Adobe Creative Cloud, Freebie Fridays, Dragon Award

Welcome to December! My month-long hiatus is over and I am back, refreshed and ready to go. I’m sure I missed a lot, so I will be making the rounds and catching up on everyone.

Everything seems to be going to “The Cloud” these days. Your music, photos, movies - even data - stored there. I’m old fashioned and prefer physical or downloadable copies, and I’m leery of any Cloud storage unit. However, the Cloud does provide some really innovative changes and advancements in technology. One of those is the Adobe Creative Cloud.

What is Adobe Creative Cloud?

In the past, you purchased Adobe software and physically installed it on your computer. Now you can pay a monthly fee to access their products in the Cloud - and more:

“You'll always have access to the very latest Adobe desktop apps, including Adobe Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC, and more. Simply download the latest updates when you're ready.
“Your entire creative world is synced and organized for you across multiple devices. It’s now integrated with Behance, bringing your work and your creative community together for the first time. Find inspiration fast. Post work in progress right from Photoshop to get feedback from other creatives around the world.
“You can build and publish websites, mobile sites, iPad apps, and other content for any medium or device.
“You'll have access to every Adobe creative tool and service, along with a growing library of video tutorials to help you explore new tools and ramp up fast.
“There is also Creative Cloud for teams. Add or reassign seats in minutes. Give everyone the latest versions of the same tools. Never worry about compatibility. And seamlessly share files from any device with 100GB of cloud storage.”

Annual plan is $49.99 a month for access to all of their programs and apps. The individual program is $19.99. (20GB of cloud storage.)

One of the biggest advantages is in the upgrades. Their software updates every 12-18 months. Rather than paying hundreds for the upgrade, you simply download it for free. It’s all part of your monthly plan. If you’re looking at a program that is $300 and upgrades every year, the Creative Cloud single program plan will cost less than $240 during that same year.

If you are an Adobe program user, check out Adobe Creative Cloud!

Has anyone else signed up for Creative Cloud?

I was also honored by Father Dragon Al with the Golden Scale Award. He is a wise old dragon and I’m thankful he thought of me during his one year celebration.

Milo James Fowler is continuing his Friday freebies with Tis More Blessed.
I will be offering several books in a giveaway on December 13. Thank you for this giveaway opportunity, Milo!

See you Wednesday for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Post.

The Insecure Writer's Support Group and Breaking the Silence of Domestic Abuse

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, hosted by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

I’m not an insecure writer at the moment, if only because I haven’t been writing. Not anything for a book anyway.

However, I have been incredibly busy with other writing related projects. My formatting business has really taken off, which is a blessing. I’m so organized and detail orientated that formatting is a joy to me.

I’m also still looking for more sites to add to our database at the Insecure Writer’s Support Group website. And a couple times a month, I post inspiration for our Facebook Page. (When I don’t leave the house before posting that morning! LOL)

I even got to attend the release party for the book listed below! Over 80% of the profit goes back into Sarah’s Refuge to continue the fight against domestic violence. If you know someone who is struggling, this is a great book.

Toss in a couple speaking engagements and events, and this is a really busy time for me.

So, outside of my Insecure Writer’s Support Group duties, I will be taking a break this month. After blogging for 8 & 1/2 years, this will be my first big break. I’ll check in now and then, but I probably won’t post again until the next IWSG post.

Hopefully Steve the Minion pumpkin is still around!

BREAKING THE SILENCE

VICTIMS NO MORE

By Sarah’s Refuge, Inc.

The silence must be broken…

Each year, thousands of men, women, and children suffer domestic violence. For many, it’s far too long to live in this kind of silence. How much devastation must we see in individuals, families, and communities before we realize that someone… anyone… everyone must take a stand?
Featuring stories & accounts from domestic violence survivors & family members. Also included is information regarding types of abuse, why victims stay, awareness months, & a personalized safety plan.
Domestic violence has the potential to destroy everything it touches, but there is a solution.
Stand up, speak up, and break the silence!

$9.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 122 pages
Non-fiction - Self-help/Abuse (SEL001000)
Print ISBN 978-1-939844-07-1
$3.99 eBook ISBN 978-1-939844-02-6 available on all platforms

“This book packs a punch and provides hope and inspiration for the weary traveler on the road to survival. A must read.” - Mr. Junie M. Christian, Onslow Women's Center, Executive Director

“These are true stories and these women are doing the most important thing a victim of abuse needs to do. They are breaking their silence and speaking out… And if you don’t know what to do, the resource section will guide you to the help you need.” - Karen Walker, author of Following the Whispers

Sarah’s Refuge, Inc. operates the only residential and non-residential domestic violence and rape crisis center in Duplin County, NC. For victims with no other resources or options, domestic violence shelters are often the only option for safety during the initial weeks of transition.

Purchase Links (over 80% of the profits go back into fighting domestic violence):
Amazon
Amazon Kindle
Barnes & Noble
Amazon UK

Industry News - Self-Publishing Gaining Momentum and the Ultra-Light Nook GlowLight E-Reader

From Book Business Magazine - the divide between print and digital book consumptions grows as self-publishing gains momentum.

“...according to Trade Electronic Book Publishing 2013, paperback print books have about three times as many buyers as digital books. But with self publishing, the rush to digital is much faster.

"The rise of e-books runs almost perfectly parallel to the rise of self publishing," said Michael Norris , senior analyst of Simba Information's Consumer Media & Technology division, commenting on the findings. "When we compiled the data we realized we had enough to create a profile of the self published book buyer, both in terms of demographics and how they buy and use content. Additionally, since so many self published books have been showing up on national bestseller lists meant we could engage in a meaningful category analysis."

Is self-publishing a major force behind the ebook revolution?

From Mashable - Barnes & Noble reveals its Ultra-Light Nook GlowLight E-Reader. This product arrives on the heels of the latest Kindle Paperwhite e-reader and in conjunction with the I-Pad Air.

“Like the Paperwhite before it, Barnes & Nobles’ new e-reader features an updated 6-inch E-Ink display with 62% more pixels on the screen than the previous Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight; this improves text clarity and contrast.

“The most remarkable change, though, is its weight. The GlowLight weighs just 6.2 ounces; that makes it more than an ounce lighter than the Paperwhite — and it’s a noticeable difference.

“Storage space has now doubled to 4GB for the $119 model. Amazon’s Paperwhite also costs $119 (as long as you accept sleep-state ads), but comes with just 2GB. Of course, books don’t eat up a lot of space. The GlowLight can accommodate roughly 2,000 books, while the Paperwhite can hold roughly 1,100 books.”

Can Barnes & Noble continue to be competitive with this new device? Will it keep up with the Kindle or even be able to compete with tablets such as the IPad?

This Wednesday is the Insecure Writer’s Support Group post day. And don’t forget to check the Facebook IWSG, especially on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, for inspiration. 

Cover Reveal - Dragonfly Warrior and More Minions!

Cover Reveal - Dragonfly Warrior

The Mechanica Wars: Savage Machines Are Afoot...

At the age of twenty, Kanze Zenjiro's bloody footprints mark the bodies of those who stood in his way to protect the throne of Nihon. Now, the tyrannical Iberian Empire is bent on destroying his kingdom, and they send their steam-powered giants and iron spiders against him.

Zen embarks on a quest that takes him on the most dangerous journey of his life. To succeed, Zen must live up to his nickname, the Dragonfly Warrior, and kill all his enemies with only a sword and a pair of six-guns. He is called upon to somehow survive a test of faith and loyalty in a world so cruel and merciless, it borders on madness.


Dragonfly Warrior is a steampunk adventure like no other. It's a dynamic mix of Asian and European mythology, the Wild West, martial arts, traditional fantasy, and high powered steam action that will keep you turning the pages.

Dragonfly Warrior is the first book of The Mechanica Wars, and will debut on January 6, 2014.

Author Bio:
After doing some freelance writing and editing for more than a dozen years, Jay decided to stop procrastinating and pursue his dream of being a novelist. He's been blogging for over eight years, and even had a comedy podcast syndicated all over the internet. All of that was fun, but all the steampunk-inspired stories in his head just wouldn't leave him alone. Jay spends his days working in medical sales, but he can be found toiling over his laptop late at night when all is quiet.

He draws inspiration from all over: H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Shakespeare, Ray Bradbury, Douglas Adams, and Isaac Asimov.

And Jay loves cookies.

WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER


My husband surprised me with a Halloween present - a stuffed Minion!

Say hello to Dave, posed here with Steve: