The Game Changer and a GIVEAWAY!

The Game Changer is coming out in two months people!  TWO! MONTHS! I know you all hate waiting, but it will fly by and be here before you know it and then we'll all be sad that we aren't looking forward to it anymore. Right?!  That's how I felt about Reckless by S.C. Stephens!  Counting down like crazy... waiting, waiting, waiting.. and then BOOM!
It was here.
And now it's gone.
And it's sad. 
(I love you Shannon)

Anyway, I've started celebrating!  Why?  Because i'm really freaking excited! :) And I also want to showcase some talent I've come across since writing The Perfect Game (I love supporting people who are working hard to create their own businesses and become their own boss! You go girls)!  :) 

The first rule of business? I've put TPG on sale for .99 cents for this weekend only (April 12-14)!  Let's get some hype going for the next book!!!!  WOO HOO!!!  See? I told you I was excited.  lol

To share in all the fun, I've decided to have a giveaway. There is a rafflecopter thingy - mabob at the end of this post where you can tweet, facebook, gift a copy of TPG to your friend, pre-order the game changer, like Bzbisdakbiz (that's who made the prizes) on Facebook,  etc. 

And then you'll be entered to win 1 of 4 prizes!  There are FOUR winners total (maybe more if I go crazy by Monday morning).  You can win:

A Perfect Game Inspired Keychain!  I have this on my keys and I freaking LOVE it!  And everyone who sees it thinks it's the cutest thing ever!!!

 

A Perfect Game Inspired Charm Bracelet. It's so cool, with all sorts of charms to represent Jack & Cassie individually, as well as together.  <3 this!

A "Kitten" Necklace inspired by Cassie's nickname given to her by Jack F'n Carter.  :)  Too cute!

And This one is new!!!!  This is the first time i'm seeing it and I love it!  It's so cool!!  Pandora bracelet inspired by The Perfect Game!  This is awesome.  :)

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Links to TPG:
THE PERFECT GAME- US KINDLE

UK:
THE PERFECT GAME- UK KINDLE

Links to TGC Pre-Order:
THE GAME CHANGER- PRE ORDER

UK:
THE GAME CHANGER- PRE ORDER

Per usual- thank you so much everyone for your support and general, all around awesomeness!  I freaking adore you!  :)

I Signed a deal with AMAZON!

You have been waiting for sooooooooooooo long to hear the release date for THE GAME CHANGER, right?!  I am sorry that it's taken me forever to announce this, but as these things tend to go, publishing deals take time and there are contracts and points and things to go over and deadlines to meet, etc. 

Did I say publishing deal?

I DID! 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:) 

The Perfect Game and The Game Changer will be published by Amazon Publishing in New York!  I am SUPER excited (and super scared).  lol Okay, i'm not really super scared.  I'm way more excited!!!!

As long as we meet all of our production deadlines, etc...

THE GAME CHANGER will be released on

JUNE 25, 2013

Which means that it will be released in time for Book Bash in Orlando and I WILL have paperback copies there for sale!!!!

So to celebrate this awesome announcement, The Perfect Game is on sale for .99 ! 
http://www.amazon.com/The-Perfect-Game-ebook/dp/B009OMPKTG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1363202004&sr=8-2&keywords=the+perfect+game

Go meet Jack and Cassie and get ready for the next installment of their relationship (which I truly hope you'll LOVE)!

Questions and answers:
Does this mean that TGC and TPG will no longer be available as an e-book on Itunes, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc?
Yes. Unfortunately at this time, once June 25th hits, TPG and TGC will only be available as an e-book on Amazon.

So how will I be able to read it then?
You can either order a paperback copy (which should be available on all sites), or you can download the kindle app on your Ipad, PC, phone, etc and purchase the kindle version to read. I really am sorry about that.

Will your other books be amazon exclusive?
No. My other two books will remain available on all sites and on all platforms.

My heart

My <3 is="" made="" not="" of="" p="" s.="" up="">
If you were to take my heart out of my chest and hold it to your ear, you would not hear the sound of coins jingling around the sides. Nor would you hear the crumpled sound of paper dollar bills brushing up against the edges.

No.

If you held my heart up to your ear, you would hear the sound of my Love, my Joy, my Pain, my Heartache, my Heartbreak, my Success, my Failure, my Triumphs, my Laughter, my Tears, my Hurt, my Losses, my Past, my Future, my Words, my Hopes, my Dreams...

My heart is missing pieces of itself that I've lost along the way. Some i've given freely. Some i've wanted back. But it's my heart, my journey and I wouldn't change a thing.

Every story I write is a piece of myself that I choose to share with anyone who chooses to read it.  I write FROM the heart, WITH my heart.

It's just who I am.

And dear readers, I can promise you this:  I will never write for the money. I wouldn't even know where to start. 

<3

I love and appreciate it every single one of you. Thank you for being the raddest freaking readers on earth.  :)

Why it takes so long to write a dang book!

I know that some of you don't understand WHY the heck it takes so long to write a book!  Some other authors seem to bust out a book a month- which is awesome for them... unfortunately, i'm not one of them.

I thought i'd tell you the two biggest things that take up my time because you've probably never even thought about it before. 

#1-  RESEARCH!  Even the stupidest, smallest detail needs researched if I don't know anything about it. For example-  Jack & Chrystle splitting up... what are the laws in Alabama for an annulment?  Can you get one? If you can, for what reasons? How do you file one? How long does it take to process? Seriously. I look up all that sort of stuff before I write about it so that the picture I paint is as accurate as possible. Sometimes I'll find that i've spent hours researching things for ONE paragraph (and sometimes ONE statement or sentence) in the whole story!  It's crazy town!  :)  Research is time consuming, but I don't know a single author that doesn't do it. Writing about a jail scene? They're researching what the person wears, what the rules are, who can visit and when, etc. Writing about a baseball player heading to the major leagues?  They're researching where the minor league teams are located, making a list and then going through the list to see which Major league team makes the most sense. I look up everything if I don't already know. EVERYTHING! I reach out to my friends in the business for a more realistic approach (had to reach out to a big LA publicist friend the other day for some questions). I researched Cassie's major and compiled a list of all the classes she could take and then I chose the ones she did. I have the college schedule printed out so I know when they break for Christmas, Spring Break, when school ends, starts, etc.  I have the Mets schedule printed for game dates, times, days off (ha), etc. 

#2- THESAURUS.COM  i.am.not.joking.  God I wish I was. But I seriously suck at vocabulary. I write the way I talk. 100% the way I think, talk, my friends talk, etc. So I tend to repeat the same things over and over and over again. I swear I spend half the day writing and the other half looking up words in the freaking thesaurus.  And even then my editor still has to make it all better.  lol

So there you have it. Those are the two biggest things that "take away" from my writing time and suck up my days. If you're a writer, what are yours? 

You want to write a book PART 3

Cause it's so much fun to piss everyone off, I figured i'd just keep verbally vomiting so you don't have to.  lol

This one will be short.  But it's still the truth.  Well, MY turth anyway.

You need to have integrity as a writer. 
And you need to stay true to yourself and the stories you choose to tell.

I know you want to write a book that connects with people. And i'm sure by now you've read all the "popular" self-published books just trying to figure out what those books have that yours doesn't. But what you don't realize is that it's all a crap shoot. I'm not kidding. Timing, what's trending, who is buying and reading books, exposure, what else is out there, how over or under saturated the market is, what people want, what they're sick of reading, where the moon is aligned in your sun sign, etc.  Whatever sold two weeks ago might not sell two weeks from now. Readers are fickle. You shouldn't be when it comes to your writing.

The biggest thing for me personally is- I know that I could take the route of writing in a certain manner, or about certain topics for shock value simply to make a buck, but that would be completely disingenuous of me. I'm a smart person. I know what sells in the same way that marketing genuises learned that sex sells in advertising. I could do all sorts of things to ensure that people will talk about my books once they've read the last chapter. But I can't do things that don't feel real to me. That doesn't mean that my stories won't break your heart, or have painful topics in them... because they will. But what it does mean is that you can rest assured that the story came from my heart and not my wallet.

Listen, I want readers to love what I write, but I want to know that my story came from the right place. I don't write for the money. I write because of the way it makes me feel to put my story on paper. And for the way that people react to it. No matter how few or how many the number- the genuine feeling you get as an author is the same.

So my advice to future writers out there:

Just be you.

Write the stories that make you FEEL like you are being true to your calling.
You will find your groove. You will hit your stride. And you won't feel like you sold out to do it.

There's nothing more beautiful than being successful doing something you genuinely love to do.

Now go do it.  :)

After Christmas The Perfect Game SALE!

Okay!  So in celebration of all the new kindles, ipads, ipad mini's and nooks out there... i've lost my freaking marbles and made The Perfect Game only 99 cents!

99 pennies.

50 cents (you'll get the reference after you read the book) and 49 more.

seriously?

99 cents!?

Yeah.  SO GO GET IT!  please?  

Have an amazon gift card burning a hole in your pocket?  Let's spend 99 of those cents on this book!  LOL

But really, tell your friends... tell your neighbors... tell your enemies.  unless they really suck  :)

AND THANK YOU!  Thank you so much for helping me have the most successful year i've ever had in my professional life.

And if we rock TPG back up the charts, who knows what will happen in the future!  

Links?  Here you go.

the amazing amazon

http://www.amazon.com/The-Perfect-Game-ebook/dp/B009OMPKTG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1356485200&sr=8-2&keywords=the+perfect+game

the bombastic barnes & noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-perfect-game-j-sterling/1113324003

Thank you for spreading the word. I can't do it alone and I really can't do it without you. I appreciate your help, your amazingness and your general awesomeness so much. I hope you know that.  :)

ONE DAY SALE! 99 authors, 99 books, 99 cents!

Seriously!  This is happening RIGHT NOW!  For ONE DAY ONLY we have 99 BOOKS from 99 AUTHORS for only 99 CENTS!!!!

http://buymereadme.com

What book do I have on there?  Chance Encounters!  For 99 cents!  For 1 day!  :)


http://buymereadme.com

AND YOU CAN WIN ALL SORTS OF PRIZES!!!!!!!

GO!


NOW!!!

HTTP://BUYMEREADME.COM

oh hi there old friend

I hate when it seems like I dust-appear (that's how my son used to say disappear. i've always liked it, so it stuck. lol).

But really, i'm here!  The thing is, I got super excited yesterday when a book idea felt like it literally HIT ME like a 10 ton brick to the back of the head. So excited that I ran to my computer and started typing out the first scene. Which turned into half a chapter. And then I couldn't sleep last night because the characters and the story were in my thoughts, my dreams, my mind.

This is what typically happens when i'm writing something I love. My mind won't rest. I don't have an off switch.

So if it seems like i've ditched you- I'm just in my cave trying to write something worthy of you reading.  Hang in there.  :)

I'm mailing off some Amazon gift cards today, so if you won, be on the lookout!  I still haven't heard from ALL the winners- so please email me your address ASAP so we don't forget! And by "we" I really just mean me.  I totally suck at remembering things and I am so freaking easily distracted.  Like right now, the cutest dog in the entire world is staring at me and he makes me forget about everything except how cute he is. Oooooh, maybe i'll write him into this book?!  Every girl needs a doggy!  lol

See?

I heard that people were having problems trying to find The Perfect Game on Barnes & Noble, and I will agree that when I went there the other day to search, it pulled up nothing. Put in my author name, it also pulled up nothing. But it seems to be working fine now. But just in case, here's the direct link for all you Nookers.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-perfect-game-j-sterling/1113324003?ean=2940015581737

Have I mentioned that we are freaking NUMBER THIRTEEN on Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers?!?!?!!  That is SOOOOOOOO freaking cool!  I am so happy! So so happy that you guys read this book, fell in love with the characters and Jack & Cassie's story and then you told everyone you know to read it. It's something i'd always hoped would happen for one of my books-  and now it is. So, THANK YOU. 
Sincerely. 
I am so happy, appreciative and freaking excited for what this all means for my career!  You guys have made it possible for me to say that without cringing. This IS my career. I am an author. *knock on wood*

I'm terrified every single day that it will end just like that.  Welcome back fear, my old friend.

We'll talk about that more later.

But for now, keep on reading, loving, and telling your friends about the books you enjoy! And then all of us authors can keep writing them.  :) 

PS- let's not forget about our friends over in New York and New Jersey who are having a really rough time right now. Roads are impassible. Gas is hard to get too. The lines for gas are hours long. Power is still out in some places. Food is rotting, water is needed. If you can donate something, anything, here's a link to a list of places for donations like the Red Cross, the Humane Society, etc. We're thinking of you East Coast. And we love you. xo
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/hurricane-sandy--how-to-help.html

the perfect game COVER!

Did you see the big reveal on all the blogs and facebook this morning for The Perfect Game?!

Tell me how much you LOVE this freaking cover!!!!!!! 

 

 

Isn't it AMAZING?!?!?!!  I am in love with it! I can't wait to release it!  The book will be out in early October.....  it's not finished yet, but soon. *knocks on wood*

 

And for those of you who like to buy the paperback copies... look at the full cover!  it's even better when you see the WHOLE thing!!!!

 

*swoon*

 

 

 

 

i'm going to go have a heartattack of epic porportions now. I can't take the gorgeousness!  CAN'T! TAKE! IT!

 

 

chicago bloggers wanted!

is coming up at the end of september! the list of authors is UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE!!!!!! and i'll be there too! don't ask how. LOL

so bloggers, if you're coming-  if you're local-  if you wanna show up-  there's a special time slot just for you with everyone!

meet & greet in Chicago y'all!

Y'all, have you heard about this amazing meet & greet at the END OF SEPTEMBER in Chicago?!?!?

Here are all the details- and you have plenty of time to save! :) Hope to see you there!

http://www.facebook.com/jennnster#!/events/398385536885550/

The Palmer Hilton House in Chicago

Saturday, September 29, 2012

12:00pm until 4:00pm in CDT

Come and meet some extremely talented authors such as: Colleen Hoover, bestselling author of Slammed and Point of Retreat S. C. Stephens, author of Thoughtless & Effortless Tarryn Fisher, author of The Opportunist ... Abbi Glines, author of Ceaseless, While it Lasts & The Vincent Boys Stephanie Campbell, author of Grounding Quinn & Delicate Rebecca Donovan, author of Reason to Breathe & Barely Breathing Jillian Dodd, author of That Boy & That Wedding J. Sterling, author of "Chance Enounters" and "In Dreams" Michelle Mankin, author of Love Evolution and more!!! Most authors will be bringing copies of their books so you can purchase a signed copy...or 2 or 3 or 4! :)

happy CHANCE ENCOUNTERS day!

It's finally here! The big release day! :)

Chance Encounters is LIVE and AVAILABLE for purchase on Amazon! Here's the link.
http://www.amazon.com/Chance-Encounters-ebook/dp/B007V6IGCA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334792768&sr=8-1

ps- I know the thumbnail looks WRETCHED. I saved the photo with the wrong color format. I've tried to upload the newer version, but Amazon takes awhile to update those things sometimes. So I apologize in advance that the cover looks crazy. It makes me sad too cause I think the cover is SOOOO pretty!

I've uploaded the book to Barnes & Noble for you Nookers out there- I swear I only know of 1 of you. LOL As soon as that's LIVE, i'll post the link. :)

updated- nook is live!

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1110278776?ean=2940014559591

The paperback's aren't quite ready yet. I still need to get a proof copy and comb through it line by line to make sure it prints okay. As soon as it's available for order, i'll let you know. But this is the link to the store. I won't be doing anymore orders through myself anymore. It's too time consuming, so for now, this is the only place where you can get a paperback copy of the book.
http://www.createspace.com/3665746

Well, that's all I've got for now. I hope you'll get a copy of the book and I hope you like it! If you do, please please please don't forget to leave me a review on Amazon. It's super helpful and it really does matter. :)

You guys are the best! xoxoxo jenn

i'm fixin to talk a little shit

wow.

listen, it's one thing if you don't like my book. which, trust me, plenty of you haven't. and that's fine. i swear. *pinky swear*

i have A LOT to learn still! i wrote a book because i wanted too. because my guts were SCREAMING at me to get it out- to tell this story- to start writing it. and once i started, i couldn't stop. i love my story. i love my characters. could i have written it better- of course!!!! a bajillion times, OF COURSE! but i didn't know then, what i know now. and i promise to write each book better and better and better! i promise to grow. :)

moving on to my point... which is this; i think it's incredibly classless when a fellow indie author gives another writer a shitty review- or a 1 star (which means "i didn't like it") on a public site.

i don't give a shit if you didn't like my book. i honestly don't care if you thought it was the worst thing you've ever read in your life. or if i'm so talentless, you ask yourself how i even know how to turn on a computer each morning...

simply put- i think it's in extremely poor taste to say how little you liked another writer's work. especially when you (of all people) know how much goes into writing and telling a story. listen, i've read plenty of books by my fellow indie writer's that i haven't liked. plenty of stories that have been BLATANT rip offs of other works- whether it's movies or books. but i would NEVER go so far as to give them a 1 star rating, or a shitty review. my policy is, if i don't like a book by a fellow indie author, i won't rate it at all. if i don't have something positive and glowing to say- then i don't.

it's just how i am. pretty much if i don't have anything nice to say, i won't say anything at all.
i'm not in the business of tearing other writer's down or making them feel bad about what they've written.

also, i'm not necessarily their target audience- i'm a peer.

i understand that this particular author was simply being honest. i totally get that and don't have a problem that they didn't like my book. it's not about that. i think i'm offended that i consider this a profession and.... i don't know.... i just wouldn't do that to another author because i think it's extremely rude. and unprofessional in a way.

and holy hell, when have i ever used the word unprofessional?!? omg, what is happening to me?

so yeah- i'm shutting up now.. but i'll end things on a positive note.
i've met SO MANY fantastic and amazing indie authors. they are an incredible group of people for the most part- who are more than willing to help one another and give each other a boost. i never knew this world existed until i became a part of it. i am so grateful for the good ones. :)

pillow talk

no really, i need to talk about pillows.

i swear we've had this conversation before- but it was probably 5 years ago.

people, i'm freaking dying at night. i don't want to go to bed because i know how uncomfortable i'll be. my pillow- IT HURTS MY HEAD AND MY NECK. i have a tempurpedic mattress topper, and i have 2 pretty expensive pillows to choose from.

they both suck.

they both hurt.

i wake up with splitting headaches i can't cure. literally.

i sleep on my back and my side.

HELP ME! do you sleep on your back or your side? lol what pillow do you use? do you love it? have you ever had pillow issues and you had to get a new pillow because your head hurt every morning????

for reals people- this is a huge problem. if i can't sleep throughout the night and then wake up in pain all day- well, i'm going to be a really miserable person to live with at some point. lol

suggestions?

why does everyone always want everything for FREE?

i have found that trying to start your own business(es) means:

that people will constantly surprise and amaze you.

in both good and bad ways.

the people you know will want your services for nothing. or at least at an extremely discounted rate. and while i understand that to a degree on one hand- the other hand, (you know, the one that's empty and has no money in it because i don't have a job and i'm trying to create ONE by starting a business) is like.. WHAT THE FUCK? if i give everyone i know all my services and products for FREE, then how am i ever supposed to make any money? i can't create or be successful in any business i try to launch, if i don't charge my friends at least something.

and that's the other thing- i cannot for the life of me, imagine asking one of my friends who is trying to start a business, to do some of the things i'm asked to do...

it's one thing if it's offered.

it's another thing if it's not.

part of me thinks that people just don't get it. what goes into everything i do. i mean, how can they?

if you aren't a photographer then you don't you don't know what it's like to shoot hundreds of photos during one session, and then spend over/up to 2 hours just narrowing down the best shots. and then i typically spend anywhere from six to ten hours processing the photos. it may not sound like much, but it is a lot of detail work. a lot of staring at the computer, making a beautiful shot, even more beautiful. i love the results i get, but it IS work for me to get them that way. and it's time consuming.

if you're not a baker then you don't know that i worked my ass off for over 16 months on my cupcake recipes and frostings. you don't know that i didn't have a chocolate frosting for almost 2 years because i couldn't make one that didn't taste like shit on my cupcakes. you don't understand how much time, care, and perfection goes into baking up the yummiest cupcakes in the world (ahem, those would be mine by the way... in case you were wondering-lol). but i guess the thing that tends to shock me the most when it comes to my cupcake business... is the sheer number of people who ask me for my recipes.

MY RECIPES!!!!!!

why the hell would i give you my recipes to my cupcakes? then you would never order them from me again because you could just make them yourself. and really, WHO asks that of someone?

i guess the same kind of people who ask me for my books for free. i wrote that book. it took me almost a year from start to finish to have that book ready to print. it came from my guts. why wouldn't you want to support it? i have to buy my books in advance. they cost money. and then i have to pay for shipping. that costs money too. i don't make that much profit on my paperback books. but some of my friends want them for free. for every person who i gave a free paperback copy too- i PAID you. not only did i give you the book, but i gave you the money it cost to make it, write it, ship it, etc.

you're welcome.

and i don't mean to sound like a bitch or anything, but it's just that i'm shocked i guess at how many people want something for nothing. especially when they know i'm currently unemployed. i don't have a job. i don't have an income. why the fuck would you want my stuff for free?

it surprises me everyday the people who choose to support me (in all honesty, it surprises me everyday as well, the people who choose NOT too). i never expected that so many people that i went to HIGH SCHOOL with would buy my book. i know that might sound weird, but high school was a long ass time ago. so many of my hs friends have jumped on the book train, simply to support what i'm trying to do. and that, is really what true friends are made of.

i could not appreciate their support any more than i already do. they all blew my mind. in the best way possible. so i thank them for that.

it's been amazing seeing who has supported and bought my book. it's also been a little sad at seeing certain groups of people not support, not help, not offer something to spread the word (when they have a lot they could do with their reach, influence, followers, fans), but i guess that's life.

i'm definitely learning who i can count on to be there for me ... as well as who won't. it's just funny, the people i expected hands down to really do something- haven't at all. a group of people who claim to be so focused on community, support and building each other up- they all just want THEMSELVES built up.

but then again, maybe i haven't done enough for them in the past?

who knows?

all i do know is- if you have a friend who is trying to start a business- be considerate, and offer to pay for their services. they'll thank you for it down the road.

:)

being an indepenent author ...

means i call myself things like an "indie" author... or that i "self pubbed" ... basically, without asking for it, i'm now part of a club. a group. because i self published, i'm a part of indie authors who also did the same thing.

the thing is- the shift is happening. no longer does self publishing = shitty books. there are some damn good self published books out there. some really great writers who couldn't, or didn't, get representation from an agency, or a publishing house.

it's cool though- because most of the indie authors i've come across? are truly nice people. they are helpful. and inspiring. and encouraging.

we ALL want one another to succeed. because the more indie authors who break the "norm" and succeed, the more regular readers stop to take notice of what's out there.

because honestly, that's the hardest part for me about self publishing.

no one helps you market your books. no one gets a million people to hear about your book and then insists that they buy it. i spend days upon days online doing social marketing for myself and my book(s). i mean that i have to set aside full and complete days when i will do NOTHING else (no writing, no designing, no notes) except comment on blogs, ask people to read and review my book, post on goodreads, facebook, twitter.

it's a lot of work. and i know it may not sound like it to you, but i guess it's just time consuming. and it sucks when you don't seem to get ANYTHING out of it. it sucks when you spend a shitload of time marketing your book, but you get zero book sales out of it.

anyway... the new elite group that i'm a part of (indie authors, remember)... we're having an INDIE AUTHOR BLOWOUT!

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BOOK SPECTACULAR!!

hundreds of e-books, all genres, all for only .99 cents!!!!!

http://indiebookblowout.com

i don't even have a freaking e-reader, but i'm going to download some of the books because there are some fantastic sounding books on this list! (i think i can read them on my phone, or computer, maybe??)

my book, IN DREAMS, will be featured on DAY SIX of the blowout!

anyway, it's a great way to discover new independent authors and maybe find some great stories! you can also enter to win a kindle! pretty cool eh?

help spread the word... or shout it out on twitter?

you guys are the only help we have. so THANK YOU.

if you buy from indie authors... thank you for the support.

truly.

stuff

hi y'all! i know it's been forever. this whole "unemployed" thing really just means that i'm not working for someone else. i don't think i have "not" worked a single day since i got fired.

i work my ass off.

or my eyeballs.

hands.

whatevs.

my eyes are killing me cause i just redesigned my ENTIRE freaking author website. do me a favor and check it out! tell me how pretty it is... or what you don't like, what i should tweak. i might listen, or i might pull all my hair out and curl in a ball and cry. most likely i'll listen. unless i think your opinion sucks, then i'll politely just ignore you. hahah anyway, go HERE and look!


speaking of my book and self publishing and everything else- i need YOUR help.

your opinion.

your advice.

because you see my internet friends... y'all are smart! creative! resourceful!!

i am wondering.. if you put out a book that you published- where would you try and put it at for sales? i have sent copies to bloggers (let me know if you want one for review), sent copies to facebook page people, have hard copies in the local bookstore, and whatnot.

but the word of mouth.

it's TOUGH! so i'd like to physically put my book in some more places locally. i was thinking about asking a local frozen yogurt shop. i know that sounds weird, but teenagers hang out in there- all the time. so do their parents. and well, my book is for teens! :)

do you have any ideas on how i can promote my book more to get it out there and talked about?! i am open to all ideas.

THANK YOU! :)

it's happened to one of us (again)

this blog thing. this big, beautiful, loving blog thing we each participate in... whether we only participate as reader, or we write... it doesn't matter.

because when a tragedy befalls one of us, this community pulls together to hold that family up.

and it's happened again.

one of our own, has lost her own.

and he was beautiful and vibrant and handsome... and only 12 years old with a faith in God deeper than mine's ever been.

i implore you to read her heartbreaking blog posts. and lift her up in the comments section. she needs your words of kindness, your prayers, your beliefs... so please take a moment to give her some love.

because that's what we bloggers do for one another.

we hold one another up when we can't stand on our own. she needs our arms.

http://aninchofgray.blogspot.com/

kristabella came to cali

and all you got were these stupid pictures of us at wineries!

ha! you know you're jelly! :)

this is us at MUMM.. i drank some sparkling something or other. i liked it so much i bought a little, tiny bottle. HA
(just curious, but um.. why does my face look oompa loompa orange in this picture?!)


and here we are at sutter home, where my new favorite wine (BUBBLY MOSCATO!!!!) was born (much thanks to sarah and geo for intro'ing me to the fab new flave)


i think we were at ruthorford here. have i mentioned how NOT FUN wineries are? everyone is sooooo stuffy and blahhhhhhhh.


thank god we had each other!! (and baby 24 year olds who just moved away from their mommy from delaware to harrass!)
kristabella has the blurry pics of them! HAHAH!

Leah E. Oliver- repost

I AM REPOSTING THIS FOR THE 10 YEAR "ANNIVERSARY" OF THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON OUR GREAT COUNTRY. THIS WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 9/11/2009...


when i first participated in dc roe's 2996 challenge, i got to learn about a brave firefighter named sal calabro. it was truly my pleasure to honor him, get to know him, and write about him. i was grateful for the project because it introduced me to someone i wouldn't have known otherwise. on that day when so many of our lives were changed forever, he was a hero. and he paid the ultimate price. i can't believe his family has had to live these past 8 years without him. it breaks my heart.

when dc sent out the email that he was doing the project again, i signed up without hesitation. and this time, i got Leah E. Oliver.

the first thing i noticed about leah was that we shared the same birthday. september 12th... the day after "the day." i stopped for a moment before i read any further about her to just kind of appreciate the randomness (and not so randomness) of it all. what was the likelihood that the person i would get to write about would share the same birthday as me?

the more i read about leah, the more i found myself smiling and thinking that we would have totally been friends. everyone said the same things about her. how warm she was... her amazing smile.. she made everyone feel welcome.. she was always positive and smiling and happy. everyone who knew her talked about how much they loved her and her laugh. what a great way to be remembered.... always happy. i can only hope to be so lucky.

i don't think you'd guess by this gorgeous picture of her, but she loved to go on motorcycle rides with her dad. a passion that they shared with one another. there is a memorial page up for leah where her father has written the sweetest most heartbreaking letter to his only daughter. the following is part of what he wrote:

"Life is about not knowing. Surely the last few weeks have proved that to all of us. But bringing Leah into this world is one thing I know for certain I’ve done absolutely right in my life. I love all my children equally, and I’m equally proud of each of them. Leah was just that little bit special because she was my first. As oldest children often do, Leah marched through life with a sense of purpose, determined to be successful. And she exceeded my expectations all along the way."

leah grew up in dartmouth, massachusetts and went to college at columbia university. it seems like leah's life was just getting started. she had a new boyfriend (in an old friend) and had recently started working at marsh & mclennan in the world trade center. she couldn't wait to show her mom the view from the 96th floor. the 96th floor. i guess you can only imagine how and why she didn't make it out that day. she loved her co-workers and felt like she had the job of her dreams. things were falling into place for this 24 year old.

24.

never to turn 25 because the following day would not come for her.

she left behind so many family members who miss her. a boyfriend who has had to move on without her when he thought he was going to spend the rest of his life with her. it's hard for me to write about someone who was so young and whose life was just getting started. because you read about the person they were and you want so much more for them. you know how much they could have had and then you get angry that all of that was taken away. imagine how i'd feel if i had the pleasure to actually know leah in real life??

september 11th still hurts. sometimes i think i'm ready to deal with certain aspects of it. like a tv special about 9/11 will be on and i'll record it so that i can watch it later at my own pace. but then i'll go to turn it on, and within the first 30 seconds, i'm already in tears and i can't take it. i'm not ready. it's still too raw. and it's been 8 years. and i didn't even know anyone who lost their life that day personally. (i know people who knew people) it wasn't right. it wasn't fair. and it breaks my heart to know how much my life has changed since that day, and i wasn't even directly affected. so many other people have had to live each day since without their loved ones in their life. and all i can say is that i'm sorry. i'm so sorry that sal's boys have had to grow up with only a memory for a father. i'm so sorry that leah's family has to go on without her. i'm sorry she never got to have her 25th birthday. but i can promise you that i will forever think of her on our day from here on out.

there is a scholarship set up in her name.. there are tributes to her where you can read more about her. i wish i could have known her.. but i'm glad this project introduced me to her. and now to you.