Wacky Days!

Happy Friday everyone! Casey here!

In my quest for a blog topic this week, I stumbled upon this website – Holiday Insights.

I kid you not. There is a holiday for everything. Today is National Tell a Story day in the United States.

If you live in Scotland or England you have to wait until October 27th to celebrate. Apparently, no one knows why the holidays are six month apart.

Anyhoo. The gist of the day is to tell a story to someone. No surprise, this is popular with the elementary school/library set.

So, you know I couldn’t stop there. I googled wacky holidays and hit pay dirt (thank you Brownielocks & The 3 Bears).

April 27th is also:

• Babe Ruth Day
• Arbor Day
• National Prime Rib Day
• National Hairball AwarenessDay
• Mantanzas Mule Day
• Morse Code Day

If you like celebrating by the week, Brownielocks also offers up these gems (this is just a sampling):

• National Scoop the Poop Week
• National Severe Storm Preparedness Week
• Week of the Young Child
• Spring Astronmy Week
• National Pie Championships

I swear I’m not making these up!

But you know. . . . I’m a writer. I make things up all the time. So why not make up a few holidays of my own?

If I were to make up my own holiday, I would declare today – Adorable Owl Day!

Or - Leave the Writer Alone Day!

Or perhaps – Gratituous Hunk with No Shirt Day!

I’m pretty sure I could make up something for each day of the week!
How about you? What holidays would you make up? Don’t be shy!

Hopping with Authors in Bloom

Hey gang, PJ Sharon here on this second Tuesday in April. I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday weekend with lots of good food and time with family. After such a “hoppy” weekend, it seems only reasonable to suggest that April is the best time of year for a spring blog hop. For those of you who have only heard the term Blog Hop, and have wondered, ummm…what the heck is a blog hop? Well, I’m here to fill you in.

A blog hop is a way for many authors to join together to cross promote. Some dedicated and organized soul (thank you Dianne Venetta), sets up the main landing page with all of the instructions, rules, and links to all of the participating author’s blogs/websites. There is usually a grand prize, (Kindles, Nooks, and I-pads are popular), with a set of rules as to how to enter for the grand prize. For instance, the Authors in Bloom Blog Hop requires that entrants go to each of the participating author’s sites and “collect” phrases that add up to a complete story. If they collect all the phrases and go to the AIB landing page they can enter to win the grand prize.

Of course, as they stop at each participating site, they can also enter to win prizes from each author as well. I added this Authors in Bloom icon to my home page of my website with a link to my promotional blog where I’m giving away a prize pack that includes signed copies of my books, tee shirt, mug, pen, book marks, World Wildlife Fund water bottle, national Wildlife Fund tote and stuffed polar bear. In other words, SWAG. Since we are trying to draw in the largest crowd of our target audience, who are mostly Romance readers and adult YA readers, we added a favorite recipe (a yummy and super easy Sunny Delight pie) and/or a gardening tip (Manure tea, anyone?) for all of our readers.  As a way to increase my visibility and reach, I gave lots of opportunities to stack up entries by leaving a comment, “liking’ my FaceBook page, following me on Twitter, tweeting about the blog hop, or signing up for my mailing list. For each effort, I add another entry into the drawing for that person. Isn’t it great how everybody wins here?

The general idea is to give folks incentive for visiting each authors site. There are seventy-four authors participating for a ten day blog hop, so there are literally hundreds of prizes to be won and tons of wonderful recipes and gardening tips to be had. There’s lots of interactive fun and  a blog hop is a great way to connect to readers.

The cost to each author was $5.50 which we voluntarily pitched in to buy an e-reader. The winner will have a choice of which type they’d like. The grand prize also comes with a $25 Amazon gift card.

The idea is to get people to visit your website or blog, help you grow your reader base and spread the word via FB, Twitter, or signing up for your mailing list. I’ve hear that increasing your visibility and extending your sphere of influence are the keys to a good marketing plan and this way, you have a whole team of authors working on it together. EVERYBODY WINS! I’m excited to see what the results will be! I’ll keep you posted.

Any questions about Blog Hops?

YA Love

Happy Valentine’s Day Scribes fans! In honor of romance, I’ll be giving away double the love with an e-book copy of each of my books, On Thin Ice and Heaven Is For Heroes to one romance-loving commenter to be chosen at midnight tonight! Also in honor of good old Saint Valentine, I’d like to talk about YA love.

I’ve been asked several times why I write Young Adult fiction, specifically, YA Romance. When I began writing for publication, I started by writing adult romances, but I had some issues with it. Other than needing to learn a lot about the writing craft, I was also incredibly uncomfortable with the idea of people I knew reading my romantic scenes. I’m a massage therapist by day and my clients were very supportive of my writing from the very beginning, but thinking about them reading the steamy scenes I was putting on the page had me breaking out in hives. Ironically, that was the best part of my writing and like most of my own adult relationships, my adult stories all seemed to lead to…well…sex. So what’s a die-hard romantic to do?

Oh Dear!

As any smart girl will tell you, romance novels aren’t just about creatively writing sex scenes. Romance novels are about capturing the emotions, building the tension, bringing those romantic moments to life for the reader. I wanted to do that with my stories, but I wasn’t comfortable with the down and dirty details. Once I realized that my “voice” (that elusive quality that makes each writer unique), was best suited for first person narrative and that I had a rather “young’ perspective, I realized that my heart was in sharing “extraordinary stories of an average teenage life.” I had loads of teen experiences to draw from and it was a way for me to share some valuable lessons I’d learned along the way.

Perfect Love

As a wonderful bonus, it turns out that the inspirational life lessons that come through in my stories are as meaningful to adults as to any of the teens who might read my books.

Let me be clear in saying that I have nothing against those that write the higher heat level books. I love a good rogue Duke or Chaps-wearing cowboy. Even in YA romance, the steaminess level runs the gamut. There are graphic scenes in many YA novels on the shelves these days. Even though the topics in my own books are mature, they lean toward the sweeter side of first relationships. I like offering an option that fills a gap between young adult and adult romance.

Sweet Love

I’ve also come to realize that it’s not always necessary for adult romances to draw the reader a blow by blow (pardon the pun) description. In fact there are many romances that are sweet and romantic and very successful without that (ie: Kristan Higgins’ novels and our own Katy Lee’s upcoming release, Real Virtue).

I enjoyed writing those steamy scenes, but I needed to find a way to tone down the intensity for my own comfort level, so I started thinking about my own life and who I was BS (before sex). I was immediately struck by all the first times that came to mind. I love writing YA romance because I get to travel back to all those first times and in some ways re-write them. You remember that first kiss, your first Valentine, and maybe even your very first date? Everything for teens is so immediate, so crucial, and so DRAMATIC!

Eternal Love

Romance in YA fiction is all about falling in love, mending a broken heart, finding that one person who completes you and makes you feel whole—much like adult romance, but with the freedom to end on a hopeful note rather than attaining that ultimate HEA ending. I like the idea of leaving my characters room to grow up.

 How do you like your romance? Hot and heavy, or sweet with a little steam? Have you read any YA romance? If not, you might find it surprisingly satisfying.

I Want Candy. . . Candy Dot Scarf Giveaway

Happy Friday everyone! Casey Wyatt here.

The Winner of the candy dot scarf is – Alli-cat Sharron!! Congratulations Alli-cat! I will contact you through e-mail.

Don’t forget to visit me at my website before 2/13/12. I’m participating in a blog hop – Romancing the Valentine Giveaway hop. I’ll be giving away an e-book of Mystic Ink.

But don’t leave yet. Or you’ll miss the fun giveaway here.

I have two favorite holidays.

My first favorite is Thanksgiving. The other is Valentine’s Day. Or as I like to think of it – Chocolate Day!

Let's take a moment to drool....

Seriously, even if you don’t love chocolate, I bet you like candy of some kind.  In honor of Valentine’s Day, I have crocheted a candy dot scarf. And I am giving it away to one lucky commentor (open to US residents only).

In case you’re wondering what the heck is a candy dot scarf and why would I want one, remember those little tiny dot candies? The ones on the white paper? Pink, yellow and blue?

I think candy dots are the closest I’ve ever come to intentionally eating paper. You know, in all fairness, it’s kinda hard not to eat the paper.

Anyway, back to the scarf. I crochet and knit things when I want a break from writing. Or when I’m avoiding an unpleasant chore like creating a synopsis or query letter.

But I don’t just craft to avoid writing. Sometimes I pick up knitting needles or a crochet hook to let my mind wander and think about something other than writing.

I made a candy dot scarf for myself last January and ever since I’ve had several offers to buy it.

I did not invent this pattern (nor have I ever sold my scarf). Twinkie Chan deserves all the credit. If you like this scarf, you can find the pattern and many other yummy food themed scarves in her book – Twinkie Chan’s Crochet Goodie for Fashion Foodies.

As you can tell from the book cover, many delights await you inside. Don’t send me hate mail, if you find yourself in a crochet frenzy. I’ve made several of the scarves and they’re a lot of fun.

Yes, this could be yours...

So who wants a candy dot scarf? What is your favorite sweet confection? And what fun thing do you like to do when procrastinating or taking a break?

Reminder the drawing is open to US residents only and you must comment to be entered. And don’t forget to visit me at my website before 2/13/12 to enter for a chance to win an e-book of Mystic Ink –  Romancing the Valentine Giveaway hop.

Happy Hog Day!

Hello, my lovelies!  Suze here, wishing you a very Happy Groundhog’s Day!

Put me down! You're squishing me!

That Punxsutawney Phil. He’s so darned cute.  You’ve seen the ceremonies on TV, right?  Where a guy dressed in tails and top hat holds a big, fat, floppy groundhog named Phil up to the sky, then determines whether Phil can see his shadow?  If the critter does, there are six more weeks of winter.  If he doesn’t, spring is right around the corner (What does that mean?  How good a prognosticator is he, really, if he won’t commit to a date?).

If, like me, you can’t make it to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania at 7:20 a.m. today (Drat!  Next year for sure!), you can watch the festivities by clicking here.

If, also like me, you’re a nerd about things like learning the origin of folk traditions, you can read more about them here. For the non-nerds, or the non-link-clickers, Groundhog’s Day as we know it is based on ancient European traditions, but it’s a bear or badger who emerges from its winter lair (the groundhog a/k/a woodchuck or whistlepig) is a North American animal).  It may go back even farther into Celtic times to the festival of Imbolc, a turning point of the Celtic calendar.  I get my information from Wikipedia, peeps, so pagan experts out there feel free to correct me!

Groundhog’s Day is one of my favorite holidays.  Yup, I consider it a holiday, even though I have to work.  Back in my single days, my housemates and I hosted a “Hog Day” party every February 2.  Trust me, it was the social event of the season.  Why did we choose Groundhog’s Day?  Because it was undercelebrated, I guess, unless you live in Pennsylvania.  We didn’t really need a reason.

So, what’s today’s Secret?  Simple.  You’ve been working really, really hard.  I know I have.  Stop at the bakery and bring home a cake for your family (or, gasp! just for yourself.  Then you can get the kind you like). If you’re so inclined, have a glass of champagne or something else fizzy.  If you’ve got party hats and noisemakers left over from New Year’s, now’s the time to bring them out.  Click here to get yourself in the mood. Dancing? Why not? Spring’s coming, you’re alive, and that’s reason enough to celebrate.

What about you?  Have you ever celebrated for no reason?  What’s your favorite silly holiday?  If you miss Groundhog’s Day, National Pig Day is coming up on March 1.  And do you call it a groundhog, woodchuck, whistlepig, or something else (roadkill, or destructive garden-munching rodent)?

Big numbers and Blog Tours

Since you folks seem to like seeing the numbers, I thought I would give you an update. This is totally in the interest of helping others to see what indie-publishing has to offer and to encourage those who might be considering it. Or maybe this is a deterrent, depending on your expectations. Either way, these numbers reflect my personal experience and are being shared because I consider you all to be my friends. Without your help and support, none of this would be possible. So thanks a million guys!

While preparing to do my taxes (which is as far as I’ve gotten), I was adding up my numbers. Sales numbers that is. I reported back in November that I was pleased with the progress in my indie-publishing journey and that sales of HEAVEN IS FOR HEROES were on a steady path of growth. With the release of ON THIN ICE, and a few promotional efforts through the holidays, I’m happy to say that I’ve met one of my big goals for my first year of publishing. 1,000 books sold!

I’ve often heard the statistic that says most new writers will never sell more than a thousand books. Yikes! So when I heard that statement, I decided that would be my short term goal. I knew that if I could sell a thousand books, I’d be on my way. I originally gave myself a year to do this, but once I started seeing how the numbers climbed on my Amazon sales reports after each blog tour or advertisement that I did, I realized the potential to surpass my goal. It’s been a lot of work, but if I include January sales of 165 books so far, I’ve reached 1,000 books sold in four months! 

I published my first novel on September 24^th, and the second on December 15^th.

Sales have gone something like this:

September:            October:         November:    December:HIFH/OTI January:HIFH/OTI

Amazon      22            13                 198                     239/36                              23/114

BN               7              3                    29                      14/5                                  10/5

Hardcopy   28            39                   40                      14/12                                1/12

Createspace has sold a total of 28 copies in 2011 and 7 in 2012. Smashwords: 42 of HIFH and 59 of OTI since the books were released. In addition there have been 72 free downloads of HIFH and 29 of OTI. I’ve also donated books to libraries and sent out review copies and contest prizes.

Both books have received consistent 4 and 5 star reviews and I’m getting excited e-mails from readers who are looking forward to SAVAGE CINDERELLA in March. I haven’t yet figured the exact revenue from all of these sales because HIFH was up for sale for six weeks at .99 cents which I’m sure, in part, accounted for the boost in sales. I also advertised on Pixel of Ink, The Frugal E-reader, Super E-Reads, and a few free sites.

 I found blog tours more successful than book signings, and cross-promoting with other authors for the Booklovers Buffet to be helpful. Although, at .35 cents a sale at the .99 cent price point, I would have had to sell a heck of a lot of books to make real money. I know I’ve made enough to cover the cost of the first book and some advertising, but my budget is still running in the red. My goal for this year: 10,000 books. That breaks down to about 900 books per month, or 225 books per week, or about 30-40 books a day. Sounds doable when I put it that way, right? I’m hoping the release of SAVAGE CINDERELLA in March puts that goal within reach.

I’m beginning another blog tour this week, and would love for you to drop by and leave comments, tweet, or share my posts to your Face Book pages if you find them interesting or entertaining. You can find out where I’ll be and what I’ll be talking about on my calendar page of my website. I’ll be posting the specific links to my FB Fan page  as soon as I have them. If you want to follow along, just “like” my Facebook page or follow me on twitter @pjsharon. The tour starts this Thursday, Jan. 26^th on Author Eileen Cook’s website where I answer interview questions that will definitely let you all get to know me a little better. Thanks for sharing the journey with me.

Writing Interrupted?

Happy New Year! Katy Lee, here. Today I’m wondering how many resolution people are out there? I’ve visited many blogs and sites this week and have read quite a few resolutions (some serious, some hysterically funny), and honestly, I hope they reach them all! (The one who plans to make a million dollars in book sales—Go for it!)

Now, I am all for making a plan, but I am not a resolution person. I know life is filled with too many interruptions for them to stick. For example, I would love to lose twenty pounds, but I keep getting interrupted by breakfast, lunch and dinner. (I do love my food)

But seriously, I would love to make a resolution that this year I am going to complete four novels and sell two of them. It feels great to say, and in fact, having the New Year start today just motivates me more to sit my butt in the chair and get it done. But I know something will come up.

Picture this:

I’m sitting at my computer, writing like crazy. The thoughts are flowing too fast for my fingers to type. I am in the zone, and then, Bam! My son is sick. I am ripped out of my chair and all production stops for seven to ten days. (That’s what happened this week.)

After taking care of that interruption, I crack my knuckles and get back in the chair. My fingers begin to fly again; gradually I return to the zone, and then I swear not fifteen minutes go by when my husband calls, “What’s for dinner?” “The phone is for you.” “The kids need a bath.” “What’s for dinner?”

Oh, yeah, and let’s not forget the big 10 day interruption this year… “The Power’s out!”

Anyway, after jumping up and down, up and down, I’m lucky if I can get a line or two in before the next interruption.

I’ll be honest, many times I just want to throw in the towel and say forget it, and I’m sure that’s how a lot of resolutions get forgotten. Plans get interrupted. It’s not that we want to fail. I mean, seriously, who sets out to fail? And, I don’t know about you, but I can start to feel a bit resentful when I think I have.

I don’t like that feeling.

Writing is something that makes me happy, and I want to keep it that way. So, I suppose the only resolution I have is to make sure I keep my writing enjoyable through all of life’s interruptions. I understand that not everyone has the luxury to write to their heart’s content, and even some who do, choose to take their writing slow. In fact, I read somewhere that J.K. Rowling likes to write at a snail’s pace. She savors the process like a warm cuppa tea.

I also understand that each of my interruptions is food for my stories, so instead of taking out my anger, I take notes.

The Unlocked Secret:  Keep your writing enjoyable, even if you’re only savoring one line a day. Don’t get resentful about your responsibilities and interruptions. Complete them, learn from them, and use them. They’ll only make your stories stronger. And, whatever you do, don’t throw in the towel just because life throws you a curveball. Even though every day is not a New Year, it is a new day.

Question: So, go ahead, spill. Do you have a resolution this year? I do love to hear them.

A Twenty- Something Christmas

The other day a coworker and I were watching as dozens of excited second graders discussed the wonders of Christmas. The Christmas season for teachers is somewhat of an adorable nightmare.Nothing gets done this time of year because the kids’ minds are filled with visions of sugar cookies and Santa and no school for a week.

“Who can tell me what the BIG IDEA of this story was?”

We call on the child who is practically jumping out of his seat to answer. “Santa is bringing me the WIPEOUT video game, but my mom says I have to let my sister play or else she’s going to take it away,” he says proudly.

My coworker and I sigh at each other. We had lost the room, but honestly how could we compete with a fat man in a red suit that brings presents. We couldn’t be upset over our lost lesson because they were so cute, and when you’re seven Christmas is magical.

When thirty is sneaking up on you and you have no kids of your own it’s not. It’s bills and crowded malls and buying people junk they don’t need. It’s very easy to become jaded.

And yet every year I make the trek to my parents’ house for Christmas eve. There was a time when we all would gather and make dozens of cookies. That doesn’t happen any more.(You try getting three almost adult men to make and decorate dozens of cookies) But my mother (bless her heart), still buys the cookie mix every year.

They went unmade this year. And the decorations that used to look like Christmas threw up on our house were trimmed down to the bare minimum.

I thought that my parents were starting to give up on Christmas. With four kids in their twenties it’s hard to keep the magic alive.

And yet they surprised me.

“GET UP!” My mother pokes my in the forehead at six am. “It’s time to open presents.”

“Are you on drugs?” I glance at the clock then back at mommie dearest before I roll over and try to go back to sleep. She retaliates by putting the two month old puppy in my bed. The little scamp steps on my head, licks my face and then bites my ear.

I get up.

When I walk into my family’s formal living room I’m greeted by four equally groggy, half-dressed boys.

“Grumble, grumble,” one of them says by way of greeting.

And then my father who is way too chipper for six in the morning yells, “Look happy damn it. It’s Christmas day.” Before any of us can react he pulls out his camera and starts snapping pictures. Evil. EVIL man. I look like Medusa. One of my brothers is scratching his arm pit and we all look like a hot mess. EXCEPT for my mother who is freshly made up and in her shiny new Christmas pjs.

Together my parents view the pictures and laugh. They then show them to my youngest brother, who laughs. He then shows it to me. I cringe, lunge at him and try to delete the photo of me looking like a deranged mental hospital escapee. They all laugh and eventually we go about Christmas morning like we did when we were little. Just happy to be in the same room together.

What was the lesson in all that?

Go to bed Christmas eve in full hair and make up!

Your turn. How was your Christmas? Have you ever felt like the season has lost some of its magic? Have a funny experience to share? Any and all comments are welcome.   

I’m Telling it From My Mountain

Merry Christmas! Katy Lee here, and yes, I am telling it from my mountain—Jesus Christ is born! It’s Christmas day, and I know many of you have special plans with your loved ones. Perhaps you are traveling or maybe you are having a quiet day at home, but wherever you are, I pray your day will be filled with peaceful blessings and beautiful memories, and I thank you for stopping by the Scribes to spend a moment with us too. You have blessed us in doing so.

Now, no matter how many times I tell myself every year that I am going to focus on the real reason of the season, I still have to face a mountain of things to do—and I don’t mean the mountain of laundry that is growing in my laundry room. Some things I have to let go of during this week and that is one of them, especially with the clock ticking down to midnight and the many other things taking precedent. Now, I won’t go through that list because I know you all have a similar one of your own, and maybe your mountain is even higher than mine, but when December 25^th strikes everything stops. That mountain is left where it is standing whether I like it or not.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It’s in this moment where I have to drop the things that didn’t get done because I have a guest, and my guest deserves my undivided attention. Christmas is my yearly reminder that God, my Creator, couldn’t spend another moment without me. He loved me so much that he came to the earth to be with me, and let me tell you, He is the perfect guest and the perfect host. He is the perfect gift. He is my Emmanuel—God with us. And He is yours too.

The Unlocked Secret: It’s Christmas. Don’t beat yourself up if you didn’t get everything done. Go ahead and drop those incomplete lists right where they are. It’s okay if they make a mountain. Let it be your mountain to go tell the story on.

I Heart Ebenezer Scrooge

Happy Friday everyone! Casey here wishing you holiday cheer!

Gotta love the Muppets

One of my all time favorite novels is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. But, it wasn’t always.

As a kid, the whole story irritated me. It seemed like it was constantly on television and I would’ve rather  watched A Charlie Brown Christmas or Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.

The story about an old curmudgeon who hates Christmas, shrieking “humbug” was totally lost on me. And that annoying little kid lisping – “God Bless us everyone” - hated it!

Then something happened. I grew up. Around the same time, CBS broadcasted A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott.  I don’t know what it was about that version, but it resonated with me. From that point on a I was A Christmas Carol convert and an Ebenezer Scrooge fan.

How can you not love a story about a man who seemed doomed to spend eternity carrying a big long chain loaded with money boxes? The visitation of three spirits, each with a lesson about love, family, and sacrifice spoke to me. And it still does.

I went from hater to A Christmas Carol connoisseur. I watched the numerous film and television productions (too numerous to list here). And then I went to the source – Charles D himself.

Imagine my surprise when I learned the story had been written in the 1850s. I was shocked at how little times have changed. Each Christmas season I try to re-read the book. Last year I read it on my Nook (I wonder what Charles Dickens would have thought about e-books).

Make it so... Ebenezer

In the 1990′s, I discovered Patrick Stewart’s one man show. His rendition of A Christmas Carol is equally enchanting. Or maybe it’s that awesome english accent?

I admit my favorite film version is A Muppet Christmas Carol. My kids have long since stopped watching it with me. But I don’t care!!

The bottom line: I love Ebenezer because, even though he seemed entrenched in his ways, he changed his mind. He opened his heart and learned from his mistakes. He saw the error of his ways (the worship of money and success over all else) and transformed. He became a better person, capable of appreciating the value of others.

 How can you not love a story like that?

What about you? What is your favorite Christmas story? And for the record, I also love Jean Sheppard’s A Christmas Story, but I’ll have to save that for next year!