Cindy Downes

MacBook Pro for Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:06:00 +0000

I just moved up to an iMac and small laptop, so I have my old 15" MacBook Pro for sale. Here are the details:

MacBook Pro, 15" laptop
2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo
2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
100 GB Hard Drive
DVD drive

Clean, newly installed Mac OSX 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard) system installed
Includes: Mail, Safari web browser, iDVD, iMovie, iCal, iWeb, Garage Band, Photo Booth, Quick Time Player, iPhoto, iTunes, Address Book, iChat, and App Store

No box or manuals. Power cable included.

Price: $495.00
Payment method: PayPal
Shipping Included. Will ship UPS within 24 hours to US only.

For more info or to purchase, email me at cindy@me.com

Interested in Creating an E-Book? Try KindleGen

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:07:00 +0000

KindleGen is Amazon's new software that makes generating Kindle documents easy, even children's books! Compatible with all Kindle devices.

What Books Do At Night!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:18:00 +0000

Learning more about writing picture books

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:49:00 +0000

I started a class on picture book writing this week. The eight-week class is given by Anastasia Suen.

I'm hoping to learn how to fix my manuscripts so they will finally get published!

Have you heard about Freemium in China?

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:15:00 +0000

There's a new publishing model going on in China called Freemium. The definition of Freemium (from Wikipedia) is a business model that works by offering a product or service free of charge (typically digital offerings such as software, content, games, web services or other) while charging a premium for advanced features, functionality, or related products and services.

The system in China works like this:

Authors write their stories in serial and post it on a Freemium site on Internet.
Readers rank the stories (similar to ranking products on Amazon.com)
Once the author's story gets enough readers, the story is moved to the VIP area on the site where readers have to pay money to read further installments.

This model is huge in China. One author has made more than $152,000 so far, TV serials have been developed from these Freemium books, and readers are clamoring for more. Currently, more than 195 million people in China are hooked on Freemium.

Personally, I'm not sure how I feel about this model. In one way, it's another gatekeeper. You have to publish your work on someone else's site for free - maybe you get paid, maybe you don't. Meanwhile, how much money is the owner of the site making by hosting the Freemium site? Would it be better for me to host my own site, write, sell products and ads, and make all the money myself? Of course, that's time off from writing. The positive thing about Freemium is that the people reading the books determine which books get published. It might open up the book world to a lot of new writers that will never be seen otherwise.

What about you? Do you see Freemium working in America? What would it look like here? How would it affect you as a writer here in America?

New Year's Resolution Early!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:40:00 +0000

Course Instructor: Anastasia Suen

I've decided to take a writing course to help me learn the craft of writing for children. After looking over a few choices, I selected Anastasia Suen as my instructor. She offers classes in picture books, chapter books and novels for children. I've signed up for the picture book class starting Jan. 4th.

Fun and Educational - US States for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:39:00 +0000

For my friends with school-age kids or grandkids, check out US States for Kids - app for the iPad. This is a easy-to-use app that challenges kids to learn the location of the 50 states.

The object of the game is to put all 50 states in the right place and in the fastest time. It has two levels of play: Easy (with state map outlines) and Difficult (without the outlines). Each state pops up one at a time on the screen along with audio pronouncing the name of the state. To play, set the timer and start dragging the states into their correct positions. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle on the iPad.

Start slow and learn the positions of the states; then work up to playing against the clock for best speed. If it gets too hard, you can use hints to help.

US States for Kids is fun AND educational. 5 STARS!

Sent off another manuscript!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:34:00 +0000

I just sent off my manuscript for a picture book after another six months of revising. If anyone tells you that writing picture books is easy, hit them for me! I've been working on my Ferret picture book off and on for two years!

I'm also going to enter it into some contests. My local library has one and OWFI has another.

It's time to start a new story!

For Writers

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:34:00 +0000

"The difference between the published writer and the unpublished writer is, the unpublished writer spends time thinking about what he wants to write while the published writer spends time writing about what he thinks."

Author unknown

Back to AP Style!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:18:00 +0000

After I graduated college in 2009, I thought I was done with the AP Stylebook; but, not so. I just had to re-up my subscription to write for magazines!

If you want to do any serious magazine writing, most of them require that you use the AP Stylebook. Here's a money saving tip: If you buy it as a book, it's about $20-$25. If you buy it as a one-time year subscription, it's $25. BUT, if you do the automatic renewal, it's only $15/year! Even if you find you don't need it later, you can always cancel.

The online version is much easier to use. You can do a search for terms without having to know in which section it is, save often-used terms to your own "notebook," and get updates as they occur. Very handy!

So, back I go to my AP Stylebook for a refresher! (I wonder how many mistakes I made in this entry!)

Interviewing Billie Letts

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:36:00 +0000

Yesterday, I had the privilege of interviewing Billie Letts, author of Where the Heart Is, The Honk and Holler Opening Soon, Shoot the Moon, and Made in the U.S.A. For those of you not familiar with her work, Where the Heart Is was selected for Oprah Winfrey's Book Club, and it was made into a movie starring Natalie Portman and Stockard Channing.

Billie is as gracious as she is talented. I must admit I was a bit nervous interviewing someone so famous! In fact, I got halfway there, stopped at Barnes and Nobles to pick up my own copy of Where the Heart Is (I read a library copy.) and then realized I left all my interviewing notes at home! I ended up being 15 minutes late. I was mortified! I had no number to reach her other than her publicist, so I called that number and left a message; but I was sure when I got there, she would refuse to see me. But she didn’t. Instead, she graciously welcomed me in.

Interviewing Billie Letts is like going to a good movie. She’s adventurous, compassionate, and funny. She entertained me with stories about her own life and the lives of others who provide the inspiration behind her novels. She talked about her most treasured moments of being a famous author as being when she reads all the letters she receives from young girls who quit school but go back after reading her books. And, just when I thought she was getting serious, she'd pop out a sassy joke about herself. It was delightful.

If you ever get a chance to interview Billie Letts, watch out! She will interview you back. Before I left, she found out as much about me as I did about her. I think she's looking for new characters for her next book!

The Writing Business - Where is it Going?

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:29:00 +0000

This has been an interesting week in book publishing news.

First, I was approached by a local bookstore chain about selling my self-published book in the store. I told them that my book, The Checklist, is a bit unusual and sells mostly by word of mouth. Furthermore, by time I give the bookstore 50% and pay shipping (60% for Amazon), and then pay my printing costs, I make very little on the book. With this book, I can't count on more sales unless someone in the store knows how to use the book and can explain it to the customers. Then if the store discounts the book, I am competing with myself. So, no thanks.

The store then told me it is going into POD production as of December. POD, if you don't know, means Print on Demand. The customer approaches a kiosk, orders the book and then waits while the book is printed and bound. There would be information about the book so that readers could learn more before they purchases. I told them to call me in December! This might work for me, if they don't discount my book.

I had no idea we were that close to using the POD model in America's bookstore. The idea is that no only bookstores, but coffee shops, grocery stores and other retailers would have this equipment. No more books on the shelf and remainders.

What do you think of that?

The second thing I read this morning is about a service in China called, Freemium Fiction Publishing. In this model, authors in China are writing fiction in installments and offering it free. As it gets popular, the readers have to pay for the final installments. Amazingly, this is working in China. Earnings from this model have been from $0 to $152,500 (American dollars), depending on the author's fan base.

Do you think this would work in the West? How will that affect the traditionally published author?

Finally, I just heard that Thomas Nelson is being bought out by Harper Collins. Harper Collins bought Zondervan in 1988. How will this affect the Christian publishing market?

Lots of changes in the book publishing world. Where will we go from here?

Just for Fun - Looking for a Unique Christmas Present?

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:17:00 +0000

HELO-TC

Some of you know that my husband, Bill, was a helicopter pilot. He flew in Vietnam and on the Delaware State Police. Although he's retired now, he still has great memories from his flying days.

When I saw the HELO TC remote-controlled helicopter being promoted online, I immediately asked for one to review. I wanted my husband to try it and see if he would recommend it. Well, he does, and so do I! I found it to be just as much fun as he does!

Here's our take on the product:

1. It's small (about 8" long), lightweight (1.4 oz - I weighed it on my Weight Watcher's scale!), and takes up very little room to store or to use. We can "fly" in the house, as long as the dog is shut up in her crate!

2. It's flexible. We've had several crashes, but no damage. It's built on a lightweight metal frame with a black polycarbonate body, and it bounces very well!

3. It's fairly easy to learn to use. I say fairly because you have to run the throttle as well as the joystick at the same time. It gets tricky, but my pilot husband had it flying around the room in no time at all. For me, it took a bit longer to learn the controls. (There is another mode - Tilt to Steer - that just uses the iPhone, but it's not nearly as fun and challenging.) My only complaint is that the directions for flying the HELO TC are in the app itself and not written in the paperwork that comes with it. It's not fun to have to stop the HELO TC to read directions. I suggest they add these directions in PDF format to their website to be downloaded.

4. It was easy to put together and start playing. Our HELO came already charged (It charges with USB power source.); however, the literature says it charges in 35 minutes. The Flight Deck module is powered by four AAA batteries. We took everything out of the box, followed the directions for downloading the HELO TC app, and attached the Flight Deck to the iPhone. At most, this took 15 minutes. The helicopter was already together. We just had to take it out from its box and then read the directions for getting started. It took about 20-30 minutes to have it up and running with some confidence.

5. It's a good value at $49.99 for the HELO TC. You can purchase from Griffin Technology. The app is free.

6. It's a unique gift that your pilot friends and wanna-be-pilot friends will enjoy for a long time. I think they will remember this one!

Review of "To Have and To Hold"

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:20:00 +0000

The Peterson and Miller team have always given me just what I want in a book: a great story, interesting characters, a bit of mystery and adventure, and , of course, romance.

Unfortunately, To Have and To Hold just didn't come up to par with their previous books. The characters were somewhat unbelievable. Their actions too weak. I had a hard time even liking the characters.

The plot was thin and the story stretched out much longer than it needed. 'HOWEVER, these two authors are SO GOOD at writing that the book still kept my interest! I am amazed at their writing skills. Usually, with books like this, I call it quits and move on to something else. Sometimes, I'll skim the rest of the book to try to get some idea of the plot. But not this one. In spite of its flaws, it's still great writing. I read the whole thing and enjoyed it. I especially liked the historical setting. I felt as if I were right there on Bridal Veil Island with the characters.

If this is your first Peterson/Miller book, don't judge them by this one. Get some of the earlier works. I promise you, you'll be delighted. Afterwards, you'll even enjoy this one.

Here are two I really liked:

The Carousel Painter

A Daughter's Inheritance

Note: I received this book from Bethany House to review. I was not required to write a good review.

Nimrod Conference and Workshop 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:08:00 +0000

Anyone going to the Nimrod Conference and Workshop? This year's event will be held on Saturday, October 22, at The University of Tulsa, 800 South Tucker Drive, Tulsa, OK. 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Workshops include: Q&A Editing and Publishing: Why? How? What? When?; Fiction I; Fiction II; Fiction III; Poetry; Memoir; Finding an Agent; Young Adult Fantasy; Workout: Exercise Your Writing Muscles; Starting and Growing a Literary Magazine; Hands-on Editing Workshops

For more info: check the website. www.utulsa.edu/nimrod

Gloria Teague, Another Reason I Attend Writer's Groups

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 11:46:00 +0000

I love writer's groups. I try not to miss any of them. Currently, I am a member of SCBWI, ACFW, and Tulsa Night Writers.

One reason I love writer's groups is because of the new friendships I form. It's so nice to have other authors to talk to, to critique your work, and encourage you.

I met this sweet gal, Gloria Teague, at Tulsa Night Writers. She's the writer of both fiction and nonfiction; and, currently has two books and two novels out, as well as more than 50 short stories. What an inspiration!

Her newest book, Beyond the Surgeon's Touch: One Miracle Away from Death, is stories based on actual events in emergency rooms that illustrate that miracles can, and do, happen to average people more often than you may realize. I can't wait to read this one!

You can visit Gloria's website at: www.gloriateague.com

Review of From This Day Forward

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:58:00 +0000

If you're a fan of the Amish romance, you don't want to miss Margaret Daley's, From This Day Forward. You're in for a treat and a twist!

Instead of historical romance set in Amish country, this historical romance is set in Charleston, South Carolina right after the War of 1812.

The story is just what you'd expect from inspirational, historical romance. It's sweet, clean, inspiring, educational and romantic. But even better, there's just enough suspense to keep you turning the pages to find out what happens to the widowed immigrant, Rachel Gordon, and her battle-scarred, physician neighbor as they endure attacks from mysterious strangers, thefts, monstrous alligators, and fires. You won't be bored!

I enjoyed From This Day Forward very much, and I'm looking forward to Margaret's next book.

Writers and Exercise

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 01:04:00 +0000

One of the problems I have as a writer is that my job includes very little movement - I have the skinny fingers (from typing), but the rest of me is - well not so skinny.

I joined WeightWatchers two years ago and lost 60 pounds; but after I quit, I gained back 15. Needless to say, I'm back on the wagon. Started WeightWatchers again last week!

The other thing I did, by accident, to help my sedentary life situation was to get a dog. I actually went to the shelter to get a cat, but the shelter had just received eight puppies that were ready to be adopted. So I ended up adopting a puppy instead.

Her name is Oreo. She's half Shihtzu and half Jack Russell, and what a bundle of joy! And energetic! Even with her short little legs, she can move. I think I'll get some exercise now! So long sedentary life.

Short Story Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 21:45:00 +0000

Good Housekeeping is offering a chance to win $3,000 and publication in May issue! Short Story contest - no more than 3,500 words.

Deadline is September 1 - so don't wait. Enter that story you have tucked away in your desk, NOW!

A new subject to write about . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:42:00 +0000

After many years of having only cats in the house, I finally broke down and got a dog. She's half Shihtzu and half Jack Russell. Her name is Oreo, and she's two months old.

I went to the Tulsa Humane Society to get a cat, but they had just gotten in these adorable pups. I just couldn't resist. So now, I'm potty training, crate training, and pretty much exhausted, but loving it.

Today, we went for our first walk in the park. We walked .13 miles in 14 minutes! Not much exercise, but it was so much fun!

Now that I have a dog, I have a whole new topic to write about!

Y'Barbo teaching at WIN-ACFW in August

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:00:00 +0000

If you keep saying that you're going to write a book, then you must attend WIN-ACFW this month! Kathleen Y'Barbo Turner will be teaching on the subject "Finish the Book! A Procrastinator's Guide to Getting to The End and Hitting Send" on Saturday, Aug. 6, at Fellowship Lutheran Church. Directions and details are on the WIN website.

Y'Barbo is an award-winning author of more than 40 books.

Article Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:40:00 +0000

The article I wrote for Oklahoma Living Magazine is now available for viewing on my website under publications. It will be mailed to more than 650,000 subscribers in August.

Homeschooling Trends was a fun article for me to write as it was about homeschooling, one of my passions! I enjoyed meeting new homeschooling friends, as well as interviewing Shandra Pinion, a young lady I've known since she was a child.

I also enjoyed working with a new editor, Anna Politano. She was absolutely wonderful to work with. Thank you, Anna, for the great editing job, too!

Magazine writing is a rewarding experience. If you haven't tried it yet, you should. Here are some reasons I like magazine article writing:

I get to meet new people: the people I interview, as well the editors for whom I am writing
I get to learn something new - even if I am familiar with the subject, I always learn something from my interviewees
I get to visit new places - I love to go to new towns, visit their museums and discover their local dining hangouts
Sometimes I get freebies for writing product reviews, such as iPad covers, appliances, sports equipment, books, etc.
The assignment has a deadline - I work more efficiently with deadlines
The assignment is short - I get to see the fruit of my labor much sooner than if I were writing a book

For more information on how to writer for magazines, check out these books:

Writer's Market 2011 - find out which magazines are buying articles and what the editors want
Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Magazine Articles - an introduction to magazine writing
Writer's Digest Handbook of Magazine Article Writing - this is the one I learned with. Although it's not as current as it should be, it still provides all the essential information needed by writers of magazine articles.
On Writing Well - a classic - this book will help you improve your writing skills. I try to read it at least once a year. It's time to read it again!

Hidden Affections - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 22:38:00 +0000

Hidden Affections was my first Delia Parr novel, but it won’t be my last! I loved it! The plot was fun – girl and guy handcuffed by thieves during a robbery and then forced to marry in order to protect her “honor.” From there, it only gets better. They plan to hide their marriage and secretly get an annulment; but somehow the news gets out that the “rich bachelor” in town has finally married. Now, they’re stuck with each other until they can figure out a way to get “unhitched.” In the meantime, romance begins to bloom and trouble comes in the form of past secrets.

This is the way I like my romances: clean, fun, entertaining, romantic and inspirational. You can’t get better than that! I’m so glad I got to review Hidden Affections because now I’m off to find more of Delia Parr’s books to read. This one is 5 stars!

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House with no expectations of a positive review. The opinions I express are my own.

The Corruptible by Mark Mynheir

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 22:34:00 +0000

For those who haven’t read Quinn’s first book, The Night Watchman, the main character, Ray Quinn, is an ex-homicide detective, turned private investigator, because of an on-the-job injury. Quinn lost his girlfriend at the same time as he was injured himself; so, not only is he in physical pain, he is in emotional pain, too.

In The Corruptible, Quinn is trying to locate some missing corporate files for his client, Armon Mayer. Logan Ramsey, an ex-cop who works as a security officer for Mayer, is supposedly the thief; but when Quinn locates Ramsey, he finds the officer dead and the files missing. To make matters worse, Quinn begins to realize that Mayer is being less than truthful.

In The Night Watchman, Quinn solves a case involving the brother of a girl named Pam. She plays a role in this second book, also. Pam is the Christian in the story, and a good friend to Quinn. Quinn is a skeptic, an alcoholic, and not interested in religion of any kind; but because he respects Pam, he does allow her to mention her religion on occasion. The religious references are few and not preachy at all.

My husband was a cop, so I know what cops are like. Ray is a believable cop as far as his work and attitude go, but because there’s no cussing or sex, he does seem a bit too “nice.” However, as a Christian, I appreciated this about the book. I don’t think you have to read cussing or sex scenes to enjoy a story. I know others will disagree; so buyers beware. If you want a rough cop story with cussing and sex, skip this one. If however, you want to read a good detective story with a gentler main character, you’ll love the book. The writing is good, the plot is interesting, and the main characters are likable. Read Chapter one of The Corruptible.

I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review."

Desert Gift - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Downes) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 01:08:00 +0000

What happens when a nationally known, marriage expert, about to start a book tour, learns that her husband wants a divorce? How will she face her audience? How can she continue her ministry when everything she teaches doesn’t even work in her own life? Is everything she believed a lie?

Desert Gift by Sally John is the story of a woman’s struggle as she faces her failures, learns to forgive herself and others, and leans on God for a hope and a future.

For anyone who’s experiences a similar situation, this book may help you heal. You’ll relate to the painful emotions Jillian goes through and be encouraged as you watch God walk her through the ordeal.

If you haven’t experienced a situation similar to this, you need to read the book in order to be better prepared to help others who have. This happens more times than you think!

I loved the ending! I can’t reveal it, but I can tell you that it ends on a positive note, however, not as you might expect.

Although Desert Gifts doesn’t have an adventure-packed, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat plot, it is a book that everyone should read. You might see a bit of yourself in it!

NOTE: I received a review copy of this book from Tyndale House; however, I do not have to write a positive review.