D.G. Kaye's Blog, page 161

Make Your Own Karma

 

There are many ways we can market ourselves in this world. We have so many avenues to announce ourselves as new authors but as plentiful as the avenues may be, sometimes it can be a little intimidating for us. Keep in mind, we are our best advocates! We can start by building our social platforms and reading lots of great books by industry leaders and following some of the best influencer’s publications but don’t forget to use your own word of mouth! Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there because how else is anyone going to know what you have been working on for so long and get the chance to be interested in what we are writing?

Do you have a rapport with your local bookstore, drugstore, department store? Drop into these places and make some contacts. I’m writing this to share because I have done these things along the way by building friendly communications  wherever I shop in my local town and now that I have these good rapports I don’t feel strange asking if they would be interested in helping me advertise my book.  Here is what I did:

A few weeks ago as I was picking up some things in my local Shopper’s Drug Mart, I took a look at their book section. Then when I went to pick up my prescriptions, I had my usual friendly chat with the pharmacist (they are the owners of the pharmacies) and I casually mentioned in our conversation about my upcoming book Conflicted Hearts. He then offered that I should come and see him again when the book comes out with a copy. Last week I went to my local Chapters Book Store to pick up some notepads and I was speaking with one of the staff and asked her about their policy on Indie authored books. She told me they do take some Indie books on consignment and that I should talk to the manager about my book. I took her name and told her I would get in touch with her once my paperback came out. Another great opportunity came about a month ago when I was shopping at my favourite department store, The Bay. I ran into the manager who I’ve known for awhile through shopping there and we sometimes have little chats when we run into one another. So I told him about my upcoming book and he congratulated me and offered to do a book signing promotion for me as an event for the store and an opportunity for me as a local author. Also when I go on winter vacation this year I will be taking a cruise and I am taking some books with me because they often do little seminars on the ship and because I am friendly and talk to many people and I am not afraid to mention my book, there is a chance that I may be able to do a little promoting there as well.

 

All these things happened because I love to talk to people and I earned their respect in my community, so I wasn’t afraid to put it out there. These are just some ideas we can use to get our books exposed into the world.

One door opens and who knows where it will lead?

My Book Review – Have Bags, Will Travel by D.G. Kaye | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life

My Book Review – Have Bags, Will Travel by D.G. Kaye
By Sally G. Cronin

 

I was thrilled to receive this wonderful review from the talented Sally Cronin!

 

 

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Smorgasbord – Variety is the Spice of Life.

“There was a time when it felt that I spent more time in airports than at home. Travelling used to be very much more relaxed and I find myself these days fretting beforehand. It used to be that you chucked all your makeup and items you might need if your suitcase when missing into your carry on, but now even that is heavily censored. There is nothing sadder than desperately measuring 100mls of essential face de-wrinkler into a little plastic bottle and then into a ziplock plastic bag.  Then having to explain what it is to a stone faced inquisitor (just doing their job.. I know and appreciate why.)”

 

My Review for Have Bags, Will Travel.. Five perfectly packed suitcases.

 

“This is a not a long book but you will find D.G. Kaye packed it the same way that she does her suitcases when on one of her frequent trips. Overflowing with hilarious encounters with custom officers and bemused check-in agents, crammed with memories of travelling companions and skillfully closed with an in-depth look at one of her favourite destinations; Las Vegas.
International travel is no longer straightforward; so a little humour goes a very long way. D.G. Kaye relives those halcyon days when passengers were welcomed with open arms, allowed some leeway on number of bags and their weight instead of being herded through various lines to be interrogated. But if you are going to travel, then take advice from an expert; relieve some of the stress. . .” CONTINUE READING 

 

Source: My Book Review – Have Bags, Will Travel by D.G. Kaye | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life 

 

DGKaye©December2015

#Book Review — Tales from the Garden – Sally G. Cronin

Today I’m sharing my 5 Star Review on Sally Cronin’s latest book, Tales from the Garden. Anyone who knows Sally, knows that she is not only a kind and giving person, but she is also a very talented and creative writer who has published several books. Her latest book here was inspired by the beauty of her garden. Sally will be moving next year and was inspired to write these tales from her garden so she could take them all with her for keepsakes when she no longer has them around her. Here is my review:

 

Tales of the Garden is an eclectic compilation of home-made fairy tales, brought to life by the author’s interpretation with the fantasy stories created about the statues residing in her garden. Cronin gives life to these characters, complete with descriptions of who they are, what they represent, and their duties.

In this garden you’ll find fairies, royalty, animals, guards, musicians, and even some tales of infidelity, grief, and childhood trauma. Read about the queen who catches the king in the arms of another woman. What will his punishment be?

The brilliance of Cronin’s bringing together tales from centuries ago, combined with stories of mortals who ruled the land, are clever and intriguing. Her stories encompass some of the real-life situations that humans contend with; her statues are no different.

The book concludes with The Duchess’ story – Cronin’s mother. She shares the family background of the home and its inhibitors, where the garden sits, providing the backdrop for the characters who are brought to life in this wonderfully written story. A beautiful read for young and old alike. Note: I was thrilled to have won a copy of this book in a draw for the book launch.

 

Available at Amazon (amongst many other places).

This book would make a beautiful Christmas gift for all ages. The pictures enhance the feeling we get while reading the enchanting stories.

Connect with Sally here:

http://uk.linkedin.com/in/sallycronin1

https://twitter.com/sgc58

https://www.facebook.com/sally.cronin

https://www.facebook.com/sallygeorginacronin

https://plus.google.com/+SallyCronin/about

 

Other Books by Sally Cronin:

http://www.moyhill.com/sm/ –   Size Matters, especially when you weigh 330lbs

http://www.moyhill.com/jaojg/ – Just an Odd Job Girl – grown up chick lit.

http://www.moyhill.com/ftvpmac/ – Forget the Viagra….Pass me a Carrot  – Men’s health manual.

http://www.moyhill.com/tbtc – Turning Back the Clock – Anti-Aging programme.

http://www.moyhill.com/mttm _ Media Training The Manual – building relationships with local media.

http://www.moyhill.com/fof – Flights of Fancy – Short Story Anthology with a Novella

http://moyhill.com/tales/ -Tales from the Garden – Fairy stories for all ages from five to ninety-five.

 

DGKaye©December 2015

#Emotional Wounds #Thesaurus Entry: Becoming a Caregiver at a Young Age – WRITERS HELPING WRITERS™WRITERS HELPING WRITERS™

Available at Amazon 

 

Many of you may be familiar with Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman’s books, particularly, The Emotional Thesaurus, – A Writer’s Guide To Character Expression, which is a wonderful writing aid to give us a more in-depth description for words we use in our writing by elaborating on physical signs attached to the emotion, sensations felt, responses, etc.

 

I came across this sample, in the following paragraphs, written about The Emotional Wound Thesaurus, which takes a character’s situation a step further . . .

 

“When you’re writing a character, it’s important to know why she is the way she is. Knowing her backstory is important to achieving this end, and one of the most impactful pieces of a character’s backstory is her emotional wound. This negative experience from the past is so intense that a character will go to great lengths to avoid experiencing that kind of pain and negative emotion again. As a result, certain behaviors, beliefs, and character traits will emerge.
Characters, like real people, are unique, and will respond to wounding events differently. The vast array of possible emotional wounds combined with each character’s personality gives you many options in terms of how your character will turn out. With the right amount of exploration . . .”  Click here to continue:

 

Source: Emotional Wounds Thesaurus Entry: Becoming a Caregiver at a Young Age – WRITERS HELPING WRITERS™WRITERS HELPING WRITERS™ 

DGKaye ©December 2015

The New #Plagiarism: Protection for Indie Authors – BookWorks

 

Here is a wonderful article written by Ron Callari about the era we live in with the ease and availability we have as writers to use copy and pasting from articles we find interesting to apply to our own works. The article focuses on what’s legal, and talks about whether or not it should be the obligation of the  publisher to discover if some part of a publication has been plagiarized.

 

“Here’s the question: Can others copy our work and claim it as their own? Or should Kindle and other self-publishing platforms have the capability to detect duplications [plagiarism] in a manuscript and decline to publish it. . .” – See more by clicking the link below:

 

The New Plagiarism by Ron Callari written for bookworks.com

Source: The New Plagiarism: Protection for Indie Authors – BookWorks

 

D.G. Kaye © 2015

#Meno-Moments and #Memory

My definition of memory:  It’s a part of our subconscience that computes life’s events, instilled to serve us for when we wish to recollect or locate something.
This is not to be confused with memories of the long ago past, as it seems my brain has no trouble remembering the color of a certain dress I may have worn when I was four years old, yet hesitates to remind me about what I ate for dinner last night.

I used to pride myself on my excellent memory. I am grateful that it still serves me up great detail of my past, but as my shorter term memory has somewhat vanished, making lists to do, to buy, to go, and reminders, have become part of my everyday living.

My great recollections of the yesteryears enable me to write a lot about my past. Thankfully, I don’t have to write about yesterday’s news or it may go something like this: “Um, right, yesterday as I was eating my ? for lunch, I realized I had forgotten where I put my keys after coming home from (insert wherever). I know I always leave them in the front hall desk drawer, and I remember getting sidetracked while placing them down. My cell phone rang in my purse before I barely got my boots off. . . ” That’s where the concentration ends.

When I’m no longer focused on the immediate task at hand and am taken off course by a distraction, I unconsciously disregard my original intent while focusing on the next event. This is how I tend to misplace things.

Retrieval Method: When I go into search mode, I pinpoint back to the last thing I remember doing at the time I placed down my keys and mull over what took place when I lost the item, which at least gives me a hint of the vicinity where I should begin looking.

Annoying little things like these types of incidents send my inner think tank into a frenzy. What really frustrates me about this little memory game are the moments when I lose a word. It often feels as though a name or a place sitting right there on the tip of my tongue is yet so far away from my brain to grasp. It isn’t that I don’t actually know the word to use, it just won’t reveal itself to me.

Words, keys, shoes, meals, occasionally get lost in a secret cabinet in my brain, which I occasionally lose access to. If I could only remember in what part of my brain I keep that little cabinet, I may be able to better remember where everything else is.

I know I must have plenty of company in this department?

D.G. Kaye ©2015

►#Three #Quotes – Philosophy: “Beauty, according to Plato” / Mythology: “Some Greek Myths, based on Beauty”⭐ .- | La Audacia de Aquiles

 

I was invited by the lovely Aquileana of La Audacia de Aquiles to join the 3 quote challenge. I invite all of you to post a quote here that you find resonates with you on the topic of beauty.

 

Here are my picks:

 

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone see it.”
~ Confucius ~

 

“The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.”
~ Audrey Hepburn ~

 

“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.”
~ Anne Frank ~

 

Below Aquileana’s post, I will be adding any quotes you all leave here in the comment section.

Now go visit Aquileana’s beauty blog on mythology and read her incredible article on beauty.

 

Reblog

Philosophy: “Beauty, according to Plato” / Mythology: “Some Greek Myths, based on Beauty” .-

11/25/2015 by Aquileana

 

The rules of this challenge are: ♠Post your favorite quotes or your own quotes for three (3) posts in a row. ♠Thank the person who nominated you. ♠Pass it on to three (3) other bloggers per quote, each time you post them. Or pass it to nine (9) bloggers if you choose to post all the quotes together, in the same post.

Note: I will post the three (3) quotes together. Thus I will nominate nine (9) Bloggers.

Also, I thought It would be pertinent to choose quotes on Beauty,

CONTINUE READING………

BLOGGER’S ENTRIES:

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” John Keats’ Endymion

Added by Marian of plainandfancy.wordpress.com

 

“Only when we learn to value the difference among us can we achieve the true spirit of humanity.”  –  Charles S Weinblatt

Added by Cat of mytravelswithdepression.wordpress.com

 

Source: ►Philosophy: “Beauty, according to Plato” / Mythology: “Some Greek Myths, based on Beauty”⭐ .- | La Audacia de Aquiles

 

D.G. Kaye ©2015

#Internet Safety – Stalkers… know the signs | Daily Echo

 

Don’t be an easy target

 

Today’s topic is one I sometimes discuss with other authors, especially when I want to know if this is happening to them, and how frequently.
I often daily, get invitations from male strangers to befriend them. The majority of these invitations come from Google, Facebook, Goodreads, and Skype alerts.

 

As a person who is pretty well-versed on the world wide web, I’m pretty good at sniffing out the predators. My FBI-like tendencies send me off on social searches to find out more about these people before I accept any invitations. If I’m not familiar with their name I begin checking their profiles on social media to see what they’re about, if they’re authors or bloggers, if they have any posts from their websites, etc. Quite often there’s nothing to tell me anything about them and I hit delete. On Skype I don’t even look, I auto delete because there is no reason for anyone to have to Skype me that doesn’t already know me.

As an author with a very public profile, there are almost too many easy avenues to contact me, so I am always on guard before befriending strangers. But for others, particularly those who don’t have a public profile yet who are still visible on the web with their social media made public, they need to do their due diligence when it comes to accepting new ‘friends’ into their circles and sharing their personal lives with some of these predators who usually make first contact with compliments and sharing their relationship status.

In light of this important topic, I’d like to share a post that author/blogger Sue Vincent from the Daily Echo recently put up on her blog.

Stalkers . . .Know The Signs

 

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Sue Vincent

We all have different criteria and reasons for using any of the various social networks. For most of us, it is simply that… a place to meet friends, both old and new. I’ve just been through my inbox for one of those networks hitting delete. There are doubtless a lot of gentlemen on Google + and other social networks who are completely genuine. There will certainly be hopeful romantics amongst them who are simply hoping to connect with Miss Right.

Then there are the others. . . CONTINUE READING

 

Source: Stalkers… know the signs | Daily Echo 

 

D.G. Kaye ©2015

Happy #Thanksgiving — And, my #book is on #sale!

I’d like to take this time to wish all of my dear American friends a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

 

I am not American, although in some ways I feel as though I am because I love the United States of America, and I travel there often. In fact, I’ll be spending the better part of this winter there, very soon, in Arizona.
Let us all give thanks for the many freedoms we enjoy, and remember to hold love, kindness and compassion in our hearts for our families, our lives, and mankind.

 

On another note, in lieu of Black Friday, I’ll be putting my newest book, Have Bags, Will Travel , on kindlecountdown starting Thursday, November 26. Thanksgiving day and Black Friday it will be available for .99 cents, then $1.99 throughout the weekend.

As many of you may well know, the sale is only available to the U.S. and U.K. (thank you Amazon for not including Canada, as though we aren’t part of North America).
If you haven’t had a chance to download a copy of this book, you can take advantage of this sale starting tomorrow.

 

 

To read some reviews on this book, CLICK HERE

 

To download Have Bags, Will Travel, CLICK HERE

 

Tweet: #Traveltip: Do online checkin 24 hours prior to avoid lines. Holiday travel read, Have Bags, Will Travel http://ctt.ec/f1IK4+ #sale

Happy Holidays everyone!

 

D.G. Kaye©2015

Book Launch – Tales from the Garden – Fairy Stories by Sally Cronin | Lit World Interviews

Today I am sharing a reblog of Hugh Roberts article he wrote for Lit World Interviews , in honor of the new #booklaunch for Sally Cronin’s new book, Tales from the Garden. Sally is a dear friend of mine and most of you may know her from the blogosphere. I was going to write my own introduction about this book, but Hugh has summed it up here in excellent fashion.

Book Launch – Tales from the Garden – Fairy Stories by Sally Cronin
November 23, 2015 Hugh’s Views and News 4 Comments

Lit World Interviews is delighted to announce that Tales from the Garden, by Sally Cronin, is now available in Ebook versions with the print copies available shortly.

Sally and husband, David, will be leaving their house and garden at some point in the future and when they put the house on the market, Sally realised that it was not only the sunshine that she would miss. She already had many photographs taken over the last sixteen years and she decided to capture as many aspects of the garden as she could to take with them digitally at least.

As Sally photographed the statues, most far too heavy to take with them, it came to her that some of them had been there at least for 60 years and had seen many changes over that time. Also there was the mystery surrounding the missing dwarves? Just exactly where did they disappear to some nights; when the garden seems to be alive with excitement and you can hear the fluttering of many wings in the air?

Sally wrote the stories weekly on her blog but was so delighted by the response from those who read them, that this became her surprise book of the year. Those that were planned will be released in the New Year . . . Click Here to continue reading.

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0180Q6CKM

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0180Q6CKM

Find additional purchases links at the continued post.

 

Source: Book Launch – Tales from the Garden – Fairy Stories by Sally Cronin | Lit World Interviews

 

D.G. Kaye ©2015