Margo Kelly's Blog, page 29

A Great #CyberAware #Book Discussion in Kuna

One of the BEST things about being an author is discussing the book with readers. Last night, I met with a wonderful group of young women and their leaders in Kuna, Idaho. We discussed the novel, WHO R U REALLY?, online safety strategies, and what it's like to be an author.

An important item we discussed is the concept of meeting together as a family to create a set of Internet safety rules for the whole family to follow. If parents can have access to their children's accounts, should children be afforded the same privilege to check on their parents? Why or why not? This is a great thing for families to talk about and work together to keep everyone safer online.

When I asked the group for a single reason why they needed to have Internet access in the privacy of their bedrooms (which is something I argue against) they came up with the best excuse I've ever heard: So they can watch sad movies and cry without anyone seeing them.


The main consensus was that the character, Tim, should be a real person who lived happily ever after with Thea.
And everyone wanted to know why Cynthia's nickname was spelled Thea instead of Thia.
A great turnout for the book discussion!
Lucky winner of a signed copy of WHO R U REALLY?!
If your group, school, or book club is interested in having me come and visit - click on the "appearances" tab at the top of this blog for more information.

Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today

#inspirational #quote 

National #CyberAware Month Presentation

The Council of Catholic Women invited me to speak to them about online safety and my novel, WHO R U REALLY?, and I was very impressed with this dynamic group of women. They devote their time and efforts to the service of others, and nearly fifty people attended the presentation Monday night. Frankly, my favorite overheard line of the night was when the committee chairperson for funeral meals spoke to the group about their efforts. She inadvertently said, "These funeral meals are so good, they are simply to die for." ... uh ... Then she realized what she said, apologized, and everyone laughed.

During my presentation, I shared important online safety tips, such as how to protect your private information on social media and how to avoid fraud on the internet. I also shared behind the scenes details of my novel, WHO R U REALLY?, including who the predator was in real life.

Here are few pictures from the evening:






If you're interested in having me come and speak with your group, click on the "Appearances" tab near the top of this blog for more information.

Utah Humanities Book Festival

#YAlit #book lovers united on Saturday, October 10, 2015, at the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan, Utah.



I had the pleasure of meeting many wonderful authors and readers at the Utah Humanities Book Festival. Here are just a few photos of the day:

The books offered at the festival ranged from picture books for little kids up to edgy books for older teens.
I had the pleasure of sharing a table with author, Lisa Cresswell.   My favorite part of the entire trip was hearing feedback about the book!  It was a long drive home after the festival.  See you next year at the Utah Humanities Book Festival! :) Until then, happy reading.

#Writing = Slow Process

#IWSG: Answers to All Your #Writing & #Publishing Questions

... actually ...

Today, I have answers to THREE questions. (read on below)

 http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/
The first Wednesday of the month is INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP, and for today, I am sharing three great blog posts regarding this wonderful industry of ours. :) Enjoy.



Ever wonder what it really feels like to launch a book? Libba Bray captures the essence is this hilarious blog post: DEAR FRIENDS

Ever wonder what to do about sitting too much as a writer? Here's post with helpful pictures: 6 SIMPLE STRETCHES TO COMBAT SITTING TOO MUCH

Ever wonder what you should say when trying to convince a bookseller to stock your book? Here's a great post from the American Booksellers Association: HOW TO TALK TO A BOOKSELLER


Happy writing! :)

Please Vote: Killer Nashville Reader's Choice Award

WHO R U REALLY? has been nominated for a "Reader's Choice" award in the Killer Nashville's Silver Falchion contest!


I'd be thrilled if you took a moment and clicked on over there to vote.

It's super easy.

Just scroll down to the bottom of the list and click on WHO R U REALLY? (the titles are alphabetized).

You can only vote once (but feel free to ask your friends to vote also).



THANKS!

Song #Playlist for WHO R U REALLY?

During the creative process of drafting WHO R U REALLY?, there were three fantastic songs that really helped me get into the writing zone.



First, and foremost: BREAKEVEN by The Script:




Second, BROKEN by Lifehouse:




Third, the ultimate old-school stalker song, EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE by The Police:



Whenever I hear one of these songs, I'm immediately thrown back into the world of WHO R U REALLY?, and I want to revisit the characters of the story.

#Book Release Event: HOLLIE PORTER BUILDS A RAFT by @eliza_gordon

Welcome to the release event for Hollie Porter Builds a Raft, the sequel to Must Love Otters by Eliza Gordon! Hollie Porter Builds a Raft is an adult romantic comedy and is now available from online retailers!





About the Book:



raft (noun): when two or more otters rest together,
often holding hands, so they don’t drift apart



Hollie Porter has put her old gig as a 911 operator and sad single girl in an attic-bound box, right where it belongs. She’s rebounded nicely from her run-in with Chloe the Cougar in the wilds of British Columbia, and this new life alongside concierge-in-shining-armor Ryan Fielding? Way more fun. After relocating to Ryan’s posh resort at Revelation Cove, Hollie embarks on an all-new adventure as the Cove’s wildlife experience educator, teaching guests and their kids about otters and orca and cougars, oh my.



When darling Ryan gets down on one NHL-damaged knee and pops the question of a lifetime, Hollie realizes this is where the real adventure begins. It’s all cake tasting, flower choosing, and dress fittings until a long-lost family member shows up at the Cove and threatens to hijack her shiny new life, forcing Hollie to redefine what family means to her. What is she willing to sacrifice to have one of her very own?



As Ryan’s words echo in her head—“Our raft, our rules”—Hollie has to face facts: a raft isn’t always tied together with blood and genetics. Sometimes it’s secured by love and loyalty… and occasional help from the clever creatures that call Revelation Cove home.

 iBookstore | Amazon | AmazonUK | AmazonCanada| B&N | Kobo | GooglePlay |  Goodreads -----------------------Don't miss out on the first book, Must Love Otters!

Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Amazon Australia | Barnes and Noble | iBookstore | Kobo



Also by Eliza Gordon:

Neurotica - Amazon (US) | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Kobo | Barnes and Noble Nook



About the Author:





Eliza Gordon has excellent taste in books, shoes, movies, and friends, and questionable sanity in the realm of love. Best leave that one alone. In real life, she’s an editor, mom, wife, and bibliophile and proud parent of one very spoiled tuxedo cat. Eliza writes stories to help you believe in the Happily Ever After; Jennifer Sommersby, her other self, writes YA and is repped by Daniel Lazar at Writers House.



GET IN TOUCH:

Website | Facebook | Twitter @eliza_gordon | Tumblr





Giveaway:One (1) $15 Amazon gift card & one (1) audiobook CD of Must Love Otters

Open WorldwideEnds Oct. 21Giveaway provided by the author, bloggers are not responsible for prizinga Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

YA Scavenger Hunt

 Welcome to the Fall 2015 YA Scavenger Hunt!    I'm Margo Kelly, and I'll be your hostess for this leg of the hunt. I write thrillers, and I'm excited that Merit Press (the YA imprint of F+W Media) will be publishing my second novel, UNLOCKED, in 2016. YAY! Somewhere along this scavenger hunt, I've shared exclusive content related to my first novel, WHO R U REALLY?, and clear down at the bottom of this post, I'm giving away a signed paperback copy (exclusive to readers of this post). So be sure to enter the Rafflecopter before you hop off to the next site in the scavenger hunt!  You are currently hunting on TEAM TEAL.       This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors ... and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours! Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are EIGHT contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the TEAL TEAM--but there are also seven other teams--more chances to win a whole different set of signed books! If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.   SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE RULES  Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the TEAL TEAM, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).   Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.  Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by 10/4/15, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered. 
SCAVENGER HUNT POST
I'm happy to introduce you to the author I am hosting for the hunt:
Jennifer Jenkins

With her degree in History and Secondary Education, Jennifer Jenkins had every intention of teaching teens to love George Washington, the Napoleonic Wars, and Ancient Sparta . . . until the writing began. Author of Young Adult fantasy and co-founder of Teen Author Boot Camp, she divides her time between reading, writing music, taking spontaneous trips, and researching random events from the past. NAMELESS, a Young Adult tribal fantasy, releases October 6, 2015 with Month9Books.


 "Four clans have been at war for centuries: the Kodiak, the Raven, the Wolf and the Ram. Through brutal war tactics, the Ram have dominated the region, inflicting death and destruction on their neighbors. Seventeen-year-old Zo is a Wolf and a Healer who volunteers to infiltrate the Ram as a spy on behalf of the allied clans. She offers herself as a Ram slave, joining the people who are called the “nameless.” Hers is a suicide mission – Zo’s despair after losing her parents in a Ram raid has left her seeking both revenge and an end to her own misery. But after her younger sister follows her into Rams Gate, Zo must find a way to survive her dangerous mission and keep her sister safe. What she doesn’t expect to find is the friendship of a young Ram whose life she saves, the confusing feelings she develops for a Ram soldier, and an underground nameless insurrection. Zo learns that revenge, loyalty and love are more complicated than she ever imagined in the first installment of this three-book series." For more information about Jennifer Jenkins and her book:http://jajenkins.com/Amazon 
 EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
- from Jennifer Jenkins -
In NAMELESS, four clans have been at war for centuries: the Kodiak, the Raven, the Wolf and the Ram. Through brutal war tactics, the Ram have dominated the region, inflicting death and destruction on their neighbors. Zo is a Wolf and healer who infiltrates the deadly Ram clan as a spy to save her people. What she doesn’t expect to find is the friendship of a young boy whose life she saves, the confusing feelings she develops for a Ram soldier, and an underground slave insurrection.

The world of NAMELESS is rife with turmoil and at the heart of that conflict are the four clans included in the book. Each was inspired by one of my favorite cultures throughout history. 

Wolf: inspired by Viking and Norse
Raven: inspired by the Navajo
Ram: inspired by Ancient Sparta
Kodiak: inspired by Maori Islanders

Wonder which clan you’d belong to if you lived in the world of NAMELESS? 

Take this quiz and find out! Share your results and email me at jennifer(at)writerscubed(dot)com with your name, address, and designated clan, and I’ll send you an official clan tattoo. Offer good until October 15, 2015 as a YASH exclusive.  

To find out which clan you're in - take the quiz!
  * * * * *
  Now don't forget to enter the YASH contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me and nineteen other authors on the Teal Team. Simply add up all the favorite numbers of the Teal Team authors and you'll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize!

But before you leave, you need to know that my favorite number is 11, and there are 11 chances in the exclusive Rafflecopter here for you to win a signed paperback of WHO R U REALLY?! a Rafflecopter giveaway


 AND click on over to Goodreads where Merit Press is giving away twenty-five paperback copies of WHO R U REALLY?!   
CONTINUE THE HUNT
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author: LANCE RUBIN!

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