* OH...THOSE CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS! *

Blogger and writer friend, Patricia Preston, invited me to take part in her Christmas Confessions blog posts, and I happily accepted.

Please stop by PATRICIA'S BEAUTIFUL BLOG and see what I had to say...and also learn more about her and her publications. She's way ahead of me in the number of books she's written! J

* MOTHER'S DAY GIFT SUGGESTIONS *

Mother's Day is only six days away!

Here are some great gift ideas:
 

* JUST UPDATED THIS MAY 7th AT 5:25 pm, CDT.
* This post is getting new participants added every day until Saturday, May 10th, at midnight, so please remember to keep coming back for new information. Thanks! *

Creative Carmelina's Blog and Etsy Shop. Carmelina makes beautiful items, some of which I own! I won a give-away of hers last year and wrote about it here. I love, love, love the crocheted tea cup, along with everything else, of course. The tea cup is one of my treasured items in my curio cabinet. Any of her creations would make lovely, unique gifts!

Here is an open invitation to all my talented followers who have items they've made that are For Sale. If you would like to be featured here, please either leave a comment that you'd like to participate, or e-mail me, with pertinent info.

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I also thought about contacting my writer friends and ask if they'd also like to mention their book(s) here. But, I would surely forget to ask more than one, and I obviously don't want to hurt anyone's feelings! (Books always make great gifts, too, so keep them in mind....whether they're print copies or e-books.)

So, the same invitation goes for followers who have books they've written and would like to sell. Please either leave a comment that you'd like to participate, or e-mail me, with pertinent info.

And, I can't possibly post something about books for sale that would make great Mother's Day gifts without mentioning my memoir -- Can I?! Please keep it in mind, too. Moms of any age would enjoy it! It can be purchased directly from me, or from Barnes & Noble (online only), or from Amazon, or STL Books.

~~~

 



* From Melissa Goodwin - Two children's books: The Christmas Village....and....Return to Canterbury.

http://www.amazon.com/Return-Canterbury-Melissa-Ann-Goodwin/dp/1492348872/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_pap?ie=UTF8&qid=1399315836&sr=8-1&keywords=return+to+canterbury

http://www.amazon.com/The-Christmas-Village-Melissa-Goodwin/dp/1463646259/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0ECWHAGG4Z5NFG4Q0CCT

 ~~~

* From Jennifer Shirk
Thanks, Becky! My book FIANCE BY FATE is a fun (and clean) romance--perfect for moms who own kindles or ereaders. :-)
http://www.amazon.com/Fiance-Fate-Anyone-Novel-Entangled-ebook/dp/B00J6U1DOW/ref=la_B002BM4L8M_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1399317458&sr=1-4

~~~

  

* From Patricia Preston

Here is the link to my humorous short story, The Yard Sale. http://amzn.to/Jmog8Z  It is a funny story about a Southern gal having a yard sale. It is a Kindle ebook.

~~~

 



*From Susan Flett Swiderski
Anyhow, this is a great idea. Thanks for coming up with it. Yes, my book Hot Flashes and Cold Lemonade would make a good Mothers' Day gift, too. It can be found on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/148489071X
It's also up for grabs on a Goodreads giveaway right now, and the widget can be easily accessed to whiz you right to the spot from my blog. Also, the week after Mothers' Day, the e-version of my book will be on sale for the paltry sum of ninety-nine cents.

~~~

* From Patt Hollinger Pickett

Thanks, Becky, for the opportunity! Your blog looks cool! Here’s my Mother’s Day gift info:

A 99 CENTS Kindle SALE! Great Mother’s Day gift.  Limited Time Only-- May 7-11
Get your e-version copy of The Marriage Whisperer: Tips to Improve Your Relationship Overnight for just 99 cents.
http://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Whisperer-Patt-Hollinger-Pickett-ebook/dp/B00GZPFDUG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399437823&sr=8-1&keywords=the+marriage+whisperer-kindle

~~~

 

* From McGuffy Ann Morris

"Weeds" is a poetry book based upon life's experiences and observations. Weeds come in many forms and varieties, from beautiful to plain, dangerous to harmless. Each has a purpose, if only to value what is important. It can be purchased from Amazon.com.

Thanks, Becky!

~~~





* From Carol Kilgore
Becky, what a great idea. In my book SOLOMON'S COMPASS, Taylor Campbell vows to never be like her mother. And we all know how that goes. Right?
Happy Mother's Day to all!
http://underthetikihut.blogspot.com/

~~~

* From Toby Speed

I love your Mother's Day gift idea. Moms who love murder mysteries might like my new book, Death Over Easy, available in hardcover and Kindle editions. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Death-Over-Easy-Toby-Speed/dp/1432827227/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1370955679&sr=8-2&keywords=death+over+easy

 ~~~



*From Terra Hangen

This is a super idea, and my book is written specifically for moms of all ages and is full of humor and tips. A Scrapbook of Motherhood Firsts: Stories to Celebrate and Wisdom to Bless Moms, on Amazon.com, hardcover, color on each page. Oh, recipes kids love too. Terra Hangen, co-author. http://www.amazon.com/Scrapbook-Motherhood-Firsts-Stories-Celebrate/dp/0915547716/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399520881&sr=8-1&keywords=terra+hangen



 

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new." -- Rajneesh

Author Interview - Patricia Preston

Hello everyone! Below is my interview with blog friend Patricia Preston, author of The Yard Sale.

Hi Patricia! Tell us a little bit about how you got started writing:

The first thing I recall writing is a short story when I was in the 6^th grade. I remember the title was “Priscilla’s Christmas.” I have no memory of what happened to poor Priscilla on Christmas but I do remember getting a lot of praise from my teacher. That is when my love affair with writing started and it is still going on today. I figure even if the day comes that I can no longer physically write, there still be a story dancing in my head.

What are you writing now and why?

I decided to do something different this year. In 2011, I joined an Indy email list. At the time, there were about 300 Indy authors on the list. Now there are over 700 members. Many of them were hybrids, writers who write for traditional publishers and self-publish, such as Bob Mayer and Brenda Novak. All the members were eager to talk about this big change in publishing and about the business side of this new venture. I learned so much from them.

Also, around the New Year, Ben Wallace started following me on Twitter. Ben is an Indy author who writes comedy. So, I read some of his short stories.  I do admit, once again, to ignorance. I didn’t know writers were publishing short stories on Amazon. Duh! I’m not going into massive detail here, but reading Ben’s stories helped me make a decision that I had been considering. I decided I would revise one of my favorite short stories, “The Yard Sale,” and put it up on Amazon. This was my way of getting my feet wet. I was terrified of trying a book but I knew I could handle a short story.

Ben put in touch with his wife, Patty, who is a cover designer. What can I say? The rest is history.  I put “The Yard Sale” up on Amazon the 3^rd weekend in April and overnight it made the Amazon Top 100 Best Seller list in Comedy and Short Stories.

I hope to have my second story, “Laid to Rest,” published in June. Writing has never been more fun!

What advice would you give writers today?

It is a great time to be a writer. You have more options than ever. Explore. Rule nothing out. Rejectionis a moot point. Don’t be afraid to write from the heart. Submit to a publisher if you want. Or do it yourself. Oh, one word of advice, if you are signing a contract, pay close attention to your e-royalties on net third party sales. Because with each passing day, that is where the money is.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I’m a little of both. I have to have a general idea and outline.  Then, when I write, that outline will change. But I like to have a direction when I start to write.


In closing, list your five favs:

Fruit:  Pineapple
Season: Autumn
Holiday: Christmas
2012 Summer movie: The Dark Knight Rises
Best new TV series: Hell on Wheels

And where can readers find you online?

My webpage: www.patriciaannpreston.com

Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/pat_preston

Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/ugF43b

Check out “The Yard Sale” at http://amzn.to/Jmog8Z

It’s a humorous 8500 word short story for 99 cents! 

Thanks, Patricia! It's fun being part of your blog tour and the best of luck with all your writing!

* NOTE: I'm still on my Blog Break and my writing is going well. This interview was scheduled for an automatic post. Thanks to everyone who stops by to read and comment!

* Welcome to my two newest followers, Super Earthling and CF Legette 
I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you! *

* We Have SEVERAL Winners! *

The Winner of Lynn Goodwin's You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers is.....Patricia Preston! Congratulations, Patricia! Since I already have your mailing address, (snail-mail notes!) is that where you'd like the book to be sent? Thanks again to everyone who left comments and/or questions for Lynn. And, of course, another big Thank You to Lynn!

I would have to say that I'M the winner concerning these three pictures. I took them recently when Vern and I were outside enjoying our glorious weather.Vern is keeping a lookout for the bunnies that live and/or hide under our deck! I took my tablet, pen, and cup of coffee out there and did quite a bit of writing. The warmth and beauty brought forth inspiration!

 
And who is the other winner?? It's Jessie Humphries because she is my 300th Follower!

Jessie left the cutest comment here: http://beckypovich.blogspot.com/2012/03/lynn-goodwin-part-2_27.html. I sent my 100th and 200th follower a gift of some kind. (Sorry, nothing from Van Cleef & Arpels!)   ~~ Speaking of that....see the quote below!

But, Jessie if you will send me your mailing address, I'll send a small token of my appreciation! * Thank you very much and I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see. *


"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck." -- Emma Goldman

Thanking Others For Their Kindness

Blogger Joyce Lansky wrote a nice review about the book she won from me: "Gone With a Handsomer Man" by Michael Lee West. You can read it here: Book Review. Thank you, Joyce! That was very kind of you.

Another Blogger friend, Patricia Preston replied to one of my comments and mentioned she was drinking her iced tea from a pretty goblet, as a little treat for herself that day. I thought that sounded wonderful and so I'm doing the same thing tonight! Thanks, Patricia! I'm using the goblet I recently took photos of, with shadows and light. I may have shown them before, too. I bought them at Goodwill a few months ago, grabbing every single one they had, (nine) in the same pattern, of course! They were only 50¢ a piece!

The newest Searchlights & Signal Flares is online at Tiny Lights. I've mentioned this wonderful site before. The editor, Susan Bono, is a very talented writer, teacher, editor and just plain great friend! Please check out this site. It's your chance to be published online, no fees, no fuss! (and yes, No Payment, but I believe that when you're a new writer, or even an experienced one, having something published and getting your name "out there" is sometimes a very good thing, even if once in a while you don't receive a payment for it.) Susan's printed and online journal is a class act. Check out all the details there. Susan is also presently looking for stories for her quarterly Flash in the Pan, 500 words or less. Check that out, too!

Oh! One more thing.You know how I've been searching for a quiet, out of the way place, for a personal writer's retreat?? A fabulous, very generous relative is permitting me to stay in her condo at no charge, although I offered approximately four times, to pay her something for it! Isn't that wonderful? I'm not going to divulge any other info. Just know that I'll be writing, writing, writing...and hopefully come back home with a much-closer-to-being-completed-book!

"Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, "She doesn't have what it takes." They will say, "Women don't have what it takes." -- Clare Boothe Luce