Making up for being so far behind on pretty much everything!
Enjoy! 😀
Author: Marcia Meara
Release Day Coming Up on December 23rd
Don Massenzio has a new book available for pre-order on Amazon! Check out his post on Frank Immersed, continuing the adventures of ex-cop, Frank Rozzani. Hope you’ll help Don spread the word!
I’m proud to announce that my new book, Frank Immersed, is now available early in paperback form and available for pre-order on the Kindle at Amazon.com. This book follows the further adventures of Frank Rozzani, ex cop turned private detective, as he and his partner Clifford “Jonesy” Jones go undercover to find out why young girls are disappearing from luxury cruise ships.
Creating this book was a new experience. I worked with a very talented new author, Kent Arceneaux. Kent is a renaissance man who is a first responder, artist, singer, father, entrepreneur and now author. He has a wonderful talent for writing action and creating engaging characters. It was a pleasure to collaborate with him on this book and help launch what could be a promising career as an author. I’ll be sharing more about Kent in the coming days.
Please help me spread the word about this new…
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Mythbusting The Amazon Algorithm – Reviews and Ranking For Authors
A lengthy but very informative article on Amazon and algorithms here on Christoph Fischer’s blog. There is a link at the end to a second article, continuing this topic. Slow reading, but VERY useful and worth the time! Thanks, Christoph!
Reblog: Mythbusting The Amazon Algorithm – Reviews and Ranking For Authors
Posted by: Cate Baum April 30, 2016 in Features
How to get the best out of your reviews and sales to rank high on Amazon without the myths from former search expert and COO of SPR, Cate Baum.
Despite many educated guesses that seem to have passed into urban legend in self-publishing communities online, there are no secrets to the Amazon ranking system.
I have spent the last few months tracking down programmers, algorithm experts, and reading technical documentation about Amazon’s algorithm, and the documentation that is provided online by Amazon at Amazon Seller Central and KDP. What I didn’t do was talk to any authors or bloggers, because that seems to be where the myths are coming from.
My first takehome fact for authors is that Amazon’s ranking is not a great mystery that authors must slave over…
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Happy New Year!
Dancing With Wieners Star, Maksim Hotdogski (alias Maks)
Is Wishing You a Face Full of Rainbows All Year Long
Just want to take a minute or two to wish each of you a wonderful, prosperous, and MOST of all, fulfilling 2017! I have a real good feeling about this one! Haven’t made any hard and fast New Year’s Resolutions, though I did get a Fitbit for Christmas, and am amazed at what a good job it does of keeping me accountable, and reminding me to get up from this desk and MOVE, every single hour. What I have done, though, is set some goals, large and small, and one of them is to find more time for marketing each week. This past year was my worst at that since I first started writing. But I’m collecting ideas, tips, and strategies, and I’m ready to implement some of them.
We’ve gained a lot of new followers here at The Write Stuff in the last couple of months, and I’d like to welcome you all aboard. This is a blog for writers and about writers, and we encourage you to share news, promos, release information, and more with us. Several of you are already set up as contributors, and I’m hoping you’ll post here often this year. Those of you who aren’t can contact me (see About/Contact button at top of page, right under the header) and I will be happy to post news for you. I’ll also be glad to explain how you can become a contributor, too.
Next week, I’ll be getting back to my regular blog features: #MondayMeme, #MidWeekPOV, #ThorsDaySmile, and #InspirationBoard Sunday. I left out #FabulousFridayGuestBlogger, because I’m thinking of changing that slightly, perhaps to an interview format or something else a bit easier on guests. Often, guests don’t have time to compose a full blog post, so I’m hoping to find a quicker way to have folks visit us on Fridays. Will get back to you on that as soon as I know how I want to do it, but rest assured, Fridays will still be a day for guests to drop by.
In the meantime, let’s all head into 2017 with confidence and good cheer. Remember, Life is what you make of it–YOU have the power! And I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with this brand, new year!
Roll on, 2017! The Write Stuff is ready for you!
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Wednesday’s #NotesFromTheRiver – Barred Owls
Today’s #NotesFromTheRiver blog post features one of central Florida’s most beautiful birds, the barred owl. Hope some of you will check out the post, and share with your friends. Doug Little’s beautiful photos are worth the visit, alone. To see (and hear) for yourself, go here: #NotesFromTheRiver – Barred Owls
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I just remembered! I’m slowly replacing my memory with Post-Its!
Anyone here relate to this as much as I do?
When my wife called to remind me about letting our dog out at noon, I instinctively retrieved a Post-It from the desk drawer and scrawled “Dog at noon,” then stuck it to the computer monitor.
This required shuffling a series of other yellow Post-Its into order of importance, with things like “Call about hair cut,” “Go to dry cleaners” and “Clean out van” written on them.
That one, of course, was moved to the very end of the line.
Sadly, they’re all things I should be able to remember on my own and usually do; like when I’m staring into the closet for a pair of pants to wear. Later, I got into the van and was gently reminded by a shocking-yellow piece of paper to “get gas.”
It was while sitting at the pump a short time later that the notion of Post-It dependency hit me.
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A Reason to Live (A Marty Singer Mystery) by Matthew Iden
Trying to get back into the swing of regular Tuesday reviews on Bookin’ It. Here’s the first one for this year. Enjoy!
My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
BLURB:
In the late nineties, a bad cop killed a good woman and DC Homicide detective Marty Singer got to watch as the murderer walked out of the courtroom a free man. Twelve years later, the victim’s daughter comes to Marty begging for help: the killer is stalking her now. There’s just one problem: Marty’s retired…and he’s retired because he’s battling cancer. But with a second shot at the killer—and a first chance at redemption—Marty’s just found A Reason to Live.
~~~
I don’t often read “straight-up” mysteries, but something about this blurb appealed to me, so I gave it a try, and was happily surprised. I found Marty Singer to be a very likable guy, and I was engaged with the plot all the way.
It’s often difficult to make a character suffering from something like colon cancer sympathetic to the reader in just the…
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#MondayMeme #MondayBlogs
Courtesy of my Good Friend, Artist Brenda Harris
Thanks, Brenda! Love this! 😀
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Some Exciting #News – #StJohnsRiverEcoTours – #NotesFromTheRiver Weekly Blog
As many of you know, my Riverbend series is based on a fictional small Florida town, located not very far from where I live, and peopled with the eccentric characters who dwell in my slightly warped brain. The first book in the series, Swamp Ghosts, was inspired by my real life friends, Captain Jeanne Bell and her photographer husband, Doug Little. Sadly, we lost Jeanne a few months ago (see my post here), but Doug has decided the very best way to honor her memory is to continue with their extremely popular Eco tours aboard Jeanne’s custom-built boat, the Naiad.
Doug Little
Doug is an excellent wildlife photographer, and is filled with interesting and often amazing information on the habitat and history of the St. Johns River. He’s eager to share all of it, and to that end, Doug has completely revamped the St. Johns River Eco Tours website. Let me tell you, it is looking SHARP! There are lots of new features, including sections on local authors, exploring the river, downloadable bird and wildlife checklists, and tons of other goodies.
One of the brand new features is a weekly blog, and I’m extremely proud to say I’ve been asked to author it. I’m both honored and excited! Every Wednesday, I’ll be posting about wildlife, birds, new things spotted on the river, and any other topic that fits the theme of the blog: “Notes From the River.”
I’m hereby inviting ALL of you to check out the “New and Improved” St. Johns River Eco Tours Website, and explore all the cool new things you’ll find there. Navigate the site via the links at the top of each page, most of which include dropdown menus.
You’ll be able to learn about the history of the river, ecology, local authors, the SJR Team, and more. PLUS, you’ll be able to book a tour, so you can see the wonders of the St. Johns River for yourself. It’s a fantastic, beautiful, and entertaining experience you’ll never forget. I know. I’ve been on the tour many, many times over the years, and I can honestly say it changed my life. It might or might not inspire you to write a romantic suspense novel like I did, but I can guarantee you’ll never have a more relaxing and enjoyable afternoon.
While you’re on the SJR website, don’t forget to click on the Blog button, and check out Notes From the River. Please take a moment to read my introductory post (click on the Continue Reading button at the bottom to see the whole post). I hope you’ll leave a comment to let me know what you think, and that you’ll follow the blog, as well. (You can follow each post individually and/or use the RSS Feed button at the top of the page).
I’m really thrilled to have this chance to share a bit of Florida with all you good folks, so I’m looking forward to reading your comments, and answering questions on many of Florida’s nature-related topics.
Please help us get this website and blog off to a great start by sharing with the Immediate World. THANKS!
Can’t wait to see you there!
“Mine! Go get your OWN turtle!”
Photograph by Doug Little
St. Johns River Eco Tours
Notes From the River Blog
Swamp Ghosts: Riverbend Book 1
Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2
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Join Me on a #MeetTheAuthor #EcoTour on the Fabulous St. Johns River
Cruising the St. Johns Aboard the Naiad
Start your new year off right! Spend two hours on the fabulous St. Johns River, surrounded by scenic beauty, fantastic birds and wildlife, and a bit of Florida history. Join me on Saturday, January 14, for a fun afternoon tour, with a brief pause midway for a reading from my latest book. When we return to the marina, I’ll be available to sign books for anyone interested.
Me, with My Son & DiL’s Dog, Happy.
(Sorry. You’ll Have to Settle for Just Me on the Tour.)
This is the tour that inspired my Riverbend series, and while we’ve had to say a sad goodbye to Captain Jeanne Bell (who will live forever in our hearts), Doug Little will share his extensive knowledge of the river’s wildlife and history with you. Doug is a first-rate photographer, and thus, was the inspiration for Gunnar Wolfe in Swamp Ghosts, a fact he will be sure to share with you. 😀
Barred Owls Are Often Seen on the Tour, Up Close and Personal
Breathtakingly Beautiful Purple Gallinules Nest on Portions of the St. Johns
The tour leaves Highbanks Marina, in DeBary Florida, at 1:30PM, but be there earlier. Perhaps 1:00 to 1:15. You don’t want to get left behind.
For reservations, call 386-626-9004.
I hope you folks who are in the area will come along for a great afternoon. It’s a terrific, peaceful way to unwind, accompanied by lots of moments of high interest and/or excitement when something really cool is spotted. Large alligators, baby alligators, birds of all kinds, manatees, deer, and even black bears have been seen while cruising on the Naiad, so mark you calendars now!
Here are a few of the things you might spot!
BIG Alligator
Not So Big Alligators
Florida Black Bear
Southern Bald Eagle
Raccoon
Great Egret
(Though probably not in breeding plumage this time of year.)
Remember: Call 386-626-9004 for Reservations!
Hope to see you there!
~~~
Swamp Ghosts: A Riverbend Novel
Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2
That Darkest Place: Riverbend Book 3 (Coming Spring, 2017)
The Write Stuff 