Jason Zandri's Blog: The GUNDERSTONE GOODREADS Review, page 13
November 22, 2015
Step By Step: Making a Simple Ad with PowerPoint
Originally posted on Step By Step is a series of lessons for beginners, utilizing simple programs and methods. This first post involves making an ad using PowerPoint.
You will need an image–either one you have taken with your own camera or one you have the rights to use. There are a variety of sites with royalty-free stock photos and various sites that offer low cost images. In this case, I’m going to take a picture of some Christmas wrapping paper with my cell phone.
Now, I will open up PowerPoint and choose a New Presentation with a blank slide. At the top of the screen, I choose, Insert>Photo>Picture from file. And I select the newly downloaded picture I emailed to my computer from my phone. Now it looks like this.
I have made my background red by choosing Layout>Background and picking a solid color. Next, using the mouse and selecting the background on…
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November 19, 2015
“PAY IT FORWARD” WEEK – three great authors from the Rave Reviews Book Club
Hello readers – all this week on THE GUNDERSTONE REVIEW, as well as on ALL of my social media sites, I have been to spotlighting, promoting, and propelling three of my fellow authors from my online book club – #RaveReviews BookClub ( #RRBC )
If you are an author and want this kind of support, you can get in on “that action” via membership to the #RaveReviews BookClub.
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Here are the links all three of my “PAY IT FORWARD” efforts from this week:
“PAY IT FORWARD” WEEK – Today’s RRBC Author – ISABEL PIETRI
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“PAY IT FORWARD” WEEK – Today’s RRBC Author – Lizzie Chantree
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“PAY IT FORWARD” WEEK – Today’s RRBC Author – MISHA ELLIOTT
“PAY IT FORWARD” WEEK – Today’s RRBC Author – MISHA ELLIOTT
“PAY IT FORWARD” WEEK – Today’s RRBC Author – MISHA ELLIOTT
Hello readers – today on THE GUNDERSTONE REVIEW, as well as on ALL of my social media sites, I am going to spotlight, promote, and propel one of my fellow authors from my online book club – #RaveReviews BookClub ( #RRBC )
I have volunteered three days in total this week for our “PAY IT FORWARD” WEEK” effort which will showcase three different Rave Reviews Book Club authors.
If you are an author and want this kind of support, you can get in on “that action” via membership to the #RaveReviews BookClub.
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Today I am spotlighting Misha Elliott, author of Saving Leah and Learning to Fly.
She was also a featured author in the Christmas in the City set of books. These were fourteen newly written stories by fifteen Authors in the City authors. This anthology will benefit a children’s hospital in the Florida area where the 2016 Authors in the City book signing will be held. Authors in the City is hosted by Stephanie’s Book Reports. Misha’s contribution in that set was titled “All I Want for Christmas”.
In her own words:
Misha Elliott is an old movie watching, wine drinking, book-lover. Once a northerner she now calls the sweet state of Alabama her home. She can’t remember a time when books weren’t a part of her life. Writing gives her a reason to talk to the voices in her head. When she isn’t writing you will find her talking about books with friends or at the beach with her toes in the sand.
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Synopsis
Sometimes the only thing worse than revealing a painful secret is keeping it from the one who wants to save you.
In time, fractured bones mend and torn flesh heals. But what about a fractured soul? Years of abuse have left Leah scared and broken, in solitude with the only symbol of the person she used to be-her violin.
While in hiding, she never expected to meet the handsome and alluring Asher. Can he save her before all is lost or will her secrets become the death of her?
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Synopsis
Growing up is hard enough for the average teen. Not even the average teen has the job of raising their mother in addition to themselves. When another one of her mother’s failed relationships forces the two to move, once again, it makes Sophie face an impossible change for her senior year.
What seemed like punishment has turned into an opportunity. However, what will Sophie do when she has a chance to experience being young for the first time? She’s sure to make a mistake or two while learning to fly.
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You can follow Misha and her works through the following links:
Author Blog – http://mishaelliott.com/category/bookish-blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliottmisha
Website: http://mishaelliott.com/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Misha-Elliott/e/B00FCWP81M/
“I, Hero: The Beginning” is now FREE via Smashwords
With the recent release of “I, Hero: Nathan Returns” and the upcoming release of “I, Hero: Phases” I am excited to announce that “I, Hero: The Beginning” is now available FOR FREE via the Smashwords website.
DOWNLOAD HERE
Gratitude Post: Group Administrators
While I am an admin of a couple of writing groups, mainly dedicated to pressing their blogs and their books, I am also an ADMIN to MANY Facebook groups with respect to my home town.
The ones I am not, I either co-ADMIN them or I am “just” a member and know the admins.
I think the users often forget – they groups technically belong to the creator of said group but the main reason for the creation of the group was for the use and benefit for all.
Like any “club” or “membership” you can be kicked out for not following the (generally) simple rules.
Originally posted on writerchristophfischer:
I have some friends who are amazing. Besides their writing, day jobs and family life they create Facebook groups for authors to support others, they spend hours setting them up, organising group activities and platforms that benefit everyone, listen to group members problems and suggestions, trying to sort them out and nurture the culture of altruism – a word that is so rare in our self-centred modern world. I cannot believe how wonderfully patient and relentless some of them are.
And yet, not a day goes by when I hear about one of them getting grief from the benefitting group members, either because of a disagreement about the group content, or because the member has issues in their life and needs to vent at someone. The latter seems to be on the increase.
I’ve scaled down my involvement in social media dramatically because of such personal attacks in my role…
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Amazon Sends Wrong File to Over 8K Readers
Amazing that the readers whack the authors in the review than the source of the problem and then when the issue is corrected the reviewers don’t go back and re-address.
Amazon has no issues deleting what they feel are biased reviews (friends and neighbors) – why shouldn’t they nix reviews of a faulted version of the ebook?
Originally posted on The Bad Luck Detective:
November 17th was release day for Mischief Under the Mistletoe Box Set. Or, as these authors have begun thinking, D-Day and by that I mean disaster times 8,000 plus for pre-order customers. How do I know this? I’m one of the unfortunate authors in this box set, writing as Holly S. Roberts.
This isn’t the first time this particular mistake has happened though it remains hush hush in the Amazon community. Other boxed sets and individual titles have been hit with this glitch for months.
One question: WHY?
Technical malfunctions happen. We all know this because we live in a technical world. BUT, when you have a problem of this magnitude, you fix it (as in months ago). Just ask my husband, a recently retired technical coordinator for an entire school district. Have problem, fix problem. This is what people expect.
What I find incredibly discouraging is that customer after customer placed the blame on the authors…
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Master list of words / phrases to avoid #amwriting #amediting
Originally posted on The Writing Chimp:
Here is my list of words to avoid when writing with an explanation for each about alternatives and / or why. I don’t want to turn this into a thesaurus, we have a bounty of applications that can do a much better job, but I have popped some alternatives in where it helps to explain the point.
I make a pass through my manuscript for each of these words / phrases, and explore each one. There are generally 4 options:
Leave it
Remove it
Replace it with a more specific word
Rework the sentence
Master list of words / phrases to avoid
A lot of – Alt. Many.
Across – Overused word. If it is movement, consider how to better show movement.
All – Overused word. Alt. Each, copious.
Almost, always, already, anymore – Check each one, they are often redundant and can be removed.
Came, came to – Alt. Arrived.
Carried…
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November 17, 2015
“PAY IT FORWARD” WEEK – Today’s RRBC Author – Lizzie Chantree
“PAY IT FORWARD” WEEK – Today’s RRBC Author – Lizzie Chantree
Hello readers – today on THE GUNDERSTONE REVIEW, as well as on ALL of my social media sites, I am going to spotlight, promote, and propel one of my fellow authors from my online book club – #RaveReviews BookClub ( #RRBC )
I have volunteered three days in total this week for our “PAY IT FORWARD” WEEK” effort which will showcase three different Rave Reviews Book Club authors.
If you are an author and want this kind of support, you can get in on “that action” via membership to the #RaveReviews BookClub.
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Today I am spotlighting Lizzie Chantree, author of Babe Driven and Love’s Child
In her own words:
Lizzie is an enthusiastic inventor, businesswoman and artist. She founded her first company at the age of 17 and has been creating products and driving her family mad ever since.
Lizzie has appeared on Sky News, ITV Lunchtime News, This Morning, The Big Breakfast and the BBC’s worldwide radio service, amongst others, for becoming one of Fair Play London’s female innovators.
Lizzie lives in Essex, with her gorgeous husband, two vivacious children and a very unusual dog. In between the school run and baking cakes, (or burning them!) she sits in her rooftop studio daydreaming about gaps in the market and how she can fill them. Babe Driven is her first novel, Love’s Child is her second. She is currently writing her third novel and is collaborating on a children’s book range with her family.
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Synopsis
Driving straight out of trouble and into paradise!
Harriet’s crazily successful business idea is under serious threat, and the danger seems to be coming from inside her own family. She whisks her sister and her friends away to an exotic location to try and work out whose side they are on. It’s time to start damage limitation.
When the girls arrive at the glorious villa owned by Harriet’s maverick business partner Nikki, they find a gorgeous band and their sexy lead singer Max staying next door, out to entice their new neighbours into all kinds of trouble.
This isn’t a holiday for Harriet and she can’t afford to be distracted. She has to sell her business idea to the powerful resort owner, the elusive Mr Grant, while she is there, or she may not have a business to go back to. Harriet will have to choose between family and friends, business or pleasure. For someone who stays out of the limelight, even though her new company is the hottest ticket in town, she’s going to have to avoid the front pages of every newspaper if she wants to survive the ride!
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Synopsis
Friendship, loyalty and deadly secrets.
Jemima Trent is desperate to have a designer baby to keep up with her socialite friends, reconnect with her work-obsessed husband, Lucas, and regain some respect from her domineering father.
Something curious is happening and the number of women able to conceive each year is in decline, but no one seems to know why. Dr Cole believes that the answer can be found in a warehouse full of delinquent teenagers, where David Love and his pregnant girlfriend, Tilly, have been hitting the headlines for turning youngsters’ lives around. Dr Cole’s violent and callous employer will stop at nothing to discover the reason behind their success and why girls at the warehouse are able to fall pregnant.
Jemima finally tries to step out of her father’s shadow, but discovers they are more alike than she could ever imagine. David and Tilly vow to keep their secret, but have the lessons of the past been learned and is the world ready for the truth?
Lies, deceit and betrayal, all in the name of love!
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You can follow Lizzie and her works through the following links:
Author Blog – http://lizziechantree.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizziechantree
Twitter – @Lizzie_Chantree
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lizzie-Chantree/e/B00FF99DHC/
November 15, 2015
“PAY IT FORWARD” WEEK – Today’s RRBC Author – ISABEL PIETRI
“PAY IT FORWARD” WEEK – Today’s RRBC Author – ISABEL PIETRI
Hello readers – today on THE GUNDERSTONE REVIEW, as well as on ALL of my social media sites, I am going to spotlight, promote, and propel one of my fellow authors from my online book club – #RaveReviews BookClub ( #RRBC )
I have volunteered three days in total this week for our “PAY IT FORWARD” WEEK” effort which will showcase three different Rave Reviews Book Club authors.
If you are an author and want this kind of support, you can get in on “that action” via membership to the #RaveReviews BookClub.
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Today I am spotlighting ISABEL PIETRI; In her own words:
Isabel Pietri is a retired Labor Union President from NYC. In retirement, she has re-invented herself as an author and blogger.
Isabel Pietri was born and raised in New York City. She resides now in N. E. Pennsylvania with her husband, a retired forensic investigator, Sheba the wonder dog, and two kitties, Shadow and Missy.
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The Black Calla Lily (Millie and Adrian Trilogy Book 2) is her release from this time last year (December 4, 2014).
Synopsis
Millie has come a long way from her life in New York City as a former Detective in the elite TARU unit of the NYPD. She has a life she could never have imagined, married to the handsome and successful Adrian Zaragosa and a growing family. A beautiful winery is the backdrop to their idyllic life at their Luna Llena estate.
Millie and Adrian are the perfect couple living the perfect life. That is until Millie’s troubles from NY – a Colombian drug cartel and a shady lawyer- follow her to Luna Llena, threatening her husband and children. She has something they want and the clock is ticking as their patience wears thin. However, before she concedes, she wants answers to the senseless murder of her ex-partner and lover, Danny. It is only a matter of time before Millie is forced to confront them.
Theirs lives are further complicated when Adrian’s best friend, Juan Carlos, is threatened by ruthless business rivals, leaving Adrian with the task of making a decision that could endanger him, his family and friends.
A love interest from Adrian’s past drives a wedge between him and Millie as outsiders try to lure them into situations that can compromise their relationship, testing their love and loyalty for each other. Will their marriage survive? Can Adrian forgive Millie for interfering in his business and can Millie get past Adrian’s behavior?
The Black Calla Lily comes to a stunning climax as Millie leaves her family behind and races to tie up loose ends with the drug lords for the final show down where she may have to pay the ultimate price: her life.
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Editorial Reviews
From the Author
The Black Calla Lily is Book #2 in the Millie and Adrian Trilogy.
I enjoyed writing this book and living vicariously through the main character, Millie Angeles Zaragosa. She is a complex character, loving and gentle, yet would not hesitate a minute to take out any who threaten her family.
From the Back Cover
Millie has come a long way from her life in New York City as a former detective in the elite TARU unit of the NYPD. She has a life she could never have imagined, married to the handsome and successful Adrian Zaragosa and a growing family. A beautiful winery is the backdrop to their idyllic life at their Luna Llena estate.
Millie and Adrian are the perfect couple living the perfect life. That is until Millie’s troubles from NY – a Colombian drug cartel and a shady lawyer – follow her to Luna Llena, threatening her husband and children. She has something they want and the clock is ticking as their patience wears thin. However, before she concedes, she wants answers to the senseless murder of her ex-partner and lover, Danny. It is only a matter of time before Millie is forced to confront them.
Their lives are further complicated by ruthless business rivals and ex-lovers of Adrian’s. Will their marriage survive? Can Adrian forgive Millie for interfering in his business and can Millie get past Adrian’s behavior?
The Black Calla Lily comes to a stunning climax as Millie races back to N.Y. to meet her nemesis for a final show down where she may have to pay the ultimate price.
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You can follow Isabel and her works through the following links:
Author Blog – http://isabelpietri.wordpress.com
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/isabel.pietri.3
Facebook Love in the Dark (book series page) https://www.facebook.com/MillieandAdrianTrilogy
Twitter – @sheba915
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Isabel-Pietri/e/B00R07PNQ2/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabel-pietri-6a957171
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/photo/author/7678304.Isabel_Pietri
Smashwords Interview: https://www.smashwords.com/interview/Isabel731
Smashwords profile page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Isabel731Amazon.com
Kindle Unlimited: Global Expansion and Impact
Originally posted on chrismcmullen:
Image from ShutterStock.
KINDLE UNLIMITED NEWS
Amazon’s payment for Kindle Unlimited KENP pages read has dipped a hair below $0.005 per page.
There is a downward trend for KENP pages read, although is a reason behind the most recent dip, and, as we shall see, there may be good signs to offset this trend.
July, 2015: $0.0058
August, 2015: $0.0051 (11% drop)
September, 2015: $0.0051 (1% drop)
October, 2015: $0.0048 (5% drop)
It started in July at $0.0058, likely to match the projections forecast when Amazon shared their pages read data for June.
It dropped 11% from July to August, likely because there were changes in the readership and/or reading habits when the Kindle Unlimited changes were implemented, and perhaps also Amazon was adjusting KENP settings and measurements.
We saw nice stability from August to September. When we finally see some long-term stability, that will be nice. I think we’ll…
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