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| May the Fourth be with You... |
THEN:
ALL SYSTEMS GO! (First posted May 4th, 2011)
May the ‘Fourth’ Be With You!
Sorry. I couldn’t resist. After all, it is Luke Skywalker Day.
First, let me introduce myself—my name is Sharon Ledwith and I write young adult fiction. My genres include: time travel mysteries (kind of like a mesh of fantasy with a splash of sci-fi meets Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys), as well as paranormal stories where teens deal with psychic powers like psychometry, telekinesis, animal communication—stuff like that.
My intention of this blog is to:
#1 Get you to know me as a writer, and post my experiences as an indie publisher of eBooks.
#2 Introduce and showcase my stories and characters.
In a nutshell—market myself and promote my work.
That’s it really. You see, writing is all about the reader. My goal is to influence and empower today’s youth—the next generation—through the stories I create. I believe everyone is here at this time with a mission and a purpose, and every child has something to add to our evolutionary advancement. Children truly are the keys to our future. It is my hope to unlock this portent.
NOW:
Wow! To be honest, I was so afraid when I started blogging and putting myself out in cyber-space. Reading my first post over again, I realize that I’ve come a long way in my writing journey. Back in 2011, I didn’t have a publisher and was still querying agents and publishers. This blog and my Facebook account was the beginning of my online presence, and I really felt like a fish out of water. But I kept blogging and posting on Facebook. I learned to share interesting and helpful posts for other authors as a way of connection. I figured out what works for me and what doesn’t—still an ongoing process, I must admit! And I continue to work on my author brand and platform through blogging and networking with other authors, readers, publishers, and bloggers.
I’ve also gotten better with time. Go figure. My intention has changed a lot since that first blog post. I’m much more confident and tech savvy then I was. Now I’m a published author, and represented by a literary agency. I’ve also learned to adapt to my environment, and go with the flow through the ups and downs of the publishing industry. So what have I learned in the last four years? In grand Oprah-like fashion, I’d like to share with you what I know for sure:
· I’ve realized that I do NOT want to be an indie publisher, but rather be part of a publishing company. I’m more of a team player and had to figure that out for myself. I like having the support of a publisher behind me. Plus I didn’t have to look for, and invest in an editor, cover artist, and book formatter.
· I’d rather write blogs that uplift or help authors and readers.
· I love showcasing middle grade and young adult authors and their books and/or series on my blog for readers to find.
· I enjoy doing Goodreads Giveaways. I’ve connected with so many readers this way!
· Book blog tours are exhausting. I’ve learned to delegate blog tours to the professionals whenever possible!
· Trying to fit into other authors’ shoes is painful and unproductive. Stand in your truth.
· I can only be one place at a time. Too many social media accounts = too many distractions and not enough writing time. I decided to stick with Facebook, get on Twitter, join Google+ and Goodreads, and occasionally share on LinkedIn. That’s it!
· I blog every Monday. I used to do it twice a week, but couldn’t keep up. I’ve learned being consistent keeps you out there and creates an audience.
· I’ve learned to develop a positive mental attitude. Trust me, a PMA will keep you afloat on the days you just want to throw in the towel.
· I’ve learned from other authors. Success leaves clues. Follow the clues.
· Finally, I’ve learned that writing is both a business and a passion. It requires wearing two different hats. You need to juggle these hats if you want to be a successful author.
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| Where the Magic Happens... |
I still believe writing is all about the reader. And I still hope to influence, uplift, and empower through my books. My personal motto is: I write to make people’s lives better, create something of value to make them smile. May the fourth be with you, everyone! Cheers!
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The past year has FLOWN by. I can't believe it's already blogoversary time -- and at the same time, I feel like I've been doing this forever. I've met the most amazing people and have had SO much fun
I started this blog to connect with others who love the writing craft, artists who struggle with balancing time with a day job, and those who love books for kids and teens.
April 20th marks my 1-year anniversary of blogging and after 200+ posts and 500+ comments, it’s been so much fun meeting other kindred spirits in cyberspace. So thanks to all of my RSS/Email subscribers, Novelista Followers, and Twitter buddies for visiting the blog. I really appreciate it!
To celebrate this milestone, I enlisted the help of my good writer friend, Rachel Renee Russell, the New York Times Bestselling author AND illustrator of the The Dork Diaries series.
Middle-grade fiction is my first love and this series is HILARIOUS! Like laugh out loud funny. The second book in the series, Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl arrives in bookstores on June 8th.
Here are the details of the giveaway:
One winner will receive an AUTOGRAPHED copy of Book 1, Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life.
The grand prize winner will receive copies of Book 1 AND Book 2 — both with a PERSONALIZED autograph.
As my god-daughter and all her friends can testify, this would make a GREAT summer gift for someone who loves the series (and there are MANY trust me).
There are three ways to enter (or do all of them to get better odds):
- Leave a comment and tell me about a milestone or anniversary that you’re proud of. (+1 entry)
- Become a new Novelista Follower by clicking on the blue Join This Site button located on the blog sidebar. If you’re already a Follower, leave a comment letting me know you want to enter the contest. (+1 entry)
- Follow me on Twitter. If you already follow me at @KarenMusings, tweet this blog post on your Twitter feed. (+1 entry)
I’ll be taking entries for the contest until May 1st at midnight (EDT). I’ll announce the winners on Monday, May 3rd so be sure to check back and see if you’ve won! Winners will receive their prizes after the Book 2 release on June 8th.
Thanks for helping me have a great first year of blogging!
Wow, this date snuck up on me! Hard to believe, but it is the one-year anniversary of my blog!!
In honor of this momentous (ha!) occasion, I'm sharing my very first blog post. I can guarantee none of you have read it, because - when I started this blog - I was scared to death of being 'out there' in the blog world and didn't tell a soul that I had started a blog!
OK ... I told one friend and one of my sisters, but that's it.
It was a very covert marketing plan.
It wasn't until around October that I actually started truly trekking into the blog world ... perusing and discovering YOUR wonderful blogs!
So, here it is, originally posted on June 26, 2008:
Eau de Chicken Manure
It’s official. We have gone all-organic with our outdoor lawn fertilizer. After reading an article that all but pegged the rise in childhood leukemia cases to the use of common lawn fertilizers (due to certain ingredients that link back to ‘Agent Orange’ and other crazy stuff!), we switched cold-turkey.
Or should I say ‘cold-chicken’.
Maybe I should explain.
After reading the article and making the decision to switch, it just so happened that a well-known lawn care company appeared at our door offering a special introductory offer for lawn services, including fertilizing. They offered an organic alternative, so we decided to take them up on the lawn fertilization portion.
They came in the early-morning hours, leaving a little yard sign in the lawn as proof of their service.
It was a beautiful blue-sky day, and a comfortable breeze was pumping wonderfully fresh air through the windows and into the house. As I made my way down the stairs to grab a quick bite to eat, I noticed a stench that I couldn’t immediately identify. There was no one else in the house except me. I’d showered and – as far as I could tell – did not have a stench.
Wait a minute.
That is not exactly “fresh” air coming through those windows. That is the distinct smell of … chicken manure?
I quickly learned that chicken manure was the organic treatment used by the company and applied to our lawn that morning.
Mere minutes after my chicken manure ‘aha’ moment, I was back upstairs working diligently at my computer. And, with the window open, could hear a young voice, fairly close to our house, say, “Ooooh, it smells like dog poo!”
I hoped with all my might he wasn’t referring to our house, and quickly decided it was a good time to get the mail, allowing me the covert opportunity to investigate the smell from outside.
It did smell … but, truly, it wasn’t that bad.
I guess now it is just a matter of waiting to see if we ruffle the feathers (sorry!) of any neighbors with our au naturale fertilizer!
[Author note: A year later, we are still getting the same service and have noticed that it doesn’t even smell anymore after they apply the fertilizer. Though … we’re not certain our neighbors would say the same!]
Yes, Dear Readers, it's been four years.
The first post.
It's really amazing to think about the small handful of people who had blogs back then compared to now.
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
Check out Paul Waelchli’s article in the January 2008 issue of C&RL News in which he expands on his blog posts about information literacy and fantasy football.
Librarians’ Sport of Choice: Teaching Information Literacy through Fantasy Football
“Librarians want students to effectively identify and evaluate information and make decisions based upon what they discover. These are just some of the skills that an information literate student successfully applies. These are the same skills that more than 19 million people use on a daily or weekly basis playing fantasy sports.1 As the NFL football season comes to a close, millions of Americans, some as young as 12 years old, have spent the past few months connected to information literacy. They just don’t know it.
The challenge for librarians is to connect fantasy sports skills to information literacy and create building blocks for academic applications of the same concepts. One library, University of Dubuque, did just this by teaching fantasy football research to incoming student athletes. Through the lesson, students engaged in discussions of creditability, validity, timeliness, and search strategies to find and evaluate fantasy football information….
The high level of player investment creates educational opportunities for librarians. According to a 2006 study by the Fantasy Sports Association, a large number of college students play fantasy sports. Librarians can build upon the information literacy skills that students are already unconsciously using through fantasy sports play. The successful fantasy sport player consistently applies four of the five ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards (2000)….
At the end of the sessions, the students completed a short evaluation that assessed both criteria for evaluating sources and library perceptions. More than 80 percent of students were able to describe two of three appropriate source evaluation criteria and more than 60 percent provided all three. The students were asked to describe what research meant to them before the session and responses included, ‘headaches,’ ‘work I didn’t want to do,’ and ’school work.’ The responses to the same question after the sessions showed a dramatic change in perspective and included, ‘making sure one is getting accurate information,’ ‘comparing and knowing where I’m getting my information,” and “fun work.” While the ‘fun work’ might be a stretch when homework is involved, it does show a change in perspective and awareness about research. One student first said that before the session, research meant ’school,’ but afterwards he responded, ‘everything.’
In addition to the change in perception of research, the student athletes were asked about their perception of librarians. Prior to the fantasy football orientation session, the students had a 66 percent ‘very positive’ impression of librarians. After the session, the students “very positive” perception was more than 90 percent. While these results are not scientific and large enough to generalize, they show a distinct change in students’ impressions of libraries and their own abilities. One student stated, ‘I made the fantasy football connection to looking up school stuff quick, it worked well.’ “
And if you haven’t seen it, Paul’s chart illustrating which of the ACRL Information Literacy Standard are involved in playing Final Fantasy, Halo, and Madden (football) is also well worth your time.
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Ok, I’m game. Let’s see, so, it’s weird, but it’s actually my blog anniversary this month too. I’m proud that I’ve made it a whole year on the blogosphere. I’m also proud of the fact that through blogging, I’ve found great support, critique partners and friends along the way. I think that’s all pretty cool. .jpeg?picon=2159)
Happy Blogoversary! Hope you have many more years :)
This is great thank you!
Wishing you a very happy blogoversary and I can't wait to see all the great posts yet to come. *throws book shaped confetti* Happy reading! ^_^
Happy blogoversary!!!
Congrats on your first blogoversary! Here's to many more. =O)
OMG !! A year of blogging !! That's awesome Casey ! Congrats ;) <br />Two giveaways ? Great !! I've added your blogoversary button to my blog !! <br />I'd like to enter the secon giveaway too. I hope I understand the rules correctly .. So here's my email adress : [email protected] ! I have only read the books of two authors in the list !! I've read Personal Demons by Lisa
Happy Blogoversary! :)<br />xx,<br />E.J.<br /><a href="http://www.fromtheshadows.info/" rel="nofollow">From the Shadows</a><br /><a href="http://spiritguideseries.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Spirit Guide Series</a>
Happy Blogoversary!!! Good luck on your 2nd year! And thanks for the awesome giveaway! :)
Happy Blogoversary! Keep doing what you're doing here. I always love stopping by and reading your posts :) Thank you very much for the giveaway!
Omigosh! Congrats, Casey! I can't believe it's already been a year! Your blog is doing fantastic--I can't wait for another year of reviews from you! :)
Just have to say Congrats!!! And hope to have many many more years of fun here. :)
Happy blogaversary !! Thank you for these great giveaways =D
Happy Blogoversary! Hope you have many more years of great reading & blogging! :)
Happy Blogoversary! I love all of your reviews and blog in general!
Happy Blogoversary and many many more years!!!
Happy Happy Blogoversary!!!
Wow!! This is amazing!! Happy Blogoversary!! I've been at work all week and I almost missed this! I love Kate Kaynak she is soo sweet. Perfect Author to have up here this week :)<br /><br />Congrats hun keep up the great work <br /><br />[email protected]
Thanks so much!!
Thanks for the opportunity!<br /><br />forsurveysonly at gmail dot com