Random stuff - the something good happened thread Showing 2,401-2,450 of 3,973

[Carole]

Happy for you, Dale.

Amy, that was adorable. Write more. I can't think of anyone else who can embroider a funny post about embroidery.

[Faith]

I got a personal record eleven cards so far today, with the surprise inclusion of one from a girl. Why does everyone sign them now and spoil it? Secret admirer, right? I don't see why they still come when I've been so unpleasant and sarcastic to everyone I know all year, but there you go. I also had no idea my friends still knew how to grip physical writing implements. I imagined them tapping their pen with a thumb for hours and wondering why no words came out.

[Carole]

hahaha. Yes, writing pen to paper does seem foreign lately.

[Amy]

Carole wrote: "Happy for you, Dale.

Amy, that was adorable. Write more. I can't think of anyone else who can embroider a funny post about embroidery."

I scraped through the bottom of the barrel trying to put that together. I wanted it to be longer, but found there was only a finite amount of wit I could apply to cross stitch. Those terrifying animals are staring at me from the frame they're in...

[Amy]

@Faith that's loads. I received my usual one. It had a minion on it, I like minions. I also received flowers, and I bought chocolate to share. So we're happy.

Sometimes we buy our cards online, so no writing involved! The aim is to separately try to buy the same card for each other. We've only managed it once in over twenty years for our anniversary last year.

[Faith]

Amy wrote: "I received my usual one. It had a minion on it, I like minions. I also received flowers, and I bought chocolate to share. So we're happy..."
It sounds like you've found the secret. Write book to tell the other eight billion of us how it's done please! We're hopeless.

[Amy]

1. Find bloke who can tolerate you.
2. Marry him.
3. Allow him out of the house to go to work.
4. Feed him.
5. Occasionally ply him with beer.

Seems to work.

[Faith]

Amy wrote: "1. Find bloke who can tolerate you."

So, that's the hardest one first then. I noticed that the author of The Rules got divorced. That essentially proclaimed that if you ignore your intended, never cook for him, don't pick up his phone calls, stand up his dates etc., he'll have increased awareness, think you're something special and be devoted to you. A friend told me they tried that and he just went off with someone else at the first opportunity. She had five phones and didn't answer any of them. She's still single.

[Amy]

I just got lucky, I guess. I think it helps that my husband filled in an empathy test for work and scored 11%. They vowed never to let him do one again because he brought their average down! He doesn't do fits of jealousy or anger. He has a very laid back attitude and tolerates most things other than hunger lol. But he doesn't get caught up in people stuff and he's highly practical. Just as well, seeing as he's married to me.

[Amy]

It’s probably in the post. You know what that’s like.

Given my now known to be low blood sugar, I’ll enjoy my chocolates tonight.

[Christine]

Just clapped for your delightful article, Amy.

[Amy]

I’ll grab that when I’m on my laptop Alex.

Thanks Christine. Did you like my scary aminals? (Shut up autocorrect I did mean ‘aminals’, you interfering system. Stop putting correct words into my posts.)

[Amy]

I will finish it soon too. It’s been a weird couple of weeks.

[Amy]

That’s ok then. Should make it even at my reading speed.

[Angel]

Hi, lovely ladies and gents, please like and share my blog post. Thank you!

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

[Amy]

Done.

[Angel]

Alex wrote: "Shared, Angel."

Thanks!

[Angel]

Amy wrote: "Done."

Thank you!

[Angel]

Does anyone know any free stock image websites that I can use to make book covers? I've tried pretty much the lot. I'm going to try to practice doing my own covers. I used to be a very, very good sketch artist when I was ten, but lost my mojo and it hasn't come back. Oh well. What sites do you use?

[Aislinn]

I don't think it's ever too late, Angel!

I use Pixabay to download images, but I only use them to practice making covers. I wouldn't be confident their licensing is correct for commercial work. They also don't have many shots of people - most free stock photos sites don't - so I don't find they are appropriate for romance covers. But, again, good to practice techniques.

For real book covers, I use DepositPhotos. They do sales regularly. I got one deal through AppSumo for 100 images for $30.

[Angel]

Aislinn wrote: "I don't think it's ever too late, Angel!

I use Pixabay to download images, but I only use them to practice making covers. I wouldn't be confident their licensing is correct for commercial work. Th..."

Thanks, Aislinn! I've heard of Pixabay. But I never heard of DepositPhotos. I'll check it out.

[Carmel]

Day three of my free kindle promo on Kindle Direct, and I've made it as high as #8 in the genre I believe best fits it! Yay!

Question for those of you more experienced at this: In addition to the genre/keywords I listed it appears to have been put into categories I did not choose for it...such as "thriller". While it is psychologically tense at times, and there is some suspense about where things will go next, I don't think of it as a thriller, as I define one, and it may be boring to someone who chooses it because it popped up with that word. Any idea why or how this happens, when I did not describe it that way? I've written Amazon to ask the same question, but have received no answer as of yet. I'm puzzled.

[Carmel]

I mean...Kindle Select! Still learning all this stuff....

[Carmel]

Alex wrote: "Carmel wrote: "Day three of my free kindle promo on Kindle Direct, and I've made it as high as #8 in the genre I believe best fits it! Yay!

Question for those of you more experienced at this: In ..."

Thanks, Alex. I'll take another look at what I chose. I really don't think I chose anything suggesting "thriller" in my keywords.

[Eva]

Angel,

Best wishes with getting your mojo back! I shared your blog on my FB timeline.

[Amy]

Finally achieved something. I finished beta reading for Alex. I think I set a personal record, I’m a very slow reader. It’s a very good book.

[Carole]

It is!!

[Carmel]

Alex wrote: "Some of the things Amazon does is a mystery that simply cannot be fathomed."

I did receive an answer from amazon, which said by choosing the word "psychological" as a keyword descriptor, they default it into the suspense/thriller category. Go figure. Psychological means something quite different to me!

[Anna]

Interesting, Carmel. Nothing is perfect, it seems...

[Carole]

sneak peek to the new Indie Author's monthly- make sure to check out the latest magazine and share.

https://medium.com/@caroleproman/the-...

[Carmel]

Anna Faversham wrote: "Interesting, Carmel. Nothing is perfect, it seems..."

Apparently not. My worry was that unsatisfied readers, who felt bamboozled by it showing up in the thriller category, would cause me problems with amazon, as I've seen happen to others. Some books don't fit very well in the pre-chosen categories.

[Carmel]

Alex wrote: "To me psychological shouldn't automatically lead to thriller without a qualifying additional keyword. Psychological could be a keyword for a textbook or even something else."

Exactly....totally agree.

[Anna]

I've been surprised to find that my books come up on .com as 'rated by customers interested in: children's books'. No way is it a children's book. But I can see how it happens. People buy books for children at Christmas or whatever and then buy my book and so...

I can see how it could cause you problems.

Still, I think they do a good job on the whole and if you let them know it must be helpful for them.

[Carmel]

Anna Faversham wrote: "I've been surprised to find that my books come up on .com as 'rated by customers interested in: children's books'. No way is it a children's book. But I can see how it happens. People buy books for..."

Well, interestingly, after my communication to them they inserted the word "psychological" to appear before the word "thriller"...which might soften the expectation somewhat. I appreciated that.

[Anna]

Good for you!

[Anita]

I am delighted to say my new book, AU79, is close to completion. One more beta read to go. I am still hoping to have it published by mid-April.

I have been experimenting with Amazon ads, and actually have gone in the black on one. I've sold more than the cost of the clicks.

My day--is feeling darn good. And, my taxes are done! I can get back to the fun stuff.

[Anna]

Well done for getting in the black - I wish I could say the same!

[Amy]

No hope here, but well done Anita.

[R.L.]

Guys just an FYI the latest edition of the magazine is on Magzter and we will publish there from now on. It seems easier for a lot of people

[Carmel]

Anita wrote: "I am delighted to say my new book, AU79, is close to completion. One more beta read to go. I am still hoping to have it published by mid-April.

I have been experimenting with Amazon ads, and actu..."

That's great to hear! I'm happy that those ads can actually accomplish something good!

[Theodore]

Great article, Alex. Congratulations.

Ted

[Angel]

Eva wrote: "Angel,

Best wishes with getting your mojo back! I shared your blog on my FB timeline."

Thank you, Eva!

[R.L.]

No problem. Everyone who submitted I’m trying to get in first come first served. So if you don’t see it yet it’ll be there next month

[Carole]

Children in need looking for books-

Good Afternoon. My name is Quanetta Holt, and I am the founder and sole creator of “The Tumbleweed Times- Pencil Friends” Newsletter. This initiative is necessary to enhance and promote literacy, as well as to strengthen social skills and communication. The incentive program piece of the initiative will allow a child, to be chosen each month to receive a gift for participating. I am reaching out to you for assistance with obtaining donated items.
I thank you in advance for partnering with and assisting me in this venture. I look forward to hearing from you soon. I have included my contact information in this email. Have a wonderful rest of the day. Please, feel free to contact me via cellphone at (443)205-5818 or email regarding any other questions or suggestions.
My mailing address is:
Ms. Quanetta Holt
400 Denman Avenue #404,
Sierra Vista Az 85635

[Amy]

Clapped.

[Carole]

Great and important article.

[Amy]

I also find that they talk at cross purposes. The hospital had me down as diabetic two weeks ago based on one test they did there and then. My GP a few days later dismissed that result and did further tests to determine I wasn’t even insulin resistant, let alone full blown diabetic. One GP told me I didn’t need any medication after my mini stroke. Another one seemed surprised that my blood pressure had been allowed to go so high and the symptoms were horrible. He gave me medication a full two years after the stroke. And I still don’t know how long to expect my sight to be distorted because of this bleed I’ve had.

[Amy]

Sounds like they’re reinventing the wheel every time.

[Amy]

It’s certainly a lack of communication. Or maybe they just didn’t know.

[Amy]

I have a condition where sufferers are constantly complaining the medical profession hasn’t got the knowledge to diagnose and manage the patient. So, unfortunately I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a lack of knowledge.