Catch up

Leaving Sage Hill, 2014

On July 31, 2014 I drove away from Sage Hill, a cocoon of creativity to my real life.

Company arrived and my office 342 days of the year became a guest room and my office became a TV table in my laundry room.

When we write we need to find a place.

When we write we need to find a place.

I put together a collection of my many published short stories for a writer friend to look at and give me some advice on how to move forward with the stories. I have a desire to have them between two covers rather than all of the anthologies and magazines.

I worked on edits for Moving On still scheduled to be released by Soul Mate Publishing in late September 2014.
I choose the cover for Moving On, A Prairie Romance.

Cover for the re-release of Moving On, A Prairie Romance

Cover for the re-release of Moving On, A Prairie Romance

And I worked on edits for a short story for the next edition of Voices, an anthology from the Lake Winnipeg Writers Group.

The company continued on their journey and I moved back into my office to create a blog post for The Romance Studio Blog on August 15, 2014: http://blogs.theromancestudio.info/

I also started back into my walking program. During walking around Wascana Lake alone (instead of my walking partner), I have been listening to “How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams. His book seemed apropos because when attending workshops and working with an editor it can feel at times as if I am failing at this writing business. How could I have worked at it for so long and continue to make mistakes? However, mistakes do provide opportunities, and that is where the last part of the book title also applies “and Still Win Big.”

And just before sleep, I have been re reading Mary Balogh’s A Christmas Promise, I enjoy reading her characters journey into love.

And to end this long blog, yesterday we drove out to visit friends who have a cottage at Last Mountain Regional Park.

A relaxing spa day. The air was full of moisture and the lake serene.

A relaxing spa day. The air was full of moisture and the lake serene.

Today, is a day for Symphony Under the Sky.

Surprise, Surprise, Woman of Substance has a new review

Woman of Substance

Woman of Substance

Checking out the status of my books on Amazon is like googling myself. But it is a way to know if certain marketing strategies or working. Today I noticed that a new review was posted by a reader, Penny. I don’t know who Penny is but I am thrilled that a reader took the time to log into Amazon and post her/his thoughts.
The thing with Amazon is that you do not have to have an identity that can be associated back to you. It is between you and Amazon.

So thank you to all of the reviewers of Woman of Substance: http://www.amazon.com/Woman-of-Substance-ebook/dp/B00AN9TE8W/ Especially Penny, today because you made my day.

Moving On, A Prairie Romance has reviews as well that help readers choose a book right for them. http://www.amazon.com/Moving-On-Prairie-Romance-ebook/dp/B006SHAWES

A sweet beach read.

A sweet beach read.

Moving On, A Prairie Romance is a finalist for Best Romance,

I'm doing a happy dance

I’m doing a happy dance

This evening on the XoXo Publishing Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/XoXoPublishing/ I discovered that Moving On, A Prairie Romance is a finalist in the Romance Category in the eFestival of Words Event. http://bardsandsages.com/juliedawson/2013/07/01/2013finalists/

It isn’t hard to vote for Moving On, A Prairie Romance.

A good book does not have a best before date.

A good book does not have a best before date.

“The winners will be announced during the eFestival of Words Virtual Book Fair, scheduled for August 23-25th. To vote for the winners, register for free at the eFestival of Words and go to the Awards Hall to vote for your favorites. Voting begins July 1, 2013!”

“How to Vote

1. You must be registered at the eFestival of Words to vote. Registration is free. Please note, after you hit “Submit” your registration is complete. You don’t have to do anything with the ad that shows up after you click “Submit.” Some people think this is part of the registration process. It isn’t. The ads help pay for the site so feel free to check them out if you like, but you are not required to do anything with them. It’s just the way the forum is set up.

2. Once you are registered, go the Awards Hall.

3. Each category has a separate thread in the Awards Hall where readers can discuss the finalists. Click on the category you want to vote in, and then enter your vote!

4. Please note, only one vote per member. Multiple accounts for purposes of voting prohibited.”

So please take a few minutes and visit: http://bardsandsages.com/juliedawson/2013/07/01/2013finalists/

After you vote for Moving On, A Prairie Romance in the Best Romance category.

Please take a few more minutes and consider other XoXo Published books and stories:

Best self-help: Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead by Cynthia MacGregor

Religious/spiritual: Everybody’s Little Book of Everyday Prayers by Cynthia MacGregor

Short Story – Kayden McLeod’s Tarnished Halo

Sherrie Henry’s Twenty-four Hours

Best novella, Wedding Dresses and Spurs by T.D. Jones

I’d like to take this moment to thank my anonymous nominator for a wonderful opportunity to share Moving On, A Prairie Romance with more readers.

Excited beyond measure

Excited beyond measure

Tuesday, June 25 and Wednesday, June 26 Woman of Substance is a free download

We're at a party!

We’re at a party!

All you have to do is go to Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Woman-of-Substance-ebook/dp/B00AN9TE8W/ and purchase it for $0.00.

Of course you have to have an account but you can download it to a Kindle reader or any device with a Kindle app. This can be a computer, I phone, I pad, I pad or an android tablet. You just need a Kindle app. Amazon has FAQ which walk you through the process.

The offer for a free download by Amazon allows an audience to find new authors.
And if you like your free Woman of Substance then don’t forget to try: Moving On, A Prairie Romance. http://www.amazon.com/Moving-On-Prairie-Romance-ebook/dp/B006SHAWES

Take a canoe ride on Last Mountain Lake with Anna and Nick.

Take a canoe ride on Last Mountain Lake with Anna and Nick.

Tuesday and Wednesday, Woman of Substance is the loss leader and you don’t even need a coupon.

Romance transcends boundaries

A lake has the same appeal round the world

A lake has the same appeal round the world

Moving On, A Prairie Romance is a sweet romance that takes place in Regina Beach, Saskatchewan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regina_Beach,_Saskatchewan

The above picture is a lake in a park. Regina Beach looks similar to this and therefore Robin and Nick’s story also translates to different parts of the world.
I hope you drop over to Flurries of Words for April 18, 2013 and read about the story and a review too!.
http://flurriesofwords.blogspot.ca/2013/04/book-of-day-moving-on-prairie-romance.html or http://flurriesofwords.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/book-of-day-moving-on-prairie-romance.html

Photo courtesy of alesia17 stock.xchng http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1396054