This and That

Other than the in-person sales last Sunday at the SC Book Festival, I've had nothing else.

I've had two comments on my new product posting. Remember to leave a comment about how much you think I should price the kindle/nook covers. I'll reveal all the comments on Wednesday when I announce the winner of the kindle/nook cover.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day so there will be a brief posting for that. I will have a special announcement on the 31st for a giveaway extravaganza - stay tuned - E :)

New Product

While at the SC Book Festival this past weekend, an idea for something new came about due to having my sample pieces for the colors for my afghans. Someone asked what they were, "kindle covers?" and I wasn't really thinking Saturday or Sunday due to other things on my mind. While working Monday after trying to recoup from the weekend, I started thinking about the kindle cover comment. I looked up some patterns for crocheted kindle cases or covers and wasn't really liking any that I found. Since I've been using this alternating V-shell stitch for my afghans, and really liking that pattern due to its simplicity and quickness, I decided to make my own pattern using what I was currently working with. The result is a rather quick kindle or nook cover. Using the same colors as what I was going to make my afghans up, I made several. I've not sewn the Aspen one together so don't have a picture of it. I'm totally out of Monet yarn but as soon as I get some of that color, I'll make up a couple and go from there. The only thing missing from the completed ones is the button.

Colors available right now are the Marrakesh, Melonberry, Woodsy, Aspen, and one of the Bonbon Print (that was the last part of a skein that my daughter had on hand and it worked out to be enough to make one case), Primary and Old Glory (red/white/blue varigated).

My problem is not knowing how much to sell them for. So dear readers, how much would you pay for these carrying cases for your Kindle 3 or Nook (don't know which generation it is but it is basically the same size as the Kindle 3)? Leave a comment with how much you would pay and I'll do a random drawing next Wednesday from all the commenters to win a case in your choice of colors. The majority will determine the price at which I will sell these. I'm leaning somewhere between $7.50 and $10.00, and if you would pay more, great but really I'll go by the majority of comments for same price. I won't publish the comments until Wednesday afternoon so as not to sway anyone's opinion.

Price comments will be taken today, Thursday, May 24, through Tuesday, May 29, 11:59 PM. Don't forget to leave your comment on this posting and be entered to win a carrying case for your kindle or nook.

Here are the colors completed without the buttons.

Marrakesh - this was my first one and I've adjusted the flap a bit since making this one. I started doing a shorter flap and liked it better so ripped out 3 rows on this one but didn't take more pictures of it - the shorter flap works great, now to just find the buttons to add

Marrakesh with the flap opened and my kindle showing so you can see how it sits inside.

Each case has a decent length of chain stitches to make a carrying strap. If you don't want to use the strap, it tucks right inside the case without a problem.

Bonbon print (this is the only one of this color since I am out of yarn, so until I can replace yarn, once this one sells, there won't be any more of this color for a while)

Bonbon print

Woodsy

Woodsy #2


I the melonberry completed and one aspen completed but haven't taken pictures of the Aspen one yet; I've not yet done the primary or Old Glory ones, but you can see all the sample colors on my website under the gifts tab. They are all the same as the bookworms and afghans. For now, I'll complete the afghans started (primary and melonberry) and then will work on adding more afghans later towards the fall events.

Remember to leave a comment and tell me what you would pay for these crocheted kindle or nook cases. Comments are moderated and will not show up until Wednesday when the poll ends and the majority price wins out. Leave your comment and be entered in the drawing to win one of these kindle cases. See you all in the postings - E :)

Guest Faye M. Tollison

Today, my guest is Faye Tollison, author of To Tell the Truth, which I reviewed here. I originally met Faye through either the Sisters in Crime group or the SC Writers Workshop group, so we have a personal relationship. We have even done one event together since she published her book. I recently caught up with Faye to ask her a few questions. So without further ado, here is what she had to say. And I would like to thank Faye for taking the time to answer my questions and for being a guest on my blog.


FT: Thank you for having me, Elysabeth.

EE: Faye, tell us a little bit about yourself. Your likes, dislikes, what you like to do for fun (basically anything you would like readers to know about you)

FT: I love movies. I find a good movie very relaxing. And I love to read. Of course, it has to be a good mystery or suspense. But writing is my passion. LOL, the thing I hate the most is going to the dentist. I do it, but I really have to make myself.

EE: How long have you been writing? When did you first know or think you wanted to be a writer and possibly make a career out of writing? What kinds of things do you generally write? What have you read that has inspired the way you write (in other words, which writers have inspired your writing style or the genre you write in)?

FT: I've been writing since I was a teenager, but I didn't get serious about it until my kids were about grown. Then I got serious enough to join a writer's critique group, the South Carolina Writer's Workshop. I worked hard at developing my writing skills. I'm not sure just when I started my first book, but then I put it away and didn't do anything else with it until I had to quit work. A friend of mine brought it to my attention that it was a good time to get serious about my book and finish it. So I did and published it. I've read mysteries every since I can remember. I've always loved them. I think Agatha Christie had a great influence on my interest in the mystery genre, but M.C. Beaton made me realize how important a good character is to a book. She is the writer I admire the most.

EE: How long have you been a member of Sisters in Crime? As a member of Sisters in Crime, what do you feel the benefits have been over the years?

FT: Gosh, I can't remember exactly what year it was I joined Sisters In Crime, but it's been several years. This group has been great for my writing because of the types of speakers they have. The speakers are always informative, and I come away from the meetings with information I wouldn't have gotten on my own. Plus just being around other writers is inspirational. You learn so much from fellow writers and get such great inspiration from them. S.C. has so many good writers, and I feel privileged to be a part of them.

EE: What kinds of things have you been doing to promote your books and trying to gain visibility?

FT: Well, of course, I did a book signing with Fiction Addiction, which was really great. They do a press release for you. Also, I was a guest speaker at the St. James Place Book Club. I have appeared on Your Carolina with Jack Roper and Kimberly Clark. Also, I have created a page for my book on Facebook and have done a lot of promoting through Facebook and through Twitter. I try to stay at it constantly. I also mention my book at every opportunity when out in public. I do my best to help push other writers books on Facebook and Twitter. They will reciprocate and have so that is a good method of promotion. I have given out free books to some people as a promotion tool as well as my business card and bookmarks. Everything like this helps. And I'm constantly on the lookout for opportunities to push my book.

EE: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?

FT: There is no place like home, Elysabeth. If I could, though, I would love to have a mountain home. I love the mountain and would love to live there.

EE: Thanks again, Faye for your time and gracing us with your wonderful insight.

FT: Thank you for having me, Elysabeth. I appreciate the opportunity to be a guest on your blog. I am working hard on my second book, The Bible Murders, so check out my page on Facebook, and join the adventure of John and Anna in this murder mystery. It's the second in my detective series. Also, visit my website.

Faye also has several blogs she keeps up with as well as posting monthly on the Writers on the Move blog.

Author's Bio: Faye Tollison has loved mysteries for as long as she can remember. After 27 years in the medical field, she decided to devote herself to writing her own mystery.

She has written several articles on writing, which were published in The Quill and a short story published in Catfish Stew, an anthology by the South Carolina Writer’s Workshop of which she has been a longstanding member. As a member in her local chapter of the SCWW, she wrote a number of critiques, and they were published in the chapter’s newsletter, Printed Matters.

Faye resides with her three cats in upstate South Carolina and is presently writing her second mystery novel.

Stay tuned next week for a special announcement leading up to a 50-day giveaway celebrating my half century. See you all in the postings - E :)

Ellis Vidler's Unpredictable Muse: That Moment Called Murder

An added bonus - My friend Faye Tollison, whose book I reviewed not too long ago and who will be my guest tomorrow, was featured on another blog yesterday.  Ellis is also a member of the same Sisters in Crime group that Faye and I belong to.  Our small community of women mystery writers promoting women mystery writers - stop over and see what Faye has to say about pacing, especially a murder scene - E :)

Ellis Vidler's Unpredictable Muse: That Moment Called Murder: Buy at Amazon  or Kindle Mystery author Faye Tollison is my guest today. Faye is the author of To Tell the Truth and the soon-to-be-...

Writers On The Move: MId Year Evaluation

Great ideas for taking your writing career to the next level and keep advancing.  Stop over and see what all Terri does for her mid-year evaluation.  E :)

Writers On The Move: MId Year Evaluation: It is almost the middle of 2012 and a time for evaluation of goals, both writing and personal. I do this between mid May and mid June so tha...

Writers On The Move: Dealing with the First Editor

On your way to publication?  Have you had to deal with your first editor yet?  Come see what Shirley has to say about dealing with the first editor - E :)

Writers On The Move: Dealing with the First Editor: One of the biggest deterrents to creative writing is the presence of your internal editor. She—or he—loves to interfere with your thought...

Writers On The Move: How to Select a Writing Journal

Do you journal or just write in notebooks?  Come on over and see what the general consensus is about pretty journals and spiral bound notebooks.  E :)

Writers On The Move: How to Select a Writing Journal:  A friend of mine was shopping for a journal. She was debating whether to purchase a school themed notebook or a pretty journal.  ...

PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER: Random Act Of Kindness - Elysabeth Eldering

Here is Susanne's feature blog about me.  I can't thank her enough for her kind words as well as all the folks who stopped by and left messages.  Susanne, I hope you know that I will reciprocate your kindness by featuring you when you are ready and reviewing your books when you have them published.  E :)

PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER: Random Act Of Kindness - Elysabeth Eldering: Elysabeth Eldering is one of two people that I chose to honor for the Random Act Of Kindness BLITZ!  If you didn't get a chance to see the ...

Guest Carol Baldwin

Today's guest is Carol Baldwin, author of "Teaching the Story." Carol is currently working on her first fiction piece, an historical YA novel, Half-Truths. I can't remember my first contact with Carol, whether it was by her blog which was kind of by accident and then in person or if it was in person and then I found her blog, but I've had the opportunity to take a workshop that was presented by Carol as well as attend an SCBWI conference with Carol. Carol also has a newsletter that she co-writes with Joyce Hostetter, which goes out quarterly. I enjoy reading the newsletter even though most of them are geared toward teachers. Carol wears many hats and I've asked her to write an article on "juggling" and balancing everything.

Juggling the Writer’s Life
by Carol Baldwin

When I worked on my high school newspaper and literary magazine, I didn’t realize that I should learn juggling skills along with reporting and creative writing.

But as I research and write my first young adult novel, teach an adult education writing class at Central Piedmont Community College, co-publish Talking Story (a digital newsletter), blog, write occasional pieces for the SCBWI Bulletin and Pen & Palette, coordinate a critique group and a tutoring program, help friends with their manuscripts, judge stories for the Center for Writing Excellence, PLUS maintain connections with my children, grandchildren, and friends, juggling would have been a good skill to have in my back pocket.

Although my inferior hand-eye coordination rules out juggling, I use several principles to keep up with these tasks.

Time management

I am the freshest in the morning, so I allocate that time for working on Half-Truths, my novel. After answering email and doing a quick Facebook check, I quit Outlook and Facebook and try to devote two-to-three hours to writing. My goal is not to interrupt this time; if the phone rings I check caller ID before answering it.

If I need to check on a fact, I try to wait until after lunch or in the evening to call or email. Once my email program is opened; it is almost impossible not to read and respond to incoming mail.

On a good day, I will conclude my productive writing session by printing out the pages I have written and read them at lunch. Afternoons are devoted to a combination of housework, yard work, and exercise.

Since I work part-time at my husband’s dental office and take my elderly mother to her doctors’ appointments, I don’t always follow the same schedule. But I have found that some writing-related projects can fit around other commitments. For example, I worked on this post while waiting at the doctor’s office with my mother.

During the evenings I read my friends’ works, blog, judge stories, work on Talking Story, add links to my class wiki, or read. I watch little TV, but I visit Facebook for relaxation or networking—but keep that to a minimum too.

In other words, I have found it important to prioritize, focus and set boundaries.

Prioritize, Focus, and Set Boundaries

I love to write, but on any given day I am faced with choices of how I will spend my time. I decide what is most important in terms of deadlines, goals, and my family. If my grandchildren are in town, they take priority. If I have the day to myself, my novel usually wins.

I have to work at staying focused and setting boundaries. Co-producing Talking Story with Joyce Hostetter has reinforced these strategies. Joyce and I use an online site, where we share information about upcoming issues. Not only does that prevent losing information in our inboxes, but it also establishes boundaries in our working relationship.

Sometimes, my writing projects overlap. Recently I was researching out-of-the-way museums for the May issue of Talking Story. In the process, I found an historical society which may be a great resource for Half-Truths. If I blog about tutoring or a writing event, then my time has served double-duty. When I teach a class, I use handouts from my book, Teaching the Story: Fiction Writing in Grades 4-8.

At the same time that I juggle different projects, I also work at not allowing writing to become an idol and taking over my life. There are times that I say “no” to writing and “yes” to the Lord, family or friends. As a Christian, I am learning to honor the Sabbath Day and keeping it totally writing free. These boundaries are as important as setting aside writing time.

We each have 24 hours to work with. It’s how we juggle our time that matters.

(photo courtesy of Jean Hall)

Carol Baldwin’s most recent book is Teaching the Story: Fiction Writing in Grades 4-8 (Maupin House, 2008). She has coordinated a SCBWI critique group for over 15 years, blogs here and is writing her first young adult novel. The three Gs in her life are gardening, grandchildren, and learning how to golf.

This and That

This week's posting will be short and sweet.

Overall sales from KDP (Kindle) 0; in person sales 1 (see SC Book Festival Day #2 Posting); total Nook 0; total smashwords sales 0.

Tomorrow, my guest will Carol Baldwin and Wednesday my guest is Faye Tollison. Not much else to report this weekend. See you all in the postings - E ;)

SC Book Festival Day #2

Ann Eisenstein joined our group today. It was nice having someone I know to talk to. She kept me on my feet that is for sure.

The festival was only 12 to 4 today, so a short day. Sarah sold a few books (again, don't know her numbers since she left in such a hurry and didn't even help break down the booth completely). Ann sold either 3 or 4 books (she believes she sold 3, I think she sold 4, but she had to leave to go take care of an Alzheimer's patient and didn't do inventory before leaving).

I sold a bookworm to the guy next to me before the crowds graced our hall today and then had a lady who bought 30 bookworms all at once for a baby shower in July that is "book" themed and she said they would make perfect gifts. I sold 3 more after that for a total of 34 today and 25 yesterday for a grand total of 59 bookworms sold over the weekend. I also sold a copy of State of Wilderness today so yay!!!, someone will be reading one of my state books.

Totally exhausted when I got home but I survived. - See you all in the postings - E :)

SC Book Festival Day #1

The book festival's doors opened at 10 a.m. For a good bit there was a steady stream of folks walking the vendor hall and looking. I saw a lot of familiar faces and even made a connection I was hoping to make this weekend (a little later than I had hoped to do so, but I'm glad she showed up when she did). Sarah says she sold 11 books today, but it seemed she sold more but who knows. I sold two copies of Sybil Nelson's Priscilla the Great and nothing else bookwise. No state stories; none of Finally Home and none of the Leslie Dubois books or Little Prince Publishing books that were available (Sybil = Leslie = Little Prince Publishing who actually publishes a couple of different authors besides Sybil/Leslie).

Now don't feel too bad for me with no book sales. I did sell 25 of my bookworms. Not enough to cover a lot of expenses on the trip but enough to get me dinner and gas in the van and some water and/or a couple of candy bars.

Overall I think it was a good day. --- See you all in the postings - E :)

SC Book Festival Bound

Today, I head out to set up the SC Author Connection exhibit at the SC Book Festival. If you happen to be in the area and are looking for something to do, we would love for you to stop by booth 521 and visit with 2 of the 4 group's authors (Sarah Renee and myself). The SC Book Festival is in its 16th year and the lineup of presenting authors and exhibits looks great. For more information, check out their website. Did I mention this is a free event to the public? Hours are Saturday 10 to 5 and Sunday 12 to 4 - see you all in the postings - E :)