A Work in Progress

E-publishing on Amazon is like fishing in an ocean: it's huge, overwhelming, and at any moment a huge wave could take you out. Could. Truthfully, for most things in life we  allow or make them happen. Luck helps, and bad things happen, but working -- and making sure we catch our fish (readers) -- requires a lot of ... work, continually. i.e. all the time. I wish I could say that just by putting a book out in Amazonland means I'm through. Hands off, let the bucks come in. But, I know this isn't the case. Things that we value --and want-- require work to achieve them. And this work requires patience. I read this great post over at a super blog called Writer Unboxed . The post goes into detail about the five top things indie (independent) authors need to work on, work with and utilize to get those book sales. It was discouraging and encouraging at the same time. Mostly, the article was eye opening. What does it say? In a sentence: In order to be successful as an in

Okay, here we go. So, you know that extremely worn cliche that says "never say never?" Well I'm going to use that cliche right now. Don't EVER say never because odds are in your favor that you will do the very thing you said you'd never do. For example, over the past eight years, I've told my husband that I will never self-publish. Absolutely never. (Look at my last post to see reasons to why I didn't want to). It just wasn't for me. Okay, now here's where I explain how I'm going back on that promise. I am self-published (e-published) now, and the book is up on Amazon Kindle today! I've about a million feelings going through me right now: I'm completely scared that my work is no good, completely expectant, hoping for cool things to evolve from it, and I'm completely enamored that I can publish a book myself and see it on Amazon just like all the big-wig authors out there. My book is called The Puzzle Master . It's a

Normally, I don't like to toot my own horn. It just doesn't sound right, doesn't ring right, doesn't jab with me or float my boat. Cup of Comfort on Amazon That being said, I'm going to do all of the above. I have to tell you about a little book that published me. Okay, so the book isn't just about me. It's also about 40 other ladies who wrote fantastic words and essays and were chosen to be in the Cup of Comfort line of books, called A Cup of Comfort for Christian Women. This book is seriously inspirational. I had more fun reading through it than writing my own story. It is a wonderfully encouraging book for other women, touches the soul, ministers to the heart, and puts a little more happiness into all of us. The book is great as a gift, great for yourself, and great to have around when you need specific encouragement in a specific area. Okay then, enough said. I am happy to be officially "published" in a "real" book (a nat