I believe that everyone has a book in them. Each person has unique gifts and perspectives worthy of sharing. Everyone has a voice and something important to teach. People tell me all the time that they want to write a book someday. My question is, “What are you waiting for?” There has never been a better time in history for you to write your … [Read more...]
I Survived November
Please excuse my little happy dance. November was rough y'all. During November I participated in the 30 Blog Your Brand Challenge sponsored by Indie Business Network and National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo. Even for a prolific writer this November was definitely a huge challenge. After my interview with ABC.com where I declared I … [Read more...]
The Story Behind Selah Press
In May of 2011 I published my first book How to Make Melt & Pour Soap Base from Scratch: A Beginner's Guide to Melt & Pour Soap Base Manufacturing. It was my first self-published book and I was learning along the way. I had written the book. It had been edited by Lesley Anne Craig and Dana Brown. It was all done being formatted by Alex … [Read more...]
The Unglamorous Life of Writers
Writing is a solitary venture. It is hours, upon hours of working with only the sound of your own voice leaking from your mind onto the page. Writing is stealing quiet moments to write instead of watching TV, reading or other forms of relaxation. Writing requires discipline, focus and stolen moments. Writing is exposing your heart to the … [Read more...]
NaNoWriMo Day 1 of 30
Today is the first day of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) 2015. In 2012 I wrote Puffy & Blue: The Chronicles of Nine Lives Together during NaNoWriMo which I published in 2015. In 2013 I wrote The Tough Side of Love during it. It was a book I needed to write, but am not ready to publish it. Both years I reached the 50,000 word count and … [Read more...]
Joining the 30-Day Blog Your Brand Challenge
Today I am starting the first day of a thirty day blogging challenge with a group called Blog Your Brand on Facebook. I love challenges! I am not much of a follower I have learned to harness the power of following the leader from following my good friend Donna Maria. She is the powerhouse behind Blog Your Brand and kicked off this new challenge … [Read more...]
Publishing, and Coaching, and Services, Oh My!
Since we sold Essential Wholesale in 2011 I’ve been busy raising kids, publishing books, chasing chickens and settling in across the country. Right away people started asking me to help them publish their books. I responded by publishing the book How to Self-Publish: A Guide for Author-Preneurs. Countless people have used that book to … [Read more...]
Death to the Enemy by Paper Cut
My friend and fellow author Michelle Titus sent me an uplifting email after she read my book When I was Young I Flew the Sun as a Kite. In her email she wrote, “It is a great gift to be able to work life out on paper. It’s a slow death to the enemy, that being death by paper cut.” I love this idea: working out life on paper is a slow death … [Read more...]
Crowdsourcing for Business 101
In January we went to a bison conference with the National Bison Association. One of the speakers had previously owned a marketing firm. Due to the way social media has drastically changed marketing, he closed down his business and became a bison rancher. Well, virtually a bison rancher. He owns no land and does no ranching. He outsourced and … [Read more...]
Quick Tips for Kindle Formatting
I read a lot. I do the majority of my reading on Kindle. Yes, I miss the feel of real books and all the reasons many readers don’t make the change from paperback to Kindle. I was won over by the ease of reading from a lighted surface, the ability to highlight passages as I go and easily find it again with a quick search, and the lower prices of … [Read more...]
Plugging into the Power of Social Media
I recently heard Toni Birdsong speak at my Heartprint Writers Group. She talked about social media and creating a tribe. I loved her tribe concept so much I borrowed the term when I later spoke on Crowdsourcing at the Tennessee Soap and Candle Gathering. Here are a few of tips I shared. Crowdsourcing, tribe building or social networking is … [Read more...]