Helen B. Henderson's Blog, page 88
December 19, 2015
In the Author Spotlight - Judy Griffith Gill
Sometimes fate decrees that given paths cross. My meeting with Judy Griffith Gill was such an occasion. It started out as a newbee writer (at least in fiction) and the editor assigned to one of her books. In later years, the tables turned.
Although we haven't been in the same space and time (as in meeting in person), I feel that if we passed each other on the street the connection would make recognition instantaneous.
You might wonder why I am giving column space to a person some could consider competition. One reason is the sisterhood (brotherhood for the opposite sex) and camaraderie that can develop between people who share a common passion. And in this case it is writing. And what many people often forget is that writers are readers too!
Also, Judy is not really competition. Many of her works are in a purer form of romance while I like to fly with dragons and hang out with wizards. That said, Judy's also ventures into other genres including science fiction Her latest two works are the Chronicles of Storn series -- Lifeline and Refuge. The third book, Dirtsiders, is in the home stretch.
Lifeline just got a great review, but I'm still trying to figure out which of the two books is my favorite.
Stop by Judy's Goodreads page for more info about the author whose world building skills the reviewer said took you to a future sci-fi world that "rivals the likes of Herbert’s DUNE and Clarke’s SPACE ODYSSEY" and on the book the reviewer said, "is an awesome read!"
Judy's works can be found online here. And a special treat, go to Wattpad for a free read of Refuge, Book One of the Chronicles of Storn.
~Till next time, Helen
Although we haven't been in the same space and time (as in meeting in person), I feel that if we passed each other on the street the connection would make recognition instantaneous.
You might wonder why I am giving column space to a person some could consider competition. One reason is the sisterhood (brotherhood for the opposite sex) and camaraderie that can develop between people who share a common passion. And in this case it is writing. And what many people often forget is that writers are readers too! Also, Judy is not really competition. Many of her works are in a purer form of romance while I like to fly with dragons and hang out with wizards. That said, Judy's also ventures into other genres including science fiction Her latest two works are the Chronicles of Storn series -- Lifeline and Refuge. The third book, Dirtsiders, is in the home stretch.
Lifeline just got a great review, but I'm still trying to figure out which of the two books is my favorite.
Stop by Judy's Goodreads page for more info about the author whose world building skills the reviewer said took you to a future sci-fi world that "rivals the likes of Herbert’s DUNE and Clarke’s SPACE ODYSSEY" and on the book the reviewer said, "is an awesome read!"
Judy's works can be found online here. And a special treat, go to Wattpad for a free read of Refuge, Book One of the Chronicles of Storn.
~Till next time, Helen
December 14, 2015
Tuesday Title - Kundalis: Storm Dragon
Karin doesn't believe in metaphysical nonsense, but her best effort at skepticism isn't making the dragon any less real.
Title: Kundalis: Storm DragonAuthor: Frances Pauli
Date of Release: June 19, 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Humor Publisher: Zharmae Publishing Press
Buy Links: Amazon Barnes and Noble.com
Blurb:
Karin knows she's gone completely insane-nuts-absolutely batshit crazy, when she spots an insidious blue dragon twining through the trees at a rest stop in the Cascade Mountains. Despite agreeing to join her roommate at a psychic fair, she's never believed in anything metaphysical. She's pretty sure the Reiki treatment she succumbed to has brought on a frighteningly realistic hallucination-until they roll their mini-van in the middle of I-90, and she is rescued from the vehicle by the same monstrous blue figment of her imagination.
She awakens to find that she's been delivered to a cabin high in the mountains instead of to a proper hospital. The "doctor" looking out for her is more of a new-ager than a physician, and the people who own the house, including the urban highlander version of Fabio, don't have any intention of letting her leave.
Behind the Scene:
The Kundalis series spawned out of my relocation to Central Washington. As a lifetime coastal resident, the dry side was a major adjustment. I might not have soggy feet any longer, but suddenly and terrifyingly, I was on constant fire watch. Considering we've had four wildfires cross our property in less than ten years, it was only a matter of time before I started seeing dragons.
The metaphysical nature of the Kundalis manifested as an outgrowth of my own studies, and the idea for their structure is based on Kundalini energy which is often portrayed as a serpent that rises up an individual's spine. Despite this legitimate foundation for "belly button dragons," the idea of a dragon tail in the navel, still manages to give my mother the willies.
The Kundalis might not be your classic, fantasy dragons, but they definitely know how to put on a show. The abilities a Kundalis gives to its host are wide and varied, but even more powerful is the transformation that living with a dragon can have on a character's life... in particular if your dragon, like Karin's, has a nose for trouble.
About Frances Pauli:
Frances Pauli writes across multiple genres. Her work is speculative, full of the fantastic, and quite often romantic at its core. Whenever possible, she enjoys weaving in a little humor. Once upon a time she was a visual artist, but she's since come to her senses. Now she fills her minuscule amount of free time with things like crochet, belly dance and abysmal ukulele playing. She lives in Central Washington State with her husband, two children, a pair of hairless dogs and five tarantulas.
Find her on the web at http://francespauli.com.
A Postscript: If you liked Storm Dragon, check out the newest tale about the Kundalis dragons, Shadow Dragon.
Title: Kundalis: Storm DragonAuthor: Frances Pauli
Date of Release: June 19, 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Humor Publisher: Zharmae Publishing Press
Buy Links: Amazon Barnes and Noble.com
Blurb:
Karin knows she's gone completely insane-nuts-absolutely batshit crazy, when she spots an insidious blue dragon twining through the trees at a rest stop in the Cascade Mountains. Despite agreeing to join her roommate at a psychic fair, she's never believed in anything metaphysical. She's pretty sure the Reiki treatment she succumbed to has brought on a frighteningly realistic hallucination-until they roll their mini-van in the middle of I-90, and she is rescued from the vehicle by the same monstrous blue figment of her imagination.
She awakens to find that she's been delivered to a cabin high in the mountains instead of to a proper hospital. The "doctor" looking out for her is more of a new-ager than a physician, and the people who own the house, including the urban highlander version of Fabio, don't have any intention of letting her leave.
Behind the Scene:
The Kundalis series spawned out of my relocation to Central Washington. As a lifetime coastal resident, the dry side was a major adjustment. I might not have soggy feet any longer, but suddenly and terrifyingly, I was on constant fire watch. Considering we've had four wildfires cross our property in less than ten years, it was only a matter of time before I started seeing dragons.
The metaphysical nature of the Kundalis manifested as an outgrowth of my own studies, and the idea for their structure is based on Kundalini energy which is often portrayed as a serpent that rises up an individual's spine. Despite this legitimate foundation for "belly button dragons," the idea of a dragon tail in the navel, still manages to give my mother the willies.
The Kundalis might not be your classic, fantasy dragons, but they definitely know how to put on a show. The abilities a Kundalis gives to its host are wide and varied, but even more powerful is the transformation that living with a dragon can have on a character's life... in particular if your dragon, like Karin's, has a nose for trouble.
About Frances Pauli:
Frances Pauli writes across multiple genres. Her work is speculative, full of the fantastic, and quite often romantic at its core. Whenever possible, she enjoys weaving in a little humor. Once upon a time she was a visual artist, but she's since come to her senses. Now she fills her minuscule amount of free time with things like crochet, belly dance and abysmal ukulele playing. She lives in Central Washington State with her husband, two children, a pair of hairless dogs and five tarantulas.
Find her on the web at http://francespauli.com.
A Postscript: If you liked Storm Dragon, check out the newest tale about the Kundalis dragons, Shadow Dragon.
December 7, 2015
Tuesday Title - Dragon Soul
Destiny calls, as worlds collide. Title: Dragon Soul
(Book 2 of the Dragon Clan Series)
Author: Diana Green
Date of Release: October 2015
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Buy Links: Amazon
Blurb:
Valla, a powerful dragon-shifter warrior, has never been lucky in love. Returning home after a failed mate-bonding, she hopes to find greater fulfillment in her life. Instead, she is drawn into an unlikely quest to rescue a captive she-dragon.
As events spiral out of control, Valla plunges into an alien world, populated by nightmarish monsters and potent magic. She is forced to match wills with a ruthless sorcerer, a man driven by dark obsession, who threatens all she holds dear.
In the face of such challenges, can Valla prevail? And is it possible she might discover her heart’s desire along the way?
Author Bio:
Since her childhood, growing up in New Zealand, Diana has been an avid storyteller. For years she enjoyed teaching art and special education, while continuing to write as a hobby. After she developed an autoimmune disorder, a career change was necessary, but happily this led her to become an award winning, Amazon bestselling author.
Diana’s books are mostly romance, in the fantasy and science fiction sub-genres. She has placed second in the Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Awards, fourth in the International Digital Awards, and been a finalist for the CRW Award of Excellence, the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the Chatelaine Awards, and the Aspen Gold Published Novel Contest.
Find Diana online at author website Amazon Author Page and Goodreads
December 3, 2015
Success or Embarassment - What Do You Write About?
Even dragons can have a red face."If we write about our blunders, we’ll never run out of material!
It’s scary to do this sometimes. Anytime we post to our blogs, we open ourselves up to public critique. We are putting ourselves into the hands of friends and strangers and telling them, “I trust you with this piece of me.” Blogging is already a brave activity, without the addition of opening ourselves up to ridicule. Being candid and genuine is a far more impressive feat than putting forth the perfected version of ourselves."
The above quote is from a post titled, Boy, Is My Face Red. It contains considerations about us as writers sharing the part of ourselves that is not so glorious as our successes.
Read the full post at Boy, Is My Face Red for one writer's take on the life's not-so-glorious moments.
~Till next time, Helen
Repost -- What is Your Tagline?
The Writers' World [image error] December 01, 2015 / 120115
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What is Your Tagline?
By Shirley Corder
Have you ever watched an ad on TV and wondered out loud, "Now what on earth are they advertising?" I have. Many times. Usually by the end of the advert I begin to hazard a guess. Sometimes I'm right. Sometimes I'm totally wrong.
Until 2010, I had never even heard of a tagline. Then I attended a continuing workshop at the Florida Christian Writers Conference. The workshop leader was Laura Christianson of the Blogging Bistro. She led us through a series of exercises in an attempt to establish a "tagline" for our writing.
"A tagline is a slogan that succinctly, memorably, and descriptively sums up a company or product." (Thanks to Wisegeek.com for this definition.) So as a writer, I needed a slogan that would sum up my writing.
Hmm. Not so easy.
I learned a lot about myself during Laura's series of workshops, but I left without a tagline. It wasn't Laura's fault. My problem was that I seemed to have several genres.
I write to encourage writers. I write inspirational material. I write devotional material.And as a cancer survivor I write to encourage those in the valley of cancer.I had two websites. Two blogs. Two Twitter accounts. Two genres. Several newsletters.
And no tagline.
Some weeks after the conference, I realised what had been looking me in the face all the way through those exercises. I live to encourage and inspire others who are struggling in some way. Even as a youngster at school, I inevitably befriended the kid that had no other friends. I didn't write in a variety of genres at all. I wrote articles to inspire and encourage.
I searched for a definition of a tagline for writers and came across this one on a forum, which I have slightly modified: A tagline is a concise statement of your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). It is a short slogan that tells what you do, what benefit you offer, and what makes you different, all at the same time."
And so I looked at
what I did (I wrote. I encouraged. I inspired.) what benefit I had to offer. (I encouraged and inspired people.) what made me different. (I am a writer, a cancer survivor, and a Christian who wants to encourage.)And at last, I had a tagline. The Write to Inspire and Encourage.
How has this helped me? I now have one newsletter: The Write to Inspire . Although I still have two websites they have a common goal. ShirleyCorder.com is to inspire and encourage writers, while RiseAndSoar.com is to inspire and encourage those in the cancer valley. The tag is not perfect, and I'm sure it will develop as the years go by. But at least it tells people who I am.
Some taglines are more catchy than others. Even Coke, surely one of the experts in the field of catchy slogans, changes theirs often. Remember "Coke is It!" ? That dates back to 1981. "Things go better with Coca Cola" goes back even further—to 1963! Every year or two, the manufacturers of this drink come up with a new tagline. But I have to say this for them. I always understand what they're advertising.
SHIRLEY CORDER lives on the coast in South Africa with her husband, Rob. Her book, Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer contains 90 meditations based on her sojourn in the cancer valley.
Please visit Shirley through ShirleyCorder.com, where she inspires and encourages writers, or at RiseAndSoar.com, where she inspires and encourages those in the cancer valley. You can also meet with her on Twitter or FaceBook.
Article reprinted from The Writing World newsletter. Want more must-know writing and marketing information along with updates on free webinars right in your inbox? Get access to The Writing World (http://thewritingworld.com) today.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What is Your Tagline?
By Shirley Corder
Have you ever watched an ad on TV and wondered out loud, "Now what on earth are they advertising?" I have. Many times. Usually by the end of the advert I begin to hazard a guess. Sometimes I'm right. Sometimes I'm totally wrong.Until 2010, I had never even heard of a tagline. Then I attended a continuing workshop at the Florida Christian Writers Conference. The workshop leader was Laura Christianson of the Blogging Bistro. She led us through a series of exercises in an attempt to establish a "tagline" for our writing.
"A tagline is a slogan that succinctly, memorably, and descriptively sums up a company or product." (Thanks to Wisegeek.com for this definition.) So as a writer, I needed a slogan that would sum up my writing.
Hmm. Not so easy.
I learned a lot about myself during Laura's series of workshops, but I left without a tagline. It wasn't Laura's fault. My problem was that I seemed to have several genres.
I write to encourage writers. I write inspirational material. I write devotional material.And as a cancer survivor I write to encourage those in the valley of cancer.I had two websites. Two blogs. Two Twitter accounts. Two genres. Several newsletters.
And no tagline.
Some weeks after the conference, I realised what had been looking me in the face all the way through those exercises. I live to encourage and inspire others who are struggling in some way. Even as a youngster at school, I inevitably befriended the kid that had no other friends. I didn't write in a variety of genres at all. I wrote articles to inspire and encourage.
I searched for a definition of a tagline for writers and came across this one on a forum, which I have slightly modified: A tagline is a concise statement of your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). It is a short slogan that tells what you do, what benefit you offer, and what makes you different, all at the same time."
And so I looked at
what I did (I wrote. I encouraged. I inspired.) what benefit I had to offer. (I encouraged and inspired people.) what made me different. (I am a writer, a cancer survivor, and a Christian who wants to encourage.)And at last, I had a tagline. The Write to Inspire and Encourage.
How has this helped me? I now have one newsletter: The Write to Inspire . Although I still have two websites they have a common goal. ShirleyCorder.com is to inspire and encourage writers, while RiseAndSoar.com is to inspire and encourage those in the cancer valley. The tag is not perfect, and I'm sure it will develop as the years go by. But at least it tells people who I am.
Some taglines are more catchy than others. Even Coke, surely one of the experts in the field of catchy slogans, changes theirs often. Remember "Coke is It!" ? That dates back to 1981. "Things go better with Coca Cola" goes back even further—to 1963! Every year or two, the manufacturers of this drink come up with a new tagline. But I have to say this for them. I always understand what they're advertising.
SHIRLEY CORDER lives on the coast in South Africa with her husband, Rob. Her book, Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer contains 90 meditations based on her sojourn in the cancer valley.Please visit Shirley through ShirleyCorder.com, where she inspires and encourages writers, or at RiseAndSoar.com, where she inspires and encourages those in the cancer valley. You can also meet with her on Twitter or FaceBook.
Article reprinted from The Writing World newsletter. Want more must-know writing and marketing information along with updates on free webinars right in your inbox? Get access to The Writing World (http://thewritingworld.com) today.
November 24, 2015
Hearth and Sand - Duty, Honor, Loyalty
Pre-Order Now for the Kindle.
Thirteen tales of those who served on the front lines, and the stories of the loved ones left behind who preserved the homefront. Yet there is a common unity, a sense of duty and responsibility, of service to country that spans generations and eons.
Each author is related to a veteran or served overseas herself. The voices they heard came from those of their friends, their brothers in arms, or ancestors. Pen was put to paper on the homefront and overseas in the desert sands of Iraq and the jungle heat of the Philippines.
Details on the stories here.
Hearth and Sand - Available December 10th.
Thirteen tales of those who served on the front lines, and the stories of the loved ones left behind who preserved the homefront. Yet there is a common unity, a sense of duty and responsibility, of service to country that spans generations and eons.Each author is related to a veteran or served overseas herself. The voices they heard came from those of their friends, their brothers in arms, or ancestors. Pen was put to paper on the homefront and overseas in the desert sands of Iraq and the jungle heat of the Philippines.
Details on the stories here.
Hearth and Sand - Available December 10th.
November 23, 2015
Tuesday's Title - Lifeline
The human race has a lifeline, but he needs one of his own.
Title: Lifeline (Book 2 of the Chronicles of Storn)Author: Judy Griffith GillDate of Release: November 12, 2015
Genre: Science Fiction Buy Links: Amazon
Blurb:
Captain Josian A. Storn needs a lifeline.
The scientists want to study him. Space Fleet wants to court martial him. Half the Lunar colonists want to turn him over to Earth security forces as a peace offering and the other half want to use him to start a war with Earth.
And in the middle of the maelstrom, Storn has to locate his crew, escape his cell, and lead a fleet of ships into the unknown.
He'd refuse but for one thing. He is the lifeline for the human race. Prepared or not, briefed or not, he has no option but to go... and succeed.
About Judy Gill: Besides her forays into other genres, Judy Griffith Gill writes Romance, from sweet, to sensuous, to downright sexy, from futuristic to contemporary to fantasy. Among her recent releases are the Little Matchmaker series. Judy can be found on the web at judyggill.com. She also hangs out on Facebook, on Twitter, on Goodreads...and loves to hear from her readers.
Title: Lifeline (Book 2 of the Chronicles of Storn)Author: Judy Griffith GillDate of Release: November 12, 2015
Genre: Science Fiction Buy Links: AmazonBlurb:
Captain Josian A. Storn needs a lifeline.
The scientists want to study him. Space Fleet wants to court martial him. Half the Lunar colonists want to turn him over to Earth security forces as a peace offering and the other half want to use him to start a war with Earth.
And in the middle of the maelstrom, Storn has to locate his crew, escape his cell, and lead a fleet of ships into the unknown.
He'd refuse but for one thing. He is the lifeline for the human race. Prepared or not, briefed or not, he has no option but to go... and succeed.
About Judy Gill: Besides her forays into other genres, Judy Griffith Gill writes Romance, from sweet, to sensuous, to downright sexy, from futuristic to contemporary to fantasy. Among her recent releases are the Little Matchmaker series. Judy can be found on the web at judyggill.com. She also hangs out on Facebook, on Twitter, on Goodreads...and loves to hear from her readers.
Expanded Distribution Now Available- From the Back Street to Main Streeet
Print book distribution expanded. And ebook now available for pre-order for the Kindle.
History of a congregation chronicled from its first church building back amongst the horse barns through to the 21st century church.
From the Back Street to Main Street chronicles the Society of Methodists of Middletown Point from its early beginnings with circuit rider preachers to the current congregation of the 21st century as the Matawan United Methodist Church in Aberdeen. Author Helen Henderson blends the context of times past with over 100 images as she presents over 180 years of the church’s history and that of the Monmouth County, New Jersey towns of Matawan Borough and Aberdeen Township.
Author Helen Henderson blends the context of times past with over 100 images as she presents over 180 years of the church’s history and that of the Monmouth County, New Jersey towns of Matawan Borough and Aberdeen Township.
Two-hundred forty pages long100 plates of photographs and artwork,comprehensive index.
Paperback Available at: Amazon Barnes and Noble
Ebook: Amazon
History of a congregation chronicled from its first church building back amongst the horse barns through to the 21st century church.
From the Back Street to Main Street chronicles the Society of Methodists of Middletown Point from its early beginnings with circuit rider preachers to the current congregation of the 21st century as the Matawan United Methodist Church in Aberdeen. Author Helen Henderson blends the context of times past with over 100 images as she presents over 180 years of the church’s history and that of the Monmouth County, New Jersey towns of Matawan Borough and Aberdeen Township.Author Helen Henderson blends the context of times past with over 100 images as she presents over 180 years of the church’s history and that of the Monmouth County, New Jersey towns of Matawan Borough and Aberdeen Township.
Two-hundred forty pages long100 plates of photographs and artwork,comprehensive index.
Paperback Available at: Amazon Barnes and Noble
Ebook: Amazon
Epanded Distribution Now Available- From the Back Street to Main Streeet
Print book distribution expanded. And ebook now available for pre-order for the Kindle.
History of a congregation chronicled from its first church building back amongst the horse barns through to the 21st century church.
From the Back Street to Main Street chronicles the Society of Methodists of Middletown Point from its early beginnings with circuit rider preachers to the current congregation of the 21st century as the Matawan United Methodist Church in Aberdeen. Author Helen Henderson blends the context of times past with over 100 images as she presents over 180 years of the church’s history and that of the Monmouth County, New Jersey towns of Matawan Borough and Aberdeen Township.
Author Helen Henderson blends the context of times past with over 100 images as she presents over 180 years of the church’s history and that of the Monmouth County, New Jersey towns of Matawan Borough and Aberdeen Township.
Two-hundred forty pages long100 plates of photographs and artwork,comprehensive index.
Paperback Available at: Amazon Barnes and Noble
Ebook: Amazon
History of a congregation chronicled from its first church building back amongst the horse barns through to the 21st century church.
From the Back Street to Main Street chronicles the Society of Methodists of Middletown Point from its early beginnings with circuit rider preachers to the current congregation of the 21st century as the Matawan United Methodist Church in Aberdeen. Author Helen Henderson blends the context of times past with over 100 images as she presents over 180 years of the church’s history and that of the Monmouth County, New Jersey towns of Matawan Borough and Aberdeen Township.Author Helen Henderson blends the context of times past with over 100 images as she presents over 180 years of the church’s history and that of the Monmouth County, New Jersey towns of Matawan Borough and Aberdeen Township.
Two-hundred forty pages long100 plates of photographs and artwork,comprehensive index.
Paperback Available at: Amazon Barnes and Noble
Ebook: Amazon
November 15, 2015
Guest Post by Emily Johnson
Today I welcome Emily Johnson as a guest to the Journey to the Stars blog who shares What Everyone Ought to Know about Workplace Organization
Workplace organization is a key to productivity boost, no matter where you work. A well-organized workplace can affect your productivity growth and, therefore, you can work faster.
Being inspired by OmniPapers manual about workplace organization, we've collected the best tips about this art.
Organize your workplace
A perfect workplace should have two zones: computer and non-computer ones. When you need to use your computer, go to the first zone. If you have some tasks to do away from your computer, go to the second zone. For example, you can call colleagues, read best practices, or take a break.
Clean up your writing place
Successful people claim that your writing place should be well-organized. Throw out drafts and notes you have or hide them into a locker. To keep all items you use daily, use boxes or drawers. Don't forget to put live plants (an aloe, a cactus, an azalea, etc.) to boost spirits and clean the air. If you feel tired, take a pause and drink a cup of green tea as it contains L-theanine that can improve brain functions.
Update gadgets
All workers have gadgets they use daily for business purposes. To stay productive, you need to update all gadgets you have. Plus, it is a good idea to use digital gadgets that might help you work efficiently. For example, buy a digital highlighter or a smart pen to translate and transfer texts to your computer.
Add comfort and health.
If you want to stay energetic, you need to take care of your health. While you're looking for a comfortable office chair, pay attention to the following: it should support the lower back and have arm rests. Plus, if you want to stay healthy, you need to use mini elliptical trainers while working, stand up from time to time, or work standing to reduce a risk of health diseases.
Your inspirational boosters
Every person has something that inspire him or her. It's very important to decorate your workplace with such boosters, so don't hesitate to put your favorite photo, a painting, or a quote to stay inspired while working.
There are many ways to boost productivity at work, and people should know all of them from A to Z. As soon as you start working efficiently, you'll start achieving more in your life.
After reviewing the infographic, click on it for more tips.
Thank you Emily for the interesting and informative tips. If you've enjoyed the post, click on the infographic for more tips.
About Emily: Emily Johnson is a writer and a content strategist of OmniPapers blog and contributor to many websites about blogging and writing. You can always find more works of hers on Twitter.
~Till next time, Helen
