Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Happy New Year!!!



Not only are we starting a new year, we are starting a new decade.  Not sure what it means for sone of you. For me, it's 366 days to write my life one day at a time.

It's a year for new starts, new positions, new friends, new challenges, prosperity, and giving back. My books will each be donating to charities or organizations. I am excited to be giving back on a small scale.

Some of my charities include, but are not limited to:
       Kentucky Victims of Violent Crime
       Faubush Fire Department
       Tanner's Totes
       Bethany House
       Center for Anti-Bullying and Non-Violence
       God's Food Pantry
       Holt-Mason-Dansville Gymnastics
       A scholarship for those pursuing a career in writing or journalism
       The Safe Center LI
I will add more in the future if the books I write lend themselves to a charity.

I have a thousand things to accomplish in 2020. Starting with the hiring of an illustrator for my children's book. I have narrowed my search to two. Waiting for a sample to decide.

Growing the Central Kentucky Igniting Souls Chapter. I believe we are a group of two at the moment.

Finishing my first book for 2021. Yes, fans it is Something Borrowed, Something Blue the 4th Macy installment.

I am working on my writing book, Let's Write Fiction for AAE (Author Academy Elite) for release in fall 2020.  A short story collection for release in 2020, the second edition of my poetry book, and a Christmas story all for 2020. The books are written for the most part. It is getting them covers and interior design. The only one not written is the writing book, which has three chapters done.

I have other books for 2021 which have been started and  I will be working on those throughout the year.

I will be going to Knitwits Thursday mornings, Pulaski Writers Alliance the second and fourth Fridays of each month. As well as monthly meetings with my Mastermind Group.

I will be collaborating with a Public Relations person on two programs which will be embedded in programs I'm offering.

Looking forward to introducing 4 products or services every quarter of 2020. Looking forward to all these new ventures.  Looking forward to teaching again and serving others.

Have you found your purpose? Are you finding ways to give back? Are you where you want to be? Have you found your happy place?

Best Wishes for a Wonderful New Year!!!

TTFN


Sunday, December 15, 2019

Changes Are Good




I've been writing for 55 years. Which is well over most of my life. Some of it will never be print-worthy. Some of it has been published. In my lifetime I have self-published, been with a vanity press, had a small press who went out of business, owned my own publishing company, and been with a mid-size press. The time has come to change publishers. I have found one who can give me more exposure and teach me how to create 18 streams of income from one book. I am a firm believer in change when it moves you forward.

I have five books coming out in 2020. I've been interviewing illustrators for about three days. I have one getting a sample ready. One, I have seen samples. So we will see. Nothing will be done before the holidays on the first book. The only thing I can tell you at this point is it is an alphabet book.

From now on,  most of my books will have charities attached to them. $1.00 on the sale of the books will go to a charity. As they come out, the charity will be announced. You will be able to find the list of charities when my website is up. I will be adding books and charities as time goes on. This is just a start.

I have taken on some new roles for 2020 and am excited to get started.




These are all a result of me joining Author Academy elite in July. Igniting Souls was the conference I went to in October resulting in my new branding. It will result in several opportunities for me. Including but not limited to book publishing. My books will now carry the AAE logo. I am excited about these new opportunities and excited to see what 2020 will bring.

Here's hoping 2020 has excitement and good things coming your way.
TTFN

Sunday, December 8, 2019

It's Holiday Seasong and What am I Doing?

If you guessed, I am working pat yourself on the back. That's exactly what I am doing. I'm also putting the finishing icicles on my tree. There are over 600. I have presents to start wrapping so I can figure out who still needs gifts and what I need to buy.  I want to go back to the days when I was done by October and all I had to do was wrap.

As to work, well I am adding things to go on my website. Look for it in January. I am working on books to get them ready for 2020. There's some editing to do yet. I'm also working on the books for 2021. No rest for this writer.

I've come up with a list of charities and other organizations who will be getting money from the sales of my books.  I put them under the year they will start getting money. Each year I will add to it. The topic of the book will determine where the money goes for the most part.

I am putting together my digital press kits for my books. I am putting together digital press kits for my writing programs. So I am keeping busy.

Not my favorite photo, but it works. Shows me doing something on my computer. I believe it was trying to keep the photographer's two year old from pushing random buttons.

I hope you are taking time for yourself during this busy season so you don't get over whelmed or burned out. 

Happy Holidays,
TTFN



Friday, December 6, 2019

The Writer Whisperer

The Writer Whisperer is the name a person who is helping me develop a brand came up with. Because I like water colors I chose aqua as the color for my logo.

 I attended the Igniting Souls Conference the end of October. During a mastermind session it was determined purple is my power color. As a result my logo was changed.


I also learned part of my branding should portray me as a sage grandmother in a red hat. The theory is who wouldn't trust a grandmother. So, following are some shots I hope to use as branding.
Traditional grandmother with her pot of tea.

Grandma can rock the baseball cap, too.
Interacting with a two year old.
Done for the day.



After  the two year old left.


One last shot.
So, have I got the branding right? I think I will need some new ones come spring.  Do you have a favorite?

TTFN

October Already

 I'm not sure where the time has flown. June was an exiting month. July was a mess. I had a change of medication which caused me to gain...