Judith A. Barrett's Blog, page 14

Now You Know!

Did you ever think about when Santa Claus takes a vacation and where does he go?

While everyone else is busy thinking about Christmas and getting ready for a nice Christmas break, Santa Claus takes his holiday where it’s warm.

Rose and Landy found Santa Claus in Portugal, of course. Isn’t that where you’d go for a week’s vacation if you lived in the brisk, cold North Pole?

Santa sees you! But you already knew that, didn’t you?

 

[image error]

 

Traveling to the Iberian Peninsula

[image error]

FlatRose is at the Orlando Airport and is ready for her next travel adventure! L., E., and Rose are going to Portugal and Spain. First stop – Lisbon!

Pink Baby Alligator is waving to her fans as they stroll by. Or maybe she’s bidding everyone happy travels.

Two Authors

[image error]

She stopped by the local writers’ tent at the Newberry Fall Festival, and her grandmother bought her an early Christmas present. She’s an aspiring writer. Watch for her in about ten years. Remember, you met her here first.

I Always Wanted To Be A Spy – Description

[image error]

By the time MAGGIE SLOAN is four years old, she is a focused, self-trained spy.  In the second grade, she expands her remarkable talents for observation and data analysis by programming her first computer tracking system.  After college, Maggie’s diverse job searches are futile until she is hired by the county library.

When Maggie’s brilliant observational talents and her potential to expose complex criminal activity draw the attention of an international ring, she becomes their target. However, a senseless murder changes her life forever, and MAGGIE transforms from prey to predator.

Will the librarian with the soul of a spy and the unusual security team stop the desperate kingpins or will she become the latest victim? It all comes down to kill or be killed.

Author, Subspecies Independent

[image error]

I’m an Independent Author, a businesswoman, and an entrepreneur.  I’m surprised when I tell people, even other writers, that I’m an Indie Author their response is “What’s that?”

I want to say, “I write for Indiana Jones.” Wouldn’t that be the coolest answer ever? But instead, I stick with the mundane. “A free-agent author.” Then I worry I might appear on some fantasy football draft.

Their response, “Oh. Self-published.” Do they even realize how much disdain drips out of their mouths and onto their shirts? Ewwww.

My answer: I flip the book over and point at the publisher logo. And give them the dreaded Mom Stink Eye.

My publishers are indie businesses, not traditional publishers. More entrepreneurship. No advances, no agents, no on-staff editors, no hundreds of books published a month.  And I have complete control over the creative compositions, my novels, from start to finish.

My readers love what I write and read my books. And even review my books! I adore my readers.

Oh. If you see Indie, tell him I said Hi. Better yet, tell him to drop by the farm for a homemade brownie.

 

 

 

THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS Featured on Amazon

THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS will be featured in an Amazon Countdown promotion November 5-13.


 


On November 5 at 11:00 AM EDT, the Kindle edition will be $3.99.


 


The Amazon Countdown promotion raises the price by a $1.00 every other day until November 13 at 3:00 AM when it reaches the regular Kindle edition price for THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS of $8.99.


 


And because THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS also does well in the UK, there is a similar promotion at the same time for my Over the Pond readers. I still think Amazon should have named it the Count Up promotion,


 


A reminder: If you have purchased the Kindle Unlimited subscription, you can borrow THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS for free as one of your ten books. If you buy a Kindle edition, it doesn’t count as one of your borrowed books.

 

[image error]

THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS on AMAZON

 

 

An Interesting Non-Social Experiment

 

[image error]

How long could you go without your cell phone?
An hour? A day? Four days?

I’m about to undergo a most interesting experiment. My cell phone, still under warranty, has lost its ability to charge. The battery has dwindled to 25% from 48% an hour ago. Its battery life is draining away. (That’s the dramatic writer in me speaking.)

My replacement phone is expected to be delivered in three or four days. Meanwhile, I’ll be going dark. Unleashed.  No cell phone ordering me to look at an email, read a text, or divulge my location.  No instant response to social media.

[image error]

I predict I’ll finish my final edit of I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A SPY.  And my house will be spotless.

 

I Always Wanted To Be A Spy

[image error]

This is the cover for I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A SPY.

Maggie’s spy training began when she was 4. As a librarian, her observation skills threaten a lucrative criminal venture.

Publish date: January 2019.

 

Author Highlights ~ Misty Hayes

[image error]
About Misty Hayes

Misty Hayes has always had a thing for escaping headfirst into fantastical books, which is what led her to start writing her own adventures. As someone who has spent a long career in law enforcement, Misty has a love for strong female protagonists. She also directs short films and claims to have been bitten by the traveling bug (not to be mistaken for a radioactive spider).

When Misty isn’t filming or roaming the planet, or diving into another novel, she’s spending time at home in Texas with her myriad of nieces and nephews in tow.

The Blood Dagger Series is a high-octane Young Adult Paranormal trilogy.

Misty Hayes Author Page on Amazon

The Blood Dagger Series

 

Interview with Misty Hayes

Q. How would your 10-year-old self react to what you do?

A. I may be biased here, but I’d like to think that my ten-year-old self would be slack-jawed and wide-eyed—police officer and writer—I still feel extremely fortunate in being able to do both.

Q. What is your definition of success? 

A. That’s a great question, I guess if/when I get there I’ll be able to answer this question more thoroughly. Easy answer is—being happy with where I’m at in life at that particular moment. Sometimes it’s hard for me to enjoy the little moments like I should.

Q. What is a dream you have that you’ve yet to achieve? 

A. Having my book be turned into a major motion picture or TV show.

Q. If you see a puddle on the ground, do you walk around it or over it? 

A. Depends on how lazy I’m feeling at that particular time. I love to run in the rain, though… makes me feel like a kid again.

Q. What tips do you have for a new writer? 

A.  Don’t overthink your work; have faith in your characters and writing because in the end, you’re the only one who can bring them to life.

Spying on Sweet Procrastination

[image error]

What do you get when an author who is also a farmer with fifty chickens avoids writing the next chapter of Book One of the SWEET DEAL COZY MYSTERIES because it might be scary?

A sweet chicken procrastinator.

 

[image error]

What do you get when an author avoids the final editing of the novel, I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A SPY, because editing stinks?

A sweet, stinky, spying chicken procrastinator.

 

[image error]

What do you get when it’s blog day on the schedule and an author avoids writing a blog?

A sweet, stinky, spying chicken procrastinator blog.