The Eclectic Blogger

Random Wednesday and a Hello to Everyone!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:23:00 +0000

The One and Only.........................................................RANDOM WEDNESDAY! (whoop, whoop)
Okay, some of you may or may not know that I am a VERY random person. No, seriously, I am! So if my sentences don't really make sense sometimes (ha ha), don't worry. Just ignore it and keep reading. So really, Random Wednesday is where I just fly by the seat of my pants and come up with a topic out of the blue. It can be anything from jokes I've heard from my friends, school talk, what happened to me while shopping, talking about the holidays, basically anything that can happen in your daily life...
So the first installment of my Random Wednesday posts is................TODAY!!!!! 8D

Here it is....
It's nice to *meet* you here! Most of you have probably heard the rumor that Amanda Stephan has turned the reins of this blog over to her daughter, The Manaical Bookworm. (No, that is not my name but, because I like to confuse people, that's what I'm calling myself.) I'm here to put these rumors to rest. They are TRUE! So you guys are going to have to bear with me as this is my first time getting a blog going, so please forgive me if I skip a day in my schedule! (continue reading) So *WARNING* there will be some changes! Not that I don't like the way my mom did it,
because I do. It's just going to be set up a little different. So here's the blog's schedule: Movie Monday (because I'm a movie fanatic), Random Wednesday (because as you will see: I'm a VERY random person) and finally, Book Review Friday (because as you can tell from my name I LOVE to read).
So let me tell you a bit about myself: Let's see...I adore school-Math especially-although I could do without the Chemistry part of the equation... I want to go to college to be either a lawyer or forensic scientist. I love to read (obviously) and my favorite genres are Dystopian (ex:The Hunger Games), Fantasy (ex: Lord of the Rings or Inkheart), and some chi-lit (ex: Matched or The Price of Trust). I only read books with little or no swearing and absolutely no sex scenes or 'inappropriate situations.' So sometime, not in the immediate future, I'm going to make a list of books that have garbage in them, so you will not make the same mistake I did and pick it up and read it! Also I'm going to rate books a little differently than most. You'll remember I told you I love movies so I'm going to rate the books the way movies are rated. (Ex: G, PG, PG-13, NC-17, R)
So I guess this is enough blabbing about myself and I tell you all, "Bye! And I hope to see you on here again sometime soon!"

The Manacial Bookworm (TMB) :)

Book review and GiVeAwAy!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:00:00 +0000

PRECISELY TERMINATED by AMANDA L. DAVIS

Movie Rating: PG
Book Rating: 5/5 stars
Swearing: None
Genre: Christian Fantasy
Published By: Living Ink Books

Back Blurb:
With microchips implanted in their skulls at birth, the slaves of Cantral and Cillineese have labored under the tyrannical rule of the nobles and their computers for centuries. Monica, a noble who avoided the implanting and escaped a death sentence at age 4, is now sixteen and is in hiding. She lives with the slaves inside the walls of the Cantral palace, pretending to be one of them while the slave council plots a way to use her chip-less state to destroy the all-powerful computers that strike down any hint of rebellion. The fate of millions rides on Monica's shoulders. As the only chip-less person in the world, she must find a way to destroy the computers and free Cillineese from the nobles' iron fist before they strike with the ultimate punishment--death for everyone within the city walls.

My Review:
The talent of writing sure runs in the Davis family and it obviously gets better as it goes down the line. Amanda L. Davis is the award-winning daughter of award-winning father, Bryan Davis. Now, I thoroughly enjoyed Bryan Davis's books, but with Amanda L. Davis's writing I lost actually lost myself in her book and was sad when I finished it. I highly recommend this book to all Christian Fantasy lovers!
~reviewed by The Maniacal Bookworm~
*This book was supplied by the author or agent in exchange for my honest review*

Want to win my gently used copy?! Great! I'd love to share it with you!

Scripture Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:54:00 +0000

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:4-7

Let's be honest with each other. It's not always easy to be thankful for things. When things are going just the right way, of course it's much easier, but that's not life. Today may be a great day, and I hope it is. But, I'm not promised a great day everyday. Tomorrow, perhaps something earth-shattering may happen. But I can rest and know that my God, My KING and SAVIOR will be with me each step of the way. That helps make the thanks a little easier.

Today, I choose to be thankful for everything!

I hope you a very thankful week!

Book Bites w/Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:51:00 +0000

Whispers In Purple: Lonely Hearts: Book Bites w/Giveaway: Lonely Hearts ~ a sweet Christian romance by Amanda Stephan ~ stop by and let us know which bachelor you think Becky will choose! Free eBook as a giveaway!

Thank you!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:43:00 +0000

Good afternoon, friends! We've had a pretty exciting week, haven't we?!

On Tuesday, November 1st, because of all your support and the mentions, tweets, posts, follows, prayers, and encouragement, Lonely Hearts made it to #1 Amazon.com Bestseller in the Women's Fiction group, and #19 on the Amazon.com Bestseller in the Christian Fiction group! Let's not forget that we also made an overall killing on the Kindle group as well, but I never did get the final number on that one.

Now we can say that Lonely Hearts is a bestseller ~

And it's OUR success, because I couldn't have done it without you ALL!

So as a

I want to give you a GIFT ~ the next person that leaves a comment below WITH their email address (Like this ~ thisismycomment at gmail dot com to keep those pesky spam bots away)

will receive a FREE eBook copy of Lonely Hearts from Smashwords.com!

(Now, don't get upset with me if you've already purchased a copy of Lonely Hearts on Launch Day ~ I've got a few more things up my sleeve, so you'll definitely want to stay tuned!)

And here's the moment you all have been emailing me and tweeting me about...

the winners of my Nook, Kindle, and iPod Giveaway are...

GRAND PRIZE WINNER:

Gary W! ~ and his choice is the KINDLE

1st PLACE

Kelly H ~ her choice was the NOOK

2nd PLACE

Gwen G ~ and she will receive the iPOD SHUFFLE

3rd PLACE

Saundra D wins the $25 Olive Garden Gift Card

4th PLACEDiane T wins The Price of Trust audiobook CD's5th PLACEJudi C wins an autographed copy of Beyond the Dead Forest6th PLACEAnastasia W wins an autographed copy of Breathing on Purpose
Congratulations to you all!Please contact me as soon as possible with your information so I can get your prizes sent to you!

$2.99 Kindle

29 free Gifts...

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 05:23:00 +0000

Yes, the day has finally arrived! The official launch of Lonely Hearts is here! For official fun ~ head over to www.booksbyamanda.com ~ before these great deals are gone forever!

Here's what we're going to do today.

Besides babysitting this computer, chatting with old and new friends, having periodic giveaways, and lots of cyber cookies, we're going to everyone who purchases Lonely Hearts through Amazon.com TODAY ONLY no less than 29 FREE eGifts. That's right, 29!

And no, these aren't just any little eGifts, these are the real deal from great authors like, Eddie Snipes, Darlene Shortridge, Lisa Tortorello, Kristi Burchfiel, Elaine Littau, Lorilyn Roberts, Kimberley Payne, and MORE! But you'll also have the chance to WIN a Nook, Kindle, or iPod Shuffle ~ how fun is that?!

Watch through to the end and you'll see some exciting news! ;)

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

So, head on over to www.booksbyamanda.com for the complete details!

1. Blog about this giveaway or about my book launch

Share about this on Facebook

(if sharing on Facebook, be sure to use my name Amanda Stephan so I can credit you your points!)

+2 Entries (1 each per day)

2. Follow my blog via GFC or

Follow me on Twitter

(leave me a comment!)

+2 Entries (each)

3. Tweet this:

RT @amandastephan is giving away a Nook, Kindle, & iPod! Details here! http://www.booksbyamanda.com

+2 Entries

4. Friend me on Facebook & leave me a comment.

+2 Entries

5. Purchase Lonely Hearts from Amazon.com on November 1st.

Enter your confirmation number in the box provided on launch day

and gain

+20 Entries

Contest Ends 12:01am November 2nd

*1st place winner gets first choice

*2nd place winner chooses next

*3rd place winner gets remaining prize

**Winners will be notified by EMAIL and MUST

respond within 48 hours, or new winners

will be chosen!**

**If winner is not a US resident, a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card will be given instead**

Giveaway, anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:00:00 +0000

You could win a Nook ~ Kindle ~ iPod Shuffle!

I'm having a book launch on November 1st, and I want to share my excitement with you!
What's the best way to get people excited about something? Have a GIVEAWAY, of course!

So in honor of my upcoming release, I'm giving away a Nook, Kindle, & iPod Shuffle to some pretty lucky people.
All you have to do is...

1. Blog or post about my book launch for Lonely Hearts on Facebook.
+2 Entries per post (2 times per day)

2. Follow this blog via GFC, or follow me on Twitter
(leave me a comment!)
+2 Entry

3. Tweet this:
RT @amandastephan is giving away a Nook, Kindle, & iPod! Details here! http://www.booksbyamanda.com
+2 Entries

4. Friend me on Facebook & leave me a comment.
+2 Entries

5. Purchase Lonely Hearts from Amazon.com on November 1st.
Enter your confirmation number in the box provided on my website on launch day
and gain
+10 Entries
6. Afraid of forgetting or missing the party? Pre-Order Lonely Hearts from me and still earn the +10 Entries!

Contest Ends 12:01am November 2nd*1st place winner gets first choice*2nd place winner chooses next*3rd place wins remaining
**Winners will be notified by EMAIL & MUST respond within 48 hours or new winners chosen**
**If winner is not a US resident, a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card will be given instead**

Purchase Lonely Hearts on November 1st and receive these FREE eGifts...

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Innocence is Priceless

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:01:00 +0000

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Andrew standing in the
foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque.

It was covered with names and small American flags mounted on either
side of it. The seven-year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so
the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly,

'Good morning, Andrew.'

'Good morning Pastor,' he replied, still focused on the plaque.

'Pastor, what is this?'

The pastor said, 'Well son, it's a memorial to all the young men and
women who died in the service.'

Soberly, they just stood together, staring at the large plaque. Finally,
little Andrew's voice, barely audible and trembling with fear asked,

"Which service...the 8:30 or the 11:00?"

Creepy when this happens...

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:31:00 +0000

A man was walking home alone late one foggy night, when

behind him he hears:

BUMP...

Walking faster, he looks back and through the fog he makes out the image of an upright casket banging its way down the middle of the street toward him.

BUMP...

Terrified, the man begins to run toward his home, the casket bouncing quickly behind him

FASTER...

BUMP...

He runs up to his door, fumbles with his keys, opens the door, rushes in, slams and locks the door behind him.

However, the casket crashes through his door, with the lid of the casket clapping

clappity-BUMP...

on his heels, the terrified man runs.

Rushing upstairs to the bathroom, the man locks himself in. His heart is pounding; his head is reeling; his breath is coming in sobbing gasps.

With a loud CRASH the casket breaks down the door.

Bumping and clapping toward him.

The man screams and reaches for something, anything,

but all he can find is a bottle of cough syrup!

Desperate, he throws the cough syrup at the casket...

and...ready?

The coffin stops!

Get These Free...

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

...when you purchase Lonely Hearts from Amazon.com on November 1st!

Great Authors Include:

Eddie Snipes

Darlene Shortridge

Lisa Tortorello

Elaine Littau

Jessica Zondervan

Joyce Schneider

Shelley Hitz

Lorilyn Roberts...

and More!

Get EXTRA entries to win a
Nook
Kindle
iPod Shuffle!

1. Blog about this giveaway or about my book launch

Share about this on Facebook

(if sharing on Facebook, be sure to use my name Amanda Stephan so I can credit you your points!)

+2 Entries (1 each per day)

2. Follow my blog via GFC or

Follow me on Twitter

(leave me a comment!)

+2 Entries (each)

3. Tweet this:

RT @amandastephan is giving away a Nook, Kindle, & iPod! Details here! http://www.booksbyamanda.com

+2 Entries

4. Friend me on Facebook & leave me a comment.

+2 Entries

5. Purchase Lonely Hearts from Amazon.com on November 1st.

Enter your confirmation number in the box provided on launch day

and gain

+10 Entries

6. Pre-Order Lonely Hearts from ME & still earn

+10 Entries!

Contest Ends 12:01am November 2nd

*1st place winner gets first choice

*2nd place winner chooses next

*3rd place winner gets remaining prize

**Winners will be notified by EMAIL and MUST

respond within 48 hours, or new winners

will be chosen!**

**If winner is not a US resident, a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card will be given instead**

Historical Fiction by Tom Blubaugh

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 17:01:00 +0000

Night of the Cossack
Read the First Chapter!

Night of the Cossack is a compelling adventure by Tom Blubaugh about a teenager who is forced to grow up quickly. The main character, Nathan Hertzfield faces many life or death situations during his saga. Join Nathan on his exhilarating journey through parts of Russia and Europe during the early 1900's. Don't miss the adventure and suspense in the riveting story, Night of the Cossack.
• Published April 2011
• Bound by Faith Publishers
• Softback, ISBN 978-0-9829029-2-9
• 256 pages, 5.5 x 8.5 x .64

About the Author:

My mother was a writer. She came close to being published, but never made it. Strange, but she didn't encourage me to write or read. At age 15 I was writing poetry that I hoped would become lyrics and would be picked up by some of the rock and roll artists of my day--Elvis, Ricky Nelson, Buddy Holly, etc. The comic books ads lured me with the coupons "turn your poetry into lyrics." They were scams and always wanted money. I didn't have any. With the fading of that dream, I didn't write until I was 28 and then it was non-fiction for denominational magazines and business publications. I self-published a book in 1974 in conjunction with my ministry of holding bus ministry seminars for churches. In 2009, I co-wrote a devotional journal, The Great Adventure, under contract with Barbour Publishing. In April, 2011, my first historical fiction was published by Bound by Faith Publishers. I am busy marketing this book at this time. I love speaking to middle and high school creative writing classes and writing groups. I want to encourage them to exercise their God given talent of writing.

Where to find Tom:
Website
Authors Den
Twitter
Facebook Author Page
Facebook Personal Page

Where to buy Night of the Cossack

Barnes & Noble

Fit for Faith Book Launch

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:08:00 +0000

You’re invited to the launch celebration of Fit for Faith – 7 weeks to improved spiritual & physical health on Tuesday, October 11th, 2011.
To join the fun, please follow these simple steps:
1. On Tuesday, October 11th place your order for Fit for Faith through Amazon.com
2. Retrieve the Amazon Order Confirmation Number from your order.
3. Visit http://kimberleypayne.wordpress.com to discover all the gifts that can be yours.
4. Email your name & Amazon Order Confirmation Number to kimberleypayne [at] nexicom [dot] net
5. After submitting your information, an email will be sent to you containing the information to access the Bonus Gifts. Choose all the free gifts you like.

Note: Gifts and prizes are available only on October 11th

Nook, anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Win a Nook ~ Kindle ~ iPod Shuffle!

I'm having a book launch on November 1st, and I want to share my excitement with you!
What's the best way to get people excited about something? Have a GIVEAWAY, of course!

So in honor of my upcoming release, I'm giving away a Nook, Kindle, & iPod Shuffle to some pretty lucky people.
All you have to do is...

1. Blog or post about my book launch for Lonely Hearts on Facebook.
+2 Entries per post (2 times per day)

2. Follow this blog via GFC, or follow me on Twitter
(leave me a comment!)
+2 Entry

3. Tweet this:
RT @amandastephan is giving away a Nook, Kindle, & iPod! Details here! http://www.booksbyamanda.com
+2 Entries

4. Friend me on Facebook & leave me a comment.
+2 Entries

5. Purchase Lonely Hearts from Amazon.com on November 1st.
Enter your confirmation number in the box provided on my website on launch day
and gain
+10 Entries

6. Afraid of forgetting or missing the party? Pre-Order Lonely Hearts from me and still earn the +10 Entries!

**If winner is not a US resident, a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card will be given instead**

Contest Ends 12:01am November 2nd*1st place winner gets first choice*2nd place winner chooses next*3rd place wins remaining
**Winners will be notified by EMAIL & MUST respond within 48 hours or new winners chosen**

Purchase Lonely Hearts on November 1st and receive LOTS of FREE eGifts!

One lonely mother.

Two matchmaking kids.

Three eligible bachelors.

What could possibly go wrong?!

*~* Exclusive Apple Pie Recipe Included! *~*

Free eGifts good ONLY November 1st!
www.booksbyamanda.com

Gold Earrings - Book Launch Tomorrow!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:40:00 +0000

I had the pleasure of meeting Diane Tatum one afternoon at Barnes & Noble, and it was such a delight. Not only did I meet with another author, but I made a very good friend. Enjoy!

Hi Diane, thank you for being here today!

Tell us a little about yourself.
I've been writing since elementary school. Gold Earrings is my first novel.I grew up in north St. Louis county, in Missouri. My husband Ken is from Nashville. We have 2 adult sons and daughters-in-love. We lived in Newport News, VA, while Ken worked at NASA/Langley for 12 years before we moved to Tullahoma, TN, 14 years ago. We love to travel and have been to Canada, England, Wales, Scotland, and France.

Diane... that's so wonderful, and I'm jealous! One day perhaps I'll get to travel further than Canada, but right now, it's not looking like it'll be anytime soon!

Where did you get the idea for your story, Gold Earrings?
I actually was on the school bus headed to high school on a dreary, rainy day. I wrote a short story with the main characters on a muddy street in frontier Missouri. Eventually it evolved into this Christian historical romance novel.

What is one thing you would like readers to take away from your story?
Gold Earrings is about not judging people by their outward appearance or family background.

Are you working on any more books?
Oh, yes! Ken encouraged me to quit teaching in order to write on my books! I kept coming up with good ideas for books, writing on them to document my inspiration, and saving them in spiral notebooks or on my computer. This second novel, which is nearly complete, is part of an historical series. A Time to Choose is set during the Civil War and has a reference to a family member and Civil War incident from Gold Earrings. The third is Colonial Dream, an American Revolution tale.

Where can readers find you?
Blog: http://tatumlight-tatumsthoughts4today.blogspot.com/
email: tatumlight@gmail.com
Facebook: Diane Elaine Tatum and Gold Earrings
twitter: @DianeTatum
Websites: http://dianeetatumwriter.weebly.com
http://webpages.charter.net/dktatum

We're going to be hosting her for her book launch on October 4th, where if you purchase her novel from Amazon.com on that day, you'll receive LOTS of FREE egifts! So come back for more details on October 4th!

Here's a little about her book, Gold Earrings:
Daughter of a bordello madame and an Italian captain of the seas, Angelina Mercy longs for a new life, free from the condemnation associated with her mother's home in Boston. A former navy man, Jonathan Thomson has accepted God's call and become a minister of a small congregation. Adrift from his Yankee heritage in the Missouri plains, Jonathan longs for a family of his own. Pursuing Alice, the daughter of the town's wealthy patron, Jonathan believes he can tame her wild ways and accomplish more as a preacher once so established. When Angelina's guardian and Jonathan's seminary professor learns of Jonathan's misguided intentions, he seeks out a solution to aid both individuals, providing a new home for Angelina in St. Joseph, and Angelina and Jonathan are brought together with a strong initial attraction. Can Jonathan ignore Angelina's Gold Earrings, a constant reminder of the implications of her less than pristine parentage? And will Alice succeed in keeping Jonathan from Angelina? The resilient heroine of Diane E. Tatum's novel will inspire you in this touching tale of love against the odds.

Meet Diane Tatum, historical Christian fiction author

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:40:00 +0000

I had the pleasure of meeting Diane Tatum one afternoon at Barnes & Noble, and it was such a delight. Not only did I meet with another author, but I made a very good friend. Enjoy!

Patty Wiseman ~ author of An Unlikely Arrangement

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:29:00 +0000

I had the pleasure of meeting Patty on Facebook, and she was so fun to get to know that I just had to share her here with you.
Hi Patty! I'm so glad to have you be my guest today ~ thanks for stopping by!
First of all, Amanda, thanks for inviting me here!

Where are you right now and what are you wearing?
I am in my home office. Funny story on what I am wearing. I have a dog, Cutter, a cream lab. I feed and play with him every morning. Of course he’s an outside dog. In the heat of this Texas summer, I usually wear shorts and a T shirt when I go out. But thankfully, Texas is beginning to feel the first signs of Fall. I actually had to wear jeans and a hoodie to go outside this morning. Loving this!! So that is what I have on right now.

What is on of the most interesting things you’ve learned when researching a story?
I’m glad you asked that question. My new book is based on my own grandparents arranged marriage in Detroit, MI. I did a lot of research on Ancestry.com. You see, my grandfather died in a fire back in 1924 and my father was only 10 months old at the time. Since the marriage was arranged, my grandmother fled Detroit with my dad, remarried, and started a new life. My father searched for anything related to him after he grew up, but could find nothing. Dad died with no knowledge of his father. Through Ancestry.com, I found a site called FindAGrave.com, and just out of curiosity, punched in my grandfather’s name. I almost fell off the chair when the PICTURE of his gravestone popped up. A gravestone from 1924! I emailed the man that took the picture. He told me he was in that cemetery taking pictures for another family’s history and spotted the row of stones from WWI. He took pictures of all of them. This happened only about a year ago. Through that picture I was able piece together many facts about my grandfather. It was very satisfying to realize my father’s dream.

What is your favorite part of writing? Did anyone inspire you to write or was it something you always wanted to do?
I’ve always wanted to write, but it’s only at this time of my life that I have been able to pursue it. I am semi-retired now, and plan to retire fully in April 2012. As far as anyone inspiring me, I have to give credit to my 1st grade teacher Mrs. Bell back in Colby, Kansas. Many, many moons ago. She introduced me to books, to reading, and I have been a voracious reader ever since, thus the inspiration to write.

What do you do to unwind and relax? <--I'm so bad at bowling, they start locking the doors when they see me coming. Ugh! ;)
I bowl! I’ve bowled on a league for 30 years and love it. At my age, to continue to compete in something physical is exhilarating. I also read a lot. My husband and I like to camp and fish, too.

While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters?
I’m not sure if I felt like one of my characters, but I had a strange compulsion I felt came from my long dead grandfather to tell the story. It pushed me along as I wrote. A sense of completion came over me when I finished. I thought I was done, but now that it’s out, I realize there is more to tell. The compulsion is back.

What are your expectations for your book?
My story is not a cookie-cutter romance. I hope that through the twists and turns of the mystery and the love-story that readers will enjoy something different. This is my first book, I’ve learned a lot and have two other books coming out, I hope soon. I want to get better and apply what I’ve learned to my future works. Like I said, I thought I was done with this story, but I feel a sequel coming on.

Do you have upcoming appearances you would like to share with us?
Yes, I do! I have a book signing scheduled for October 21, 2011 in Marshall, Texas at the Books & Java bookstore. It’s in the Marshall Mall. That same weekend I am heading to Austin, Texas for the Book Fest in the Capitol Building. I’m really looking forward to it. I hope anyone close by will attend!

Would you like to share a little about your current work in progress?
My current work in progress, one I hope is out in January, is a romantic comedy. The title is ‘If It’s Thursday Night, My Name Must be Lola’. I actually posted the first chapter as a short story on Angie’s Diary.com. I got such a good review that I turned it into a book.

Where can people find you?
My website is www.pattywiseman.com That is where my blog is and all my links, and you can buy my book directly from there, also. I’m on Kindle, too!
I have a Facebook Fan Page.
I am also on Goodreads.
Check out Twitter
You can go to this link to see and buy my book as well.
https://www.createspace.com/3585346

It’s been a great pleasure, Amanda, thank you so much!

About her book~

Young and rebellious, Ruth Squire defied her parents to live the high life of young people in 1929 Detroit. Handsome and responsible, Peter Kirby worked diligently to make his family's life easier. Rich and powerful, Eric Horton held the fates of many families in his hands. These three lives intertwine through the differing worlds of high society, middle-class life, and organized crime, culminating in an engagement, a kidnapping, a misunderstanding ... ... and a murder.

iPod. Nook. Kindle.

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Yep. I'm offering you the chance to win
an iPod ~ Nook ~ or Kindle
My upcoming Christian romance novel, Lonely Hearts, is going to be released at the end of October, and I'm planning on having a HUGE book launch in honor of that on November 1st. Prizes include:
Autographed books. Audio books.Gift Cards.FREE eGifts.

I'm looking for friends willing to blog about my book launch,

share it on Facebook, as well as tweet about it

beginning the last week of October and ending November 1st.

If you commit to blog, tweet, or share on Facebook about my book,

you'll be entered to win a Nook, Kindle, or iPod!

Ready to sign up? Great!

email me at ~

amanda38401 at gmail dot com

and be sure to include the link to your blog so I can find your post.

If you Tweet about it, include @amandastephan so I can find you

and if you share on Facebook, send me the link!

*note ~ I'll send out a friendly reminder to each respondant just before the event!*

Meet Children's Author, Kelly Hagen

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Where are you right now (LVR, DR, Bathroom) and what are you wearing? What an odd question..heehee. Ok but seriously I'm in my Living Room, and I'm wearing a t-shirt and shorts.
Is there anyplace unusual you’ve found a story?No, no place unusual. I'm sure if I write long enough I'll come across one!
Did anyone inspire you to write or was this something you always wanted to do?My children were my inspiration in writing my children's books. I've recently started writing a book for adults. It's inspiration actually has come from a mix of different people around me, and myself and what we have gone through.
What is something that very few people know about you?Something very few people know about huh?? I've only just started enjoying reading books. I never liked reading up til about a year ago.
What is your favorite material item that you own?
The quilts my family have made for me. There are three. One my granny made when I was little. Two- the one my sister-in-law made for a wedding present and three- the one my mom made for us a couple years ago. To know someone takes the time to actaully make something for you, means alot to me.
What do you do to unwind and relax?Turn up the music and dance!
While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters?In the book I'm working on now, I do fins myself relating to two of the characters. Both for completely different reasons.
What are your expectations for your book?I hope Jake & Jesus gets into as many children's hands as possible. I hope it helps them to learn that Jesus loves them and wants to be their friends.

If you could leave your readers with one bit of wisdom, what would you want it to be?Never stop praying for God's direction. If he wants you to do it, and you never give up...then it will be done. When we listen to God, great things can happen!
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?Well my latest book/s aren't published yet, so if I want something changed I can still do it :) But as far as Jake & Jesus...no I wouldn't.
Do you remember how your interest in writing originated?I wrote a book for my son when he was a couple years old, just as something special between us. Which was about fourteen years ago. That was really the first and only time I had written anything until about a year ago. Now it seems like I have so much in there I'm not sure if I'll ever get it all out!
Would you like to share a little about your current work in progress? Perhaps the first chapter of your book?I can't really share the first chapter being as I'm still just starting on it. I can let you know its a love story mixed with a little bit of suspense. As of right now anyway.. :)
Where can people find you? You can find me at:Twitter : Kelly_HagenFacebook: Kelly's Jake & JesusGoodreads : Kelly HagenMy websites: www.jakenjesus.weebly.com (about Jake & Jesus)& www.kellyhagen.weebly.com (interviews with other Christian Authors)

Twitter Tab on Facebook Page

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 05:01:00 +0000

I've been upping my time on Facebook, and I've found some Really, rEaLlY interesting things.Like, did you know that you can add a GoodReads account tab to your Facebook fan page? Now, if you're not a writer or reader, that probably doesn'tmean much to you. BUT! If you're an author and want people to have a chance toget to know you better and connect with you, then you might want to look into adding one to your page. It's super simple. Trust me. You can find the post HERE!
Another thing I found extremely interesting and very cool (please don't fuss at me if you'vehad this in place for the past two years. Sometimes I'm a little slow on the uptake!) wasa Twitter tab for your fan page.

See where I'm going with this? What a way to connect with the techie and not-so-techie peopleon your fan page!
Adding a Twitter tab isn't difficult at all ~ especially if you follow this tutorial from the Blogger and SEO Technology Blog.

Sell More Books!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:01:00 +0000

Let's face it. If you're an author, you want to sell books. Whether it's for monetary gain, enrichment for others, gaining exposure, or whatever, the bottom line is that you want to sell books. And there's nothing wrong with that.

But the publishing and book arena has taken a huge hit ~ which isn't news to anyone that has been breathing.

eBooks are taking the industry by storm. Traditional publishers are trying to keep up with the new lower price of eBooks and still trying to sell paperbacks. Self publishing has seen a dramatic increase because it's easier than ever to get your books out there. Nowadays, anyone can get their book published.

But the key is selling that book. You can have fifty books to your name and have them published, but if they're not selling, what's the point? Today, I want to introduce you to a friend of mine who has written an

excellent resource to help low-profile, not-yet-famous authors...

Sell More Books.

Utilizing today's social media potential, J. Steve Miller has compiled a comprehensive manual on what you should try, why you should try it, and how to git 'er done.

Chapters include:
Write a Marketable Book
Write a Title and Subtitle That Attracts Audiences
Attract People with your Cover
Publish through the Most Marketable Channel
Get Lots of Blurbs from All Kinds of People
Optimize Your Amazon and Barnes & Noble Pages
Build a Professional Online Presence
Submit Your Book to Contests
Check Your Attitudes toward Marketing
Use Guiding Principles to Prioritize Initiatives
Seek Early Reviews from Respected Book Review Sources
Seek Reviews and Endorsements from Busy Blogs
Seek Reviews and Endorsements from Other Publications
Attract Attention through Social Media
Optimize Digital Sales
Sell Your Book in Brick and Mortar Stores (Not Just Bookstores!)
Help Reporters and Journalists with their Articles
Consider Radio (Even if You’re Shy!)
Consider Speaking (Even if You’re Shy!)
John Kremer’s Twelve Tips for Low-Profile Authors
Bulk Sales Beyond the Bookstore: An Interview with Brian Jud
Consider Press (News) Releases

About the author:

Steve is the founder and president of Legacy Educational Resources, providing global resources for teachers of life skills in public schools, churches, and service organizations at http://www.character-education.info. A self-styled "wisdom broker," he collects wisdom from many fields and packages it for teachers and writers via his published books and the Web.
Steve is an educator, investor, entrepreneur, and speaker, having taught audiences from Atlanta to Moscow. He's known for drawing practical wisdom from serious research and communicating it in accessible, unforgettable ways. His wife, Cherie, and their seven sons continually remind him what works and what doesn't.
Connect with him at http://www.jstevemiller.com.

This biography was provided by the author or their representative.

To Die For by Sandra Byrd

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:01:00 +0000

To Die For by Sandra Byrd

What happens when a king is given all power and no one will say anything against him for fear of their life? Take care, and read the story of ill-fated Anne Boleyn and learn from history. Too much power is never good in the hands of sinful mankind. Anne is drawn into a web of lies, deceit, and debauchery - and history itself tells who the unfortunate loser is.

I have always been fascinated by Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, so when I saw that Sandra Byrd had written a book about the very historical people I willingly studied without the gentle prodding of any teacher, I was thrilled.

I will admit that I am not a passionate historical fiction reader. I am as likely to put down a historical novel as read it. Not so with Ms. Byrd's novel. She is a charming storyteller that was able to blend historical facts and fiction without any interruptions that pulled me out of the story.

You'll find yourself empathizing with young Anne Boleyn in love with the king of England, and shuddering with trepidation as she allows herself to be persuaded that he is honest and forthright. You'll cringe and shake your head when she becomes blinded to his faults and wonder to yourself how the whole of history would have been changed had she decided to marry someone else. Bemoan a young life lost to the whim of a narcissistic king who thinks he does no wrong and a court too terrified of losing their own heads than to tell the truth and save innocent lives. Finally, you'll sigh with sadness and allow yourself a moment of bittersweet contemplation as well as triumph to know that the surviving child of their ill-fated union would grow up to be arguably the greatest queen of England.

I was moved by Ms. Byrd's description of Anne on her dying day and how as she faced the chopping block she didn't rebuke her king and still offered him her love.

*I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for my honest opinion. I was in no wise required to give a positive review*

Jeremiah 29:11

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:01:00 +0000

~ for I know the plans I have for YOU, declares the LORD ~

"Never give the devil a ride, he will want to take over the driving."

Sometimes discouragement hits us full force and we wonder if we're doing what the Lord would have us to do. Yet, we have a faithful God and we must endeavor to remember that God is the One in control of our lives and His Will is what matters most.
I have a very narrow worldview. It encompasses just a few bits of time and space.
My family, my house, my life.
And yet, there's so much more at stake than what happens to me.
I can only see a few minutes into the future. God sees the whole picture.
If I can trust Him to save me, then I'll trust Him to guide me and use me for His Will and purpose.
Because HE is good and faithful.
Because He has plans for me that I've not finished yet, and I'm glad to belong to the King of Kings.

Dear Woman of God~ Be still for a while and praise God for His favor, His grace and His awesomeness.God is able to do the impossible and is always near.He loves us unconditionally.

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps. if you are not willing to move your feet.

Add a GoodReads Tab to your Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:19:00 +0000

Are you an author? Are you on Goodreads, and do you have a Facebook fan page? Fantastic!
Why not link the two together?

Here are the steps I found on the GoodReads Site ~ Display your Goodreads Group activity—including bookshelves, discussions, polls and more—on a Facebook Fan Page wall tab.

1. First, create a Facebook Fan Page for your group, if you don't already have one.
2. Next, connect to Goodreads using Facebook connect or add the Goodreads Facebook App
3. Navigate to the Goodreads App Page
4. Click "Add to my Page" below the Goodreads photo on the left and confirm.
5. Navigate back to your Facebook Page and select the Goodreads Tab.
6. Click "Setup your Goodreads tab."
7. Select type Group Page and choose your group. You may only select a group you are a moderator of.

Save and you're done!

Note: if you've already added a Goodreads Tab, you can simply click "Edit your Goodreads Tab settings" on the bottom to change it to show your Group activity.

Daily Devotional Series: Genesis

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:30:00 +0000

by Kristi Burchfiel
Does a cup of coffee or an energy drink typically start your day? While that may wake you up physically, what are you doing each day to wake up spiritually? How do you find time in your busy, hectic schedule to focus on truth from God's word?

Kristi Burchfiel returns with the second book in The Daily Devotional Series. This book of devotionals through Genesis is designed to provide each day with a quick and simple devotion that can be read in less than 5 minutes. The devotionals focus on one truth from the Bible that a person can take with them, think about, and apply all day long. Each devotional includes the verse from the Bible, a truth from that verse, and a response to pray back to God.

The Daily Devotional Series: Genesis gives readers a brief introduction into using The Daily Devotional Series, a synopsis of the book of Genesis, and then fifty brief devotionals, one for each chapter in the book.

About Kristi Burchfiel
Kristi grew up in Valley Center, Kansas and received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. She has been married to her husband, D Burchfiel for 13 years, and they have 2 children, Rebekah and Andrew. They currently make their home in Wichita, Kansas where D is the pastor of Southwest Baptist Church. Kristi is the author of applicable Bible studies and devotionals including Without Regrets: A Study of Ecclesiastes and The Daily Devotional Series.

Connect with Kristi ~
Twitter
Facebook
Website

Fern Valley

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Stephan) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:26:00 +0000

by Aileen Stewart

Follow the adventures of delightful young farm animals who are just like you. Fern Valley is home to a group of wonderful animals who have fun and face some of the same problems children everywhere do. Roberta and Mildred Cornstalk are creative chickens dealing with the loss of their beloved granny, and they're looking for something to do to cheer them up. Want to know what adventures they find? Want to know what happens to Roberta and Mildred's brother, Edward, when he goes fishing, what birthday surprise is in store for Betsy Woolrich, or what lesson Kimmy Curlytail learns when she keeps something that isn't hers? Then follow this endearing cast of characters as they enjoy their time together and learn important lessons. A perfect addition for any child's personal library and a joy for families to share, Fern Valley is a collection to be treasured for many years to come.

My Thoughts:
Written in a style that is reminiscent of Beatrix Potter, Aileen Stewart's book will capture your child's heart. Ms. Stewart charmingly weaves a moral element to each story that is lacking in quite a few children's books today. Using barnyard animals like chickens Roberta and Mildred Cornstalk, Kimmy Curlytail the pig, as well as a host of others, to teach lessons in honesty, caring, and forgiveness, you'll be drawn in right at the beginning. This book is a keeper ~ well done, Ms. Stewart!

Connect with Aileen:
Facebook
Twitter
Website