Month: May 2016

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Don’t Derail Your Writing Career Before it Starts: 8 Ways New Writers  Sabotage Themselves – Anne R. Allen’s Blog… with Ruth Harris

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Festisite Reblog

I’ve been following Anne R Allen’s blog since before I published my first book. Anne write’s a weekly article geared towards current trends and information about publishing for writers. Many of her articles are geared towards new writers, offering up a wealth of great tips about the writing and publishing world. And as an added bonus, there are also added links at the bottom of her posts for writing contests, and tidbits of things of interest to writers.

Anne’s About Page: Intro

Welcome to our blog! 

 

Ruth Harris and I are a couple of publishing industry veterans working to help newer writers create their best possible work and launch it successfully into the marketplace—whether you’re going indie or taking the traditional route.

We especially want to help writers avoid the pitfalls of this ever-more complex business, where unfortunately, a lot more people are making moneyfrom authors than for us.

We like to say, “We made the mistakes, so you don’t have to!”

I chose to share one of her recent posts here titled 8ways New Writers Sabotage Themselves.

 

By Anne R. Allen   “We all make mistakes. It’s how we learn. But some mistakes have the potential to end a writing career before it starts. Today I’m talking about the things a lot of writers do that can keep them from having a career—or derail it for a long time. How do I know . . .” Continue Reading

Source: Don’t Derail Your Writing Career Before it Starts: 8 Ways New Writers   Sabotage Themselves – Anne R. Allen’s Blog… with Ruth Harris  

Puzzling things

Impossibly Connected – #Auras, #Energy and #Universal Life Forces | Sacha Black

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Things hmm

My fascinating friend and writer, Sacha Black, wrote this post about Universal Life Forces. In this article Sacha discusses the source of energy which guides our intuition and gut instinct. In the post you will also find an intriguing video she has attached which will teach you a little bit on how to see auras.

reblogging

“I’ve had more than one of those jaw dropping moments. The excuse me while I demonstrate my gormless look and allow my brain to crap itself.

 

I’m talking about when you meet someone for the first time and are so overwhelmed by the ‘we must have been separated at birth‘ feeling that your soul has an orgasm over this impossible, unearthly connection.

 

I’m not sure I even have the word to describe?! But I’m better you know what I mean.

 

It’s not always positive either, have you ever met someone, or seen someone from across a room, and taken an instant dislike to them? . . .” Continue Reading

Source: Impossibly Connected – Auras, Energy and Universal Life Forces | Sacha Black

Windows 10

Is #Windows10 Hijacking Your Computer?

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hijack

 

Thank you Windows 10 for taking the liberty of thinking you can sneak your updates into my computer with secret codes and then automatically download onto my computer when I try to close the box asking me to download. If I closed the box, obviously this meant I chose not to upgrade from my 8.1.

 

One would think that we still have choices when it comes to using the operating system of our choice. But Microsoft has been making it more difficult to circumvent downloading the upgrade.

 

At first I thought those pop ups were becoming more plentiful as I clicked off the download box more and more frequently. But today was a little different. I clicked to close off the annoying pop up once again, and the next thing I knew, another box came up telling me that Windows 10 was now downloading. This form of tricking us into downloading is now being talked about as ‘clickjacking’.

 

I quickly stopped the installation, but that didn’t stop it from letting me know that next time I restart my computer it would continue loading. That’s when I went into detective mode and surrendered 5 hours of planned writing time to figure out a way to get rid of Microsoft’s infringement on my personal freedom.

 

I’ve done all the legwork now, so I’m going to spare you guys this agro, and save you countless hours of reading on Google how to get rid of this annoying and potentially corruptive problem.

 

Let me begin with saying that I have 4 computers. My big desktop has Windows 8.1 on it, which I love, and it’s also the one I use to write my books on. My laptop also has 8.1, and I have an old laptop which still functions with Windows 7 that I haven’t used in a few years. And then there is my new Windows Surface with 10 built into it. So this nightmare of Windows 10 wanting to take over my 3 other computers had me running between the 3 of them to see if they had already been possessed.

 

I will add that on my newest laptop, I’ve adjusted to Windows 10 and haven’t had any real problems with it. The problem for many seems to be that once you download Windows 10 as a replacement to a previous other operating system, many things can and have gone wrong, not to mention that some software programs used in 7 or 8 aren’t compatible with 10. I’ve heard many writers complaining how downloading 10 as an upgrade had screwed up their computers, and many had to go visit the ‘Geeks’ to restore their computers.

 

When I began my Google search I started typing in things like: stop Windows 10 from downloading, how to get rid of Windows 10 updates, and so forth. After reading several articles and trying various things to get rid of the updates on the 3 computers, I finally came across some immensely helpful information.

 

One article I read, informed me of the code of the update to be on the look out for that automatically will transform into Windows 10 once updated. I then had to search my computer(s) for that update that was already ‘installed’ but not yet downloaded. The next time I would have restarted my computer(s) that update would have overtaken the system without consent. So began the mission to try and rid my computer(s) of this update.

 

In my investigations, I learned, how to stop the pop up from the task bar from popping up asking me to download, and how to disallow the update from taking effect upon restarting the computer. This is what I’m sharing with you.

 

The offending update code is kb3035583. If you go into your control panel and then your Windows updates installed, you can scroll down through them all and if you find that offending code, you can ‘uninstall’ the update. Keep in mind that ‘installed updates’ don’t mean they have yet been downloaded. But the thought of having it there and taking action while I’m away from the computer was frightening. And to keep that pesky pop up from continuing to visit your screen randomly, you can left click on the taskbar, which will bring up ‘properties’, click that then click ‘customize’ in that box then scroll down to ‘hide Windows 10 icon and that will stop the pest from asking you to download Windows 10 and waiting for you to accidentally click it to download. I also changed my ‘how I want my updates installed’ from automatically update when there’s a new update to let me know when there are updates so I can keep an eye out for that nasty code, in case it comes back. I also found that Microsoft is on a tear to get people to download 10 till the end of July. That’s when Windows 10 will no longer be offered ‘FREE’ and hence, there should be no more updates for it.

 

But we aren’t done yet. In my deep Google search, I came across a Geek article recommending a program called Never 10. Apparently, this is one of the best and possibly only fix available to completely disallow Windows 10 from loading on your computer ever! (Unless YOU choose to undo it.)

 

I’m going to list 2 links below. One of the links will give you more insight about how to get rid of the pop up and links to the download of the Windows 10 blocker, and how to deal with that update code. All pages lead back to referring to the Never 10 download to forever block the nuisance.

 

Let me say that I spent quite a few hours between investigating, checking all my computers and testing by closing them off and restarting and searching again, and I’m happy to say that the devil did not possess me!

 

Here are the links:  http://www.howtogeek.com/218856/how-do-you-disable-the-get-windows-10-icon-shown-in-the-notification-tray/

 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3074339/windows/how-to-escape-that-forced-windows-10-upgrade-you-mistakenly-agreed-to.html

 

https://www.grc.com/never10.htm

 

And if you’d like to read more about how Microsoft has underhandedly shifted around the function of the ‘close screen’ feature to eliminate the option to decline the update to 10, read HERE

 

I hope none of you have yet fallen prey to this nuisance and if you’re experiencing any of these problems, this information should get you out of the jam. There are also various links on Google offering instructions on how to undo the process should your computer have already downloaded 10 on its own accord. 

 

http://www.howtogeek.com/220723/how-to-uninstall-windows-10-and-downgrade-to-windows-7-or-8.1/

I’d be curious to know if any of you have run into this problem?

blog challenge

The #Writer Q and A tag. | shehanne moore/Kyrosmagica

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blog challenge

Okay, okay, okay! I know I haven’t participated in so many of the wonderful blog challenges that so many of you share on your pages. And I promised myself (and others) that I would make it a point to join in more often.

 

I was recently invited by Marje of Kyrosmagica to participate in the Writers Q & A Tag. And then surprised to find that Shey from Smexy Historical Romance tagged me after being tagged as well from Marje’s blog. So I’ve decided to merge both invites and answer the questions from both of them in their ‘Tag’ Challenge.

 

FROM MARJE:

“What’s this tag about? Its a fun tag celebrating books, and writing. Also it’s a way to discover and make new blogging friends. So that can’t be bad can it? . . .” Read more about the challenge and Marje’s wonderful post HERE

 

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1. If you met a sexy vampire what would you do? Hook up, get the garlic and crosses out or run a mile?

Oh ya, I’m definitely going with run a mile!

2. What’s your favourite genre of book and why?

I love reading memoirs and biographies. I just think there is something to take from everyone’s life.

3. Who is/are your favourite author (s) , poet (s)? What is it about them that inspires you?

I can’t say that I have one favourite author, but I do enjoy reading books about problem solving on life, hence my interest in columnists like Erma Bombeck, Ann Landers, and other authors like Cheryl Strayed and Norah Ephron. My great escape books of the past were from authors Barbara Taylor Bradford, Joan Collins, Jacqueline Suzanne and Erica Jong.

4. If you had to control a classroom of year 6 kids would you bale, or enjoy the challenge? Would you be (a.)  too undisciplined to do so, you’d just join in the general mayhem, (b.) enjoy bossy them around, or (c.) pray in a corner for the bell to sound. Guess which one would be my reply, winners will be mentioned on my blog!

I would enjoy the challenge. I get on well with kids. I’d probably call ‘storytime’ and make up some fascinating story to keep their interest to avoid chaos.

5. What made you become a writer/blogger? Do your family support you or do they think you’re crazy, bored,  attention seeking, or all of these? Tell us a bit about your current WIP and/or books…

I’m not sure what exactly made me become a writer, only that I found myself writing little stories, notes and Hallmark – like cards for friends and family when I was quite young. I always wrote, with no real intention of doing anything with it until I turned 40. That was when I began telling people that I was going to write a book someday. Okay, so it took me another 10 years or so. I don’t actually have much writing support or interest from my real life world. When I first began writing books I was miffed at the fact that everyone I knew wouldn’t find it so fascinating. I’ve learned through the years that many writers are in the same boat as I am. So I am grateful for all the friends I now have in the writing world. No matter how you slice it, only a writer can understand another writer’s world.

6. What is the most awful job and/or experience you’ve ever done/had?

Well, I’ve had plenty of awful experiences in my life, and plenty of jobs as well. But when I was younger and in between jobs, I went to help my dad out in the retail store part of his wholesale Fish company. I had to pick up the fish and weigh and bag them for customers. I picked up a slimy feeling Pike and got so grossed out I quit.

7. Are you a plotter or a pantser? Does this spill out onto other parts of your life? Are you generally organised/disorganised? Can you guess what I am?

I am, what I call a plotser. I will begin with a faint outline of things I want to include in my book by writing down temporary chapter titles and adding ‘chicken scratch’ notations under the headings as they come to me while I’m writing from the seat of my pants. And I’m guessing you are a plotter Marje. Speaking of chicken scratch, does every writer, like most doctors, have atrocious handwriting like I do?

8. Do you believe in Ghosts? Fate? Love at First Sight? Fairies? Psychic happenings?Numerology, Mermaids, The Loch Ness Monster, Demons…etc…Make your own observations …. and let me know..

I most certainly believe in ghosts. I’ve had quite a few encounters with lost loved ones. This would include many psychic experiences. I was born, gifted with a sixth sense.I believe in lust at first sight possibly, but there is far too much encompassed in love to feel upon a first meeting. Stories about devils and demons scare me (alright, let’s include the Loch Ness Monster too), I can’t say I don’t believe in any of them, but I have no desire to delve deeper into any of them. Let’s just leave it at a few scary experiences with the Ouija Board when I was younger.

9. What is the worst haircut/clothes/hats you’ve ever had/worn? Photos please, or describe in vivid detail…

Lol, thanks for bringing up terrible memories. When I was young, I had a thing about having long hair, but when I was 8, my mother had other ideas. She took me to the hair salon and had ordered up the stylist to give me the ‘what was in fashion look’ – a pixie cut, as it was called. I was mortified and cried for days. I also wore a hat for many months after.

10. Please finish this sentence with more than three extra words: Life is one foot in and one foot out, you ….

Don’t be afraid to pull the other one out.

 

 

FROM SHEHANNE:

Read on to find Shey’s answers to Marje’s questions too. And for those of you who’ve never visited her blog, don’t be alarmed by the unfiltered mouths of her Hamster Dudes who like to steal the show with all of her blogs. Click Here 

zdickenenenenn

 

1. What is your favourite line of poetry about a hamster? Oh okay, we mean a small furry creature, or animal.
Well I’m going to stick with all the satire from your own blog Shey. That would mean all the blabby comments from your own Hamster Dudes!
2. What was your favourite children’s book if it was not Mrs Tiggywinkle?
I loved Cinderalla, possibly because it resonated with me so much as a child growing up taking care of my siblings and doing chores my mother passed on to me. I was secretly hoping a prince would find me someday and take me away.
3. You’re in the forest, it’s dark, it’s cold, it’s mysterious, suddenly the bushes part and there snarling before your is  a savage, giant hamster. What happens next?
Nothing. Because there’s not a shot in hell you’d find me in the forest in the first place.
4. Is there any place in the world you would like to set a book or poem and why?
Being a nonfiction writer, the stories I tell already have their settings in place.
5.  You can have dinner with your favourite book hamster, character. Who is it and what will the first course be? Recipes are welcome. Of course if you can’t find a hamster, just choose another animal.
Well that’s easy. I’d love to have a meal with your Hammies. I should think they would eat almost anything. But I know I certainly won’t be bringing along any manuscripts because I know darned well they love eating those! LOL
6. Tell us a bit about what you are working on now.
I’m currently working on putting together my rough, messy, handwritten, chicken scratched draft of the sequel to my first book Conflicted Hearts. It’s an aftermath story of finding an understanding and resolve with my life dealing with a narcissitic mother after she passed away.
7. What was the last book you read?
Not By Design, by Carol Balawyder, a wonderful writer and friend.
8. How much of you is in your characters or your poetry?
It’s all me baby! All my stories are about my life experiences, lessons and about overcoming.
9. Forget all this hero stuff. You’re being cast as the villain and it’s your choice who you pick so long as they are from a book.
Now that’s a toughy, as I’d never have a desire to play a villain. But I might say that going back to the old Cinderalla story and putting myself in as the wicked step-mother might give me some insight as to what inspires a maternal figure to inflict unhappiness to a child.
10. Who or what inspires your writing?
That is difficult to pinpoint. My mind is always wandering. I could be driving in the car, watching a movie, or just listening to music, and something will pop into my head. I grab a notepad and pen and write down something I feel about the topic. Many times the topic will turn into a blog post, and sometimes it will turn into a book.

Source: If you met a sexy vampire…. The writer Q and A tag. | shehanne moore 

Source: The Writer Q & A Tag/ Kirosmagica

Live Laugh Love

THE OWL LADY PRESENTS GUEST AUTHOR: DEBBY GIES | theowlladyblog

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Festitsite Live Laugh Love graphic

Thank you to Viv Drewa, a.k.a. The Owl Lady, for inviting me as featured guest author on her blog today.

 

THE OWL LADY PRESENTS GUEST AUTHOR: DEBBY GIES

~ theowllady

D.G. Kaye AuthorDebby Gies is a Canadian nonfiction/memoir author who writes under the pen name of D.G. Kaye. She was born, raised, and resides in Toronto, Canada. Kaye writes about her life experiences, matters of the heart and women’s issues.

D.G. writes to inspire others. Her writing encompasses stories taken from events she encountered in her own life, and she shares the lessons taken from them. Her sunny outlook on life developed from learning to overcome challenges in her life, and finding the upside from those situations, while practicing gratitude for all the positives.

When Kaye isn’t writing intimate memoirs, she brings her natural sense of humor into her other works. She loves to laugh and self medicate with a daily dose of humor. CONTINUE READING

Source: The Owl Lady Presents: Guest Author Debby Gies

 

The Annual #Blogger’s Bash – Voting Now Open!

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Who Nominate?

Are you going to the Annual Blogger’s Bash this June in London, England? I’d love to be going, but unfortunately I live on the wrong side of the pond and circumstances this year haven’t afforded me the opportunity to be there. Based on the rave reviews and photos and clips from last year’s Bash, I can only imagine how fun this year will be; especially with the popularity it’s gained and the increase in size of participants.

 

Well now, I know that it may not be convenient for many of us to partake in the actual Blogger Bash festivities, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways we can participate. The ‘committee’ Sacha Black, Hugh Roberts, Ali Isaac, and Geoff Le Pard will be sharing updates, photos and video snippets of the Bash on their blogs in the coming weeks, and prior to the Bash they’ve organized pre-events, such as nomination awards for bloggers in several categories. These nominations were open to all bloggers to nominate their favorite blogger in select categories.

 

Now the nominees have been set in stone and the Voting is Open. Oh, did I mention how stoked I was to hear that I, yes, little old me, was nominated in a few categories? I was overwhelmed with gratitude to think that of all the blogs out here in the blogosphere, some people actually picked me as nominee in some of their favourite categories. That in itself was a huge boost to my self confidence, just to be considered in a category.

 

Could it get any better than that? OH YES IT COULD! The committee had to go through all the nominees submitted, and then narrow down the list with most votes to create the categories and nominees. They also decided that each nominee could only be nominated in one category, allowing more nominees in each category, and more winners.

 

I was elated to initially be chosen in three categories, and now that the voting is set, I have been entered as a nominee for Best Dressed Blogger. Truth be told, I’d never heard of such a category before, but I was flattered that voters have approved of my sense of style and chose me for that category.

 

So, without further ado, I want to ask you my readers, to go vote now for your favourite bloggers. And if you feel I am worthy of this award, perhaps you might tick off my name while you’re there. 🙂  Please visit the voting page HERE, and cast a vote for me.

 

vote for me

 

 

Conflicted Hearts, D.G. Kaye

My #Book On #Sale Now – #FREE! – Conflicted Hearts

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DG quote guilt bleed out CH

 

I have a confession to make. . .

 

My book marketing activities have basically been nil in 2016. For those of you who follow me, you know I had a lovely two-month winter escape to Arizona, and then came back to a very long three months of my husband being ill. Not only did my book writing suffer, but marketing my books was the furthest thing from my mind.

 

Well, I’m happy to announce that I will be getting back to my current WIP in the next week or so, starting revisions. And while getting my head back in the game to book writing, it occurred to me that I haven’t run a single promo for any of my books this year.

 

Conflicted Hearts Cover SMALL revised

 

Download your copy here at Amazon

 

So, in honor of my ‘back to work’ on the sequel to Conflicted Hearts (which still happens to be title-less), I have put Conflicted Hearts on FREE promo starting TODAY! If you haven’t yet got a copy of the book, please click on THIS LINK where you will be directed to the Amazon page of your country to get yourself a free copy. And if I may request, once you’ve read the book and enjoyed it, please take the time to leave a review. As many of you are well aware, reviews are an author’s gold!

DG quote buried the guilt CH

You can read some reviews HERE.

Promo ends May 21st, so get your copy now! 🙂

 

Note*** If anyone has a problem with the universal buy link above, please use the Amazon direct link www.amazon.com/dp/b00hdtppuq 

Share

#7 really useful ‘How To’ articles – Getting the word out on #WordPress | Daily Echo

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share me

Sue Vincent has written an excellent post on the value of sharing blogs we read with our own followers.  This article is full of helpful hints with WordPress and the share buttons, as well as information on tracking stats and so much more. You will also find some helpful links she shares from other authors on some issues you may be experiencing. So have a look below:

reblogging

 

“A few weeks ago I had a bit of a blip in the stats. Both visitors and views went up to several times the usual numbers. I was curious, especially as there hadn’t been anything of exceptional note published that day. The normal haiku, a couple of reblogs, and a couple of posts that were relatively lightweight. Nothing that might have been able to explain the hike in the figures. . .” Continue Reading 

Source: 7 really useful ‘How To’ articles – Getting the word out on WordPress | Daily Echo