From My Family To Yours!
Have a wonderful holiday season!
We will be back in 2015!
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Subject: Time Travel
Why
Write
About Time Travel?
It's
fascinating to think that one could travel through the time space
continuum to a land of the past or future. Just think about it, to
see the things we missed by being born in a different decade, century
or
even millennium would be so awesome. To learn how we evolved as
humans and to see how we will evolve as creatures in space. I chose
Time Travel for my novels because I felt
that
the genre of fictional, historical romance needed a face lift. A
rejuvenation of sorts. Time travel is a popular theme in fiction and
has been depicted in a variety of media from television to
advertising. It can be the central theme of the plot, or merely a
plot
device
to set the story in motion.
In
some science fiction stories, time travel is included in the plot or
then again normal time speed has been slowed down. Hard science
fiction may
restrict
time travel by examining the causes and effects of time travel
paradoxes; soft science fiction, fantasy and science fantasy may
ignore
these
aspects and focus on fantastic wonders and adventures. I love Regency
and Victorian era romance novels, always have, but something was
missing,
the
element of wonder and awe. To be able to be a character who is in the
modern world and travel backwards or forwards in time seemed like the
ultimate read to me.
Others
don't see it that way. They see erotica, contemporary romance,
science fiction and horror as the money makers. This may all be true.
But for this author, time travel
is
the ultimate in cliffhanging and plot theory creation. I hope you
will enjoy some facts that I dug up regarding time travel.
Sources:
Although
The Time Machine (by H. G. Wells, published 1895) was instrumental in
moving the concept of time travel to the forefront of the public
imagination, non-technological forms of time travel had appeared in a
number of earlier stories. Some even earlier works had featured
elements suggestive of time travel, but remain somewhat ambiguous.
•In
ancient Hindu mythology, the Mahabharata, written around 700 B.C.
mentions the story of the King Revaita, who travels to a different
world to meet the creator Brahma. The King is shocked to learn that
many ages have passed when he returns to Earth.[4]
•Another
very old example of this type of story can be found in the Talmud,
with the story of Honi HaM'agel, written in 300 A.D., who went to
sleep for 70 years and woke up to a world where his grandchildren
were grandparents and where all his friends and family were
dead.[citation needed]
•Urashima
Taro, an early Japanese tale, involves traveling forward in time to a
distant future,[5] and was first described in the Nihongi. The tale
was about a young fisherman, named Urashima Taro, who visits an
undersea palace and stays there for three days. After returning home
to his village, he finds himself three hundred years in the future,
where he is long forgotten, his house is in ruins, and his family
long since dead.[5]
•In
Walter Map's 12th century De nugis curriculum ("Courtiers'
Trifles"), Map tells of the Briton King Herla, who is
transported with his hunting party over two centuries into the future
by the enchantment of a mysterious harlequin.
•Memoirs
of the Twentieth Century (1733), by Samuel Madden, is mainly a series
of letters from English ambassadors in various countries to the
British "Lord High Treasurer", along with a few replies
from the British foreign office, all purportedly written in 1997 and
1998 and describing the conditions of that era. However, the framing
story is that these letters were actual documents given to the
narrator by his guardian angel one night in 1728. For this reason,
Paul Alkon suggests in his book Origins of Futuristic Fiction that
"the first time-traveler in English literature is a guardian
angel who returns with state documents from 1998 to the year 1728",
although the book does not explicitly show how the angel obtained the
documents. Alkon later qualifies this by writing, "[i]t would be
stretching our generosity to praise Madden for being the first to
show a traveler arriving from the future", but he also says that
Madden "deserves recognition as the first to toy with the rich
idea of time travel in the form of an artifact sent backwards from
the future to be discovered in the present."
•In
the play Anno 7603, written by the Dano-Norwegian poet Johan Herman
Wessel in 1781, the two main characters are moved into the future (AD
7603) by a good fairy.
•In
the science fiction anthology Far Boundaries (1951), the editor
August Derleth identifies the short story Missing One's Coach: An
Anachronism, written for the Dublin University Magazine by an
anonymous author in 1838, as a very early time travel story. In it,
the narrator is waiting under a tree to be picked up by a coach which
will take him out of Newcastle when he suddenly finds himself
transported back over a thousand years. There he encounters the
Venerable Bede in a monastery, and gives him somewhat ironic
explanations of the developments of the coming centuries. It is never
entirely clear whether these events actually occurred, or were merely
a dream.
•In
1843, the Charles Dickens novella A Christmas Carol depicts Ebeneezer
Scrooge being transported back and forth in time to points in his own
lifetime by a series of Ghosts to visit Christmases Past, Present and
Future. However, the things he sees are merely "shadows";
he and the Ghosts do not interact with them.
•The
book Paris avant les hommes ("Paris before Men"), by the
French botanist and geologist Pierre Boitard (published posthumously
in 1861), has the main character transported to various prehistoric
settings by the magic of a "lame demon", and who is then
able to actively interact with prehistoric life.
•The
short story The Clock that Went Backward, written by editor Edward
Page Mitchell, appeared in the New York Sun in 1881, another early
example of time travel in fiction.
•Looking
Backward (1888), by Edward Bellamy, and News from Nowhere (1890), by
William Morris, each feature a protagonist who wakes up in a
socialist utopian future.
•A
Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889), by Mark Twain.
•Tourmalin's
Time Cheques (1891), by Thomas Anstey Guthrie (and written under the
pseudonym F. Anstey), was the first story to explore the paradoxes
that time travel might cause.
•Golf
in the Year 2000 (1892), by J. McCullough, tells the story of an
Englishman who fell asleep in 1892 and awakened in the year 2000. The
focus of the book is how the game of golf would have changed by then,
but many social and technological themes are also discussed along the
way, including devices similar to television and women's equality.
Themes:
•Changing
the past: in this genre, a visitor to the past changes history using
knowledge and/or technology from his or her own time, either for good
or evil, creating an alternate history as a result.[citation needed]
Examples of this genre include Lest Darkness Fall by L. Sprague de
Camp and the 2009 Star Trek film.
•The
Guardians of time: in this genre, a group of people are charged with
ensuring that time turns out "properly" (i.e. protecting it
from changes by other time travelers).[citation needed] Examples of
this genre include John Schettler's Meridian series and Simon Lee's
Timekeepers. TimeRiders, a series of novels by author Alex Scarrow,
tells the story of three people who have been rescued moments before
death and recruited into a secret organization in order to prevent
time travel from unraveling history.
•Preventing
a bad future: in this genre, the main characters learn, either by
going to the future and returning or by the arrival of a time
traveler from the future, that the future has not turned out well,
having either turned into a dystopia or resulted in the end of the
world. The characters try to change something in the present which
prevents that future from coming to pass.[citation needed] The
Terminator film franchise includes several stories of time travelers
from the future waging war with each other so as to create or prevent
a post-apocalyptic future. In the TV series Terra Nova, humans travel
85 million years into the past in an effort to prevent a later
disaster from occurring.
•Unintentional
change or fulfillment: in this genre, a time traveler intends to
observe past events, or is taken to the past against his will and
tries to return to his proper time. However, the time traveler
discovers that his actions have unintentionally altered the future
because of the Butterfly effect. A Sound of Thunder is an example of
this genre.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Spotlight on Author Gen Griffin!
Author Gen Griffin is a premiere author of The Shiners Bayou Novels. She is currently working on her second book in the series called. Releasing December 24, 2014. Her new book The Scavengers is truly going to be an epic novel. Want to get to Gen better?
Shoot an email at: gengriffinauthor@gmail.com
Follow on Twitter: @gengriffinbooks
Friend on Facebook: Gen Griffin Author
Friend or follow on TSU: Gen Griffin's TSU
Facebook Page: Gen Griffin Author Page
YOU CAN ALSO: LIKE THE SCAVENGERS ON FACEBOOK
Like Shiner's Bayou on facebook
Catching Skunks
Shiner's Bayou Book Two
Trish Shallowman feels like her life has been put on pause. She has a fiance who keeps pushing back the wedding date, a job with no start date and a car that breaks down on alternating Wednesdays.
When Trish's mother asks her to temporarily move to Shiner's Bayou and take care of her ailing grandfather, Trish figures that a change of scenery can't make her situation in life any worse.
She wasn't expecting to spend most of her days trying to prevent her grandfather from shooting at the mailman or that her impossibly gorgeous neighbor would decide he wanted to be her first ever one-night-stand. She definitely wasn't expecting that two months in Shiner's Bayou would make her question whether the future she's spent so much time waiting for is really the future she wants.
http://www.amazon.com/Catching-Skunks-Shiners-Bayou-Novel-ebook/dp/B00QWG6QPO/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=gengriautandw-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=JF7IEFDDEIQOXS7H&creativeASIN=B00QWG6QPO
When Trish's mother asks her to temporarily move to Shiner's Bayou and take care of her ailing grandfather, Trish figures that a change of scenery can't make her situation in life any worse.
She wasn't expecting to spend most of her days trying to prevent her grandfather from shooting at the mailman or that her impossibly gorgeous neighbor would decide he wanted to be her first ever one-night-stand. She definitely wasn't expecting that two months in Shiner's Bayou would make her question whether the future she's spent so much time waiting for is really the future she wants.
http://www.amazon.com/Catching-Skunks-Shiners-Bayou-Novel-ebook/dp/B00QWG6QPO/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=gengriautandw-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=JF7IEFDDEIQOXS7H&creativeASIN=B00QWG6QPO
Excerpt:
The trailer was on fire and David couldn't force enough air into his lungs to breathe. The ancient single-wide was going up in a ball of orange and red. Flames were licking their way up the walls in the hallway. The walls burned like they were made of thin paper. Embers flew in all directions. One of the embers caught his chin, burning into his flesh as sharply as a lit cigarette would have.
In a distant part of his mind, David wondered if Addison had come home from work and fallen asleep in bed with a lit cigarette. He wondered if Addison had burned to death in his bed, less than 100 feet away from where David was sitting now, watching the flames approach. The thought of his best friend dying jarred David back to the reality of his own situation. He was going to be a very crispy critter if he didn't move. Now.
David flung the comforter away from him as the edge of it began to smoke. He was never going to make it out the front door of the trailer. The hallway between his bedroom and the door was totally engulfed in flames. The windows would be his best option. Unfortunately, the windows had been stuck shut for a couple of years now. He grabbed hold of the 12 gauge shotgun that he always kept beside the bed. He smashed the butt of the gun into the glass of the window. The window gave with a loud crack. Three more solid strikes and the glass was gone, lying on the ground below like a spiteful booby-trap.
The room was filling with smoke now. Flames were spreading across the carpeting of the room. David tossed his shotgun out the window and then jumped out after it, landing barefoot in the broken glass below. Flames came whooshing out the window behind him a moment later as the curtains caught fire. Somewhere in the distance, sirens were screaming.
Someone grabbed David by the arm and began dragging him back away from the burning building. “Get up. Dammit, David. Get up. I can't-cough- fucking – cough – carry you.”
David looked up at Addison blearily. He felt dazed and disoriented. “You're not dead.”
“Not at the moment, but we will be if the damned propane tank behind the house goes.” Addison yanked David to his feet. He was dragging him backwards, away from the flaming trailer. Pieces of the roof of the trailer were starting to come off in burning chunks. One of the burning shingles landed next to David's foot. Addison stomped on it.
“My truck,” David's eyes fell on the Toyota, which was sitting parked in its usual spot next to the front porch. The hood was engulfed with flames. It burned like a funeral pyre, sending flames 15 feet into the air.
“Too late for the truck,” Addison kept pulling David towards the highway. David wanted to go back to the trailer. He wanted to try and save his truck. Addison wouldn't let him go. “Dammit David, come on.”
There was a strong breeze tonight, David realized. The fire was likely to spread to the woods that surrounded his house. Addison was right. The fire was going to spread to the old, and probably still full, propane tank behind the house.
“The fire is going to spread to the propane tank.” David barely realized he'd said the words out loud.
“No shit,” Addison had to fight against the smoke filled air to get the words out. “I just said that.”
All of a sudden, David could think again. At least, he could think enough to realize that if they didn't put a whole lot more distance between themselves and the fire, they were probably about to die. David quit fighting against Addison. “We should run away now,” David told him.
“You think?” Addison wheezed as he released David's arm.
“Yeah.”
They ran.
Feeding Gators
The trailer was on fire and David couldn't force enough air into his lungs to breathe. The ancient single-wide was going up in a ball of orange and red. Flames were licking their way up the walls in the hallway. The walls burned like they were made of thin paper. Embers flew in all directions. One of the embers caught his chin, burning into his flesh as sharply as a lit cigarette would have.
In a distant part of his mind, David wondered if Addison had come home from work and fallen asleep in bed with a lit cigarette. He wondered if Addison had burned to death in his bed, less than 100 feet away from where David was sitting now, watching the flames approach. The thought of his best friend dying jarred David back to the reality of his own situation. He was going to be a very crispy critter if he didn't move. Now.
David flung the comforter away from him as the edge of it began to smoke. He was never going to make it out the front door of the trailer. The hallway between his bedroom and the door was totally engulfed in flames. The windows would be his best option. Unfortunately, the windows had been stuck shut for a couple of years now. He grabbed hold of the 12 gauge shotgun that he always kept beside the bed. He smashed the butt of the gun into the glass of the window. The window gave with a loud crack. Three more solid strikes and the glass was gone, lying on the ground below like a spiteful booby-trap.
The room was filling with smoke now. Flames were spreading across the carpeting of the room. David tossed his shotgun out the window and then jumped out after it, landing barefoot in the broken glass below. Flames came whooshing out the window behind him a moment later as the curtains caught fire. Somewhere in the distance, sirens were screaming.
Someone grabbed David by the arm and began dragging him back away from the burning building. “Get up. Dammit, David. Get up. I can't-cough- fucking – cough – carry you.”
David looked up at Addison blearily. He felt dazed and disoriented. “You're not dead.”
“Not at the moment, but we will be if the damned propane tank behind the house goes.” Addison yanked David to his feet. He was dragging him backwards, away from the flaming trailer. Pieces of the roof of the trailer were starting to come off in burning chunks. One of the burning shingles landed next to David's foot. Addison stomped on it.
“My truck,” David's eyes fell on the Toyota, which was sitting parked in its usual spot next to the front porch. The hood was engulfed with flames. It burned like a funeral pyre, sending flames 15 feet into the air.
“Too late for the truck,” Addison kept pulling David towards the highway. David wanted to go back to the trailer. He wanted to try and save his truck. Addison wouldn't let him go. “Dammit David, come on.”
There was a strong breeze tonight, David realized. The fire was likely to spread to the woods that surrounded his house. Addison was right. The fire was going to spread to the old, and probably still full, propane tank behind the house.
“The fire is going to spread to the propane tank.” David barely realized he'd said the words out loud.
“No shit,” Addison had to fight against the smoke filled air to get the words out. “I just said that.”
All of a sudden, David could think again. At least, he could think enough to realize that if they didn't put a whole lot more distance between themselves and the fire, they were probably about to die. David quit fighting against Addison. “We should run away now,” David told him.
“You think?” Addison wheezed as he released David's arm.
“Yeah.”
They ran.
Feeding Gators
The Shiners Book One
Not wanting to sleep with someone isn't a crime, unless you kill the guy who won't take no for an answer. Austin's body isn't even cold on the floorboards when Gracie Malone decides that the best way to deal with an accidental murder is to pretend it never happened. Accompanied by the most notorious alleged murderer in her small hometown of Shiner's Bayou, her womanizing big brother and the ex-boyfriend she's never going to get over, Gracie knows she needs to hide the body and get rid of all the evidence before Austin is even reported missing.
Disposing of a corpse is never an easy task, but doing the dirty work becomes much dirtier when Gracie and her friends have to deal with a newly minted Sheriff's Deputy looking to avenge an old grudge. With Eddie hot on their heels, Gracie is doing everything she can to get away with murder before someone else gets added to the body count.
http://www.amazon.com/Feeding-Gators-Shiners-Bayou-Series-ebook/dp/B00KPHNBFY/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=gengriautandw-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=KMENJUDTUWL62XMJ&creativeASIN=B00KPHNBFY
Excerpt From Novel:
David had always liked the creek at night, but his fondness for the dark, murky water didn't make him any more eager to go swimming in it. There was a certain element of risk associated with going deep into the depths of the actual Bayou that Shiner's Bayou had been named for at night smelling strongly of blood and raw meat. After all, it wasn't just chock full of crickets. Plenty of alligators lived in the depths of Shiner's Bayou.
He pressed the barrel of his shotgun into the bottom of the 12 foot jon boat he had used to haul Austin Putterling's body to the alligator infested moonshine still in the heart of the bayou and pulled the trigger. He repeated the process three more times until he was satisfied with the amount of dark creek water that was rapidly flowing into the bottom of the boat.
He'd heard too much about carpet fibers, finger prints and the itty bitty drops of DNA that could survive months of exposure to the elements and cleaning products. He'd used his boat to get rid of Austin and now he had to get rid of his boat.
He was going to miss the boat.
David had always liked the creek at night, but his fondness for the dark, murky water didn't make him any more eager to go swimming in it. There was a certain element of risk associated with going deep into the depths of the actual Bayou that Shiner's Bayou had been named for at night smelling strongly of blood and raw meat. After all, it wasn't just chock full of crickets. Plenty of alligators lived in the depths of Shiner's Bayou.
He pressed the barrel of his shotgun into the bottom of the 12 foot jon boat he had used to haul Austin Putterling's body to the alligator infested moonshine still in the heart of the bayou and pulled the trigger. He repeated the process three more times until he was satisfied with the amount of dark creek water that was rapidly flowing into the bottom of the boat.
He'd heard too much about carpet fibers, finger prints and the itty bitty drops of DNA that could survive months of exposure to the elements and cleaning products. He'd used his boat to get rid of Austin and now he had to get rid of his boat.
He was going to miss the boat.
The Scavengers
Available December 24, 2014
It has been 28 years, 14 weeks and 9 days since a virus had turned more than half of the world's human population into zombies. More than 95 percent of the population died within 6 months of the initial infection. Those who survived holed up wherever they could find safety.My parents found their safety in the Cube, a building that was originally built as a prison for violent criminals. Mom and Dad have always told me the sacrifices we made to live in the Cube were worth it because we were safe.
Its been 13 days, 12 hours and 42 minutes since my parents disappeared without a trace from our apartment inside the Cube.
I'm going to leave the Cube for the first time today. Maybe I'll find my parents. Maybe, I'll be eaten by the zombies.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Scavengers-Gen-Griffin-ebook/dp/B00QQQ9FV2/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=gengriautandw-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=JYBLOGG2LUQ3TSH4&creativeASIN=B00QQQ9FV2
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Crying Can Be Therapeutic!
Have a good Christmas cry!
Missing loved ones this time of year can be overwhelming. I find that this year is worse than others. All of my grown children have their own lives here in my own state and out of state. Years ago when the children were all home it was a splendid time of laughter, presents, food and fun. Now it is quiet, lonely, long, cold nights. I am not wanting to celebrate anything. Oh I do celebrate Jesus birth and I pray for better days to come. I have found that the only way to get over this melacholy is to just sit and have a good cry. While it doesnt solve anything at all. It does refresh my brain in a way that I can focus more clearly on the mundane tasks of everyday life. So this year if you are missingloved ones and do not know what to do to stop the empty, sorrowful feelings, well…have a good cry. Go ahead, nobody cares. Just pull out all the photos of years past and have a good bawling session.
Remember the Kleenex and glass of water. :)
No one can make you feel better but you. Hugs and love to all this winter.
Author Victoria Bright is in the Spotlight!
The incomparable Victoria Bright, brings you the best in hot, steamy, romance. I personally guarantee if you read these books you will be wanting more from this author. Hot, Steamy, Sexy!
Love Unbroken, Love Reborn and The Daring Assignment.
Get your copies today!
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Unbroken-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00DCG3Q1Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418317885&sr=1-3&keywords=Victoria+Bright
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Author Sharon Black
I was nicely asked by this author to share her new book. I am always happy to help another author get known. I believe sharing is caring always. So I present to you........
Fun Irish romance romp #GoingAgainstType http://ow.ly/Dmcqs
http://amzn.to/1yqt0l5 tirpub.com/gatype @authorsharonb
Fun Irish romance romp #GoingAgainstType http://ow.ly/Dmcqs
http://amzn.to/1yqt0l5 tirpub.com/gatype @authorsharonb
Monday, December 1, 2014
Monday, November 24, 2014
HOLIDAY SPECIAL SALE!
Autographed paperback copies of
are on sale and ready to ship to your door for only $10.00
A perfect holiday gift!
Troianne is a time travel romance, waiting to be read on those cold winter nights. Historical fiction, paranormal aspects, cliffhangers on every chapter and plenty of humor to lighten your moods.
IF you would like to to give as a gift, ask for it to be gift wrapped.
What a deal! $10.00, autographed
and
gift wrapped.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Wolfie The Wurtle just in time for Christmas!
Buy the little ones you love a gift that will last a lifetime. A story of how a little turtle wants to stay warm for winter and be awake for Santa!
https://www.createspace.com/5096909
https://www.createspace.com/5096909
Thursday, November 6, 2014
WINTER STRESS
Now that winter is setting in we are all experiencing those aches and
pains of bodies changing, preparing for the long winter months. Yeah, I
sure am. I just want to put the sweat pants on, long sleeve, socks and
slippers, curl up with a good book and tune the world out. However, more
easily said than done. Having kids in school or getting up early in the
morning, we all just want to crawl into a hole and forget the duties of
life. You all know this cannot be done. What can be done is one thing
for yourself to help get you through the winter. The one thing
is...meditate. I know, I know. You don't have time to meditate? Yes, you
do! If you can zone out to the television or lock yourself in a
bathroom, you can meditate. I bet more than half of you, are on your
phones and computers more than 3 hours a day. Well, if you are browsing
through shopping sites, or Facebook.STOP, Tune out the world around you
or put on some headphones for goodness sake. Find a beautiful picture or
reflective image. Look at it for one minute. Stop. Close your eyes.
Take yourself to that place. Take ten deep breaths. Smile...Keep your
eyes closed! Smile, take five more regular breaths. Open your eyes, look
at the picture for a minute and repeat the other things one more time.
Now, do you feel calmer? I bet you do.
If not email me. You need help! LOL
I wish you all a stress free winter.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
TEN THINGS YOU NEED FOR A BOOK SIGNING!
BOOK SIGNING SOON? You will want to check out these ten points of advice.
If you’ve been thinking about setting up a table at a book festival, make sure you read this list first. This list has everything you need to make a successful showing. If you find it helpful, please share. Make sure you click the links to see the awesome resources I’ve dug up for you so you don’t have to go find them yourself.
If you’ve been thinking about setting up a table at a book festival, make sure you read this list first. This list has everything you need to make a successful showing. If you find it helpful, please share. Make sure you click the links to see the awesome resources I’ve dug up for you so you don’t have to go find them yourself.
- Books – This may sound obvious, but you need books to sell. If possible, find out how many people are expected to attend, and calculate a 1% – 2% conversion rate. That is roughly how many books you will need to have on hand.
- Posters - These can draw the attention of potential buyers from across the room. Make sure you get 16×20 or larger, so they are easier to see from a distance.
- Poster Frames – If you buy a decent frame, it should last you a while, and you can use it for multiple events. Make sure you bring Windex and paper towels to keep the glass clean.
- Display Tripod – If you have posters, you’ll need a way to display them. Having tripods is a great idea because you can adjust the height and they come with awesome carrying cases.
- Book Stand – A book stand is a great way to display your books and ensure that they don’t keep falling over. People like to touch, and rarely put the books back correctly. This cuts down on that.
- Table Banner – Having a table banner can attract a lot of attention from a distance. Just make sure that your banner isn’t too big for your table or it will droop and look unprofessional.
- Bookmarks – Bookmarks are awesome and cheap free giveaways. They also help make your table look more full and they can be used over and over again. The reusability of bookmarks makes them great for long term marketing.
Personal Dolly – I’ve done several shows and a personal dolly will save you lots of time and back pain, especially if its a far walk from the car to your table. Invest in one of these if you plan to attend shows on at least a semi regular basis.
- Tablet PC – If you really want to draw the crowd’s attention, putting a slideshow on a tablet can be a wow factor. I stole this little idea from Virren Orr as I watched him use it to add email addresses to his mailing list the entire book fair.
- Emergency Power Source – One thing about book festivals and fairs is that they don’t always offer access to power. Having your own power source can be a game changer, especially if no one else has one.
- Business Cards – These are essential at pretty much any event. Business cards are a great way to let people know how to get in touch with you. There are also other uses for business cards, outside of just providing your contact information. Experiment and see what other uses you can come up with.
- Flyers - If you have upcoming events or just want to share excerpts from your books, flyers are a great way to do both. If your event is not ongoing, make sure you don’t order too many or you’ll be stuck with lots of unusable flyers. Its also suggested that you do a small order at first to see how people respond. If they don’t like them, change them, and try again until you find a design that is more effective.
- Awning – These are great to have on hand. Luckily you’ll only need to buy one of these, unless it gets damaged. Awnings can keep the sun off of you in the heat and rain off of you and your books if necessary. You can never go wrong with an awning purchase. Just make sure your awning isn’t too big for your location. A 10×10 will work in most cases.
- Table Cloth – This is a necessary expense because they usually aren’t provided. Table cloths are great for hiding boxes under tables or if you have to share a table, it ensures that you aren’t
sitting at a table with two different table cloths that meet at the middle. A good rule of thumb is to buy at least one 6ft. and one 8ft. so that there are no issues if you end up with a table that is larger or smaller than expected.
- Chairs - Comfortable chairs are essential if you plan to attend an event for a long period of time. Most times chairs are not provided, and if they are, they tend to be flimsy. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a comfortable chair. If you’re serious about your career, you’ll be using it for years to come.
Reader Add Ons
- Transparent Shower Curtains – This, along with clear tape will help keep the rain off or your books when the wind is blowing.
- Plastic Shopping Bags – Customers need something to carry their books in and they’ll appreciate you going the extra mile. It’ll also give people a reason to stop at your table when they have books they’ve already bought, but nothing to carry them in.
- Square – If you need to process credit card payments, then this is a handy little device that will allow you to swipe them and collect payment using your phone.
- Weights and Bungee Cords – These are perfect for holding down your canopy and signs.
- Trash Bags – If you plan to eat or open packaging of any kind, having trash bags can come in handy. However, make sure you keep them out of sight or it will make your area look unprofessional.
- Signing Pens – Make sure you grab a pack, just in case people want their books signed. While you’re at it, have a lighter on hand. If your pen dries up, heating the tip very quickly will get the ink flowing again.
- See more at: http://www.virtualbusinesstrainingnetwork.com/author/the-ultimate-book-festival-checklist/#sthash.tHLZh2lW.dpuf
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
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Scarlett Jade's Latest News!
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Sunday, October 26, 2014
Friday, October 24, 2014
Author Spotllight
M. Sembera - Author
Birth date:
It was something I always wanted to do. I had written things here and there but never sat down and put everything together to write a book. It just happened that it was the right time in my life to be able to focus and get it all down.
ARC of Stolen Innocence (Shadow Series) by Addison Kline
Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
Thank you so much for the interview questions and for sharing my work! <3 M.
Birth date:
May 21, 1976
Where are you from:
I was born in Baton Rouge Louisiana and lived there until I was 11. I now live in Brazoria, Texas.
A little about your self `ie your education, Family, life etc:
I am married with three kids. The older two have graduated and moved out but my 9yr old keeps me busier than both of them put together.
Tell us your latest book news?
Charlotte (MH2) was released on Sept. 25th. It was an exciting book for me because it was my first time to write about someone other than Ren.
When and why did you begin writing?
It was something I always wanted to do. I had written things here and there but never sat down and put everything together to write a book. It just happened that it was the right time in my life to be able to focus and get it all down.
When did you consider yourself an Author?
When my first book was published, I think.
What inspired you to write your first book?
There was a short story I write in high school that I planned on turning into a book one day. However, it took 15 years to get it together so I would say my first book is 'loosely' based on that.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I think so but I couldn't tell you what it is.
How did you come up with the titles?
Usually I try to pull it from somewhere in there book or use the overall theme.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
The main thing I hope to convey is while our flaws often make us who we are, they do not define us.
How much of the book is realistic?
I try to make my books as realistic as possible but they are strictly fiction.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Indirectly, sure.
What books have most influenced your life most?
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Ann of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
We write in different genera's and styles but I have to say Arial Burnz. She's really honest and straightforward about all aspects of being an author. She truly is an awesome lady and a great writer too.
What book are you reading now?
ARC of Stolen Innocence (Shadow Series) by Addison Kline
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I don't know if I would consider her new but I just finished Bait by M. Mabie and she grasped me alright!
What are your current projects?
Penny's book (MH3) is currently in progress. I'm hoping to have it out around the first of the year.
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members:
The indie author community, they are so amazing and supportive.
Do you see writing as a career?
yes
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Nope :) I love Charlotte just the way she is.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
When I wrote my first short story in high school, I just fell in love with creating the characters.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Sure! Marked Heart is a standalone series with interconnecting characters. Penny is mentioned in Enduring Everything and is a strong side character in Charlotte. She is sweet, sincere and for the most part looks at the brighter side of things. Basically she likes to be happy. Penny loves her friends and family but she isn't very good at relationships. With her best friend married to one of her brother's just having had a baby, her roommate engaged and about to be married and her latest boyfriend dumping her, she's feeling a bit lonely. Taking a step back to do some self-evaluation, she decides to lay off of dating for a while. So when she gets a new neighbor, Penny decides they are going to be friends, whether he likes it or not.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Probably, naming places. I know it sounds silly but for some reason I have a hard time with attaching actual names with stores and restaurants etc.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I have 3 -
Edith Wharton-Age of Innocence to this day is the most romantic book I've ever read. There is something about anticipation that makes a book exciting for me to read.
L.M. Montgomery-Ann of Green Gables is my all-time favorite book. It inspired my love of reading.
The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe because he was always able to set a scene and bring it to life. Not to mention there are many morals to each of his stories.
Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
I work out of an office at my house but I will be attending DITH in Austin Tx. this coming February. It is my first book signing so it is really exciting for me.
Who designed the covers?
Me
What was the hardest part of writing your books?
The editing process... Luckily, I have my editor Margaret from Eye Review. She keeps me in line.
Did you learn anything from writing your books?
There is always room for improvement and to grow in my craft.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Take your time, hire an editor, learn how to take criticism with grace and always remember, you write for those who enjoy your work not the ones who don't.
Do your have anything specific you would like to say to your readers?
I appreciate the time y'all take to read my books! Without Readers my books would never see the light of day. I am truly grateful for each and every one of you!
Do you remember the first book you ever read?
I do! It was Bears First Christmas and I can remember thinking, 'Wow I'm reading'.
Other than writing do you have any hobbies?
I love to make swag for giveaways but aside from that, I mostly spend time with my family when I'm not writing.
What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
I don't watch TV but I do enjoy action and comedy movies the most.
Favorite foods / Colors/ Music:
Olives & Feta/Green/Alternative
If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
No idea... More than likely what I already do just without writing. I can't think of anything else I ever REALLY wanted to do.
Do you have a blog/website? If so please share your links.
Yes! www.BrokenBirdMedia.com
Are you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest etc. Please share those links also.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorM.Sembera
amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=M.%20Sembera&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4707427.M_Sembera
twitter: https://twitter.com/M_Sembera
google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/107595295959820500628
Instagram: http://instagram.com/m_sembera
Please share your book covers:
Marked Heart Series
#1 #2
Cover reveal for #3 Penny's book will take place in Dec 2014
The Rennillia Series
Prequel Novelette Series
Please provide a personal picture of yourself or one of your favorite photos.
Thank you so much for the interview questions and for sharing my work! <3 M.
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