Cheryl Harper's Blog, page 8
October 25, 2014
New Facebook Page and add some Pinterest too!
Getting locked out of my Facebook Page has really turned into A Thing. If you’ve ever tried to make human contact at Facebook, you might feel my pain. Since I’m afraid I may never get back into Facebook Page (Cheryl Harper Books) and I have another party in the distance, I’ve started a new Page. If you liked the old page, could you take a second and visit the new one? PLEASE. PLEASE PLEASE? I’ll go back to the old page if I can, but just in case, I have a special contest running on the new page, just for the people who Like the Page (apron, utensils, cookbook, signed book…whether you read or cook, there’s something here!) CLICK HERE or go to https://www.facebook.com/CherylHarper...
Also, if you like Pinterest (ha ha, hee hee, I crack myself up because who doesn’t?), I have some boards over there, mainly related to books I’ve written or will write. If you’d like to see some pictures that make me think of Tall Pines, CLICK HERE. I’ll be adding some things to the board this weekend, but you can already see a little of the next Tall Pines book. Annnddd…I have another board up for the book after it so…if you like sneak peeks, DO IT! CLICK!
October 21, 2014
Par-tay at the Facebook! Thursday, 10/23, BE MY +1(00)
On Thursday, I’m crashing Anna J. Stewart’s Facebook launch party on the Bookies Facebook page. COME WITH ME! (Actually, I’m on the list because I have connections like that.) I’m hosting for thirty minutes and I’m planning to give away some books, so do drop in! I promise to be charming.
Well, I’m totally gonna try anyway.
Here’s the linkage:
Event page: Bookies “HERE WE GO” Launch Party
PAR-TAY! Thursday. Be there or be square!
Tagged: Facebook, giveway, Harlequin Heartwarming, party
October 1, 2014
BOOKS! BOOKS! GIVEAWAY BOOKS! Kathy Reichs, Maisey Yates, Sylvia Day, Liliana Hart
Thanks to RT Booklover’s Convention and the RWA national conference, I have many awesome books that it pains me to see gathering dust so I’m going to GIVE THEM TO YOU! If you’re the lucky winner. They aren’t signed. That’s the only way I can force myself to do this. If you’re the lucky winner and you’d like, I can toss in one of my own (and actually sign it). Leave me a comment below about which book you’re dying to read to enter. SIMPLE AS THAT! I’ll pick a winner with Random.org’s help on October 8.
Here’s what I’m giving away:
Kathy Reichs: Bones Never Lie
Liliana Hart: Whiskey Rebellion
Maisey Yates: Avenge Me
Sylvia Day: Spellbound, Afterburn, Aftershock
Tagged: books, Cheryl Harper, giveaway, Kathy Reichs, Liliana Hart, Maisey Yates, Sylvia Day
September 28, 2014
October is coming…and so is the newsletter!
Can you believe it? It’s almost OCTOBER. What happened to September? I’ve been work, work, working, and I look up to see it’s almost time to carefully assemble a second newsletter (filled with a Jack photo, me stumbling over the word “elderly” and some news-ish items). Did you miss my first effort? You can see it here: SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER
Today I’m packing up boxes to send to 2 newsletter subscribers filled with Halloween fun and $10 WalMart gift cards. (If you are opposed to either Halloween or WalMart, because I know people in both camps, I will monitor and adjust). There will be a new reading, a new Jack photo, and a new hint about the next book(s) so SIGN UP TODAY! TODAY! TODAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY! Or Monday. Just get in before I pick the winners and send the newsletter October 1.
October newsletter giveaway
Tagged: Cheryl Harper, giveaway, Halloween, newsletter, October
September 23, 2014
“Video” experiment: Can’t Help Falling in Love reading
In my first ever newsletter, I included this link to me, reading from Can’t Help Falling in Love. There’s a bit o’ Elvis trivia too.
There’s still time to sign up for the October newsletter (SIGN UP HERE): Giveaways!! More info on my next Harlequin Heartwarming title. And another “video” because why not…
Tagged: Can't Help Falling in Love, Can'tHelp Falling in Love, Cheryl Harper, giveaways, newsletter, romance
August 31, 2014
#Giveaway for the Elvis fans…metal sign, magazine, and more!
Do you love Elvis? Do you know someone who loves Elvis? I’m giving away this metal sign (12″ x 16″) that says “The sun never sets on a legend” and the Elvis magazine I bought while I was researching the King (along with some other goodies). Want to enter? Leave a comment below with your favorite Elvis song. I’ll pick a winner on September 8.
August 28, 2014
$25 Visa gift card drawing SOON!! (yes, here I am with the newsletter again)
All right, I’ve been working hard on making the first issue of the newsletter astoundingly fabulous. You believe me, don’t you?
I have hints on the next book coming. I have a video/recording (if I can figure out how to include it). I have a coupon. And I’m adding two more prizes: BOOKS! And not mine so… After the RT Booklover’s Convention and the RWA national conference, my TBR pile is out of control. So I’m going to ship some to you: a grab box of books! You know you want it. Three prizes and all you have to do is subscribe to my super awesome newsletter! Easy!
Want to subscribe? YES! Here’s the link: http://eepurl.com/ZTY25
If I were to win a $25 Visa gift card, I might:
Go wi
ld in Staples. I have a bad, bad office supply affection.
Or buy myself 23 of these or SPLURGE and buy some outside of Happy Hour!
My dog Jack has no doubt. Given his choice he’d buy lots and lots of Pup-Peroni!
So if you were lucky enough to subscribe and then double lucky enough to win, what would you spend $25 on?
Want to subscribe? YES! Here’s the link: http://eepurl.com/ZTY25
August 22, 2014
Revisions in 10 steps
Yes, I’m still working on revisions for my next Harlequin Heartwarming title. I’ve reached a point where I’m not sure where to go next (caught on Step 8) so I am spending the day on YouTube/doing very important research. Also, I’ve been working on the newsletter. You didn’t think I could forget that. There’s still time to sign up and maybe be the one to win the $25 Visa card (18+, US only) or one of the two other prizes I’m cooking up. Here’s the link: Newsletter signup
Here they are, my 10 steps for revising:
1. Haunt the email inbox, checking at least twice hourly, looking for the editor’s name to pop up.
2. When the edit letter arrives, read it in one gulp.
3. Go full-on George Michael Bluth for a bit.
4. Get a grip.
5. Open up the Word document and read the comments. Count how many of each: Ha!, LOL, and smiley face.
6. Feel invincible.
7. Start.
8. Flounder and overcome.
9. Finish.
10. Send off a MUCH BETTER BOOK. Huzzah!
It’s really easy when you break it down. But that Step 8 is a doozy.
August 3, 2014
10 reasons to sign up for my newsletter
Here’s the link to sign up (September 2014 is issue #1): http://eepurl.com/ZTY25
10. One subscriber will win a $25 Visa gift card.
9. There will be a free Smashwords download code included.
8. Jack is already practicing his first act.
7. I’m considering doing a video link so that you can hear my charming accent. I’ll read an excerpt. Probably. Maybe. Bad idea or brilliant, I’m still working on this.
6. NEW GIVEAWAY: People who sign up before August 15 will have a chance to win a digital download (Kindle or Nook) of Stuck on You, Can’t Help Falling in Love, Santa, Bring My Baby Back, or A Minute on the Lips. I’ll pick 5 winners.
5. It’s easy to sign up. Here’s the link again: http://eepurl.com/ZTY25
4. I will probably newsletter as sporadically as I blog, so you have no need to worry about spam. Seriously.
3. I have a special giveaway for Elvis fans planned. And another one for people who cook. Maybe. You’ll have to sign up to see how this all works out.
2. I’ll share a sneak peek on the next book I’m working on.
1. It’s so easy to sign up: http://eepurl.com/ZTY25
And just in case you missed it, here’s the real star of the show around here: Jack. Being cute. As always.
Tagged: Cheryl Harper, giveaways, Jack, newsletter, romance
July 28, 2014
After #RWA14: a return to knit shorts, and some NEWS
While I was in San Antonio last week, my choice of footwear downgraded every day from “nice but pinchy” to “at least I won’t pick up smallpox in the crosswalk.” Today I have no shoes at all. The writer’s joke is about how nice it is to wear yoga pants or no pants. I don’t own yoga pants, but no pants is no option either so I wear knit shorts that should never be seen in public but will keep me from being arrested if the unforeseen should happen.
But this is not a post about my bad fashion choices.
This is a celebration of the national conference in San Antonio and a small announcement: I’m starting a newsletter. Yes, I’ll be the last person to put words on the screen to do so, but I’m totally going to do it. I vow to send out this newsletter no more often than once a month (and probably less if I’m being totally honest) and to include stories, pictures of my dog Jack, random flotsam that floats to the top of my brain, and giveaways. To celebrate and build the list for the September 1 newsletter, I’m going to run a giveaway of one $25 Visa card, the winner to be chosen from people who subscribe by September 1. Yep, just subscribe to enter. Here’s the link to sign up for my awesome NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/ZTY25 I will mail internationally but I think the cards are limited to US usage.
10 THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THE RWA 2014 CONFERENCE
10. The Riverwalk is lovely. Really. And if you can see it from the inside of an air conditioned bubble, July is a nice time to explore. I took a boat tour and then I started walking. Walking was a bad idea. And I don’t know if I ever recovered from it. But the tour guy was great: educational, funny, and we didn’t crash into anything. All good. This stage is featured in Miss Congeniality. I put my life on the heatstroke line to get this photo. Please enjoy.
9. The literacy signing was so much fun. I sat next to Lynn Raye Harris. And I snagged some of her traffic, a skill I’ve gotten much better at over the last year. I sold most of my Avon books and talked up Heartwarming to sell several of those. Here’s my view and evidence of my solid merchandising skills. Retail jobs for the win!
8. I also gave away so many pens and sticky note pads I feel vindicated in giving the UPS guy a muscle twinge (he’s strong but it was a lot of boxes).
7. I did not cause an international incident with my stomach distress. I also only missed one or two events. I consider this a personal victory.
6. I discovered that Heartwarming Senior Editor Victoria Curran and I would probably be the best of bosom friends (something about Canadians makes me think in terms of Anne Shirley. It’s a thing with me) if only she didn’t live alllll the way in Canada. I might need to renew my passport to take a trip to see the Harlequin mothership.
5. I met the Harlequin Heartwarming authors at the conference and I am telling you that these ladies are so smart and business savvy and on top of that they will make you laugh and encourage you when you need it. That’s an amazing group to be a part of and I feel so lucky to be included.
4. I caught up with Avon friends and am reminded how awesome romance writers can be.
3. I went to the best workshop on conflict. I think something clicked in my brain. I’m hoping it wasn’t the Pepto Bismol causing misfires.
2. I got to sit down with Avon editor Chelsey Emmelhainz and just talk. It was great.
1. On the twelve-hour drive home, I did some heavy thinking about what I need to do next. I also have three new ideas that I want to write right now. I hope that wasn’t the Pepto Bismol causing misfires too. More seriously, I spent some timing thinking about whether I should drop an idea I was trying to force because it’s in a hot genre now to go with what I know and love. I think I might even know the answer but whether I’ll go with it remains to be seen.
Writing conferences are expensive and the travel can be hard (especially when you’ve picked up the plague somewhere) but they are such a creative boost. Being surrounded by the energy of positive people like romance writers is the kind of shot I need to keep struggling and working at this. If you haven’t tried it, maybe it would be the same for you. Next year: NEW YORK. I hear if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.
Now, go sign up for the newsletter. And check out my Facebook page. I have another contest going there, along with pictures of my dog Jack.
Tagged: book signing, books, Cheryl Harper, conferences, Harlequin Heartwarming, literacy signing, romance, Rowmance Writers of America, RWA, RWA14, San Antonia, writing
