Unique Challenge!

Tales From The Bookshelf will return next week - this is a much better tale!

(And thanks to all who wished me a happy anniversary. We spend the weekend in Asheville, NC, unplugged from the Internet, and had a wonderful time. The Sunday Sillies did post as usual, so check it out if you missed it.)

Arlee Bird at Tossing It Out threw out a challenge at the end of March - blog from A-Z with only Sundays off.

I'm not sure he was quite prepared for the response, but I'd gather about 100 bloggers agreed to join him in this challenge. (Since I was still touring for Book V and had several scheduled posts, I declined.)

However, several of my blogger buddies joined in the fun:
Alex J. Cavanaugh
B. Miller Fiction
CC Chronicles
Rayna - Coffee Rings Everywhere
Shannon - Faith, Hope, Love

From what I can tell, not only did they have a lot of fun, but they made a tremendous amount of new friends and learned to discipline their blogging habits. I was the second to the last class for Book Blog Tours and this challenge was similar to our exercise of blogging daily. It really brought this group together - and they are from all walks of life and all ages. But they connected in a very important way during the challenge.

Today is the mega post over at Tossing It Out and all of the participants are blogging what they learned. Go check it out and congratulate the particpants. And when you read their account of the challenge, you will be inspired!

And you won't want to miss it next year.

And Now For Something Completely Different!

ARTHUR: What are you going to do, bleed on me?
BLACK KNIGHT: I'm invincible!
ARTHUR: You're a loony.


* BOOK NEWS *

Mayra shares some great query tips at Sharing with Writers

Marvin shows us how to keep our prose strong at The Old Silly

Helen reveals that even MORE adult authors are jumping on the YA bandwagon at Straight From Hel

What began as a simple challenge for Arlee at Tossing It Out The A-Z Challenge has inspired so many and Monday is feedback day for those who participated. You won’t want to miss it!

One of the A-Z participants talks about the honesty of bloggers at Alex J. Cavanaugh

* CAPTION WINNERS *

Terry - "I cutz out the katnip kupon for u."

Stephen - “And that crazy dog said I couldn't punch my way out of a wet paper sack!”

* SPECIAL DAY FOR THE SPUNKY *

May 1 is my 19th wedding anniversary! Between a rough schedule and time away from the love of my life, I will be offline all weekend. (I promised!) However, The Sunday Sillies will go up as usual.

Amazing to think that we met when we were twenty-two and have now known each other for half of our lives. My husband claims he can't even remember his life without my presence!

Pits, I guess I just revealed my age, didn't I...?

Our wedding day, May 1, 1991, in Albuquerque, NM.

* PHOTO OF THE DAY *

Let me introduce Mr. Green Mamba! He lives at the snake museum in Wilmington, NC. As I discovered, snakes do not like camera flashes - so make a mental note to avoid using a camera flash to escape a snake in the wild. Mr. Green Manba tolerated three photos before he struck at me!

Spunky the photographer - annoying the animal kingdom one critter at a time!

Promo Thursday - The Bookmark

Bookmarks are designed to hold your place in a book.

But, are you using it to its fullest potential as a marketing tool?

From the obvious to the creative-

Hand them out at signings.
Send one to all fans and friends.
Send one in every letter!
Leave one signed for your waitress or waiter.
Leave a stack at the library.
Send stacks to school libraries.
Save postage-paid return envelopes and include one with a short note - "Thanks, but I'm not interested in ___, but perhaps you'd like to read my book?"
Leave them in doctor and dentist's offices.
Send stacks to bookstores.
Carry them everywhere and hand to those you tell about your books.
Leave one at every business you visit.
Include extra bookmarks with any book you sell or give away.
Include one with gifts.
And the totally unethical - stash one in your competition's book at the bookstore. (Yes, I confess, I've done this!)

What are some other creative ways you can use a bookmark to market your book?

Photo Tuesday - Moving On

Today is a little tribute to some of the wonderful people I've met during my journey with The Circle of Friends.

I never set out to write a YA series, let alone five books.

Thanks to the fans, friends, bloggers, and awesome people I've met along the way.

I've lived and breathed these characters for years now. They've made me angry, made me cry... I've even dreamed about them!

While I will continue to make appearances and promote my series, it's time to move on with another project.

As I stated yesterday, it will be a teen version of my non-fiction book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK!

After that... I'm not sure.

I have ideas for another fiction book, with an emphasis on fantasy, horror, and love.

At this point in my life, I don't know if I'll ever write it, though.

Fiction is the toughest sell, both to readers and to the media.

My non-fiction title continues to be my best seller and I'll likely stick with non-fiction for a while. Since speaking is what pays the bills, I need to continue building my credibility as a speaker, and that means non-fiction.

I'm also really, really beat at the moment, and need to do something that will uplift ME.

In addition, I need to find out what path God wants me to take. Where will I be the most effective as an author?

Thanks once more to those who enjoyed The Circle of Friends. I hope those books inspired and made a difference in your life!