there, but I plan to give it a go and see how it works for me.

If you haven't noticed, I have stopped writing blogs as Stephen Burckhardt (though sometimes I do not check the tags and he gets tagged as the author). It is all part of the process of me slowly coming out more and more as the author behind Stephen Burckhardt. However, Dad (Steve) will remain the face of Stephen Burckhardt as long as I write a western/historical fiction series.

I am still fiddling with the Burckhardt Books website. It was a huge project to create Burckhardt Books and them blend in StephenBurckhardt.com and DianneBurckhardt.com and try to make it look like three different, but connected, websites. I have had to learn new skills in website coding and design in the process.

The first phase was just getting everything up and functional even if it was not pretty. Now that the basic elements are all on site and working, now I am going back over it all and cleaning things up to look more professional. I hope to have all the final touches finished in the next month or so. Wish me luck!

While all of this computer work is interesting, I look forward to the day I can pay someone else to do this stuff. So please, if you haven't read my books, give one a try. If you have read them, please leave a review. If you don't want to do that, you can always just share these blogs or Burckhardt Books posts on social media. Doing these kinds of things are helpful to any indie author, not just me. So if you have favorite indie authors, show them some love this week.

We have great new interviews coming up on Book Banter with Dianne burckhardt. The next two weeks we have mor from Allie Alvis, known as Book Historia throughout social media and known as just an incredibly cool and talented person to anyone who has had the privilege to meet her.

Following Allie in our lineup is The Social Media Professor, Lisa Silaway. Lisa is a former university instructor and currently owns and operates The Social Media Professor as well as the Guinea Pig Lab. She is going to share some of the best practices to reach your target markets on social media. If you are trying to connect with your clients online, you need to know The Social Media Professor! Check out the links for more information about both of these incredible women below.

That is it for today, people. I hope the weather is great where you are and you can get outside to go forth ... and be happy!

Dianne,Important Podcast Links

Listen to our podcast, Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt, every Wednesday on any of these providers and more. Check your favorite for listings.

​

Featured Podcast Providers:

,Buzzsprout ,Apple Podcasts ,Spotify ,Amazon Music

Burckhardt Books Pages:

,Subscribe to Our Newsletter ,Members Only Page (Join FREE and stream our new audiobook at no charge. Plus, you get access to our Book Banter Interview Archive) ,Writing Prompt Challenge (Rules and submission links on Writing Prompt Challenge page)

About Dianne:

,Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author What is a ,Chiari Malformation, a ,Syrinx (Syringomyelia), and Hydrocephalus? Want to know more about the host of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt (formerly Whatever Wednesday with Dianne burckhardt)? Check out ,Episode 1: Who Am I?

Support Our Book Banter Buddies (guest interviews):

,Allie "Book Historia" Alvis website (Episodes 23, 24, & 25: July 20 & 27, Aug 3, 2022) Book Historia Social Media: ,Bite Sized Book History - YouTube Channel ,Twitter ,Instagram ,Fore edge painting TikTok artist mentioned in interview (Episode 23) ,Horn book mentioned in interview (Episode 24) ,Lisa Sillaway "Social Media Professor" (Episodes 26 & 27: Aug 10 & 17, 2022) ,Social Media Professor on Facebook Guinea Pig Lab

Past Guest Interviews:

,Mark L. Redmond website: The Box M Gang (Episode 8: March 23, 2022) ,Buy The Box M Gang on Amazon ,Buy The Box M Gang on Barnes & Noble Booksellers ,DJ Jamison, Amazon Author Page (Episodes 21 & 22: July 6 & 13, 2022) ,Two Truths and a Lyle free book promotion

Future Guest Interviews:

,Kavo Creative Studio - Mastering Videos for Makers (TBA)

Support Us:

It's even easier now to support Burckhardt Books and our Book Banter Podcast, many options are no cost to you. ,Click here for more information.

Friday Funnies: Summer Burnout!

Hello My Happy People!

I hope you are all having a great day and have something wonderful planned for this weekend. With luck, your weather is not doing its impersonation of hell on earth and you can get out and enjoy some great outdoor activities. P.R. and I plan to get out a bit this weekend and go do some shopping at an outdoor market. I just hope the rain in the forecast holds off until we can get back home.

I feel like I have been working on Into the West: Family Ties forever. This one is dragging out much longer than all of the other books. I think the nice weather has had something to do with this mindset as well. Who wants to be inside working when the weather is warm and sunny!

I think I am having a bit of summer burnout. Unlike the other books, when I sit down to write Into the West: Family Ties, I spend a lot of time just staring at my computer screen, not wanting to write. It is so different from all the other books where I would sit down and end up writing too much, which is why it originally became a serial, I had a lot more story to tell.

But now it feels like something in me just doesn't want to finish this serial and I am not sure why. I am continuing to work on it. It is progressing and I love the story as it is unfolding, but it's like trying to jog in molasses. Maybe that is a good thing, my mind is slowing down to get the story right ... not fast. I will keep trudging and it will eventually get to the end. I think next week we may have another sneak peek.

We got some great news this week here at Burckhardt Books. We have an interview set for Lisa Sillaway, The Social Media Professor. If you ever struggle with making your social media marketing effective and memorable, you will want to check out her interview. She has some great tips to improve your online presence and if you don't feel up to doing it on your own, you can always hire Lisa to do it for you. The first part of her inview will air Aug. 10th.

We also got word that, while Dianne did not make it to the finals in the HER-Abilities category for the 2022 SheInspires Awards, the judges thought she was a better fit for their SHEro category and awarded her finalist standing in that. The awards ceremony will be in Bolton in the UK this November and Dianne and P.R. are already making plans to attend.

I think that catches us up on most of our news. Be sure to check out this week's episode of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt with special guest Allie Alvis, also known as Book Historia on social media. Allie has had a fascinating career and shares wonderful stories of the history of books, publishing, rebinding illuminated manuscripts, and so much more. If you love books like we do, you will not want to miss this interview!

Have a great weekend, people!

Dianne

Q: Where do math teachers love to go while on vacation?

A: Times Square

Q: Why are elephants ready to go to the pool?

A: They have their trunks with them.

Q: Where do ghosts like to go fishing?

A: On Lake Eerie.

Q: What is a sheep's favorite vacation destination?

A: The Baaa-hamas.

Q: What is a shark's favorite place to vacation?

A: Finland!

Q: What part of a fish weighs the most?

A: Its scales.

Q: Why did the robot take a vacation?

A: He wanted to recharge his batteries.

Q: Where is the funniest place to vacation?

A: The Flint Hills, they're hill-arious.

Q: Why won’t oysters share their pearls?

A: Because they are shellfish.

Q: How does a mermaid call her friends?

A: With a shell phone.

Q: What does currency can you find on the beach?

A: Sand dollars.

Q: Why did the detectives stakeout the beach?

A: He heard something fishy was going on there.

And last but not least ...

Q: What kind of sandwich do mermaids take on a picnic?

A: Peanut butter and jellyfish.

Every Kid In Summer

Holderness Family Vlogs

https://youtu.be/XPdIF5M1o5Y

Important Podcast Links:

Listen to our podcast, Book Banter with

Dianne Burckhardt, every Wednesday on any of these providers and more. Check your favorite for listings.

​

Featured Podcast Providers:

,Buzzsprout ,Apple Podcasts ,Spotify ,Amazon Music

Burckhardt Books Pages:

,Subscribe to Our Newsletter ,Members Only Page (Join FREE and stream our new audiobook at no charge. Plus, you get access to our Book Banter Interview Archive) ,Writing Prompt Challenge (Rules and submission links on Writing Prompt Challenge page)

About Dianne:

,Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author What is a ,Chiari Malformation, a ,Syrinx (Syringomyelia), and Hydrocephalus? Want to know more about the host of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt (formerly Whatever Wednesday with Dianne burckhardt)? Check out Episode 1: Who Am I?

Support Our Book Banter Buddies (guest interviews):

,Allie "Book Historia" Alvis website (Episodes 23, 24, & 25: July 20 & 27, Aug 3, 2022) Book Historia Social Media: ,Bite Sized Book History - YouTube Channel ,Twitter ,Instagram ,Fore edge painting TikTok artist mentioned in interview (Episode 23) ,The Hunterian Psalter ,The,Horn book mentioned in interview (Episode 24) ,Lisa Sillaway "Social Media Professor" (Episodes 26 & 27: Aug 10 & 17, 2022) ,Social Media Professor on Facebook

Past Guest Interviews:

,Mark L. Redmond website: The Box M Gang (Episode 8: March 23, 2022) ,Buy The Box M Gang on Amazon ,Buy The Box M Gang on Barnes & Noble Booksellers ,DJ Jamison, Amazon Author Page (Episodes 21 & 22: July 6 & 13, 2022) ,Two Truths and a Lyle free book promotion

Future Guest Interviews:

,Kavo Creative Studio - Mastering Videos for Makers (TBA)

Support Us:

It's even easier now to support Burckhardt Books and our Book Banter Podcast, many options are no cost to you. Click here for more information.

Book Banter EP 23: Allie "Book Historia" Alvis!

Hello My Happy People,

In today's episode I get to introduce you to one of my coolest friends, Allie Alvis. Allie is your friendly neighborhood pink-haired book historian. Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Allie fostered a deep love for history, books, and “old stuff” throughout their childhood. After obtaining an undergraduate degree in Linguistics from the University of Kansas, they moved to Edinburgh, Scotland to pursue a Master’s of Science in Book History at the University of Edinburgh.

After graduating with merit, they undertook an additional Master’s of Science at the University of Glasgow in Information Management. From there, they took a position as a Library Technician (later promoted to Reference Librarian) in the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives Special Collections.

They now work as a rare book cataloguer at antiquarian book dealer Type Punch Matrix. Their career priority is to make the world of rare books more accessible for anyone with any level of expertise. Allie is nonbinary, and uses the pronouns she/her and they/them interchangeably.I had lots of questions for Allie, so this interview will be spread out through three consecutive episodes: 23, 24, and 25. If you love books like we do, you will not want to miss this interview!

Enjoy!

Dianne

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/2c304a_af5633af6285432eafc7f5700eb35c13/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Important Podcast Links:

Listen to our podcast, Book Banter with

Dianne Burckhardt, every Wednesday on any of these providers and more. Check your favorite for listings.

​

Featured Podcast Providers:

,Buzzsprout ,Apple Podcasts ,Spotify ,Amazon Music

Burckhardt Books Pages:

,Subscribe to Our Newsletter ,Members Only Page (Join FREE and stream our new audiobook at no charge. Plus, you get access to our Book Banter Interview Archive) ,Writing Prompt Challenge (Rules and submission links on Writing Prompt Challenge page)

About Dianne:

,Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author What is a ,Chiari Malformation, a ,Syrinx (Syringomyelia), and Hydrocephalus? Want to know more about the host of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt (formerly Whatever Wednesday with Dianne burckhardt)? Check out Episode 1: Who Am I?

Support Our Book Banter Buddies (guest interviews):

,Allie "Book Historia" Alvis website (Episodes 23, 24, & 25: July 20 & 27, Aug 3, 2022) Book Historia Social Media: ,Bite Sized Book History - YouTube Channel ,Twitter ,Instagram ,Fore edge painting TikTok artist mentioned in interview (Episode 23) ,Horn book mentioned in interview (Episode 24)

Past Guest Interviews:

,Mark L. Redmond website: The Box M Gang (Episode 8: March 23, 2022) ,Buy The Box M Gang on Amazon ,Buy The Box M Gang on Barnes & Noble Booksellers ,DJ Jamison, Amazon Author Page (Episodes 21 & 22: July 6 & 13, 2022) ,Two Truths and a Lyle free book promotion

Future Guest Interviews:

,Lisa Sillaway "Social Media Professor" (Episodes 26 & 27: Aug 10 & 17, 2022) ,Kavo Creative Studio - Mastering Videos for Makers (TBA)

Support Us:

It's even easier now to support Burckhardt Books and our Book Banter Podcast, many options are no cost to you., Click here for more information.

Manic Monday: What Was I Doing ...

Hello My Happy People,

Well, today really is a Manic Monday. I thought I had already written this entire blog and just had to come on today and add a few bits and post it. Nope! I was wrong. The only thing I had written was "Hello My Happy People". So here we go ...

Ever wonder why it takes me so long to finish a novella? I will give you an idea of how my day has been going so far. I started that first paragraph of this blog about 9 am, it's now 4 pm. I realized I hadn't put my "Important Links" at the bottom of the page so I went to copy that form a previous blog post.

I noticed I did not have Lisa Sillaway's link in there and since we are getting our interview scheduled for the podcast, I thought I should add her link in. So, I went to Facebook to get her information and started talking to someone in messenger. We were talking about how I was a bit upset (jealous) that P.R. is going on a business trip and will be staying in a hotel with air conditioning while I am here at home without AC as we hit triple digits for the second time this summer. This prompted me to go look at portable air cooling units. These are not AC but have a water tank you put ice packs in to cool the air. They help but are not as good as AC. I found a good one to get for the apartment like we had discussed last month. This would give us two now so P.R. can have one in the room with him while he is working and I can have one in here with me.

After looking at the air cooling units, I noticed they had a QR code to read more information and I remembered I was wanting to find a QR Code generator to make some for Burckhardt Books. I did an internet search and found one I liked and proceeded to spend about an hour creating QR codes. I did remember I was working on the blog and came back here.

I decided I wanted to add a gallery to this blog and went to my Book Banter Interview Archive page to copy the one there. It didn't work. I started to recreate it, but I didn't like how it was turning out so I just gave up and deleted it. At this point, I took a break to go make some tea. My better half asked me to make him some lunch and gave me an envelope from my bank with my new bank card. The card has new features and I spent about 40 minutes slowly reading the German instructions to make sure I understood what it was telling me. I've lived here in Germany for 7 years now and my German "ist immer noch Mist" (it's still "poop").

Then I come back to the computer and start working on the blog again. I wanted to copy something from my Dianne Burckhardt page and when I went to that page I noticed the web address still had copy-of-dianne-burckhardt in the URL. Apparently I forgot to remove all the "copy-ofs" on all of the Dianne Burckhardt pages when I merged the StephenBurckhardt.com website with the DianneBurckhardt.com website to create BurckhardtBooks.com. So I fixed all of those. Then I remembered I STILL hadn't written this blog!

While I am 100% proud of everything I have accomplished in life since I had the accident in 2002 and survived all the brain surgeries in 2004, it is days like today when I cannot stay focused on any one thing that it just drives me insane to live with brain damage. One thing that adds to my stress when I go through days like this is when I tell people about my day and they tell me, "Oh, I know what you mean, I am the same way." Here is the thing. I remember what I was like before the accident. I would start doing something and get side tracked and do something else and have to come back to my task later. But the levels and the frequency of getting distracted are vastly different from before the accident and after.

Everyone has normal moments of distraction and forgetfulness, but when you have brain damage, it is very different. If you have never experienced it (and I hope none of you ever do) there is a very noticeable difference. I am not sure if it is a blessing or a curse that I remember how I functioned before the accident. I don't sit around mourning the loss of how I used to be, that is a complete waste of energy, but some days (like today) I think it would be less stressful if this was the only "norm" I knew. Remembering how I used to be able to stay on task most of the time just seems like my own brain is taunting me, or challenging me ... we'll go with challenging. It's less annoying and more inspirational.

But don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want to change much about my life right now. I wouldn't mind having air conditioning again and I would be beyond thrilled if I was making a profit as a writer, having my student loan paid off would be great too, but other than those things, I'm pretty happy with me and where I am in life. We all have something to deal with and having a brain that will sometimes jump the rails is just part of what makes my life interesting.

Another thing that makes my life interesting is the incredible friends I have. Be sure to check out my podcast as more of my amazing friends join me for my podcast, Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt. The interview with DJ Jamison is available in episodes 21 and 22. This week we have part one of my interview with Allie Alvis. Allie is a rare book curator and former librarian with the Smithsonian. Be sure to check out her links below. Allie is an incredible woman and has such a vast knowledge about book history, preservation, and publication. If you love books like we do, you will not want to miss her interview!

I think this classifies as an actual blog so I am going to call it done and read for a bit before I try to write on my word in progress, Into the West: Family Ties. It is coming soon!

Have a great day people!!

Dianne

Important Links:

Listen to our podcast, Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt every Wednesday on any of these providers and more. Check your favorite for listings.

Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt Home Page Buzzsprout Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music Subscribe to Our Newsletter Members Only Page (Members get: listen to free audiobook, access to Book Banter Interview Archive, free tie-in short stories, and so much more!) Writing Prompt Challenge (Submission links on page)

About Dianne:

Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author What is a Chiari Malformation , a Syrinx (Syringomyelia) , and Hydrocephalus ? Want to know more about the host of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt (formerly Whatever Wednesday with Dianne burckhardt)? Check out Episode 1: Who Am I?

Support Our Book Banter Buddies (past and future guests):

Allie "Book Historia" Alvis website (Episodes 23 & 24: July 20 & 27, 2022) Book Historia Social Media: ,Bite Sized Book History - YouTube Channel ,Twitter Instagram DJ Jamison, Amazon Author Page (Episodes 21 & 22: July 6 & 13, 2022) ,Two Truths and a Lyle, free book promotion Entire selection of books in promotional giveaway Mark L. Redmond website: The Box M Gang (Episode 8: March 23, 2022) Buy The Box M Gang on Amazon Buy The Box M Gang on Barnes & Noble Booksellers Lisa Sillaway, The Social Media Professor (TBA) Kavo Creative Studio - Mastering Videos for Makers (TBA)

Support Us:

It's even easier now to support Burckhardt Books and our Book Banter Podcast, many options are no cost to you. ,Click here, for more information.

Friday Funnies: Knock Knock ...

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels

Hello My Happy People,

I am so happy to tell you I remembered to share a sneak peek this week! I was really worried I would forget. I got a bit more writing done this week and I hope to really crush it next week. I still have hope I can finish the book this month and finalize the book cover while the text is off with my editor, Greg Wood.

Tonight P.R. and I have our weekly date night. I am pushing for dinner out and a trip to the theater to see the new Thor movie. I love Marvel movies and I seriously want to see a jacked Natalie Portman. I have loved her work since I saw her as a child actress in The Professional. She was crazy good in that movie. But she has always been such a wisp of a woman, I can't imagine her buff. I heard in an interview that she really like the experience of putting on the muscle. Good for her no matter how she wants to look, I am just glad she enjoyed the experience.

I don't know if I will get much written this weekend, I'm not sure what P.R. has planned, but next week will be a writing fest. I am so looking forward to it!

Don't forget to check out our podcast, Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt. The full interview with romance author DJ Jamison is now streaming and next week we have the first part of the interview with Allie "Book Historia" Alvis, you will not want to miss these interviews! You can find links to the show and the guests' social media at the end of this blog post.

For now, I want to get back to writing so I can be ready to stop when it is time to head out for date night so I am going to cut this short. I hope you all have something great planned for you and yours this weekend. I always wish for the very best for everyone.

Have a great weekend, people! Now, go forth and be happy!

Dianne

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Beets.

Beets who?

Beets me!

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Goat.

Goat who?

Goat to the door and see who it is!

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

You.

You who?

Yoo-hoo! How are you?

Knock, knock

Who there?

Butter.

Butter who?

Butter let me in or I’m freezing out here

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Adam.

Adam who?

Adam my way, I’m coming through!

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Radio.

Radio who?

Radio not, I'm coming in!

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Witches.

Witches who?

Witches the best way to get to the beach?

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Abby.

Abby who?

Abby birthday to you!

And last but not least ...

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Weekend.

Weekend who?

Weekend do anything we want!

Knock Knock Jokes For Kids | Vol. 1 |

As Told By.. Koala & Giraffe :)

https://youtu.be/58nizWD3rLMKnock Knock Jokes For Kids | Vol. 2 |

As Told By.. Koala & Giraffe :)

https://youtu.be/NumVqBk0O8k

Important Links:

Listen to our podcast, Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt every Wednesday on any of these providers and more. Check your favorite for listings.

Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt Home Page Buzzsprout Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music Subscribe to Our Newsletter Members Only Page (Join and Listen to free audiobook and Book Banter Archive) Writing Prompt Challenge (Submission links on page)

About Dianne:

Dianne Burckhardt, Award-Winning Indie Author What is a Chiari Malformation , a Syrinx (Syringomyelia) , and Hydrocephalus ? Want to know more about the host of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt (formerly Whatever Wednesday with Dianne burckhardt)? Check out Episode 1: Who Am I?

Support Our Book Banter Buddies (past and future guests):

DJ Jamison, Amazon Author Page (Episodes 21 & 22: July 6 & 13, 2022) ,Two Truths and a Lyle, free book promotion Entire selection of books in promotional giveaway Allie "Book Historia" Alvis website (Episodes 23 & 24: July 20 & 27, 2022) Book Historia Social Media: ,Bite Sized Book History - YouTube Channel ,Twitter Instagram Mark L. Redmond website: The Box M Gang (Episode 8: March 23, 2022) Buy The Box M Gang on Amazon Buy The Box M Gang on Barnes & Noble Booksellers Kavo Creative Studio - Mastering Videos for Makers (TBA)

Support Us:

It's even easier now to support Burckhardt Books and our Book Banter Podcast, many options are no cost to you. ,Click here, for more information.