Sandy Appleyard's Blog, page 25
February 8, 2013
Your First Book: Is It All About Ego?
You’ve had a story idea in the back of your mind. It sits there and stews for months, maybe years. Finally you have the drive to write it. It’s one of the most fulfilling things you’ve ever done. When it’s complete, you sit back, interlace your fingers behind your head and think, “Damn, I’m good.”
After you edit the first draft and make changes, you give it to your mother, your best friend and your significant other to read through. Mom cries tears of pride, your best friend glows and is so gl...
February 6, 2013
Being a Writer is Easy, Right?
Photo credit http://blog.breakawaytrainingonline.com
Read this before entering our world…..and consider yourself warned.
I apologize in advance if this post is more like a rant. My previous post, ‘To Join KDP Select or Not…That is the Question’ created so many viewpoints on self publishing and marketing, it made me realize just how increasingly difficult it is to be a writer.
Someone asked, “Being a writer is easy, right?” not long ago, and I wasn’t sure if it was a joke. My response was tongue...
February 4, 2013
To Join KDP Select or Not….That is the Question.
All opinions here are my own and this post is not meant to sway anyone either way, this is just an account of my own experience.
I self published my book ‘Blessed and Betrayed’ back in early December, and I submitted it to the KDP Select program immediately thereafter.
The free promotion period I chose was for one week in mid-December. What a rush that was! Holy cow! My blog posted to all my communities, groups, etc. and when the end of the promotional period was over, I had over 1600 downloads...
February 2, 2013
“One Man’s Junk…..”
Photo credit Getty Images/www.2space.net
Jake Smith, 35, was divorced for 5 years and worked downtown in the entertainment district at a prestigious hotel as a consultant. Every morning he walked past several businesses as he left the subway to get to work. It was about a ten minute walk. Next door to the hotel was a small, quaint little café on the corner of the street. Outside sat an older gentleman who played the guitar. Jake was never sure if he was a panhandler or if he was actually paid...
February 1, 2013
The Cheeze Plant and Other Funny Kid Stuff
“The Cheeze Plant”
Olivia: “Mommy, did you know that carrots are roots?”
Me: “Yes, I did. So are potatoes and cabbages and other vegetables. Mommy’s going to plant some in our garden next year.”
Victoria: “Mommy, can we plant some cheese too?”
“The Princess and the Washing Machine”
We were watching ‘Sofia the First’ (a princess movie) and Victoria said, “Mommy, why is the princess wearing the same dress she wore last night? Doesn’t she put it in the laundry?”
“Cleaning a Clean House”
Both Olivia and...
January 30, 2013
A Pink Box for Christopher
Inspired from a true story, this is about a painfully quiet and shy seven year old boy, concerned parents, and a lesson.
Christopher was in grade one and barely spoke. He was sweet, well behaved and got along well with other kids. However, his parents were very concerned that his social skills were underdeveloped. They had him tested for a battery of things. He was completely healthy.
One day, Christopher’s mom and dad had a meeting with his teacher, Mrs. Baker. Christopher’s mom, Michelle, fir...
January 29, 2013
My Blackberry is my Literary Lifeline
It’s kind of funny actually. Some people think I’m a textaholic, when in fact I’m not. My Blackberry is essentially my literary lifeline. Without it, I’d be struck with an idea and nowhere to record it for safekeeping.
Ideas strike me at very odd times, and if you’re like me, your cell phone is basically an appendage of your hip. I use it for everything. I even keep alarms so I know when it’s time to move on to another task.
In a previous blog ‘Momentum: Very Important When You’re Blogging’, I...
January 28, 2013
Having Celiac Disease Isn’t so Bad
It was a not-so-great year health wise for me in 2012. It began with gall bladder disease, which ultimately led to me having it removed in August, and then I had a short reprieve until about mid-September.
I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say I spent many hours in the washroom from mid-September until the beginning of November. At which time I found out I had Celiac disease. For those of you unfamiliar, it’s when your body becomes sensitive to certain foods, namely gluten and dairy p...
January 26, 2013
Negativity: Think Before Hitting Post
In the last few months, I’ve joined many groups on LinkedIn,Google+and have presence on many social platforms. While it’s been a positive experience, what I’ve noticed is that there are some people within these platforms who tend to react negatively to other people’s posts. I don’t ever respond to negativity and frankly, I don’t like to even speak about it, but I felt this topic needed to be discussed.
Hence the title: Community?
Blogging and writing, like life in general, should be about us al...
January 25, 2013
Book Review: Fifty Shades Freed
In this final (?) book of the trilogy, Christian was finally able to see and accept unconditional love from Anastasia. What I loved the most about this part of the story was that the author added suspense; which was interesting given that this was the conclusion. This was yet another unique and enjoyable quality of E. L. James’s writing style.
The title is a bit deceiving in that in my opinion, the reader is led to believe that the relationship between Christian and Anastasia will cease. I was...
