Wednesday, June 7, 2017

IWSG - Dam Builders






Question: Did you ever say “I quit”? If so, what happened to make you come back to writing?


I’m not sure I said “I quit” but I did walk away from a book for almost a year. It just wasn’t coming together. So I attempted other things, like short story writing and flash fiction.

Changing genre and style helped me complete the book. I think stretching, whether it’s writing or other creative outlets, can make all the difference when a blockage occurs – you know that thing that some say doesn’t even exist (writer’s block).

What about you. Does your writing flow like water or do those pesky dam building rodents sometimes clog up the works? What's your solution?



Have you signed up for the June Challenge?
It's easy!





Monday, June 5, 2017

Book Tour Complete


Thanks to Mason Canyon, my book tour is finished. Mason did an amazing job. Organization is a virtue that she has in spades, and was so vital during the last month. If you're looking to do a book tour, consider Mason. She won't disappoint you!

Thank you also, to everyone who participated. Without your help the Snowman Tour wouldn't have been.

Did I sell thousands of books? No. Did I sell hundreds of books? No. Then why even hold such a tour? I did it to get the word out about the book, to make sure that a google search on The Snowman would bring up loads of sites - to give readers and potential readers more information about the story. Will that translate into sales. That remains to be seen. I'll keep you informed.


In case you missed it - here's The Snowman's full tour:

May 1st

Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit – Guest Post on Inspiration & Research

May 2nd

Romance Under Fire – Feather Stone’s Review

May 3rd

Denise Covey, Author – Denise’s Review & Author Guest Post a Warning

Random Thoughts – Excerpt – Dead Weight

May 4th

The Silver Dagger Scriptorium – Excerpt – Body on the Beach

May 5th

Julie Flanders – Excerpt - Disappointments

May 8th

Alex J. Cavanaugh – Top Ten Snowmen

Christine Rains – Guest Post - Setting & Tension

May 9th

May 10th

Pat Hatt Books – Murder Bag & Author Q & A

May 11th

May 12th

Lexa Cain – Feature

Elizabeth Seckman – Guest Post - Temperature & Crime

May 15th

Just Us Book Blog – Excerpt - Reincarnation


May 16th


May 17th


Writers and Authors – Guest Post - The Importance of Editors

May 18th

The Bookworm Chronicles – Excerpt – A New Masterpiece

May 19th

I Think Therefore I Yam – Susan Interviews Stowy in Prison

May 22nd
The Five Year Project –  Guest Post – Putting Memories in the Story

May 24th


May 25th


May 26th

May 29th

May 30th

May 31st

Celticlady’s Reviews – Excerpt – Reality Check

Reviews by Crystal –  Q & A with the Author



Have you done a blog book tour?
How do you feel about them, are they worth it?
Would you do it again?



Monday, May 29, 2017

THE LAST WEEK

"Our greatest glory
is not in never falling, but
in rising every time we fall."
- Confucius




I hope your weekend was as beautiful as mine!



THE
SNOWMAN
WILL BE VISITING


May 29 – FUONLYKNEW – Review

May 30 – Thoughts in Progress - Feature

May 31 – Celticlady’s Reviews – Excerpt - Reality Check
                  Reviews by CrystalQ & A with Yolanda Renee

June 1 – bookworm1102 – Excerpt - Reunion
                
Scattergun Scribblings – Author Guest Post    


 June 2 – Cheryl’s Book Nook – Review  

                  Libby Heily – Review & Excerpt - Marionette

 



FYI

The latest Challenge from the Write...Edit...Publish Team!
Sign up starts on 
JUNE 1st






Monday, May 22, 2017

DREAMS GOALS & ADVENTURE

Author Michael D. Ditton makes a stop here today as part of his Dreams, Goals, and Adventure Blog Tour through MC Book Tours.

Dreams, Goals and Adventure is a series of personal stories, the ups and downs of someone who inspires to reach all of the dreams set forth and how sometime a life event creates a situation requiring a major adjustment. It is stories others will be able to relate to with the life adventures each and every one of them have experienced, both good and challenging

DREAMS, GOALS AND ADVENTURE by Michael D. Ditton
◊ Paperback: 148 pages
◊ Genre: Self-Help, Motivational
◊ Publisher: BalboaPress (October 19, 2015)
◊ Language: English
◊ ISBN-10: 1504335880
◊ ISBN-13: 978-1504335881

From broke to retired in ten years . . .

Returning home from Desert Storm, I found myself mentally and financially bankrupt. Newly divorced, I had no job, no help, and no hope. My reasons to live were gone. At the lowest point in my life, I fell back on simple truths from my childhood: hard work gets results, and it's okay to dream. And dream I did, setting goals that launched me from poverty to a life I could not have imagined. And you can do it, too.
          Dreams, Goals, and Adventure will inspire you to dream big, work toward your goals, and live your life as an adventure every day.

* Don't be afraid to dream.
* Don't accept “no” as an answer.
* Remove “can't” from your vocabulary.
* Small goals are stepping stones to much larger goals.
* Learn how to spring forward from failure.
* Know you will have to adjust.
* Live life as an adventure.

"Your experiences are so extra-ordinary and you're fascinating
to listen to. Your speaking style is humble and respectful of both your role as a speaker and of your audience, as one would expect after hearing of what you were trained to do. If others would open their lives to adventure as you have they would love their life even more."
~Jim Cathcart, author of the bestsellers: The Acorn Principle and Relationship Selling. CEO of Cathcart.com 



Michael Ditton is an entrepreneur, personal development coach, and student of life. In addition to helping others realize their dreams, he can be found sailing or traveling in search of new adventures.

“When met by unexpected challenges, embrace them wholeheartedly as opportunities for adventure and education.”

I developed Goal-Setting Basics to help others interested in learning how to set goals. In my twenties, I had to gather these valuable bits of information a piece at a time. This site offers you an array of information, tools, and resources to help you in identifying, setting, and accomplishing your goals, whatever they might be. In these tools are free worksheets and examples to help you succeed. You will find Goal-Setting Basics is your single source for all of your goal-setting needs.

Financial Independence means having control over your time
without worrying about the ability to pay your bills” … So many think they have to be as wealthy as Bill Gates to live a rich life, that is so far from the truth … Let me show you how.


I was a dreamer from an early age. To this day I believe anyone can do whatever they choose to put their mind to.

I didn’t go from eight years old to semi-retired in the length of one sentence. Nor was it easy. But I did follow a simple, time-honored process.
I was in my twenties before I fully understood the true importance of goal setting. After that, I was able to be more focused, see where I wanted to be, how I was going to get there, notice when I needed to make adjustments, and had the satisfaction of reaching goals. I enjoyed the benefits of reaching a goal and putting a big, fat check mark on my list.

Here’s how those goals paid off:
At 8, sold vegetables door to door from my little red wagon
Age 13, supervisor, World’s Fare Hamburgers
Age 15, assistant manager trainee, Pizza Hut
Age 16, assistant manager, Round Table Pizza
Age 18, began a 20-year commitment with the U.S. Army and Army Reserve, retiring in 2005 as a staff sergeant and Desert Storm veteran. Over my service career I became a leader and was recognized and awarded for my achievements and outstanding service.
Age 20, found my true calling as a sales professional
Age 31, began a successful career in real estate and real estate investments
Age 36, semi-retired
Age 37, owned and operated several companies
Age 41, semi-retired, sold everything and sailed south on his 45’ sailboat

Although I found success at a very early age, I became painfully aware of how quickly it can all be taken away. In 1991, after I returned from Desert Storm, I found myself bankrupt, mentally, physically and financially and divorced.

It was the lowest point in my life. Four years later, I had clawed my way back to even, and started to build from there. Two years after that, following my roadmap of goals, I reached my first level of financial independence. The rest is history.

For more on Michael, you can connect with him at the following sites:

For those following his tour, Michael is offering a special price on the Kindle eBook format of DREAMS, GOALS, AND ADVENTURE at a reduced cost of just 99 cents! Readers can also get a FREE copy of Michael’s GOAL SETTING BASICS in the eBook format. For one or both of these special offers just CLICK HERE!

Thanks for visiting during Michael’s tour stop. Are you following your dreams?









AND

IF YOU'RE STILL FOLLOWING
THE SNOWMAN TOUR
THIS WEEK I'LL BE VISITING




May 24 – Bound 2 Escape – Excerpt

May 25 – Reviews by Crystal –  Announcement.

May 26 – J Bronder Book Reviews – Review


Monday, May 15, 2017

WEEK THREE WITH M C!

THIS WEEK THE SNOWMAN
WILL BE VISITING!




May 15 – Just Us Book Blog – Excerpt - Reincarnation



                The Pulp & Mystery Shelf - Feature


May 16 – Reading for the Stars and Moon – Excerpt - Moose Hunt



May 17 – Pat Garcia Book Reviews – Review

                 Authors & Writers - Guest Post - The Importance of Editors.



May 18 – The Bookworm Chronicles – Excerpt & Feature





May 19 – I Think; Therefore, I Yam – Susan visits Stowy Jenkins in prison. Would you dare?









If you're considering a book tour for your next release check out Mason Canyon of MC Book Tours.
 She is the complete package! Organized, on top of all the details, and so supportive! She has several plans to fit a budget, but the real advantage is that she takes care of all of it. You just have to provide the information, the guest posts, and show up on game day! She makes it easy!
Thank you, Mason, The Snowman's success wouldn't be what it is without you!





THE SNOWMAN
GOODREADS GIVEAWAY



Goodreads Book Giveaway


The Snowman by Yolanda Renee

The Snowman

by Yolanda Renee


Giveaway ends May 20, 2017.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.


Enter Giveaway




Monday, May 8, 2017

THE TOUR CONTINUES




This week I'll be visiting!


May 8 – Alex J. Cavanaugh – Top 10 Snowman Movie List
              Christine Rains – Writer – Author Guest Post
              Pat Hatt Books – Author Q&A

May 9 – Mello & June, It’s a Book Thang – Feature

May 11 – A Bluestocking’s Place – Feature

May 12 – Lexa Cain – Feature
                Elizabeth Seckman, Author – Author Guest Post





It may be hard to believe that I wrote THE SNOWMAN while enjoying this view almost daily, but to be honest it's why I was able to keep my sanity throughout the process. When Stowy became too much to handle a long walk on the beach would make all the difference in the world. I was truly blessed to have had the opportunity!

For those of you interested in winning a copy there's several opportunities being offered during the tour, and a new one that starts on the 12th via Goodreads! I hope you take the opportunity!

If you don't want to wait and are curious and willing to write a review - I'll send you an eBook copy - just email me at yolandarenee@hotmail.com and let me know if you want Mobi or EPub - print copies are also available!
Thank you in advance!
*****





Goodreads Book Giveaway


The Snowman by Yolanda Renee

The Snowman

by Yolanda Renee


Giveaway ends May 20, 2017.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.


Enter Giveaway




Wednesday, May 3, 2017

IWSG - RESEARCH



Today’s Question: 
What is the weirdest/coolest thing you ever had to research for your story?
Since I write murder mysteries – I've researched various serial killers their methods and their reasons – many never share the why? But as a person interested in motivations, I give my antagonists a background befitting their psychotic bent.



Be sure to visit and thank these amazing Co-Hosts:
Michelle Wallace
Nancy Gideon
Tamara Narayan
Liesbet @ Roaming About
Feather Stone

I hope you will follow my blog tour for the Snowman.

This week I'll be visiting:


THE SNOWMAN TOUR CALENDAR


May 1 – Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit – Author Guest Post


May 2 – Romance Under Fire Review& Excerpt

May 3 – Denise Covey Review & Author Guest Post              
                 Bish Denham - Random Thoughts – Excerpt

May 4 – The Silver Dagger Scriptorium Excerpt & Author Guest Post

May 5 – Julie Flanders, Writer – Excerpt

Please stop by and say hello!