Michelle Connell's Blog, page 27

Author Questions

As I await the availability of Cookie Encounter in paperback form, I thought I would see if anyone out there had questions for me as a new author. What would you ask me? Some experts suggest an author have a list of interview questions and answers ready for a radio or newspaper interview–which I don’t […]

Writing Prompt Wednesday

So last week’s prompt didn’t go over so well. :) I had no takers anyway. So, here are three words for this week’s prompt:

ball (the toy)
sunset
dandelion

Have fun with this one and let me know what you come up with! I’ll try and add mine later.

~~Michelle

Filed under: creativity, prompts, writing Tagged: creativity, fun, writing, writing prompts

I’m So Sorry…

if you have recently ‘bought’ a free or .99 copy of Cookie Encounter. After reading the paperback proof, I have found many typos, left out words, etc. that I have since corrected in the Kindle version as well.

It is amazing to me that as many times as I have read this book (and my first readers) since I started writing it on November 1st, 2007, I can still find mistakes in it. Please don’t let these minor editing issues keep you from reading the story. And if you have the time, I sure would appreciate a review if you are reading it.

I am very grateful for my writer’s group and a friend in Wisconsin who have helped me with the final details of the book and figuring out how the Kindle and CreateSpace processes work. And for me, who is a total tech phobe, it wasn’t easy!

It’s a miracle I have any hair left.

Or brain cells.

created with canva.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

After finishing the paperback version and getting it uploaded several days ago, my daughter asked me for math help and all I could do was stare at the page. I had nothing left. I couldn’t help her. I am now slowly regaining/renewing lost brain power so if you ask me a question, I may be able to give you an answer!

Thank God for friends and other writers in my life who can help me along this journey. We need each other, that’s for sure! But now I can be proud of holding my book soon (it should be available in paperback in a week or so), knowing I am doing what I was born to do.

Have you tried learning something new that nearly caused you to lose your hair or patience? I’m sure there are lots of ways this happens. Feel free to share in the comments.

~~Michelle

Filed under: books, Cookie Encounter, fiction, novels, writing Tagged: Cookie Encounter, CreateSpace, fiction, friends, Kindle, novels, reviews, writers, writing

Writing Prompt Wednesday

Today I thought I would use a photo for this week’s prompt. So, here it is.

apples, hole punch, stylus

Or, if you prefer, here it is in list form:

three yellow apples
a three-hole punch
a blue stylus

What will you come up with? I can’t wait to see! I’ll have to work on it myself.

~~Michelle

Filed under: creativity, writing prompts Tagged: apples, creativity, thinking, writing, writing prompt

I’m Back!

Hello All,

I had a blast while scrapping this past weekend! I got a lot of pages done, started some cards and enjoyed a break from writing and cleaning and the norm.

 

the whole group

There was a big group of us in a conference room and we all had a table to ourselves to work on.

My friends and I were all grouped together:

friends I scrapped with

And we took pictures in the lobby with a big frame:

(l-r) back row: Lisa, me
(l-r) front row: Jen, Kristi, Shannon

We got great snacks and goodies throughout the weekend as well. It was a bit noisy at times and the room was chilly, but otherwise it was fabulous. And, it was close enough for me to go home Saturday night and attend church on Sunday with my family.

Here are the pages I got done:

my finished pages

 

My two favorite pages:

my two favorite pages–very simple, like me!

A fun time was had by all and a lot of fun projects were finished.

Now, it’s back to the laundry piled up and figuring out what’s for dinner! Have a good one!

~~Michelle

 

Filed under: creativity, having fun, scrapbooking Tagged: creativity, crop, friends, fun, scrapbooking

Gone Scrappin’!

As opposed to gone fishin’. :) I am out for the weekend having a blast with several other moms for a fun time of scrapping! I’m looking forward to working on a different kind of creativity.

I’ll post some pix next week and share how it went. Hopefully I can get a lot of pages done!

See you next time!

~~Michelle

 

Filed under: creativity, having fun, scrapbooking Tagged: creativity, fun, moms, scrap crop, scrapbooking

Cookie Encounter on Sale!

Hello Readers,

I wanted to let you know that the e-book version of Cookie Encounter is on sale now for .99! It’s a tender story about forgiveness and finding love. I would love to know what you think!

I won’t post too much about it, except again when the paperback version comes out in a couple weeks for those who like to read and hold ‘real’ books–like me!

Have a good one!

Thanks!

~~Michelle

Filed under: books, Cookie Encounter, fiction, novels, romance novels, writing Tagged: authorship, fiction, Kindle books, novels, romance, writing

Writing Prompt Wednesday

Hi There!

I am a busy beaver working on the paperback version of Cookie Encounter. Meanwhile, I thought I would share my prompt from last week, with the words, picnic, spotted and socks.

Virginia and her bear enjoyed a picnic on a grassy  hill on a sunny day. After their sandwiches and cookies were eaten, she spotted a pretty butterfly nearby. Virginia put her socks and shoes back on  to follow the butterfly.

This week’s prompt: Use the three words below in a sentence or paragraph and share them with us. Have fun!

cardinal
hammer
notebook

See what you come up with!

Here’s mine: While searching for his hammer, Colin heard a cardinal singing from the tree in his front yard. He didn’t find his hammer but picked up a notebook and pen instead.

~~Michelle

Filed under: Cookie Encounter, fiction, writing, writing prompts Tagged: books, Cookie Encounter, words, writing, writing prompts

Who Knew? MSWord for Kindle!

Ok, you all know how untechy I am. But I recently watched a youtube video on how to use MSWord to put a manuscript on the Kindle. I had no idea this was available! I had always heard it had to be in a .mobi file to work on Kindle. But apparently they have changed that ‘rule’ and I, yes, me, was able to get my book on Kindle within a couple of hours. I was stoked! But because it was after midnight when I finished, I didn’t get to shout and whoop it up. My family were all snug in their beds.

Anyway, if you are technically challenged like me, you might find this video helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa3C4n6ZGVw

 

 

 

~~Michelle

Filed under: books, Cookie Encounter, fiction, novels, romance novels, writing Tagged: books, Cookie Encounter, fiction, Kindle, love, novels, romance, writing

Writing Prompt Wednesdays

I thought I would try something new this week. On Wednesdays, I’ll either post a set of random words or a short sentence to get your writing juices flowing.

Today, I picked three words for you:

picnic
spotted (the verb, not the adjective)
socks

I know, totally random, huh? See what you come up with and post your sentence or paragraph in the comments. Have fun! I’ll post mine later.

~~Michelle

Filed under: writing, writing prompts Tagged: authors, books, fiction, novels, prompts, romance, writing, writing life