Winner of Dawn Comes Early and a Friday Funny

Thanks to everyone who left a comment on last week's blog post for the giveaway of Margaret Brownley's new novel, Dawn Comes Early. I entered the names in an online random name picker and the computer chose...

KIMBERLY

Congrats to Kimberly! Hope you enjoy Margaret's book. 

If you're not a winner, be sure to pick up a copy at your local bookstore, or ON AMAZON.

Friday Funny:

I ran across this comic and it reminded me of myself. Wash your mind out with soap... I'm not pregnant! It's the punchline that got me. My blogging efforts leave a lot to be desired lately, but it's not because I have run out of things to blog about. I've been extra distracted with a bazillion things, including my son's graduation and my book deadline, both of which are approaching way too quickly (and at the same time). The next couple of months will be ridiculously crazy, so I'll blog when I can, but I refuse to make myself crazier than I already am, so my posts will probably be few and possibly far-between. I apologize in advance, but I do hope to resume my regular blogging schedule this summer.

The Pull of Pinterest

 I started hearing about Pinterest a few weeks ago and honestly, I didn't pay much attention. I ignored the invites, chalking them up to just another craze that would disintegrate into thin cyber air any day now. But then I read a couple of blog posts from trusted friends about the pull of Pinterest, and I decided to check it out.

And a new addiction took hold.

In case you haven't heard about this latest social networking craze, here's the official description of Pinterest, as found on the site:

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes. Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.

There are two reasons I believe Pinterest is quickly becoming a huge sensation.

1. It's visually appealing. With such a visual society, Pinterest certainly appeals to the eye. Fellow author Carla Stewart says it best: Pinterest is candy for the senses. So true!

2. People love to share who they are. This is pretty evident, right? With Facebook, Twitter, and a gazillion other social media sites, people don't only want to connect with others, they want to talk about themselves and share who they are. It's that whole validation thing. Sometimes I think we're just a bunch of self-absorbed people hiding behind the label of "social networking." But believe me, I'm not judging! I'm right there, too - on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn...and now Pinterest.

There are lots of good reasons to join Pinterest. You can browse images and find links and references to yummy recipes,  fitness routines, products you want to try, businesses, home decorating ideas, hairstyles, vacation sites and deals, and lots more.

But, the truth is, Pinterest is just plain fun. The ability to organize our lives in such a unique and visual way is pure genious. You can create boards about gardening, pets, beauty, television shows you watch, sports, crafts, holidays...basically anything you're interested in. And the fact that everything is categorized, makes it easy to pull up a specific board at any given moment to find what you're looking for.


So far, I have created 9 boards and have pinned 132 images, which is really nothing compared to other members. My personal categories so far include "Destination Dreamland"- photos of places I'd love to go, but probably never will, except for in my dreams, "Inspiration Station"- inspiring and motivating quotes, "Calories Shmalories" - photos of foods I'd love to splurge on (mostly desserts!), "Keeping the Faith"- inspiring quotes and photos representing my faith, "You Can Say That Again" - quotes worth repeating, "Beautiful Things" - no explanation needed, "Chuckles, LOL's, and Groaners" - things that make me laugh or smile, "Recommended Reading" - books I've enjoyed and want to share, and "Blasts from the Past" - items that bring back memories for me (lots of great stuff from the 80s). You can see all my boards and follow me HERE


I have been enjoying (and spending way too much time) playing around on the site, figuring out how it all works. Many of my pins have been re-pinned by others. My latest pin, posted just this morning, already has about 60 re-pins. Oh - and by clicking on an image, you are able to leave a comment, which connects somehow through Facebook. I won't pretend I know how any of that works, but it is pretty cool.

I'm even beginning to see how it might help me as an author. Not only can I pin my book covers, and hope others repin them for their followers to see, I can also create boards about my books. Some authors have boards with images of things/topics found in their stories. For instance, my friend Cathy West has created a board with images from the Vietnam War era, which is when Yesterday's Tomorrow, her historical romance, takes place. Some authors have boards where they pin ideas for their works in progress. They have boards for settings, clothing, or characters.

Pinterest is a great way for readers to get to know the authors they love. It's also an easy way for anyone to connect with others who share the same interests. As of right now, you can join Pinterest by invitation only. Either have someone invite you or request an invitation via a link on the site.

One word of caution: Be careful of where you click. As any other site, Pinterest offers an opportunity for spammers. Links aren't always what they appear to be. While most are legitimate, and Pinterest does everything they can to prevent abuse, it's bound to happen.

What about you? Have you joined the Pinterest Craze? What unique boards have you created?

Winner of The Baker's Wife and a Weekend Question

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway for The Baker's Wife. It really is a wonderful book and I hope that those of you who didn't win will pick up a copy, either in print or for your e-reader. You can do that HERE.

I entered all of the names in an online random name picker and the machine selected a winner. Time to make Friday even better for someone. 

And that someone is...

JENNIFER!

Congrats, Jennifer! Your book's on its way!

And now I leave you with this comic and a question for the weekend:

Inquiring minds want to know: 

Do you dog-ear your pages or use bookmarks?

This is a test...this is only a test...

Indulge me in a quick plug before I get to today's blog post. Amazon has lowered the price of Mind over Madi twice in the past couple days. It is now down to $11.53. If you're interested in taking advantage of this awesome price, click on the link in the left sidebar to be taken directly to the Amazon.com book page.

Commercial over...back to the regularly scheduled blog post...

I love tests and quizzes. No, not the school kind (math...shudder), but the personality kind. My favorite subject in school was psychology, and my love for what makes people tick comes in real handy in writing fiction. So any time I see a link to a personality test, I click on over and see what it has to say about me. And 99% of the time, the assessment is dead-on.

At the beginning of January, Glynnis Whitwer, author of I Used to Be So Organized, held a 10-day Clutter-Free Challenge. For two weeks, she sent a daily email sharing her wisdom, tips, and advice on getting rid of the clutter - not just physical clutter, but mental, as well. Due to some things going on in my life at the time (clutter, ironically), I still haven't made it through all of her emails (I've saved them in a folder for later) but from what I did read, they contain some good stuff! I look forward to taking the time to implement some of her suggestions.

Yesterday, Glynnis sent another email with a link to a motivational test by Tamara Lowe, author of Get Motivated! This test asks the question, "Does your personality hinder your ability to de-clutter?" It basically looks at three categories:

1. What drives you (production or connection)
2. What your needs are (stability or variety)
3. What awards you prefer (internal or external)

Of course, I clicked right over to take the test. There were some questions that were tough. I knew what I should answer, what would be the Christian answer, but I made myself be completely honest. And, once again, I'm amazed at the results, which I've posted below (because I know you're dying to know more about me). The one thing that I thought was way off-base was that the assessment said I am disciplined. If you've followed my blog for long, you know discipline is something I struggle with. But as I thought about it, I realized that I really am disciplined in a way. I usually take on more than I should and always get done what needs to be done. That takes discipline, even if I'm stressing out about it the whole time (saving that topic for another day).

Anyway, today I just want to share the link with you, my fellow writers and personality test-takers. I thought you might enjoy it. If nothing else, maybe you'll gain new insight into your strengths and weaknesses, or come away with new ideas for your characters. 

Here's the link if you'd like to take the test yourself:
MOTIVATIONAL TEST

MY RESULTS (in case you're interested):
CSE (Connection-Stability-External) - The Refiner

Refiners are systematic thinkers who value precision. They have the ability to see the big picture while still focusing on the details. Refiners are conscientious and disciplined. They are supportive and respectful of others. Personal and practical, Refiners tend to be family-oriented. They are deeply loyal and have a well-defined sense of right and wrong. They prefer a “democratic” style of leadership and expect others to play according to the rules.

Refiners are dependable and diligent. Fair pay and sincere appreciation for their work make them feel valued. They are deliberate in their decision-making and want to ensure that their choices do not adversely affect others.

CSE Motivators: All the facts plus enough time to analyze them, competent team members, recognition by superiors, special privileges, freedom from controls and genuine respect.

CSE De-Motivators: High pressure deadlines, too many cooks in the kitchen, rapid change, infringement on personal or family time and perceived inequity.

Did you click on over to take the test? What were your results?

Winner of Thyme for Love and CBD.com

Not many entries for the Thyme for Love giveaway. Such a shame because it's such a great book! I hope you'll check it out. Cbd.com is offering it for $12.99, and it should be available for the Kindle and Nook any day now, so watch for that.

The good news is, those who did enter this giveaway had better odds of winning! I input the names into an online Random Name Picker and the computer chose...

LOREE HUEBNER

Congrats, Loree! I know you'll enjoy this delightful book!

Due to my lack of time this week, I don't have an official blog post today, but worth mentioning is the fact that cbd.com has finally added the description of Mind over Madi on my book page. Since the beginning, there has been nothing posted but the price and the product information. Now you can actually see what the story is about, and read an excerpt (read the entire first chapter HERE), which will hopefully encourage you to buy my book! That, and the price, which is less than anywhere else right now ($12.99).

On a hopeful note, the Kindle edition of Mind over Madi should be available any day now. I believe the price is going to be just over $7, which is great! I'll keep you posted!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Snow Days and Book Contracts

With the mild winter we've had over here in Michigan, my kids are dying for a snow day. Never mind the fact that they just got 2 weeks off for Christmas Break and have 2 days off next week after exams. They want a snow day! My kids are in high school now, but I teased them last night that they'd better do all those things they did in elementary school to ensure a snow day the next morning: wear their pajamas inside out (or boxers, in my son's case), put a spoon under their pillow, flush ice cubes down the toilet. I don't think they did any of those things (can you imagine if it got out on Facebook?) but I did catch them looking out the window several times to make sure the snow was still falling fast and furiously.

But really, who can blame them? There is something about having a snow day that bring a sense of anticipation...excitement...joy...and downright giddyness!

Kind of like getting that book contract.

How, you ask? Like this:

1. I will make it happen. Like the spoon, the pajamas, and the ice cubes, we try to make our book deal happen. Yes, we have to work towards publication, but we try to force it. We do things like self-publish a poorly (or non) edited book, make deals with God, or corner poor unsuspecting agents and editors in the bathroom to pitch our novel. We forget that we can't make a book deal happen any more than kids can make it snow. When it comes down to it, God is in control.

2. Work? What work? Kids don't think about the fact that if there's a snow day - especially 2 or 3 in a row - they will need to make up all of the work they missed. If enough snow days occur, they may even have to tack on a couple days at the end of the school year. In the same way, writers sometimes think that getting that book contract is the end, when it's really only the beginning. Edits, marketing, book signings...be prepared for more work than you ever imagined.

3. My lip is quivering. Your kids experience it when you gently nudge them awake in the morning. They rub the sleep from their eyes and ask you to repeat what you just said. "There is no snow day?" The feeling of disappointment overcomes them. Oh, man, no fair! Especially when 200 other schools are closed and theirs isn't. Every writer has experienced that same disappointment,  in the form of a rejection letter, or an editor's disinterest in the pitch you just gave at your conference appointment. We may even resort to the child's response: "No fair!" Especially when it seems like everyone is landing contracts except you.

4. Break out the dance moves. But then there is that moment when a child wakes up and realizes it's two hours later than his mom usually wakes him up for school. Aha! That must mean it's a snow day! Yippee!! As hard as it is to drag him out of bed every other morning, today he can't get up fast enough. He is elated and walks on air for the rest of the day. If you've ever received a "yes" on your manuscript, you know the feeling. There is nothing like getting "the call" informing you that your dream is coming true. It may be days of hovering between the floor and ceiling before you finally come down.

My kids really were hoping for a snow day today. They experienced a bit of #3 today, as 241 schools around the area were closed and their doors remain open. Bummer for them.

Wishing all of you writers out there that #4 feeling very soon!