Sarah Butland's Blog, page 26

Gaining Momentum with CrowdFunding

An author recently asked what crowdfunding was and I was happy to answer – an opportunity for a business, be it an author, mechanic, inventor, etc, to gain momentum financially to ensure they can follow their dream.

IndieGogo is a popular one but Pubslush was designed specifically with authors in mind to ensure they had a resource available to raise funds from loyal supports to complete a book and have it made available for even more readers.

No Risk, Big Reward

With each donation an author typically gives you a reward. Whether it is a mention in the book, a postcard or copy of the book, these rewards are intended to say thank you to the contribution.

In celebration of the Canadian Thanksgiving and upcoming Christmas holidays, I am launching my own campaign to ensure I can get Being Grateful, Being Thankful:: Appreciate Everything to Be Happy For Even The Rain Brings Rainbows available for fans to buy it for gifts.  It’s impossible to gift wrap an ebook and readers have been asking for the opportunity to gift it to their friends and family as a paperback.

My Gift to You

Among the rewards, if you’re able to donate to this campaign, I currently have Arm Farm available for $0.99 or less for a limited time.

I do hope you’ll visit my campaign site today to give back. Even if you just become a fan of my efforts it would mean so much to me and for that I thank you.

Thanks for reading and contributing,

Sarah Butland

author of Being Grateful, Being Thankful, Arm Farm, Blood Day and Sending You Sammy

Happy Thanksgiving Canadian Fans!

Without a Plan B

Many people go through life doubting their dreams will ever come to fruition as they haven’t yet so they modify their dream. Having a plan b, c, and d as back up so they can settle for what they feel they can achieve or deserve.

And then there are people like me. Those who have one objective and will do everything in our power to make it reality. Personally, I know I’ll be a full time author when the universe feels it’s the right time. I work diligently every day quieting that doubtful internal voice with positive thoughts and louder affirmations.

I Admit, Sometimes I Lose

I am not always confident. My “fake it till I make it” routine quivers and I fall but I always get back up, even if I’m down for awhile and it seems hopeless. It takes a while and a lot of concentration, sometimes I depend on others and other times I realize only I can rely on myself.

That’s difficult to do, relying on myself, when all a writer wants is readers. No matter how many times I read my own book it’s not the same satisfaction as when a stranger does. Whether or not they like it, that’s not the point, it’s the readers I crave.

I Don’t Have a Plan B

People tell me all the time that author’s don’t make enough to do what they love all the time. It’s just not realistic to think following your heart will work out and yet every time I hear this I get stronger.

We exist and we are all different, that alone to me is a miracle and if we are just here to follow someone else’s lead/ plan why then are we not all the same? My Plan A is all I have and I will prove to you, someday, that’s the only plan I need.

What do you have planned?

Thanks for reading,

Sarah Butland

author of Sending You Sammy, Brain Tales – Volume One, Blood Day: The Short Story, Arm Farm and Being Grateful, Being Thankful:: Appreciate Everything to Be Happy For Even The Rain Brings Rainbows

 

Failing Upwards: Discover the importance of failure on yo...

Failing Upwards: Discover the importance of failure on your way to success (How To Find Success Through Failure) reveals a concept that explains why failing is necessary for progress. Though understood in theory, most of us fear the idea of failing the first time we try and so hesitate or simply never try.

This book taught me aspects of others I never realized such as how many times Dr Suess failed, how Twitter came to be and how successful giants we all respect earned their very spot at the top. I have read plenty of books about attracting success before but this was unique in that it put the effort of achieving your dreams into perspective.

There were a few minor spelling and word usage errors throughout this read which were easy to ignore to focus on the message and overall benefit of the read.

Thanks for reading,

Sarah Butland

author of Sending You Sammy, Brain Tales – Volume One, Blood Day: The Short Story, Arm Farm and Being Grateful, Being Thankful:: Appreciate Everything to Be Happy For Even The Rain Brings Rainbows

Being Grateful, Being Thankful Has Launched!

It’s official, Being Grateful, Being Thankful:: Appreciate Everything to Be Happy For Even The Rain Brings Rainbows is available for download and being very well received. Two amazing 5 Star Reviews have been posted with promise of more to come.

When it comes to social networking, a status update can change a day – if you let it. Perception is everything so you can either share or agree with a negative post or reply with a new insight that sheds light on the positive aspect of each seemingly troublesome experience. A broken down van? Maybe if you left at that moment without the hassle you would have been in an accident or a family member would have needed to pee when a bathroom wasn’t in sight.

Something not going the way it should for you today? Take a moment and realize how low on the priority that task is in the greater scheme of things. Change your mind – embrace it and take the opportunity to do something else higher on the priority list.

If you’re reading this, be grateful you have the ability to read and rejoice in your abilities to help others.

Thanks for reading,

Sarah Butland

author of Being Grateful, Being Thankful: Appreciate Everything to Be Happy For Even The Rain Brings Rainbows

Are You Being Grateful?

Being Grateful, Being Thankful is my new book available for pre-order now on Amazon and due to launch on September 6, 2014. An inspirational book, this will give you many ways you can change your form of thinking to welcome more happiness and amazing things in your life.

In celebration I’m giving things away, including a $25 Amazon gift card and other books and book swag.

Check it out and enter at:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for reading,

Sarah Butland

author of Being Grateful, Being Thankful:: Appreciate Everything to Be Happy For Even The Rain Brings Rainbows, Sending You Sammy, Brain Tales – Volume One, Blood Day: The Short Story and Arm Farm

Want to win $229? Enter Today!

If you know me at all you know I love contests, especially when I win them, and I’m sure you do to. In my searches I found this gem and, being a major supporter of anything literacy, I wanted to invite you to participate, too.  And then, if you win, please think of me and add or all of my books to your reading list !

It’s time for August’s $229 Kindle Giveaway Hosted by I Am A Reader.

Enter to win 1 of 2 great prizes both valued at $229. Winner’s choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash!

The first prize is available via the rafflecopter below. The 2nd is available only to those share this giveaway. You can find info on how to enter the 2nd giveaway in the rafflecopter.

 

Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

Kindle Fire HDX 7″ Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7″ Kindle Fire HDX (US Only – $229 Value)

 

Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

 

Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

 

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Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Giveaway here:

http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups

 

Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7″ HDX (US Only – $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International).

There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7″, $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash.

Ends 8/31/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for reading and entering,

Sarah Butland

author of Sending You Sammy, Brain Tales – Volume One, Blood Day: The Short Story and Arm Farm

When It Comes to Authors, I’m Still Shocked

Sheree Fitch is a well known author, at least I thought.  She is hilarious, has some best selling books, is local to Nova Scotia and  this weekend neighbours were still asking – who is Sheree Fitch?

There is Hope

While attending a book signing of hers last year through the Writer in Residence Program of the Pictou Antigonish Regional Library, I loved the reception of kids and adults alike to her arrival. Each child, and their parent, had their favourite Sheree book and could chose from dozens of them. For the long time fans she has an adult book as well titled Kiss the Joy As It Flies (reviewed by myself).

As an author myself, trying to make a name for me, advice she gave still rings loudly – something like, don’t ever expect to be rich from selling books. Yet, no matter how many people discourage me I do still dream. Not necessarily to be rich but to have neighbourhood children realize there are many local authors in their own community.

Value Each Accomplishment

Though it’s obvious each author battles their own obstacles, knowing a best selling author still struggles to have people recognize her name actually gives me hope. Sheree is known throughout Canada, when I mentioned a workshop she held to my in-laws they immediately remembered her quirkiness and learning from, this is important.

As long as us authors find a reader who are impacted by or simply love what we wrote, it doesn’t matter if everyone knows our name – it’s important enough that one person does.

Reviews

And it means a tremendous amount when we Google ourselves -yes, we do that too- and find a new review posted, 5 star or less, as it means someone has read our story and cared enough to tell someone about it.

Robert wrote: Having finished reading #3, I decided Blood Day is like poetry: It grabs you and haunts you and you kind of ‘get it’ without fully understanding it, but that doesn’t diminish its effect, and in fact – tantalisingly!

Manuel said: Thank you, that was a good book. I recommended it for a week-end entertainement. A lot of mystery.

I will definetly look for the rest of the story.

Overall in Canada, Blood Day the Short Story as 3 5 star and 1 4 star reviews and  that to me is motivation enough to keep telling stories and sharing literacy of all sorts, by myself and greats like Sheree Fitch.

Thanks for reading (and reviewing!),

Sarah Butland

author of Sending You Sammy, Brain Tales – Volume One, Blood Day: The Short Story and Arm Farm

 

Love You Like Suicide by Jo Treggiari

Striking, brutally honest and a heart breaking tale of life in the fast lane. Speed, alcohol and careless mistakes fill a life with adventure and risk but they are not all without consequence.

Love You Like Suicide (Fierce Shorts), written by Jo Treggiari, is a short story in the Becoming Fierce collection and describes the raw life of an addict experiencing moments of fun and life times of devastation before being able to vote. Treating her decisions first as an escape and feeling she is making the right choices, her fantasy world all comes crashing down as she learns about true friendship and sound decisions.

Too many teenagers feel it won’t happen to them – the addictions, the deaths and heart break – if they just try something once to escape what they feel is a bad situation. Treggiari tells it like it is and spares no emotion in the attempt to take control of a life while experimenting with the devil.

Though every teenager, and person, is special no one is alone. If you reach out and open yours eyes you’ll see that their are people who love you, other kids who have made the wrong choices for you and are just a phone call away to help you resist a temptation that could ruin your life.

Be sure to donate, even $1, to Becoming Fierce through their IndieGoGo campaign before July 29th to ensure this collection is available for your teenager to experience.

Thanks for reading,

Sarah Butland

author of Sending You Sammy, Brain Tales – Volume One, Blood Day: The Short Story and Arm Farm

The Long Last Year by Gerard Collins

Becoming Fierce is all about how awful life can be when you’re a teen.

A collection of creative non-fiction short stories meant to reach out to those suffering with the drama they feel will never end. Authors from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have united to empower teens and readers of all ages to have a friend and feel normal again.

Reading The Long Last Year connected me to my own last year of high school and, maybe better yet, to Gerard Collins from Newfoundland, while he deals with angst as so many of us do. The idea of throwing a rock through a window is symbolic to our own adventures in fitting in, growing up and leaving home.

While we all find rocks throughout our lives and the “perfect” window to throw them through, Collins also dealt with an ailing father to create an avalanche of problems externally. The world continues to throw rocks at you while you deal with your own internal demons but, as expressed throughout this entire collection, you are not alone and you do have friends and support around.

To order a copy of this and support success through the hardest times, donate, even a $1, to Becoming Fierce today!

Thanks for reading,

Sarah Butland

author of Sending You Sammy, Brain Tales – Volume One, Blood Day: The Short Story and Arm Farm

Breathing On Her Own by Rebecca Waters

Not my usual genre of choice, I was excited to read this Christian story of heartbreak and healing through a giveaway at R.A. Giggie’s blog.

Rebecca Waters is a new to me author but one I would love to read again.

In Breathing On Her Own, Waters describes a horrific situation for any mother, parent or family member. Starting with parents running into an emergency room in search of their daughter who was just in an accident. As the story unfolds we learn that she was out with a college friend, trying to keep up, and instead found herself at a complete stop – in a hospital bed struggling to breath without machines.

Molly, the stories main character, is the mom and who I could most easily relate to. Through discovering more and more about her first born, she also uncovers aspects of herself she wouldn’t before reveal to her loving husband.

Have Faith

The moral of this story is to have faith and though Molly was able to tell each character throughout the course of this story, she often doubted what she preached and struggled to understand why all of this was happening to her.

And yet, in the end, I felt as if it couldn’t have happened to a better family. One who put aside their differences to bond over a tragedy, a dinner of nuts and an ocean of dolphins.

For anyone who has found faith in a higher power and doubted it a few times, this book will have you breathing easier.

Thanks for reading,

Sarah Butland

author of Sending You Sammy, Brain Tales – Volume One, Blood Day: The Short Story and Arm Farm