Tuesday, May 26, 2015

O. U. R.





Where authors unite to raise funds for Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), a nonprofit that organizes undercover operations to free many of the 2 million children being trafficked as sex slaves around the world.

Participating authors are donating their books in exchange for donations


Donate $20 to receive a free book from a participating author (book prizes selected at random).
  • Donors of $40 or more will receive two free books, a series, or a bundle (selected at random as well). 
Nearly 200 books have been donated by generous authors to help raise funds for this great cause--see the list of participating authors/books below!


Give freedom, get a book






DONATE NOW


Donate directly to O.U.R. through the Authors United Against Child Slavery Campaign



AUTHOR UNITED AGAINST CHILD SLAVERY LINKS




Authors and book bloggers who wish to help, please fill out this online form


OPERATION UNDERGROUND RAILROAD LINKS





Participating Authors/Books 



























 





 


 


 









 






 













 

























































































































Are you supporting the Authors United Against Child Slavery campaign. So far many authors have donated books and helped spread the word. We’ve raised $1,866 so far!
 
If we each get one additional friend/fan to donate $20 this week, we’ll have another $1,640. Here is the link to our campaign if you wish to invite others to donate or if you wish to donate and win a book for yourself: https://yourrescue.org/projects/authors-united-against-child-slavery/

Please sign up or donate to this worthy cause.






Monday, May 25, 2015

FORGET-ME-NOT

HONOR OUR SOLDIERS
MEMORIAL DAY 2015
~~~~~~~~~~

Soldier, Maiden, and Flower
"Sweetheart, take this," a soldier said,
"And bid me brave good-by;
It may befall we ne'er shall wed,
But love can never die.
Be steadfast in thy troth to me,
And then, whate'er my lot,
'My soul to God, my heart to thee,'--
Sweetheart, forget me not!"

The maiden took the tiny flower
And nursed it with her tears:
Lo! he who left her in that hour
Came not in after years.
Unto a hero's death he rode
'Mid shower of fire and shot;
But in the maiden's heart abode
The flower, forget-me-not.

And when he came not with the rest
From out the years of blood,
Closely unto her widowed breast
She pressed a faded bud;
Oh, there is love and there is pain,
And there is peace, God wot,--
And these dear three do live again
In sweet forget-me-not.

'T is to an unmarked grave to-day
That I should love to go,--
Whether he wore the blue or gray,
What need that we should know?
"He loved a woman," let us say,
And on that sacred spot,
To woman's love, that lives for aye,
We'll strew forget-me-not.

1887.

 
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are hosting an event on Facebook and they make one giveaway post per author with the FB page link. The entry to each giveaway post is visiting the author or bloggers page, giving it a Like and Commenting under the giveaway post their like number.

At the end of the event the author or blog picks one winner from the comments.

 What does the author author or blog have to do to participate?

- Email BRBAL to BrbalBlog@gmail.com your author name, Facebook page link, your email address and the prize you are gifting.

- Promote, share and invite to the giveaway.

 The Event dates: May 29th to 30th.
Here is the event link:
 
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Monday, May 18, 2015

SQUIRREL PROOF




 
 
 
 

This is new growth - we planted ten pine trees last fall - eight survived.
 
 


 Meet Margaret -  my neighbor.
 
 


I hope you enjoyed some of the colors from my yard. Of course, I did not have my camera when the most curious thing happened. This bird feeder is advertised as squirrl proof, put weight on the top and it closes.
 
The culprit!

Yesterday I walked outside to find a squirrel inside the feeder, pushing the seeds out for his friend on the ground. His tail was coiled around the top and should have been my first clue, but honestly, I thought the poor thing was trapped inside. I walked toward the feeder to help and the squirrel scrambled out. The next morning I found the entire feeder in pieces on the ground.

Enjoy your week; I'm in the middle of edits - a seemingly never-ending process. I wanted to participate in the Blood Boobs & Carnage Bloghop - but can't take the time away from edits.

My choice for the hop would have been the movies Kill Bill: Vol 1 and 2.


Do check out the Blood Boobs & Carnage Bloghop, it promises to be fun if not eye opening.



Monday, May 11, 2015

SPRING FEVER


When I put my sandals on the last thing I want to do is sit down and write. I want to enjoy the colors of spring, and all that sunshine. Spring and summer is for getting out and doing. The ease of writing during the darkness is the only good thing about winter.

Do you change your writing habits in the spring and summer? I do, I find myself finding better excuses not to write like planting new flowers, weeding (yes weeding) or spending the day running errands. Why are errands so much more fun in good weather? It has to be the sandals.

I try to combine the two by taking my work outside, but those three birdfeeders I put out this year bring in the most colorful birds. They're so much more interesting than my open laptop.

Spring fever is a serious illness for writers but when the cure is winter, (OMG what a lousy cure) as soon as the sun is down, the laptop is open.

How do you deal with spring and summer distractions?
 
 

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

IWSG - WHAT'S NEXT?


Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post.



As Alex says, "Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!"

The Twitter hashtag is #IWSG

(This information was taken directly from Alex J Cavanaugh's blog.)
 

It seems petty to talk insecurity when my third book was just approved for publication by Curiosity Quills Press. What's odd was the amount of stress writing this last book raised. Maybe due to other issues, but finally, the trilogy is complete and the relief is profound – BUT – what do I tackle next? Science fiction, horror, or do I stick with what's worked and write another mystery? Does Detective Steven Quaid continue to solve crimes or do I put him aside and try something new?

I have several options, projects waiting to be finished and yet I'm unsure which one to pick. I want to try something new and yet that damn detective isn't done speaking. I figure I'll work on the marketing for Murder & Obsession, and when my muse is ready, she'll point me in the right direction.

What do you do when a project is completed? How do you choose your next project or does it choose you?

Funny thing is, I was more confidant before I ever published novel one, (probably because of how little I knew) now I struggle with everything. I know marketing is my biggest source of insecurity but this year I'm determined to up my marketing game. Despite recent blog posts that say it's a waste of time, I'm not giving up. I'll find my stride. How's that sound for confidence?