Announcing my two short stories now in print!
Both - "Miss Penelope's Letters" and "Through a Glass Darkly" are now available for gift giving, a quick read to slip inside your brown lunch bag at work, or just to display on your coffee table or fireplace mantel.
These also contain larger type for those who may appreciate not squinting while they read.
Hope you enjoy!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
A Monday Morning Rant
I hate the internet.
Or maybe it's just the constant "new and improved" junk that sites continually bombard us with.
Case in point:
Years ago when I became a 'bona fide' author (contracted by a traditional publisher), I was informed I needed my very own site, plus there was a lot of hoopla about maintaining a blog.
A 'blog'? The word itself didn't set well with me. It sounded like something I'd use for a substitute expletive.
Yet, I was willing to give it a go. Upon inquiring, I learned there were two free sources for blogs - WordPress and Google Blogger.
I tried WordPress first, but frankly, I found it very hands-on unfriendly. I ran over to check out Blogger and discovered that hey, I could understand this simple interface!
So there I was blogging along on Blogger. Then when I learned my new site (another freebie, this one from the folks at Free Webs) had its very own blog, I thought, 'Instead of sending readers to two different places, why not combine?'
I did just that and said bye-bye to the Blogger blog.
Fast forward three years to the summer of 2012. Free Webs, changing its name to merely Webs, "improved" their site with a "new sitebuilder".
Ha.
You should've read all the questions and comments flooding their support forum.
And it seemed that with the recent "new" change, they decided I wasn't paying enough for the "privilege" of using their "excellent" services. They downgraded my Premium status (I paid for the domain name through their provider) to plain old "free" - which meant I had lesser storage and lesser bandwidth. I discovered that, as a suddenly "free" member I exceeded my limits and could no longer upload photos. Several of my pages -allowed as a Premium elite- disappeared with this 'new and improved' change of theirs.
I gritted my teeth for a bit, but decided if they wanted to play that game, so be it. I wasn't about to be hijacked into paying for the higher cost of regaining my Premium status.
It was 'adios, Webs'. I knew Blogger was still free, plus they now had up to 20 pages. An author's dream, right?
So I returned to Blogger, worked diligently for about a day to set up my new site. And wonderful! It was still as easy to navigate as I remembered.
But now...(why, oh why, are they doing this?) Blogger is going the route of 'new and improved' interface.
Have you tried it? It's nothing like the old, nothing like the familiar I'm used to, nothing like the easy dashboard I love!
Yesterday, on the 'improved' setting, I tried to upload a photo. Guess what? It wouldn't open up my Pictures folder. Excuse me? How am I supposed to upload a photo if I can't even access the correct folder???
I am bummed, folks, bummed. I returned to Blogger for the simplicity, the ease of what they originally gave us. What idiot in the Google virtual boardroom determined that they needed a 'new and improved' method???
Call me one of those who doesn't 'get with the program', but I'm of the opinion that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
In only a matter of days the old interface/dashboard will be gone. Disappeared. No longer accessible.
Am I the only one seeing red here?
Or maybe it's just the constant "new and improved" junk that sites continually bombard us with.
Case in point:
Years ago when I became a 'bona fide' author (contracted by a traditional publisher), I was informed I needed my very own site, plus there was a lot of hoopla about maintaining a blog.
A 'blog'? The word itself didn't set well with me. It sounded like something I'd use for a substitute expletive.
Yet, I was willing to give it a go. Upon inquiring, I learned there were two free sources for blogs - WordPress and Google Blogger.
I tried WordPress first, but frankly, I found it very hands-on unfriendly. I ran over to check out Blogger and discovered that hey, I could understand this simple interface!
So there I was blogging along on Blogger. Then when I learned my new site (another freebie, this one from the folks at Free Webs) had its very own blog, I thought, 'Instead of sending readers to two different places, why not combine?'
I did just that and said bye-bye to the Blogger blog.
Fast forward three years to the summer of 2012. Free Webs, changing its name to merely Webs, "improved" their site with a "new sitebuilder".
Ha.
You should've read all the questions and comments flooding their support forum.
And it seemed that with the recent "new" change, they decided I wasn't paying enough for the "privilege" of using their "excellent" services. They downgraded my Premium status (I paid for the domain name through their provider) to plain old "free" - which meant I had lesser storage and lesser bandwidth. I discovered that, as a suddenly "free" member I exceeded my limits and could no longer upload photos. Several of my pages -allowed as a Premium elite- disappeared with this 'new and improved' change of theirs.
I gritted my teeth for a bit, but decided if they wanted to play that game, so be it. I wasn't about to be hijacked into paying for the higher cost of regaining my Premium status.
It was 'adios, Webs'. I knew Blogger was still free, plus they now had up to 20 pages. An author's dream, right?
So I returned to Blogger, worked diligently for about a day to set up my new site. And wonderful! It was still as easy to navigate as I remembered.
But now...(why, oh why, are they doing this?) Blogger is going the route of 'new and improved' interface.
Have you tried it? It's nothing like the old, nothing like the familiar I'm used to, nothing like the easy dashboard I love!
Yesterday, on the 'improved' setting, I tried to upload a photo. Guess what? It wouldn't open up my Pictures folder. Excuse me? How am I supposed to upload a photo if I can't even access the correct folder???
I am bummed, folks, bummed. I returned to Blogger for the simplicity, the ease of what they originally gave us. What idiot in the Google virtual boardroom determined that they needed a 'new and improved' method???
Call me one of those who doesn't 'get with the program', but I'm of the opinion that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
In only a matter of days the old interface/dashboard will be gone. Disappeared. No longer accessible.
Am I the only one seeing red here?
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Clean Giveaway Blog Hop
Hello to all Blog Hoppers!
My Clean Giveaway is easy. All you need to do is to sign up and become a follower of my blog. (Joining by email subscription would be nice as well, but not mandatory.)
The winner receives a free print copy (if in USA) of When the Bough Breaks. (view related page information in tabs above) International winner will receive a compatible download for your eReader. Please leave a comment with your email addy so I'll be able to contact the winner.
Thank you, and thanks for joining the hop!
My Clean Giveaway is easy. All you need to do is to sign up and become a follower of my blog. (Joining by email subscription would be nice as well, but not mandatory.)
The winner receives a free print copy (if in USA) of When the Bough Breaks. (view related page information in tabs above) International winner will receive a compatible download for your eReader. Please leave a comment with your email addy so I'll be able to contact the winner.
Thank you, and thanks for joining the hop!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Doggy Tales -- Meet Disco the Parakeet!
I am thrilled today to present on Doggy Tales an adorable guy that I ran across quite by accident on FaceBook. This is Disco the parakeet. (permission granted to use photos and videos)
Though he's a different color, Disco so reminds me of our very own parakeet, Skipper, that lived with us many years ago. Sadly, video recorders weren't as common then (or as affordable!) and we never had a chance to tape his wonderful personality and unique vocabulary.
Look at this fabulous video of Disco speaking to his Daddy.
Thanks to Disco's human mom for the bio:
"Disco is a 2-year old parakeet from Rochester, NY. He lives with his family of three people and one very loud miniature schnauzer, Freddie. Disco joined his family at the age of 4 months, and spoke his first phrase -- “pretty bird” -- just three weeks later. Disco now says more than 60 phrases, and not just in English. Disco can quote John F. Kennedy in German, can tell you he loves you in Swedish and plans on learning many more tongues. Besides mimicking human language, Disco enjoys barking, meowing, snoring and beat boxing. Disco leads a very active social life thanks to social networking. He has over 700 followers on Twitter and YouTube and 5,000 fans on Facebook."
Be sure to keep up with Disco on FaceBook and Twitter.
Thank you Disco for visiting Doggy Tales today. 'That's bird to your mother'.
Though he's a different color, Disco so reminds me of our very own parakeet, Skipper, that lived with us many years ago. Sadly, video recorders weren't as common then (or as affordable!) and we never had a chance to tape his wonderful personality and unique vocabulary.
(Skipper 1980 - 1992)
Look at this fabulous video of Disco speaking to his Daddy.
Thanks to Disco's human mom for the bio:
"Disco is a 2-year old parakeet from Rochester, NY. He lives with his family of three people and one very loud miniature schnauzer, Freddie. Disco joined his family at the age of 4 months, and spoke his first phrase -- “pretty bird” -- just three weeks later. Disco now says more than 60 phrases, and not just in English. Disco can quote John F. Kennedy in German, can tell you he loves you in Swedish and plans on learning many more tongues. Besides mimicking human language, Disco enjoys barking, meowing, snoring and beat boxing. Disco leads a very active social life thanks to social networking. He has over 700 followers on Twitter and YouTube and 5,000 fans on Facebook."
Be sure to keep up with Disco on FaceBook and Twitter.
Thank you Disco for visiting Doggy Tales today. 'That's bird to your mother'.
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REMEMBER: Doggy Tales is Reader Contributed. If you have, or have had, a finned, feathered, or furry friend you were fortunate enough to share your life with, we want to hear about it! Leave a comment here with an addy where I can contact you, or click the FaceBook link on the right hand side and PM me. Your article will be featured in a future Monday segment.
Monday, August 6, 2012
'Caption Me This!' Monday
'Caption Me This!'
More caption fun! Can you think of a clever caption of this photo?
Remember, the winner receives an adorable badge to display on their site!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Doggy Tales -- Let's Have Fun!
Doggy Tales - Caption Me This!
I've decided to do things a bit differently regarding Doggy Tales. We've had so much fun before with coming up with crazy, clever, and cute captions, that I'm going to make that a new feature!
Please send along adorable, amusing, or downright bizarre photos that you have of your pet. We'll all add our own thoughts as to what these amazing animals might be trying to say to our unique human species!
The winning caption will be chosen by my most patient hubby, and they'll receive a...*drum roll, please*...caption-winning trophy to be displayed on their site/blog!
How cool is that?
And, oh yes, if anyone has a delightful, heartwarming story to share with our readers, by all means submit it! Those are always welcome!
So, come on. Who's first to caption the photo below?
*******************************************
REMEMBER: Doggy Tales is Reader Contributed. If you have, or have had, a finned, feathered, or furry friend you were fortunate enough to share your life with, we want to hear about it! Leave a comment here with an addy where I can contact you, or click the FaceBook link on the right hand side and PM me. Your article will be featured in a future Monday segment.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Take a Moment to Laugh
Credit must be given to Tanja Cilia for these hilarious out takes: (I dare you not to laugh out loud to at least one of these headlines)!
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