Business and Politics Don't Mix

Time for our monthly IWSG meeting!

Here's my advice: Keep politics out of it and we'll all be happier!

When anyone brings up politics, half the nation is with them, and the other half is against them. It's just not good for business. I don't want to know who a company supports because I want to base my purchases on what I like, not how they vote. We should all VOTE, give our support, and get on with our lives, accepting the outcome either way. I have lots of friends on both sides and I like them for who they are.

I also keep politics out of my writing. Even when writing about politicians, I don't say which party they're in and give them qualities from both sides. I don't want debates about politics to taint my adventures. Just have fun reading the story!

Next topic: MASKS!

To re-open, we need to wear them. I have mixed feelings, but as a teacher, I want to get back to school and help the kids in person (I think the majority can agree that online was not good for most kids and teachers and parents!) That said, I made a Lazy Housewife video for DIY cheap and easy masks.

If you're looking for a fun apocalyptic action/adventure with some romance, I'm publishing a weekly Short Story Series: THE DAY DAVE BROKE THE INTERNET. With school starting, I'll be posting new episodes weekly through Thanksgiving.

Dave didn't know he was lonely until his friends pointed it out. But when he gives in and tries an online dating site, something catastrophic happens - talk about a bad omen.

(Previous episodes)

And lastly, I invite you to enter my Summer Book Bday Giveaway!

As a teacher, I publish most of my books in the summer and I want to share my celebration with you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have a wonderful August

Hope this cursed year isn't taking too much of a toll on you!

Stay safe & healthy!

7 Ways for #Writers to Get Noticed

Hope everyone is well!
If you're cooped up, it's a great time to write, right?


Last week, I talked about the lonely, secluded life of a writer. This week, I'm telling you to face your fears and get out there and show the world your stuff! If you want your stories to be read, you're going to have to take some risks.

7 Ways for Writers to Get Noticed...

1. Make Connections - whether virtually or face-to-face, you have to say something if you want to get noticed. Go to a conference and meet other writers and readers. Comment on tweets, follow folks who say stuff you can relate to. See what you have in common and be open to what you don't. You never know who you'll meet!
2. Come up with a Gimmick - Some people have natural charisma or charm, others have to create something that draws people to them. It doesn't have to be something dumb or fake--it should represent you and your books. Like that guy on tik tok who rides a unicycle all the time - have you seen the one where he takes down a Star Wars AT-AT Walker? It's great! I haven't found mine yet, but I keep trying...
3. Give Stuff Away - Raffles, Giveaways, Sales, Prizes, Contests... People like free stuff and some of them will notice you when they enter for free stuff.
4. Post Pithy Prose on the Socials - There are a few twitter peeps I love reading. Some of them come up with great quotes or funny pics or thought-provoking questions. They have tons of followers. That's the way to do it! Unfortunately, I usually come up with my funny stuff while I'm at school away from my phone... (sure, that's it)
5. Try New Avenues - Find your readers. Where do they hang out? IRL and online. Create videos, pin stuff, make stuff and post pics of your success and/or failure. The more you do, the better.
6. Give and you will Receive - Guest posts, interviews, reviews, a street team. All great ways you can help other writers and they will help you in return!
7. Don't be afraid to look Silly! In fact, the sillier the better! But it has to be authentic. Sing, dance, recite, dress up, act something out. As long as nobody gets hurt, go nuts.

Even if you only get noticed by a few dozen people, that's a dozen more than knew you before. Maybe they'll pass along the great story about you to others. You never know... If you don't try, you'll never be noticed. Keep at it!

Speaking of getting noticed, I'm almost done with my Taking Back Beast World campaign. It's going pretty well! I've seen interest, made new connections, and republished. Always more to do, but very happy with how it's going. (Still making my rounds to commenters on my guest posts--a good problem to have!)

Today, I'm guest posting at Juneta's wonderful Writer's Gambit blog talking about self-publishing joys and woes, plus a surprise. And my buddy Christine Rains is giving me a super duper review shout out. Hope you can stop by!

And need some hand sanitizer? I'm doing my part with FREE E-books this week, plus Discounted paper books with a free hand sanitizer with each order! Here's the FORM

What advice do you have for getting noticed?

Ever meet someone who turned out to be a great contact?

Happy Writing!

and Wash your hands =)

What's Advertising??

Sorry for the late IWSG post--I'm in the process of moving and still don't have internet hooked up, ugh! But I think you'll find this post was worth it...

Advertising: It's torture! It's annoying to watch and painful to produce. But some special ads are fun to watch and/or memorable--the unicorns: Mayhem, "Where's the Beef?" "Tastes Great. Less Filling" "I'd like to buy the world a Coke" and jingles that get stuck in your head. Advertising is the best way to sell things, and it's the basis of how entertainment is paid for--including books!

For an author, advertising can be a daunting task. Many of us don't know where to begin. So I've compiled a list of Advertising Tips from a few experienced professionals (see links below). We can use these techniques to reach the right audience and sell books.

Tips for Effective Advertising:

1. Know Your Audience - This is on every list--must be important! You may think you know your audience, but here are some ways to REALLY know you know them.
• Research - what other books does your audience read? which book could you say "If you like ____, you'll love my book!"
• Make your book appealing - Can you say your book is a mashup of which two popular books/movies?
• Optimize for searches - choose great key words that will make your book appear before your readers on Google!
• Get personal - share, relate, be accessible, answer questions
2. Be Creative - Authors know all about being creative. Yes, you do. You have created worlds, in-depth personalities, and complex plots. Don't sell yourself short. Now use your creativity in a different way--Author hisses as she steps out into sun to peddle books...
• Have a Hook! Condense your book into one tantalizing sentence, no details, just a twisty, tasty tease!
• Stand out - What makes your book different than the rest of the books on the same shelf??
• Inspire action - Once you read the first chapter, you won't be able to put it down!
• Your ads need to be Memorable, Short, Relevant
3. More Intense Targeting - repeat customers and fans are the goal... 
• These key points are from World Stream
• Behavior and interest targeting: These are the people interested in your stuff.
• Remarketing: These are the people who have recently checked our your stuff.
• Demographic targeting: These are the people who can afford to buy your stuff.
• Geo-fencing targets more specifically by location (Blue Fountain Media) 
4. Visual Stimulation - still or video, an ad has to be eye-catching
• Image association/Branding - your images must convey the mood of your book and possibly go deeper to show your "brand"
• Great graphics - you get what you pay for - don't be just another pic that gets passed by
• Videos need to portray message with or without sound - many people watch videos without turning on the volume (I am one) Talk about "Show Don't Tell!"
5. Variety of Media - social is the way to go, but be smart and spend wisely. Here's some advice on who, how, and why or why not...
• Facebook - good for small business, but some say not. Personally, I've tried these and they give feedback. Not sure if it helps, but I think exposure is helpful.
• Twitter - better to tweet with key words tailored to your audience than tweet "engagements"
• More--Medium, Hacker News, Reddit, Digg, Linked In--some I know, some I don't, but I'm going to look into these further
• Test your ads - ask friends, relatives, blog/newsletter readers, etc for their first impressions of your ad
6. Have a Consistent Message - Know what you want to say. What's your theme?
• Why should people read your book?
• Testimonials of reviewers and readers work

So, when you're ready to publish, keep these tips in mind for ways to advertise your book. And keep writing--once you hook readers, they will want more!

Source articles: Blue Fountain Media, Target Public, All Business, World Stream, Entrepreneur

With my moving still in progress, I may or may not get another post out this month... Hope all is well with you and yours this holiday season--peace and love to you!

Try Something New - #Writers do more than write

I write adventure stories. I like action, suspense, and surprises. I encourage people to go out and do, to make life an adventure!

I also say: "the way to get noticed is to put yourself out there," which I know most of us hate doing.

So here's my advice, Take Baby Steps.
Trying new things might seem intimidating. So dip your toes in and test the water to see if you like it. Then, gradually go deeper... Or dive right in and make a splash. It's up to you!

Here's a list of things I encourage writers to try with small starts:

• Make a Video - Don't worry. You don't have to be a star or an actress.
• Starting Small - a slide show is easy to convert to a video. Experiment with easy, free movie making apps with captions and transitions, free/royalty free images and music. Before you know it, you have a book trailer! You might enjoy it and move on to bigger things...
• Film yourself reading an excerpt (TIP: be aware of your background!)
• Do a book review for a friend
• Make a scripted advice video
• More things to try: a Podcast or Vlog
• Self Publishing - This takes a lot of work and money, but if done right can be very profitable.
• Starting Small - there are many free publishing venues to try. Short stories and novellas are a great place to start with trying out the process. Two things you should splurge on: Cover and Editing (unless you are friends with an editor and you can trade services) Once you've experimented with a small publication, you can...
• Try a novel!
• Collaborate on an Anthology
• Compile some short stories
• Book Events - I always encourage authors to get out and represent your books.
• Starting Small - First, attend an event as a reader and see what it's all about, get ideas, meet authors, and get advice--build up confidence. Then try local libraries, bookstores, and free book fairs. Work your way up to...
• Bigger Book Festivals
• Book Conferences
• Vendor Events
• Conventions
• You'll be talking on an author panel before you know it!

So get out there and try stuff! Been there, done that? Share some of your advice!

And here's one of my adventurous friends for my Shout Out of the Week!

Patricia Lynne/Patricia Josephine

Patricia is a Michigander and transplant Yooper––that means she can hold her hands up and point to where she lives in the upper peninsula of Michigan. She's always been creative--starting with wanting to be a dancer, then an artist, and also a musician, in band all through school.

While at Grand Valley State College, she found out being an Art major wasn't for her, but she did learn a ton in her classes and met her hubby in an anime chat room, DragonBall Z. PS, she's a big anime geek.

She loves to cook, makes jewelry and knits--she even sold her wares at local craft shows. And add decorating to her list of talents. But once she tried writing a story she'd been daydreaming about, she never looked back. She even ventured into self-publishing. This woman isn't afraid to try new things!

You can find links to Patricia's books here.

And connect with her...

AND HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

8 Ways to Get Kids to Read Your Book

I can't say I'm an expert on selling kids' books, but I do know kids. As a teacher and parent, I've spent a great deal of time with crazy daisies and funny bunnies! I know what they like and what they dislike (probably wouldn't like that I call them crazy daisies and funny bunnies!). No matter the fad of the week or the generation, kids are kids are kids. They love to crow and grow and go.

As an author of MG and YA, kids reading my books is what keeps me going. The feedback I get from my young readers is heartwarming and inspirational. The trouble is, how to get books into those little hands! So here's some advice that works...

How to Get Kids to Read Your Book:

1. Set up a School Visit - You have to go where kids are. Contact schools and offer a presentation or lesson. Schools are the number one promoters of reading. Go motivate those students! If they like you, they'll want your book.
2. Do a Library Visit or Reading - Many libraries are happy to host an author. Donate copies of your book. The more visibility you get, the more folks will want to spread the word to read your stuff!
3. Coordinate a Bookstore Signing with your visits! - Now that you have their interest, tie these visits together with a book signing. The hard part is hoping the kids will remember and persuade their parents to bring them to the signing.
4. Sign up for a Presentation at a Children’s Book Fair - Many book fairs have a special day or section set up just for kids' presentations and activities. I've done many of these and always sell books from them (suggestions for presentations will be another post coming soon!) 
5. Be part of a Family-Friendly Vending Event - And have some candy or fun giveaways to attract kids that go with your book, like these fun hand sanitizers:
   
6. Host a Signing Party - I try to have my release parties at fun places kids will be: like at an ice cream shop or a kids' boutique. I'm thinking of hosting my next party at a pizza parlor.
7. Write an MG SERIES - One book is good, but a series will give kids an easy go to for their next read! A series is a great way to keep your name in the front of readers' minds as they look forward to more from you.
8. Be Funny! - If you can make a kid laugh, you'll capture their heart. They'll see you in a new light. Laughter is a connection. When you make someone laugh, it shows you get them--you know what they like, how they think. And if you can do that, they'll want to laugh some more and read your books!

Bonus - Get to know Children’s Book Reviewers. Reviews are important parts of the publishing and marketing process. Lots of lists are out there, and though many of the book bloggers have extensive reading lists, keep trying!

If you’re lucky, you’ll get an awesome video review like this one from my SHOUT OUT OF THE WEEK:

TONJA DRECKER!

Tonja is AWESOME, isn't she? She's also brilliant! She spent some time in Europe not only devouring chocolate, cheese and wine, but also worked as a freelance translator and a summary writer for a German television station. How lucky am I that she was able to help me translate some German phrases in my latest Beast World novel, WINDY HOLLOW?? She's amazing!

Currently, Tonja resides somewhere in the back woods of the Ozarks and writes away while tending to chickens, cows and her family of six. Her stories have been published in several collections and magazines. A GLOWWORM was published by Black and White Publishing Company (2017). She's an avid book reader, professional children's book reviewer, outdoor addict and always in search of a new adventure (based in reality, the imagination, or otherwise).

But the best part - I happened to catch her right as she's about to be published! Her debut novel MUSIC BOXES is a slightly dark middle grade urban fantasy about a girl and her ballet dreams with hints toward Hansel and Gretel (just as dash) as well as Coraline. It's scheduled to be released on February 5th, 2019 with Dancing Lemur Press!

Congratulations, Tonja!


Summer's been a blast (of hot air!) Hope you all are ready for Fall. I sure am!

Beastly News and Video Reviews!!

Another break in the CRADLE ROCK Release Party action!
I have so much to share today!

When you think of bookworms, you probably think of shy, little, glasses-wearing, cuteness like this:

Well, Tonja Drecker with her Kidbits bookworm is now beasting up, creating video reviews! I was lucky enough that she had time to review CRADLE ROCK, and she did a fabulous job! Check it out!!

Talk about stepping out of the library and jumping off the page! She's awesome!!
NOTE: the perfect gift you can give a published writer is a REVIEW!

Now, check out these awesome HoPs and Giveaways!

• Sheena Kay is hosting a Thank You Giveaway, continuing through January 6! She's appreciating her friends, old and new, by giving away a free book of your choosing. Stop by and join the fun!
• Chrys Fey is hosting the I Survived Blog Hop January 20 to go with her series TSUNAMI CRIMES which will be on sale!
• Finally, Patricia Lynne has all sorts of goodies! 
• She's part of a reader/author blog hop hosted by her blog group, Story Dam called New Year, New Reads - This is a fun and useful blog hop for authors to promote their books and offer them on sale for 99cents AND for readers to use their shiny new gift cards from Christmas on these good deals. On New Year's Day - January 1!
• PLUS she's releasing an extraordinary new book with this alluring cover!

ABDUCTED LIFE

by Patricia Josephine

Savannah Janowitz’s perfect life was destroyed the night she and her boyfriend vanished without a trace. When she reappears a year later––alone––she’s a shell of her former self. Robbed of her popularity and her boyfriend, she has no memory of what happened to her. Savannah struggles to move forward as strange, new abilities manifest.

Evan Sullivan never gave extra-terrestrials much thought until the night he and Savannah were abducted. While Savannah’s memory was wiped clean, he remembers every horrific detail. Constantly reminded of the experiments that made him less than human, Evan hides in the shadows and watches Savannah rebuild her life without him.

But neither can let the other go. When their paths cross, Savannah and Evan finally see a glimmer of their old lives return. As they face what happened to them, they soon discover they aren’t safe. There’s more to fear than what’s hiding in the stars.

Connect with Patricia!

Goodreads -- Website -- Twitter -- Google+ -- youtube

And now, back to our scheduled CRADLE ROCK RELEASE PARTY!!

My two live December events went very well. I appreciate all who turned out!
LESSON LEARNED: With this being my 4th release party, it becomes clearer who the true book reading fans are, not just friends supporting me on a new venture. This revelation helps me understand myself as a writer. Very positive and eye-opening!

We've had a great turnout so far! Thanks for visiting the stops!

Today, and the rest of the month, here's where I'll be...

12/19	Christine Rains	Hiking Faux Pas
12/19	Alex J. Cavanaugh	Beast vs Monster - terminology
12/21	Ann Noser	CR Quotes
12/21	Heather M. Gardner	Discrimination - no joke
1/4	Ken Rahmoeller	Dragons
1/4	L. Diane Wolfe	Marketing Tips - Live & Online
1/9	C Lee McKenzie	Grownup Stereotypes
1/11	M. J. Fifield	Crazy Road Trip
1/25	Crystal Collier	Poetry & Songs in Stories on Writerly Wed

And don't forget to enter the Giveaway!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#marketingstrategy A-L-T-E-R-N-A-T-I-V-E 4

GET CREATIVE - Your Way!

Marketing is a necessary evil. My kids always complain about commercials, but I tell them that's why they get to watch their shows. Nothing is free.

So keep coming up with zany, creative ways to get attention to your books! And keep writing awesome stories to keep them coming back for more once they're hooked!

I leave you with some of the constructive comments I received from this month of marketing tips...

"Julie Kagawa's website because it is sectioned off with images to click where you are taken to each of her book series. I read Talon but I got curious enough to buy two books from another series." from Sheena Kay Graham

There were several on video marketing...

"Maybe I'll have to do one with my kid in it. He's much more of a ham than I am." from Christine Rains

"I'm sometimes tempted to create animated ones to promote my comics." from Heather Holden

"I think I need to hire an actor!" from Yolanda Renee

"Maybe, I should just tape my dog?" from Tyrean Martinson

And a couple on school visits...

"I've done school visits through email." from Alex J. Cavanaugh

"I always enjoy school visits. They are a way to really connect with your readers." from C. Lee McKenzie

Thanks again for your valuable time! Have a great week!

** aLtErNaTiVe #marketingstrategy 2 **

Make a Video (besides a book trailer)

This generation loves videos. Well, videos and movies originate from WRITERS! We need to remind folks that reading is a great alternative to watching mindless shows sometimes - they need to exercise their brains with some reading!

And maybe watching a video can bring attention to our books. To show you how easy it is, I put together a video with some advice on how to make one!

One thing I forgot to mention, solicit help from friends - you are not alone!

I hope you enjoyed my amateur marketing video advice and maybe it was helpful! Thanks to all my volunteers - they're awesome! And there's more to come...

Thanks also to those who have volunteered to help with my Cover Reveal and Release of CRADLE ROCK - Again, here's the FORM if you're interested. I'll be contacting everyone soon about the COVER REVEAL on SEPT 1!

Have a great MONDAY! And wish us luck - it's our first day back to school =)

How to manage your time - 5 easy steps! #MotivationMonday

Typical summer - There's so much I need/want to do, when I find spurts of free time, I get overwhelmed and end up squandering it, frittering it away with meaningless nonsense. I really need to have a go-to list for that precious time that slips away faster and faster these days. So here's what I'm gonna do...

1. Prioritize - I know what I need to do, but what needs done soonest? I also need a long list and a short list => How much time is each item going to take? I hate to get going on something only to leave it half done!
2. Get off the internet - we are addicted, admit it!! Admitting we have a problem is the beginning of the solution. Set a time limit, use the timer on your phone! SELF-DISCIPLINE! DO IT!
3. Just say NO - can you add another scrumptuous helping to your already overflowing plate of food you know you aren't going to finish? Stop it! It's okay to say no. But if you really need to say yes, SEE STEP ONE! Add it to the queue (love that word!)
4. Just do it - yes, I'm stealing some catch phrases, but they work and will help us remember. So stop hassling me about it and get back to your list!
5. Make sure relaxation is part of the plan - being productive can only happen if the mind is healthy and rested - a burned out brain is not a functional brain, hence the term brain dead. Don't let your brain die (and playing on your phone is not relaxation, it actually ADDS stress to your life - it's a fact, go look it up, UNPLUG!)

So that's my bit of advice for today. Now for the news...

THE THING THAT TURNED ME

comes out THIS Thursday, June 30! Yay!!

Prompted by the lovely producers of this conquest, Randi Lee and Imani Antoinette, I put together a youtube promo (btw, if any co-authors would like me to edit theirs similarly, let me know taratylertalks at the gmail email)

I'm also considering participation in these upcoming events:

The Write. Edit. Publish. challenge...

with your hostesses:

Denise Covey & Yolanda Renée

The Storytime Blog Hop - for stretching your writerly wings in speculative fiction!

NEXT HOP JULY 27, 2016.

This is the 3rd StoryTime Blog Hop of 2016

Juneta Key has more info on her website side-bar, feel free to contact her if you're interested

What are you trying to accomplish this summer?

Happy Monday, y'all!

Time keeps on slipping...

A faceless woman
made of sand

walks along
an endless beach

Always ahead of me
leaving me behind
ever in my sight

I jog to catch up
I reach for her
I want to slow her down

Her hand disintegrates
in mine
and she keeps walking
at that same
steady
pace
not too slow
not too fast


May was the season for graduations. Seeing so many around me grow up and move on, I've been reminiscing about when they were little, running around on firefly-filled summer nights with flashlights playing Ghost in the Graveyard while we parents had a grand old time not having to pay attention to them... Good times.

I just took my big boys on a college visit. I only have them for one and two more years. It's hard to fathom. I don't feel any older, mentally. But I sure feel it when I wake up in the morning with my shoulder out of whack or my hand goes numb from blow-drying my hair. Does anyone else groan every time they get up out of a comfy chair?

Soon I'll be fifty years old... ah!

Which brings me to my Insecure Writer's Support Group post - If I ever lose my mind, I'd want to be put out of my ignorant misery. (You know what I mean, I'm already crazy!)

Today I'm not complaining. With summer here, I have many more opportunities to write and have written more this past week than the past two months, though I have been busy like a bee in a botanical garden. And I have so much waiting to be written, so many ideas and new ones all the time. I know there are many of you out there like me with lots of stories to write and little time to write them. I also know the slow pace can be a discourager in itself. So this month, this summer, I implore you to keep at it! Let's reach some writing goals - and be proud for any word counts or editing we can get done!

Make it a summer of accomplishments. I'll be checking in!


And NOW THIS!
At the end of the school year, I was so excited that one of my young fans got a group of friends to do their book club project on BROKEN BRANCH FALLS! And for part of their project they made a cute little commercial for it! (I hope it plays!) I was also invited to answer questions with their group - it was awesome! Times like that are what makes it all worth every painstaking moment!

That's what it's all about for me - getting kids excited about reading.

So what will you accomplish this summer? Because you can do it! I know you can!

Monday Already?

I thought making a promotional video would be fun. And I did have a few laughs. But the editing was a big pain! I used several different apps and they all did different things but none of them turned out quite right... so I gave up. Now I'm cranky! I really could use an extra hour.

Oh, right. Stupid daylight savings STOLE my extra hour this morning!

Okay, I've griped enough. I know I can't be the only one struggling with making a promotional video, though I tend to be a perfectionist about publications... There's a ton of brilliant authors joining me for The Thing That Turned Me anthology, and we're all making videos. I'm sure everything will work out...

Now for some great news and views! I saw Annalisa Crawford's new cover and wanted to share it!

In You. I. Us., Annalisa Crawford captures everyday people during poignant defining moments in their lives: An artist puts his heart into his latest sketch, an elderly couple endures scrutiny by a fellow diner, an ex-student attempts to make amends with a girl she bullied at school, a teenager holds vigil at his friend’s hospital bedside, long distance lovers promise complete devotion, a broken-hearted widow stares into the sea from the edge of a cliff where her husband died, a grieving son contacts the only person he can rely on in a moment of crisis, a group of middle-aged friends inspire each other to live remarkable lives.

Day after day, we make the same choices. But after reading You. I. Us., you’ll ask yourself, “What if we didn’t?”

YOU. I. US. will be available June 10, 2016
Add it to your reading list on Goodreads
Annalisa's Website

Congrats, Annalisa!


I hope your Monday is going better than mine!

PS - I'm over at the Really Real Housewives this week, too - today I'm talking about teenagers!

Pop-o-lopogus!

Happy October!
Did I already say that? Well, it's worth repeating. The weather has been gorgeous, the days have been full of events, and the leaves are changing - and don't forget, pumpkin everything!

Today, wonderful friends, I am popping in to do a Halloween Interview with Yolanda for my Pop Travel Blog Tour. She came up with some scary, creepy, disturbing, but fun questions. I also sent her a photo of me way back when I used to make my own costumes. I loved doing that! Now I just wear t-shirts and hand out candy... We need more adult costume parties around here!

Yolanda recently released Memories of Murder... here's all her info:

~Yolanda Renèe ~

Memories of Murder 

Author of Murder, Madness & Love

& Memories of Murder

Blogger at Defending the Pen

Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

By the way, my fun, funny editor at Curiosity Quills has his second book coming out. It has an awesome cover and per his MO, he had to do something wild and crazy to hype the launch. He's so creative! Check out the trailer he tagged on the end of this "Star Wars" casting promo!

And don't forget to enter the "From the Great Beyond" blog hop. Since it looks like we may be short of post entries for all our prizes, we are thinking of broadening this opportunity to commenters on the participating blogs who post and posters will get five entries to each commenter's single.

Will you dress up for Halloween this year? What are your kids going to be, if you have some who trick or treat? And what is your favorite Halloween costume of years past? Go visit Yolanda and see mine =)

Mark Twain say WHAT?

I believe in free speech. Even when I don't like what others may say, as long as it's legal. That is one of the founding principles that makes us a great nation.

Today, it seems like you can't say anything without offending someone. People are way too soft, taking everything personally, getting their wittle feewings hurt (was that insensitive?). I know some people are just mean and want to hurt and that ain't right. But that isn't what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about nit picking and revising to make things sound nicer.
And rewriting history is not going to help.

I call it Extreme Politically Correctness. If you haven't heard, there is a new edition of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn being published with the "N" word being removed, which he used about 200 times. Apparently someone thinks the schools shouldn't expose students to it. "That word doesn't exist, children." Why don't we just remove all the offensive and disgusting things that have happened?

Once again the extremists are leading the apathetic masses. Reality is unpleasant. Life is messy. There is evil in this world!

It is our job to teach children how to deal with it, not sweep it under the rug!
Part of growing up is admitting past mistakes and learning from them - in history and personally. We need to stop trying to make everything nice and pleasant and perfect - LIFE ISN'T PERFECT!

I love Stephen Colbert, I don't always agree with him, but he takes the extremes and shows people how ridiculous they are. Here is Colbert on the revised Huck Finn, the rest of the article is the proponent of the revision.

the Ball Game

My mom and dad came up with a fun way to entertain the kiddies when they were much smaller. Every time we get together, everyone joins in "the ball game."

Now that most of them are older, they still love it. The only rule is No Throwing! And there isn't a winner - you just keep going until too many people drop out. Then you try to make baskets in the bucket putting the balls away. The fun doesn't stop!

Here is a sample from our latest game: ball game video