Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 67

Writers Worth Month

Lori Widmer at Words on the Page has declared May to be Writers Worth Month.

Not only is Lori successful as a freelance writer, but she is also generous in sharing advice with other writers on her blog. She advocates for writers to earn what they are worth and for writers to be worth what they want to earn.

All month Lori and other freelancers will share advice on how to deserve and earn more money. Whether you’re an established freelance writer seeking to advance in your career or a complete novice just learning the ropes, drop by Words on the Page every day of Writers Worth Month.

Here are a few posts I’ve written related to freelance writing and editing rates:

Freelance Rates – Part 1: Determining Your Worth as a Freelancer
Freelance Rates – Part 2: Hourly vs Project
Freelance Rates – Part 3: Setting Freelance Writing and Editing Prices
What are your prices for writing and editing services … and how much value do you give?
Why Give a Sample Edit?
Why I Give a Sample Edit

Image: © Depositphotos.com/alexkalina

Reading Free Books

I read more than 250 books per year, but I spend very little money on books.

First, let me make clear that I believe authors should be paid fairly for their work. I would never download books from a pirate site or otherwise avoid paying full price for a book. However, I gladly take advantage of books offered free by the author or publisher, and I subscribe to several email/website lists that announce free and discounted books.

Right now, I have about 500 books in my Kindle, and I don’t think I’ve paid for any of them. They are all titles that I have found for free or that have been offered to me for free in exchange for an honest review. I do occasionally pay for books but usually read them immediately. If I read a free book and love it so much I want to read other books in a series or more by the same author, I will purchase the other book at full price. I also purchase specific books, especially nonfiction, that I want to read.

But, in general, I find all the books I could ever want to read at no cost–at least not in money. There is a cost in time because I read several lists of free and discounted books each day. Even when it comes to free books, I’m selective and download a free book only if it is in a genre I enjoy reading and only if the description appeals to me.

I subscribe to lists that offer the genres I like to read. When I come across a new free ebook site, I sign up and try it out. If I find books I like, I continue the subscription. However, if the list offers mostly books in genres I don’t usually read, I will cancel the subscription so I don’t waste my time.

The list below includes my favorites as well as some others that those who read different genres might like:

Book Bub
Books Butterfly
Books on the Knob
The E-Reader Cafe
E-Reader IQ
E-Reader News Today
Free Books Hub
Free Ebooks Daily
Free Booksy
Free Kindle Books and Tips 
Hundred Zeros
Kindle Buffet
One Hundred Free Books (OHFB)
Pixel of Ink

Other sources for free ebooks (including classic literature) can be found in Download free ebooks from EBook Friendly.

You can also free Kindle books on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com.

And, speaking of free books at Smashwords, you can download all my self-published books at no cost. I hope you enjoy them.

Stand with the Persecuted Sunday

Today is Stand with the Persecuted Sunday. Several Christian organizations are coming together to call on the church to pray and serve our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. Learn more in the video below and find resources and a prayer guide on the website to help you and your church take action.

We need to pray, to advocate, and to support organizations, like those sponsoring Stand with the Persecuted Sunday, who serve the persecuted church. Another great organization that I support is Love for the Least. These missionaries travel to Iraq to minister to Christians and Yazidis who have been driven from their homes by ISIS. It takes such a little bit to make a big difference–$30 will feed a family of four for a month!

Lord God, motivate us to stand with the persecuted church–to pray, to advocate, and to serve. Bless those who go in person to minister to Your persecuted children. Give them strength, courage, and protection. Touch the hearts of those who have the resources to support those who are Your feet and hands. Inspire believers to raise their voices on behalf of their persecuted brothers and sisters. We are Your church, Lord, those who are persecuted, those who minister to them, and those who pray, support, and advocate. Work everything together for good for Your glory and in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Autism Awareness Month

April is National Autism Awareness Month. There are so many good causes that I can’t possibly cover them all, so I tend to focus on those that have had a direct impact on my life. Although I don’t have any experience with autism in my family or closest friends, I do have friends with autistic children. Not long ago, I learned that a man with whom I went to college was diagnosed with Asperger’s. Fifty years ago, autism wasn’t as well-known as it is now, and when he was a college student, this man was just considered “weird” by most people; his autism wasn’t recognized until late in life.

But the biggest reason I identify with autism is that there are many ways in which it is similar to dementia, and I have a lot of personal experience with dementia. I’ve written more about this in previous posts:

National Autism Awareness Month 2015
National Autism Awareness Month 2014
National Autism Awareness Month 2013

The video below features a young man diagnosed with Asperger’s explaining what he considers the top ten things we need to know about autism.

O HEAVENLY Father, we beseech thee to have mercy upon all thy children who are “wired differently.” Surround them with families and friends who are patient and understanding and give the children and their loved ones thy peace that passes understanding; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/WavebreakMedia

National Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. I’ve written about my encounter with a child that I didn’t recognize as being abused. We know that our son had been abused before he was taken away from his mother at age six. However, after we adopted him at age eleven, he would never talk about his earlier experiences, so we don’t know any details. I’m sick of reading news stories of tiny and innocent young kids being viciously murdered by people who were supposed to be taking care of the children.

Parenting can be extremely difficult, and individuals who have issues such as alcoholism, drug addiction, and mental illness may not be able to handle the responsibility. I beg those people to get help before it’s too late. If you know of a child who is being abused, take action. Report the abusers to your local child protective agency so they can get help or so the children can be removed from a dangerous situation.

Lord God, protect children from adults who would do them harm. Wrap Your loving arms around little ones in dangerous situations and keep them safe. Let them feel Your love and comfort. Touch the hearts of abusers and motivate them to get help for their problems or place their children in safe places. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/eric1513

The Ultimate Writer’s Guide to Success

Matt Banner of On Blast Blog calls his infographic “The Ultimate Writer’s Guide to Success.” It may not be the ultimate guide–after all, it’s an infographic, not a book, but it has some helpful tips. I learned of some resources I didn’t know about.

On Blast Blog

He is Risen!

He is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

He’s Alive!

Dolly Parton singing “He’s Alive!”

Devotion for Easter Sunday

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. ~ John 20:1-8

During the time in which Jesus lived, a Hebrew man would wad up his napkin when he finished his meal so the servant knew it was time to clear away the table. However, if the master folded his napkin and placed it on the table, the servant knew that the master was returning. Jesus left the face-cloth (called napkin in other translations) folded up away from the linen wrappings. He is coming again! He will return in glory to judge the world and reign forever. Alleluia! Maranatha!

Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus rose on Easter to give me eternal life. Thank You that He is coming again. Maranatha! Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/jamesgroup

He is risen. The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Devotion for Holy Saturday

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. ~ John 19:38-42

Although Jesus had told His disciples over and over again that He would rise after three days, they still didn’t understand it. Now He was dead and buried, and they thought it was the end. Saturday would have been a terribly sad day for those who loved Jesus. Not only were they mourning the loss of a dearly beloved friend, but also their beliefs were shattered. Jesus couldn’t be the Messiah they thought He was. Otherwise He wouldn’t have died such an humiliating and painful death. Unlike us, they didn’t know the ending of the story.

Lord God, thank You that I know the end of the story, but help me to put myself in the place of the disciples who were in despair after Jesus was placed in the tomb. Let me feel the grief and pain of Saturday so I can more fully experience the joy of Sunday. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/zatletic