Still On Planet Earth

I'm b-a-a-a-a-ck! I've been so absent that you probably forgot my existence, but I'm still doing time on Planet Earth.

Chalk up my absence to packing to move and getting a house ready to sell. As if that wasn't enough stress, add in the jury summons for Federal Court that arrived in early May.

Yep, I was on Jury Service for the longest two weeks of my life. I would say it was the most exhausting time I ever spent, but that distinction goes to the time I spent with my daughter in the hospital when she suffered surgery complications.

Still those 2 weeks were so tiring that I was able to write zero words and too tired to keep up with email, Twitter, etc.

Long Story Short

Yes, I know, too late to make this long story short, but, here goes. I'm back and doing my best to catch up. It will take time, but I'll eventually answer all the email, publish a new issue of Writing Hacks for subscribers, honor my guest blog commitments, and finish my next book, Cinderella Blue. So don't give up on me.

Takeaway Truth

Real life has a way of undermining one's best efforts.

Honoring Those Who Serve

With gratitude to the men and women who served and are serving our country, I celebrate you this day.

Thank you for your service.

Takeaway Truth

Freedom is never free.

Memorial Weekend Sale -- Book On Sale

Big Groan! Jury Duty continues. May has been a hell of a month. Packing, painting, cleaning, storing, moving. All in an effort to get the house on the market.

Then Federal Court Jury Duty summons arrived just as we're in full swing of selling and buying. Jury Duty started Monday, May 20, and, lucky me, it continues into next week and possible beyond.

Another big groan!

To celebrate the end of this hellish month -- and the 3 day weekend upon us which I sorely need -- I'm offering SCENTS and SENSUALITY, my latest book in a special 99 cent sale from May 24-28.

Normally, this romantic comedy is $3.99. For 4 days, it will be reduced to only 99 cents!

Takeaway Truth

Grab it while it's on sale.

Write For Children; Release Your Inner Child

About the only writing I've managed to do, since we started this insane selling a house/buying a house adventure, was a children's book for one of my lovely young relatives -- Mystery of the Stormy Night, a Lilly Bug, Girl Detective, Story.

Backstory

I decided to write this Chapters Book for Early Readers as a learning experience. I intend to publish print editions of all of my ebooks so this was a great way to learn the process.

I wrote the book a couple of months ago and then tackled the formatting process for CreateSpace, my POD publisher of choice. In between packing and schlepping boxes, I formatted the manuscript; got Adina Mayo, my graphic artist, to design the cover; put the whole package together; and uploaded it.

Yesterday, I had some time to finish the proofing process -- I used their online proof as well as ordering a printed proof. I didn't see any problens so I approved it for sale.

Tell A Friend

I must admit writing for a young reader was a lot of fun. I hope you'll take a look at the books webpage because I'm rather proud of this bit of writing.

I even created a video for Lilly Bug's story. If you have young children or friends and family with young children, share the video with them. I think they'll find it fun. I know the "real" Lilly Bug and her sisters loved it!

Takeaway Truth

Writing Mystery of the Stormy Night was fun and a great escape from reality. I recommend trying this because it will give you a fun perspective on writing a story.

College Over--What To Do With Text Books

Since I'm a book lover, you'll understand when I tell you that I still have my college textbooks as well as some of my husband's. Heck, I even have my high school English Lit text.

Most of you get rid of your college texts as if they were contaminated with ebola. Since the spring semester at colleges is over, I thought I'd give you some resources to resell your textbooks other than the campus and off-campus book stores.

Here are some websites that buy college textbooks as well as sell and rent them if you want to get a jump on next semester. These all have badging that represents their credibility, i.e., BBB and the like.

MyBookCart

ValoreBooks

SellBackYourBook

eCampus

Takeaway Truth

Just do a search to find other sites. Check out several and compare so you can get the best price.

Steak, Barbecue, and Ice Tea

This was the perfect weekend. Darling hubby and I have been working very hard in cleaning out clutter, shifting possessions around between our houses, and all the other things needed to sell a house and move.

We arrived at Rancho Reeves Friday night with the last load of plants which I've found are like books -- you never know how many you have until you must move.

Mutual Decision To Do Nothing

We unloaded and collapsed. After a shower, we stayed up late catching up on our fave TV shows on the DVR. Then we sat outside on the porch and enjoyed glasses of Le Coin, a really good Bordeaux one of our sons gave us in a Christmas gift basket.

Excellent wine for a great evening with the southerly wind sending clouds scudding across the night sky and periodically hiding the quarter moon above.We sipped wine, talked, and just relaxed.

Saturday we slept late, and Larry cooked some amazing steaks on the grill. He's truly a master when it comes to grilling. His steaks are better than any I've had anywhere, and the drumsticks he barbecues are so good they'd make you declare you love chicken better than steak.

Tomorrow brings a return to home and work. Today though, I'm still staring out at our field of wildflowers and enjoying doing nothing.

Double Header

Naturally, today's quotation is a double header -- steak and barbecue -- however you may spell barbecue.

Tom Colicchio, restaurateur and Top Chef honcho, said: "I think steak is the ultimate comfort food, and if you're going out for one, that isn't the time to scrimp on calories or quality."

I'll lift a glass of Le Coin to that.

Essayist John Shelton Reed said: "Southern barbecue is the closest thing we have in the U.S. to Europe's wines or cheeses; drive a hundred miles and the barbecue changes."

So very true. In Louisiana where I grew up, barbecue is completely different from what my husband grew up eating in Texas. To that, I'll lift my glass of ice tea which is just as Southern as barbecue.

By the way, in the South when I grew up, it was ice tea, not iced tea. So I still refer to it that way. (I'm sure someone has probably written an essay on why it's ice tea, not iced tea.) Also, ice tea always had sugar added to it. The distinction between sweet tea and unsweetened tea is a latter day occurrence.

Takeaway Truth

It's the simple pleasures in life that mean so much.

Review: Fascinate: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation

Recently, I listed to the audio edition of Fascinate: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation by Sally Hogshead.

I was so, well, fascinated by the book that I ordered a print edition of the book.

Blurb It

This book is about what causes people to be fascinated by just about anything -- books, movies, TV shows, YouTube videos, or whatever.

Are there elements that a viral video shares in common with a the most popular summer movie or the newest reality TV show that's causing all the watercooler chat?

Companies put a lot of effort into finding those common elements and mining them. You can too if you've got something to market to the public.

The author Sally Hogshead has been a marketing consultant responsible for some of the most popular media campaigns. She shares her expertise in this book and discloses the 7 universal triggers: lust, mystique, alarm, prestige, power, vice, and trust.

From the Salem witch trials to Sex and the City to Gangnam Style, learn how a fascination trigger played a part in capturing the human imagination.

Buy Links

After hearing the audio book, I wanted the print book so I could make notes and refer to certain parts of the book more easily. Then I plan to listen again to the full audio book. Here are buy links to the various editions for your convenience.

Audio Edition of Fascinate: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation

Hardcover Edition of Fascinate: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation

Kindle Edition of Fascinate: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation

Takeaway Truth

If you've been looking for something to give you an edge in marketing, this may be it.