Book Cover Dilema

"There is no way you're paying over a 100 dollars for another book cover. You haven't grossed enough to pay an editor, buy your copyrights, and so on." Sweetman is the business person in the house.

"But I'm a writer. Not a cover artist." I can't even draw stick people.

"Nor are you a good  business woman. You haven't even made back all your money on what you've spent to promote your books."

So I hang my head in the hall of shame. He's right, you know. But I'm always hopeful.

Soon I'll be releasing Killer Stilettos, and I haven't got a cover yet. I'd like Collin Beishir to do it.  He did the initial cover to my debut novel below.

And the cover to my short story, The Partners' Progeny.

But he would have to re-do the cover to Secondhand Shoes since I'm going with a shoe theme. Money is an issue right now. Things have been changing in my day to day life at The Salon. The corporate hounds have figured out how to take money out of mine and fellow hairdressers' pockets and put it into theirs. Its really cramping my style...if you know what I mean. Not to mention, I do what I can to help the grandbaby.

So the Sweetman says, "You willhave to learn how to make the covers yourself along with the formatting. Save your pennies for the editor." Talk about being scared to death. Clearly, I have no idea about bookcovers. I directed Collin the wrong way with my debut novel. I can't tell you how many emails I've gotten from peeps wanting to know what is wrong with my cover. So I hang my head in shame feeling I didn't do Collin justice in his talents. 

Live, make your mistakes, and hope to God you learn. 

Anyway, I've heard you can make bookcovers via Power Point. In fact, I found some instructions and will be practicing. Don't be surprised if I begin posting off the wall covers just because.

Anyone use Power Point to make their own covers? Anybody struggling money wise? 

The economy does seem to be changing. And it's at the corporate level, wanting more from you while they take more out of our pockets. I'll stop here because I could go on forever about this.

Hope everyone is having a great Monday. This morning I'm working on my rewrites to Killer Stilettos. Later, I'll be heading off to work.

Before I go, here's a few lines from Killer Stilettos:

The night air felt muggy and hot. Low rumbles of thunder sounded around us, and lightening zig-zagged through the dark sky. Big puffy clusters of clouds hovered over us.

“I don’t see any stars. Can we go back to my room now?” The words filtered through a hiccup.

“Ah, mi amor. But this is beautiful.”Julio lifted his eyes to the sky. Thunder boomed again and what looked liked a million lighted crackles filled the sky for a split second.

“You brought me to watch lightening?” It gave me a fright. I hated lightening.

“Pretty cool. Huh?” Julio moved behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my right shoulder.

Out of my right peripheral, something dark but transparent moved.

Hope you enjoyed the diddy.

Hugs and chocolate!
Shelly

Saturated

Hello, dears. Gram here today. My poor creator has been extremely busy today with the cleaning, grocery shopping, and errands. She doesn’t always listen to me about not cramming in too much on her off days from The Salon. I do hope I get her notes down right that she left me.

Strange. Don’t you think? You know, that she would have me fill in as a secretary while she attends to such things. I’m no writer whatsoever. But here goes…

Are any of you Indie writer’s out there feeling the market is SATURATED with books? Every cyber corner my creator seems to turn, is birthing a new one. She's beginning to believe there are polygons on fertility drugs out there multiplying times three.

The Information Age in which we live is characterized by saturation. We are inundated from all sides, every moment of everyday by more information than we can now process. Author Phil Elmore. You can find his full article at: http://mobile.wnd.com/2009/04/96515/

Of course, she’s read several books on marketing and whatnot. I can’t tell you how many articles she’s scoured through on the web. Like, 10 Winning Marketing Strategies For Your Self-Published Book, by Author Bidnotto. You can find his article at: http://www.bidinotto.com/2013/03/10-winning-marketing-strategies-for-your-self-published-book/

The both of us are wondering if there is more to it than determination and luck. Secondhand Shoes seems to drift in an ocean out there. Every now and then someone throws it a lifesaver.

Go here to check it out. It's 99 cents for your Kindle.

It’s also available for all countries on Amazon. She has also written two short stories, The Partners’ Progeny and Time On Her Side.

Personally, I’ve been prodding her to write more. It clears the poo out of anyone’s head and gets you to focus. She does listen to me about that. Good thing, too. Wish my grand daughter, Lila, would listen. But if anyone has an eighteen year old at home,you know how that goes.

As for my creator’s titles, here they are:

Killer Stilettos, Book II in the Lila's Journey Series – Paranormal (we’re working on those rewrites together)

Combat Boots-3rd book Lila's Journey Series (all we have are some ideas jotted down)

White Trash and Pill Heads- Family drama/suspense (she’s on her fifth draft with this one)

Amuck in Time- cozy sci-fi (ideas jotted down)

The House on Mendocino Street-paranormal (first draft almost completed)

The Day It Happened-apocalyptic/thriller/suspense (two chapters drafted)

Well, dears. That’s all she wrote. I do hope you have a lovely, day, evening, and week.

Gram

Voting

My book, Secondhand Shoes is up for an award over at eFestival of Words, in the Mainstream Fiction section. I was totally floored when I got the word. And whoever nominated my book, thank you.

I need your vote. It shouldn’t be too hard to do. Just don’t pay attention to all of the adds toward the end.

The complete list of finalists, and all voting polls, can be found in the
Awards Hall.
http://www.efestivalofwords.com/awards-hall-f29.html

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

The Indie Life: Marketing Recipes

The second Wednesday of the month is time for The Indie Life, hosted by, The Indelibles. It’s a lot like Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writer’s Group, where we spill our guts or not to each other. Or encourage each other or not.

Today, I’m not sure what I’m going to write, other than wing it. OMG! I drive myself crazy, but it is who I am. I’m a bonefied winger (if this is actually a word). Always going with the flow. Going to where ever fate and destiny may take me, which brings up the topic of MARKETING. ***eyes roll*** Currently, Secondhand Shoes is rocking in the waves of millions and millions of books. Hopefully, it won’t become a sinking ship.

But how much is too much marketing? Is there such a thing as too much? Everyday I’m bombarded via the social media by other authors. It causes me anxiety. The last thing I want to be is an annoying pain who can’t get past a comment box without saying ‘LIKE ME’, ‘FOLLOW ME’ and ‘BUY MY BOOK, DAMN YOU.” There has to be a better way of doing this. What happened to relationships?

Any suggestions?

***

Like there has to be a better way of doing housework and keeping up with the dust bunnies. We, Indies, have a lot of hats to wear. At least, I know I do. I’m a hairdresser for thirty hours a week. A wife. A cook. A laundry maid. Some where in all of this, I write. Don’t ask me how I do it because I haven’t a clue. I just do. ***shrugs***

But I remember asking my grandmother years back how she kept her house so clean even though she worked full time for an attorney. She told me, she cleaned one room a day. So that’s what I’ve been doing. It’s been working out really well so far. Each room gets a top to bottom clean. Baseboards and all. One room can take up to an hour. Sometimes less.

***

So all of this marketing, writing, hairdressing, and house cleaning leaves me hungry for chocolate. Brownies come to mind. Speaking of which, have you ever added a can of pumpkin and two tablespoons of chocolate syrup to a box of brownie mix? You skip the egg and oil and bake this delightful confection at 350 for twenty minutes. They’re quite yummy, actually. I like to put a little nutmeg and cinnamon in mine.

But if you want something a little more nutritious, you can try my favorite smoothie:

1/2 Cup frozen blueberries

1/2 Cup plain Greek yogurt

1 Cup Almond or skim milk

Handful of baby kale

1/4 Cup oatmeal

2 tbsp. of Flax meal

Blend it in a blender and drink up!

***

Soon and very soon, Authors for Oklahoma, will be having a giveaway for 10 dollar donations to The American Red Cross for Moore, Oklahoma. A plethora of wonderful authors have donated their books to this, and I hope everyone will come and even help spread the word when we’ve got a date.

William Kendall, Norma Beishir, and myself have been working hard to get this going. So stay tuned for more information.

Hugs and chocolate, all!

Shelly

Royalties from Secondhand Shoes Will Go to The American Red Cross

This morning as I woke up, the Sweetman turned on the TV. The newsperson stated that 20 children had died in the monstrous tornado. Homes and businesses splintered into heaps of rubble flashed across the screen. I can’t imagine losing my family, my home, my stuff…

But I’m a big believer in doing unto others as I would like them to do unto me. So from now until September 1, 2013, I will be giving any royalties to The American Red Cross for the families who were victimized in Oklahoma. I already have a job that pays the bills so…

I filled out the proper paper work with the organization. Right now, I’m just waiting approval. I don’t see why it wouldn’t be.

Its 2.99. Click here to purchase.

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

Psychic Twins, Terry and Linda Jamison

Good morning, everyone! I know its not good at all for the families in Oklahoma. Upon waking, Sweetman had turned the television on. I hate waking up to bad news.

May our tears and prayers cover the victims of Oklahoma during this time of devastation. I can’t even imagine what the moms and dads are going through right now as I watch the morning news. God be with all of you!

Speaking of this, I researched a pair of psychic twins, Terry and Linda Jamison. What I’ve found out about them is quite amazing. I’m impressed and feel they’re an example of how psychics should be.

When I visited their website, there wasn’t the usual blaring neon pop-ups about any psychic reading specials. And according to little note at the bottom of their screen, they’re not offering personal readings at this time. Click here to check out their website

According to them, they’ve always been psychic. They’ve known ever since they were five.They use a technique called automatic handwriting when they do a reading.

Here is a list of their stellarness(I know, this probably isn’t a word):

They are the worlds most documented psychics.

Predicted the 9/11 Worldtrade Center and Pentagon attacks.

Predicted the May 2000 Stock Market Crash.

Predicted the JFK Jr. death by small airplane.

Cracked the case of Olivia Newton-John’s missing boyfriend.

Predicted Hurricane Irene.

Predicted the deadly flooding and tornadoes of 2011.

They have two titles under their names: Psychic Intelligence: Tune In and Discover the Power of Your Intuition and Separated at Earth: The Story of the Psychic Twins. I’m definitely going to purchase their books.

Not long ago, the Psychic Twins were on the Ricki Lake Show. Watch this impressive clip

They’re on Facebook, too. I follow their inspirational quotes. You can find the page here if you wish to follow them.

***

KILLER STILETTOS UPDATE

I have 38 chapters drafted. But I know the more I write, I’ll definitely will be going back to fill in the holes. Since I’m a panster I fart-write (Shelly’s term for free-writing) as I go.

***

ANNOUNCEMENT

Sometime today, on behalf of the Oklahoma devastation, I’ll be setting up the e-sales of Secondhand Shoes to go toward these people , throughout the summer months.

Once, I figure this out and set it up, I’ll let you all know in order to spread the word.

***

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

Remember to love and hug your families.

Psychic medium, John Edward

While in college and a skeptic of anything psychic, John Edward had a reading with a…you guessed it….a psychic. She told him that he was…well, psychic and that one day he would be seen as a teacher who helps people.

He says the people on the other side give him pictures in his mind to guide him to the living person he needs to give a message to. Although, the experts that study him say, he uses mentalist techniques of hot and cold reading.

The psychic has seven titles. Two television shows, Crossing Over with John Edward, and John Edward Cross Country. He admits to heavily editing his shows “to fine-tune them.” Others feel its to hide his misses.

He also has a website Click here to visit if you like . He charges 500 dollars for a private reading. OUCH! I still feel if you really want to help the dead deliver a message to the living to help them…why so much?

However, in my research on Mr. Edward, I didn’t find any evidence condemning him as a fraud. Even Anderson Cooper seemed convinced that he’s the real thing. You can see a portion of the interview here

What do you think?

***

I’LL BE THE ONE WITH THE CHOCOLATE

Thursday, May 2, 2013, I’ll be at the Orlando Hilton, at the FLA Conference. From 2:45 to 4 PM, I will be selling and signing copies of Secondhand Shoes. I’ll have a box of chocolates to share with everyone, too.

Address: 6001 Destination Pkwy

Orlando, FL 32819

***

DIDDY TIME

Lila’s Journey, Book II, Killer Stilettos

To my surprise, Vinny sat back and blinked his eyes twice. “But I swear, I never aimed my gun at you.”

“Maybe you didn’t aim it at me, but my friend B.J. is dead now and Cynthia has an injury to the side of her head. So did you kill and injure my friends?!” Heat flushed through my body. My pulse sped up.

Vinny lowered his head.

“Yeah. Just what I thought. Loser!”

“Please. You have to forgive me,” Vinny said between faint sobs.

“You need to ask God for forgiveness. From what I know, you’re bound for hell.”

“Please, you can’t let me go there.” Vinny raised his head, teary blue eyes peered at me. “You have to help me, please.” For a ghost, he cried like a baby. Snot pooled at the top of his upper lip and drool leaked from the corner of his mouth.

“I don’t know if I can help you,” I said in a calm tone. The sight of his urgency and fear made me feel a little more powerful. Something I didn’t exactly possess a few days ago when he and Max held me captive. But a part of my felt sorry for the idiot. I hate it when people cried in front of me. Even creepy ghosts.

“What can I do to fix what I did?”

My mind file clerk came out of hiding and a thought popped into my head. “Right now, you can stand over and guard me until my Gram returns. And I’ll figure out the rest.”

***

Okay. This concludes my post for today. Now its time to make my blog rounds.

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

Tooty-Toot-Toot!

Just wanted to check in. I hope everyone has been having fun with the A to Z. There are a lot of cool subjects that peeps have been blogging about.

Anyway my days off this week have been busy running errands for the Sweetman. He got good news on Monday. The cancer is at 1% in his body. Two weeks from Monday, he begins his final week of chemo.

Today, Secondhand Shoes received another 5 star review. GO HERE TO READ and I was interviewed by Lucy Pireel over at her blog GO HERE.

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

Shelly Has Another Moron Moment

Okay. Yesterday, I offered my book for FREE through today. Got a message from Roger Lawrence saying otherwise. Thank you, kind sir. Would like to go underground now and heap mounds of dirt upon my head.

So guys, the book is FREE today and tomorrow. FOR REAL this time. APOLOGIES!

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE COPY

***

Also, I’m over at Susan Roebuck’s blog today, talking about my real life ghost story CLICK HERE to read.

Hugs and chocolate, all! Happy Easter and Passover, too!

Shelly

FREE

Originally, I had another post planned, but I’m not quite finished preparing it. The week here has been crazy.

I’ve been working feverishly on the second book to Lila’s Journey, Yellow Prada’s. Yesterday, I rewrote the first three chapters. Today, I’ll be hair lopping from 9 to 4.

But I wanted to let you all know Secondhand Shoes is FREE today and tomorrow.

GET YOUR FREE COPY HERE

I hope everyone has been having a lovely Passover and to everyone else, a Happy Easter!

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

WINNERS and REALBIES

Today is the best part of a giveaway. It’s a lot like Chrismakah. Its more fun to give than it is to receive. Its also great to say ‘thank you’ to those who helped out with the party.

Last week, Secondhand Shoes actually had a spot at the top of the Amazon list. The book fluctuated between 13 and 15 for two days. YAY! Now to get it back that way. **shrugs***

Anyway, I’ll do my ‘thank yous’ first. These were the REALBIES who helped (remember the blogosphere is full of peeps like these-YOU, and its almost impossible to help every author out there):

Alex J. Cavanaugh

Siv Ottem

Julie Flanders

Julie Kemp Pick

Klahanie

Lorelei Bell

William Kendall

Kimberly Gabriel

E.J. Wesley

Michelle Wallace

Norma Beishir

Sean McLachlan

NOW FOR THE WINNERS!

The two peeps who won the 15 dollar Amazon cards are:

Angryparsnips

Michael Di Gesu

The peeps who won an autographed copy of Secondhand Shoes is:

Laura

Gwen Gardner

I’ll be getting in contact with these winners soon.

This afternoon I’ll be visiting the grandbabies.

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

Character Wars

This past week was busy promoting Secondhand Shoes. So I didn’t get too much writing done on either of my ongoing writing projects, White Trash and Pill Heads and Yellow Prada’s.

Yellow Prada’s is at 10,174 words. It is the next book/novelette in Lila’s adventure as a psychic-medium. It will be a short one that will pave the way for the third one, Combat Boots.

The first title is at 41,901 words (I’m still trying to figure out the title for the first book). There will be three to four books in this series, possibly more. Many interesting characters have introduced themselves to me. But the main focus for the first four books will be on the paternal and maternal grandmothers and what they go through to help their grandbaby.

But there’s a war going on….

“Excuse me.” An old woman in a lavender chiffon dress floats in front of me. “Don’t you think you should get cracking on my granddaughter’s story? The public is waiting, dear.”

“I’m doing my best, Gram,” I say.

One of my kitchen chairs scrapes across my wood floor and a dark blonde woman plops in a chair beside me. “The Universe wants you to finish the story about my grandbaby first. Mine is an emergency.”

“Faith, I’m doing my best to get it done. I promise,” I say. “I know your story is important.”

“Hmmph.” Gram crosses her arms across her chest. “Sorry. But my granddaughter’s story was here before hers. Lila’s needs to be finished first. Besides, she’s got enough problems all around her to sink a battleship.”

Faith flips her shoulder length. “I don’t want to be rude or anything, but what could be more important than my daughter and her unborn baby?”

My eyes go from Gram to Faith while they carry on.

Gram juts out her chin. “Well, my Lila, is in Florida in a hospital bed with her leg suspended in the air, while her boyfriend is laying  in a Venezuela one .”

Faith frowns. “But my daughter, Pixie, has a drug problem, is homeless, and has no job. And I’m right in the middle  of giving her a baby shower.”

“What could be horrible about a baby shower? We’ve got a demon-slut seeking to steal Lila’s fiancé’ from her. And her mother, Babs has completely gone of her rocker.” Gram pulls out the chair next to the one Faith is sitting in and sits.

“I’m really worried Stu, my ex  and his crack-head girlfriend will show up and ruin everything for Pixie and her shower. Life is hard enough for my daughter without the two of them.”

“I’m really sorry to hear that, dear. But my poor Lila is more important right now.”

Tears fill Faith’s eyes. “How could you say that? My daughter’s in a pickle jar. And I feel its all my fault. I have to make sure the shower runs smoothly.”

“There’s definitely a difference between my Lila’s problems and yours. We’ve got a demon and you don’t.”

I roll my shoulders back and say, “Sounds to me like you both have demons.”

Gram gives me pointed look. “Really, dear. You need to finish what you’ve started. Lila should come first.”

My eyes veer to Faith who is pleading with her eyes. “You’ve got to help me get through the baby shower and I know you’re going to have to help me with my grandbaby when he’s finally born.”

I let out a long and loud sigh, and say, “I’m doing the best I can, you two. I’m trying to give you my equal time. Really.” Jeesh. Characters.

Anybody else out there go through this when you’re working on multiple projects?

***

Tomorrow, I ‘ll be doing some shout outs and announcing four winners from the Spreading the News and Cheering on the Run Away Bride Giveaway. Two will be chosen for the 15 dollar Amazon cards and two will be chosen for autographed copies of Secondhand Shoes.

All of you are GREAT!

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

Day 3: Spreading the News and Cheering on the Run Away Bride Giveaway

Ohmygosh! This is the last day up until midnight to get a Free copy of Secondhand Shoes and to put your names in a drawing, either to win a 15 dollar Amazon card or and  an autographed copy. Four peeps will win.

Click here for your Free copy

1. What you need to do in order to have your name put into the drawing. Tweet and Facebook the information below. All you need to do is copy and paste. Make sure you let me know in the comment box.

TWEET

FREE BOOKS and prizes @ http://secondhandshoesnovel.blogspot.com/, Feb.19,20,& 21st, #FReeBooks#KindleAmazon please retweet

FREE BOOKS and prizes @ http://www.shellysnovicewritings.blogspot.com/, Feb.19,20,& 21st, #FReeBooks#KindleAmazon please retweet

FREE EBOOK Feb.19^th,20^th, & 21^st#FReeBooks#KindkeAmazon http://www.amazon.com/Secondhand-Shoes-ebook/dp/B00B1ZNQAO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1361228574&sr=8-2&keywords=Shelly+Arkon%2C+Secondhand+Shoes Please Retweet

FACEBOOK

FREE EBOOK Feb.19^th,20^th, & 21^st http://www.amazon.com/Secondhand-Shoes-ebook/dp/B00B1ZNQAO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1361228574&sr=8-2&keywords=Shelly+Arkon%2C+Secondhand+Shoes Please Share

2. Please give the run away bride some good advice. She’s escaped into the Florida woods.

I also wanted to say thank you to everyone. For a little bit on Wednesday morning Secondhand Shoes ranked in at #13. How cool is that? Its now #15. But its all good. I’m still excited, but exhausted.

People have been so kind with their comments and good will. In fact, I was surprised when Julie Flanders directed her readers to my blog yesterday. Chocolate hugs to you, Julie. The blogsosphere is full of REALBIES.

Speaking of REALBIES, Julie Pick is helping me spread the news today. Thank you sooo much.

Everyone thank you for visiting, Tweeting, Facebooking, and downloading a copy. It means the world to me.***getting teary-eyed over it***

Next Tuesday, I’ll announce the winners. I know I was to do that March 1st, but I’m like a little kid like that.

And also, I’m pulling a 1 to 9’er at the hair lopping establishment so I may not get to comment back until tomorrow morning.

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

Today is Day Two for the Spreading News and Cheering on the Run Away Bride Give Away

The one thing I love to do is giving gifts. It’s the best feeling ever. Today is day 2 for The Spreading News and Cheering on the Run Away Bride Give Away.

You, too, could win a 15 dollar Amazon card or an autographed copy of Secondhand Shoes. Four names will be drawn and the winners will be announced next Tuesday on this blog. 

Here’s how to win:

1. Promise to Tweet and Facebook. Say so in the comment box.

TWEET

FREE BOOKS and prizes @ http://secondhandshoesnovel.blogspot.com/, Feb.19,20,& 21st, #FReeBooks#KindleAmazon please retweet

FREE BOOKS and prizes @ http://www.shellysnovicewritings.blogspot.com/, Feb.19,20,& 21st, #FReeBooks#KindleAmazon please retweet

FREE EBOOK Feb.19^th,20^th, & 21^st#FReeBooks#KindkeAmazon http://www.amazon.com/Secondhand-Shoes-ebook/dp/B00B1ZNQAO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1361228574&sr=8-2&keywords=Shelly+Arkon%2C+Secondhand+Shoes Please Retweet

FACEBOOK

FREE KINDLE EBOOK Feb,19th, 20th, and 21st Secondhand Shoeshttp://www.amazon.com/Secondhand-Shoes-ebook/dp/B00B1ZNQAO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1361198355&sr=8-2&keywords=shelly+arkon%2C+secondhand+shoesPlease share this with your friend

 

2. Give the Run Away Bride some good advice in the comment box along with your honorable word to Tweet and Facebook. She’s in trouble since she took off into the Florida woods. There could be snakes, gators, and quicksand in them thar woods, you know.

Also, I want to thank Siv Maria, Lorelei Bell, E.J. Wesley, and Norma Beishir for helping me spread the news today. We have some great REALBIES in the blogoshere.

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

Today Begins Spreading the News and Cheering on the Run Away Bride Giveaway

Happy chocolate hugs to all! Today, tomorrow and Thursday, everyone can snag a FREE copy of Secondhand Shoes on Amazon.

FREE COPY HERE

The Blurb

The shoes didn’t fit. It was an omen.

Eighteen year old psychic-medium-germ-a-phobe Lila should have listened to her ghostly Gram’s advice the morning of her wedding, “Take off that dress and those shoes. And run.”

En route to the honeymoon, she decides to listen after too many disagreements with her groom. It doesn’t pay to go along to make everyone happy.

Still in her wedding dress and shoes, she escapes out a diner’s bathroom window into the Florida woods despite her fear of snakes and germs with her dead Gram’s direction.

So she begins a journey of finding her inner strength, putting her on a deadly run from her psychotic groom and his deranged friends.

Will she ever get past her fear of germs and snakes? Will she survive her honeymoon?

***

Sir Poops and Hair Ball have interviewed  me  and can give you other giveaway details. They’ve dressed up nicely for the party, too. CLICK HERE

***

Also thank you Klahanie, William Kendall, and Sean McLachlan for mentioning the party on their blogs.

And a big thank you to Lorelei Bell and Siv. They’re helping to host my party today.

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

PS I’m working from 9 to 5 eastern American time today so I’ll be back this evening to join in the fun.

The Indie Life: Stop By, Free Donuts, What I Learned from my First Book Signing and Other News

The Indie Life is held by the The Indelibles on the second Wednesday of every month. Its a chance for indie authors to post about indie life, find each other, offer support, encouragement, news, helpful hints, and anything else that makes life as an indie author a little easier like eating donuts.

Two Saturdays ago, I had my first book signing and it wasn’t at a bookstore. It was at a festival. Well, I brought one hundred donut holes. Those tasty little cakes attracted children who had their parents chasing them over to my table. So guess what I did?

I squeaked my wheel…all day. I sold eleven books at the event  and got five ebook sales to boot. So I took notes regarding that day.

Free Donuts: It attracts old men and children. Not too far behind the old men are their wives. And like I said above, children are usually attached to parents or vise versa.

One liners: This is the perfect time to tell people about your book in one sentence. I now have it perfectly memorized.

If you’re having issues trying to tell people what your book is about join your local Toastmaster’s Group. I became a member way before I finished writing my book. And really helped me focus on delivering the message of my book.

Money Bank: Make sure you have a hundred dollars in change. I brought twenty in bills and seventeen in change. I missed out on a sale because I didn’t have enough to make change for a fifty.

Flyers: When people are blankly passing your table by, get out in front of your table and pass out flyers about yourself and book.

Signs: Have a Meet your Author sign professionally made and ready to be seen at your booth. I didn’t have one. Although, the donuts did help attract attention.

Don’t be afraid: Yeah. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself and shake a lot of hands. People like to feel they matter and are important. You’ll have book sales galore if you can really connect with others.

Sunscreen: Bring this in case you get stuck standing in the sun like I did. My nose and throat were tomato red by the time the event finished. A tent would be nice to have as well.

***

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day so I figured I’d share a kissing diddy between Lila and Max from Secondhand Shoes.

Max took my hand and turned us to face our audience.

He smiled.

I hiccupped.

“You may kiss the bride.”

Before I knew it, Max’s face was on mine, his mouth wide open and his tongue moving over mine, holding himself hard against me. My body stiffened, and I tried to pull back. I couldn’t breathe, but I hiccupped. Vomit hit the back of my throat. I was going to be sick.

I shoved him away, my hand going to my mouth. “I have to go to the ladies room!”

I know, not romantic. My off kilter sense of humor gets in the way. Ever kiss a guy that…well…wanted to make you vomit?

Anyway, next week SAVE THE DATE: Feb.19, 20, and 21st.

I’ll be having a Spread the News and Cheer on the Run Away Bride Giveaway. I’ll be drawing 2 winners for a 15 dollar Amazon card and 2 winners for autographed copies of Secondhand Shoes.

And everyone gets a FREE ebook on those three days, too.

Hugs and chocolate, Shelly

Being a Writing Ninja and Goals

Last week, I joined this writer’s group. They have pretty much fashioned themselves a lot like the WriMoNaNo, but its month to month and you set your own goals. To join and find out more, go to the left of my sidebar and click on the tag below the picture.

Since I work what they call a flexible schedule, every week is different. So I have to schedule my writing times and stick to it. If not, nothing gets done. And I want to be like Lisa Olsen, fellow Indie author. Within the last two years she has written ten books and has published each one. She’s also been successful enough that she now stays home and writes all day. One of her books is Pretty Witches all in a Row. I’ve read two or three others of her work and they are GREAT! Lovey-love-love her! You all should go check her out on Amazon.

Since Secondhand Shoes has been out, I’ve sold 44 paperbacks on my own and have given away 3. And now I’ve got peeps asking when is the next book,novella, or novellette. Well, it’ll be sometime this year. Yellow Pradas and then will come Combat Boots. I’ll be keeping the shoe theme. Lila still has a lot to learn and Gram isn’t ready to go into the light.  Oshun has stolen Julio’s soul and Lila must go into the Underworld to find him with Gram’s help, of course. But they only have eight hours to do so before he’s gone forever and Lila’s earthly body dies. Once he’s found, Lila must claim him as hers. Will she be able to find him in time? And how is she going to claim him in the Underworld?

But I’ve got characters bugging the kaka out of me for another project as well. My White Trash and Pill Heads series. The first book to the series is almost finished as well as the third book. This one stars a couple of grandmothers. Faith Wise, a total New Age Hippie Chick meets Laurel Soften, a Southern Baptist. When the two first meet at a baby shower they don’t exactly hit it off with their differences. What eventually brings them together is their grandbaby. The little guy’s parents are using roxies and zannies. Their actions put their baby in danger which eventually lead the grandmothers in a frustrating position with the State and in a dangerous one with their grown kids’ drug dealer while they deal with their extended dysfunctional family and their own haunted pasts.

Also another reminder:

SAVE THE DATE: February 19, 20, and 21st. I’ll be having a Spread the News and Cheer on the Run Away Bride Giveaway. I’ll be drawing 2 winners for a 15 dollar Amazon card and 2 winners for autographed copies of Secondhand Shoes.

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

PS I’m working a long one today. 12-9 PM. I’ll do my best to get to the blog reading.

Book Signing

Tomorrow, I’ll be in Lutz, Florida at the Ecofest 2013, being held at the Learning Gate Community School, from 9:30 AM to 3 PM.

Address: 16215 Hanna Rd., Lutz, FL 33549

Hope to see my Florida friends there.

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

My Paternal Grandmother

A house needs a grandma in it. Louisa May Alcott

There’s no place like home except Grandma’s. Author Unknown

Everyone needs to have access both to grandparents and grandchildren in order to be a full human being. Margret Mead

The walls of divorce and maternal bias kept my house divided when growing up. Getting to see my paternal grandmother was not at the top of my mom’s list. But when dad came to town, we’d visit. Its not that mom kept me completely from seeing her, but the visits were limited. My grandmother read tea leaves, the Tarot, and held séances.

Mom didn’t approve of grandma’s pagan ways. But she kept a Holy Bible in her living room and said grace before meals, always ending each one with ‘in Jesus’s name. Amen’. For some reason, my grandmother had no defined lines when it came to spirituality. She attended a Methodist church and belonged to their Eastern Star club.

Grandma had an interesting life growing up, too. She was the oldest of eleven sisters. She also helped run the family dairy farm after her father died when her youngest sister had just turned one. Grandma and her family survived The Great Depression without a him.

My time with grandma was spent on the Venice beach picking up sharks’ teeth or building sandcastles. At her home, we’d crochet book worms or do needle point designs.

She made the best dinners. My most favorite one was apricot glazed chicken, peas and mushrooms with parsley potatoes, followed by a cheesecake topped with a glazed cherries.

She also kept spiral notebooks full of her family stories that she wrote. Some are in longhand.

Grandma loved birds. Especially cardinals. Bird feeders and baths filled her back yard. Every bird imaginable would visit. Even humming birds.

I cherished every moment I had with her.

When I finally left my mother’s house for good at eighteen, I made an every Friday date with her. We’d go to breakfast and do some window shopping after. However, those Fridays were short lived. She came down with a UTI and became dehydrated. She passed right before Christmas in 1984.

In Secondhand Shoes, Lila’s Gram, is a lot like my grandmother. She comes many times in the form of a cardinal to her granddaughter’s aid. I often wonder if my grandmother doesn’t do the same, guiding and directing my way. ***shrugs*** One never knows. Although, my dad seems to think so.

So guys, when you put your stories together do you weave in your favorite people from your life?

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

***

SAVE THE DATE: February 19, 20, and 21st. I’ll be having a Spread the News and Cheer on the Run Away Bride Giveaway. I’ll be drawing 2 winners for a 15 dollar Amazon card and 2 winners for autographed copies of Secondhand Shoes. Stay tuned for more details and who will be helping.

My First Book Review on Secondhand Shoes

 

William Kendall, at Speak of the Devil, has posted a review. It brought tears to my eyes. Go here to read

Having the novel out there, even in paperback, is surreal. Personally, I’ve sold almost every book I’ve bought at cost. I started out with thirty-two and now have ten left. My marketing plan is to plant seeds without shoving it down peoples’ throats. So I’ll be doing some fundraisers within the next couple of months. Next month, I’ll be hosting a book party at Sweetman’s little eyewear shop. And once I know when for sure it will be up for the Kindle, I’ll be having a blog party and giving away free ebooks.

Let me know if any of you are interested in helping out. Just say so in the comment box. Hoping to have a date soon.

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly