Tag: twitter

Time for a website-I think

Been doing lots of research into the best way to present myself online and it seems clear I am ready for a website. Cool huh? It’s about time to stop relying on Facebook so much (I’m pretty much over FB anyway.)  My Twitter page is building nicely, and I know if I continue with Facebook it will be my author page only, which I have linked to my other social media.

Here’s my dilemma: I know nothing about setting up a website to give book updates, give readers a place to shop, and getting a mailing list going. How do I get my domain name, what is a reasonable price, and should I hire someone to do this or is it a matter of reading “Setting Up A Website For Dummies” book?

Oh jeez!

I would love to hear how others made it happen successfully. There are so many options that come up in a Google search, but personal experience seems to be easiest for me to find the best workable tips that I can adapt.

So all you writers/authors out there with successful websites I covet your input.

Cheers!

-N

 

I can’t help it and other stuff

So…I have been having a great time with all my new Twitter followers. When I get a new follower I thank them for following with a nickname. The response has been fun, too fun and I can’t help it. There seems to be a bit of a theme with my followers. Wine, books, travel, food, writing – you know the usual suspects. It’s a hoot to connect with humans from other countries.

I have great news to share. I told all of you beautiful readers that my hubby, Chuck, after job hunting for two months got a new job. Well he has officially started at the new place. The man is enjoying learning and meeting his co-workers, figuring out his way around the new place and being part of the workforce again. While he was unemployed he kept himself busy with projects around the house and he has done a lot to perk up the property. He had time to reconnect with Millie who thinks he is her new BFF. Speaking of BFF (he hates when I describe it this way,) he has also reconnected with his buddy Bob. Those two men and their dogs have been hanging out and planning golf outings.

I’m not looking forward to summer in southern Arizona. It is hard for me to handle the heat. A swimming pool will be the first purchase if I win the lottery! Summer here seems to last from April to October. We’ve had 90’s to the end of October. When people say they love the heat but I don’t get it. At least with the cold you can bundle up to stay warm, but you can’t get naked enough to cool off if it is 110. Before you say I don’t know cold, I’ve lived in northern Japan where we averaged 10ft of snow and blizzards off the ocean, and North Dakota where the highs were -18.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

My mom will be celebrating 86 years on the 24th, so here is a shout out to mom, Happy Birthday! 

She is a firecracker of a lady who likes all sports but is a huge football fan, is a notorious name dropper, loves and is inordinately proud of her children, grand children and great grandchildren.

She and my father had their first date July 4th 1950 and got married July 25th 1950 and were married until he passed in 2002.

The rough draft of my second book should be finished this week. Woo hoo. Then the heavy editing and rewriting starts. Anyone out there know a good history reference for Camden, New Jersey?

Cheers!

-N

 

 

 

Self Promotion-how?

As my Twitter, Facebook and blog followers are increasing I am also getting messages about ways to boost visibility for myself, my book and finding more followers. I’m just wondering if any of you have used some of these services? If you have, which ones have you used and what kind of results have you seen?

It seems to be a common practice for writers/bloggers/authors to promote themselves and their work, and self-published/indie authors need promotion to sell pages. As I dive into this process I would love to know your personal experiences.

It was a busy week last week and I was sort of off the blogging radar for a bit. In fact I told hubby last night I was working this morning. This morning I boosted a Facebook post that would send folks to my author page to stir the interest pot a bit. Since I don’t have a huge advertising and marketing budget, this has been a pretty effective way to generate traffic to my page and to the book.

Here at home update: Chuck banged his foot up last night and I’m pretty sure the neighborhood heard it when he slammed his foot into the wall. I was Skyping with my son and daughter-in-law when it happened, having a devil of a time with the sound, and he was coming in to help me.

Fortunately he got a lot of work done last week on the 6ft wood fence for the yard which will keep down the dust and create privacy. He turned the temp down on the spa so as it gets obnoxiously hot here for the next 5-6 months I can dunk myself in it, get wet and stay cool. It’s the only way I can survive.

Now a bit of self promotion. Here is the link I put on Facebook:

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01CXRU1QA

Cheers!

-N

 

What those amazing followers teach me

I’ve been having a great time watching my follower count go up for my blog, my twitter and my Facebook author page. It is a great feeling to think I might have something to say that will connect with another human. I’ve laughed out loud at the posts on Twitter by the vibrant young people out there. I remember that time in my life where everything was exciting and full of adventure.

I was talking with someone about what happens when humans reach a certain age. That certain age can vary depending on the human and their life experience. She had been very sick, spent hours in the ER and came away with a diagnosis that most likely was stress related. Ok, this person does have a lot of stress in her life, but the first thing I thought was she is younger than me, so check mark the age box. She is younger in years I can’t get back, yet I refuse to be one of those old people who always talk about illnesses, aches and pains, prescriptions and doctor appointments.

Yuck!! Double yuck!!

Most young people don’t go there, they don’t have time for it while they live life to the fullest. Sometimes that living gets them in trouble, but they do as Taylor Swift says “shake it off!!” I want to keep that youthful thought in my head so I can avoid the signs of acting my age.

Let’s keep dancing.

Sally Field said she see’s herself as young, no matter her chronological age. I do that too. In my dreams I am young, skinny and adventurous. Even if I am my current age in dreams my actions betray my self perception as a youthful person. I refuse to cut my hair no matter how many times I’m told long hair on older women ages them, because I like my hair like this. My iTunes playlist has a lot of current music. I enjoy listening to and engaging with the young people I encounter.

I think we all have an age that is our best age. Mine is 35. That age to me is still young, very active, super sexy, effortlessly spontaneous and immensely curious.

Tell me what you see when you look at yourself. Do you look through the eye of your mind or do you count the lines that mark your age number? Please share you comments.

Cheers!

-N

Oh man, I like these people

I’m sitting in my writing place. This is it! Dark chocolate and a Napa Cab nearby.writing place

Maybe I should change the blog to vinowithchocolate, but I digress.

My ebook will be available on Amazon in twelve days and I smile whenever I think of it. I can’t wait for the readers to meet Mitch and Amanda.

I’m building followers on my blog, my Facebook author page and Twitter which amazes me. I love followers and I welcome as many as there are out there.

I have started my next book. I had a lot of it roughed out, a lot of research done-love research-and it is well plotted so the writing has started to flow. Flow is the optimal word to describe what is happening. These are really fun people to write for. My heroine is a dream to write dialogue for with her voice in my mind. She is spunky, immature, adventurous, spoiled and sexy. My hero is, well, a hero, you know-tall, dark and handsome-oozing testosterone.

The male voice and perspective is the part where my husband steps up.

I’ve mentioned this before, he is a man’s man and will tell me when I’m writing my male characters too soft or not in a true gender POV.

He’s the first one to go through the story for errors and inconsistency. Like me, he is an avid reader, but not in this genre, so he has fresh eyes.

My stories are historical so the research is paramount to it being valid as not only a romance but in giving the reader a stimulating historical experience. I had someone ask me if I would want to live in the time I am writing and I had to be honest and say-um no. I like central air and heating, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant and feminine hygiene products. But in my study of the times and people there were people who blew my mind.

I have been mulling the idea of a biography of an amazing woman who lived in the late 1800’s. She was who I would have wanted to be had I lived in the time she lived. She watched history be made. We’ll see.

Time to get back to work. I need more iTunes music.

Cheers!

-N

Twitter fun

Happy Monday afternoon. It’s cooled off here, mid 40’s, making me and Millie happy. Something else I’m having fun with is Twitter. It is so much fun to see these little snatches of ideas, personal opinions, dumb thoughts, amazing pics-peoples lives in 100 characters. It’s kinda like getting valentines on Valentines day to know how popular you are. The thrill of seeing followers add up and the downer of losing a follower is pretty addictive. I get the same thrill when I get new blog followers.

I’m at 100+, you like me, you really like me!!

I like twitter, and I am starting to do more Instagram as I learn how it works. Facebook is getting a bit boring. I also have Linkedin and Tumbler accounts but my knowledge of those is basic.

I have been reading a lot the last few days and have gotten some great suggestions for reading material from different genre’s from twitter.

Just what I need, more stuff to read. Just kidding, seriously just kidding.

I have also started following the twitter pages for two new TV programs I’ve really gotten into. The actors are young and beautiful but also have great depth in their acting. “The Expanse” and “The Magicians” have me wrapped up in watching them so I’ve used On Demand to get caught up.

So now I’m waiting for the next episodes. Hate waiting.

I don’t know how people follow so many social media sites. Do you have a preference?

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter-I like yew!

Cheers,

-N