Are distractions preventing you from writing?
I once was a disciplined writer. I religiously followed a writing schedule. I set aside specific days to work on my upcoming book or write for one of my blogs. When life started interfering, I reduced the number of blogs I wrote each week, but continued writing. Then, I took a two-month sabbatical to travel…
Creating a book marketing plan
In a recent blog (To be a successful writer, look to business), I wrote about the need to take a business approach to writing. I expounded the necessity for indie authors to become “authorpreneurs” to get the clarity needed to make sound decisions. Whether you decide to use a publicist or do the work yourself,…
Friday, July 4, 2014 Paddleboarding in Sarasota
Several years ago, an author friend Gina Greenlee told me about paddleboarding and how much she enjoyed it. At the time, I was writing Women of the Way and did not take time to try this new sport. Today, Elizabeth Chandler, Dennis and I slathered ourselves in sunscreen to try SUP, stand up paddleboarding. Gulfside Padddleboards…
Turning your art into an eBook
Janette Watson recently published Camino Sketchbook. As the name implies, the book is filled with her Camino drawings. In a tweet she wrote ” “I didn’t realize how hard it was to put images onto Kindle, and none of the how-to books agreed on a formatting method.” Intrigued, I ask Ms. Watson to write a…
Tuesday, June 17, 2014 Ivinghoe Beacon
We were very fortunate to have glorious weather for our final day. It started off cool, but leaving the B & B, I immediately shed my jackets. It was a short walk past the Tring Station to the trail head. Since we thought we were only walking 5.5 miles, we carried our packs. As we…
Monday, June 16, 2014 Wigginton, UK
Today’s walk provided beautiful vistas from several Chiltern Hills, chalk escarpments in South East England. This morning I saw my first Red Kite, a medium-large bird of prey. Though we climbed up down the various hills, the walk was not strenuous. If fact, it was quite enjoyable. We walked through the outskirts of Princes Risborough,…
Catering to your tribe
This is the third post in the series Developing a Stellar Social Presence: Attract, Bond, and Cater. In business, the number one go-to person is the one who can best help you make appropriate contacts for promoting you and your business. Developing a stellar social presence is akin to becoming that invaluable business contact. In…
Sunday, June 15, 2014 Kingston Blount, UK
Lightning, thunder, and driving rain awakened us during the evening. As soon as the sun was up, around 4:00 A.M., the birds started chirping and cawing. Sue May had returned from the reunion and prepared the English Breakfast for Dennis, while I had a lighter meal. She drove us to the trailhead so we wouldn’t…
Saturday, June 14, 2014 Ewelme, UK
We had thunder storms all night and awoke to grey skies. Richard and Kim, owners of The Swan were very sympathetic and kind hosts who seem to understand hikers and their needs. In the morning Richard took us to the trailhead so we wouldn’t need to cross the wet fields and shorten our walking about…
Build your tribe with bonding
This is the second post in the series Developing a Stellar Social Presence: Attract, Bond, and Cater. In the previous post in this series, I discussed ways to attract followers. I asked you to imagine a business networking luncheon at which you were trying to make contacts. In business, the person who develops bonds with…