Tag: Blogging
Thanks so much readers. Just in case you come across this blog, do feel free to check everything, but now I’ve moved to a new site:
http://www.authortranslatorolga.com
Come on over! I’m trying to make it very comfy! See you there!
Muchas gracias lectores. Por si acaso llegáis a este blog por casualidad, explorad lo que queráis, pero me he mudado y a partir de ahora mis posts y otras cosas estarán aquí:
http://www.authortranslatorolga.com
¡Venid a visitarme! Estoy decorándolo y haciéndolo acogedor. ¡Allí nos vemos!
Olga
Hi all:
For quite a while I’ve been following Silverthreading blog and wanting to take part in one of the challenges or post shares she engages in. Not being very talented with pictures and managing to never have time for anything (and loving quotes) I thought Writer’s Quote Wednesday might be the right one. As Colleen has been keen on having videos posted, and I just did a post sharing quite a few videos, I thought this one might do.
From Rodgers and Hammerstein‘s musical South Pacific, the song ‘Happy Talk‘.
The quote would be: ‘You got to have a dream, if you don’t have a dream, how are you going to have a dream come true?’
This video has Anita Hall’s original voice rather than the dubbed version in the movie, although it is the scene from the movie.
Have a great and inspiring week.
Thanks to Colleen for this opportunity, thank to you all for reading and watching, and you know, like, share, comment and don’t forget to visit Silverthreading for the roundup next Wednesday!
Hi all:
Today I bring you information about the book launch of Jo Robinson a great author, fantastic blogger, good friend, and a colleague always happy to share her knowledge. We are part of the team at Literary World Interviews and I’m very excited about her new book, as it touches a subject that, being a psychiatrist, I’m fascinated by.
Without any further blah, blah, I leave you with Jo and Echoes of Narcissus in the Garden of Delights.
Donna thought there was something wrong with her. That she was suffering from a mental illness that has caused her husband to despise her, distance himself from her, and cheat on her. She blames herself for the desolate, miserable thing that is her marriage and her life. Then she comes across a book that will change everything for her, and reading it, she discovers that there’s nothing wrong with her mind at all, but that there is something very wrong with her husband instead. Marco, she realises, is a malignant narcissist. A text book case. He has a real and documented mental disorder, and that he’s been controlling, manipulating, and abusing her for decades. The sudden full knowledge of all that he’s purposely done to her enrages her. Not sure how to leave after thirty years of what she finally knows has been intentional mental and emotional abuse from him, and believing that she has nowhere to turn, being so physically isolated, she bides her time.
Then she meets and befriends a group of unusual people who share her passion for gardening, and so begins her journey to escape. She joins her new friends in their project to assist elderly people in old age homes care for their small gardens, as well as secretly supplying those suffering from painful and terminal illnesses with medicinal herb and plant remedies, including illegal plants such as cannabis. As weeks go by, she delves into her memories, relearns what it is to be respected, liked, and loved again, and slowly she formulates a plan to safely leave her dangerous husband. But unbeknownst to Donna, Marco is in serious trouble, and has desperate plans of his own, and absolutely no regard for her safety.
** This is a work of fiction, but malignant narcissists really do exist, and it is a recognised mental illness. Unfortunately, many people never realise that they are involved with a narcissist, because their actions are so demonically bad as to be unimaginable and unbelievable, and so they spend their lives in misery, depression, fear, and isolation. If only by the accidental reading of a fictional story, I hope that this book will help even one person, unknowingly suffering narcissistic abuse, to realise that they don’t have to, and that it’s never too late to start over, be happy, be fulfilled, to love and care for yourself, and be truly loved and respected by others.
Available now from AMAZON
Jo Robinson very recently returned to her homeland, South Africa, after having lived in rural Zimbabwe for eighteen years. Her obsessive affection for the African continent, most humans, and all creatures feathered and furred are what inspire her writing. She is the author of African Me & Satellite TV, the science-fiction/fantasy series Shadow People, and a couple of short stories, which will be free to download from Amazon from 26 to 30 December, Fly Birdie and The Visitation.
To win eBook copies of Shadow People and African Me & Satellite TV, send Jo a message from THIS page.
Amazon
Goodreads
Google+
Facebook
Twitter
Blog
Thanks to Jo for bringing us her new book, thanks to you all for reading, and you know what to do, like, share, comment, and CLICK!
Hi all:
I’ve been talking about books and recommendations for Christmas and intended to carry on giving you suggestions, just in case you’re getting stressed over the task of having to choose something for your loved ones.
A few of my blogger friends are very talented artists and I wanted to invite you to visit their pages for inspiration and just the pure joy of contemplating their creations:
Janet Weight, with her magical hummingbirds and watercolours:
http://www.janetweightreed.co.uk/
Vera Komnig, whose abstract art always manages to bring my spirits up with the colours and textures so vibrant. As she acknowledges that not all of us have huge walls, like in the art galleries, she has created a collection of smaller pieces that I believe would make incredible Christmas presents:
My friend and sister in arms blogger, Sally Cronin, has been posting in her blog Smorgasbord over the last few weeks, a variety of posts with ideas of presents for Christmas and I had to share (as she’s much more thorough than I would manage to be). Don’t miss the art by Sarah Vernon (whose work I love), books, music, suggestions for your author loved ones….
And she keeps updating it, so keep visiting.
Now, due where do is, Seumas Gallacher, master blogger, Scotsman extraordinaire, writer of bone chilling thrillers, and one of the most congenial men in social media, was kind enough to give me this award:
(Psch…: If you want to know a bit more about him, check my previous post)
Among the rules are that it can be given as many times as you want but only to one person at a time. I’ve like to give it to all the readers, and to my fellow bloggers who have become a family to me. As the rules say I can only give it to one at a time, I’ll offer it to the aforementioned Sally Cronin on behalf of the troops.
If you want to know a bit more about her work, you can check my previous post here:
Here are the rules:
- You are welcome to give it out as many times as you like, but it is only to be given to a maximum of one person per blog post. If you wish to give multiple rewards, please space the blog posts so the sincerity is maintained.
- Introduce the person; say how they encourage, help or inspire you; then link to their work and/or social media profiles. There may be a specific post you wish to link to which helped you. It’s up to you.
- Please publicise your award post to Twitter or Google Plus using the hashtag #writtenkindnessso that others can find and follow the award winners.
This award is open to anyone to use. You don’t have to receive it, in order to be able to give it. Once you have received it, it isn’t obligatory that you must pass it on.
Please, everybody, feel free to share and pass around as it is for all of you!
Thanks for reading, and if you have enjoyed it, don’t forget to like, share, comment and of course, CLICK!
Hi all:
As you know on Fridays I bring you guest authors and/or literary novelties. I’ve known Jo Robinson for a while, but recently we’ve been interacting more through her fantastic blog, where she shares everything, from her adventures in health, post offices and moving across countries, to humorous videos, and also the posts of many others. Jo is generous in the extreme and she has helped me meet many other bloggers that might otherwise have passed me by. And she’s a great writer, so I thought she more than deserved a visit to my blog.
Here she is!
I was born in the windy city of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, but consider myself a citizen of the world. I live with my husband Angus, a dog with an odd sense of humour, four birds, and some chickens.
My stories are mostly about people, and the sometimes dark twists that life takes. I also write science fiction / fantasy books. Shadow People is the first in the Lapillus series.
Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/J-C-Robinson/405248799532723
Blog: http://africolonialstories.wordpress.com/
Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Jo-Robinson/e/B009JB6IAW/
The Visitation (Short Story)
Tony had often thought that all of humanity was a blight on the face of this planet. And now he knew that he had been right all along.
http://www.amazon.com/Visitation-Jo-Robinson-ebook/dp/B009DX4JDY/
Fly Birdie (Short Story)
Hannah’s life has given her no reason to be anything but bitter and afraid. She tries to hold on to her sanity as her life spirals further into superstition and dread, until a small averted tragedy leads to the melting of her heart, and teaches her how to love.
A Short Story.
http://www.amazon.com/Fly-Birdie-Jo-Robinson-ebook/dp/B009GDHVUE/
Jo participated in this anthology for a great cause.
Plight of the Rhino: A Wildlife Anthology by Springbok Publications
Plight of the Rhino is the first wildlife anthology by Springbok Publications.
The stories and poems, written by international writers, depict wildlife in all its glory. The book will take you on a journey across continents and introduce you to some iconic as well as lesser known wildlife species. These heartfelt stories recognise the joys of the animal kingdom and the heartache of poaching and extinction, facing our wildlife today.
We will donate a minimum of £1 from the sale of each book to Save the Rhino International. To find out more about its rhino conservation work please visit http://www.savetherhino.org
Stories and Poems by: Teresa Ashby, Chris Brown, Liz Cox, Jean Dawson, Kirsty Ferry, Teresa Fouché, Elizabeth Glanville, Debz Hobbs-Wyatt, Amanda James, Sandra Jensen, Elizabeth Koufidou, Elaine McKenna, Dulcinea Norton-Smith, Emma Louise Oram, Christine Parmenter, Rebecca Raisin, Paula RC Readman, Jo Robinson, Gill Sainsbury, Holly Stacey, Amos van der Merwe, Tanja Vermaak, Stephen Wade, Matthew Glenn Ward All contributors kindly waived their fees for this worthy cause. Let’s save the rhino!
http://www.amazon.com/Plight-Springbok-Publications-Wildlife-Anthology-ebook/dp/B00H2XDHD0/
African Me & Satellite TV
For many years Suzette has managed very well to live her life without actually taking part in it, avoiding any possibility of pain by very carefully ignoring reality. Until something happens. Something so terrible that she has no choice but to abandon her cocoon of safety.
After the brutal beating of an elderly domestic worker, Suzette takes her in, and sets off a chain of events that leads to devastating heartbreak. And an unexpected hero changes everything. Finally finding her voice, she speaks out, and her world explodes, culminating in the death of a very special man.
On her path to make amends, she discovers the story of his life, connects with the people of his past, and finds the chance to fully live her life once again if that’s what she chooses to.
http://www.amazon.com/African-Me-Satellite-TV-Robinson-ebook/dp/B00F5640UK/
Shadow People 1 (The Finding)
After Natalie and Gabe discover a hidden room, they are hurled across time and space, and find themselves on Lapillus, a beautiful world made up of precious gems. But they soon realise that Lapillus is home to an ancient evil when they are attacked by the demonic wraiths of the Nefandus.
They find themselves thrown together with a group of beings vastly different to them in this lifetime, but closely connected through the aeons. They realise that the prophesies of all have come to fruition, and that without their intervention the fate of the universe is at stake.
With the guidance of the angelic Gluri and the help of the mysterious sentient spacecraft, the Vimana, the race is on to find out what the Nefandus want, and prevent evil from winning the battle of all time.
http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-People-Finding-Jo-Robinson-ebook/dp/B00BCL91EC/
Thanks to Jo Robinson for visiting, to all of you for reading, and you know what to do, like, share, comment, and most of all CLICK!
Hi all:
Today is Friday and time for a guest author. I had the pleasure of meeting Sally Georgina Cronin (these days Sally Cronin, but she’ll explain) through her great blog and some common blogging friends. She asked me to visit her blog for an interview and I thought you’d love to meet her too. As she was working on two new books, it seemed the right time. But as she’s done so many things and knows about plenty of interesting stuff, I thought we’d get to know her previous work first. I promised I’ll keep updating you on her work and novelties in the future.
I usually include a short biography but when Sally directed me to her blog and I read about her I thought I should include it all, promotion and all (because I suspect many of you might be interested. I know I am!)
My name is Sally Georgina Cronin – I include the Georgina bit because a couple of my books were written back in the beginning as Georgina Cronin – it was my grandmother’s name and as a child I fancied it more than I did Sally – I announced at school age 9 and a little portly that I wished to be called that and instead I was saddled with Georgy Porgy until I went to secondary school as a very definite Sally.
However, on writing my first book I thought I would give it another go but it has reverted to Sally Georgina Cronin especially as my books have evolved into E-versions.
I am one of those people who has led an eclectic life. My father was in the Royal Navy so we lived abroad several times and I only really settled down in the UK at age 14. My education suffered a little from switching between seven schools in different countries but I now have a repertoire of swear words second to none!
I trained as a secretary as my parents felt that my dream to be an English Esther Williams was probably doomed to be waterlogged! I started well in my first job but a pregnant chair side assistant who developed a phobia to blood meant that I had to step into the shoes of dental nurse, a career I enjoyed before moving to the hospitality industry.
This resulted in me meeting my husband (known as room 40) nine years later and we had a whirlwind courtship over five weeks and married 34 years ago. We still have the whirlwind courtship moving over several continents to reach the second to final outpost here in the mountains in Madrid. We may possibly return to the UK at some point, if he can tear me away from the 300 days of sunshine.
I have spent a number of years in each of the following industries – Retail, Advertising and Telecommunications, radio and television and taken a great deal from each.
I have written short stories and poetry since a very young age and when I went ‘Indie’ in 1996 I combined my retraining as a Nutritional Therapist with this love of writing. I began with columns in the media in the UK and Spain, my own monthly newsletter and my first health book Size Matters which told the story of my journey from a very overweight 24 stone – 330lbs to a slimmish and healthier individual.
Over the last ten years this love of writing has developed into another eight titles, my blog and also into Indie Publishing in 2004.
My husband came out of the telecommunications industry at 50 and because he was already a computer wizard he retrained very quickly in graphic and book design.
I was already working in author acquisition for a large self-publishing company and we both felt that a more personal approach might be attractive to authors who wanted to be published. Moyhill Publishing was born. In 2004 our first book, by a Spanish author, The Red Tailed Hawk won best digital print award and since then we have been quietly working away. We had to take a break over recent years due to family commitments but we continued to work with a few authors during that time who required David’s specialist design skills.
We are delighted to be relaunching in 2014, our tenth anniversary, with new services to include digital and audio packages.
In the last few months we have converted my print titles to E-versions which has been an interesting experience. I did not realise how my writing style had changed until I edited my first novel written in 2002 to convert but I enjoyed the process very much.
Over the last ten years I have managed to fit radio and Internet television both in front of the microphone and camera and behind in a producing and directing role. So whilst I never became the UK Esther Williams I did get to perform without getting too waterlogged.
At 61 I don’t consider myself the new 41 and I am happy at the age I am. I do hope that I can continue to learn and develop over the next 30 years or so and that my typing skills do not diminish until the very last second.
My next projects are in process – a health book focused on care of the elderly at home, a humerous tale of a cross dresser with memory impairment and another about transformation and wish fulfillment.
WARNING – SELF PROMOTION COMING UP.
I hope you will forgive a little self promotion – I am the marketing director of our publishing company and will get fired by the MD or divorced if I did not mention the day job.
Our publishing company is http//:moyhill.com and we would love to talk to you about your next project. In the last ten years we have had worked with some award winning authors and won best digital print book in 2004 in the UK. We work with a number of printers in the UK to ensure a best price and we offer inclusive packages that still allow you to have an original design for your cover and a style that you want for the format. There is very few things standard about us but because we are the only two overheads we can keep the costs down for our clients. We only work with one author at a time usually and that is on a one to one basis. A book only goes to print or into E-version when both the author and David are satisfied that it is the very best it can be. We usually prefer manuscripts to be edited before submission so that it stands out from the crowd for all the right reasons.
Because of my background on television and radio I am the audio department and whilst we do not market for our authors I am very happy to assist in any way with social media, press releases etc.
We are happy to convert any print versions into E-versions with the minimum of fuss and expense but be aware that a book with lots of photographs or graphs does take more work than for print.
There is a selection of the books we have designed and published over the years on the site, but we now provide a webpage with selling facilities for our authors which they manage themselves. An example of this would be some of my own books at the following links. We also of course make sure that our author’s books are uploaded to Amazon and if in print too available at the wholesalers.
http://www.moyhill.com/ftvpmac/
If you would be interested in finding out more then pop into the website or email David on david.cronin@moyhill.com for an informal discussion – we also work with Skype during the process.
If you would like to talk to me about guest blogging or anything health related you can reach me on sally.cronin@moyhill.com
Thanks for reading.
And now her books:
By the way, and so I don’t forget, I leave you the links in Sally’s own website, but just in case you find yourself in Amazon, this is her page where you can find all of them:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B003B7O0T6
Just an Odd Job Girl
Imogen was fifty!
Life is unpredictable and will often throw you a curve ball that knocks you out of the park.
For Imogen this curve ball knocked her out of a twenty five year marriage and a lovingly renovated home into a single life at age 50. She had been a very contented wife and mother of two children, who for every one of those 25 years had thought her husband had been equally as happy. It was a shock to find out that she had been delusional and replaced so easily.
Her confidence was non-existent. She had forgotten any skills she possessed and was totally unprepared to enter the modern job market. Or so she thought.
When we find ourselves in a new place and time in our lives, it is not unusual to meet others who have experienced similar traumas and also those who understand how to help you pick up the pieces.
Surprising though these events had been, nothing prepared Imogen for the realisation that she still had what it took, both in the work environment and when it came to her heart.
It was a journey into the past to rediscover who she had always been and a step forward into the future and a new adventure in life.
Although this novel was published in 2002 Sally has decided it’s time for it to experience the digital revolution, and reading about it, I would have to agree!
Sally has also let me links to her other books, and as you’ll see (and you will have guessed from her biography) she’s a multi-talented woman.
Just Food for Health (only available in paper)
Just Food for Health is a commonsense guide to the body, and the foods we need to eat to keep it healthy. It describes how the major organs & systems work; Why you need specific nutrients and where to find them; how to design your own Healthy Eating Plan, and avoid lifestyle-related conditions like high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, and excess weight.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1905597231/
Forget the Viagra, Pass Me the Carrot
This is a health and Nutrition book aimed at men – and their partners who are interested in keeping them fit and well. It provides a fundamental understanding of how to deliver essential nutrition to support all the major organs, with a focus on keeping a healthy sex life into old age.
http://www.moyhill.com/ftv – Forget the Viagra… Pass me a Carrot – A man’s health workshop manual
Size Matters Especially when you Weigh 330 lbs
Thirty years ago obesity was a rarity amongst children, and adults, and the related health problems were restricted to a small proportion of the population. Today, it is an epidemic and as we expand our waistbands we are forced into increasing our financial responsibilities for the resulting medical problems that can be life threatening.
Size Matters is the story of a woman who had an appalling lifestyle and although intelligent and successful did nothing constructive to change the situation. It took a death sentence to motivate her to making some vital decisions. The first place to start was to find out the reasons for her obesity and then learn how to fix the problem. Georgina studied nutrition and health whilst taking back control of her diet and lifestyle. Three years later, when fit and well she opened her diet advisory centre in Ireland where she worked with 1,000 clients over a five-year period.
Size Matters explores the emotional, mental and physical reasons for obesity and offers strategies that empowers any one who is overweight or suffering ill health to change their lifestyles successfully. The second part of the book details the programme that can be personalised to suit readers’ individual needs for diet and exercise including healthy food options and nutritional information.
This is not a book written by a “thin” expert, but a “fat” expert who has lived through many years of obesity and ill-health and understands the emotional and physical barriers that prevent people taking the first step and then the next, and the next until they have regained their fitness and health.
Link:
http://www.moyhill.com/sm Size Matters especially when you weigh 330lbs
Media Training: The Manual
“Media Training: The Manual” is a quick reference manual for anyone who needs to deliver their message via “the Media”, TV, Radio, Print.
http://www.moyhill.com/mttm – Media Training – The Manual
Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story
The true story of Sam, a rough collie, written from his perspective. A tribute to a true friend and a genuine family member.
http://www.moyhill.com/sam – Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story
So you don’t complain, I leave you links to the books that should be coming up our way in all formats soon, but thought you might want to check in her website:
First, Turning Back the Clock – anti-aging programme
Living forever is not an option!
However, feeling younger and looking younger is an option available to all!
The maximum lifespan a human being can currently expect today is around 120 years.
However, not many of us really want to be even 90 or 100 years old, if it means that we are going to end up filled with medication and tucked away in a corner in some nursing home
, unaware of our surroundings.
Making healthy diet and lifestyle choices as early as possible will help you get as near as possible to your maximum age whilst enjoying good physical and mental vitality.
Turning Back the Clock
will show you how!
And second, Flights of Fancy – Short story anthology and Novella The Sewing Circle
Ghosts, romance, friendship, revenge ….
A new collection of eleven short stories from Sally Cronin to enthrall and entertain.
Ghosts hint at a chance of coming back to say goodbye, exact a little payback, or simply to help someone else carry on living.
Romance is not just for the young and nor are second chances.
As for revenge, well … never underestimate a group of elderly ladies with contacts from the past!
And if you want to follow and contact Sally (I recommend it) here are her links:
Skype Moyhill2
http://uk.linkedin.com/in/sallycronin1
Latest books available in print and E-versions
http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B003B7O0T6
And http://www.moyhill.com/FTV
Daily health blog – http://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/
Thanks to Sally for her visit, thanks to all of you for reading, and you know what to do if you’ve enjoyed it, like, comment, share, and CLICK!
Hi all:
Like everything else, I got involved in blogging as a bit of an afterthought. I decided to publish one of my books The Man Who Never Was (even then, in October 2012, I had written a few but wasn’t sure if they were ready for publication. Who is ever sure?) and I read about publishing. And selling. You have to have a presence in social networking sites, I read. And there I went. I signed myself for Facebook, Twitter… I met people and other writers through both, particularly Twitter, and I had interesting exchanges and advice from Magda Olchawska, who among her suggestions told me I should think about having a blog. There were so many suggestions I didn’t know how I’d manage to implement even a quarter of them. And then I was following a link one day and found myself reading somebody’s blog in WordPress. And very kindly the site asked me if I wanted to have a blog and I thought… hey, if you make it that easy… Of course once you start, you learn (a bit) and get going as best you can.
I’ve met wonderful bloggers, I follow many, I read as much as I can. I like (where you can, Blogger is mean and doesn’t allow you to like), I share, I comment when I feel inspired and have time for it…
As I’ve told you many times I’m a member of a group of authors, ASMSG (Authors Social Media Support Group). We share our concerns, technical problems, advice, joy, rants… And we’re blessed with people who keep coming up with new ideas to make us more visible. One of them was to join TRIBERR.
Triberr calls itself ‘Home of Influencers’ and it’s a place where you can create ‘tribes’ of people with similar interests or different interests, who blog. Then, you can share the blog contents for the member of your tribes in Twitter, in an easy sweep. There is a free version and a professional version. If you want to have a huge tribe, you’ll need the professional one, but the free one allows for tribes of up to 30 people. You can register on the link above, or log in using either Facebook or Twitter (but whichever one you use to log in, try and remember it, as otherwise you’ll create a second profile and will not see your tribes).
You’ll need to link your own blog to your account (depending on the blog it will be the RSS feed or the url/feed for WordPress blogs) and then you’re ready to join in the fun! You can create your own tribe, you can join others (check them and ask to join), you can be invited to tribes, and there is also the possibility of joining some of their publicity campaigns (depending on the content of your blog) and making some money. You can of course read what’s hot, look for blogs, and comment on them (I must say I don’t spend as much time as I’d like there but…).
Once you are a member of a Tribe, you can log in as often as you like (I try and do it at least once a day but it depends on the number of members and how often they blog) and the posts for the members of your tribe will appear in your stream, and you can share them in Twitter by just clicking a button. You can of course read them, comment, etc…That results in the posts being shared exponentially to many more readers.
I belong to one of the Tribes of the group of authors I mentioned but with another author created a Tribe (We really want to share this post) that it’s a bit lonely, so if you want to join us, let us know…
http://triberr.com/pages/stream.php?tribe=46411
Oh, and if you create a new Tribe and want more members, let me know!
Another place I like is Networked Blogs where according to them ‘Great Content Meets Great People’. It’s another site that allows you to join and will add your blog to their network. If somebody you know in a networking site joins you’ll be informed and can follow them (and vice versa). You can rummage through the blogs there and follow any you find interesting, and it offers you a brief summary of the post, with share buttons. This is displayed in a daily panorama that allows you to see if blogging sites you’re interested in have posted anything new. I use them to find content I’m interested in and share in other sites (Pinterest, Google, Twitter, Facebook). It also allows me to share content of blogs for people I know and follow within a single website, without having to log in and out of various places. Have a look and see what you think!
http://www.networkedblogs.com/
I’m exploring Blog Loving at the moment and I’m sure you have your own favourites. Do share!
Thanks for reading, and as usual, if you’ve found it interesting, like, share, comment and CLICK!
Just Olga 