Amanda Stephan's Blog: God is Good, God is Great, page 71
June 3, 2011
Fridays with Friends ~
Meet Christian Horror author, Ellen C. Maze
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A pioneer in the genre of Christian vampire fiction, I am happy to present to you THE JUDGING, Book One of the Corescu Chronicles.
The Judging gets its name from the title character's peculiar way of rationalizing his bloodthirsty ways.
You see, in the 17th Century, as a humble village priest, Markus Corescu was transformed against his will (and without his knowledge) into a vampire. With no master to train him in the way he should go, Mark assumes those he kills for their blood can be judged by him and sent to the hereafter. He will have done God's will and filled his gut at the same time. Conflict comes 400 years later when Mark, now a physician, meets a couple of mortals who show him the error of his ways. Like all of us, just because we learn the truth, that doesn't mean we find it easy to change our ways.
The sequel, Book Two entitled, DAMASCUS ROAD was launched by TreasureLine Publishing May 24th, so buy them both and enjoy a delicious treat!
THE JUDGING – 23 5-star reviews on Amazon, 100% perfect score!
I cordially invite you to check out my book on Amazon.com or TreasureLineBooks.com, or www.ellencmaze.com for quick links to find The Judging in print, Kindle and Nook.
May 31, 2011
Two Twitter Tutes
why Tweet? It's a waste of time, right?
Um, no. Not exactly.
When I first started Twitter, I didn't understand it very much. I even considered deleting my account ~ until I read an article that made a lot of sense.
Imagine you have 100 people following you. That's 100 people that you can tweet links about your book to. Or, 100 people you can introduce another author to. Or, giveaways. Contests. NeW bOoK ReLeAsEs...see? (speaking of which, my new book, LONELY HEARTS, will be released in October and you can read a sample of it HERE) The possibilities are many. The only thing stopping you, is your imagination. So, I worked on a couple of tutorials for the John 3:16 Marketing Network that I'm going to share with you. Plus, you'll find two Twitter apps that I've found are THE BOMB at the end of the post.
(You may share these tutorials with friends ~ just please make sure to keep them in their entirety, thanks!)
Beginning Twitter - this is a step by step approach to starting a Twitter account.
Twitter Helps - this not a comprehensive list of all things about Twitter, but it's a good start for beginners to understand what Tweeps think and how they act.
Twitter Apps I love -
Twuffer -
Twuffer allows the Twitter user to compose a list of future tweets, and schedule their release.
@GradyBritton designed Twuffer for anyone who has a need to schedule pre-written, post-dated tweets.
We bet that you'll invent creative uses for Twuffer. Here are a few off the top of our heads:
tweet pre-written announcements
appointment/milestone reminders
run a time-based scavenger hunt
notify subscribers about upcoming podcast or video episodes
appear to never sleep
Twitter Unfollower -
Why clog up your stream with people who aren't following you back? This is a great way to cut down on spammers who are only interested in having lots of followers.
And, remember. If you follow someone else, tweet them. If someone tweets about you, thank them. Chances are, if you tweet their name, they're going to return the favor! ;)
Um, no. Not exactly.
When I first started Twitter, I didn't understand it very much. I even considered deleting my account ~ until I read an article that made a lot of sense.
Imagine you have 100 people following you. That's 100 people that you can tweet links about your book to. Or, 100 people you can introduce another author to. Or, giveaways. Contests. NeW bOoK ReLeAsEs...see? (speaking of which, my new book, LONELY HEARTS, will be released in October and you can read a sample of it HERE) The possibilities are many. The only thing stopping you, is your imagination. So, I worked on a couple of tutorials for the John 3:16 Marketing Network that I'm going to share with you. Plus, you'll find two Twitter apps that I've found are THE BOMB at the end of the post.
(You may share these tutorials with friends ~ just please make sure to keep them in their entirety, thanks!)
Beginning Twitter - this is a step by step approach to starting a Twitter account.
Twitter Helps - this not a comprehensive list of all things about Twitter, but it's a good start for beginners to understand what Tweeps think and how they act.
Twitter Apps I love -
Twuffer -
Twuffer allows the Twitter user to compose a list of future tweets, and schedule their release.
@GradyBritton designed Twuffer for anyone who has a need to schedule pre-written, post-dated tweets.
We bet that you'll invent creative uses for Twuffer. Here are a few off the top of our heads:
tweet pre-written announcements
appointment/milestone reminders
run a time-based scavenger hunt
notify subscribers about upcoming podcast or video episodes
appear to never sleep
Twitter Unfollower -
Why clog up your stream with people who aren't following you back? This is a great way to cut down on spammers who are only interested in having lots of followers.
And, remember. If you follow someone else, tweet them. If someone tweets about you, thank them. Chances are, if you tweet their name, they're going to return the favor! ;)
May 26, 2011
Guest Post - Sharon E. Cathcart
You Are a Brand
Can I let you in on a secret? I've been experimenting.
Since mid-December 2010, I've been trying to think of myself as a brand. It's easy to think of our books and stories as a brand, but sometimes I think we authors lose track of where we fit into the picture.
Some of this experiment was an outgrowth of the work I talked about in 2010 Hindsight: A Year of Personal Growth, In Spite of Myself. I focused on sharing positive, philosophical quotes and affirmations on my Facebook page. I kept my eye on my mission statement ("I intend to write truthfully and powerfully"). I worked on associating with purpose -- even when it was very difficult to make those choices.
Then I looked at the packaging part.
People come in all shapes and sizes, and I heartily embrace that. You won't find me dispensing diet or exercise advice; I try not to be a hypocrite.
What did I do about packaging, you're wondering? When I dress for the day, I try to present an image that says "successful author."
I dressed for my (business casual) day job as though I had a book signing right after work. I didn't buy many new items: three tops and a pair of earrings were it. Instead, I combined pieces in new ways, started wearing accessories I hadn't touched in ages ... you get the idea.
In other words, I stepped up my game.
I'm not flawless; I had a horrible 'flu during this time and didn't wear anything snazzier than yoga pants and a clean t-shirt when I made brain-addled visits to the pharmacy. My hair was combed and I'd bathed -- even though the effort seemed enormous. (I'd be awfully happy if the cough I developed at the time would go away already, but that's a tale for another occasion).
People (your potential customers) like to know that you look like the product you represent. You don't have to be on the cutting (and expensive) edge of fashion to look crisp and put together. (If you're in the fashion industry, this advice is out the window.)
Maybe you can pick a signature piece that you love and look for reasons to wear it. I swanned around town during the cold months in a much-loved cloak woven from black Welsh wool. I'd kept it "for special" for far too long. The grey-brown color went with everything and it looked great. I got compliments about that cloak every time I wore it -- which made it even more fun.
I also wore a lot of my hats, which spend far too much time languishing in their boxes. (Quick note about hats: if you wear them for your author photo, make sure they don't shadow your eyes. Avoid wearing ballcaps for this reason.)
How would your life change if you tried this experiment for thirty days? Treat yourself as a brand -- as part of your marketing plan.
I suspect you'll feel better about yourself -- and sell more books.
You can connect with Ms. Cathcart HERE!
May 23, 2011
John 3:16 Marketing Membership Launch
Why Should I Stay a Member of the John 316 Marketing Network After I Have Launched My Book? Part Six of Six John 3:16 Marketing Network
By Lorilyn Roberts
Why Should I Stay A Member of the John 316 Marketing Network After I have Launched My Book? Everyone will ask themselves this question following a launch. A few have left, but most have stayed. Why? I think the following comment from Bernard Boulton, a member of the John 3:16 Marketing Network, will help to answer that question.
Last year was my first full year after I released my first novel in December 2009. My promotional plan was to sell thousands of books and the only way I knew to do this was to travel and organize events that people would come to and buy my book.
After visiting seven cities from February to November I decided that that was not the best way to promote my novel. I did sell 200 copies but the cost to travel left me far behind the profit ratio. I did have a lot of fun meeting different people but I didn't reach my objective.
At the leading of the Holy Spirit I took the month of December to look back over my year and devise a plan on how I would promote and sell books. The plan I produced was to seek education from those who could teach me how to increase my sales without increasing my travels in 2011. I asked the Holy Spirit to send me a teacher that could mentor me and teach me how to reach my goal for 2011. His answer to my prayer was Lorilyn Roberts and the John 3:16 Marketing Network, but I have received so much more, which is the way that God operates.
From the first I have loved the energy in this group. The sense of purpose and the unity that is manifested here almost daily is life-giving. And to be connected to best-selling authors is phenomenal! I'm going to release my second book in a few months and I hope that I can be as successful using Lorilyn's program as the rest of you.
Right now I'm a little skeptical that it can work for me, and I'm frightened that it might. Sometime the smell of success gets to me like that. I can keep going but I'll stop now. I love all of you and I love being a part of this dynamic expression of genuine fellowship and partnership.
To God be the glory for sending Lorilyn for such a times as this.
Bernard Boulton – author Do You Wanna be Made Whole?
Tuesday, May 24, will be our LAUNCH DAY on the membership drive. If you submit your application to join at http://www.lorilynroberts.com/john_3_16_marketing_network.htmlon Tuesday, May 24th, you will be able to download free e-gifts offered by some of our authors. The only requirements are: You believe in John 3:16 and you have a blog or website.
As part of the membership drive, our member authors are hosting a blog tour featuring eight of our John 3:16 Network authors.
Today we will meet three authors, Lorilyn Roberts, D. McCarragher, and JD Holiday.
Lorilyn Roberts is the founder of the John 3:16 Marketing Network and is the author of two books, The Donkey and the King and Children of Dreams.
The Author Jeopardy Question to win Lorilyn's book Children of Dreams during the Facebook Event on Tuesday (today), May 24, 8-9pm, will come from this question:
Question: Where have you felt closest to God?
Lorilyn Roberts: I have scuba dived all over the world—the Red Sea, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Caribbean. Thirty minutes from my home in sunny Central Florida, dozens of cold, clear, springs bubble up and lure divers from all over the country to dive in the caves.
On many of these dives, particularly in the Red Sea, away from the noise and distractions of a busy life, I have been overcome with the immense beauty and vastness of the world beneath the ocean. On one particular night dive in the Florida Keys many years ago, my dive buddy and I were at about seventy-five feet, which is rather deep for a night dive. We were diving off a shipwreck, and when I shone my underwater light on the rustic red side of a sunken boat, I discovered a brown caterpillar-like creature with tons of legs. He was edging his way along at a rather slow pace. I probably stunned him by the intrusion of my bright light in what was otherwise total blackness.
As I floated beside the ship and examined the peculiar worm, I wondered why, in the middle of the vast Atlanta Ocean, I would stumble upon this rather ugly creature.
Asking questions of seeming insignificance can lead to discussions with latent deeper meaning. Why did God create me? Are the things we stumble upon in life purely by chance?
I am convinced I am here for such a time as this (and so are you). The books we write bear witness to the lives God has given us, from comedy to romance to tragedy. We feel God's pleasure in the stories that touch us deeply, whether written by us or others. On that night dive way back long ago, when I was much younger and fitter, it is not surprising that God used a worm to reveal something about His nature—I have never forgotten it some twenty years later.
There is also a story in the Bible about a worm that God used in a powerful way. In the book of Jonah in the Old Testament, God sent Jonah to warn the people of the city of Nineveh to repent of their ways. After being eaten by the whale, Jonah traveled to the wicked city and did as God had asked him. But when God didn't destroy the city and spared the inhabitants, Jonah brooded over God's mercy to Israel's enemies. Then God supplied a plant to give Jonah shade as he sat angry in the hot noonday sun. The next day, however, God provided a worm to eat the plant.
Sometimes life seems like that. I can't figure it out. But diving into the depths of the ocean for me is like diving into the depths of God's love. I see His creativity in the world of worms, garden eels, and sea urchins; manta rays that glide over the sea wall, nurse sharks that hide under rocky ledges, and barracuda that amass in the hundreds. God's underwater paradise gives me hope that harmony with the world through Him is possible. I may not understand it all, but I don't have to. Perhaps God just wants me to enjoy the journey more and channel His creativity that I so much love into my soul.
As my kids get older, I look forward to once again putting on the weight belt, BC, tank, and octopus. I always enjoyed spitting into my face mask to clean it (after all, how many times in life is that acceptable behavior); and, of course, getting that last strand of hair out of the mask so as not to burn my eyes with seeping saltwater. I can't wait to push in that regulator button and hear the compressed air spew out (pretty important down there to be able to breathe) and I will waddle like a duck in all my gear to the back of the boat and wait my turn (imagining I look better than I feel with the cumbersome tank on my back).
I will make sure I remember all those hand signals (the out-of-air one might come in handy) and, hopefully, heave off the back of the boat in a spectacular somersault. The rising bubbles as I sink and the sound of the regulator imitating my breathing will bring me back to my favorite pastime. I will be wooed once more to enjoy God's presence in a fabulous world of unparalleled beauty. And for a brief moment, nothing else will matter.
Our second author today that I want to introduce is Deborah McCarragher. I read Deborah's book, Mission Possible, which is full of Biblical insights on the value and holiness of marriage. At a time when traditional marriage is under attack, this book is refreshing and a welcomed reminder of how beautiful a Godly marriage is.
The Author Jeopardy Question to win D. McCarragher book, Mission Possible, during the Facebook Party on Tuesday, May 24, 8-9pm EST, will come from our discussion below:
Deborah's mission is to encourage women through Scripture to believe in God's Word, to transform their husbands by challenging women to minister to their spouses in a way that glorifies God. The author's candid approach makes this book an easy read, and compels the reader to join her in her quest to reach her husband for Christ. Alabaster Box Publishing's motto is: Books to stir your mind & stretch your Soul!
Her primary goal is to share her personal testimony with others while bringing hope and practical help through her books.
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to stand in the gap for your mate's soul. Mission Possible is a powerful tool for any woman who is married to a man who does not share her passion for Jesus. It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God's promises for her spouse and their future together. You can influence your home for Christ even within a spiritually mismatched marriage.
Question: What is your favorite book besides the Bible?
Deborah McCarragher: My favorite book is The Pilgrim's Progress because when I was a new Christian, someone in my Sunday school class told me about the book and encouraged me to read it. I was fascinated by the story. I was intrigued by the allegorical meaning of the characters and their purpose in the overall plot of the book. Christian gave me a picture of perseverance in the face of difficulty and how life as a believer had struggles and triumphs. It revealed to me that we have Supernatural help available to us, and that the Word of God gave great strength and guidance. The Celestial City presented by John Bunyan as a serene and beautiful destination for the weary Christian has always given me hope and confidence to press on to my eternal home with persistence. And to behold my Savior Jesus will be the greatest gift I could receive.
Lorilyn: And I echo a great AMEN to that.
Our third and final author on this blog tour is JD Holiday. JD Holiday is the author and illustrator of two children's books: Janoose the Goose, a beautifully illustrated children's picture book; and a chapter book for six to eight year olds, The Great Snowball Escape. A chapbook of her short stories, Trespasses, was published in 1994. JD has published many short stories in literary magazines and written numerous articles about creative writing. She is a member of The Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators, (SCBWI) and Small Publishers of North America, (SPAN.)
Janoose the Goose likes life in the barnyard very much. She is there visiting her cousin, Molly Duck, and her baby, DeeDee. Her vacation is over and Janoose must go home because there are no job openings on the farm.
When her flight home arrives, the fox has begun a crime spree. Though the farm animals had a farm watch program once, they were no good at it! Janoose is the only one who can stop him. [image error]
Read the question below and remember the answer for a chance to win a copy of this book. If you can type the fastest, you will surely win the book Janoose the GooseQuestion: When did you meet your husband and how long have you been married?JD Holiday: I've known my best friend and husband, Angelo since we were 15 and 16 years old. We are married 41 years.This concludes our blog tour—be sure to go to Facebook tonight for our Facebook Event (May 24, 8-9pm EST). You will have an opportunity to win eight free books. During that hour, we will have many members online to answer questions, and we will be offering some technical tips on how to do things that will help authors. These tutorials/tips will include:
How to upload a .jpeg to Facebook/blog How to resize a .jpeg and load it Facebook/blog How to copy and paste widgets on websites How to set up a twitter account.
Knowing how to do these things will help you in your marketing efforts. My sincere thanks to Amanda Stephan for putting these tutorials together.
For information on the John 3:16 Marketing Network and to submit an application to join, please visit http://www.lorilynroberts.com/john_3_16_marketing_network.html.Make sure you wait to Tuesday to submit an application to join so you can download several free eBooks.
My thanks to everyone who contributed in various ways to make this blog tour and Facebook Event possible. As with any endeavor, lots of people make things happen. The following authors below helped me to pull this off:
Sherrill Cannon, Paulette Harper, Jay Miller, Dr. Ray W. Lincoln, JD Holiday, Janet Eckles, Dr. Robert McGinnis, Elaine Marie Cooper, Elisa Maria Crites, Lynn Dove, Amanda Stephan, Deborah McCarragher, Shelley Hitz, Marcia Laycock, and Anne Patrick.
Below is a complete listing of all the articles and authors featured on the John 3:16 Marketing Network tour this week. The articles can be viewed at: http://john316mn.blogspot.com.
Featured Author: Jay MillerFeatured Book: Sal and Sally Featured Author: Sherrill CannonFeatured Book: The Magic WordFeatured Article: Are There Secret Formulas or Short Cuts for Making the Best-Seller List on Amazon—Part One of Six on the John 3:16 Marketing NetworkFeatured Author: Dr. Ray W. LincolnFeatured Book: Innerkinetics™ Featured Article: What it Takes to Have a Winning Team—Part Two of Six, John 3:16 Marketing NetworkFeatured Author: Dr. Robert McGinnisFeatured Book: Paradise is Where You Find it Featured Article: Roaches That Eat Your Best-Seller Dreams—Part Three of Six, John 3:16 Marketing Network Featured Author: Elaine Marie CooperFeatured Book: The Road to Deer Run Featured Article: What is a Book Launch Anyway—and Slowly, Please, I am New at All of This - Part Four, John 3:16 Marketing NetworkFeatured Author: Lynn DoveFeatured Book: Shoot the WoundedFeatured Article: Why Should I join the John 3:16 Marketing NetworkPart Five of Six, John 3:16 Marketing Network
Featured Author: Lorilyn RobertsFeatured Book: Children of Dreams Featured Author: Deborah McCarragher Featured Book: Mission PossibleFeatured Author: JD HollidayFeatured Book: Janoose the GooseFeatured Article: Why Should I Stay A Member of the Network After I Launch My Book—Part Six of Six, John 3:16 Marketing Network
FINAL BIG EVENTTuesday Night, May 24, 8-9pm ESTLocation: John 3:16 Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christian-Book-Launches-John-316-Marketing-Network/145412252147289Featured event: learn marketing tips, win free books, meet some John 3:16 Authors, ask questions, join the John 3:16 Network and download fee e-gifts!
Final comments from Lorilyn RobertsIn the John 3:16 Marketing Network, we share our thoughts, insights, knowledge, blogs, successes, prayer requests, and dreams. What started out as a way for authors to launch books has become so much more. I am not sure where God will take it, but I am trusting Him for the future. As I love to say, the best is yet to come!
To visit our information page and submit an application go to: http://www.lorilynroberts.com/john_3_16_marketing_network.htmlLast day to join for a long time will be Friday, May 27th.
John 3:16 Marketing Network Membership Launch!
Why Should I Stay a Member of the John 316 Marketing Network After I Have Launched My Book? Part Six of Six John 3:16 Marketing Network
By Lorilyn Roberts
Why Should I Stay A Member of the John 316 Marketing Network After I have Launched My Book? Everyone will ask themselves this question following a launch. A few have left, but most have stayed. Why? I think the following comment from Bernard Boulton, a member of the John 3:16 Marketing Network, will help to answer that question.
Last year was my first full year after I released my first novel in December 2009. My promotional plan was to sell thousands of books and the only way I knew to do this was to travel and organize events that people would come to and buy my book.
After visiting seven cities from February to November I decided that that was not the best way to promote my novel. I did sell 200 copies but the cost to travel left me far behind the profit ratio. I did have a lot of fun meeting different people but I didn't reach my objective.
At the leading of the Holy Spirit I took the month of December to look back over my year and devise a plan on how I would promote and sell books. The plan I produced was to seek education from those who could teach me how to increase my sales without increasing my travels in 2011. I asked the Holy Spirit to send me a teacher that could mentor me and teach me how to reach my goal for 2011. His answer to my prayer was Lorilyn Roberts and the John 3:16 Marketing Network, but I have received so much more, which is the way that God operates.
From the first I have loved the energy in this group. The sense of purpose and the unity that is manifested here almost daily is life-giving. And to be connected to best-selling authors is phenomenal! I'm going to release my second book in a few months and I hope that I can be as successful using Lorilyn's program as the rest of you.
Right now I'm a little skeptical that it can work for me, and I'm frightened that it might. Sometime the smell of success gets to me like that. I can keep going but I'll stop now. I love all of you and I love being a part of this dynamic expression of genuine fellowship and partnership.
To God be the glory for sending Lorilyn for such a times as this.
Bernard Boulton – author Do You Wanna be Made Whole?
Tuesday, May 24, will be our LAUNCH DAY on the membership drive. If you submit your application to join at http://www.lorilynroberts.com/john_3_16_marketing_network.htmlon Tuesday, May 24th, you will be able to download free e-gifts offered by some of our authors. The only requirements are: You believe in John 3:16 and you have a blog or website.
As part of the membership drive, our member authors are hosting a blog tour featuring eight of our John 3:16 Network authors.
Today we will meet three authors, Lorilyn Roberts, D. McCarragher, and JD Holiday.
Lorilyn Roberts is the founder of the John 3:16 Marketing Network and is the author of two books, The Donkey and the King and Children of Dreams.
The Author Jeopardy Question to win Lorilyn's book Children of Dreams during the Facebook Event on Tuesday (today), May 24, 8-9pm, will come from this question:
Question: Where have you felt closest to God?
Lorilyn Roberts: I have scuba dived all over the world—the Red Sea, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Caribbean. Thirty minutes from my home in sunny Central Florida, dozens of cold, clear, springs bubble up and lure divers from all over the country to dive in the caves.
On many of these dives, particularly in the Red Sea, away from the noise and distractions of a busy life, I have been overcome with the immense beauty and vastness of the world beneath the ocean. On one particular night dive in the Florida Keys many years ago, my dive buddy and I were at about seventy-five feet, which is rather deep for a night dive. We were diving off a shipwreck, and when I shone my underwater light on the rustic red side of a sunken boat, I discovered a brown caterpillar-like creature with tons of legs. He was edging his way along at a rather slow pace. I probably stunned him by the intrusion of my bright light in what was otherwise total blackness.
As I floated beside the ship and examined the peculiar worm, I wondered why, in the middle of the vast Atlanta Ocean, I would stumble upon this rather ugly creature.
Asking questions of seeming insignificance can lead to discussions with latent deeper meaning. Why did God create me? Are the things we stumble upon in life purely by chance?
I am convinced I am here for such a time as this (and so are you). The books we write bear witness to the lives God has given us, from comedy to romance to tragedy. We feel God's pleasure in the stories that touch us deeply, whether written by us or others. On that night dive way back long ago, when I was much younger and fitter, it is not surprising that God used a worm to reveal something about His nature—I have never forgotten it some twenty years later.
There is also a story in the Bible about a worm that God used in a powerful way. In the book of Jonah in the Old Testament, God sent Jonah to warn the people of the city of Nineveh to repent of their ways. After being eaten by the whale, Jonah traveled to the wicked city and did as God had asked him. But when God didn't destroy the city and spared the inhabitants, Jonah brooded over God's mercy to Israel's enemies. Then God supplied a plant to give Jonah shade as he sat angry in the hot noonday sun. The next day, however, God provided a worm to eat the plant.
Sometimes life seems like that. I can't figure it out. But diving into the depths of the ocean for me is like diving into the depths of God's love. I see His creativity in the world of worms, garden eels, and sea urchins; manta rays that glide over the sea wall, nurse sharks that hide under rocky ledges, and barracuda that amass in the hundreds. God's underwater paradise gives me hope that harmony with the world through Him is possible. I may not understand it all, but I don't have to. Perhaps God just wants me to enjoy the journey more and channel His creativity that I so much love into my soul.
As my kids get older, I look forward to once again putting on the weight belt, BC, tank, and octopus. I always enjoyed spitting into my face mask to clean it (after all, how many times in life is that acceptable behavior); and, of course, getting that last strand of hair out of the mask so as not to burn my eyes with seeping saltwater. I can't wait to push in that regulator button and hear the compressed air spew out (pretty important down there to be able to breathe) and I will waddle like a duck in all my gear to the back of the boat and wait my turn (imagining I look better than I feel with the cumbersome tank on my back).
I will make sure I remember all those hand signals (the out-of-air one might come in handy) and, hopefully, heave off the back of the boat in a spectacular somersault. The rising bubbles as I sink and the sound of the regulator imitating my breathing will bring me back to my favorite pastime. I will be wooed once more to enjoy God's presence in a fabulous world of unparalleled beauty. And for a brief moment, nothing else will matter.
Our second author today that I want to introduce is Deborah McCarragher. I read Deborah's book, Mission Possible, which is full of Biblical insights on the value and holiness of marriage. At a time when traditional marriage is under attack, this book is refreshing and a welcomed reminder of how beautiful a Godly marriage is.
The Author Jeopardy Question to win D. McCarragher book, Mission Possible, during the Facebook Party on Tuesday, May 24, 8-9pm EST, will come from our discussion below:
Deborah's mission is to encourage women through Scripture to believe in God's Word, to transform their husbands by challenging women to minister to their spouses in a way that glorifies God. The author's candid approach makes this book an easy read, and compels the reader to join her in her quest to reach her husband for Christ. Alabaster Box Publishing's motto is: Books to stir your mind & stretch your Soul!
Her primary goal is to share her personal testimony with others while bringing hope and practical help through her books.
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to stand in the gap for your mate's soul. Mission Possible is a powerful tool for any woman who is married to a man who does not share her passion for Jesus. It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God's promises for her spouse and their future together. You can influence your home for Christ even within a spiritually mismatched marriage.
Question: What is your favorite book besides the Bible?
Deborah McCarragher: My favorite book is The Pilgrim's Progress because when I was a new Christian, someone in my Sunday school class told me about the book and encouraged me to read it. I was fascinated by the story. I was intrigued by the allegorical meaning of the characters and their purpose in the overall plot of the book. Christian gave me a picture of perseverance in the face of difficulty and how life as a believer had struggles and triumphs. It revealed to me that we have Supernatural help available to us, and that the Word of God gave great strength and guidance. The Celestial City presented by John Bunyan as a serene and beautiful destination for the weary Christian has always given me hope and confidence to press on to my eternal home with persistence. And to behold my Savior Jesus will be the greatest gift I could receive.
Lorilyn: And I echo a great AMEN to that.
Our third and final author on this blog tour is JD Holiday. JD Holiday is the author and illustrator of two children's books: Janoose the Goose, a beautifully illustrated children's picture book; and a chapter book for six to eight year olds, The Great Snowball Escape. A chapbook of her short stories, Trespasses, was published in 1994. JD has published many short stories in literary magazines and written numerous articles about creative writing. She is a member of The Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators, (SCBWI) and Small Publishers of North America, (SPAN.)
Janoose the Goose likes life in the barnyard very much. She is there visiting her cousin, Molly Duck, and her baby, DeeDee. Her vacation is over and Janoose must go home because there are no job openings on the farm.
When her flight home arrives, the fox has begun a crime spree. Though the farm animals had a farm watch program once, they were no good at it! Janoose is the only one who can stop him. [image error]
Read the question below and remember the answer for a chance to win a copy of this book. If you can type the fastest, you will surely win the book Janoose the GooseQuestion: When did you meet your husband and how long have you been married?JD Holiday: I've known my best friend and husband, Angelo since we were 15 and 16 years old. We are married 41 years.This concludes our blog tour—be sure to go to Facebook tonight for our Facebook Event (May 24, 8-9pm EST). You will have an opportunity to win eight free books. During that hour, we will have many members online to answer questions, and we will be offering some technical tips on how to do things that will help authors. These tutorials/tips will include:
How to upload a .jpeg to Facebook/blog How to resize a .jpeg and load it Facebook/blog How to copy and paste widgets on websites How to set up a twitter account.
Knowing how to do these things will help you in your marketing efforts. My sincere thanks to Amanda Stephan for putting these tutorials together.
For information on the John 3:16 Marketing Network and to submit an application to join, please visit http://www.lorilynroberts.com/john_3_16_marketing_network.html.Make sure you wait to Tuesday to submit an application to join so you can download several free eBooks.
My thanks to everyone who contributed in various ways to make this blog tour and Facebook Event possible. As with any endeavor, lots of people make things happen. The following authors below helped me to pull this off:
Sherrill Cannon, Paulette Harper, Jay Miller, Dr. Ray W. Lincoln, JD Holiday, Janet Eckles, Dr. Robert McGinnis, Elaine Marie Cooper, Elisa Maria Crites, Lynn Dove, Amanda Stephan, Deborah McCarragher, Shelley Hitz, Marcia Laycock, and Anne Patrick.
Below is a complete listing of all the articles and authors featured on the John 3:16 Marketing Network tour this week. The articles can be viewed at: http://john316mn.blogspot.com.
Featured Author: Jay MillerFeatured Book: Sal and Sally Featured Author: Sherrill CannonFeatured Book: The Magic WordFeatured Article: Are There Secret Formulas or Short Cuts for Making the Best-Seller List on Amazon—Part One of Six on the John 3:16 Marketing NetworkFeatured Author: Dr. Ray W. LincolnFeatured Book: Innerkinetics™ Featured Article: What it Takes to Have a Winning Team—Part Two of Six, John 3:16 Marketing NetworkFeatured Author: Dr. Robert McGinnisFeatured Book: Paradise is Where You Find it Featured Article: Roaches That Eat Your Best-Seller Dreams—Part Three of Six, John 3:16 Marketing Network Featured Author: Elaine Marie CooperFeatured Book: The Road to Deer Run Featured Article: What is a Book Launch Anyway—and Slowly, Please, I am New at All of This - Part Four, John 3:16 Marketing NetworkFeatured Author: Lynn DoveFeatured Book: Shoot the WoundedFeatured Article: Why Should I join the John 3:16 Marketing NetworkPart Five of Six, John 3:16 Marketing Network
Featured Author: Lorilyn RobertsFeatured Book: Children of Dreams Featured Author: Deborah McCarragher Featured Book: Mission PossibleFeatured Author: JD HollidayFeatured Book: Janoose the GooseFeatured Article: Why Should I Stay A Member of the Network After I Launch My Book—Part Six of Six, John 3:16 Marketing Network
FINAL BIG EVENTTuesday Night, May 24, 8-9pm ESTLocation: John 3:16 Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christian-Book-Launches-John-316-Marketing-Network/145412252147289Featured event: learn marketing tips, win free books, meet some John 3:16 Authors, ask questions, join the John 3:16 Network and download fee e-gifts!
Final comments from Lorilyn RobertsIn the John 3:16 Marketing Network, we share our thoughts, insights, knowledge, blogs, successes, prayer requests, and dreams. What started out as a way for authors to launch books has become so much more. I am not sure where God will take it, but I am trusting Him for the future. As I love to say, the best is yet to come!
To visit our information page and submit an application go to: http://www.lorilynroberts.com/john_3_16_marketing_network.htmlLast day to join for a long time will be Friday, May 27th.
May 18, 2011
Making the Best-Seller List on Amazon
Are There Secret Formulas or Short Cuts for Making the Best-Seller List on Amazon?
John 3:16 Marketing Network Part One of Six
? + ? = ?
By Lorilyn Roberts
If I knew of a secret formula, I would be a millionaire—and so would you, because secrets promising success don't remain secrets for long.
There is one sure road to the best-seller list, provided you have a good book, and that is hard work and networking. I don't know of any other way to do it. What I have discovered, however, is many authors spend a lot of time and money in less productive ways, thus coming away feeling discouraged and defeated....
read the rest of this post HERE!
May 15, 2011
Introducing Nike Chillemi - Crime Fictionista
Today, I'd like to introduce you to Nike Chillemi, Crime Fictionista and author of Burning Hearts ~ released May 15th!
Nike, would you please tell us how you came up with such a catchy title?
N: Something most folks in the publishing industry don't know is that I had a professional life BCFW (before Christian fiction writing) in the bridal manufacturing industry. I'm a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology. I've traveled to bridal fairs in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Las Vegas, and of course in my hometown, New York, NY. In that world, I'd hear the term fashionista bandied about. They'd say, "Oh, she's such a fashionista." So, I thought, why not crime fictionista?
Please tell us a little about your book, Burning Hearts. Who are you hoping to reach? What made you decide to write it?
N: Well, I love crime fiction. It's what I read and it's what I want to write. I love seeing the fight between good and evil play out on the page. In BURNING HEARTS, a house has been torched and a woman died in the fire. As the evidence comes in, we can't say, "Well, maybe he didn't mean to do it." So, we have a scenario where something evil has gone down. Then we have two ordinary, flawed, and fallible citizens who feel compelled to find the killer. Erica Brogna is the beloved daughter of a Czech immigrant family and Lorne Kincade, a WWII veteran, is trying to put his life back together living through the brutality of the armed struggle on the European front. They team up with a local radio announcer to find the arsonist. Unfortunately, their quest for justice for the victim brings them both into harm's way.
Are you working on any other books?
N: Yes. BURNING HEARTS is the first in the Sanctuary Point series. The second in the series is titled GOODBYE NOEL and is a murder mystery set at Christmas. One of the things that amazed me as I did research for the second book is how Americans in the 1940s interwove the Christmas season into their everyday lives. Advent, Christmas, Epiphany were part of the warp and woof of their lives.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
N: What spare time? I'm laughing here. I've been married for twenty-seven years and run a home. I have a 13-year-old adopted daughter with if not special needs, certainly special issues that need to be addressed and are successfully being addressed. I homeschool my daughter. I've been a pet rescuer for years and have a house full of pets. I'm also a foodie and enjoy finding great neighborhood restaurants in Gotham (NYC) that don't break the budget.
Can you name one weakness?
N: A weakness in me? I can name five thousand. Let's see. I'm opinionated, stubborn, like to do things my way. And the list goes on-and-on. As to my positive traits, I'm young and gorgeous, have an effervescent personality, scintillating, actually, and I'm thin, extremely svelte. Did I mention a proclivity to be extravagant with the truth among my faults? I'd say one of my best traits is I don't take myself too seriously. I take the Lord seriously. I take the work seriously. But, me, I can take a joke.
If your book was made into a movie, who would you pick as the main characters?
N: Well, we'd need young vibrant actors, good actors who can portray the beauty and strength in human perseverance and the nobility of people who value honor.
A: If your book was made into a movie, who would you pick as the main characters?
N: This took a Google search as I don't watch enough TV or see enough movies to know actors young enough to play these roles. For Erica, I'd pick Ellen Page who starred in the movie Juno. For Lorne, I'd have to do with Ryan Reynolds, Canadian actor who's career took off after his movie National Lampoon.
Ellen Page
Movie Juno
Ryan Reynolds
Canadian Actor, Movie National Lampoon
Nike, would you please tell us how you came up with such a catchy title?
N: Something most folks in the publishing industry don't know is that I had a professional life BCFW (before Christian fiction writing) in the bridal manufacturing industry. I'm a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology. I've traveled to bridal fairs in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Las Vegas, and of course in my hometown, New York, NY. In that world, I'd hear the term fashionista bandied about. They'd say, "Oh, she's such a fashionista." So, I thought, why not crime fictionista?
Please tell us a little about your book, Burning Hearts. Who are you hoping to reach? What made you decide to write it?
N: Well, I love crime fiction. It's what I read and it's what I want to write. I love seeing the fight between good and evil play out on the page. In BURNING HEARTS, a house has been torched and a woman died in the fire. As the evidence comes in, we can't say, "Well, maybe he didn't mean to do it." So, we have a scenario where something evil has gone down. Then we have two ordinary, flawed, and fallible citizens who feel compelled to find the killer. Erica Brogna is the beloved daughter of a Czech immigrant family and Lorne Kincade, a WWII veteran, is trying to put his life back together living through the brutality of the armed struggle on the European front. They team up with a local radio announcer to find the arsonist. Unfortunately, their quest for justice for the victim brings them both into harm's way.
Are you working on any other books?
N: Yes. BURNING HEARTS is the first in the Sanctuary Point series. The second in the series is titled GOODBYE NOEL and is a murder mystery set at Christmas. One of the things that amazed me as I did research for the second book is how Americans in the 1940s interwove the Christmas season into their everyday lives. Advent, Christmas, Epiphany were part of the warp and woof of their lives.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
N: What spare time? I'm laughing here. I've been married for twenty-seven years and run a home. I have a 13-year-old adopted daughter with if not special needs, certainly special issues that need to be addressed and are successfully being addressed. I homeschool my daughter. I've been a pet rescuer for years and have a house full of pets. I'm also a foodie and enjoy finding great neighborhood restaurants in Gotham (NYC) that don't break the budget.
Can you name one weakness?
N: A weakness in me? I can name five thousand. Let's see. I'm opinionated, stubborn, like to do things my way. And the list goes on-and-on. As to my positive traits, I'm young and gorgeous, have an effervescent personality, scintillating, actually, and I'm thin, extremely svelte. Did I mention a proclivity to be extravagant with the truth among my faults? I'd say one of my best traits is I don't take myself too seriously. I take the Lord seriously. I take the work seriously. But, me, I can take a joke.
If your book was made into a movie, who would you pick as the main characters?
N: Well, we'd need young vibrant actors, good actors who can portray the beauty and strength in human perseverance and the nobility of people who value honor.
A: If your book was made into a movie, who would you pick as the main characters?
N: This took a Google search as I don't watch enough TV or see enough movies to know actors young enough to play these roles. For Erica, I'd pick Ellen Page who starred in the movie Juno. For Lorne, I'd have to do with Ryan Reynolds, Canadian actor who's career took off after his movie National Lampoon.
Ellen Page
Movie Juno
Ryan Reynolds
Canadian Actor, Movie National Lampoon
Introducing Nike Chillemi - the Crime Fictionista!
Today, I'd like to introduce you to Nike Chillemi, Crime Fictionista and author of Burning Hearts ~ released May 15th!
Nike, would you please tell us how you came up with such a catchy title?
N: Something most folks in the publishing industry don't know is that I had a professional life BCFW (before Christian fiction writing) in the bridal manufacturing industry. I'm a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology. I've traveled to bridal fairs in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Las Vegas, and of course in my hometown, New York, NY. In that world, I'd hear the term fashionista bandied about. They'd say, "Oh, she's such a fashionista." So, I thought, why not crime fictionista?
Please tell us a little about your book, Burning Hearts. Who are you hoping to reach? What made you decide to write it?
N: Well, I love crime fiction. It's what I read and it's what I want to write. I love seeing the fight between good and evil play out on the page. In BURNING HEARTS, a house has been torched and a woman died in the fire. As the evidence comes in, we can't say, "Well, maybe he didn't mean to do it." So, we have a scenario where something evil has gone down. Then we have two ordinary, flawed, and fallible citizens who feel compelled to find the killer. Erica Brogna is the beloved daughter of a Czech immigrant family and Lorne Kincade, a WWII veteran, is trying to put his life back together living through the brutality of the armed struggle on the European front. They team up with a local radio announcer to find the arsonist. Unfortunately, their quest for justice for the victim brings them both into harm's way.
Are you working on any other books?
N: Yes. BURNING HEARTS is the first in the Sanctuary Point series. The second in the series is titled GOODBYE NOEL and is a murder mystery set at Christmas. One of the things that amazed me as I did research for the second book is how Americans in the 1940s interwove the Christmas season into their everyday lives. Advent, Christmas, Epiphany were part of the warp and woof of their lives.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
N: What spare time? I'm laughing here. I've been married for twenty-seven years and run a home. I have a 13-year-old adopted daughter with if not special needs, certainly special issues that need to be addressed and are successfully being addressed. I homeschool my daughter. I've been a pet rescuer for years and have a house full of pets. I'm also a foodie and enjoy finding great neighborhood restaurants in Gotham (NYC) that don't break the budget.
Can you name one weakness?
N: A weakness in me? I can name five thousand. Let's see. I'm opinionated, stubborn, like to do things my way. And the list goes on-and-on. As to my positive traits, I'm young and gorgeous, have an effervescent personality, scintillating, actually, and I'm thin, extremely svelte. Did I mention a proclivity to be extravagant with the truth among my faults? I'd say one of my best traits is I don't take myself too seriously. I take the Lord seriously. I take the work seriously. But, me, I can take a joke.
If your book was made into a movie, who would you pick as the main characters?
N: Well, we'd need young vibrant actors, good actors who can portray the beauty and strength in human perseverance and the nobility of people who value honor.
A: If your book was made into a movie, who would you pick as the main characters?
N: This took a Google search as I don't watch enough TV or see enough movies to know actors young enough to play these roles. For Erica, I'd pick Ellen Page who starred in the movie Juno. For Lorne, I'd have to do with Ryan Reynolds, Canadian actor who's career took off after his movie National Lampoon.
Ellen Page
[image error]
Movie Juno
Ryan Reynolds
Canadian Actor, Movie National Lampoon
Nike, would you please tell us how you came up with such a catchy title?
N: Something most folks in the publishing industry don't know is that I had a professional life BCFW (before Christian fiction writing) in the bridal manufacturing industry. I'm a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology. I've traveled to bridal fairs in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Las Vegas, and of course in my hometown, New York, NY. In that world, I'd hear the term fashionista bandied about. They'd say, "Oh, she's such a fashionista." So, I thought, why not crime fictionista?
Please tell us a little about your book, Burning Hearts. Who are you hoping to reach? What made you decide to write it?
N: Well, I love crime fiction. It's what I read and it's what I want to write. I love seeing the fight between good and evil play out on the page. In BURNING HEARTS, a house has been torched and a woman died in the fire. As the evidence comes in, we can't say, "Well, maybe he didn't mean to do it." So, we have a scenario where something evil has gone down. Then we have two ordinary, flawed, and fallible citizens who feel compelled to find the killer. Erica Brogna is the beloved daughter of a Czech immigrant family and Lorne Kincade, a WWII veteran, is trying to put his life back together living through the brutality of the armed struggle on the European front. They team up with a local radio announcer to find the arsonist. Unfortunately, their quest for justice for the victim brings them both into harm's way.
Are you working on any other books?
N: Yes. BURNING HEARTS is the first in the Sanctuary Point series. The second in the series is titled GOODBYE NOEL and is a murder mystery set at Christmas. One of the things that amazed me as I did research for the second book is how Americans in the 1940s interwove the Christmas season into their everyday lives. Advent, Christmas, Epiphany were part of the warp and woof of their lives.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
N: What spare time? I'm laughing here. I've been married for twenty-seven years and run a home. I have a 13-year-old adopted daughter with if not special needs, certainly special issues that need to be addressed and are successfully being addressed. I homeschool my daughter. I've been a pet rescuer for years and have a house full of pets. I'm also a foodie and enjoy finding great neighborhood restaurants in Gotham (NYC) that don't break the budget.
Can you name one weakness?
N: A weakness in me? I can name five thousand. Let's see. I'm opinionated, stubborn, like to do things my way. And the list goes on-and-on. As to my positive traits, I'm young and gorgeous, have an effervescent personality, scintillating, actually, and I'm thin, extremely svelte. Did I mention a proclivity to be extravagant with the truth among my faults? I'd say one of my best traits is I don't take myself too seriously. I take the Lord seriously. I take the work seriously. But, me, I can take a joke.
If your book was made into a movie, who would you pick as the main characters?
N: Well, we'd need young vibrant actors, good actors who can portray the beauty and strength in human perseverance and the nobility of people who value honor.
A: If your book was made into a movie, who would you pick as the main characters?
N: This took a Google search as I don't watch enough TV or see enough movies to know actors young enough to play these roles. For Erica, I'd pick Ellen Page who starred in the movie Juno. For Lorne, I'd have to do with Ryan Reynolds, Canadian actor who's career took off after his movie National Lampoon.
Ellen Page
[image error]
Movie Juno
Ryan Reynolds
Canadian Actor, Movie National Lampoon
May 14, 2011
Grace Awards Winners Announced!
Women's Fiction:
SENSIBLE SHOES by Sharon Garlough Brown (Westbow)
Romance/Historical Romance:
MEANDER SCAR by Linda Lickel (Black Lyon Publishers)
Suspense /Mystery/Romantic Suspense/Detective Novel /Thriller:
BACK ON MURDER by J. Mark Bertrand (Bethany House)
Speculative Fiction:
SEASONS IN THE MIST by Deborah Kinnard (Sheaf House Publishers)
Young Adult:
SECRETS UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN by Elisa Maria Crites (Westbow)
And a BIG CONGRATULATIONS GOES OUT TO:
Action Adventure/Western/Historic Epic Fiction WiNnEr:
~~*~~WOUNDED SPIRITS~~*~~ by April W. Gardner (Vinspire Publishing)
Ms. Gardner doesn't write like a debut author! She kept my attention right from the beginning of this story. I feel that the overall writing of this story, that it was very well-researched and that the character development was so exceptionally well-done merit extra consideration. The pacing of the story was excellent and the setting was well established. The ending of the story was appropriate and, even if for some readers maybe a little unexpected because it wasn't a definitively tied-up "happily ever after," this was a very realistic way to finish the story. The story also offered much to consider as regards questions of faith... Adela was portrayed as holding on to her faith in suffering, while there was a very well-done contrast in Lillian's realistic difficulty with forgiveness in the face of hers. The character development and conflict were exceptionally well-done on all points. The writing was very fresh and unique. Great use was made of the vocabulary: The excellent usage of dialect and the utilization of Spanish. The background study pertaining to Zachariah McGirth, Red Eagle, etc… All of these aspects made for a compelling story.
You can purchase a copy of this great book HERE!
April Gardner is the author of the best selling romance novel with western themes, WOUNDED SPIRITS. Librarian, reviewer, and avid reader, April adores anything books. She writes a weekly column for the joint blog, Reflections in Hindsight, and is the founder and senior editor of the website, Clash of the Titles. She was a military brat, missionary's kid, and military spouse. After 21 years in various countries overseas, April happily resides in Georgia with her USAF husband. A homeschool mom, she fills her mornings talking fractions and phonics with her two sweet kiddos. In her free time, April enjoys reading, gardening, and DIY. In no particular order, she dreams of owning a horse, visiting all the national parks, and speaking Italian. www.aprilgardner.com
SENSIBLE SHOES by Sharon Garlough Brown (Westbow)
Romance/Historical Romance:
MEANDER SCAR by Linda Lickel (Black Lyon Publishers)
Suspense /Mystery/Romantic Suspense/Detective Novel /Thriller:
BACK ON MURDER by J. Mark Bertrand (Bethany House)
Speculative Fiction:
SEASONS IN THE MIST by Deborah Kinnard (Sheaf House Publishers)
Young Adult:
SECRETS UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN by Elisa Maria Crites (Westbow)
And a BIG CONGRATULATIONS GOES OUT TO:
Action Adventure/Western/Historic Epic Fiction WiNnEr:
~~*~~WOUNDED SPIRITS~~*~~ by April W. Gardner (Vinspire Publishing)
Ms. Gardner doesn't write like a debut author! She kept my attention right from the beginning of this story. I feel that the overall writing of this story, that it was very well-researched and that the character development was so exceptionally well-done merit extra consideration. The pacing of the story was excellent and the setting was well established. The ending of the story was appropriate and, even if for some readers maybe a little unexpected because it wasn't a definitively tied-up "happily ever after," this was a very realistic way to finish the story. The story also offered much to consider as regards questions of faith... Adela was portrayed as holding on to her faith in suffering, while there was a very well-done contrast in Lillian's realistic difficulty with forgiveness in the face of hers. The character development and conflict were exceptionally well-done on all points. The writing was very fresh and unique. Great use was made of the vocabulary: The excellent usage of dialect and the utilization of Spanish. The background study pertaining to Zachariah McGirth, Red Eagle, etc… All of these aspects made for a compelling story.
You can purchase a copy of this great book HERE!
April Gardner is the author of the best selling romance novel with western themes, WOUNDED SPIRITS. Librarian, reviewer, and avid reader, April adores anything books. She writes a weekly column for the joint blog, Reflections in Hindsight, and is the founder and senior editor of the website, Clash of the Titles. She was a military brat, missionary's kid, and military spouse. After 21 years in various countries overseas, April happily resides in Georgia with her USAF husband. A homeschool mom, she fills her mornings talking fractions and phonics with her two sweet kiddos. In her free time, April enjoys reading, gardening, and DIY. In no particular order, she dreams of owning a horse, visiting all the national parks, and speaking Italian. www.aprilgardner.com
May 10, 2011
Night of the Cossack
Join me as we welcome Thomas Blubaugh, author of Night of the Cossack!
Please tell us about your book.
Night of the Cossack is a historical fiction about my Jewish grandfather who was a Russian Cossack soldier. He died before I was born. I had just a little information, but they were confirmed by history. It is an exciting adventure of his being kidnapped, forced to be a soldier, and his escape.
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing for forty years. All of my writing has been nonfiction and until Night of the Cossack.
What's your favorite genre?
I like historical fiction, westerns and biographies.
Who's your favorite author?
Louis L'Amour
What is the hardest thing about writing for you? The easiest?
The grammar. I was out of control when I was a teenager and did not take school seriously. Therefore grammar is difficult. I would like to be able to apologize to all of my English teachers. Writing the actual story is the easiest.
Are you working on more titles?
I'm working on a sequel to Night of the Cossack along with some picture books.
Where can readers find you?
I can be found on my own websites:
Tom Blubaugh and The Genesis Project ;
Twitter—although I've been on there for a couple of years I haven't been active;
Facebook fan page is Facebook Fan Page
My book can be found on Tom Blubaugh , Amazon.com (ebook and hard copy) and Barnes & Noble ebook only.
God is Good, God is Great
A little of this, a little of that. I love doing many different things, but I'm going to share my love of good books, fun crafts, freebies, contests, and scrapbooking with this blog. Enjoy!
...more
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