I want to shop at this specific store (Owosso, Michigan – store #2772).
They make me want to build something!
HT: Dick Malone
Fun Fridays – February 20, 2015
Blog
My Book is Due and My Life is Falling Apart
Sound familiar? Even most unpublished authors wouldn’t envy the published author this type of pressure. But over the course of a career, the likelihood is great that one or many events will throw off a writer’s schedule. There are times when work has to take a temporary stop. No doubt about it. When major stress hits, be sure to pray and meditate each day. You don’t have time not …
Reviews: Friend or Foe?
Writers are a fascinating blend of contradictions. Many are introverts who have to do extroverted things—speaking, booksignings, author appearances–and do them well. They are creative, expressive people who, most of the time, live in their heads. And when they are around people, they can seem withdrawn, even remote (mostly because they’re STILL in their heads). They come across as confident …
Author Platforms 301 – Part Three – Customer Service
This concludes a three part series of posts exploring the issue of author platforms and how to get one. The Steve Laube agency will offer a downloadable document that will include the three posts plus additional information and resources. The last two weeks we have covered the need for all authors (especially aspiring authors) to develop a “message platform” and some suggestions how to determine …
Largest Christian Bookstore Chain Declares Chapter 11
In case you missed it, last week the Family Christian Stores chain declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. (See this link for their press release.) This is newsworthy because Family Christian Stores (FCS) is the largest Christian store chain in the country (when counting number of locations, not necessarily sales revenue), 266 stores in 36 states. In 2014 the chain did $230 million dollars in …
Pets and Personality
Do any of the characters in your novel have pets? When I read about pet ownership, the choice of animal and where they live may say a lot. The use of animals in a story can lend some wonderful texture to your character. It uses some common assumptions about various animals. A few examples: A large dog on a farm means a carefree, rambunctious animal roaming about the place, showing up on the back …
Valentine’s Creativity! [Plus a Giveaway]
I love to laugh. I’m one of those people who goes into card stores and stands in the aisles, reading the funny cards and chortling. So when I saw some posts on Rejected Candy Heart sayings, I totally cracked up. You know what Candy Hearts are, yes? Those little sugar hearts with sayings such as “Be Mine,” “Hug Me,” “Real Love”? We’ve all seen them, even exchanged them. In fact, I bought a box of …
Author Platforms 201 – Part Two – Consistency
Starting last Tuesday and continuing today and next week I will be exploring the issue of author platforms and how to get one. At the conclusion of this series of blog posts, The Steve Laube Agency will offer a downloadable document that will include the three posts plus additional information and resources. __________ Last week, I talked a little about the need to develop a “message platform”, …
Fun Fridays – February 6, 2015
We are having some absolutely gorgeous weather here in Phoenix this week. But according to this weather report a week ago Tuesday (Jan. 27th) it looked like Summer may have already arrived. Yes, it can get hot in Phoenix, but not sure it has ever been quite this bad… (the places he mentions are all suburbs of Phoenix).
Personality Quirks
We all have personality quirks. These are part of our charm. Some people may think that the fact I have named my three houseplants is a personality quirk. But what other modern living beings would put up with the monikers Perpetua, Magnifica, and Scholastica? When I ask my husband, “Did you water Perpetua?” he knows what I mean. We inherited a large peace lily from one daughter’s …