Tina Gayle's Blog, page 117

There's a Blogger Born Every Minute

by Cheryl St.John.


Everybody has a blog and most of us subscribe to more blogs than we can possibly read, so what can we do to attract readers to our particular blog? Decide first if this is something you can commit to. You can't hold readers if you're not faithful about new content.


Carve out a niche for yourself: Brand yourself with color, a photo, graphics, content, voice -- anything and everything that makes your content and appearance appealing and unique.


Giveaways: Many readers leave comments if you're holding a drawing. Pick up an extra book or DVD and hold a drawing. Ask your friends for a book or a special craft to give away.


Articles: Currently on Fridays I post blogs on the craft of writing. I feature authors who write the same sort of books I do, whose books I've enjoyed, and books written by friends.


Create a special day (or holiday) event: A few ideas are Hero Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday or Favorite Book Friday. Come up with something unique to you. I hold a Christmas Tree Tour every year throughout the month of December and readers and authors send me photos of their Christmas trees. It's a huge hit and readers have come to anticipate it. I've even had a couple of editors mention it to me.

Lists: People love a list and will often post theirs. Favorite romantic songs, favorite romantic movies or comedies, favorite authors or new TV shows you plan to catch are just a few ideas.



Reviews: Give your opinion on books you've read, movies you've seen, who you think should be voted off American Idol, your choices on Dancing With the Stars, the Olympic performances. When you tag your blog with a popular tag, you'll get hits from people googling that topic.


Recipes: Family favorites or cooking for special occasions. Ask friends to share their favorites. Nearly everyone likes an easy recipe.



Photos and graphics: 1) I make it a point never to post a blog without a picture. People are much more likely to pause in their surfing and read if there's a photo. For a solid year I posted Photo Friday and featured only a photo I'd taken myself. It was a very popular feature. 2) Title your photos. Don't ever post a graphic or photo that is labeled simply DMS00087. Keep tags interesting and people doing google searches will find your photo and come to look. Your photo: Keep it front and center on all promo. Seeing a face lets people think they know you. It's friendly and worth a thousand words.


Be professional: Published or unpublished, it doesn't matter, publishing houses you query will seek out your web presence. If you're published, your editors and the marketing department will look to see how you present yourself and use copyrighted materials. The publishing industry truly is a small world. Word gets around. Persons of influence can show up in the least likely places a year from now.

Don't make a scene if you get an ugly rejection. Don't criticize a reviewer who didn't get your book. Don't bash an editor or another author. Even if you remove a hastily-posted remark, you've left a permanent imprint in cyberspace that can't be completely erased. Even if you write humor, conduct yourself with class and dignity.



Enjoy: Most importantly, have fun and don't let blogging become just one more thing you have to do.


Cheryl St.John


Marrying the Preacher's Daughter, Love Inspired Historical 6/11


Her Wyoming Man, Harlequin Historical 7/11


Visit me on the web: http://www.cherylstjohn.net/

Thanks again Cheryl for sharing.

Romantic Tip - The Right Mindset

If you think about romance, then you will automatically begin to discover ways to make a evening more romantic.

* Maybe by "switching gears" at the end of the day from work mode to pleasure mode.

* Seeing opportunities arise in simple things - like the wild flowers on the side of the road. -- Wouldn't my lover like a few?
-- your favorite wine is on sale - why not pick up a bottle?
-- yeah, I think now would be a good time for a kiss.

See it doesn't take major planning just the ability to see the opportunities when they come up.

Have a wonderful day,

Tina

Poetry - the music of a Romantic

Try saying a few line of a poem to your lover.

That of course means you need to read up on poetry.

Like-

How do I love you
let me count the ways--
(now mention a few things that you love about your special someone)

Remember romance is about having the right mindset. If you think it is romantic then hopefully your lover will too.

Tina

Simple Things can create Romantic moments.

Ask your lover, wife, partner to sit next you instead of in their favorite recliner.

Hold hands while walking through the grocery store.

Give your lover a kiss when they do something special. Like hit a good shot in golf.

Leave a message or text saying "I love you. You are very special to me."

Try a few little things and see how they make a difference in the bigger picture.


Tina

My sisters at HWG are RITA Finalists: Mary Connealy and Cheryl St.John

Mary Connealy is a finalist in the Inspirational Category for Doctor in Petticoats Buy Doctor in Petticoats now!
Doctor Alex Buchanan is a wanted man--a deseter from the army stalked by a bounty hunter--but he'd rather be dead than inflict any more pain on his patients. Beth McClellan is idealistic, believing the nursing training she received will be enough to help her serve as doctor to her home town in West Texas. When Alex and Beth meet in a stagecoach accident, they find that they work well together. But are his demons and her dreams too deeply rooted for either of them to pay the price required for a future together?

[image error] Cheryl St.John is a finalist in the Novella Category with Mountain Rose. Purchase the anthology, To Be a Mother, Now! Mountain Rose by Cheryl St.John Teacher Olivia Rose knows what it's like to grow up alone and unwanted. But convincing reserved rancher Jules Parrish he can give his orphaned niece a real home won't be easy--unless Olivia seizes the chance of love and motherhood she never expected....

Congratulations, Ladies!!!!!

Romantic Tip #3

Check out the area in which you live and try some place new.

Ask friends or co-workers were they like to go and get address to try them out.

Or if you don't like trying new places, why not visit a place you haven't been in a long time. Maybe, where you proposed, or had you're first kiss.


Have fun and kiss sweetheart today.

Tina

A Smart Romantic Tip

Having plants in our work space and homes are said to help us live longer.

So why not instead of giving her roses that will die, give her or him something that will last. I love the mini-roses that you can buy now. They are beautiful and can live on your desk for months if not years.

The rose I have in my hand above is artifical and marks the sale of my first book. A wonderful keepsake.

Try something new and keep the romance alive.

Tina

Desert in Bloom

Wanted to share some of the unique plants in the Joshua Tree area. Right now the desert is beginning to bloom, a truly wonderful thing to see and enjoy.



This little tree is called a burning bush because of the different colors of its branches. What you can't see in the picture is those little stems are actually long thorns. Not a fun bush to fall into.

Check out some of the other plants on my website.


http://www.tinagayle.net/picture.html





Have a great week,

Tina

Romantic Tip - Visit a Winery

Back when my husband and I lived in Nebraska one of my favorite things to do was go to a winery. We shared time together and found some amazing wines.

Most of them, I like better than the California wines that I can now get.

Give it a go and add a little romance to your life.

Tina

Joshua Tree National Park

Now that we are back in Southern California had to go visit the national parks.

Joshua Tree is near Palm Springs and is a taste of the dessert with beautiful landscape to enjoy.




Check out my website to see more awesome views.


http://www.tinagayle.net/picture.html