C.D. Hersh's Blog, page 151

Tell Again Tuesday Accounting 101 for Authors Series

Tell Again Tuesday
A blog series where we shamelessly share posts from others that we have enjoyed.

Here is one about writing and an upcoming series you should go follow before tax season really gets you bogged down.

Accounting 101 for Authors Series

What exactly is “accounting”?

Accounting is the systematic recording, reporting, and analysis of financial transactions of a business.

Are my novels and is my writing a business?

Yes. Definitely, yes.

And, because it’s a business, you should treat it as such. Just how much and how little is up to you; however, any business proprietor should be as responsible as they can when it comes to their business finances, and more importantly, both the Federal and State taxes for the business.

With over sixteen years of experience as a Financial Controller, my Accounting 101 for Authors series is a complete overview on all the aspects of business accounting, what to do, and more importantly, what not to do, as well as Federal tax help for your budding author business.

When is the series going to begin?

For the rest of the blog go to:

http://longvalleypress.com/2016/01/06/accounting-101-for-authors-series/

Friday Feature J. Paulette Forshey THE TARCZAL ALLIANCE

Friday Feature
Author
Paulette Forshey’s
Book
THE TARCZAL ALLIANCE

 

Bio:

Paulette Forshey is an award winning, internationally read author. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two dogs, a Basset Hound and a Papillon. She writes romance in the sub-genres of paranormal, contemporary, thriller, fantasy, and erotica. Learn more about her at http://www.jpauletteforshey.com/

Blurb:

THE TARCZAL ALLIANCE: A woman with a legendary past. A vampire with a broken heart. Their love could change the world.

Excerpt:

The profile on her stated she was in her early thirties, and hmm, those years fit her like a thong on one of Hef’s bunnies. Logan Kincaid relaxed against the old oak, letting a wide grin slide into place. He watched the woman cross the street. Pretty didn’t describe her; knock-out did. He’d recognized her from the scholarship file picture when she arrived at the outdoor market. Long blonde hair, longer legs, and intelligent green eyes, all his weaknesses rolled into one.

* * * * *

Chin high, shoulders squared, Allyson Weston exited her car and walked to the courthouse patio. A cloud passed over the warm, noonday sun giving her a sudden chill. The previous night’s dreams and the past tugged at her memory. But, the harder she tried to draw those thoughts to the surface, the more they eluded her. A shiver rocked across her stiff shoulders from the emptiness of the elusive dreams. Her hand fisted at her side. No, I won’t give in to self-doubt. This is my time. My chance to live my life, not the life someone else wants me to live.

She shook her feelings off and crossed the street, stepping up her pace. At her wrists, wide bracelets, almost medieval in their simplicity, of silver and hammered copper glinted in the sun. Her hands bore rings on every finger, slender whispers of silver, some resembling twisted vines, roses, and a couple with polished earthy stones. Her earrings of metal and stone flashed color, brilliance, tinkling with each movement. The light brush of metal against her neck shored her resolve. Her uptight, control-freak, estranged husband would’ve hated the flashy earrings which only made her love them more. The divorce couldn’t be finalized soon enough for her.

Contacts:

http://www.jpauletteforshey.com/

email: lvkkincaid7@yahoo.com

FaceBook: paulette.forshey@facebook.com

Twitter: @ForsheyJ

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/jpaulette-forshey/3b/567/b76

Amazon.com (print version) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0986196304?

Amazon.com (ebook version) http://amzn.com/B00YFUHV12

Barnes&Noble (print version) http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-tarczal-alliance-j-paulette-forshey/1105958800?ean=9780986196300

 

Wednesday Special Spotlight Untouchable Lover

Wednesday Special Spotlight
Focuses on
Untouchable Lover

 

Blurb:

A devastating war…

Across the globe, shape-shifting Lemurian warriors battle against a deadly enemy in the dark of night. The prize—Earth’s most precious resource—water, and the fate of humankind. To unite the soldiers, Lemurian gods send the diverse species to the underground Keep to join forces with their brethren and contend against their adversary.

An illicit allure…

While searching for his missing healer, King Noeh didn’t expect to find an unusual, green-eyed female chained to the wall in an abandoned asylum deep in the woods, evidence of her torment in the branding iron at her feet. Captivated, he rescues the petite female and brings her to his underground home. Despite the requirement to select a queen of his species by the next new moon or lose his crown, a forbidden attraction blooms.

A tormented soul…

Haunted by the memory of her dead mate and child, Melissa can’t escape her past or her future. On the run from her controlling master, she didn’t intend to get captured by the enemy, or be rescued by a brooding, handsome king. When she succumbs to her need for a male’s blood and drinks from the honorable king, she can’t ignore the compelling desire he ignites in her soul.

Excerpt:

“You escaped. Perhaps I should put you in the dungeon.” Noeh’s voice was low and threatening. The resulting shiver that skated across her arms wasn’t from fear.

She wanted to pound her fists against his body. “I’ll just pick my way out of there, too.”

“Don’t bet on it.”

He stood. Against her will, her body responded to his intense stare. He headed straight for her, a wall of pure, masculine strength.

She stilled as he approached. Without thought, she squeezed the wet rag in her hand. Water dripped onto the exam table. The stone was slightly concave, and the moisture ran into a small groove down the center.

He placed his palms on the surface of the table and leaned in. Up close and personal, he invaded her space as if he had every right.

“I don’t usually have trouble with disobedience, but you…” His eyes glowed, gold flecks mixing with the blue.

She met his glance and didn’t flinch. “I think you like the challenge.”

The skin around his eyes creased as a smile broke across his face. “You might be right about that.”

His actions were contradictory to who he was. As king, he needed to find himself a queen, a Stiyaha queen. Yet, here he was, alone with her.

He walked around the exam table and approached her from behind, closing the distance between them. “Nice, very nice.”

As she continued to scrub the table, his warm breath tickled her nape, sending shivers of desire down her spine. He placed his palm over the back of her hand. His large hand dwarfed hers, but his touch was gentle. Her skin lit up at the contact, and she gasped.

He chuckled. The sound reverberated through his chest and flowed deep into her heart. He moved their hands together over the surface of the wood, and they polished the table together.

“Like this?” he asked as he leaned over her back. The brush of their bodies burned like fire.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Buy links:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1123057770?ean=2940152720044

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/untouchable-lover

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1064134542

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019ZVIC8G?*Version*=1&*entries*=0 –

Author bio:

After finishing a rewarding career in finance and accounting, it was time for Rosalie Redd to put away the spreadsheets and take out the word processor. She writes Fantasy/Science Fiction Romance inspired by classics from the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres layered with a good, hot dose of romance.

Her debut novel, Untouchable Lover, won or was a finalist in several contests sponsored by local chapters of Romance Writers of America.

She lives in Oregon, where rain is just another excuse to keep writing. When not at her computer, you can find her at Jazzercise, waterfall collecting in the Pacific Northwest, or relaxing with her husband and their pesky cat, Snookums.

Author social media links:

Facebook author: https://www.facebook.com/rosaliereddauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RosalieRedd

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/34148783-rosalie-redd

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rosalieredd/

Website: http://www.rosalieredd.com/

 

Tell Again Tuesday How to Increase Sales at Apple iBooks

Tell Again Tuesday
A blog series where we shamelessly share posts from others that we have enjoyed.

A plan to increase sales. Sounds like a good idea for the new year. Read on.

How to Increase Sales at Apple iBooks

Posted by Lindsay | Posted in Book Marketing, Tips and Tricks | Posted on 11-12-2015

Before I jump into this post, I have to disclose that Apple is my #4 earner and that while I always sell books there, I’m not a rock star by any means. (For me, sales at Amazon, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble always come out ahead.) Buuut, I’ve started to upload directly to Apple, and I plan to put more effort into getting on the radar with iBooks readers in 2016. I chatted with a rep from Apple and . . .

For the rest of the blog go to:

http://www.lindsayburoker.com/book-marketing/how-to-increase-sales-at-apple-ibooks/

 

Friday Features New Year Day

Friday Features
Wishing all a
Happy New Year

 

 

Tell Again Tuesday Draw Near and Listen

Tell Again Tuesday
A blog series where we shamelessly share posts from others that we have enjoyed.
Draw Near and Listen!

December 19, 2014 by Linda Bennett Pennell

In the materialistic frenzy that Christmas has become, it can be comforting to pause and focus on the simpler traditions of the season. One of the most delightful things about this time of year for many is the music. Some of the world’s most recognizable and beautiful melodies are found in our Christmas carols.

The tradition of singing carols is almost as old as the church itself. The first known hymns specifically for Christmas appeared in . . .

For the rest of the blog go to:

https://historyimagined.wordpress.com/2014/12/19/music-peace-and-joy/

 

Friday Features Christmas Wishes

Friday Features

 

Today we wish all a happy holiday.
May the day bring joy and love.

Thanks for following us this year. We hope you will come back next year as there will be new books and more authors to read about.

 

Tell Again Tuesday Top 5 Book Events You Must Attend

Tell Again Tuesday
A blog series where we shamelessly share posts from others that we have enjoyed.

Ever wonder where to go to get your books among the public. Then read on.

Top 5 Book Events You Must Attend #writing #amwriting #writertips

December 9, 2015

Authors know the only way to sell your books is to get them out into the world for all the readers to see and find. The more readers you acquire, the more sales you will receive, and what better place to put your novel on stage than . . .

For the rest of the blog go to:

http://longvalleypress.com/2015/12/09/top-5-book-events-you-must-attend/

 

Sizzle in the Snow Newsletter Post Final

Newsletter/post

 

Final

 

Sizzle In The Snow:
A Soul Mate Christmas Collection

 

Now Available

Sizzle in the Snow: Soul Mate Christmas Collection of Eight steamy romances by eight Soul Mate Publishing authors . . .

This Christmas season, Soul Mate Publishing and editor, Char Chaffin, presents Sizzle in the Snow: Soul Mate Christmas Collection, an anthology now available on Amazon. Want to know what each story is about . . . besides romance and Christmas?

Well, here it is! Each author’s links to their websites. If you like their blurb, check out their other books!

Beth Carter http://bethcarter.com/, Santa Baby
Amy Deason https://amydeason.wordpress.com/, Second Chances: A Christmas Story
Crystal Firsdon http://crystalfirsdon.com/, ‘Twas the Crazy Night Before Christmas
CD Hersh https://cdhersh.wordpress.com/, Kissing Santa
Kim Hotzon http://kimhotzon.com/, The Snow Bird
Ryan Jo Summers http://www.ryanjosummers.com/, Tamed by Christmas
Tina Susedik http://www.tinasusedik.com/, Operation Santa
Cheryl Yeko http://www.cherylyeko.com/, Christmas Eve Surprise

Welcome to our final newsletter in celebration of the release of

Sizzle in the Snow: Soul Mate Christmas Collection.

Below you’ll find great decorating tips, recipes and cocktails, excerpts, craft ideas, song links, holiday memories, and personalized cards and poems by the authors!

Book Corner

We promised a sneak peek, so here goes . . .

Author Amy Deason shares an excerpt of her short story, Second Chances: A Christmas Story!

Octavia turned and was headed out the door when she stopped, looking back over her shoulder, her mouth turned up in a smile. “I just thought you might be interested to know that Michael Dennison is the coach.”

Grace stopped in her tracks. “Michael?” she asked, her heart skipping a beat.

For a moment, she forgot to breathe. Michael Dennison. Good Lord, that man had been hot. Tall with an athletic build, dark brown hair and incredible blue eyes, he caught her attention no matter where she was. Or he used to the last time she’d seen him, several years ago when she’d been down here for a visit.

“I see you remember him,” Octavia laughed, topping in the doorway and turning back.

“Of course I do. How could I not? But wait, he’s the basketball coach here? I thought he moved away to the city.”

“Oh, he did, but he got divorced three years ago and moved back. He’s got a little girl, Nicole. Actually,” Octavia mused, tilting her head, “she’s about the same age as Gracie. Hey, maybe they could become friends. And no, before you ask, I don’t think he’s involved with anyone. Yet,” she drawled out, her intention crystal clear.

Grace could feel her face heating up. “Come on, you don’t seriously think he’d be interested in me do you? I mean, he was so good looking . . .”

“And you’re what? Chopped liver? Give me a break.”Octavia rolled her eyes dramatically. “I know for a fact that the man had the hots for you for a long time. I doubt that’s changed. Oh and one more thing…”

“What?”

“If I were you, I’d find that charger for your phone. I have a feeling that you might be getting a message pretty soon,” her friend replied mischievously. “Well, gotta go. See you tomorrow about five.,” she said, dashing out the door before Grace could say another word.

“Mom, Lee won’t get out of my room!” Grace yelled, her voice traveling down the stairs.

With a sigh, Grace started up the steps and heard Lee giggling hysterically.

Oh man, she thought, I’ve got to find that charger.

Cocktail Corner

Busy shopping, wrapping and socializing?

Kick back with a festive cocktail!

Recipe shared by Kim Hotzon:

Cuban Mojito

Recipe = single serving

2-3 fresh mint leaves
1/2 ounce lime juice
1 teaspoon white sugar, or more to taste
1/4 cup ice cubes, or more as needed
1.5 – 2 fluid ounces white Bacardi rum
4 1/2 ounces club soda

Place mint leaves, lime juice and sugar in bottom of a glass and muddle with a spoon until mint is crushed. Fill glass with ice cubes. Pour rum and soda over the ice; stir. Serve with stirring spoon and garnish with fresh lime wedge.

Optional: Muddle fresh blueberries, raspberries or blackberries in with mint, lime and sugar for a refreshing switch to this classic cocktail.

Optional: Replace club soda with 7-UP for a sweeter, fizzier drink

Holiday Memory Corner

Authors CD Hersh share their unforgettable holiday memory . . .

A Paper Christmas Tree

What do you do when you’re poor and don’t have the money for a Christmas tree?

Years ago when we were recently married college students, we were in that predicament. Not only did we not have a tree, we didn’t have much floor space to spare in our on-campus studio apartment. What we did have was access to hundreds of discarded, rectangular, IBM punch cards which Catherine liked to turn into paper wreaths. So, we got creative.

Using the IBM punch cards, some staples, a few cardboard rounds, and some string, we created a one-of-kind, paper Christmas tree that we hung from the ceiling.

We put the Christmas cards we received in the center of the wreaths as decorations.

After the holiday was over we pitched the paper tree (we had no storage room either), but the memories of that first Christmas tree linger—unique and precious like our love.

Recipe Corner

Company coming over? Author Tina Susedik dishes up her favorite holiday recipe:

Holiday Recipe:  Fruit Nut Sheet Bars

This is a recipe that was a favorite of my siblings (there are seven of us) as we grew up. I made it a few times for my husband and kids, but I’m the only one who ever ate them, so I stopped. Last year we were at one of my older sisters’ for a Christmas party. To my joy, there they were, sitting right on top of other bars. She said she was the only one who ate them, but since several of us siblings were coming, she made them. Ah, the joy of sitting with her, dipping the bars in hot chocolate, just like the old days.

Fruit Nut Sheet

Ingredients

1 cup chopped English walnuts

1 cup brown sugar

1 1/4 cup seedless dates – cut into small pieces

1 cup flour

3 eggs

1 tsp. baking powder

Powdered sugar

Beat sugar and eggs together. Dredge dates and walnuts in flour/baking powder mixture. Add to sugar and egg mixture. Pour into shallow, greased baking pan. Bake for 1/2 hour at 300 degrees. Cut and shake bars in powdered sugar until coated.

These tend to get hardened after a time, so dipping them in coffee or hot chocolate is a fun way to soften them up.

Music Corner

Listen up! Cheryl Yeko shares her favorite holiday song O’ Holy Night by Susan Boyle.

 

Craft Corner

Looking for a simple craft to do with your children or grandchildren? Feeling crafty?

Crystal Firsdon shares an easy to do, festive DIY craft:

When I open the ornament box every year and see pictures of my family and how they looked 2 or 5 or more years ago, I love it. Photo ornaments are my favorite, and so easy to make yourself. I take a favorite family photo from the past year, or my kids’ school pictures, and glue the picture to the cover of an old Christmas card. I cut out the shape I want the ornament to be out of the card, punch a hole in the top, string some ribbon through the hole, and voila! Instant picture ornament. Getting it laminated will help keep it safe.

You can also glue the picture to some cool wrapping paper, then glue the wrapping paper to a piece of cardboard or other sturdy backing. And of course, there are lots of pre-made kits out there where you put the pieces together and then insert your picture. Those are great, too.

Decorating Corner

Time to bring out the mistletoe! Author Beth Carter has a great decorating tip!

Fill a glass bowl with a bag of cranberries. Add water. The cranberries will float to the top. Add several white tea lights. These will also float. Enjoy this natural, pretty holiday decoration!

 

Holiday Card

What’s a holiday without a personalized card by one of your favorite authors?

Author Ryan Jo Summers shares her holiday wishes:

You can now purchase a copy of Sizzle In The Snow: A Soul Mate Christmas Collection!
Sizzle In The Snow Buy Link
Follow the authors’ blogs for a sneak peek of this wonderful collection!

Tell Again Tuesday Signing Away Your Rights: Arbitration Clauses in Book Contracts

Tell Again Tuesday
A blog series where we shamelessly share posts from others that we have enjoyed.
Signing Away Your Rights: Arbitration Clauses in Book Contracts

Posted by Victoria Strauss for Writer Beware

Recently, the New York Times published a fascinating three-part series of articles on arbitration clauses, and how such clauses “buried in tens of millions of contracts have deprived Americans of one of their most fundamental constitutional rights: their day in court.” (You can also listen to an interview with the articles’ author on NPR.) The articles deal mainly with consumer and employment contracts, in which, according to the Times, arbitration clauses have created “an alternate system of justice” where “rules tend to favor businesses, and judges and juries have been replaced by arbitrators who commonly consider the companies their clients.” But arbitration clauses are increasingly common in publishing contracts, too–as well as in the Terms of Use of some major self-publishing platforms. And most authors don’t understand their implications.

What’s an Arbitration Clause? . . .

For the rest of the blog go to:

http://accrispin.blogspot.ca/2015/11/signing-away-your-rights-arbitration.html?m=1

NOTE: This applies to both traditional publishing contracts and self-publishing terms of use including KDP.