Jennifer Anderson's Blog, page 14
February 26, 2013
Winner! Winner!
Congratulations Cindi! You are now (well, as soon as I send them to you) the proud owner of my novellas!
Thank you to all who entered and shared their random act of kindness stories. I hope we all found a little inspiration.
February 24, 2013
Closed
Contest is closed. I will post a winner shortly!
Thank you for playing!
Thank you for playing!
February 17, 2013
Random Acts of Kindness Hop
To view the entire list of blogs participating, please visit Inspired Kathy.
I'm not a cynical person. Or at least I try not to be. I often find myself frustrated when someone doesn't hold the door for me. But when a stranger in a store hands me a stack of coupons, I'm struck speechless. I thank them, of course, but their kindness erases whatever bad taste I might have in my mouth.
In fact, two weeks before Christmas, my husband and I were browsing through a selection of sunglasses in a mall shop. Neither one of us intended on purchasing anything but all that changed when a woman handed my husband a $50 coupon/gift card. To use the certificate, one had to make a purchase over $100 and would receive $50 off but the savings card needed to be used by a certain date. The woman said she didn't need it and paid it forward.
A random act of kindness.
In the spirit of this blog hop, I am offering 1 e-copy of Ice Princess and 1 e-copy of Prince Charming . All you have to do to enter is follow my blog and leave a comment below about a random act of kindness you've witnessed. A winner will be selected randomly on the 22nd. Make sure to leave an email address.
As an added bonus, for those of you Facebookers, follow my FaceBook page for a chance to win a copy of Queen Mean when I reach 100 followers.
Good Luck and Happy Random Acts of Kindness week.
Thank you to I Am a Reader, Not A Writer and Read For Your Future.
I'm not a cynical person. Or at least I try not to be. I often find myself frustrated when someone doesn't hold the door for me. But when a stranger in a store hands me a stack of coupons, I'm struck speechless. I thank them, of course, but their kindness erases whatever bad taste I might have in my mouth.
In fact, two weeks before Christmas, my husband and I were browsing through a selection of sunglasses in a mall shop. Neither one of us intended on purchasing anything but all that changed when a woman handed my husband a $50 coupon/gift card. To use the certificate, one had to make a purchase over $100 and would receive $50 off but the savings card needed to be used by a certain date. The woman said she didn't need it and paid it forward.
A random act of kindness.
In the spirit of this blog hop, I am offering 1 e-copy of Ice Princess and 1 e-copy of Prince Charming . All you have to do to enter is follow my blog and leave a comment below about a random act of kindness you've witnessed. A winner will be selected randomly on the 22nd. Make sure to leave an email address.
As an added bonus, for those of you Facebookers, follow my FaceBook page for a chance to win a copy of Queen Mean when I reach 100 followers.
Good Luck and Happy Random Acts of Kindness week.
Thank you to I Am a Reader, Not A Writer and Read For Your Future.
February 15, 2013
Am I getting old?
(This is a post I wrote for Honey Creek and thought I'd share with you.)
I know age is just a number, blah, blah and you're only as old as you feel. Whatever. My question isn't actually how I feel but how do others perceive me.
More specifically, the younger folks in my life. Sure my kids think I'm like a hundred (but they are always reminded my husband is older!). But when I'm with a group of teens or younger kids (I volunteer in the library and hope to speak with schools, soon), do they think I'm also a hundred? Am I uncool?
I don't think so but recently I found myself questioning this very idea.
First off, I'm not ashamed to admit I'm 35. Although, I've been blessed with Asian skin so I look about 30 (younger if you count the people at the grocery store who card me). I have a cousin who's 16. We aren't super close but I think as she's gotten older, we've found things we can talk about and I try to relate. After all, I write YA, I should have a working knowledge, right?
She was attending a dance over the weekend and like any girlie, girl, I wanted to see her dress. Thankfully,it wasn't awful, forcing me to lie. In fact, it was so cute, I even pictured a skinnier version of myself wearing the dress (yeah, to all the dances I attend). We discussed where she'd found the dress and both commented on any recent find we'd made there. Then, as if I were talking with my own girlfriends, I said, "You know where I've found some really cute dresses..." and before I could finish I could see her face. Not horrified. No eye rolling. She wasn't rude, but I could see the faintest whisper of disinterest in her eyes forcing me to say, "well, I know I'm old and you probably wouldn't wear what I wear, but I've found cute stuff at..." And bless her heart. She said, " Oh yeah, I've found cute dresses there."
I know she was being nice but I couldn't help run through my own wardrobe to see if I wore "mom jeans" too. Or did I own an assortment of matching track suits. Thankfully, I don't. Not even close. Although, being home does force me to drop off and pick up my kids from school in my jammies, but that's not an "old" thing. That's just a "lazy" thing!
So tell me, if age is just a number, at what number do we become uncool?
February 11, 2013
4 1/2 Star review!
LASR Prince Charming ReviewLast week I opened my email to find a link for a review by LASR.
First off, I love getting these emails. Second, I hadn't heard much from Book 2 since it released and I was a little sad. Most authors go through this; wondering if we'd made a mistake. But redemption was only right around the corner!
The best part, besides the 4 1/2 stars is how the reviewer, Jasmine, feels about Honey Creek books. I can't speak for the creator of the book line, but Jasmine spoke what has always been in my heart about this town and series of books. Sweet, simple and short.
So, if you haven't checked out a Honey Creek book or a Honey Creak Royalty book, what are you waiting for!
For all your Honey Creek Royalty Series information, please visit my website at www.jenandersonauthor.com.
January 28, 2013
Website Update
I've recently made some changes to my website. I've condensed some of the pages as well as added an easy to maneuver book page. Now there are links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords and Turquoise Morning Press.
Stop by and take a look. Click around. Leave a comment.
While you're there, like my FaceBook page and once I receive 100 followers, I'll pick a random follower and they'll be awarded an e-copy of my book.
January 21, 2013
Will the real Jennifer Anderson please stand up?
(I was totally humming the Eminem song in my head while writing the title.)
Like most writers, I've set a Google Alert to run each week for my name. As you can imagine, I receive all types of alerts. Well, with one of the most common names in the world, what can I do. Even better, I get alerts for Jennifer Aniston.
As if.
And I wish!
I've received updates concerning Jennifer Anderson's death, murder conviction and even publishing of a paper in a science journal. But I think the best, so far, has to be what I received in my inbox yesterday. The headline read:
Jennifer Anderson cheated on me with two guys in two weeks after meeting on CL
What! Who!
The article went on to say:
Jennifer Anderson is the type of girl who'd meet a guy on Craigslist (me), date him for six months, and then spend the next four months hooking up with two OTHER guys on Craigslist within the span of a week. She left her email account logged in on my iPad last night, and I was curious, so I ran through the emails and found out she'd been posting **** on Craigslist for at least four months. Only two of the guys had the balls to meet up with her, but it looks like she did meet up - and did MORE than just meet up.
(This is some type of cheater website where you can plug in a person's name and see if they listed. The post also said more but I felt the wording was a bit too R-rated for my taste.)
(there was more written but I didn't think it was appropriate to post.)
After I read the post, I turned to my husband and said, "I'm sorry!"
I'm kidding but I couldn't help but share with him and other author friends who also relayed stories of their own. One pointed out the fact that Jennifer was the most common name from 1970 through 1980.
Have you ever searched your name? What are some of the things you've come up with?
Like most writers, I've set a Google Alert to run each week for my name. As you can imagine, I receive all types of alerts. Well, with one of the most common names in the world, what can I do. Even better, I get alerts for Jennifer Aniston.
As if.
And I wish!
I've received updates concerning Jennifer Anderson's death, murder conviction and even publishing of a paper in a science journal. But I think the best, so far, has to be what I received in my inbox yesterday. The headline read:
Jennifer Anderson cheated on me with two guys in two weeks after meeting on CL
What! Who!
The article went on to say:
Jennifer Anderson is the type of girl who'd meet a guy on Craigslist (me), date him for six months, and then spend the next four months hooking up with two OTHER guys on Craigslist within the span of a week. She left her email account logged in on my iPad last night, and I was curious, so I ran through the emails and found out she'd been posting **** on Craigslist for at least four months. Only two of the guys had the balls to meet up with her, but it looks like she did meet up - and did MORE than just meet up.
(This is some type of cheater website where you can plug in a person's name and see if they listed. The post also said more but I felt the wording was a bit too R-rated for my taste.)
(there was more written but I didn't think it was appropriate to post.)
After I read the post, I turned to my husband and said, "I'm sorry!"
I'm kidding but I couldn't help but share with him and other author friends who also relayed stories of their own. One pointed out the fact that Jennifer was the most common name from 1970 through 1980.
Have you ever searched your name? What are some of the things you've come up with?
January 11, 2013
Read, read, read, write, write, write
As a writer, my first love is to read books like most of my fellow pen to paper magicians. There isn't nothing I love more than to curl up with a good book and get lost. To be in aww of the author who's tale won't let me go.
But as more writing happens, the less reading I do. This last year, I was too busy editing, creating new works and beta reading for others that I barely read 30 books. 30 BOOKS! That's barely a drop in the bucket from previous, non-publishing years.
2013 is proving to be just as busy.
So I ask my fellow reader, writers and all around busy people, how do you find time? Do you have a set schedule? Are there don't bother mommy nights because she's reading? Do you have to leave the house and sit at a bookstore or coffeehouse just to enjoy a good book?
My ears are open!
But as more writing happens, the less reading I do. This last year, I was too busy editing, creating new works and beta reading for others that I barely read 30 books. 30 BOOKS! That's barely a drop in the bucket from previous, non-publishing years.
2013 is proving to be just as busy.
So I ask my fellow reader, writers and all around busy people, how do you find time? Do you have a set schedule? Are there don't bother mommy nights because she's reading? Do you have to leave the house and sit at a bookstore or coffeehouse just to enjoy a good book?
My ears are open!
December 17, 2012
This little light of mine...
We don't need to dwell on the whys and hows. Instead, let's focus on the healing. For those who were taken, let's remember and honor them.
December 13, 2012
Do you believe?
It's that time of year when parents of young kids wonder if their children still believe. I know around my kids' school, it's a hot topic. My children are 11 and 8 and while I'm sure this will be the last year for the oldest, I don't want it to be for the youngest. But it seems the curtain gets pulled back earlier and earlier each year. When I told another mom about my oldest still believing, she scoffed and figured my oldest was pulling my leg.
What's wrong with her still believing? This very question got me thinking about when I witnessed the big reveal and to be honest, I don't remember. Most may know I had a sketchy past. We were poor and moved a lot. So holidays and special events were hard. I don't recall a moment where I felt I'd been lied to or found out all mythical creatures were false. I think I always knew but still held on to the possibility of magic.
Although I do remember figuring out about the Tooth Fairy. I must admit, I'm a snooper!
I remember one year we didn't have enough money to get a tree and with all the moving, we didn't have ornaments to cover one if we did. So I made one out of paper and taped it to the wall. I was proud of my paper tree with crayon colored ornaments.
Christmas morning rolled around and I wasn't surprised to find not a single gift beneath the tree. At the age of 10, I was disappointed but understood times were tough around my house. And I think I still wanted to believe in the idea of Santa Clause. Maybe he got lost. Maybe he ran out of toys. Maybe there were other children out there that needed them more.
That morning, a true miracle happened, or at least to my 10 year old self, it did. Late in the morning, my aunt and uncle arrived at our house. We hadn't expected them since they lived over an hour away. They came into our small home with an armful of brightly colored packages. And one box was for me. I slowly unwrapped the shiny colored paper to reveal a shoe box.
They'd given me a brand new pair of white Nike tennis shoes. They weren't fancy. They didn't light up or boost about making me jump higher. In fact, I'm sure they were the ugliest pair based on fashion standards.
But they were mine. All mine.
And that's what I want my children to believe in. The spirit of Santa Claus. Because when the day seemed dark and when a 10 year old kid gets nothing even when they're good all year, a Santa rides in on a late model Nissan with a brightly colored box with thier name on the tag. I cherished those shoes for years and had a hard time parting with them and what they meant to me.
So folks. Hug your kids tighter this year and share a little magic with them. Because even if they know the "truth", they can still believe.
What's wrong with her still believing? This very question got me thinking about when I witnessed the big reveal and to be honest, I don't remember. Most may know I had a sketchy past. We were poor and moved a lot. So holidays and special events were hard. I don't recall a moment where I felt I'd been lied to or found out all mythical creatures were false. I think I always knew but still held on to the possibility of magic.
Although I do remember figuring out about the Tooth Fairy. I must admit, I'm a snooper!
I remember one year we didn't have enough money to get a tree and with all the moving, we didn't have ornaments to cover one if we did. So I made one out of paper and taped it to the wall. I was proud of my paper tree with crayon colored ornaments.
Christmas morning rolled around and I wasn't surprised to find not a single gift beneath the tree. At the age of 10, I was disappointed but understood times were tough around my house. And I think I still wanted to believe in the idea of Santa Clause. Maybe he got lost. Maybe he ran out of toys. Maybe there were other children out there that needed them more.
That morning, a true miracle happened, or at least to my 10 year old self, it did. Late in the morning, my aunt and uncle arrived at our house. We hadn't expected them since they lived over an hour away. They came into our small home with an armful of brightly colored packages. And one box was for me. I slowly unwrapped the shiny colored paper to reveal a shoe box.
They'd given me a brand new pair of white Nike tennis shoes. They weren't fancy. They didn't light up or boost about making me jump higher. In fact, I'm sure they were the ugliest pair based on fashion standards.
But they were mine. All mine.
And that's what I want my children to believe in. The spirit of Santa Claus. Because when the day seemed dark and when a 10 year old kid gets nothing even when they're good all year, a Santa rides in on a late model Nissan with a brightly colored box with thier name on the tag. I cherished those shoes for years and had a hard time parting with them and what they meant to me.
So folks. Hug your kids tighter this year and share a little magic with them. Because even if they know the "truth", they can still believe.
