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Posted by Jennifer on Jan 24, 2011 in
Books,
Life Hey, all! Happy Monday!
I'm SO excited to be hosting such a special author on my personal blog today!
In case you didn't know, the one and only Patti Lacy is the author of An Irishwoman's Tale and What the Bayou Saw, both Foreword Magazine Book of the Year finalists. (In addition to being such a talented writer, Patti just so happens to be THE nicest woman on the Internet)
Her third novel The Rhythm of Secrets was just released and to some wonderful reviews.
So I asked Patti to stop by my BLOG and talk about her new book, which she will be giving away to some lucky commenter! 
Stop by my blog and comment to win!
Jennifer fancies herself a more prolific writer than she really is and has an unnatural tendency to use words like "fancies" and "prolific" when describing herself. Please feel free to check out her ebook, The Role of a Lifetime from Samhain Publishing and her recent Avalon romance Sunny Days for Sam--where she promises she didn't use either of those words in her stories.
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Tags: book giveaway, Patti Lacy, The Rhythm of Secrets
Posted by Jennifer on Jan 14, 2011 in
Books 
Hey, all!
Fellow Avalon Books author Joselyn Vaughn is at my personal blog today (Me, My Muse and I).
Joselyn is on a blog tour and giving away copies of her books Courting Sparks and CEOs Don’t Cry to the tour host with the most comments and to one randomly chosen commenter.
Go HERE to my blog to comment on her post on "Character Naming" and HERE to see her blog tour schedule.
Good luck!
Jennifer fancies herself a more prolific writer than she really is and has an unnatural tendency to use words like "fancies" and "prolific" when describing herself. Please feel free to check out her ebook, The Role of a Lifetime from Samhain Publishing and her recent Avalon romance Sunny Days for Sam--where she promises she didn't use either of those words in her stories.
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Posted by Jennifer on Jan 12, 2011 in
cosmetic surgery,
Life 
So I'll let you in on my mom's not so secret secret. She had a mini…facelift. At age 77.
I'm calling it not so secret because she didn't want me to tell anyone then turned around and yacked about it to everyone within 5 mile radius earshot. Thus, not so secret.
Let me give you the big picture before I proceed with my post. My mom is widowed (almost 11 years now), has the money to do it, and in my own personal opinion already a beautiful woman. So when she first told me what she was going to do a few weeks before Christmas, I kind of…freaked.
I don't know. Maybe I'm a worry wort but all I could see in my mind was some sort of botched Michael Jackson/Kenny Rogers/Joan Rivers kind of facial surgery. And I wanted my mom to look like my mom. And I didn't want her regretting what she had done. And I get a little squeamish when I think about all that pulled skin and cutting and… (well, you get the gist)
So I admit, I tried to talk her out of it. But then she told me something. She said, "Jenn, I know I'm old but I look in the mirror and see all these wrinkles and I want to cry." *sigh* Ok, that got to me and I could TOTALLY understand her reasons. If she wanted to feel good about herself then why not.
Then after I checked the guy out and she got the stamp of approval from her primary physician, I felt good about it.
I took her to the doctor. It was an outpatient procedure–about 2 hours. (4 hours total because they couldn't start the procedure right away because my mom's blood pressure was through the roof she was so nervous) Basically, they did a mini lift on each cheek and did a little liposuction under the chin. (Sorry, but even typing this is making me weak)
She got it done a few weeks before Christmas and looked pretty good on Christmas Eve and for the holidays despite the swelling. All her stitches are out now but she is still tender where they cut by her ears and behind them. So don't think it's all glamorous. There's a lot of recovery involved even in something as minor as her surgery was.
I saw her the other day and I have to say she looks really good. Still looks like my mom (thank goodness!!), still has wrinkles, and looks her age but…better. I told her she looks like early 60's. She was thrilled because she was looking for age 70.
Anyhew, this doctor is pretty young (and single, ladies), so all my friends want his card so they can go to him in 20 years. LOL
For me, I'm sticking with extra sunscreen. Still not so sure I would want to go that route later in life.
What about you? Would you do Botox or have any cosmetic surgery? Is there an age limit to when you would have it done? How would you feel if your mom wanted to do it?
Jennifer fancies herself a more prolific writer than she really is and has an unnatural tendency to use words like "fancies" and "prolific" when describing herself. Please feel free to check out her ebook, The Role of a Lifetime from Samhain Publishing and her recent Avalon romance Sunny Days for Sam--where she promises she didn't use either of those words in her stories.
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.png)
Thank you to everyone who participated with our 12 Days of Ebooks celebration!
We had a lot of fun!
And now we wanted to point out a very special Holiday Bash going on at The Romance Author Hotspot! With all this talk of eBooks and eReaders, what a perfect way to end by having a chance to actually win some eBooks and even a Kindle!
The RAH is hosting a 2010 Holiday Bash with your favorite authors.
Party with your favorite authors (some of them you've met right here!)–enter to win a Kindle and many other great prizes!
Meet:
Jill Marie Landis, Donna Alward, Liz Fielding, Lynn Raye Harris, Tessa Radley, Olivia Gates, Cindy Spencer Pape, Jennifer Shirk, Debora Dennis, Katherine Brandon, Clarissa Yip, Nina Croft, Silke Juppenlatz, R.M. Gilbert. And Special Appearances from Decadent Publishing.
If you're an author or reader, do come and play! These great writers and publisher are willing to answer any questions you have. From publishing to their crazy ideas and habits. But most importantly, they are here for YOU!
Special thanks to Catherine Mann and Marilyn's Romance Reviews in their contribution of gifts!
Starting December 24th, all your fabulous authors will have their own posts! Click the LET'S PARTY button up top of the page and go through each of their rooms (posts). Yes! Comment or even ask your authors your favorite questions! You’ll see their fun side, their bad side, maybe find out something you’ve never known, but don’t be shy! They’re here ALL for YOU!
Drawings for prizes and Kindle will take place December 27th! Don’t miss out! http://romanceauthorhotspot.com/
Jennifer fancies herself a more prolific writer than she really is and has an unnatural tendency to use words like "fancies" and "prolific" when describing herself. Please feel free to check out her ebook, The Role of a Lifetime from Samhain Publishing and her recent Avalon romance Sunny Days for Sam--where she promises she didn't use either of those words in her stories.
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Posted by Jennifer on Dec 21, 2010 in
ebooks,
ereaders .png)
Welcome to another day of The 12 Days of Ebooks! (Just two days left)
I met Diane Craver online and had the pleasure of winning one of her eBooks on a blog contest. I enjoyed it so much I knew I had to have Diane join us for our eBook Christmas special.
So please welcome author Diane Craver and hear about her book WHITNEY IN CHARGE and why she loves her Kindle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love reading ebooks on my Kindle for so many reasons.
I can take lots of books on vacation and take up no more space in my carry-on than a magazine. I can get any book immediately rather than making a trip to the bookstore and possibly having it out of stock. And I love ordering an ebook late at night when I want something to read. If I’m not sure about buying a certain book, I can get a free sample chapter immediately on my ebook reader.
May each of you have the Merriest Christmas season ever with abounding love and peace that continues through 2011.
~Diane Craver
~~~~~~
BLURB for WHITNEY IN CHARGE:
Whitney Benson is tired of her older sisters’ attempts to fix her up with every single male they meet. Shannon and Regan cross the line when they arrange for her to go skydiving with the simple excuse that more guys like to float in the air than women. Whitney needs to find something else to keep them busy.
When she suggests that the three of them start a family business, the fun begins in their small town. And she thought being a TV producer in New York had been exciting.
Without going skydiving, Whitney meets two eligible bachelors, Jack and Ben, who constantly battle for her affection. Which one will she choose? Both men make Whitney realize, even a heart shattered by her husband’s death, can once again be made whole.
But did she have to fall off a cliff to learn that?
EXCERPT
REVIEWS:
"Craver’s writing is crisp and the plot moves at a sharp pace. Her characters are full of life, quirky, vital, and so very real. Whitney is a character many readers can identify with. She’s a professional who finds it challenging to balance that aspect of her life with her private one. Both Jack and Ben are men worthy of Whitney. They’re solid guys and readers will come down on either “Team Jack” or “Team Ben.”…Craver’s dialogue is natural and real. Overall, Whitney in Charge, will leave the reader feeling good about falling in love."
Stephanie – Classic Romance Revival Reviews
Rating = 4.5 Wings
"Whitney in Charge is a delectable read. I found the sisters fun as they try to put some life back into Whitney. I love their interactions, as it reminds me of a tight knit family… Ms. Craver sketches the importance of family in this delightful tale that definitely stands out. She instills even the nit-picking that comes along with siblings. I love the way she allows the sisters to come to the aid of Whitney. This read was entertaining from beginning to end."
Cherokee – Coffee Time Romance & More
Rating = 4 cups
Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Desert Breeze Publishing.
Thanks so much, Diane!!
Jennifer fancies herself a more prolific writer than she really is and has an unnatural tendency to use words like "fancies" and "prolific" when describing herself. Please feel free to check out her ebook, The Role of a Lifetime from Samhain Publishing and her recent Avalon romance Sunny Days for Sam--where she promises she didn't use either of those words in her stories.
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Tags: ebooks, Kindle
Posted by Jennifer on Dec 20, 2010 in
Books,
ebooks,
ereaders,
Holidays,
Life .png)
How To Wrap An E-book by Maria Zannini
Did you know there is absolutely no information out there on how to wrap an e-book? Not one article anywhere. Madness!
With everyone getting Kindles, Nooks, Sonys, Kobos, and everything in between, wrapping an e-book poses a very real problem. How do you wrap an e-book so you can put it under the tree? And where do you even find that elusive ‘cyber’ wrapping paper?
Obviously, we have to think outside the box—and outside the realm of digital.
Most publishers and retailers download the book directly to an email address. For effect, you’ll want to delay the download until Christmas. But what if you still want to give the recipient the thrill of tearing open a box to see their present?
Simple. Give them a faux book.
The ‘book’ on the left is a little notebook I picked up at my local Wal-Mart. The ‘book’ on the right is a hardbound blank book that was originally a Christmas ornament.
Using any drawing program, measure and size your covers to fit one of the ‘books’. Print, cut, then paste the picture on the cover. Not only is it a clever little token of the gift, but they can also use it as an ornament for next year’s tree.
And speaking of ornaments, here’s another idea. Print off a color copy of the cover in a size that will fit inside a small frame. (Pick up these frames at any craft or hobby shop.) If you’re one of those prolific writers—yes, we know who you are, do a theme tree with all your books inside frames.
Here are the finished products from both projects.
Pretty neat, huh? And very easy to do.
Of course, the ultimate gift wrap would be to give an e-reader already loaded with a couple dozen books, though any diehard reader will adore you for loading a jump drive with a stack full of new titles too.
Are you giving an e-book this year?
As inexpensive as they are, I’m planning on giving several.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maria Zannini used to save the world from bad advertising, but now she spends her time wrangling zombie chickens and fighting for a piece of the bed against dogs of epic proportions. Occasionally, she writes novels. Do stop by her blog and say howdy. She loves meeting new people.
And check out her latest book, a science fiction romance called True Believers. It just released from Carina Press to fantastic reviews. (Much to the relief of the author.)
;
Mix one cynical immortal and one true believer and throw them into the biggest alien-hunt the world has never known. Rachel Cruz is a Nephilim masquerading as an archeologist and she's stuck with an alien who believes she can lead him to his ancestral gods.
Black Ops wants to find these gods too. They want them dead.
Jennifer fancies herself a more prolific writer than she really is and has an unnatural tendency to use words like "fancies" and "prolific" when describing herself. Please feel free to check out her ebook, The Role of a Lifetime from Samhain Publishing and her recent Avalon romance Sunny Days for Sam--where she promises she didn't use either of those words in her stories.
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Tags: Christmas, The 12 days of eBooks
Posted by Jennifer on Dec 17, 2010 in
Books,
ebooks 
Two years ago when eBooks were gaining popularity—I did a blog post on “going digital” on my personal blog.
Back then, this article from the Dallas News.com was all the talk. The article mentioned these little tidbits of info on eBooks:
Exhibit A: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos says that for books that come in both paper and electronic forms, e-books account for 6 percent of unit sales.
Exhibit B: Publishers Weekly reports that e-book sales are up four times over Penguin.
Ok. Yawn. Nothing earth shattering, but it was encouraging then at least–especially if you were a newly e-pubbed author.
Information about digital books was still slow. But I do remember a financial representative I know who had someone come into their office back then and want to buy Amazon stock because he had read about the Kindle and thought there was a future in it.
How right he was!
Because the following year (2009) it was reported that Amazon e-book sales overtook print for first time! The buzz began. Suddenly, I didn’t need to explain to people what an eBook was or even what a Kindle was. Plus, last year lots of bloggers were talking about getting eReaders and hosting discussions on whether they thought eBooks would put print out of business or not.
Then in early 2010 popular author Joe Konrath began doing a lot more posts on the pros of epublishing and things took off even more. After seeing how extremely well Mr. Konrath was doing in self-published ebook sales, a lot of authors decided to try and jump on that bandwagon too.
So where are we right now? Well, according to Publishers Weekly, here:
"Facing some harder comparisons, e-book sales posted their slowest growth rates in 2010 in October. Still, sales jumped 112.4%, to $40.7 million, from the 14 publishers who reported results to the AAP’s monthly sales program."
However, according to Joe Konrath that article doesn't tell the full story. Check his post out here. Interesting stuff and great success stories too!
What's my take? Oh, I'm glad you asked!
Ladies and gentleman, it was long ago thought that real money was in getting an agent and then a contract from a big NY print publisher. But I am constantly amazed at the figures I see in eBook sales by self-published authors and small epublishers. And don’t discount the quality of work that is put out by Indie authors, other epublished authors, and epublishers. Those who take their work seriously put out serious work.
Will eBooks ever snuff out print books? Of course not. Has email and texting eliminated letter writing and cards? No, but it has taken a chunk out of the stationary business. Print books will surely remain, but I do think eBook growth is going to continue to rise. And right now, it looks like Google wants in on that growth too.
What about you? Do you see the rise in popularity of eBooks and ePublishing or do you think it will plateau?
Are you ordering and reading more eBooks now than you did before? Are you hesitant to read a eBook? Why or why not?
Jennifer fancies herself a more prolific writer than she really is and has an unnatural tendency to use words like "fancies" and "prolific" when describing herself. Please feel free to check out her ebook, The Role of a Lifetime from Samhain Publishing and her recent Avalon romance Sunny Days for Sam--where she promises she didn't use either of those words in her stories.
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