Annette Mackey's Blog, page 4
November 30, 2012
“Treasure the Light”
I have had a few requests for this, so I decided to just make a post. Below is an audio recording of “Treasure the Light.” I have also included the sheet music, which is available for either solo voice or choir. Both versions have piano accompaniment.
Audio only: Treasure the Light Note: to play, click on the link. To download, right click and follow the directions next to your mouse.
Free Sheet Music: Treasure the Light — Solo with Piano Accompaniment
Free Sheet Music: Treasure the Light — Arranged for Choir (SSATTB) with Piano Accompaniment
November 20, 2012
Boise Idaho Temple Celebration
I wrote this song in early July, 2012 after a meeting with the youth committee from the thirty stakes involved in the Youth Cultural Celebration. The lyrics were taken from the youths’ suggestions for themes. As I listened to them call out their ideas, I realized that they would make great lyrics. So I decided to take their ideas and turn them into a song.
Anyhow, during the course of the meeting a young man raised his hand and said that the girl next to him had a great idea. She quickly offered her idea, which was, “Just one little light.” Since the meeting was running short, leadership flet that it was time to close down the brainstorming session, while I was busy thinking, “Hey! That’s a great line!” I have no idea who this girl is, but I felt her distinct frustration that night — as if she were sure that she felt prompted to speak. Even though I have no idea who she is, her words touched me deeply. As you will notice, I used her thought as the first line in the song. I don’t know if she’ll ever notice my appreciation for speaking up. Life is a strange that way. Sometimes we never see the repercussions of our actions. But I am glad that she shared.
Highlighted in this recording are the following artists:
Katie Johnson, Annie Johnson, Morgan Cooley, Gabby Genta, Lexie Jeppson, Melinda Harper, Christina Walker, Haylee Jones, Gabby Ririe, Joy Purnell, Steven Mackey, Spencer Madsen, Austin Peery, Jake Thibault, Masen Thompson, Tanner Myler, and Cade Anderson. Thanks you guys! You were GREAT!
This song played during the prelude portion of the Youth Cultural Celebration for the Boise Temple, which was performed on November 17, 2012 in the Taco Bell Arena. It was such an honor to be involved in this event. Thank you to everyone who participated!
September 17, 2012
Killer Chocolate Cake
I make this every now and then when we want something extra special for dessert. This recipe is actually from Hershey’s, and it is oh soooooooo good! The batter is very thin and consequentially the cake can fall if it is not handled with care, or removed from the oven too soon. But even if it falls, it really tastes good. YUM!
Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake
2 C sugar
1 3/4 C all-purpose flour
3/4 C Hershey’s Cocoa
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 C milk
1/2 C vegetable oil (olive oil tastes the best!)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 C boiling water
“Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate frosting
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans, or one 13 x 9 pan.
2. Combine dry ingredients in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour into pans.
3. Bake 30–35 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. (Do not under bake or it may fall.) Cool 10 min, remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with pecan and coconut frosting, or frost with “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Frosting. Makes 10–12 servings.
“Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Frosting
1 stick (1/2 C) butter
2/3 C Hershey’s Cocoa
3 C powdered sugar
1/3 C millk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1. Melt butter. Stir in cocoa.
2. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating on med. speed to spreading consistency. Add more milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.
September 6, 2012
Bitly
Twitter help for the newbies out there.
Sometimes it’s the little things that count. Anyone who works on the web knows that links matter. If you haven’t checked out bitly, the time has come. It’s a fabulous site that creates shortened web url addresses. And as any tweeter knows, the shorter, the better. To see for yourself, click on the link below.
Not only can you create short links on this site, but every link is saved for future reference. These can be made public or private. In addition, there is a tab for tracking your link stats. Under this tab you can see the clicks for each link. You can even see where the links are being hit. Seriously, if you haven’t checked out bitly yet, do it now.
And since you’re going to love me for this, I’ll just say it now. Your welcome! 
September 2, 2012
Reviews actually do matter
Don’t get me wrong — I’ve had soooooo many positive reviews. Thank you to those wonderful people who have posted them! And yet there have been a few zingers. But that’s okay. As John Locke said, “If you don’t have any low ratings, you haven’t sold enough books.”
What I hate to see is a new author, diving into this business, excited, shining with hope, only to be shot down by someone’s pet peeve that really doesn’t apply to anyone but them.
Humor me for a second as I go off on a tangent. When I was in college studying classical piano, my piano professor said something that will stick with me forever. He said that the type of music a student enjoys, reveals more about the student than it does about the music. His example was Bach. For those who are unfamiliar with classical music, in general, Bach is the calculous of music. His fugues, in particular, are quite difficult. Each piano major was required to learn at least one fugue per semester. One semester a student balked. She complained to everyone that she had to learn Bach fugues. The next semester she was dropped from the program. Certain expectations were required at the university. No one cared to teach her what she was missing, because there were SO many talented students waiting to take her place.
In the world of books things are a little different. Ernest Hemingway may not speak to “Twilight” fans, BUT WHO CARES. Reader opinions ALL have merit. Pop culture is in its hay day! And coming from the world of classical music, I find that refreshing. Who cares if someone is “trained” when they read a book. If they like it, THEY LIKE IT! That’s the beauty. There are plenty of genres/markets available for everyone. Pop culture, historical fiction, dystopia, fantasy. Whatever strikes your fancy. Just remember, that reviews will be read by other people, and may affect future sales. Remember, one person’s junk is another person’s treasure. Be honest in your reviews. If you hated a book, go ahead and say so. But don’t be cruel. It says more about the reviewer than the book.
Positive reviews are a way to say thank you to your favorite authors. Writers don’t earn big money, and there is almost no recognition involved. As Ernest Hemingway said, “We sit at the typewriter and bleed.” (Quote paraphrased.) Writers are in the book business for the love of writing. That’s basically it. We write. We share. We write some more.
Once again, thank you to anyone who has taken the time to review my books. Reviews are much appreciated. Especially the positive ones!
Happy reading.
~ Annette
Reviews actually DO matter
Don’t get me wrong — I’ve had soooooo many positive reviews. Thank you to those wonderful people who have posted them! And yet there have been a few zingers. But that’s okay. As John Locke said, “If you don’t have any low ratings, you haven’t sold enough books.”
What I hate to see is a new author, diving into this business, excited, shining with hope, only to be shot down by someone’s pet peeve that really doesn’t apply to anyone but them.
Humor me for a second as I go off on a tangent. When I was in college studying classical piano, my piano professor said something that will stick with me forever. He said that the type of music a student enjoys, reveals more about the student than it does about the music. His example was Bach. For those who are unfamiliar with classical music, in general, Bach is the calculous of music. His fugues, in particular, are quite difficult. Each piano major was required to learn at least one fugue per semester. One semester a student balked. She complained to everyone that she had to learn Bach fugues. The next semester she was dropped from the program. Certain expectations were required at the university. No one cared to teach her what she was missing, because there were SO many talented students waiting to take her place.
In the world of books things are a little different. Ernest Hemingway may not speak to “Twilight” fans, BUT WHO CARES. Reader opinions ALL have merit. Pop culture is in its hay day! And coming from the world of classical music, I find that refreshing. Who cares if someone is “trained” when they read a book. If they like it, THEY LIKE IT! That’s the beauty. There are plenty of genres/markets available for everyone. Pop culture, historical fiction, dystopia, fantasy. Whatever strikes your fancy. Just remember, that your reviews will be read by other people, and may affect future sales. If you hate a book, fine. But one person’s junk is another person’s treasure. So don’t be cruel. It says more about you than the book.
On a side note, positive reviews are a way to say thank you to your favorite authors. Writers don’t earn big money, and there is almost no recognition involved. Instead, as Ernest Hemingway said, “We sit at the typewriter and bleed.” (Quote paraphrased.) Us writers are in the book business for the love of writing. That’s basically it.
Thankfully, I’ve been able to procure many wonderful reviews. So, once again, THANK YOU to anyone who has posted a review on goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, blogs, or anywhere else. They are much appreciated!
Happy reading, and happy reviewing.
~ Annette
August 18, 2012
Coming Soon!
Coming this winter
The Forgotten Queen
A tale of love, friendship, loyalty, and betrayal.
Thanks to graphic designer John Morrell for the amazing cover artwork!
The Forgotten Queen is the tale of Avalon and Arthur. While readers may think they know this story already, I promise you’ll never see it coming.
August 14, 2012
How to generate traffic on your website
1. Use meta keywords
Meta keywords and meta descriptions are the way google picks up your site. These must be added separate from the body of your post via whatever format your site has. If you don’t add them, no one will know you are there. If you need technical help, get it!
2. Use permalinks
Use permalinks and slugs for the same reason. This is how google works.
3. Use plugins and widgets
Plugins and widgets can transform your site from something lame into something that really works. Once again, if you need technical help, get it!
4. Offer something for free
For example:
Alle Wells offeres indie book reviews on her site. A quick visit helps readers see what is good in the indie industry.
Melissa Foster offers author support and services. Of course she sells a lot of books. Everyone loves her. She helps them.
Lia London brings readers into the writing world. Readers become the writers. Many people have always wanted to do this,but were too intimidated to try on their own.
I admit that I’m an oddball in the mix. I offer free music education worksheets. That’s the point. Offer what you have. It’s also helpful is you offer something unique.
5. Don’t be sneaking
Sneaky and solicitation don’t mix. People are smart and sneaky almost always rubs the wrong way.
6. It’s just polite
If your site contains explicite material, don’t plaster it on the front page. Let people know in advance before they click. Some people don’t want to see it. Period.
7. This is your platform
Your website is a store front. Keep it positive. Keep it going.
8. Social media
Twitter is set up for making contacts and tweeting ideas. It’s also a great way connect with readers. But even on twitter be polite. Show a few manners. Don’t assume someone’s an idiot and will click on your website because you scammed them into it. Instead of scamming, offer something. Give people a reason to hit your site.
Facebook works for a lot of people. This is an area that I have chosen to keep personal. My facebook friends are people that I actually “know.” But a lot of authors have made facebook work for them. Give it a try.
There are a number of other social media. Make your presence on the web known. Pineterest, squido, linkedin, etc. There’s a million of them. Redirect everyone to your webpage.
9. Dare to Dream.
This is why you have a website. This is why you’re reading this article! Keep your dreams. Make them happen. They don’t happen without effort. That’s a given.
10. Never Give Up!
Be resourceful. Be creative. But most of all, NEVER GIVE UP!
August 1, 2012
How to organize your novel
Organizing a novel may seem like a daunting task, but there are a few things that can minimize the problems. Always organize from the start.
Files on your computer:
1. Create a single file on your computer with the name of the book TITLE. Keep everything together. This may seem like a no brainer, but you’d be surprised how quickly things can get lost. Eventually a book title will need potential cover photos, cover jpegs, pdf files, epub formats, blog interviews, kindle version, nook version, etc, etc, etc. Everything can become a gigantic mess. So keep it organized. Do not assume that you will remember where you saved anything.
2. Add subsequent files. Inside each TITLE file keep a TEXT file. As the project progresses you will need to add additional files, such as: COVER file, FORMAT file, MARKETING file, BLOG file, INTERVIEW file, etc. To make it clearer, your cover file may end up with fifty files in it, and you’re going to need to keep tract of them all.
3. Inside the TEXT file save your work constantly. Some writers prefer to save chapters individually. Other writers prefer to save everything as a single document. Either way works. Just make sure to label everything.
Writing your document:
4. Inside the text use some kind of tracking system so that you know what needs to be done. I prefer to use colors.
BLACK type means that I’m fairly satisfied with a section. It means that I don’t intend to dump or alter the storyline, and will continue to proof, edit, and mold until it’s finished.
BLUE means that I’m not quite satisfied with the storyline, dialog, or writing, but that things are on the right track. I am committed to these sections and intend to make them work. (In reality anything can be cut.)
RED means trouble. Anything typed in red means that I’m still thinking, which is why that section has not been deleted. These sections sometimes are altered beyond recognition.
There is a problem with this color system. The red color bugs my eyes. So I copy and paste these sections into a new document, work on them until satisfied, then return them to the main body of text.
By using a tracking system I can go to any portion of the book and write. This is important because the creative process doesn’t usually cooperate chronologically. Sometimes the mind generates ideas for the middle or ending, long before the beginning. By having a system it is easy to keep tract of everything.
5. Don’t completely dump anything. Instead, save old versions by date within the proper file. Each time a massive change is made, rename the document with the current date. This makes for easy retrieval when you wake up in the middle of the night, blood pulsing with terror, and realize that you’ve made a mistake. By saving the new file with a different date, both the old and new files still exist, making for an easy revival of a previously abandoned idea. Keep in mind that with this system you will have multiple documents on your hands. Make sure to label and save them all CLEARLY.
Double check your writing:
6. Even if you are not accustom to using an outline, make sure that one can be found in your writing. If the chapters jump without organization the reader will have a hard time understanding your book. This is also a good tool for double checking the interior of each chapter.
Clean up and Publication:
7. Once the book is finished, clean up the files on your computer. If there were dumped sections that might make for a new book, rename the documents and move them into a new file.
Next comes preparation for publication. For help with manuscript preparation and publication please see the article HERE.
July 23, 2012
Perspectives
This is a loaded post. Be warned.…
Some writers prefer to create characters from personal observation. Not me. I don’t have a clue how to model a character after someone I know. Nor would I want to. Rather, I’ve had a longtime fascination with perspectives. I like to take a single point and exploit the various views. To me this is one of the more fascinating aspects of writing. And in the process, voila, an instant character is born.
Sometimes this tendency to see other perspectives creates problems for me in the real world. Particularly with regard to argument, since I frequently see an opposing point as readily as my own — except in the case of extremists. Extremists I do not understand.
Since I rarely post a political viewpoint, prepare yourself!
Take the Continental Congress: Oh my heavens! Talk about perspectives. And I’m glad of it. It amazes me that the founding fathers were so varied. It’s shocking that they were able to come to an agreement at all, let alone in such a stunningly short amount of time. And yet, by considering opposing viewpoints a greater document was created, one which has served our nation faithfully. For example, take Jefferson and Hamilton. Hamilton thought the economy should be based upon industry, Jefferson on agriculture. Duh! We need both. Okay, hindsight is twenty-twenty. Here’s another example: Hamilton was for a national banking system. Jefferson was against it. Now seriously, can you imagine if there were no national system today? But Jefferson had a point. He could see the danger. Only a decade after President Clinton and congress lifted the banking regulations we had a major economic collapse.
My point is, diversity is important in the political process. And yet with all the mud slinging, one would assume that there should only be one point of view. That those who disagree should just roll over and die. How very narrow.
If you ask me the real problems come with corruption, and sadly there is way too much of it. Lobbying still rules congress now as much as ever, perhaps more so. When those who make the laws benefit from their exploitation there is a problem. Powerful special interest groups advocate vehemently to the detriment of the weak. And most of the time this kind of lobbying is done in secret. Not okay. Both republicans and democrats alike bow to the whims of money. It’s a sad tale. But I still believe in this nation.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, don’t give up on the political process. It is a good thing to hear (and express) opposing points of view. It is our constitutional right.
Thank you founding fathers!
