Judith A. Barrett's Blog, page 8
October 26, 2020
Halloween Preparations 2020
After we moved from the suburbs to the country many years ago, I lost interest in Halloween. Trick or treaters don’t trudge from house to house when the houses are a mile or more apart. There’s not a good return on investment there – just ask any six-year-old trick or treater who calculates success by the number of pieces of candy per hour.
The year 2020 has broken the “same ole, same ole” rule. But not all is bad because this year, Halloween falls on Saturday! For the first time in 2020, I’m attending a fair to talk to actual people in real life and sell a few books!
Of course, all good book and artisan fairs begin with planning.
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Actual picture of my vendor friends and me planning for the Elevate Artisan Market.
Elevate Artisan Market Tap or Click
The 125!! artisans are all local folks, and every item on display for sale at the outdoor Elevate Artisan Market was hand-crafted by the artisan. Did I tell you the Elevate Artisan Market is hosted on an Alpaca Farm? Did you know that the motto of the farm is Spit Happens?
Because it’s Halloween, Elevate Artisan Market is hosting a Trick or Treat bonanza to satisfy even the most discerning six-year-old candy-counter. 125 artisans, most of whom had not seen a trick or treater in years, are preparing for the Trick or Treat festival that will never be forgotten. Calculate THAT, you number-crunching, candy-munching six-year-olds!
Because children are invited to wear costumes, wouldn’t you guess the crazy creatives who are staffing those booths might be in costume too? I won’t tell you exactly what my costume is, but here’s a peek at my vendor apron.
Do these spiders make me look fat?
Click or tap the apron to fly to my website.
I might need to find a broom appropriate for someone who is wearing a spider apron.
If you can get to Cairo, Georgia by October 31, bring your mask and your favorite trick or treaters. It will be a fun, sweet, exhausting, beautiful day.
And in case you wondered, Cairo is pronounced KAY-Row in south Georgia. Like the syrup. Which may be pronounced sir-RUP or SEE-rup or …
See you at the sweetest Halloween Artisan Fair in the entire United States. (Go ahead. Name even one other)
October 18, 2020
Apples or Pumpkins
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So many annual events have been postponed until 2021, so I wondered how many of the 2020 outdoor fall festivals would proceed as planned. My research led me to conclude there are two major fall festivals – apple and pumpkin.
As an aside, did you expect Halloween festivals in addition to apple or in place of pumpkin? Not this year. My theory is that not everyone can fit into last year’s costume.
Back to our fall festivals. From there, I jumped into the next rabbit hole – given a choice, which would people prefer? Or more specifically, apples or pumpkins – which do readers prefer?
So, I asked my newsletter readers their preference – apples or pumpkins. The result? Apples won and by such a large percentage, that I gave APPLE the opportunity for a cameo appearance in my newly released novel. Much to my surprise, Apple made two appearances. Let’s see if the readers find both of them.
If you are interested in becoming a subscriber to my newsletter, you are welcome to join us in our shenanigans.
Here’s the link! Click or tap! Subscribe to the Newsletter!
June 8, 2020
Old Hens Know All the Tricks
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We started our chicken journey with eight chickens in February 2014. Here’s a one-day-old Buff Orpington. This one could be Eva, Joanna, Ruthie, or Leah. The other four chicks were Black Australorps: Lydia, Ninja, Sarah, and Rachel.
Lydia is the only one of the original that we still have, and she is still laying at least every other day. We have forty other chickens. They may be bigger, faster, and more aggressive, but nobody gives Lydia grief. Old hens know all the tricks.
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Sadie was born in December 2005. Her back legs aren’t as strong as they used to be, and her hearing is almost nonexistent. The aggressive tumor in her right eye was removed last year along with her eye, and her left eye doesn’t see so good. But she’s a happy old girl and still runs the paths and deer trails and keeps track of everyone. She loves the dog door because she can stick out her nose and check the weather and the smells.
Sadie loves camping and being outside, but when it’s hot, she loves being in the air conditioning. Old dogs know all the tricks.
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Farmer Woman was born way before you all. Her eyesight is lousy, and she can’t see stars at night. She cleans the chicken coop every day and loves to learn new things. She writes novels, established a publishing business, and is a marketer. She drags heavy limbs to the burn pile and is a weather expert.
She loves camping and being outside, but when it’s hot and buggy, she loves being in the air conditioning. Old Farmer Women know all the tricks.
May 8, 2020
How to Whitelist Your Email
Since your Email Provider probably uses some type of overzealous filtering; We ask that you add us to your trusted list of senders, contacts or address book. All also known as “Whitelisting.”
If you do not see an email from Judith A. Barrett in your Inbox, my email may have mistakenly been sent to your spam folder.
Please open your spam folder and if you find an email from Judith A. Barrett open it and mark it as “Not spam”…
NEXT: Click your provider below to Whitelist judith@judithabarrett.com
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Is your email client or spam filter not listed?
If Judith A. Barrett is being filtered, try adding judith@judithabarrett.com to your Address Book or Contact list.
If messages continue to be sent to your junk folder contact your ISP or spam filter application support and ask how to whitelist judith@judithabarrett.com
Gmail
At times, Gmail mistakenly sends emails you want, to the Spam folder…
If you do not readily find an email from Judith A. Barrett
Please check your Gmail Spam Folder:
To assure you continue to get emails you asked to receive, Create a Filter
If you find an email from Judith A. Barrett in Gmail spam?
Open the email please.
Click ‘Dots’ button on the top right, to reveal your choices.
Click Filter messages like this
Reply
Forward
Filter messages like this
Click the button Create filter to open your settings.
From the next menu, please check these options
Never send it to Spam
Always mark it as important
Also apply filter to matching conversations
Categorize as: Choose Category…
Under the “Categorize as: Choose Category…”
Click the dropdown icon next to “Choose Category…”
Please select Primary in the next options menu.
Choose Category…
Primary
Social
Updates
Forums
Promotions
Click the blue Create filter button, to save your settings
Now you will always see Judith A. Barrett in your Primary Inbox tab!
Next, if the email remains open? Please mark the email as “Not spam”
– If you see an email from Judith A. Barrett: Open the email please.
– Click the button on the alert, labeled Report Not spam
Why is this message in spam? It is similar to messages that were identified as spam in the past.
Report not spam
Gmail Tabs
– If you are using Gmail Tabs such as ‘Promotions’ please open your Promotions tab in Gmail.
– If you find an email from Judith A. Barrett in your Gmail Promotions tab:
– Grab and drag my email to the Primary Inbox Tab.
– After doing so, you will receive an alert like the one below at the top of your Gmail toolbar.
Conversation moved to Primary. Do this for future messages from judith@judithabarrett.com?
Yes Undo
– Click Yes in the black alert box at Gmail.
– This way you will always see Judith A. Barrett in your Primary Inbox tab…
Also you can create a filter…
– If you find an email from Judith A. Barrett in your Gmail Promotions tab:
– Open the email please.
– Click the dots menu on the top left of the email.
Click Filter messages like this.
Reply
Forward
Filter messages like this
Click the button Create filter to open your settings.
Please select Primary in the next options menu.
Choose Category…
Primary
Social
Updates
Forums
Promotions
Click the blue Create filter button, to save your settings
Now you will always see Judith A. Barrett in your Primary Inbox tab…
Gmail Mobile App
If you are using the Gmail Mobile App on your mobile device, please open the app now
Should you not readily see an email from Judith A. Barrett, please check the Spam Folder:
Should an email from Judith A. Barrett appear mistakenly sent to Gmail spam?
Please open the email and Tap the icon.
Move to
Snooze
Change labels
Mark as not important
Select “Change labels…”
Check the box next to Inbox
Tap OK to save your settings
Are you are using Gmail Tabs such as “Promotions” please open your Promotions tab in Gmail.
When you find the email from Judith A. Barrett
Tap the menu icon – top right.
Then select Move to.
Move to
Snooze
Change labels
Then select Primary from the list.
This should help Gmail to know, you always want to see Judith A. Barrett in your Primary Inbox tab…
Yahoo! Mail
If you do not see an email from Judith A. Barrett in your Inbox…
Check your Spam Folder. If an email from Judith A. Barrett is there?
– Please open the email.
– Next click the Not Spam button on the top toolbar.
To ensure delivery: Create a filter to automatically send email from Judith A. Barrett to your Inbox.
– Move your mouse over or tap the Gear icon in the top right navigation bar.
– Select Settings from the list that drops down.
– Choose Filters located on the left side of the page.
– Click the Add button on the Filters page.
– Create a name such as Whitelist in the Filter name
– In the From field leave the default contains
– Enter our email address judith@judithabarrett.com in the text box next to ..
– Choose the destination folder to which you would like the message delivered. For example: Inbox.
– Click or tap ..
– You will see in the next screen -Deliver to Inbox if From contains Judith A. Barrett–
– Click or tap Save on this screen.
– You will be returned to your Yahoo! Inbox.
iPhone Mail App
iPhone Mail identifies most junk mail (spam) sent to your @icloud.com address or aliases, but it can mistakenly move email incorrectly to your Junk mail folder.
Periodically check the Junk folder for email messages that were marked as junk mistakenly.
To indicate that an email message from Judith A. Barrett isn�t junk:
– Open your Mail app and go to the Mailboxes screen
– Scroll down to the folders area
– Select the Junk
– Find the email from Judith A. Barrett and slide it left to see options.
– Tap the More
– Tap the Mark
– Tap the Mark as Not Junk
The message is moved to your Inbox. Subsequent email messages from Judith A. Barrett will no longer be marked as junk.
By default, messages in the Junk folder are deleted after 30 days so be sure to check it often to whitelist relevant email.
Outlook Mobile App
Outlook’s mobile app now offers a “Focused Inbox” for your important email
– To add Judith A. Barrett to your list of Focused Inbox on the Outlook App…
Please open the mobile Outlook app on your Android, Microsoft or iPhone:
Then open the email from Judith A. Barrett:
– Click the dropdown menu on the top right of your Inbox.
– On the menu displayed tap Move to Focused Inbox
– Select the Move this and all future messages button.
– Tap Move
Now all future messages from Judith A. Barrett will appear in your Focused Inbox
You can also remove unwanted emails from your Focused Inbox as well by repeating this process in your Focused tab.
Outlook 2003, Outlook 2016 and Outlook Office 365
To ensure you continue to receive important emails in Outlook Office:
Please add Judith A. Barrett to your list of “Safe senders” on Outlook:
– Right click our email in your Inbox email list pane.
– On the menu displayed move your mouse over or tap Junk
– Click or tap on Never block sender in the menu that rolls out.
– The resulting popup will say:
– “The sender of the selected message has been added to your Safe Senders List.”
– Click OK
To add sender to address book:
– Open the email
– Right click on the from address
– Choose Add to contacts option
Outlook.com
Previously “Hotmail”, “Live”, “Windows Live” and “MSN”…
In the new Outlook.com you must click the Wait it’s safe link if you find emails incorrectly identified as spam.
Entering the email contact in the address book or contacts no longer whitelists the sender.
To ensure messages from specific email addresses are not sent to your Junk Email folder, you can do one of two things:
– Check the Junk If you see the Judith A. Barrett email in your Inbox
– Open the email from Judith A. Barrett…
– Click the “Wait it’s safe” link
Mark Sender as “Wait it’s safe!
Judith A. Barrett (judith@judithabarrett.com)
To: you@outlook.com
Microsoft SmartScreen marked this message as junk and we’ll delete it after ten days.
Wait, it’s safe! | I’m not sure. Let me check
Manually Add to Safe List
– Click gear the icon on the top right.
– Select Options in the drop down list.
– On the Options page under Preventing junk email click Safe and blocked senders
– Click the link Safe senders on the next page.
– Enter the email address judith@judithabarrett.com in the text box.
– Click Add to list
– Judith A. Barrett will now be added to your list of Safe senders
– Emails added to your Safe senders will not be delivered by mistake to your Junk
AOL Webmail
To ensure important emails get delivered to your AOL Inbox- Please complete these two steps…
If you find Judith A. Barrett in your spam folder:
Right click the email.
Click “Not spam” in the resulting list.
Add judith@judithabarrett.com to your Address Book:
– Open the email from Judith A. Barrett
– Click the show details link next to Judith A. Barrett in the From field.
– Move your mouse over or tap judith@judithabarrett.com to show the menu.
– Click or tap Add contact in the menu displayed.
– Add Judith A. Barrett to the name fields
– Click Add contact
Next: Please Enable Images
Images blocked Show images | Don’t block this sender
– By default AOL now blocks all images.
– Open the email from Judith A. Barrett
– Click Don’t block this sender
– Now you will see our complete emails with no effort on your part…
Email from that Domain will now be delivered straight to your Inbox.
Comcast
Please log into your Xfinity account and select your Comcast webmail:
Should you find an email from Judith A. Barrett in your spam folder:
Open the email.
Click the Spam (not spam) icon on the top toolbar.
Next please, add Judith A. Barrett to your address book:
– Please open the email from Judith A. Barrett.
– Click on the button at the top left of the email that says:
judith@judithabarrett.com
+ Add to Address Book
– That will open your edit contact screen.
– Then click Save and you’re all done.
EarthLink
If you are not receiving email at EarthLink, there are two actions you can take.
– Check Suspect Email folder
– Add Judith A. Barrett to your address book.
With EarthLink, if you have SpamBlocker turned on, suspect messages are automatically send to your Suspect Email folder if the Domain is not in your address book.
Suspect Email Folder:
– While in the Suspect Email folder, if you see Judith A. Barrett…
– Select the Move to Inbox and Add Contact option from the drop down menu.
– This will add judith@judithabarrett.com to your Address Book for future email delivery assurance.
Address Book Inclusion:
– Open the email.
– Click Add to Address Book in the email header.
– Use the Address Book Editor to verify the sender’s contact details and click save.
– Fill in judith@judithabarrett.com as the email address of the sender.
– Any mail sent with the same Domain (right of the @ sign) will now be delivered to your Inbox.
AT&T
AT&T no longer maintains their own inbox.
Instead you can find your AT&T emails at Att.Yahoo.com
Please follow the Yahoo instructions for whitelisting an ATT.net email address.
Click or Tap here, to scroll to the Yahoo instructions…
Mozilla Thunderbird
Please open your Thunderbird email client:
If an email from Judith A. Barrett appears in your Junk Folder:
Please mark that message as Not Junk.
Next, please add Judith A. Barrett to your Address Book:
– Click the Address Book
– Make sure the Personal Address Book is highlighted.
– Click the New Contact
– Under the Contact tab, copy and paste the “From” address, judith@judithabarrett.com into the email text box.
– Click OK.
Security Software
Norton AntiSpam
This problem may occur if judith@judithabarrett.com is accidentally added to the Blocked List.
To remove the judith@judithabarrett.com from the Blocked List:
– Start your Norton product.
– Click Settings.
– Depending on your Norton product, do one of the following:
For Norton 360:
In the Settings window, under Detailed Settings, click AntiSpam.
On the Filter tab, next to Blocked List, click Configure.
For Norton Internet Security:
In the Settings window, on the Network tab, click Message Protection.
Under AntiSpam, next to Blocked List, click Configure.
– In the Blocked List window, select the item that you want to remove, and then click Remove.
– Click Apply, and then click OK.
– If you do not find judith@judithabarrett.com in the Blocked list, go to next step.
To add judith@judithabarrett.com to the Allowed List:
– Start your Norton product.
– Click Settings.
– Depending on your Norton product, do one of the following:
For Norton 360:
In the Settings window, under Detailed Settings, click AntiSpam.
On the Filter tab, next to Allowed List, click Configure.
For Norton Internet Security:
In the Settings window, on the Network tab, click Message Protection.
Under AntiSpam, next to Allowed List, click Configure.
– In the Allowed List window, click Add.
– In the Add Email Address window, from the Address Type drop-down, select the address type.
– Add judith@judithabarrett.com, and then click OK.
– In the Allowed List window, click Apply, and then click OK.
McAfee Products
While McAfee has removed spam protection in the latest Anti-Virus software- You may still have a version that offers spam filtering.
In order to add Judith A. Barrett to the friends whitelist, please open McAfee and click on Web & Email Protection.
Then click on Anti-Spam
There you can see various settings. You can change the spam protection level, change filter settings, etc.
Click on Friends list
– Please add judith@judithabarrett.com to your “Friends List” to always allow emails from Judith A. Barrett.
Trend Micro
If you received an email message from Judith A. Barrett that was incorrectly moved to the Spam Mail folder by the Anti-Spam Toolbar you can prevent this from occurring in the future
The Anti-Spam Toolbar detects spam by looking for certain keywords in the email’s subject or body. Occasionally, it may detect what you consider legitimate email as spam.
To prevent this from occurring you can do either of the following:
– Add the Judith A. Barrett to the list of Approved Senders.
– Decrease the Spam Email Filter Strength.
Note: You can also select the email and click Not Spam to report it to Trend Micro. However, this feature serves only as a reference to their spam database, and it may not have an effect on how the toolbar detects spam.
Add the sender to the list of Approved Senders:
– Open Microsoft Outlook.
– Click the Spam Mail folder then select the legitimate email detected as spam.
– Click Approve Sender on the toolbar.
– Click Yes when the confirmation message appears.
Decrease the Spam Email Filter Strength:
– Open Microsoft Outlook.
– Click Trend Micro Anti-Spam then click Settings.
– On the Spam Filter tab, move the slider bar to select a lower filter strength.
– Click OK to save your settings.
Spam Filters
Cloudmark SpamNet
Cloudmark filters email based on content footprints. To assure our email has not been mis-identified as spam:
– Select Cloudmark | Options… from the Cloudmark SpamNet toolbar in Outlook.
– Click Advanced.
– Go to the Whitelist tab.
– Click the Add button.
– Type: judith@judithabarrett.com
– Click OK.
– Click OK.
– Click Yes.
– Click OK.
SaneBox
Sanebox is not a filter, but a filtering system trained by you.
– Open your Webmail or Gmail where you use SaneBox.
– Open your @SaneLater folder.
– If you find an email from Judith A. Barrett or an email from judith@judithabarrett.com in @SaneLater…
– Please drag my email to your Inbox folder.
– By doing this you will always get our great content in your Inbox from now on!
Spam Assassin
Spam Assassin is usually administered by your server admin. Please contact your admin and request that he or she:
– Add the following entry to your user_prefs file, which is found in the .spamassassin subdirectory on your web/mail server
– whitelist_from judith@judithabarrett.com
– Save the user_prefs file or move the updated copy to your .spamassassin subdirectory.
Barracuda Networks
Occasionally, Barracuda Spam Firewall will mark a legitimate message as spam. There are two methods to whitelist email senders.
Whitelist Quarantined Senders:
– Open your email client. Barracuda should send you a summary each day listing quarantined items. Choose the most recent Barracuda email message.
– Locate the email from Judith A. Barrett and the sender email address judith@judithabarrett.com that you do not want quarantined in the future. Click on the word “Whitelist,” which is in green print to the right of the email title. This will open your list in a web browser.
– Click the box to the left of the email that you would like to whitelist. At the top of the page, click “Whitelist.” Barracuda will not block or quarantine the sender whose email address appears on the whitelist.
Whitelist Senders and Domains:
– Open your web browser. Navigate to your company’s Barracuda firewall homepage.
– Click on the Block/Accept
– Choose “Sender Domain Block/Accept.” Enter the Domain name from judith@judithabarrett.com to whitelist. For example, you can enter aol.com to allow all AOL addresses.
– You may enter a comment to remind you why you allowed this Domain. Click “Add.”
– Click your mouse on the “Email Sender Block/Accept” tab. Enter the email address of an individual sender that you want to whitelist, such as “judith@judithabarrett.com“
– Include a comment. Click “Add.” In the future, Barracuda will not block emails from this sender.
Most Used Spam Filters
SPAMfighter
Highlight the email from Judith A. Barrett with the email address judith@judithabarrett.com to Whitelist.
Click “More” in the SPAMfighter Toolbar and select “Whitelist”.
Here you can choose if you want to Whitelist the email address judith@judithabarrett.com or the whole Domain.
To be sure that all emails from people in your Outlook contacts get through to you, you can import and Whitelist them.
To do this, follow these steps:
– Click “More” in the SPAMfighter toolbar.
– Then “Options”
– Then “Filter settings”
– Then “Blacklists & Whitelists”
– Then “Whitelist email address”
– Then “Import”.
– Select your ‘Address Book’ and click on “Check all”
– Click “Add”
– Click “Apply”
If you get a pop-up box offering you to upgrade to SPAMfighter Pro, it is because you have exceeded the limit of 100 addresses. You can fix this by buying SPAMfighter Pro or by deleting some of the addresses in your Black/White list. If you want to delete addresses, please go to:
– Click More” in the SPAMfighter toolbar.
– Then “Options”
– Then “Filter settings”
– Then “Blacklists & Whitelists”
Mail Washer
– Click Tools, then Blacklist & Friends.
– Click Add… on the right, the Friends list side.
– Make sure Plain email address is selected.
– Type: judith@judithabarrett.com
– Click OK.
– Click OK.
ChoiceMail
– Open ChoiceMail
– Click on the Senders tab
– Choose “Approve another Sender”
– Type in the sender email address judith@judithabarrett.com
– Click on OK
Spam Sleuth
– Select File, then Configure.
– Go to the Friends category.
– Make sure Active is checked.
– Type: judith@judithabarrett.com on a line by itself in the entry field.
– Click OK.
Judith A. Barrett is in no way associated with any of the brands, websites or applications quoted here. All Trademarks ® are the property of their respective owners.
Created with Email Whitelist Generator v5.0
April 7, 2020
Reflection: God’s Power
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God gives me words to ponder. The words He spoke in early December overwhelmed me. My husband sat with me after church while I sobbed from the intensity of the Holy Spirit’s message: Big; Overwhelming. I had no idea what God meant. I told my husband and our pastor, but I had no explanation, and they were as puzzled as I was.
Then God’s word at the beginning of January was Wait. Has God ever told you to wait? Evidently, I’m a slow learner because this wasn’t the first time God has told me Wait. Some words are comforting, but as far as I’m concerned, Wait is not one of them. Wait for what? How long? Sometimes my prayers sound like the words we’ve all heard from the back seat of a car, “Are we there yet?”
Mid-January, I had the message the deeper we dig, the deeper we get. I don’t consider myself terribly philosophical, but the words comforted me. I love to learn, and one of the best ways I learn is through digging deeper because the deeper I dig, the deeper I get and the more I learn.
This digging deeper skill, though, leaves me bewildered by the ways of polite society. If you say to me (which others have in the past), “Let’s do lunch,” I’ll pull up my calendar on my cell phone. “Great! When? What time? Where do you want to go?”
With my husband’s help, I’m working on my social skills, but I’m not stressing over it because I’ve realized it’s okay to be different. There’s a place for us literalists, and it’s okay to leave the surface and be a digger.
The first of February God reminded me, What’s next? Another comforting phrase because it’s a prayer my husband and I pray regularly that means “Prepare us for what’s next, Lord. We’re ready.”
More words in February: Inspiration; breathe in the Holy Spirit; Reconciliation; A sign; Silent. All comforting.
In early March we cut back on trips to stores and began limiting our time in public places. Staying at home was not a burden for me. As a natural introvert, it was a joy. More time to write, bake, and write some more. God’s word: Community. We thanked God for the community we found.
Was Lent longer than usual this year? Did someone throw in an extra month with that change to Daylight Savings time? It seemed like it to me!
I’ve never been much of a fan of Palm Sunday because of the foreshadowing of the downward spiral ahead, but this year I was thrilled to see Palm Sunday and put palm leaves on our front door. God’s word: Powerlessness. While it might sound frightening, it isn’t. It’s a message from God to accept my own powerlessness and lean on Him. I’m reminded of all the times that His strength became clear because of my weakness.
God’s word: Hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
April 2, 2020
Reader Magnet Short Story, Chapter 1
What Amazon Readers say:
“Every town needs a Donut Shop like this.”
“Wonderful book. Laughs and a mystery.”
While we wait for that Reader Magnet, Read the DONUT LADY MYSTERY SERIES, BOOKS 1, 2, and 3.
What Is a Reader Magnet?
A year ago, I had no idea what a reader magnet was. In my literalness, I envisioned a nice refrigerator magnet with a picture of a book and a puppy. And maybe a kitten and a chicken for good measure. I don’t know about anybody else’s readers except mine – but we all like books, puppies, kittens, and chickens.
Then I stumbled across the idea of a “short story” that would give a reader a taste of the author’s brilliant writing. My first thought: That’s dreadful.
The Short Story that Wasn’t a Reader Magnet
Case in point: I wrote a short story called Barter and Bargains three years ago and submitted it to millions of contests. (I typed jillions, but autocorrect frowns on exaggeration.) The maximum word count allowed was 5,000, so I had to trim my 7,500-word story back with a hatchet.
I received two recurring criticisms:
The story was too nice.
The critic/judge wanted to know more about the characters.
I learned four things from the experience:
I write nice characters that people want to know more about.
I am a great storyteller.
My writing craft skills needed work.
I can’t write short.
Wait, make it five: I’m not deflated by criticism.
What’s an Overgrown Short Story?
I expanded my short story to a longer story that I learned could be called a novella. Another unfamiliar bookish word for a reader becoming a writer who was learning about publishing.
I still didn’t have a reader magnet, but I had a nice short novel about a nice donut shop. I called my novella Sweet Deal until someone pointed out all the romance books that were titled, Sweet Deal.
Sidetrip: Genre
Then I learned another word. Genre. Whatever it meant exactly, I wasn’t sure, but I was definitely positive I was not a romance genre type of writer. Mystery? Yes. Science Fiction? Yes? Throw in a little Supernatural? Always.
Unwritten, Non-Negotiable Rules
After I published the novella, named Sweet Deal Sealed with the subtitle Novella, I marveled at the encouragement from readers for me to write another book about the Donut Lady. So I wrote Sweet Deal Concealed, Book 2, a longer book that is referred to as a novel, and the Donut Lady Mystery Series was born. Last summer, I published Sweet Deal Revealed, Book 3, another novel. Little did I know there is a magical rule in the Invisible Publishing Rule Book that says a series cannot have a novella as Book 1 if all the subsequent books in the series are novels.
Fighting an invisible rule is not healthy for one’s sanity. Take my word for it. It drove me crazy that “they” insisted on calling Book 1 Book 0.5 because it was a novella; and Book 2? “They” call it Book 1. Book 3? Book 2. “They” live by rules, not logic. Rant over.
If You Can’t Beat Them, Do Something Different
So I expanded Sweet Deal Sealed: A Novella to a second edition, full-length novel by adding a murder or two and called it Sweet Deal Sealed. Clever, no?
Side note: Amazon has been absolutely amazing in their support as I’m going through the process of replacing the novella with a novel and eventually retiring the novella.
This is all well and good and an absolutely lengthy story that probably could use a murder right about now to help the plot move along. However, I still don’t have a reader magnet.
Where is Reader Magnet?
Do we leave our hero, Reader Magnet, lost in the maze of bookish words and invisible rules? Of course not! Reader Magnet hitches up her pants and begins her quest for her true identity.
The Cliffhanger Part
While we’re waiting for the next installment of Reader Magnet, feel free to check out all my books on Amazon. Note: None of them are short stories or novellas except the scheduled-for-retirement one.
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Reader Magnet Series, Chapter 1
DONUT LADY MYSTERY SERIES, BOOKS 1, 2, and 3 with BOOK 4 scheduled for 2020. (Not Reader Magnets)
A year ago, I had no idea what a reader magnet was. In my literalness, I envisioned a nice refrigerator magnet with a picture of a book and a puppy. And maybe a kitten and a chicken for good measure. I don’t know about anybody else’s readers except mine – but we all like books, puppies, kittens, and chickens.
Then I stumbled across the idea of a “short story” that would give a reader a taste of the author’s brilliant writing. My first thought: Oh. That’s dreadful.
Case in point: I wrote a short story called Barter and Bargains three years ago and submitted it to millions of contests. (I typed jillions, but autocorrect frowns on exaggeration.) The maximum word count allowed was 5,000, so I had to trim my 7,500-word story back with a hatchet.
I received two recurring criticisms:
The story was too nice.
The critic/judge wanted to know more about the characters.
I learned four things from the experience:
I write nice characters that people want to know more about.
I am a great storyteller.
My writing craft skills needed work.
I can’t write short.
Wait, make it five: I’m not deflated by criticism.
I expanded my short story to a longer story that I learned could be called a novella. Another unfamiliar bookish word.
I still didn’t have a reader magnet, but I had a nice short novel about a nice donut shop. I called my novella Sweet Deal until someone pointed out all the romance books that were titled Sweet Deal.
Then I learned another word. Genre. Whatever it meant exactly, I wasn’t sure, but I was definitely positive I was not a romance genre type of writer.
After I published the novella, named Sweet Deal Sealed with the subtitle Novella, I marveled at the encouragement from readers for me to write another book about the Donut Lady. So I wrote Book 2, a longer book that is referred to as a novel, and the Donut Lady Mystery Series was born. Last summer, I published Book 3, another novel. Little did I know there is a magical rule in the Invisible Publishing Rule Book that says a series cannot have a novella as Book 1 if all the subsequent books in the series are novels. Fighting an invisible rule is not healthy for one’s sanity. Take my word for it.
So I expanded Sweet Deal Sealed: A Novella to a second edition, full-length novel by adding a murder or two and called it Sweet Deal Sealed. Clever, no?
Side note: Amazon has been absolutely amazing in their support as I’m going through the process of replacing the novella with a novel and eventually retiring the novella.
This is all well and good and an absolutely lengthy story that probably could use a murder right about now to help the plot move along. However, I still don’t have a reader magnet.
Do we leave our hero, Reader Magnet, lost in the maze of bookish words and invisible rules? Of course not! Reader Magnet hitches up her pants and begins her quest for her true identity.
While we’re waiting for the next installment of Reader Magnet, feel free to check out all my books on Amazon. Note: None of them are short stories or novellas except the scheduled-for-retirement one.
And if you’re interested in hearing about the monthly free Judith A. Barrett book – the newsletter subscribers get first notice – and other news, subscribe to the eNewsletter. Click or Tap to Subscribe
February 29, 2020
SECOND EDITION? Why?
SWEET DEAL SEALED, EXPANDED SECOND EDITION
DONUT LADY MYSTERY SERIES, BOOK 1
Why a Second Edition?
Short answer:
More Story! The first edition of SWEET DEAL SEALED: A NOVELLA is 115 pages; the new SWEET DEAL SEALED, EXPANDED SECOND EDITION, is 235 pages!
Long Answer:
The first edition of SWEET DEAL SEALED is a novella – a short novel or a long short story. In the publishing world, there is a rule that says a series cannot have a novella as Book 1 unless all the rest of the books are also novellas. Who knew? Not me.
For example, Goodreads considers SWEET DEAL SEALED: A NOVELLA, BOOK 1 in the DONUT LADY MYSTERY SERIES as Book 0.5; SWEET DEAL CONCEALED, BOOK 2, Goodreads labeled as BOOK 1; SWEET DEAL REVEALED, BOOK 3, Goodreads labeled as BOOK 2. Ugh. Were readers confused? I know I was!
With DONUT LADY MYSTERY SERIES, BOOK 4 in the plans for 2020, it was time to channel my inner Don Quixote and pick my windmill/battles. Taking on the entire literary and publishing world to force them out of their antiquated rules didn’t seem fun. And I’m in it for the fun. I realized there was so much more to the Donut Lady’s earlier story. Who knew? And the EXPANDED SECOND EDITION was born. Now that was fun!
CLICK OR TAP FOR SWEET DEAL SEALED SECOND EDITION
QUESTION: I’ve already read/never read Sweet Deal Sealed: Novella. Do I read Sweet Deal Sealed, Expanded Second Edition?
ANSWER: YES!
If you’ve read the original novella, you’ll enjoy the expanded story.
If you haven’t read the original novella, all of its story is included in the expanded second edition.
Are you interested in Book 4? Watch for it in the fall!
February 23, 2020
Author Goals 2020
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My Author Goal in 2018 was to publish a book. Results: I published two books.
My Author Goals in 2019 were to publish four books and earn a prestigious award. Results: I published four books and received three awards.
My Author Goals for 2020: Publish four books, receive a prestigious award, sell one book through a bookstore, and end the year with a POSITIVE net income.
That last one – positive net income – is a stretch goal. At least I know the IRS is cheering me on!
January 22, 2020
WARNING Label? Read the Series in Order
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I’m struggling with whether I need to add a warning label or spoiler alert to the beginning of RED IS THE NEW GRAY, MAGGIE SLOAN MYSTERY SERIES, BOOK 2.
For anyone who has read I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A SPY, BOOK 1, you know about Maggie and her men and her heartbreak.
It is possible for a new reader to read RED IS THE NEW GRAY, BOOK 2, without having read BOOK 1 because the men and other characters from BOOK 1 are introduced.
HOWEVER, the dilemma is that BOOK 2 of course also mentions Maggie’s heartbreak from BOOK 1. THAT’S a spoiler! Do I add a warning label to the beginning of BOOK 2?
WARNING: READING BOOK 2 WITHOUT READING BOOK 1 FIRST IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR READING ENJOYMENT.
or
WARNING: DO NOT PROCEED WITH READING BOOK 2 UNTIL YOU HAVE READ BOOK 1. WE DON’T CARE IF BOOK 2 WAS FREE. GO READ BOOK 1.
or
SPOILER ALERT: DO NOT READ BOOK 2 UNTIL YOU READ BOOK 1. ANGRY READERS MAKE BAD REVIEWERS.
