D.G. Kaye's Blog, page 139

Who Has a New Book? – Guest Author, Hugh Roberts – Glimpses

I’m thrilled to have Hugh Roberts here today. Hugh is a compassionate and helpful soul and a great sharer of his experience in anything he comes across which may prove helpful for his fellow writers and bloggers. Hugh has a special style of writing, and knows precisely how to captivate his readers.

Many of you may know Hugh from his blog, HughsViewsandNews, where he’s become an eclectic blogger. Hugh’s blog is a rich blend of short stories, helpful posts about WordPress functions and issues and fixes, blogger participation posts, such as his infamous photo challenges, sentimental stories, humorous stories, and so much more! But I’m almost willing to bet that the positive interest and reaction he received from his short story writing was what inspired him to write his debut book, Glimpses.

 

 

Hugh, frightened by his own stories.

 

About Hugh:

 

Hugh W. Roberts is a brand new first time published author who lives in Swansea, South Wales, in the United Kingdom.

Hugh gets his inspiration for writing from various avenues including writing prompts, photos, eavesdropping and while out walking his dog, Toby. Although he was born in Wales he has lived around various parts of the UK, including London where he lived for 27 years.

Hugh suffers from a mild form of dyslexia but, after discover Blogging, decided not to allow the condition to stop his passion for writing. Since creating his blog ‘Hugh’s Views & News’ back in February 2014, he has built up a strong following and now writes everyday. Always keen to promote other bloggers, authors and writers, Hugh enjoys the interaction Blogging brings and has built up a group of on-line friends he considers as an everyday essential.

Hugh has now built up his first volume of short stories and is now working on the next volume. A keen photographer, he also enjoys cycling, walking, reading, watching television, and enjoys relaxing most evenings with a glass of red wine.

Hugh shares his life with John, his civil-partner, and Toby, their Cardigan Welsh Corgi.

 

Blurb:
 Here, at last, are 28 short stories that will take your mind on a rollercoaster of a ride into worlds that conceal unexpected twists and turns.

‘Glimpses’ allows the reader a peek into the lives of everyday people who are about to have life lead them on an unpredicted path. From a mysterious deadly iPad app, to a hole in the fence that is not all it seems, to a strange lipstick that appears to have a life of its own, you will encounter terror, laughter, sadness, shock and many other emotions on journeys which promise a thrilling and gripping climax.

If you are a lover of shows such as ‘The Twilight Zone’ and ‘Tales Of The Unexpected’, then you’re in for a real treat with this first collection of short stories from Hugh.

Dare you take a glimpse into the lives of these unsuspecting characters?

Get This Book Here on Amazon!   

 

Now, let’s discover more about Hugh, his writing, and about his new book!

Can you please tell us about how the concept of this book came about? Did writing short stories on your blog and gaining fans from those stories help your decision to publish?

 

The idea for ‘Glimpses’ came about from my love of stories that take the reader down a path that twists and turns and ends up in a completely different place to where the reader thought the path was going to take them. I’ve always admired writers who can take their reader’s breath away by delivering an unexpected twist that nobody was expecting, even though the clues are strewn throughout the story.  It’s extremely clever writing and something which I always wanted to try and achieve myself.

When I started blogging, back in February 2014, I wasn’t intending to publish my short stories on the blog, but then I found myself competing in fictional writing challenges set by other bloggers and I soon became hooked. The first short story I published on my blog ‘Last Train To Aldwych’ wasn’t written as part of a challenge, but people loved it and the comments I got were overwhelming. I soon found myself with over 30 short stories on the blog and people not only enjoying reading them, but asking me to publish them in a book.

 

When did you become a writer? Did you ever think you may like to publish a book, prior to when you began blogging?

 

I started writing short stories at an early age. Unfortunately, I am dyslexic and, back then, the condition was not recognised. My parents were always told that I was just very slow. However, I continued to write but never showed most of my work because of all the mistakes I knew would be littering the stories. People would laugh at the mistakes and think there was something seriously wrong with me. By the time I left school I’d stopped writing altogether because I was not able to handle the sometimes-hurtful feedback I’d get because dyslexia was considered a myth. However, my dream of one day publishing a book stayed with me. Fast forward 40 years and I discovered WordPress and blogging. The dream was still with me and, from the moment I published that first post, news doors opened for me and my writing.

 

You have such a unique style of writing your short stories, always containing an unexpected twist to keep your readers wondering till the end. What inspires you to create these stories?

 

Two TV shows are responsible for that. I always loved watching ‘The Twilight Zone’ and, in the UK, we also had a similar show called ‘Tales Of The Unexpected.’ I would ensure I never missed an episode. I would come away from watching those shows hoping and wishing that I could write episodes like those one day. In my late teens I loved watching Horror Movies, Sci-Fi and anything with a dark twist. I’m not so big a fan of Horror moves anymore, but anything that looks scary and looks as if it will get the hairs on my arms standing, will usually get my attention.

 

As a first time self-published author, did you find the process of the making of a book, challenging? From first draft to re-writes and edits, creating a cover and formatting, which part did you find the most overwhelming?

 

I didn’t find it a challenge, even though I was rather scared of going the self-publishing route. However, there was so much support and information on the blogs of other authors and I was overwhelmed with the offers of help. Without a doubt, it was writing the synopsis for the book that I found the most difficult to write. It was the toughest thing I’d ever written.  I must have had over 20 versions at one stage and even when I managed to whittle them down to just the one, I still wasn’t happy with it.  I went back to the drawing board and tried again and again. Then, one day, it just all seemed to click into place.

 

Can we expect more books from you in the future? And if so, do you think you’ll remain writing short stories, or perhaps consider writing one full length story?

 

Yes, I’ve already got six new short stories lined up for the second book. Some of the stories in Glimpses are very short, so I’m intending on making most of the stories for book two much longer. I’m planning on publishing my second volume of short stories in December 2017. Meanwhile, I do have a full-length story on the go. I started writing it way back in 2012, but it’s been laying untouched in a file on my computer for the last two years. The story is set in London in the 1980s and is based on my life over the 27 years I lived in the city. However, there is also a lot of fiction mixed in with it. The main character is based on me and I don’t think it will be long before he demands more of my attention again.  I’ve already written the first twelve chapters of the book and am intending in there being another six books in the series. I know, what big dreams, yeah? Inspiration for the book came from my love of ‘Tales Of The City’, by Armistead Maupin. I’ve read that book several times and absolutely love it.

 

Did you choose to use professional help to create your book, ie: editor, cover artist, formatter?

 

Yes. I hired both an editor and a cover artist. My editor also proof read the book for me as did some of my followers on the blog who left comments about what they liked and disliked. I wanted a cover that would be both eye-catching and colourful. I know people say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but you have to try all you can to persuade people to pick up your book and look inside, otherwise, the chances of them buying it are probably almost non-existent. I fell in love with the cover as soon as I saw it and, with a few tweaks here and there, it became something I am very proud to have my name on.

I got help with the formatting from fellow author Christoph Fischer and his partner. I sat down with them for a few hours and came away with a lot more confidence about doing the formatting. Before then, I saw formatting as a big bad monster.

 

I’ve been following your fascinating blog for a few years now, and I know your story, The Truth App, was a smash success with your reader’s interest. Do you think it was that story that became the pivotal point where you knew you had to keep writing short stories?

 

I remember the day I published the ‘The Truth App’ on my blog and how gobsmacked I became because of all the attention it got. It got a lot of re-blogs and people were saying things like ‘OMG! You’ve got to read this!”. I also published the story on ReadWaves (that sadly no longer exists) and that is how the story went viral. However, it wasn’t the story that was the pivotal point for writing more short stories. I’d already written several short stories before ‘The Truth App’ and although they did not get anywhere near as much exposure as ‘The Truth App’, they had already done very well on my blog and brought me in a lot of new followers. When I joined the Committee of the Bloggers Bash, I had an idea to write another nine parts of “The Truth App’ and to include ‘The Bloggers Bash’ and ‘Bloggers’ in the story. Those further nine parts went on to bring me in even more followers and some people have already told me that the story is what they think got me noticed and what I’ll be famous for. I do love ‘The Truth App’ but it’s not my favourite story that I have written. However, I owe it a lot and will always look at it as getting me off the ground and onto that publishing road.

 

Now, please tell us a little about what types of stories we can expect to read in your book, and please share an excerpt with us.

 

There are 28 stories across a good cross-section of genres in the book. Many of the stories do fall on the dark side of my writing, but I’ve also included a four-part murder mystery, some comedy, a divine character who gets herself two stories (and somebody I hope everybody will love to hate), and an LGBT story with a wicked twist that came to me in the middle of the night.  All the stories contain twists and turns towards their endings I hope very few people will guess what is coming as they read the stories. I love to see the pure shock of ‘not expecting that ending’ on people’s faces. It makes me smile and tells me that I’ve written it exactly how I wanted.

The extract I’d like to share with you today is from my story “The Fence.’ It’s a Sci-Fi story about a man who has been asked, by his wife, to fix a hole in the garden fence. Sounds a simple enough task, but what Neil, the main character, discovers is that what appears on the other side of the fence when looking through the hole is not the same as when he peers over fence when standing on a chair.

 

Excerpt:

He rushed towards the hole in the fence again and peered through it. There she was, exactly in the same spot as she had been the last time he had peered through the hole. Neil wondered why he couldn’t see her when looking over the fence.

Grabbing the biggest hammer he could find, Neil started knocking away some of the wood around the hole. Seconds later, he dropped the hammer and tore at the remaining part of the fence. When the hole was big enough, he pushed himself through while Tara continued to scream.

A shot of pain went straight through his body as a rusty nail tore into the skin of his right leg. He let out a roar as the nail dug deep and the first drop of blood dribbled across his leg. Had he not been wearing shorts then his jeans may well have done something to stop the rusty nail entering his body, but his mind was now focused on getting to Tara. As the last part of his body squeezed through the hole, Tara gave the biggest scream of all.

“They’re here!” she screamed, pointing a finger towards the Samuels’ house.

When Neil collapsed in front of her he didn’t waste a second in lifting himself off the ground and looked over to where she was pointing. His eyes darted from left to right several times, but he saw nothing other than the house. However, it wasn’t the Samuels’ house he could see. This house was a different shape, with more glass at the front, and the roof was flat, not raised.

He rubbed his eyes thinking that what was happening was all a dream, but it didn’t matter how many times he rubbed his eyes or looked away from the house, this was not the same house he had lived next to for the last ten years. In fact, this was not even the garden he had seen when he had looked over the fence. What on earth was going on?

 

Lovely way to leave us hanging Hugh! I have no doubt that your book will be a huge success and readers who enjoy a twist making us hang on till the very end of your stories, should be lining up for this book. It was a pleasure having you here today Hugh, and wishing you much success. Welcome to authordom!

 

BONUS ALERT!!! – Hugh is running a great promotion NOW to win $100 Amazon gift certificate and 5 other runner up prizes in the GLIMPSES COMPETION. Please visit his promotional post here to find out how to win! 

 

Visit Hugh’s Author Page on Amazon 

 

Connect with Hugh on Social Media:

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GoodReads

3 Stupid Questions That Will Make Your Blogging Great – ALWAYS WRITE

 

Today I’m sharing another blogging friend’s awesome post that all bloggers should read. My friend Marsha Ingrao of Marshajustwrites.com is a wealth of information on everything blogging. Marsha’s blog talks about all the little nitty gritty things we sometimes don’t even realize why they’re in our dashboard and what they’re for. Well Marsha is a great communicator and explains things to us in simple terms.

 

Have a look at one of her posts here titled 3 Stupid Questions that will make your Blogging Great!

Don’t you know what an alt text is? Don’t you hate asking stupid questions? Even if it will help your blogging? Let me do it for you. I mean everyone knows about alt text by now, don’t they? Do you even know where to find alt text? I did not. And who thinks up keywords … Continue reading “3 Stupid Questions That Will Make Your Blogging Great”

Source: 3 Stupid Questions That Will Make Your Blogging Great – ALWAYS WRITE

Seasons Greetings – Wishing You All Happy Holidays

 

 

Just a short post as I wanted to wish you all happy holidays and wishing all your hopes and dreams come to fruition.

 

I know it’s a busy time for many of us getting ready to celebrate with family and probably over-indulge in goodies and drinks but I know we all deserve this time to let loose and enjoy the people in our lives. We spend many of our waking hours here online with our readers and friends, so use this time to catch up with the ones who put up with our absence throughout much of the year as we work hard in our virtual lives. This is a time to live, laugh and love and remember all that we’re grateful for. Relax and prepare for the year ahead.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah and Happy Holidays to all that celebrate their own individual customs and holidays.

Below you will find a tiny video clip I amateurishly made. In my pursuit to get more involved with video in the new year, I thought I’d experiment with this little message for you.

 

 

Memoir Bytes – All the Light We Cannot See But Can Sometimes Sense

I live in a building complex comprised of 3 buildings. Ironically, the building I live in is 2 over from the one my father lived in for years since he divorced my mother, until his death a quarter of a century ago.

Often I walk out onto my balcony overlooking a small forest to one side and a walking path to another. I can see directly through the trees to my father’s apartment balcony. Of course I think of my father every single day that passes as though the years of his absence in my life don’t mark time. But since I moved here almost 2 years ago, I feel him closer to me.

When I step out for a breath of fresh air on my balcony, I recall the many times my sister and I went to visit him, bringing him home-cooked meals to store in his freezer, and the pleading we used to do with him, begging him to eat healthy, for his love of junk food and his lost passion for living had escalated his cholesterol levels through the roof, which prompted his ultimate demise – death by instant, massive heart attack.

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Through the years, since my father’s departure from this earth, he has visited me many times. My inner knowing senses his presence. And he mostly shows up in my worst moments of despair, a comfort to me knowing he can hear me.

I can’t count how many times I’d sit on my balcony, staring directly at the balcony where he once lived, wondering how ironic it is that through all my moves around the city, I wound up living where my father had lived out the remainder of his life in solitude. Many times I’ll look down from my balcony and catch a glimpse of a man walking on the grounds with the same gait and posture as my father’s, and for a moment I wonder if that was him.

My dad’s portrait hangs proudly on my office wall, and I often catch myself glancing his way to take in his beautiful smile. And for that moment, it closes the distance between us, illuminating the part of me where I still carry our memories together, in my heart.

The one and only time I was transported in my dreams to visit him in heaven, stays with me in vivid sequence. It was a gift that helped me come to peace with myself for my tragic loss. I saw the light. I looked upon him still wearing the shroud he was buried in as I stood on a floorless ground with billowing white clouds. He reached out to me and spoke the words, “I love you” and comforted me when he told me he’s okay now, reminding me that he’d never be too far away from me.

I know he kept his word. And I know that it was that meeting I was gifted with that helped ease the heaviness in my heart. Although I was never invited back to that holy place again, I understood why. It was no longer necessary. I got my reassurance.

My father is always around me and he’s at peace, that was the message I needed to hear to help me let him go in my head and move my love for him to a new special place in my heart.

We don’t always see the light that beckons us to that other world, but even in darkness we carry the light within.

 

Smorgasbord Christmas Party – Guest author D. G. Kaye with Childhood Christmas Wishes and My First Biggest Tree | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life

 

I was thrilled to be invited to Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord Invitation blog and share a Christmas story of my own. Sally is running a Smorgasbord of Christmas reading, music, books and authors, and various entertainment. I hope you enjoy my story and when you continue reading at Sally’s blog, have a look around and see all the goodies she has going on, something for everyone.

 

“Today’s guest is no stranger to many of you as Debby Gies, author D.G. Kaye speeds through the Internet like a express train, promoting all of us with elegance and sincere friendship. She is a terrific supporter of Indie authors and you will find interviews, reviews and posts on life at http://www.dgkayewriter.com

 

Childhood Christmas Wishes and My First Biggest Tree by D.G. Kaye

 

As each December approached, I’d take in the views of the glorious glow of Christmas lights and decorations sprouted everywhere, from the street light posts to the homes we’d pass while driving by them, sparkling in all their glory. I was a child and wanted so badly to be part of Christmas.

Coming from a family that didn’t practice much of religion, and having Orthodox Jewish grandparents on my paternal side, didn’t afford me the luxury of having a Christmas tree. This didn’t mean that I didn’t love Christmas and all special festivities I’d witnessed on TV and from visiting friend’s homes who celebrated. I envied the kids who spent fun times with their families, doing traditional holiday things such as wrapping presents, singing carols and most especially, decorating the tree. Oh how I longed to have a bright and sparkly Christmas tree in my home.

When I was very young I didn’t understand why I couldn’t be a part of the festive season, and nobody explained religion to me, other than being told by CONTINUE READING . . .

 

Source: Smorgasbord Christmas Party – Guest author D. G. Kaye with Childhood Christmas Wishes and My First Biggest Tree | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life

Sunday #Book #Review – The Thorn Birds

Today’s Sunday book review is on one of my all-time favorite books and movies, The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough. Often I find a book is always so much better than a movie, but this book (almost 800 pages) became a lengthy mini series back in 1983, the second highest rated mini series ever.  I loved it so much that after the series finished, I rented the whole boxed set (VCR days) and binge watched it over an entire weekend, glued to the screen.

 

The story takes place on a sheep farm in a fictional place in the Australian outback where the Cleary family moves there to live with the matriarch, Mary Carson (played by Barbra Stanwyck). The main character, Meggie Cleary is only 5 when she’s uprooted from New Zealand to Australia to live with her stern aunt, and her unhappiness is cleared only whenever the town priest, Ralph de Bricassart (played by the debonair Richard Chamberlain, Dr. Kildare anyone?) comes to visit.

The Cleary story spans 3 generations, and throughout the series, from childhood through womanhood, Meggie’s love for the priest only grows to the point of forbidden love, heartbreak, and loss as she matures into an older woman.

The scenery is beautiful, the storyline is captivating, and if you love a heart-wrenching love story (like I do) you will definitely want to read this book.

 

Blurb:

Powered by the dreams and struggles of three generations, THE THORN BIRDS  is the epic saga of a family rooted in the Australian sheep country. At the story’s heart is the love of Meggie Cleary, who can never possess the man she desperately adores, and Ralph de Bricassart, who rises from parish priest to the inner circles of the Vatican…but whose passion for Meggie will follow him all the days of his life.

 

5 Stars My Review 

One of my all time favorites! A long book and a great read! A most beautiful story set in Australia about forbidden love. Little Meggie Cleary grows up with the influence of the local Priest and the years pass into her womanhood as her childhood admiration for the Priest turns into a mutual love between the two of them. I will not spoil what happens as the book spans over decades with these characters. Oh yes, one more thing, bring Kleenex for this beautiful read!

 

Get this book on Amazon HERE And while you’re there, pick up the now available DVD like I’m going to do.

 

*Note – After the book was a hit, over a decade later, to capitalize on the original movie’s fame, a second movie came out which wasn’t a sequel but more like some ‘bonus’ story told while Father Ralph was on his mission in Rome. I didn’t watch this because I didn’t want to taint the memory I already had of the series and book. As it turns out if you look up the reviews on Amazon, the majority of Thorn Bird lovers were angry and disappointed in the movie, wishing they’d never watched it. Glad I took a pass.

Traveling Hints to Keep More of Your Clothes On – ALWAYS WRITE

 

I came across this wonderful review of my book Have Bags, Will Travel, on Marsha Ingrao’s blog, Marshajustwrites.com. It’s always a thrill to have a shiny new review for our books, but Marsha’s review was sheer entertainment and had me in stitches. Read part of the review here. And please continue over to Marsha’s page to read the rest with her witty ad lib.

Have Bags, Will Travel has the traveling hints you need to remember why you travel. The book is a short, easy-to-read, humorous essay by D. G. Kaye.

Traveling Hints for Changing Times

 

D.G. Kaye has a long history of loving to shop when she travels. We all want to bring back something from our traveling. Right?  But how much is too much? And how do we get it through customs?

D.G. Kaye packed and traveled differently in the past.  How has she coped with the many changes in the travel industry? Has airport security threatened her travel buying? As you will see, she offers creative tricks to pack and still have fun shopping.

Follow D.G. Kaye and her friends as she travels to Paris, London, Las Vegas, Greece, Venezuela, and Arizona. Pay attention to her traveling hints about locations to visit. For example, she describes her reaction to the transition from old Vegas to the Vegas we know today.

Have you ever traveled in a garbage can lid? Find out how it’s done, and what to wear!

Ever break a foot while traveling? It happened to D.G. and another friend of mine, too. Bad memories are often the funniest, and make the trip memorable.

Has your suitcase ever come down the baggage ramp unzipped, exposed with tire treads stamped across your clothes? Hmmmm. Poor Debby!

 

Traveling Tips from Admitted Germ Freak

 

Whether or not you love germs, D.G. Kaye will entertain you with her germy experiences traveling at home and abroad. Continue Reading ….

 

Source: Traveling Hints to Keep More of Your Clothes On – ALWAYS WRITE

Who Has a New Book? – Informative Blogging Guru -Janice Wald

Today I’m excited to introduce “Ninja Networker”, pro blogger and now author Janice Wald with her debut book – An Insider’s Guide to Building a Successful Blog 

 

 

Janice runs her blog, MostlyBlogging.com and for those who aren’t familiar with her blog, you’re in for a treat! Janice’s blog is a wealth of information for writers and bloggers alike. She shares everything you could possibly want to know about starting, running, and growing a blog, from SEO to Apps, to how to effectively use social media. It’s no surprise that Janice is also a Blogging Coach and offers services for hire.

 

 Janice decided to compile her goldmine of information and put it into a book. I’ve been following Janice for almost 2 years now and can’t wait to sink my eyes into her book. I could see by just checking the ‘Look Inside’ on Amazon, and the contents that this book is a must have ‘bible’ for all bloggers to up their game. Not to mention, I was FLOORED when I found my own name and website listed in one of her chapters ‘71 Tips that Will Make Your Blog Successful’.

 

About Janice:
 

Wald’s blog, Mostly Blogging, is included in

77 Expert Tips on How to Start a Successful Blog 
57 Experts Share Tips on How to Create the Best Content Possible
100 Blogs That Will Help You Become a Better Blogger
Top 100 Blogs for First Time Bloggers to read
101 Tips from Top Experts on How to Start a Successful Blog
15 Powerful Bloggers You Should Learn From to Grow Your Online Business ,
and 18 Content Marketing Blogs You Need to Follow Right Now .

In addition, Wald was also the featured blogger in an expert interview series, Janice Wald of Mostly Blogging on How to Make Blogs Better

 

Wald has been included in fifteen expert interviews and interview panels including a panel of experts sharing their strategies for increasing Google+ traffic.

In addition, she has served as a coach for many satisfied bloggers and authors desiring to improve their website traffic.

A recipient of a Master’s Degree in Education, Wald uses her skills as a teacher to empower her readers to increase their online visibility.

When she is not writing, Wald can be found reading current trends in social media, attending blogging conferences and social media webinars, and teaching medieval history and yearbook design.

A happily married mother of three daughters and two dogs, Wald resides in Santa Clarita, California.

 

 

 

 

Get This Book On Amazon! 

 

Blurb:

Are you a blogger? Are you ready to see your page views skyrocket?

If so, you know the importance of using proven tips to engage readers, improve content, and increase blog traffic.

In 2016, there were over two billion social media users.

Fortunately, this guide is the only roadmap you will need to send them rushing to your blog.

“By your reading this particular ebook, you’re finally ready to cut through the clutter and all of the confusion and online noise.”

Janice Wald’s tips are proven by research and easy to understand and implement.

AN INSIDER’S LOOK AT BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL BLOG is a collection of Wald’s articles from her own successful blog, Mostly Blogging.

It contains step-by-step directions for content creation, tips for increasing readership, and advice about which tools to use to make blogging easier.

By following the advice in these posts, you will be able to increase your content’s visibility.

Follow her established strategies and see a dramatic increase in your blog traffic.

Now let’s get to know more about Janice and her book and blog!

 

Please tell us what inspired you to write this book and a little about how the book came to be.

Hi Debby, I am so excited to have my book featured on your blog!

My readers are amazing. When I entered my second year of blogging, the next logical step was to combine my articles into an ebook. However, I didn’t know what to write the book about. I surveyed my readers and they overwhelmingly responded they were interested in reading a social media ebook. There is tremendous overlap between blogging tips and social media tips since you use social media to promote your blog. As a result, when my publisher, Lois Hoffman read the book, she expressed a belief the books should be about both topics– blogging tips and social media tips, and I agreed. That’s why the book contains tips on both.

 

How difficult was it for you to put together this book, given the vast amount of information you’ve packed into your book?

Thank you for the compliments on how thorough the information is in my book. Since I am a teacher, I am versed in breaking down information into understandable details. No cursory information here!

As a result, the editing process took longer than expected. Much of 2016 was devoted to this project.

 

As a blog and content writer, becoming a first-time published author, did you find the book publishing aspect a difficult journey? Did you have assistance putting the book together?

Happily, yes, my amazing publisher Lois Hoffman (http://happyselfpublisher.com/) guided my every step before, during, and after the publication. My post “One Thing Successful Authors Know That Others Don’t” (http://www.mostlyblogging.com/successful-authors/) lists all the many people that helped me on this journey– you included.

 

Being an avid blogger with so much weekly content to gather and share on your blog, can you tell us how much time you spend searching for new material, Apps, etc. and putting posts together?

I am constantly on the lookout (the hunt?) for new material. For example, while brushing my teeth I can often be found stumbling through articles on StumbleUpon looking for information I’d like to reference in upcoming blog posts.

As far as putting posts together, I used to claim it was four hours from start to finish for each post, but in actuality it’s much longer. As I indicated, once I get an idea for an article, I may spend months looking for information to use in the post. This starts long before I even schedule the article.

 

Please share with my readers, about your ‘Linky Parties’. How are we able to take part, and what do we have to gain by participating?

I like to think of my site, Mostly Blogging, as a community for bloggers to visit and gain empowerment from their time at my site. I like to think they leave with more than they had when they arrived. Bloggers come to my site for information, of course, mine is a blogging tips site. However, they also come looking for a feeling of community that new bonds, new friendships, bring.

I am genuinely shocked when I hear people are unfamiliar with linky parties. I consider them so valuable for the blogging community to expand their connections, I actually host two each week!

Linky Parties are blogging events where guests come, and share a link to a post they’ve written. They can share as many as they want, although other linky parties may have a maximum and a required topic.

Blogging is about forging new connections, new bonds, and turning those connections into a community. For readers wishing to know more about how to take part in a linky party, I wrote an article they may find helpful: How to See Your Traffic Explode: Have a Linky Party Part II (http://www.mostlyblogging.com/how-to-see-your-traffic-explode-have-a-linky-party-part-ii/)

 

What’s your advice for writers to help build their platforms? And what is your opinion on the best social media sites to use to grow an audience?

I once wrote a post called “Secrets of Successful Bloggers” (http://www.mostlyblogging.com/secrets-of-successful-bloggers/) However, there is only one secret– networking. I can not stress networking enough. The article explains why that has to be the secret of successful blogging. The tips apply to writers who want to broaden their readership. How to network is explained in my post “How to Easily Get People to Subscribe to Your Blog by Networking” (http://www.mostlyblogging.com/easily-get-people-subscribe-blog-networking/).

Regarding social media sites: That may depend on one’s niche. I am so grateful to the Facebook community for the support I’ve received as a writer. However, other bloggers, Do It Yourself (DIY) bloggers like craft and recipe bloggers will probably find the best reception over at Pinterest.

 

Do you anticipate writing another book with yet, more information, down the road?

Big smile here. I don’t know Debby. I guess we’ll find out together what the future brings.

 

What main factors would you say are the most important to focus on to build a readership?

Network, network, network. I can’t stress that enough. Finding like-minded bloggers matters too. If people you network with aren’t interested in what you’ve written, you won’t make much progress toward building a community.

Comment on the blogs of people in your niche and their readers will learn about you.

 

Please share an excerpt of one of your many lessons in your book, about tips for writing attention-grabbing headlines.

Thank you for mentioning the importance of the headline. The headline is the first part of the post the reader sees. If it’s weak, no one will click the link to see the post.

I never publish a headline without checking with the CoSchedule Headline Analyzer first. Here is an excerpt from my book:

CoSchedule’s free headline analyzer is indispensable to bloggers.

Whatever tool I initially use to help me arrive at a headline, I invariably end up back at CoSchedule’s headline analyzer trying to get a higher score.

When coming up with a score, CoSchedule’s analyzer considers power words, emotional words, common words, uncommon words, placing of key words, length of the headline, the type of headline, your readers’ emotions, and even how the headline would look in an Email.

 

Thank you so much Janice for visiting with us all here today and for helping us learn how to make our blogs the best they can be!

Get Your Copy Here! 

 

Social Links:

 

Blog URL: http://mostlyblogging.com/
Google+:https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JaniceWald/about
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrsPaznanski
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janice.rappoportwald
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mycurrentnewsblog
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/janicewald/
Stumble Upon: http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/janicewald

Do yourselves a huge favor and visit Janice’s blog at MostlyBlogging.com 

Secrets Readers Don’t Know about Authors | Terri Herman-Ponce

 

 

I came across this interesting and humorous post by Terri Herman – Ponce about secrets and peeves authors have that readers wouldn’t otherwise know. Enjoy the read below:

 

We pretend the writing is going well when it isn’t. Ask a writer how their story is going and you’ll hear, “Oh, it’s all finally coming together,” or “I’ve hit a rough spot in the middle, but I know I’ll work it out,” or “I’ve got an idea for another book, but I have to finish this one first.” However, that’s all code for, “I’m halfway through this book and I have no idea where it’s going,” or “I’ve written myself into a corner, and I’m freaking out because I have a deadline in three weeks!” or “I’ve got an idea for another book because I’ve started hating the one I’m writing right now.”


Writing books is a lonely business. We sit with our laptop or tablet, alone, and try to bang out story day after day. But we can’t have interruptions because that’ll mess with our creative juju. Which makes us feel alone. So we try to explain where our heads are at with loved ones, who try to understand us but really don’t, because we need an outlet to vent. Which is why we commiserate with other authors because only other authors understand the lonely nature of writing. Which is why…


We all have a stash of something to help us through writing stresses, and we usually indulge at our keyboard. Chocolate. Potato chips. Beer. Martinis. Gummy bears. Ice cream. Red wine. White wine. Diet soda. Burgers and fries. Scotch. Oreos. Mac and cheese. Pizza. Slurpees…Continue Reading

 

Source: Secrets Readers Don’t Know about Authors | Terri Herman-Ponce

26 Affordable and Practical #Gift Ideas for the #Holidays

26 Affordable and Practical #Gift Giving Ideas for the #Holiday Season

 

The holiday season is fast approaching, and once again people are picking their brains about what gifts to buy for friends and loved ones.

 

I’ve always tried to tailor my gifts specifically to what the receiver would like and could use and/or appreciate, in hopes that my gift wouldn’t be the one ending up collecting dust on a shelf or re-packaged for re-gifting.  But it’s still sometimes difficult to pinpoint exactly what the perfect gift could be for someone, and, often times, there might be too much cost to purchase a particular gift, which sometimes leaves us feeling somewhat inadequate with what we’ve chosen to give, especially for those hard to buy for people who already have everything they want.  Sure, it’s the thought that counts, but sometimes people don’t think that way, and sometimes our budgets don’t allow us to spend on some items what we’d really like to give.

So today I’m going to share some great ideas for gift giving for both children and adults. Below are some ideas from low cost to no cost that you can give with confidence and know they will be well received.

Have you ever noticed children at a Christmas gathering opening one gift after another, barely taking in the excitement of one gift before they put it aside to open the next one? Have you ever noticed how much kids love to do arts and crafts to keep their busy little hands and minds occupied? This is why crafts make great gifts for kids. Maybe it’s the writer in me, but I like to buy gifts for kids that help to educate them and help to build their creativity.

 

 Here’s a handy list of things you can buy for kids that won’t break the bank:

Books – books that entertain while teaching kids to count or learn the alphabet, colors, names of animals, and of course, any stories to do with kindness that can be understood at their level.
Coloring books and crayons, pencil crayons, magic markers, an easel to draw on, colored sand art, water paints and brushes, tissue paper for paper mache art, personal diaries, notebooks, stamp art, stencil art, yarn for sewing projects
Construction paper, pipe cleaners, glitter glue, and sticker books
Lego
Playdoh
Ebooks of children’s stories can be gifted and loaded to a parent’s ereader or get a kindle for kids for their own books

What to buy the person who seems to have everything:

Books
Gift certificate from: a bookstore, their favorite store, a restaurant they frequent, a coffee house, a home improvement store, a transit pass, movie theater or a sporting event
A membership to a club
A kindle with some ebooks downloaded to it
A season paid of gardening
A subscription paid for a year to a magazine
Donate for a few meals to a homeless charity in their name
Donate to any charity in their name

 

And what can you give that won’t cost you anything but some of your time? Make up some coupons and offer loved ones:

Free babysitting
Free rides to drop off and pick up
Housesitting
Snow Shoveling
Companion time
Reading time for an elderly person
Help around the house
Make a few dinners
Help decorate and take down decorations after the holidays
Volunteer services
Baked goods
Something homemade

These are just a few of so many things we can give. Our imaginations are limitless when we think about what a particular person could really use and appreciate. And don’t forget, there is nothing more personal than any gift from the heart.

Happy Holidays!