Vacations Cost Too Much No Matter What You Do

Yes, I had a vacation from my day job. As always it was too short and I have to go back to work next week.
So what did I do?
Well first off I should probably let you know that I am not a traveler. Never was, never will be. Don't try to talk me out of it, many have tried, and failed.
So my vacations tend to turn into a staycation where I usually end up doing what everyone does on their vacations...
SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY!
How you may ask did I manage to do that and stay home?
Well everyone decided to start having sales on stuff I needed. Clothes, shoes, electronics, you name it they had it on sale.
Note to self, DO NOT take vacations near major holidays!
I really hate that. Not because I overspent or bought stuff I neither liked nor needed. Case in point:

Adorable Jacket down from $99 to $25 after sale and coupons

One thing about being cheap, I can work a sale. Okay, so it's purple, again. I like purple, it fits me, it looks good, and it was a DEAL!
Still I hate to spend money. I know it's necessary at times (I do like to eat) and I got really good deals, but still...I don't like to spend money because I always end up feeling guilty. Why? Because I SPENT MONEY.
It's a sickness. I blame The Great Depression.
No I am not old enough to have lived through it, but my mother and my father both did. Basically they came out with two differing attitudes.
Mom - Save everything because everything could be gone tomorrow.
Dad - Spend everything because everything could be gone tomorrow.
Confusing huh? No wonder I have spending money issues.
Still I got a lot of quality stuff I needed, at prices I could afford, including one BIG ticket item. I think I'm traumatized for life on that one, because I hate to spend money. Have I mentioned that?
Maybe I need therapy. Oh wait, that costs money.
Great, I'm cheap and neurotic.
Excuse me while I hide my credit cards from myself and try to forget where I hid them.

Mystery writer C.L. Ragsdale is the author of The Reboot Files a Christian Mystery Series. A California native, she loves to "surf" the web to research plot details for her fun, quirky stories with just a bit of whopper in them. She has a degree in Theatre Arts which greatly influenced her writing style. Working in various fields as a secretary has allowed her to both master her writing skills and acquire valuable technical knowledge which she uses liberally in her plots. She loves to embroider and knit and is a big fan of the old Scooby Doo cartoons.

Current E-Books

THE REBOOT FILES:  The Mystery of Hurtleberry House, The Island of Living Trees, The Harbinger of Retribution, and The Wrong Ghost.

www.shortmysteriesandtalltales.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/CL-Ragsdale219184744858421

Deborah Malone

www.deborah-malone.com

 The Road to Publishing (Part One)

1.      Finish That Novel:  Finish the book. Publishers are not really interested in ideas. They want to see that a would-be author has the skill, the stamina and the discipline to finish the job. After finishing your book set it aside for a couple of weeks then go back to it and start editing. Hire an editor if necessary. Two books I’ve found invaluable for my writing: “Write in Style” by Bobbie Christmas and “Goal, Motivation and Conflict” by Debra Dixon.

2.      Researching Publishers And Agents:  Study books that are the same genre as your book and see who their agent/publisher is. It is usually listed in the front of their book. Look for publishers on-line and study their guidelines for submissions. Find out what they are looking for. There are also books that are helpful to find publishers such as: “Christian Writer’s Market Guide” by Sally Stuart and “2012 Writer’s Market” by Robert Lee Brewer. Note: It is necessary to have an agent for big name publishers. If you do not want to go this route please do not forget the small presses. Please do your homework and check out small publishers or self-publishing companies. If you go this route a book you will want to read is: “Stress-Free Marketing” by Renea Winchester.

3.      Write A Synopsis And Query Letter: According to Kaye Dacus at www.kayedacus.com  you should first and foremost familiarize yourself with the kind of synopsis your targeted publishing house requests. Most will want a “normal” synopsis (about one doubled-spaced synopsis per 10,000 words of your novel.)  - Your query letter is your introduction to an editor/agent. You do not want to immediately label yourself as a “newbie” or an amateur when they open the envelope. Spend time learning the correct way to write a query.

4.      Prepare Your Proposal: The proposal is where you really brand yourself as a writer. It’s where you show the agent/editor that you’re so much more than just 100,000 words of a story written down on paper. It’s where you show them you understand the industry, you understand what they’re looking for, you know who your competitors are, and you realize that 80% + of the marketing for a published author is done by the author.

5.      Send Out Queries:  Be sure and follow the guidelines of the publishers you’ve researched. Send only what they’ve ask for – do not add anything unless they’ve requested it. It is important to not send any photographs or illustrations. Do not use fancy paper or elaborate fonts. These are the marks of an amateur, and will only hurt your chances. (www.mythicscribes.com)

6.      Be Prepared For Rejections:  You will receive them. Most of the rejection letters will be in form letter style. Do not let this get you down. Keep sending out the queries. Every author has a story to tell about the rejections letters they accumulated before being published. Consider a rejection letter as a sign you are writing. How many people can say they’ve even received a rejection letter? Keep writing and persevere. The writers who persevered are the ones who are now published.

7.      Continue Writing:  Don’t stop writing. The more you write the more you improve in the craft of writing. It will help you find out if you are able to write more than the “one hit wonder.” It might be that it will be your second or third book that gets published so don’t sit idle while waiting to hear from those publishers.

 

 

 

Author Bio: Deborah Malone’s first novel Death in Dahlonega, finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Category Five writing contest! Deborah was also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year in First Novel category. She has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, for the historic magazine “Georgia Backroads.” She has had many articles and photographs published, and her writing is featured in “Tales of the Rails,” edited by Olin Jackson. She is a member of the Georgia Writer’s Association. As a current member of the American Christian Fiction Writer she has established a blog where she reviews Christian Fiction.  

 

 

Before We Graduate--by Linda Kozar

On Friday, we attended our oldest daughter's graduation from college. She received a degree in Psychology from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. My husband and I and both our moms attended. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation and excitement!

I'm not the tearful type, usually so I was unprepared for what happened next.

Before the ceremony started, video recordings of a lot of the students played on a couple of Jumbotrons and my eyes started going all misty on me. Young men and women thanked their parents for making financial sacrifices for them and for sticking with them through the years, being there for late night phone calls, for angst about tests and teachers, breakups and heartbreaks.

I began to think about all those young people, including my own sweet daughter, just starting out and how they each have the opportunity to impact the world in a positive way.

We cheered as our daughter walked across the stage, clapping loud and proud!

But halfway through the ceremony something happened.

They announced that a mother and sister would be receiving a degree postumously for a young woman.   Her mother and sister approached the stage. The auditorium hushed to silence.

Poised on the verge of a promising life, this young woman would never walk across that stage, never engage in her chosen career, never fall in love and marry or give her parents a grandchild to bounce on their knees.

Tears began a slow roll down my cheeks.

Not one of us knows the number of days allotted to us. Before we graduate from this life, we must make the most of every day. We must share the love of Christ, lend a shoulder to those who are grieving, bring both physical and spiritual nourishment to those who have need and bring God glory.

Have a blessed week my friends--
Linda

*Want to read what happened when we got home from graduation? Read my story about the little birdies: http://bookishdesires.blogspot.com

Linda Kozar is the co-author of Babes With A Beatitude—Devotions For Smart, Savvy Women of Faith (Hardcover/Ebook, Howard/Simon & Schuster 2009) and author of Misfortune Cookies (Print, Barbour Publishing 2008), Misfortune Cookies, A Tisket, A Casket, and Dead As A Doornail, (“When The Fat Ladies Sing Series,” eBooks, Spyglass Lane Mysteries, 2012). Strands of Fate released October 2012 (Hardcover/Ebook, Creative Woman Mysteries) and her nonfiction title, Moving Tales, Adventures in Relocation, released in 2013 (Indie-Published). She received the ACFW Mentor of the Year Award in 2007, founded and served as president of Writers On The Storm, The Woodlands, Texas ACFW chapter for three years. In 2003, she co-founded, co-directed and later served as Southwest Texas Director of Words For The Journey Christian Writers Guild. She and her husband Michael, married 24 years, have two lovely daughters, Katie and Lauren and a Rat Terrier princess named Patches.

Represented by: Wendy Lawton, Books & Such Literary Agency

Member of: CAN (Christian Authors Network), RWA (Romance Writers of American), WHRWA (West Houston Romance Writers of America), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), Writers On The Storm, The Woodlands, Texas Chapter of ACFW, Toastmasters (Area 56) The Woodlands, Texas, The Woodlands Church, The Woodlands, TX.

Linda Kozar is the author of six books. Her latest, titled “Moving Tales, Adventures in Relocation,” is a collection of stories from people who experienced the good, the bad and the ugly when they moved. www.lindakozar.com  http://bookishdesires.blogspot.com

The Weekend is Here - Enjoy!

See you on Monday!

Nancy Jill Thames

Traci Tyne Hilton

Deborah Malone

Linda P. Kozar

S. Dionne Moore

C.L. Ragsdale

You Can Do This!

By Nancy Jill Thames

Like to solve puzzles? 

To publicize the launching of Book 7 "THE RUBY OF SIAM," I'm offering a free paperback or download to the first person able to match first sentences to their book. Each book has the Search Inside feature on Amazon.com, so take a peek and go for it! Good luck!

1. Caroline was playing innocently in her own front yard with her new puppy when the car struck her down.  

2. The invitations had gone out a few days ago to three of my dearest friends in the world.   

3. Daisy Larsen bustled.   

4. Warmed by the fire, Teddy had fallen asleep on the sofa.  

5. Madison looked about nervously toward the back of the house, hoping and praying that no one would notice their departure.  

6. The gun discharged during the struggle, and the bullet struck his heart.  

A. "FROM THE CLUTCHES OF EVIL"

B. "WAITING FOR SANTA"

C. "THE GHOST ORCHID MURDER"

D. "MURDER IN HALF MOON BAY"

E. "PACIFIC BEACH"

F. "THE MARK OF EDEN" 

To win, leave your answers in a comment and follow the site.  Thank you for playing! 

See you in my books!

 ~Nancy Jill 

Mystery novelist Nancy Jill Thames began publishing Christian fiction in 2010. The author of six books in the Jillian Bradley series, she is an award winning blogger and is listed numerous times on the Author Watch Bestseller’s List, this in addition to winning first place for her Chocolate Cream Pie.

When she isn’t plotting her next book, she spends time with her six grandchildren, tags along with her husband on business trips, and plays classical piano for her own personal enjoyment. She is an active member of the Leander Writers Guild and supports the Central Texas SPCA with a portion of her book sales.

 Nancy Jill is busy working on book 7 "The Ruby of Siam" a mystery taking place in London.

CONTACT INFORMATION

jillthames@gmail.com

What's Your Favorite Fairy Tale?

When The Frog Won't Kiss The Princess You Know There's Trouble in Fairy Tale Land

What's your favorite Fairy Tale? I know it's a silly sounding question, but I have a good reason for asking. I need some ideas to stea...I mean to gather some inspiration from.

I'm blocking out my new novella series, The Law of The Lands. Yes it was going to be short stories, but I'm a writer, I change my mind all the time so best get used to it. Anyway, I've got to do something while I wait for the Beta readers to finish The Great Scarecrow Invasion, and the movie to start, and getting Chasing Lady Midnight ready.

I know, I'm demented. It's the way God made me, just go with it. Less headaches that way.

So I'm looking for some fairy tales  Although my main storyline will be my own characters, there will be solving of mysteries involving fairy tale characters. Slightly fractured of course. How's that for a cozy mystery idea? Agatha Christie must rolling in her grave.

I'm looking for some that might not be so commonly known. I mean we all love Snow White, Cinderella, Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty, but let's face it they've been done to death. When Cinderella becomes a Zombie Slayer, and Sleeping Beauty a Vampire Slayer (I'm not kidding check it out on Amazon sometime) it's time to move on to other fairy tales. Although I do reserve the right to have the these characters make cameo appearances, such as Peter Pan and Captain Hook.

Don't groan I've already written the scene, I"m using it!

I've definitely decided on Snow White and Rose Red. Different Snow White, who knew there were two? Well I did, but I'm a writer knowing that kind of thing is part of what I do. Also I'll be using the Jabberwock from Through The Looking Glass. I know, technically it's a poem not a story, but close enough!

Random thought: Why is the poem called Jabberwocky but the monster in it Jabberwock?  Sorry, my mind wanders sometimes.

Anyway got any favorites you want to share? I'd love to hear your favorites.

Mystery and adventure writer C.L. Ragsdale is the author of The Reboot Files a Christian Cozy Mystery Series, and a superhero story called Chasing Lady Midnight. A California native, she loves to "surf" the web to research plot details for her fun, quirky stories. She has a degree in Theatre Arts which greatly influenced her writing style. Working in various fields as a secretary has allowed her to both master her writing skills and acquire valuable technical knowledge which she uses liberally in her plots. A big secret from her past, which is not so secret anymore, is that she used to a major comic book geek. Nowadays she loves to crochet, but she is still a big fan of the old Scooby Doo cartoons.

Cindy posts on her own blog called Short Mysteries and Tall Tales at http://shortmysteriesandtalltales.blogspot.com as well as The Cozy Mystery Magazine on http://cozymysterymagazine.blogspot.com

Her Facebook Authors Page is located at http://www.facebook.com/pages/CL-Ragsdale/219184744858421

Drinking Tea and Eating Crow

 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is one of the coziest mystery series of all time. From witch doctors, to beauty queens, Mma Ramotswe faces all of the troubles that come up in Botswana with a traditional attitude, and a cup of traditional Red Bush Tea.

A quick search on Google taught me that Red Bush tea is a miracle drink made from the  Rooisbos plant. It is very popular in Africa, great for allergy sufferers (yeah, I'm one of those) and has a lightly sweet, vanilla like flavor.

I bought the first box I could find, and was so glad I did! It lived up to all of the hype as far as flavor and comfort. I hope that as I continue drinking it I will find my allergies relax their hold on me a little as well!

That's the tea I'm drinking. But I'm also eating crow, and I'll tell you all about that as well.

I published Foreclosed in 2010. It did well and got both good and bad feedback, so I wrote a sequel. Then a third.

By the time the third was out, I knew Foreclosed wasn't the book it could be. But people liked it, so I didn't rush in to make the changes I was hankering for.

But I finally made time to do a real rewrite on Foreclosed, and the finished version was uploaded yesterday.

I am so excited about the new version that I want to call everyone who has ever bought it or read it and tell them to go get the new version!

One of my friends was concerned it would lose it's sarcastic-Traci touch in the rewrites, but I promise, it's still the easy reading, light mystery, with a dash of Traci style humor it's always been.

It's already available, and still free, at Amazon. It will begin to show up at all of the other stores in the next few weeks. I'm incredibly happy that I took the time to do this.

I am so grateful for everyone who has read and enjoyed the Mitzy books and Plain Jane. I could never say thank you enough for giving me the opportunity to entertain you! It is an honor I don't take lightly.

(Grab it free from Amazon!)