Marlene Dotterer's Blog, page 59

2012 in review

Here’s a nifty summary of my blog’s year. A heartfelt shout of “Thanks!” to everyone who left comments, with special kudos to Angela Brown. Gracious, woman. You practically wrote a book on my blog! I vow to learn from your example.

And who knew pickled vegetables were so interesting?

Happy New Year everybody! I hope we all find love, happiness, and lots of people-to-read-our-books in 2013!

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 7,000 views in 201...

Humor Me. No, Really.

What makes you laugh?

We had a discussion about this at dinner the other night. I don’t remember what brought it up – it might have been a newspaper article about a movie or something. But we both noted that our sense of humor has changed as we’ve gotten older. Certainly what Hollywood considers funny is not at all on our radar. Slapstick, fart jokes, that kind of thing – do NOT make us laugh.

In a way, it’s a discouraging feeling. We like to laugh.Laughter is good. It keeps us healthy and help...

The Enemy is Us, But We’re All We Have

Here’s a topic that’s not related to any of this week’s myriad holidays. I’m filing this one under holistic living – as in Ways That We Are Not Doing It.

There’s been talk in the news lately about arsenic in our food. Rice seems to be the biggest offender, although it’s also in other foods. This is because our soil is contaminated with it. Rice draws it in more than other foods because it’s grown in water-flooded areas. The water loosens arsenic’s binding with the soil, leaving it available fo...

A World-Ending Solstice and Other Exciting Events

Want something to read in case the world doesn’t end on Friday? I’m giving away 3 copies of Moon Over Donamorgh – paperback version – over at Goodreads.

Go here to enter the contest. It ends January 10. Goodreads selects the winners, and I send you your book – signed!

For even more fun, go over to Facebook and check out the Pagan Writers Community’s End of the World Party. We’re counting down to the Winter’s Solstice, with lots of book giveaways, sales, reviews, and other things. Moon Over Dona...

The Anarchist Soccer Mom: Thinking the Unthinkable

There are no adequate words to cover what happened in Newtown. This morning, the paper listed all the victims, most with picture. All those glowing, beautiful, baby faces…

For the record, I think we need drastically improved gun control laws. But mostly, we need what this mother begs for:

The Anarchist Soccer Mom: Thinking the Unthinkable.

BBC Religion & Ethics – Pagan beliefs: nature, druids and witches

BBC Religion & Ethics – Pagan beliefs: nature, druids and witches.

Moon Over Donamorgh is at Amazon!

The announcements are flying of the shelf! Which is what I hope Donamorgh does! The Kindle version is up here. And isn’t this the coolest thing? You can sign up to be notified when the paperback is available. Do that here.

Now I must do my wifely duty and accompany my husband to see Skyfall. Ta!

Moon Over Donamorgh is at Smashwords!

Progress is being made, folks. You can now, as of ten minutes ago, buy Moon Over Donamorgh over at Smashwords. Use this link.

I don’t know about you, but I’m excited about it!

Kindle and print should be available in a day or two. I will be sure to let you know when that happens.

You can buy for Apple, B&N, Kobo, etc. at Smashwords. And don’t forget, all my other books are available there, as well. Let all your Smashwords-buying friends know about them. I need more exposure over there.

And while y...

In Which the Writer is Blurry-Eyed

I would point out that I am somewhat sleep-deprived today, after two nights of agitation, texting, phone calls, and high emotion. But I got off easy and cannot possibly complain. The real work of the last 48 hours was done by my daughter, who wins the blue ribbon miles ahead of everybody else. Second place goes to her husband, who kept pace with water and back rubs. I’m somewhere far off in the peanut gallery of supporters.

You can probably guess: they had a baby. A real cutie, if I may be so...

Success At Last!

I’m thrilled to report that, at last, the proof copy of Moon Over Donamorgh looks the way it should. I’ve ordered a print copy so I can see it with my own real eyes and feel it in my hands. Assuming all is well with the proof, you should see Donamorgh on online shelves within a week!

I solved the problem by using the “Start section break on next odd (or even) page.” That solution was staring at me the whole time, but I never thought to use it. It’s called “being in a rut.” We get so used to do...