Logophile... Matching Readers & Writers: WABC, Day 14

The Winter Author Blog Challenge (WABC) is wrapping up tomorrow. Like I mentioned earlier, it has been a crash course in social media.

Today's prompt...

If you could create a social media platform that doesn’t exist yet, what would it look like? What would it do? How would you use it to promote your books as well as those of other authors you know/like?

Recently, I saw a picture on Facebook of a library with a Blind Date book display. Books were covered with plain brown paper with a few words describing the book, and readers could choose one to take home. I love this idea.

With that in mind, how about an online connecting site where readers and writers are brought together in a very Match.com kind of way?

The reader inputs their data... what they love to read, genres they aren't interested in, favorite characters, favorite setting, etc. Then, writers have profiles about the books they write, etc. Some magic system pairs the two. (Perfect, since writers and readers alike believe in magic.)

Once paired, the author sends the reader a sampling. Let's say five pages of the author's choosing. It doesn't have to be the first five pages (unlike agents, I do not make a decision within the first five pages of a book ... but I might make one on what an author chooses as their best five pages).

If a reader is intrigued, the reader and writer set up a tweet session to see if they hit it off. If it's a match, the author sends a full chapter. The reader then has the option to buy the book or not. At any point, authors can back out as well... if they aren't feeling the reader would connect with their book. No harm, no foul.

Then, if a successful match is made, the reader leaves a review on the site (and elsewhere, hopefully). This only helps the author's ability to make future successful matches. Basically, it would add an element to that magic system mentioned above.

Let's call it Logophile.com (Greek for lover of words), and the logo would incorporate a book and a picture of Athena, the Greek goddess of reason, intelligent activity, arts and literature.

Thoughts?

To Ning Or Not to Ning: WABC & ROW80 Updates

Welcome to Day 13 of the Winter Author Blog Challenge (WABC).

Today we are talking about creating your own social networking site through Ning...

What if you could create your very own Facebook? A social networking site that you run, based on your interests and whose members must abide by your vision, goals, and rules?

There are drawbacks to be sure. T-I-M-E being chief among them. But if you have a special interest and haven’t found the perfect social site yet, Ning offers you the mechanism by which to create your very own social network.

Ning has other benefits, though – chief among them being numerous sites on all sorts of topics that may attract your target readers. Are there any circumstances under which you could see yourself creating your own social network? Take a spin around the Ning Directory just to see what else is out there. Much like blogs, you’ll find half-abandoned Ning sites (ahem … I have one of those) and thriving sites. Are you inspired? Could you find time to visit one or two in your genre just to see if hanging out might be worthwhile?

I tried to look past the time issue and give Ning a chance. So I visited the Ning Directory, and clicked on the Writers subgroup. There, I found a few groups. None of them had much activity and the most recent group was in November 2009.

If I had stumbled upon this site with my interests, I would have thought it was dying a slow death. I'm not a jump in and give it a go kind of person. I'm a thinker, constantly comparing the pros and cons of any decision.

Going with my gut on Ning... I don't think it's for me. But, I plan to go back over all the social media outlets mentioned during WABC and do some research. I'm sure I will decide to participate in some.

Since I plan on putting out a new book this year, I guess sooner will be better than later.

So to my author friends, if you could only use one social media site to sell books, which would it be? (outside of a blog)

*****

A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) Update

Only 8 more days to go this round... eek!

My update is short and sweet this week. I'm awaiting Chasing Memories edits back from the lovely Jo Michaels, who I sincerely hope is NOT pulling her hair out right now. SO excited to get back to work on it. In the meantime, I'm working on the Depression Cookies follow-up.

Switching back and forth between YA and women's fiction is a bit more difficult than I thought it would be, especially since I'm writing about a 17-year-old main character in both. They are SO different, though, so going back and forth leaves me feeling a bit discombobulated.

This week, while awaiting edits, my focus is to write several A to Z posts!

How's everybody else doing as Round 1 comes to a close?

Should I Say I Do to Social Bookmarking? WABC, Day 12

Welcome to Day 12 of the Winter Author Blog Challenge (WABC).

Today's prompt...

A social bookmarking site is a “centralized online service” that gives its users the ability to add, annotate, edit, and share links to web documents. Bookmarking, also known as “tagging” is a significant feature of social bookmarking systems, enabling users to organize their bookmarks in flexible ways and develop shared vocabularies known as folksonomies. Popular social bookmarking sites include Delicious, StumbleUpon, Reddit, and Digg.

If you’re not using a social bookmarking site, you’re missing out on a key aspect of social media: referrals by the users. Is social bookmarking something you should consider incorporating into your online book marketing strategy? Give us links to your profiles, if you have them.

Here's what I've found about most social media. At first, it's all excitement and butterflies. Then, comes the hard part... the work. It's like going from the romance of first dates to being married with three kids. I just don't have the time and energy to put into all of it. And, quite frankly, I think it's worse to just jump in and out haphazardly.

At the end of the day, it seems the best marketing strategies are those that an author is willing to devote a lot of time to. I'm most effective when I get to really know a site and what it can do for my book.

I wish there were more hours in the day to spend scouring all these sites, making a list of pros and cons, and then choosing the sites that best fit my needs. Unfortunately, those hours don't exist.

However, I'm more than willing to hear a case made for joining these bookmarking sites. Looking forward to seeing what the other participants have to say!

Any advice on social bookmarking? Or should I say, bookmarketing sites?

Much Ado About Squidoo: WABC, Day 11

Welcome to Day 11 of the Winter Author Blog Challenge (WABC). Or, what I like to call a crash course in all things social media.

Today's prompt...

Do you have a Squidoo lens? Founded by Seth Godin, Squidoo is a popular free site that enables users to create single webpages (known as lenses) about their interests and recommendations. Users can even earn money for charity or themselves.

The credibility-building potential rivals Quora, but unlike question-answering sites, Squidoo users are free to create content of their choosing. The SEO rankings are quite high – but it remains incumbent upon the site’s users to double-check the veracity of information provided. Challenge questions: What are the benefits to using sites like Quora and Squidoo for building credibility? What can they offer that your website or blog doesn’t already do? How could this help you sell more books?

Have I been living in some kind of word-induced alter reality? How could I not know about this site?

When I saw the prompt, I went in search of information. I googled: Reasons to Join Squidoo. An unbelievable number of articles came up. Intrigued, I clicked on a few.

One I found particularly interesting, 3 Reasons for Joining Squidoo. The 3 reasons: Life is Never Boring, Earn Money Through Writing, and Helpful/Friendly Community. Pop over to the article for more details, but what is there NOT to like about those three things.

From what I could gather, it's also an effective way to reach people for your books and blog. There's so much more exploring I'd like to do, but I must admit... I'm intrigued.

Do you Squidoo? Any pointers?

Heaven = GoodReads + A Dessert: WABC Day 10 & ROW80

Oops, I was a bad girl and missed Day 9 of the Winter Author Blog Challenge (WABC).

What's my excuse?

First, it was Saturday. I promised myself I'd focus on family during the weekends. That's even more important now that my husband is working in San Francisco, and I'm in Maryland getting the kids through the school year (mid-June).

Second, the topic was Foursquare. From the prompt, For those unaware, FourSquare is a location tracking platform. Its users “check in” at various locations with a mobile device and are able to find out (track?) where their friends are. Location is based on GPS hardware in the mobile device or a network location provided by the app itself.

Quite frankly, way too many people find me as it is. No interest in announcing my whereabouts to the few who don't.

Today's prompt...

Are you on GoodReads? It seems a pretty obvious place for authors to hang out, yet I’m not sure authors are using it to quite the maximal benefit. If you are on GoodReads, how often do you visit/use the site? How often do you update your reading list? What other kinds of things do you post? Are you finding yourself using it the way social media was intended: to create a community?

I ♥♥♥♥ GoodReads! You can find me here.

Even if I wasn't an author, you would find me on GoodReads. Book cover, book summary, reviews... all in one convenient place. If it just allowed me to order a dessert and a Diet Coke while sitting in my bed reading, it would be my version of Heaven.

Plus, it's easy to sign up as a GoodReads author and add your book. In addition to being an easy place to find and leave reviews, I can go and mark books as "want to read" when I hear about them. Gone are the days of writing a book title on a piece of paper, one I would inevitably lose.

On average, I read two books a week, so I'm constantly on GoodReads and updating.

I have also joined several groups there, but I'm still looking for one that I feel is a great fit. Have any suggestions?

I highly recommend GoodReads to readers and authors alike. It's a great resource, marketing platform (giveaways & sharing your book's link and blog entries), and book lover's delight.

*****

Now it's time for my Sunday A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) update...

Writing: As I was working on Chasing Memories, my YA book, last week, Book Two started forming in my mind. Although I'm excited about continuing the series, I find writing a follow up even more challenging than the original. I plan to do a post on this idea after WABC.

Editing: Waiting to hear from my editor so I can get to work on Round 2 of Chasing Memories.

Blogging: Missed one day of the WABC (see above), but overall I am rejuvenated on blogging. Not too long ago, I was wondering if I could even keep up with MWF. My plan is to write a MINIMUM of 4 Blogging from A to Z Challenge posts this week.

Reading: Just finished an interesting book about Medusa. Review should be up early this week on Mom in Love with Fiction.

Speaking of my review blog, hop over today to find out more about this gorgeous book...

Quora for Questions: WABC, Day 8

It's day 8 of the Winter Author Blog Challenge, and I can't wait to see what our lovely host, Laura Orsini (aka Marcie Brock) comes up with next.

Today's prompt...

Are you using Quora? If you aren’t familiar with it, Quora enables users to ask questions and receive answers from those who allegedly know something about the topic. This is a phenomenal way to demonstrate your expertise – and even if you’re a novelist, you have an area of expertise – perhaps it’s simply “publishing your novel.”

Unfortunately, it seems you’re required to have an account before you can dig around – UNLESS you know a person’s profile link. Here are two you can check out:

http://www.quora.com/Seth-Godin

http://www.quora.com/Laura-Orsini

Until I saw this prompt, I had never heard of Quora. Now, I'm registered and even following people. Time will tell how much I'll use it, but I constantly have writing, publishing, and marketing questions. Maybe I've found a go-to spot for answers.

Then, I started wondering... what areas would I consider my input valuable?

I came up with more answers than I thought I would.

After all, I have published a book, moved all over the country (and about to move to San Francisco, CA--a place I've never even been!), am mom to three daughters and the oldest of three sisters, am a grammar geek...

Those were just the first few that came to mind.

But just as importantly, I am full of questions on many different subjects, and I've never been ashamed of asking for help. A teacher once told me, "The only stupid question is the one left unasked."

Have you ever heard of Quora? If so, how have you used it?

Although I'm brand new, check me out on Quora here.

Good Google-y Moogle-y: WABC, Day 7

Welcome to Day 7 of the Winter Author Blog Challenge (WABC).

Today's prompt...

Have you jumped into Google+ yet? If you are a regular user, you are still considered an early adopter, and that’s a great place to be in order to make a name for yourself while few others are – especially if men are among your target market, as most users right now are male.

As marketing pro Linda Sherman puts it, “GooglePlus can give you access to influencers (i.e., other early adopters) who might not notice you elsewhere.” This is a CHALLENGE, so here’s my challenge with this prompt: If you’re USING Google+, tell us about your experience.

 

What I've loved most about these social media-themed prompts is how much I've learned. I had NO clue that men used Google+ more. Good to know, since I write women's fiction and my YA book will be appeal more to females as well.

 

I joined Google+ fairly early, but I haven't found it to be overly active. I have my blog tied to it, so I post there daily. However, I get a lot more responses from my Twitter and Facebook posts than Google+.

 

Both for Twitter and Google+, I use it only for promoting my writing and books. Facebook, I use both on a personal and business level. If I could only keep one social media outlet for strictly business, Twitter would win hands down.

 

Not much more to say on Google+. I'm interested to see what my other WABC friends have to say on the matter.

 

Do you use Google+ to promote your business?

Is Visual Marketing Key?: WABC, Day 6

Day 6 of the Winter Author Blog Challenge (WABC), and I have a to do list a mile long. 

I set up my blog in late 2010 and after my first book was published. I didn't know anything about an author platform, had never heard of Twitter, had a Facebook account to post pictures of my too-cute children, and occasionally visited YouTube to watch a video of other people's too-cute children.

Although I know I've come a long way since then, I realize (especially with the prompts this week) how much more I can utilize social media.

Today's prompt...

With more than 800 million unique visitors a month, YouTube is one of the most popular search engines. Do you have a YouTube channel? 

Have you made a book trailer for your book? If not, what kind of book trailer would you like to make for your book? Do you have a video camera? If you do and you’re not posting short videos, you’re missing out on a huge marketing opportunity. 

It’s especially useful if you’re trying to reach a global audience, as 70 percent of YouTube viewers are in countries other than the U.S. 

I don't even like to take pictures, much less subject myself to being on video. Do I realize the importance of book trailers? Yes. I plan to do one for my YA release this year, and maybe one of these days I'll go back and do one for Depression Cookies. However, I think certain genres (YA for instance) do better as book trailers than others.

Do I think readers want to see every facial expression an author possesses shown on a less than flattering screen? No. 

Early in my Depression Cookies marketing, I did an interview via a You Tube video. It took me several, thanks to nerves and never knowing exactly where to look. But in the end I was pretty happy with it.

Check it out...

If there were more hours in the day, I would love to play with book trailer ideas. The ones that are done well are an asset, but I've seen some that actually turned me off the book. 

The second part of today's prompt...

If regular video posts are still on your To-Do list, what are some of the most clever video posts you’ve seen, and how might you do something similar to promote your books or yourself as an author?

Honesty is the best policy, right?

I go to YouTube for entertainment. Often I hop over from someone's FB post touting the "funniest thing I've ever seen." Typically, there's a baby or animal involved. 

Again, it comes down to time limits. If an author has a video embedded in a post, I often skip it and only read the content. I'm a fast reader, and I have a lot of blogs I like to get to. If I see that a video is short (less than a minute), I'm more apt to watch than longer ones. Feel free to ignore that last bit and watch the 3 minute video above. *smiles*

After all, I don't think anyone wants a bunch of authors doing the Harlem shake. (And I only know about things like this thanks to having a teenager.)

What videos do you watch on YouTube?

Pretty To Look At: Author Blog Challenge, Day 5

Welcome to Day 5 of the Winter Author Blog Challenge. 

Social media has certainly changed how all of us think about our connections and our businesses. As writers, we aren't just responsible for writing. Now we are responsible for all aspects of our business, whether it's marketing, promotion, sales taxes, income taxes, and so on.

Today's prompt...

One of the newest and fastest growing social media platforms is Pinterest? Have you jumped onboard? What kinds of images do (or could) you post that are related to your book or the topic of your book? What other kinds of images do you post? Are you linking each post back to your blog, website, or Amazon page?

Take a look at book marketer extraordinaire John Kremer’s Pinterest Boards. After perusing them, how MIGHT you use Pinterest to brand yourself and your book? Is it something you’re considering? 

Ah, Pinterest... the magazine of social media. Is it Pin-interest or Pin-trest? I don't know, but it's pretty. I love it, but I love it for recipes, school projects, arts and crafts, and such. As far as marketing my own book, I haven't spent the time I should exploring the possibilities.

When the prompt mentioned "book marketer extraordinaire" John Kremer, I was intrigued. I went to his page. It's AMAZING. In particular, I was drawn to the Blogging and Internet Marketing Tips tab. There I found everything from Blueprint for the Perfect LinkedIn Status Update to 21 Rules for Effective Social Media Marketing Strategies. I plan to spend a good portion of today on his Pinterest board.

As alluring as Pinterest is, I'm not sure how to best use it to market my book. Do readers really go there to find books? And if they do, it seems the cover is your best marketing tool to draw them in. As an avid book reader, I appreciate a good cover but I make my final decision based on the book summary and word of mouth. To that end, I find GoodReads the better tool for book decisions. It's aesthetically pleasing and offers book reviews and summaries all in one spot.

I use Pinterest more as a tool to find services or ideas than I do to market. But I'm looking forward to hopping around and seeing what other challenge participants have to say.

Thanks to Laura Orsini/Marcie Brock for another thought-provoking prompt!

Weak Link: Author Blog Challenge, Day 4

Welcome to Day 4 of the Winter Author Blog Challenge. 

In the last two days, we have talked about Facebook and Twitter. Today's prompt is all about Linked In...

LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site. Launched in May 2003, it has undergone many metamorphoses – the most recent of which involved retiring two of its most popular features, LinkedIn Events and LinkedIn Answers. 

Are you using LinkedIn to promote yourself as an author? Does your professional profile include or feature your writing? What is the best connection you’ve made through your involvement on LinkedIn? With whom would you still like to connect? Might LinkedIn be a good vehicle for making such a connection? What is your biggest question, frustration, or suggestion regarding LinkedIn?

My husband loves LinkedIn, and he's the one who originally suggested I join. I understand and appreciate the business side of writing, so it seemed a great fit. 

I have joined several groups, but I find myself more drawn to individual blogs than LinkedIn groups. Initially, I was a group lurker. But LinkedIn groups don't like lurkers and drop your group status if you don't comment or interact often enough. Since I follow a lot of blogs, Facebook pages, and Twitter profiles, it's hard to stay as active on LinkedIn as I should.

Regarding connections, I'd like to connect with Hugh Jackman... wait, I think the question meant on LinkedIn. Okay, I'd still say Hugh Jackman, but I'm assuming that wouldn't help with my writing. Well, except I do daydream about him a lot, so that helps with creativity. But I digress... I'm always looking to connect with more readers, but I do not see LinkedIn as the best method to do that. 

Quite frankly, I find LinkedIn less personal than blogging and other social media outlets. As a writer, I like making personal connections. However, I can see using it to connect with editors, cover artists, book formatters, book reviewers, and other writing professionals who have services I will need throughout my writing journey.

I'm sure LinkedIn is a valuable tool, but there are only so many hours in a day. If you consider my writing journey a chain, LinkedIn is surely one of my weak links.

Anyone out there found great resources on LinkedIn? Any advice on how to better utilize it?

My LinkedIn Profile

Rocking Writer, Tweet Tweet Tweet: Author Blog Challenge & ROW80 Update

Welcome to Day Three of my Winter Author Blog Challenge journey. Today's prompt...

Are you on Twitter? Perhaps more than any of the other social media platforms, Twitter has developed its own language. Tweets. Twitterverse. Retweet. Are you invested in the lingo? So how do you make a statement in 140 characters? Are you following more people or are more people following you? How do you decide whom to follow? Do you reciprocate and automatically follow back everyone who follows you? What kinds of things do you post? How often do you post? What advice do you have for those who are just getting started? 

Admitting I'm a dork is nothing new, so it should come as no shock that I can't think of Twitter without humming Rocking Writer (makes more sense than robin for me), Tweet Tweet Tweet.  Every time I go on Twitter this little ditty plays in my head.

When I first started on Twitter, which I did in May 2011 as part of the first blogathon I ever joined, I was lost. What would I tweet? Would anyone care?

I may not be hip with the lingo, but I like the format. It forces brevity and makes users rely on words... pictures aren't as easily shared on Twitter as they are on FB (unless I'm missing something). I'm more of a word girl than a picture girl, go figure.

Hating to hurt anyone's feelings, I initially followed EVERYONE who followed me. But I found this made my Twitter feed a mess of stuff I didn't want to read. So now I look into the people that follow me and follow back those I find interesting. As of today, I have 1088 followers and follow 1011. Clearly I find most people interesting!

My favorite part about Twitter are word sprints. My #ROW80 buddies do a #teamsprinty sprint weekdays at 2pmEST (or at least I hope they still do... I need to get back in the habbit). There's also #wordmongering (jump on and see who is writing). I LOVE these! And I just discovered #editmongering... hold me back!

For those just getting started, I would jump into these types of hashtags and get to know people. It'll make tweeting fun! Also, search for authors who have written books you love and see what their tweets are like. If you write a certain genre, follow authors in that genre. Now that I've started writing YA, I'm looking in to different YA authors and their followers.

Most of all, have fun with it, in 140 characters or less of course.

*****

Now for my Sunday A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) update (which is actually on Sunday this week because I have a guest post running tomorrow)...

Writing: Attended a writing conference this weekend. So stoked to get back to writing with a brain full of tips, strategies, and enthusiasm. I'll post more from the Pamlico Writer's Conference soon, but I had to share my wonderful news... 

I won first place in the YA writing contest!! *jumping up and down*

Editing: I'm applying my editor's comments and suggestions from the prologue and chapter 1 to the rest of the book. These edits will be sent on Friday, so no excuses!

Blogging: Posting every day until March 15 for the Winter Author Blog Challenge, and then back to my MWF schedule until the Blogging from A to Z Challenge starts April 1.

Reading: Lots lately! Check out Mom in Love with Fiction for reviews.

The Face of Facebook: Author Blog Challenge

It's Day Two of the Winter Author Blog Challenge. (I missed Day One due to a prescheduled guest post by Russell Blake, author of Blood of the Assassin.)

Each day for the next 15 days, Laura Orsini (aka, Marcie Brock -- Book Marketing Maven) will post writer-related prompts. 

Today's prompt...

Do you have a Facebook fan page for yourself/your book? How long ago did you start it? Did you do it yourself or have someone help you? Are you seeing lots of new people liking it? What kinds of things do you post? What have you found to be the most effective way to get fans/have people interact?

When Mom and I published our book, Depression Cookies, in late 2010, I knew nothing about an author platform. A book and no platform, what was an author to do?

I raced around the Internet, searching out my favorite authors. It quickly became apparent that social media was a huge component of book marketing, and Facebook was the place to be (or one of many places to be).

At the time, I wasn't sure there was another book in me, so I created a Depression Cookies page instead of a Tia Bach page. People interested in my book or blog who searched my name ended up sending friend requests to my personal Facebook page. 

I'll just accept a few requests for now and then create an author page, I said to myself. Two and a half years later, my personal page is equal parts family, friends, and author connections (some of which have also become great friends).

So my dilemma about Facebook... Do I now create a Tia Bach fan page and start directing people there? What do I do for those I already connect with through either Depression Cookies or my personal page? Do you add a new fan page for each book?

Fortunately, I didn't rush into creating a Twitter account. By the time I did, I realized my rookie mistake with Facebook and set up an author twitter page. In so many ways, I find Twitter the better author tool. But I think it's because I started it with a better knowledge of how I wanted to represent myself as an author. 

However, I think readers prefer Facebook interactions. 

Do you find Twitter or Facebook a better platform builder? Which one do you think reaches more readers?

Wait, my prompt turned into a Q&A session. ;-) 

I'm looking forward to reading what other challenges and successes others have found with Facebook.

(I will be checking out other ABC participants later today. I'm off to a Writer's Conference this morning.)

Learning Curve: ROW80 Update

Isolation, too often it is the life of a writer. Feeling a part of a writing community has helped my writing in some many ways. The learning curve has been intense but rewarding, and I have so many resources for my questions about writing, publishing, editing, marketing, and on and on.

Most of my writing community is online. I feel much less isolated than before, but I still long to surround myself with flesh and blood writers sometimes. To that end, I am attending the Pamlico Writer's Conference this weekend. I'm so excited to pick up writing tips and tools. But most of all, I'm excited to share in the energy of other writers.

I'll be sure to share what I learn.

Back to online writing communities... the Winter Author Blog Challenge starts Friday, March 1. I participated in the First Author Blog Challenge back in June and met some amazing writers, one of whom (the amazing Jo Michaels) is editing my newest novel. Please consider joining us.

Note: I had scheduled guest posts for March 1 & 4, so I will double up on writing prompts on March 2 & 5 for the Winter ABC.

Now for my Wednesday A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) update...

Writing: Depression Cookies chapters coming along nicely. Almost ready to hit send to my co-author, aka Mom. A stubborn scene is still befuddling me. 

Question: When a scene really perplexes you, do you let it go for now and work on it in editing or pound away at it until you get what you want?

Editing: I'm applying some of the editor's comments about my Prologue and Chapter 1 to the rest of the book. I plan to be done editing by early next week. 

Blogging: I'm keeping with my MWF schedule nicely so far.

Reading: Lots lately! Check out Mom in Love with Fiction for reviews.

It's a Party! A Giveaway and Excerpts

I'm thrilled to be featured on Jo Michaels blog today as part of her week-long Blog Party. I met Jo during June's Author Blog Challenge, and we quickly realized how much we have in common. We've joked that we were separated at birth.


Jo Michaels - Website

In addition to her informative blog, she is a multi-published author and mom of five. Her books: The Abigale Chronicles: Book 1, Book 2, and Book 3; Yassa; The Indie Author's Guide to: Building a Great Book; and Mystic ~ Bronya. Upcoming releases include Mystic ~ Lily (10/30/12) and Mystic ~ Sheila (12/21/12). For more information about her books, please visit her website.

As part of her blog party, I am giving away a signed paperback copy of Depression Cookies. Hop over to her Blog Party post to enter. While you are there, I hope you will enjoy my interview.

An excerpt:

Jo: Why write a book like Depression Cookies? What was the driving force behind it?

Tia: We knew we had a story to tell. Since my family did move a lot, sometimes all we had was each other. I am the oldest of three girls, and I don’t know what I would do without the women in my life. But, women can also be their own worst enemy. Women are at the core of some of my best moments, and some of my worst. We hoped a book with two distinct, but interconnected, female perspectives would open up a dialogue between women about the choices we have and the ones we make.

*****

For more fun, I wanted to share an excerpt from Depression Cookies, a coming of age story woven around the heart of family triumph. It is told from two distinct vantage points, middle-aged mother, Abby, and her teenage daughter, Krista.

In this excerpt, Krista is struggling with "mean girls" at her middle school. They have ambushed her at school and made sure nobody will talk to her, all because of a misunderstanding. She's lost. To a 13-year-old, this feels like the fight of her life.

Excerpt from Chapter 22:

It was the eye of the tiger;

it was the thrill of the fight.

Rising up to the challenge of our rivals

And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night

And he’s watching us all with the eye . . . of the tiger.

I stood in the middle of a wrestling ring struggling to keep up with my opponent. Punches were flying. Our quick moving feet seemed like a dance rather than a fight for our lives. I ducked my head but not quickly enough. A punch landed. I stumbled but managed to stay on the mat. This was no longer a friendly match—this was personal. I charged my opponent headfirst. My head hit its target, but the jolt did more damage to me. Landing on my butt, I looked up in time to take a jab to the face, then one to the back. I felt disoriented. How many people was I fighting? The crowd had faces, and the stadium suddenly became a small room at my high school. More punches landed. No longer knowing who I was fighting, I knew the importance of the event. Fear began to choke me. My only option was clear. I had to run. Had to get away.

“I must run, must . . .”

“Honey, it’s okay. Wake up. It’s morning. Time to get ready for school,” Mom said, leaning over my bed. She wiped my forehead with the back of her hand. “You’re all sweaty, are you feeling okay?”

“Mom, I’m sick. I don’t think I can go to school,” I said. I didn’t have the strength, especially not after that nightmare. I needed to think, to come up with a plan. Maybe it wasn’t too late to apologize, but I was afraid it would only make me seem weaker. The last thing I needed was Cindy or Kerry or both going in for the kill.

*****

Thanks for visiting today! Please stop by the blog party and enter to win a signed copy of Depression Cookies, and feel free to share the link with friends and family.

Words, Otherwise Beautiful, Can be So Harmful

“Words are like eggs dropped from great heights; you can no more call them back than ignore the mess they leave when they fall.”

 Jodi Picoult, Salem Falls

Words have power. They can inspire and destroy.

Last week, the lovely Callie Leuck wrote an amazing post, Some People Can't Mind Their Ps and Qs. She shares customers' comments while she performed in a living history museum, and also discusses how hateful people can be with negative book reviews.

It struck a chord with me.

Be Mindful of What You Say
My oldest daughter was given several gifts from her paternal Mexican great-grandfather. Like him, she has beautiful olive skin, black hair, and dark brown eyes. So many times as a teen I prayed for a tan. My skin knows two colors: red or white. I am quite fair with blue eyes and dark red/brown hair. My husband has the black hair and dark eyes, but fair skin (although he tans when he has time to soak up sun).

Twenty months after our first daughter, we welcomed another. She takes after me with insanely fair skin, green eyes, and golden brown hair (okay that's after my mother).

The comments have never stopped.

When I was obviously pregnant with baby #2, I can't tell you how many times women came up to me and said:

"Congratulations, you can get pregnant!"

I looked at the beautiful little girl in my arms and didn't try to mask my confusion. They would continue:

"You hear it all the time. You adopt a baby and then immediately get pregnant. So glad it worked for you."

Or, you don't want to know how often I've heard this question:

"Where did you get her?"

At first I didn't know how to respond. Now I say, "The doctor handed her to me after I pushed her out."

Now that my oldest is twelve, she fields a lot of these "what are you" questions. People have asked her if she's my foster child, people pull her sister aside and ask if she's adopted or from a different father. People assume she isn't mine. I'm astounded in this day and age that people are so perplexed by the color of her skin and details of her features.

Curiosity is Not an Excuse for Insensitivity
I understand curiosity. I do. But I don't understand how a moment of curiosity in the brain travels out from the mouth without any consideration. My daughter has cried about not fitting in. I tell her everyday how beautiful she is.

We cannot control our thoughts or even judgmental moments of weakness. But we can, and should, control the things that come out of our mouths. Or worse yet, get written in emails, texts, Facebook posts, Tweets, etc. I tell my preteen daughter... what you write in a moment of anger, hurt, sadness, meanness can and will live on in perpetuity.

Just last night at a swim meet, a woman said to me (quite loudly with my daughter standing right next to me), "Man she has dark skin." I could see the pain on my daughter's face. Kids her age were standing around. She doesn't want to feel different right now, but I hope she grows to love her beauty and individuality.

Beyond My Experience
I calm myself by blaming people's insensitivity on curiosity and poor manners. What I cannot understand is why some people get so heated when they review places and items online.

Specifically for book reviews, not everyone likes the same thing. There's a huge difference between pointing out what you didn't like about a book or offering constructive criticism and attacking an author personally. Maybe it's because I understand the blood, sweat, and tears most authors put into their books. Regardless, there's a person behind every book, restaurant, product, retail shop, and service reviewed online. The words left behind can be damaging to people's careers, livelihoods, and self-worth.

Remember that what you say or write travels quickly past a person's mind to their heart. Before you commit your thoughts to words and actions, take a few seconds to consider how you would feel if someone said that about you or someone you loved.

Last November, I wrote a post about bullying and the power of words: The Power of Words: Adult Bullying. A man my sister worked with was chastised for his weight all his life. He considered, on several occasions, committing suicide. It's a powerful reminder of the weight of our words.

Do you think "attacking" reviews should be removed from online sites?

Momentum and Friendships: Author Blog Challenge Wrapping Up

Although this Friday officially wraps up the Author Blog Challenge, I am tackling the last two prompts today.

DAY 27 What has been the best part of participating in the Author Blog Challenge? What are your suggestions for improving the next Author Blog Challenge?

Meeting other writers and becoming more familiar with Laura Orsini, aka Marcie Brock, Book Marketing Maven. I found her post yesterday, Are You Employing the 8 Components of a Successful Book Business?, particularly enlightening and useful. Plus, I've added some books to my to-be-read pile.

I also enjoyed the prompts. I didn't use them every day or follow the schedule, but it was nice to have the idea spark. There were some great questions. Thanks to this challenge, I started planning the movie version of our book, Depression Cookies. The post: Oprah Winfrey and Roger Ebert: Dreaming about Depression Cookies.

Note: In that post, I named Nora Ephron as my dream director. Sadly, she passed away yesterday at the age of 71. Goodbye, Nora. Thanks for all the wonderful memories and my favorite Meg Ryan films. I plan to do a post this week on her.

DAY 28 What are you going to do to keep the blogging momentum going? What plans do you have to continue your connection with other Author Blog Challenge participants?

I've been blogging pretty much every day since May 2011, so it's actually time for me to pull back and finish two novels that have suffered in the meantime.

My new blog schedule will be Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Friday is a theme day: Fun Facts Friday. Wednesday and Sundays are for A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80)  posts/updates. Mondays are a free-for-all. With three kids home for summer (12, 10 & 7) and two novels staring me down, I need to refocus for the next few months.

My last three months have been daily blogging challenges: April was the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, May was Michelle Rafter's WordCount Blogathon, and June was the Author Blog Challenge. I completed each one, but now I'm challenged out. Because of the insanity, I did not interact on as many blogs as I would have liked. I hope to remedy that in July and August.

For my fellow Author Blog Challenge participants: what has been your favorite part?