Shopping for an eReader

Free article by Susan Black

While it remains unlikely that the day will ever come when traditional books become an entirely redundant concept, more and more modern consumers and professionals across the board are turning to eReaders for the lion’s share of their literary pursuits. Thankfully, the demand has resulted in more choices coming onto the market than ever before and with enormous value for money, though for those approaching the subject for the very first time, a little apprehension and confusion is inevitable.

However, the market can be immediately narrowed down to the three key players of the moment to ease the matter somewhat – those being Amazon, Barnes & Noble and somewhat trailing in the rear Sony. That being said, for every high quality eReader there is also a tablet PC alternative, all of which now feature eReading functions as standard.

So, the question therefore is not only which eReader to choose, but whether to choose an eReader in the first play or go for a fully functional tablet PC. There are hundreds of guides available for each and every option online, though the following is a brief look into some of the most important considerations to help those who really have no idea where to start.

1 – Are you looking for reading alone or something entirely more versatile?

Once this particular question has been answered it is effectively simple to cut the available options in half right down the middle. Ask and establish in all honesty exactly what is to be got out of the purchase as a whole, whether it be the reading of books alone, the inclusion of magazines and newspapers, internet browsing capabilities, multimedia options and so on.

If the answer comes out as reading alone which includes magazines and newspapers than an eReader would indeed prove the most sensible option. This would essentially mean a price somewhere around the $120 mark rather than $500 – with each additional feature translating as a higher purchase cost. Of course, there is always something of a middle ground option provided by Barnes & Noble by way of the Nook Color, which sports a touch-screen and a number of tablet style features for around the $250 mark. Establish what the primary function of the device should be and the decision as to which end of the market to look into is made naturally.
2 – Screen Type

There are two primary screen types to choose from in the world of the standard eReader, both of which offer their own unique merits:

E-ink – This is the option that comes about as close to the standard printed page as is ever likely to prove possible on a digital device. Models of the Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook and countless others all feature an e-ink screen, which do a truly stunning job of recreating the traditional reading experience. Furthermore, an e-ink screen can be read even in direct sunlight with little to no glare or reflection. The main drawback for e-ink comes by the way of purely black and white content, along with fairly restricted versatility and page-load speeds.

LCD – The alternative option is the bright, backlit and endlessly versatile color LCD display which undoubtedly has the e-ink option licked by way of beauty. However, the downside is that the reflective nature of the screen makes it prone to glare and reflection, with the backlight being known as tiresome to eyes over extended periods.
The rest of the bell and whistles featured really come down to personal preference, but for those looking for a little further push in the right direction, here are some specific suggestions.

The very best overall e-ink option is undoubtedly that of the latest Nook, which offers a truly wonderful reading experience for a modest $139. Those willing to bear the odd ad popping up on their Kindle are handsomely with a stunning device for little more than $110 which makes the perfect choice for relaxing on any leather reclining sofa.

With regard to color screen options, the Barnes & Noble Nook Color takes the prize, weighing in at less than $250 and offering many of the features and functions that would be expected from a tablet at twice such a price.

Last but by no means least, the very best fully functional tablet PC that also doubles as a stunning eReader has to be the Apple iPad 2, which starts at around the $500 mark but is essentially one of the best fully portable computer systems ever devised with a range of functions too infinite to comprehend.

(Of note, the author of this blog is partial to her Kindle, although she only has the basic WiFi model. She is awaiting the Kindle tablet to see how it compares to the iPad or other such tablets. Rumor has it that the Kindle tablet will start at $399 but could be less since Kindle just had a huge sponsorship from AT&T - all the Kindles will see a price decrease (the cheapest one will start at $99 and go up from there; amazon.com just decreased the price of the Kindle 3G + WiFi to $139 which is what the basic WiFi model without the ads and stuff cost previously. Hoping to see more news on the Kindle Tablet soon - knowing it will be in color and all - E :))

New website, new books

I've just released my website where I will house my other books. Currently being critiqued by two young folks and another friend is my YA paranormal (still not really sure it fits in this paranormal genre but is definitely a YA) novel is "Finally Home." The other day while on plurk, after seeing another post by Kevin about his missing bowling shirt, I had an idea for a picture book about "The Missing Shirt" that kind of travels around the states before finding its way home to Kevin. Covers will be posted as soon as I have them. So please check out my new website and let me know what you think - E :)

H. C. Paye featured today

If you are looking for a little more insight into my illustrator, H.C. Paye, please drop by the Writers on the Move blog and find out about her graphic design. One of the covers featured on the article is my friend's, Ms. Faye Tollison, "To Tell the Truth" and I must say it is still gorgeous. I have three copies for sale if anyone is interested in getting a signed copy from the author; just drop me an email or you can go to her website and order from any of the places listed there. You can also order directly from Faye who will be happy to personalize your copy. Happy readings, ya'll - E :)

Book Review: Tales of Ever by Jen Wylie

Tales of Ever series by Jen Wylie is another in the electric short series from Quake Me, a division of Echelon Press.

Jen Wylie had this reader hooked from the first story. She takes you into a world of danger and foreverness that one cannot escape no matter what. I so love this series and cannot wait for the next three installments.

We follow "Fire Girl" through her adventures in the land of Ever and meet many interesting characters along the way. The three available stories in the series are Banished, Fire Girl and Shadow Boy. I'm not much of a fantasy/sci-fi reader but I must say that Ms. Wylie absolutely drew me in and in such a way that I really forgot I was reading fantasy/sci-fi or whatever the genre is.

RATINGS: 5 stars (for the series and each book)

Book Info:
Banished
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 168 KB
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Echelon Press (March 1, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B004Q9TX4A
Lending: Enabled


Fire Girl
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 146 KB
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Echelon Press LLC (April 5, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B004VFN5SO
Lending: Enabled


Shadow Boy
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 225 KB
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Echelon Press LLC (May 4, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B004ZFVSBG
Lending: Enabled


I definitely want the rest of this series - keep up the great job, Jen.

Book Review: Delbert Dallas and the Dragon Diaries series

Delbert Dallas and the Dragon Diaries series by J. R. Turner is part of the electric shorts from Quake Me, an Echelon Press subsidiary, for kids. These short stories can be read in a short amount of time. They are only available as ebooks but for only 99 cents, they are just right.

The three in the series available so far are Voyage to Viking Island, The Civil War Skirmish and Viva La Francine!. There are three more in the series, scheduled to come out once a month (not sure of exact release dates as the third installment was late as they are supposed to be released the fourth Tuesday of the month). This historical fiction stories are written in conjunction with J.R.'s son. I believe it was his idea to turn the guitar into the dragon and do some time traveling.

They are fun and easy reads. J.R. does put a little glossary at the end of each story so you don't have to worry about tripping up on the words. I like that she brings some history to life in such a quick manner. Ms. Turner has taken a small date in history and given us a glimpse of what might have occurred at that moment.

This reader is enjoying the series and will continue reading it until it is finished. I do hope that Ms. Turner will take some of these short stories and make them longer stories as I see a lot of potential for more story there.

Keep up the great job, J.R..


RATING: 4-1/2 stars (for the series and each story)

BOOK INFO:
Voyage to Viking Island
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 169 KB
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Echelon Press (March 21, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B004TAECNS
Lending: Enabled


Civil War Skirmish
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 211 KB
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Echelon Press LLC (May 4, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B004ZFVCXA
Lending: Enabled

Viva La Francine!
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 214 KB
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Echelon Press (June 26, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B0058EAT86
Lending: Enabled

Book Review: Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum by Stephen Prosapio

New release, The Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum by Stephen Prosapio is a must-read for ghost story lovers.

The story starts a bit slow but it builds to the "wow" factor of the story. It follows paranormal investigator, Zach, and his team along side another TV show's group of folks while they explore a haunted insane asylum. Even though the story only takes place over a couple of days, it reads like it is longer. The reader is definitely brought in by the history given. I don't know if Rosewood Asylum is a real entity or not, but if it is, I'm sure it would be a definite place where hauntings would take place. Mr. Prosapio fills in the background very well. I emailed him after finishing the story and put in the subject "All I can say is Wow" because I really didn't have another word to give him. I was surprised a little but thoroughly enjoyed the story.

It is available in both paperback and kindle versions. When I placed the order last week, it was on sale for 99 cents but now is back up to its regular price of $5.95. It is worth the read though. The paperback version is $16.78 and the hardback version is $28.66.

I think if you really want a good ghost story, this is the one for you.

After reading the excerpt from his upcoming story, I think I'll pass on that one, not because it didn't grip from the beginning but it's a Lizzie Bordon story and I have an aversion to Lizzie Bordon for some odd reason. I will have to think long and hard about getting this next story. Maybe Stephen can persuade me to get it and read it. I was spooked before I even read the words "Lizzie Bordon took an axe" because the first few paragraphs did draw me into the story. (UPDATE 07/03/2011: Stephen has emailed me and promises me this is not a Lizzie Bordon story and there is no other mention of her after that beginning where the girl is chanting the thing about Lizzie Bordon - you know the one - lol, so I guess when the next story comes out I may have to read it, we'll see)

RATING: 4-1/2 stars

Afghan giveaway update

I'm on the last red strip (maybe). I got 6 blue strips, 5 white and am on the 5th of the red (am hoping that I can get 6 out of the red, but probably won't be able to get that 6th strip). The afgan will be 15 strips across (I've kind of laid it out and it is about the width of my computer twice over - I think I have a 15 inch laptop, so total should be about 30 inches across and 45 inches long- this should make a nice lap throw - I may have to get some more yarn and make it a bit bigger, will decide after finishing the strip of red). Pictures of the finished project will be posted once the strips are sewn together.

(this is what the strips will look like put together (strips are folded in half twice so they aren't dragging the floor) - with only 15 strips (5 of each color) the pattern will be two red, two white, two blue, one red, one white, one blue and then the 2-2-2. This was laid out on my computer and almost goes across the width of the computer, so I hope that 15 rows will be enough)

This afghan will be the prize in the drawing from all purchases made between May and my last event of the year (Savannah Children's Book Festival in November). Drawing will be done from all receipts on or about December 1, 2011, and afgan will be sent out on or about the 7th of December.

Good luck to everyone who is entered in the drawing and I appreciate your business. - Ma America, The Travelin' Maven (Mrs. E :)) & the JGDS

Writer's on the Move free workshop 06/24/2011

It's time for another free workshop put on by members of the Writers on the Move group. Remember if you are looking at creating ebooks and ways to distribute them and get your name out there, this is the one for you.


WORKSHOP DETAILS:

The next Writers on the Move Workshop will be in a LIVE hour long chat format, scheduled for June 24th at 7pm EST (U.S. time). Karen Cioffi will talk about How to Create an eBook and What You Can do With It .

Title: How to Create an eBook and What You Can do With It
Time: 7pm, EST (U.S.)
Presenter: Karen Cioffi
Moderator: Maggie Ball
Chat Copier: Elysabeth Eldering
Length: 1 hour


If you’d like to attend this free 1 hour workshop, you will need to register. Please send an email to Karen at: karencioffi (at) ymail (dot) com and put "Workshop" in the subject box.


Upon registration, you will be give the information to access the chat and an e-book:
How to Create an eBook and What You Can do With It

A bit about the workshop:

E-books are an amazing product that has multiple uses. And, it can be created at no cost, or for a very minimal amount. What else can you create that costs only your time and effort, and sells for whatever the market is willing to pay?

There aren’t many products that fall under that category. And, along with the ‘right price,’ e-books are easy to produce.

Workshop topics:

1. Creating an eBook: 5 Simple Steps

2. Offering an eBook for Free

3. Offering an eBook for Sale

4. About the ISBN, Copyright, and Creative Common License Info

5. Promotion Tips and Article Links

This workshop will give you the know-how to actually create your own ebook. And, all registered attendees will be given a 19 page ebook: How to Create an eBook and What You Can do With It. This is an easy to follow guide covering all the topics of the workshop.

Hopefully, you will get a chance to create your own ebook and then let us know how you made out in the workshop. It will also give you a chance to think of questions to help you get the most out of the workshop.

In case you can’t make the actual workshop, hopefully we will be able to get a transcript of the chat and provide it to any registered attendee who requests it.


We look forward to seeing you there!

The group will be taking a ONE month hiatus for the summer, but we'll be back in August with a workshop presented by Maggie Ball on how to set up a paypal BUY BUTTON.

We'll have the details available for the August workshop sometime in July.

We hope you find the information we provide valuable in your writing and marketing journey.


If you have any problems, you can contact Karen at: karencioffi (at) ymail (dot) com


If you can't make the workshop but would like the information, check the Writers On the Move blog for availability of the transcript from the chat as well as the ebook. Karen will post the details of how to purchase as soon as she can. See you all there - E :)

Guest Blogger - Kevin McNamee

Today we welcome Kevin McNamee, who will be talking about his children’s picture book, What Is That Thing?




Kevin McNamee is a writer and poet living in Yonkers, NY. He mostly writes for the children’s market. Kevin’s published work includes the picture books, If I Could Be Anything, The Sister Exchange, Lightning Strikes, The Soggy Town of Hilltop and What Is That Thing?

Kevin’s poetry has been published in the collection, An Eyeball in My Garden: And Other Spine-Tingling Poems. Other titles coming soon by Kevin include My Brother, the Frog, Papa’s Suns, Just for Today, and more.

Kevin, what is this book about?
Jenna has a vivid imagination. When a new baby comes into the house, she uses her imagination to try and figure out this new person in her life. Finally, she realizes that she doesn’t need to use her imagination. Things are fine just the way they are.

Why did you write this book?
A new baby is a big enough adjustment for adults and children alike. There may be children in the house who are struggling with the changing family dynamics. I wanted to find a child-friendly way to help with that adjustment and to help calm any fears that might arise from having a new brother or sister.

Do you think this book can help?
Yes, I do. To be unsure of the unknown is a common and normal reaction to big changes. I wanted to both validate a child’s sense of uncertainty and to show that change, especially when it comes to having a new brother or sister, isn’t a bad thing. I think this book accomplishes that in a way that children can understand.

What was the hardest thing about writing this picture book?
I had a hard time with this book during the editing process. This book has three separate imaginary episodes that are completely different from each other. Yet one scene flows directly into the other. I wanted to make sure that the reader would be able to follow the story from scene to scene. This is really where the other half of a picture book becomes so important, the artwork. K.C. Snider’s illustrations did an excellent job of bridging any gaps. The artwork blends the real and imaginary worlds together beautifully. The end result was a delightful picture book that educates, entertains, and hopefully solves a problem.

Is there anything else that you would like to add?I really wanted to write a book that is both useful and entertaining. I hope you and your child have fun reading this. If you find that this book has helped, please let me know. I love getting feedback like that.





What Is That Thing?
by Kevin McNamee.
Illustrations by K.C. Snider
Print ISBN: 978-1-61633-141-2; 1616331410
eBook ISBN: 978-1-61633-142-9; 1616331429

It’s an alien from outer space! … It’s a strange and smelly creature! … It’s a mysterious, roaring animal! … It’s my baby sister?!
Jenna uses her imagination to understand this new person in her life. When she finally sees things as they are, will Jenna like what she sees?





What Others Are Saying
“I recommend the book to any child who has younger siblings or is about to accept the arrival of a new sibling. They will be able to laugh and also accept the little being into their lives, and even be very happy and enriched by the new little baby sister or brother.” – Stories for Children Magazine



“McNamee has done a great job of capturing what the experience of having a new sibling can be like.

Illustrator K.C. Snider provided colorful pictures that show both Jenna's imaginary adventures and the real world in a cute way.” - Janet Ann Collins - On Words


“This cute and heartwarming story should be read to all children who already have or are about to have a new addition to their family.
Further value is added by the award-winning artist K.C. Snider, who elevates the story with her top-notch illustrations.” - Blogcritics.org


“In this delightful new story from talented poet and writer, Kevin McNamee, we see him doing what he does best–create a story that youngsters will love … What Is That Thing? would make a perfect gift for the little girl who is going to be a big sister soon.” - Children's and Teens' Book Connection



This book is available as a print book, a downloadable e-book, or a book on CD from Guardian Publishing.

Books are also available from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or ask your local bookstore.


To find out more about Kevin, please visit his website or visit his blog

You can also find Kevin on Facebook.

Kevin is also on Linked-In and Twitter, but he doesn’t tweet too much.

Featured guest on Stephen Tremp's blog

Today, I'm the featured guest on Stephen Tremp's blog with an article on study guides. Please stop by and leave a comment or question and make my birthday a fun one - E :)

Writers on the Move tour stop

This is our last month for blog tours with the Writers on the Move tour group; on my birthday, Sunday, June 5, I will be a guest blogger on Steven Tremp's blog. Come stop by and see what all I have to say about study guides. :)


Don't worry that this is Writers on the Move last blog tour, we will be back in the fall with some exciting happenings. After this month (see tour schedule on sidebar), we will take a couple of months off and will come back with more free workshops and other things. After all, we are a promotional group and believe that paying it forward works well. See ya'll in the postings - E :)

Writers on the Move ebook

Writers on the Move offers more freebies (see side bar to pick your gift for stopping by and visiting)

For more from Writers on the Move, please visit our blog.



Spring 2011: A Compilation of Writing and Marketing Articles

We're so pleased to announce that Writers on the Move has its first FREE ebook on the site. Just look on the right sidebar "Free Gifts" and click away!

This ebook has been in the works for several months as a thank you to our readers and visitors.

The ebook consists of contributions from a number of members for a compilation of writing and marketing articles that will hopefully help you in your writing and marketing endeavors.

In the works is another ebook that will highlight members' fiction writing; one on general nonfiction (an eclectic grouping of children, animal, environmental articles, and more); and another focusing on poetry.

Aside from being informative and/or entertaining, the ebooks are intended to offer an example of teamwork, creating an ebook, writing tips, marketing tips, fiction and nonfiction writing, and poetry.

We hope you find them useful and/or entertaining.

We'd love to know what you think of this first ebook, so if you get a chance please leave a comment.

Writers on the Move free workshop for June

For those of you interested in creating your own ebook and what to do with it once you've created it, Writers on the Move has a workshop just for you. Coming June 24, 2011, at 7 PM ET (US time), held in the Writers on the Move everywherechat chat room. Details of workshop are below:



The next Writers on the Move Workshop will be a LIVE hour long chat format, scheduled for June 24th at 7pm EST (U.S. time). Karen Cioffi will talk about How to Create an eBook and What You Can do With It .

Title: How to Create an eBook and What You Can do With It
Time: 7pm, EST
Presenter: Karen Cioffi
Moderator: Maggie Ball
Chat Copier: Elysabeth Eldering
Length: 1 hour


If you’d like to attend this free 1 hour workshop, you will need to register. Please send an email to Karen at: karencioffi (at) ymail (dot) com and put "Workshop" in the subject box.


Upon registration, you will be given the information to access the chat and an e-book:
How to Create an eBook and What You Can do With It

A bit about the workshop:

E-books are an amazing product that has multiple uses. And, it can be created at no cost, or for a very minimal amount. What else can you create that costs only your time and effort, and sells for whatever the market is willing to pay?

There aren’t many products that fall under that category. And, along with the ‘right price,’ e-books are easy to produce.

Workshop topics:

1. Creating an eBook: 5 Simple Steps

2. Offering an eBook for Free

3. Offering an eBook for Sale

4. About the ISBN, Copyright, and Creative Common License Info

5. Promotion Tips and Article Links

This workshop will give you the know-how to actually create your own ebook. And, all registered attendees will be given a 19 page ebook: How to Create an eBook and What You Can do With It. This is an easy to follow guide covering all the topics of the workshop.

Hopefully, you will get a chance to create your own ebook and then let us know how you made out in the workshop. It will also give you a chance to think of questions to help you get the most out of the workshop.

In case you can’t make the actual workshop, hopefully we will be able to get a transcript of the chat and provide it to any registered attendee who requests it.

Hope to see you all there. The next workshop will be in September, presented by myself and Nancy Famolari on self-publishing through createspace.com - we have a plethora of information to pass on to you. It will be a 90-minute workshop with handouts. More in August about where to register and how to get handouts.

too amazing for words

Flottille (detail) from Etienne Cliquet on Vimeo.

This is some special paper or something but it's pretty cool because if you watch the shadows as it's unfolding, you will see scenes or more detail on some of them - Very interesting - I'm amazed - lol. (Okay I had a few words to say about it - lol)

Crocheting instead of Writing

I had purchased these skeins of red, white and blue yarn some time ago along with some silver coated, and other color coated paper clips (I think the box of 150 large clips was $2, had reddish, blue, silver, green and purple in the box), thinking I was going to make wacky bookmarks with the paper clips and yarn to either sell or give away at events. I made four of the bookmarks, putting the eyes on only one, and decided to abandon that project.



So I've been trying to come up with something to do with the red, white and blue yarn. I decided last week I'd make an afghan to put in a drawing and by the end of this year, from all the entries from every event through November, I would give the afghan away. I'm using a "mile-a-minute" pattern for the afghan and to date, have not been able to find anything remotely close to what I'm using. I believe my grandmother, my dad's mom, taught me this pattern when I was about 10 or 12. My mother knows how to do it as well, but her stuff doesn't always turn out looking all that good.

I did a search today for some mile-a-minute patterns and found one website that has a few patterns on it and posted a comment on one of posting about the different patterns she has used with the pattern on it. I did say I would post a picture of a partial strip so that one could understand the counting of the "circles".

The pattern is super quick to work - the hardest/longest part is sewing the strips together but other than that, it's a quick and easy pattern to do.

Here is the pattern:

(starts out like a granny square pattern but then ends up like half circles joined up the strip).

MATERIALS NEEDED:
4 ply worsted yarn (any color or even can use varigated yarn - whatever you like - can be one color or several= mine will be three - Red, white and blue)
Size G/6 hook
Plastic needlepoint needle to sew strips together

Gauge 4 circles from bottom tip to center is about 6 inches

PATTERN:
Stitches used: ch = chain stitch; DC = double crochet; slst = slip stitch

Ch 4, slst together, ch 3, 3 DC in center of joined circle; ch 3; 3 DC in center of joined circle; ch 3; 3 DC in center of joined circle; ch 3. Turn

3 DC in ch space; ch 3; 3 DC in chain space; ch 3. Turn. - this basically completes your first "circle" as 2 half circles.

Repeat for desired length. The length I decided on for this afghan is 30 circles (60 half circles). Here is the picture of how to count the circles so you know how long you want it. I don't have a gauge on how long this is but for a lap throw, 30 circles is about 45 inches long.

I'll post later on connecting the strips (possibly in a video so that you can see how it all comes together - E :)

HOW TO COUNT YOUR CIRCLES:




As you can see where I have marked my numbers - at the chain space on the sides - this is how you count - hope you all enjoy - E :)

Carolyn Howard-Johnson - guest blogger on poetry chapbooks

Poets Help You Celebrate Mothers and Fathers this Spring--Inexpensively

I always love to report something a little different and I think award-winning poets Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Magdalena Ball have done it with chapbooks of poetry that can substitute for greeting cards for two important spring holidays—Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

The two women have never met. In fact they live on different continents. But that hasn't stopped them from collaborating on a series of poetry chapbooks designed to replace trite greeting cards with real sentiment. With their 'celebration series', the two have developed a new concept for inexpensive holiday gifts. They range from only $6.95 to $12.95.




The chapbooks for Mother’s Day is She Wore Emerald Then (for mothers on your gift list) with photographs by May Lattanzio, and the one for Father’s Day is Imagining the Future: Rumination on Fathers and Other Masculine Apparitions with photographs by May Lattanzio.





Also in the series is Cherished Pulse (for anyone you love) with artwork from California artist Vicki Thomas and Blooming Red: Christmas Poetry for the Rational.

The small books, a tradition in the poetry world since itinerant vendors roams the country side selling their wares in Elizabethan times. They often sold or gave away their little books filled with their own songs, poems, and wares.

Now these poets' collaborations can all be purchased for Kindle or other digital readers on the high profile Smashwords.com site so they can be read in over nine digital formats on any computer or portable reading device anywhere in the world. This is quite a revolution for both authors, both of whom started their writing careers when the latest technology was a typewriter and carbon paper for copies.

Magdalena Ball runs the highly respected compulsivereader.com review site. She is the author of the poetry book Repulsion Thrust, which was published to unanimous 5-star reviews. Her novel Sleep Before Evening, published in 2007, was a Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson's poetry appears frequently in review journals. She is listed in Poets & Writers and her chapbook of poetry, Tracings, was given the Award of Excellence by the Military Writers Society of America. She is also an award-winning novelist and short story writer and instructor for UCLA Extension Writers' Program.

For more information on any of the chapbooks in this poetry series, contact either of the authors or visit media rooms or Magdalena Ball's site.

Reviews of all these books may be read here.

Carolyn blogs resources for writers at Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites pick and lots of editing tips.


Please visit Marietta Taylor who is featuring Donna McDine

First Writers on the Move free workshop

We are coming up on the first of many workshops for readers and writers, teachers, homeschoolers. If you are interested in learning how to make your own podcasts, please join us Monday, May 16, at 7 PM US EST (don't know the conversion for other areas except the United States - 6 PM CST, 5 PM MST, 4 PM PST) either by going to the Writers on the Move workshop link or by coming in to the EWC website and joining the chat. If using the EWC website, after signing in with a name (please do not leave guest in the first box), you will need to join the room Writers_on_the_move and you will be taken to the workshop. Please tell all your friends, teachers, homeschoolers who are interested in making their own podcasts. See you all in the postings - E :)

Writers on the Move free workshop - May 16

Writers on the Move is a group of experienced and new writers/authors of multiple genres who strive to share their combined wealth of writing and marketing knowledge with all.

As a NEW feature to the group, Writers on the Move is now offering Workshops on writing and marketing. The first FREE class will be presented by Maggie Ball: Podcasting for Writers; it is scheduled for May 16th at 7pm EST (6 CST, 5 MST, 4 PST).

Registration is required, so please stop by our blogsite for the details.


After registering you will receive a PDF with a comprehensive outline specifically designed for the class. This will allow you to work on creating a podcast before the class and then ask any questions you may have during the workshop.

A bit about the workshop:

The simplest definition of a podcast is just a recorded radio show and Maggie will provide the information you need to get your podcast up and running. She'll define what a podcast is and the many different ways you can either do a single podcast, or start your own "radio show" or even syndication with recorded podcasts.

This will be a very informative workshop for writers who want, rather need to bring their books and/or services to a larger audience. If you're blogging now, the next step is to create podcasts

Writers on the Move tour and New feature: workshop

VBT Writers on the Move has changed to just Writers on the move and we have a new feature: workshops. These will be monthly member-led workshops on topics to help fledling authors and readers who are thinking of writing. The workshops will be held in Everywherechat and can be found here.

The following is the description per Karen of the new workshops; the first will be held on May 16th

In our efforts to continually provide fresh and helpful information to our readers and visitors, and since our group has so many experienced and knowledgeable writers and authors, we've added a new and very exciting feature to our group, the Writers on the Move Workshop.

The workshops will focus on writing and marketing, and depending on the presenter and topic, the workshops will range from 30 minutes to ONE hour to ONE day to ONE week long. We are hoping to keep them free, but for the week long, and possibly even the day long workshops, there may be a small fee – we'll have to see how it all pans out.

The first Writers on the Move Workshop will be in a LIVE hour long chat format, scheduled for May 16 at 7pm EST. Maggie Ball will talk about Podcasting for Writers.

The workshop link Show up a bit before to sign into EveryWhereChat and to see if there is any information already in place

DESCRIPTION OF WORKSHOP:

The simplest definition of a podcast is just a recorded radio show and Maggie will provide the information you need to get your podcast up and running. She'll define what a podcast is and the many different ways you can either do a single podcast, or start your own "radio show" or even syndication with recorded podcasts.

This will be a very informative workshop for writers who want, rather need to bring their books and/or services to a larger audience. If you're blogging now, the next step is to create podcasts and Maggie Ball can show you how.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The June Workshop will be presented by Karen Cioffi and it'll be about creating and selling e-books. We'll have the details the end of May or beginning of June.

We hope you find the information we provide valuable in your writing and marketing journey.


WRITERS ON THE MOVE TOUR: It is the 1st of May and the VBT Writers on the Move tour has begun. I'm supposed to be featured on Carolyn Howard-Johnson's blog Wednesday, but I've not prepared anything and I know Carolyn is traveling for a good part of this month. I will try to get something to her tonight and hopefully she will be able to post it.

Join us as we share our books and other writing information with you all. Please visit Karen Cioffi who is featuring Deb Eckerling today.

Remember that there is always something new and you can see the full schedule on the right under Writers on the Move Tour Schedule. See you all in the postings. E :)

One Young Man's Courage by Donna McDine

One Young Man´s Courage
By Donna M. McDine

I originally began to write The Golden Pathway as an assignment for the Institute of Children´s Literature. After I submitted the outline, I was told that the story was good and comprehensive, but that the market currently contained too many Underground Railroad books.

I believed the critique, but rather than dismissing it completely, I shelved it for a while. Meanwhile, the characters in the book remained at the forefront of my mind, compelling me to write the story.

After some time had gone by, I found that I couldn´t ignore the book any longer and began to write the story. The Golden Pathway is the story of a young child, David, who defied enormous odds to help a young slave escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad.

The Deep South before the Civil War as a time of turmoil, and white slave owners seemed to sense that their way of life didn´t have much longer to exist. I love American History and thought that this story would be a great lesson to children ages 8 through 12, showing these young people how courage and determination can overcome almost any of life´s hurdles.

I submitted The Golden Pathway to the Children´s Writers´ Coaching Club for critique by Suzanne Lieurance, who helped me rewrite it until it was ready to submit for publishing. But first, I submitted the story to the 77th Writers Digest Writing Competition and it placed 12th from over 1400 entries.

I was thrilled. After that, I submitted the book for publication and after expanding and editing even more, Guardian Angel Publishing was ready to publish The Golden Pathway. Now, I had my first published children´s book – and there are more to come.

I hope that The Golden Pathway transports each young reader to the time of the Underground Railroad, and by the end of the book, they´ll understand what it was all about. Young people today may not readily understand the concept of slavery, but when they read about Jenkins´ plight and David´s willingness and courage to help him, they will surely glimpse a piece of history.

Those days were extraordinary times – but children also need courage and determination in today´s world, where bullies at school hang out around every corner and situations at home may turn dark and ugly.

I am currently working on marketing plans for two other children´s books called, The Hockey Agony and Powder Monkey, which will be published soon. The Golden Pathway may light the path for one or more readers to explore their own beliefs and courage to stand up for what they believe.



Donna's Bio:
Donna McDine is an award-winning children's author, Honorable Mention in the 77th and two Honorable Mentions in the 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions. Donna’s stories and features have been published in many print and online publications, and her first book, The Golden Pathway, is published through Guardian Angel Publishing as will her second book, The Hockey Agony. McDine’s interests in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Ms. McDine is a member of the SCBWI, Musing Our Children, and The National Writing for Children Center.

For an interview or school visit request, please email Ms. McDine at dmcdine@optonline.net


The Golden Pathway
By: Donna M. McDine

Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com
Print ISBN 13: 978-1-61633-081-1
eBook ISBN 13: 978-1-61633-082-8
Available: August 2010

Please feel free to visit Donna at:
Donna's website
Donna's blog
The Golden Pathway Blog

Follow Donna at:
Donna's facebook page
Donna's twitter



For more from the VBT Writers on the Move tour, stop by Marietta Taylor's blog who is hosting Shelby Patrick tomorrow.

VBT guest visit

Stop by tomorrow for a visit with Donna McDine, author of The Golden Pathway, a story about the Underground Railroad. Donna will talk about her book and the road to freedom.

Come and visit

I'm featured on Jenny Turner's blog today as part of the VBT Writers on the Move tour. I hope you all enjoy finding out what's coming up for the JGDS series.

Guest blogger - Shelby Patrick

Today, my guest is Shelby Patrick, author of When Angels Sing, a supernatural thriller, and other titles. Thanks for being my guest today. E :)


Act The Part

By Shelby Patrick

Publishing is a business and like it or not, being an author is a job. It may be a creative one but it's no less important than being a plumber, a banker, or a lawyer. Just as in any business, authors must put on an air of professionalism at all times

Never miss a book signing event, and if possible, show up early. You wouldn't want to be known as an unreliable author with bookstore owners; however, there may be times when an emergency happens (illness, death, accident) and you just can't make it to the signing. Don't leave the bookstore and your fans hanging. At least have the courtesy to call and explain the situation. Most likely, the bookstore personnel will understand and hopefully postpone your event.

During and after your book signing, you should be gracious with your host. They are under no obligation to hold a book signing in your favor. Knowing that they went through all the trouble, you should be appreciative. Don't get upset with the bookstore if no one shows up to your event. A thank you goes a long way.

Don't have certain expectations from your family and friends. Just because they are related doesn't mean they are obligated to purchase your book. In fact, most family and friends probably expect a FREE copy. Don't be skimpy here. If you really want them to have a copy, give them as gifts. Unfortunately, in my case, if my family or friends hadn't bought copies of my latest book, I wouldn't have sold hardly any. Marketing isn't a strong suit with me, especially since my budget is very small, so I was lucky to have sold the 30 books I did so far.

Also, don't expect everyone to be as excited about your book as you are. This is your dream, not theirs, so don't push it on them.

Finally, authors should have realistic expectations. Unless you're Stephen King or John Grisham, don't expect that huge royalty check to be in the mail. You have no assurances of success here and no guarantees that you're writing the next bestseller. All you can do is try your best.

Thank you!

-------------------------
Shelby has self-published two creative writing exercise books, Dark Recesses of the Mind and Forbidden Knowledge, a short horror and science fiction collection entitled The Fear Within, and a supernatural thriller, When Angels Sing.



WHEN ANGELS SING came out in December 2010. The main male character, Blaze Kerrigan, is a typical young guy (with sex on the mind most days), but with one peculiar problem - he has a psychic link to a serial killer. So when Jenna Michaels shows up at his door unannounced and bears an uncanny resemblance to his dead fiancée, it's Blaze's job to keep her safe, especially when the body count starts to rise.



When Angels Sing video
All of Shelby's titles can be purchased on the amazon website.
Shelby's website
Shelby's blog
Shelby Patrick may also be found on Twitter and Facebook




Don't forget to visit Mari Taylor tomorrow when she hosts Debra Eckerling.

Kindle update

A week after receiving my Kindle (okay only five days in but still close enough), I have had a chance to read some books, Jim and Joyce Lavene's two latest in both series I enjoy - Deadly Daggers (a Ren Faire mystery) and Touch of Gold (a Missing Pieces mystery), two short stories (Tea Time at the Baltimore and Emails: A Maeve and Kate mini mystery by Maureen Mullis). I started reading Deadly Daggers Monday after receiving the Kindle and getting everything situated, charged and what not. I completed it Wednesday night. If this had been a regular book, I would have probably just finished it last night or tonight. I started reading A Touch of Gold Thursday sometime between working, picking up the girl, et cetera and finished it last night. Of course, I worked a short bit yesterday and read most of the afternoon since I had to run here, there and everywhere so figured I would just read.

I read both the short stories the same day - while the girl was at the doctor's office - I'm thinking Tuesday - sat in the parking lot and read. The first one - Emails was about 30 or so page flips (so in book format that would have only been about 10 or 15 pages really) and the second one was only 5 page flips (not counting all the introduction stuff) - so this was a very short story - my guess less than 500 words or no more than 750.

I still like holding books and reading them but there are some great advantages reading on the kindle. 1) it is lightweight; 2) feels like a book and reads like a book; the screen looks like a page in a book - it's that clear as far as the sharpness of the letters go; 3) reading is quicker or at least I feel I'm going through books quicker (proof being that I've read two full length novels in less than a week's time already); 4) Kindle isn't cumbersome like books are, especially when reading in bed at night - I don't have a headboard and sleep on my side and usually lie on my side to read and holding a book like that is kind of cumbersome and if it's thicker than a normal paperback, I tend to drop it while reading (Kindle I don't worry about that since I've found a comfortable position to read while lying in bed, not on my back).

The disadvantages to the Kindle are not many but there are some: 1) when lying in bed reading holding the kindle, have to position my hands so as not to hit the page forward buttons which are on both sides of Kindle so you can actually flip pages with either hand; 2) battery life is not as amazon states. After a week and not using it every day or even for hours on end every day, I'm down to just below half a supply batterywise, and this has been with minimum use of my wi-fi feature which is supposed to be the biggest battery drainer.

I have uploaded the PDF files of three of my books so am still wondering if uploading them as ebooks would be the same since the PDF file is pretty set in the format, I wonder if the pages would look right as an ebook. I also have to wonder if my readers would actually find having my books available in ebook format would be a good thing. I'm considering putting the books in ebook format using smashwords.com but am only considering it. Until I have enough feedback, I can't really say that they will do well as ebooks or not. It may be the future of the books but there are some things that are still best as printed books.

It's Here!!!

On the 28th of January after attending a Sisters in Crime meeting and upon returning home and joining a chat, I was the winner of the Kindle giveaway (yeah, that's how long ago it was - see posting on my JGDS blog). So last Friday, I emailed the Dorothy again saying I didn't have my kindle after being told the week before I should have it in a couple of days since the check from the publicist had cleared and she needed my phone number. I figured a week of waiting after giving my phone number to her was long enough. So anyway, she was kicking herself saying that she forgot to order the Kindle so how about her paypaling me the funds and letting me order it myself. Works for me. So Friday afternoon, after the funds had been transferred, I ordered my Kindle and by the confirmation email, I figured I would have my Kindle sometime between Wednesday and Friday, the 9th and the 11th. Well Saturday I got an email from amazon stating that my Kindle had shipped - woohoooo!!! -

I don't check my post office box on the weekends but try to at least check it every day when I pick the girl up from school (she has early dismissal, getting out at 1:35 every day and doesn't have much to do before play practice at 3:30, so side trips to the store or gas station or post office are a normal thing now). So I opened my box and there was the yellow slip indicating I had a package. I went inside to get my package and guess what I had? My Kindle. Now it's only Monday, March 7th so consider me surprised to be receiving my Kindle 2 to 4 days earlier than expected.

I had ordered some books (the latest two Jim and Joyce Lavene books - the one in the Missing Pieces Series that just came out a week ago, and the last one in the Ren Faire series that came out last fall that I hadn't read) early this morning (payday) so that I would have books on my Kindle ready for me to read after I explored it a bit. As soon as I got home and turned on the Kindle and started charging it and got the wi-fi turned on, I had books available to me. How cool is that? I also loaded some freebies and a few from Smashwords.com (had to send those to my computer and save them to upload to the Kindle). I explored and read most of the Kindle guide on the Kindle and charged my Kindle up - says it has about a 3-week battery time, will have to see about that. I started reading the latest in the Ren Faire series - Deadly Daggers - after getting set up.

I took some pictures of my new toy. I'll post later in the week about the reading on the kindle, and all - stay tuned - E :)

Here is the box the Kindle comes in - as you can see it's not too big.




This is what the kindle looked like when I opened the box - I thought this was one of those plastic covers on the screen to protect it but this is actually one of the screens that pops up as you shut down the Kindle - this is the first one - it is the definition of kindle.





This is my favorite of the screens that comes up - too bad it isn't in color since the birds would be so colorful - it would be an explosion - lol.






This is a comparison shot of the Kindle and the two boxes - the one it came in and the one the accessories came in (I had ordered those a couple of weeks after winning the Kindle - it's an extra charger, car charger, screen protector, and earphones). I wish I had my ruler up so you could see how thin the Kindle really is but I think you can tell from this picture



Will share more later this week after I've really started using my new toy - E :)

The Almost Ides of March Educational Buzz

It's almost the Ides of March (okay it's only the beginning of the month) but let's see what's buzzing around so far:



MacKenna Stevens presents Our Kids, Our Future: Top 50 NonProfit blogs that Benefit Children posted at Masters in Social Work

Pat presents Children with Autism in the Classroom posted at Successful Teaching.

Marino Dixon presents The History of Online Education in America: The Ultimate Web Guide posted at Sir Learnalot's Knowledge Blog.

Sage presents The Next Big Thing in Digital Education posted at Free the Sage.

Susan Riley presents Why I Can?t Keep Up ? And My Students Can posted at Education Closet.

dragana presents Pictures with straws posted at Every Child is an Artist.

Denise presents Math Teachers at Play #35 posted at Let's Play Math!.

London Jenks presents The Search for Student Feedback in a Paperless Classroom posted at digitalteach.

Liam Goldrick presents The Tide Will Rise posted at The Education Optimists.

Mathew Needleman presents Close the Computer Lab posted at Creating Lifelong Learners.



The next Education Buzz will be back at Carol's blog on March 16. To submit an article for the education buzz carnival, please click here. If you would like to host an edition of the education buzz, please contact Carol at her email - mybellringers@gmail.com. If you find any broken links, please let Carol know also.

Five Reasons You're Not Writing Your Novel

5 Reasons You’re Not Writing Your Novel

This post was written by Jessica Stilling who also writes for pharmacy technician and medical assistant

So you’ve always wanted to be a writer. Maybe you got that fancy MFA, or you sit in your room during all hours of the night typing away, or maybe you fantasize about what it would be like to be a best selling author at your day job. Whatever the case, you know it’s time to write that novel and yet you’re waiting. Why? Here are a few reasons you might be waiting, and a few reasons why putting it off would be the worst mistake of your life.

#1. You don’t have time. Make time. Yes, you have a job, a family, a social life. There are bills to pay and a girlfriend to keep happy. You don’t need to give up your life, or your income, to write, just set aside some time. Wake up an hour earlier and write a few pages every day, set aside a few hours on the weekend when you would otherwise be breezing through an entire season of Dexter. Evaluate how you’re using your time and see where you might find room for writing.

#2. You’re not inspired. This is a problem and no, the solution is not simply get inspired. Though inspiration may seem like a magical force that comes and goes whenever it feels like it, there are ways to jumpstart creative juices. Sit and think for a while, go for a walk, sit on a park bench and listen and watch people. Maybe the inspiration for the heroine for your best seller is standing over by the hot dog vendor.

#3. Your head is not in the right place. Again, this solution is not so simple, you can’t just get your head in the right place to write a novel. Still, there are ways to evaluate where your head is and where it needs to be. Is your boyfriend being a pain, does your best friend need to cry on your shoulder about her latest break up? You don’t need to drop every emotional connection you have, on the contrary, those connections can feed creative juices, but you might want to re-evaluate where you’re spending your emotional energy.

#4. The Market. The market is bad, the market is flooded, the market doesn’t want this. Whatever the reason, the all mighty market seems to take a lot of blame for a lot of unwritten novels. What does the market have to do with your writing? Maybe by the time you finish this project the market will have turned around, maybe you’ll be the lucky one person who hits it big? And if not, so what? You’re writing a novel, not working for the market.

#5. You simply do not believe that you and/or your idea is good enough. Well that’s just silly. You’ve wanted to write since you were how old? You’ve been planning this novel at least in the abstract for how long? Of course you have talent, and of course your idea has merit and even if those publishers and agents tell you otherwise, don’t listen. Your ideas, your talent will grow as you write this novel.

Overall, you owe it to yourself, you owe it to your work and the greater literary society to write this novel. So go for it.

VBT Writers on the Move

I forgot to post this yesterday but I was featured on Jennifer Gladen's blog as part of the VBT Writers on the Move monthly tour. Please stop by and see what I have to say about making a name for oneself. - E :)

Five Must Have Books for Writing Books for Writers

5 Must-Have Writing Books for Authors

By: Joy Paley who also writes on the best social work schools and for various other websites like this site.

There must be thousands of how-to books on writing out there. It makes sense, right? If you’re a writer who is good at writing, clearly you’ll want to share your knowledge with others through your favored medium. Have you ever heard an expert trying to explain their field, though?  Just like listening to a nuclear scientist tell a layperson about their latest research, writers aren’t always the best at explaining the tricks of the trade to a broad audience. There are some good ones out there—you just have to persevere. I’ve sifted through the chaff and found five books on writing that won’t leave you groaning or scratching your head.

The Modern Library Writer’s Workshop: A Guide to the Craft of Fiction

By: Stephen Koch

For the beginning writer, reading about craft can be, well, mysterious. It doesn’t seem so much a craft as some mystical process which happens in a writer’s head under a full moon on the winter solstice. Koch taught at Columbia University’s creative writing program for decades, and he’s clearly used to explaining the mechanics of fiction to those who are new to writing. His tone is that of a kind mentor, and he offers practical tips and interesting quotes from some of the most well-known authors out there.

• Good for: the new short story writer or novelist

Zen in the Art of Writing

By: Ray Bradbury

Sci fi legend Ray Bradbury serves up inspiring writing advice in these ten short essays. Here you won’t find tips like how to outline or pace a story. The book is more about getting outside one’s head and tapping the creativity inside of them; consider this the zealous antidote to Koch’s sage, practical advice. While some might dismiss this as the same vague mysticism that comes with lots of writing advice, it’s more empowering than that—it can get me excited about writing, even when I’m sure I’m ready to give the whole thing up and become an accountant.

• Good for: the depressed writer

Women Writers At Work: The Paris Review Interviews

Edited by: George Plimpton and Margaret Atwood

I would recommend all three volumes of this set, even though I’ve only linked to one. These Paris Review interviews are by far some of the most intimate and candid ones out there: instead of the standard Time magazine softball questions, you find the writers in a relaxed atmosphere actually sharing how they work and think about their writing. As fiction writing is still largely a man’s game, this set can be inspiring for any experienced or amateur lady writers out there.

• Good for: women writers

The Believer Book of Writers Talking to Writers

Edited by: Vendela Vida

You can consider this the antidote to the Paris Review interviews. If you’re familiar with the literary magazine The Believer, you’ll recognize its funny, slightly off tone in the interviews of this book. Writers as diverse as Grace Paley and Haruki Murakami are interviewed by fellow writers. The questions aren’t only casual and funny, but also revealing—you’ll get a glimpse into their personal life, which, as a neurotic writer myself, I am always interested to see.

• Good for: the seasoned writer

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

By: Anne Lamott

It’s only the truly masochistic person that decides to pursue writing seriously. Because of this, most writers have a pretty close relationship with self-deprecation. As you watch a new work unfold from its choppy, undeveloped self into something more readable, it’s always tempting to abandon it midstream and call yourself a failure. Lamott’s book offers valuable advice on getting over your own perfectionism and self-esteem hang-ups—something that all writers deal with. It’s personal and well-written, and I often turn to certain chapters for an inspiring pick-me-up.

• Good for: the unsure writer

Guest Blogger - Dallas Woodburn: Sticking with your goals

Today, my guest is Dallas Woodburn, another accomplished person at such a young age. Dallas will stop by during the day to answer any comments and questions, so don't be shy, ask away. Dallas has provided us with an article about short-term goal setting. Thank you for joining us today, Dallas.

STICKING TO YOUR GOALS
by Dallas Woodburn

How is 2011 going for you so far? How are those new year's goals and resolutions holding up?

To really make a new habit stick, I've heard that you need to do it consistently for three weeks, and then it much more likely to be a permanent part of your routine.

But, as we all know, new habits set with the best of intentions can be difficult to stick to. Especially in the hectic weeks of a new year after coming back from a holiday break. Especially in the frigid February snow. Especially when there are so many other, important things clamoring for your attention.

I'm a big believer in daily goals, and I'm also a big believer in baby steps. Break down something that seems huge into small steps you can take every day. Just do a little bit every day. Consistently. Baby steps add up to huge accomplishments.

Here's a motivation tool I found, courtesy of the wonderful positive-news site Gimundo, that has been helping me with my goal of writing a certain number of words every day: Joe's Goals. It's supposedly inspired by a motivation concept of Jerry Seinfeld, with the simple idea: Don't break the chain. You enter a goal you want to do consistently -- every day, three times a week, etc -- and it is marked down on this calendar for you. Every day, if you do the goal, you get to check it off. Your checks soon become a chain of happy green check marks, and the last thing you want to do is "break the chain" and have to start all over again! It sounds simple, but it has really helped me stay on top of my writing goal so far.

Case in point: last night, I got home late, and I hadn't written enough yet for my word count goal, so I plunked down in front of my computer and wrote some before I went to bed. All so I could truthfully have that little green check mark. If not for that website, I very likely would have thought, I'll just write more tomorrow. But, as my role model Coach Wooden used to say, "You can't do anything about yesterday, and the only way to improve tomorrow is by what you do right now. We kid ourselves: 'I'll buckle down tomorrow and work twice as hard.' No. If you can work twice as hard tomorrow, it means you're holding something back today. I want 100% today. And tomorrow."

Of course, it requires that you be honest with yourself, but I think that is a requirement no matter how you are going after your goals.

Good luck! I'm rooting for you!


Bio: Dallas Woodburn is the author of two award-winning collections of short stories and editor of Dancing With The Pen: A Collection of Today’s Best Youth Writing. Her short stories have twice been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and the Dzanc Books “Best of the Web” anthology and have appeared in numerous literary magazines including Monkeybicycle, Arcadia Journal, flashquake, and The Newport Review, among others. She has also written articles and essays for Family Circle, The Writer, Writer’s Digest, and The Los Angeles Times. Dallas is currently pursuing her M.F.A. in Fiction at Purdue University, where she serves as Assistant Fiction Editor for Sycamore Review. She is also the founder of Write On! For Literacy, an organization that empowers youth through reading and writing. Learn more here.




Where to find Dallas:
Write On! Books
Dallas's Blog
Order 3 a.m. from amazon
Find Dallas on Fictionaut
Follow Dallas on Twitter
Dallas's Facebook page




Be sure to follow the VBT Writers on the Move tour with Mari Taylor tomorrow when she hosts Heidi Thomas.

Spindle clarification

Remember a few days ago there was a posting about what the British equivalent of a spindle was? Well, it seems my first impression or first-and-a-half (because after reading the definitions Diplo_Dad posted from wikipedia about what a spindle was, I turned to the metal stick where you push papers on it - posted a picture and all; but originally I was thinking on the lines of this clarification. I think this does a little bit of clarification but suffice it to say how a 5-year-old would come up with a statement like "Be careful of the spindle or it will cut your fingers off." is kind of beeyond me - lol. Leave it to kids. So now we have the "word" spindle solved. Go read the enjoyable post over at Diplo_Dad's blog and enjoy the entertainment. Mrs. E :)

Unanswered Questions, part 2 - Saturday Centus

It's Saturday again and we are visiting with Ms. Jenny Matlock for the Saturday Centus meme. The rules are simply: pen a short story, 100 words or less excluding the prompt and post to your blog; link back to Ms. Jenny's blog for the Saturday Centus and post your blog posting's link on the McLinky portion of her blog. Don't forget to visit the others who have posted and leave comments. Oh yeah, keep it PG or lower rating, no pictures. Happy writing - E :)


Today I decided to take the prompt, which is provided by Ms. Ames of Girl Raised in the South. I wasn't really sure I was going to participate this week as I have a lot to do on the JGDS series and need to do my taxes and all kinds of other things. After reading the already posted writings, I came up with a continuation of the first part I started last week. This story will fully develop (I hope) and take me in a new direction. For the first part of the story, click here. My total word count for part 1 was 100 (including the prompt of She lifted the letters from the ancient chest). I hope this story develops deeper but only when I can really let the character develop in my mind and the story really get a footing. I know it is a past life story but not sure where it is leading me.


Unanswered Questions, Part 2

The letters had transported Geri to another time. As she peered in the newly acquired chest, it grew bigger by the minute. She rubbed her eyes. She wasn't believing what she saw. The stark emptiness of the chest. No letters filling the chest. But then she remembered, she had to put the letters in before the emptiness would shrink. She started penning the first of many letters that would fill the void. (total word count 72)

Spindle - what is it in Britain?

I've been following a stay-at-home father's blog, Diplo_Dad, who is living in the United Kingdom. He posted an interesting thing about something his 5-year-old son repeated from what the teacher said. Now when I saw the word, my mind went directly to this image (which by the definitions he found in a wikipedia article, this is what he is associating the word with):

So if a teacher says, “Don’t stick your fingers in the spindle, or they will be cut off,” one would not expect the image of this to be what a spindle is.

So I ask you all - what would you think a spindle is in British terms? What is the American version of said spindle? Something that could cut your fingers off if you so happened to get them caught in in it? If anyone finds out what the equivalent of a spindle is, please let me know, or pop over to Diplo_Dad's blog and let him know - E :)

Unanswered Questions - Saturday Centus

I found Jenny Matlock's blog from another blogger who commented on a teacher's blog I'm following and Jenny is doing a weekly writing prompt - called Saturday Centus - the object is to write 100 words, excluding the prompt, of a story, poem, or whatever inspires you. Link back to Jenny's blog and post your story on her Mr. Linky area so that visitors can read all the stories, and then post your story.

I wasn't going to participate because I was having so much fun reading the other people's postings but this just came to me and something said this was the one, so I am sharing this and this may turn into a longer story - something about past lives so maybe in a year or two, you may see this story published or heading for publication. I'm not too big on the title right now as it is really just a thought of a story that may develop later. If you all have any ideas for a title, please feel free to post them here. - see you in the postings - E :)




Unanswered Questions

Geri loved auctions. She never knew what the find of the day was going to be. She enjoyed delving into the past lives of people she could only imagine who had long since passed this way. She had many questions about her past and kept hoping that one day she would find the answers. Today's auction brought many treasures including the chest that seemed older than anything she had ever seen before. She lifted the stack of letters from the ancient chest and started reading. The words came so easily putting her in another world with many more unanswered questions. (total word count, including the prompt 100 words)

PW and the CPSIA

Well, the one-year stay is upon us and nothing has been finalized as per this article in PW today. Congressional members haven't finalized anything on the way books for children will or should be tested for lead (remember the legal limit of lead is 300 ppm as per the CPSIA which came to fruition in November of 2009, but it has been proven that the lead content in children's books is somewhere in the less than 10 ppm). If you are interested in PW's timeline of the events leading up to this date, you can view them here. Most of us haven't really spoken out much of late because it is kind of one of those "raised a ruckus thing and then was forgotten". I do get the emails from both the CPSC and the Amend the CPSIA folks but really haven't paid much attention to them of late. The article with PW today kind of made me go, "hunh - I need to be more involved now since I'm self-publishing books" for the targeted age group that is affected by this stupid act that is damaging a ton of businesses in the children's industry. I don't have a clue what will happen to the book publishing industry if the stay is not extended, finalized or the CPSIA is not totally revised soon. All I can keep on doing is publish my books until I'm told to stop. I may have to check with createspace folks to find out how this will affect me and/or them in the near future. Hopefully, before the 10th of February, the committees and congressional folks will have made a decision on extending or just totally amending the CPSIA. See you in the postings. - E :)

Book Review: Revenge for Old Times' Sake by Kris Neri

SNOW

Twice in less than a month - this was staken from the little stoop that is actually my front porch this morning. The school closing actually came to my email before the snow started (weird) - anyway - this is what my driveway looks like so guess we aren't going anywhere for a while - E :)


- My car is parked on a slight upward slant so you can see how much snow there is up to the tires.






I was going for the tree that is off to the side behind my car because I think it is cool how the snow is just there.




For thos of you who live where snow is a constant pretty much all winter long and sometimes before winter, then you won't think this is a big deal. For those of you in the south, not in the mountains or anywhere where you see snow several times a year, this is a sight to see. I like it one day and thn for it to disappear - hope it's gone tomorrow - because if it lingers much more than a day, then I go stir crazy - lol. Enjoy it today - see you in the postings - E :)

Blogging pet peeve

This is kind of a followup posting to the one on my JGDS blog this past weekend about finding teacher blogs to follow.

Why is that when you find some really good blogs to follow that hopefully will get your foot in the door that most of them don't have an email subscriber? I don't mind following blogs and having them in my blogroll, but following a blog isn't enough for me. Following means I have to open my dashboard every day and see who has posted something new, but I don't have time for that. RSS feeds don't do it either since I don't open my blogger every day. Email subscriptions on the other hand I open my every day and some days several times a day. I can read the posting, decide if a comment is needed or not. I wish more people in the blogosphere would utilize email subscribers (feedburner or feedblitz or even allow them on wordpress). I have come across a ton of blogs this morning, again, from one person's comment on a blog posting I am getting the email notifications for, and many of them don't have an email subscriber.

I would like to see more folks utilize the email subscribers out there so I can keep up with the relavent blogs. I keep saying, you never know when the right connection will be made - See you all in the postings - E :)

Sunrise

This morning was my day to take the kids (every other week I have Wednesdays and Thursdays or Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays). The sunrise was very pretty this morning. Hailie had her camera with her and snapped this picture. Enjoy - E ;)



- The best she could do from the car while waiting for her friend to come to the car to go to school -

Snow on Christmas Day

I took a much needed trip to visit with my folks and knew before coming up to North Carolina it was supposed to snow this weekend. After doing gifts this morning and eating breakfast, father was checking the weather info for Boone (where his church is located) and I happened to look out the window and sure enough it was snowing. Not sure when it started but still Christmas day and it is a white Christmas. I probably will be snowed in until Monday but it will be fine, I hadn't planned on going home until Monday anyway. Wishing you all a wonderful time wherever you may be and hoping Santa was good to you all - see you all in the postings - E :)