Do you post on multiple blogs? By Barbara Edwards

With the year winding down, I’ve been assessing the success of my efforts at

Barbara Edwards

promotion. I established my own blog and post about my travels, my books and my family. Not exactly a focused effort but people seem to like it. My followers are on the upswing. I try to post twice a week- a New Year’s resolution that went the way of all resolutions. Sigh.

I blog bimonthly at The Roses of Prose http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com and once a month at The Black Rose http://twrpblackrose.blogspot.com/  I’ve guested at a number of blogs this year and wondered if the effort is worthwhile.

It’s hard to keep a regular schedule and find time for my novel writing.

So I asked a few friends if they have more than one blog. The answers were all over the place. And absolutely no help in making a decision. Everyone gave me permission to quote them.

Jerri Hines started a new blog and features romantic releases.

http://romanticpicks.wordpress.com/

She recently had me as a guest

http://romanticpicks.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/works-of-barbara-edwards/

Maggie Toussaint wrote:

I decided against being in a group blog. I try to blog at my place http://mudpiesandmagnolias.blogspot.com/ once a week, but I miss the occasional week. Blogging is about revealing more about my stories or me, and I like to have most of those posts concentrated at a venue I control. I do blog tours when I have a release, but I’m a blog-lite kind of gal, maybe one to two guests blogs for about 3 weeks and I call it good for new book PR. Even I’m sick of my characters and hype by then, LOL.

But I have taken a reverse approach to blogging as I try to comment on multiple people’s blog-posts each week. And, most of the time I remember to leave a link back to my blog. So I’m trying to do some stealth blog-networking. Does it work? I don’t know, but its my plan and I’m sticking to it.

I was awed by Morgan’s reply. I would love to have the energy to do this and also write wonderful books like she does.

These are the Group Blogs Owned by Morgan Mandel:

Make Mine Mystery – http://makeminemystery.blogspot.com – My days are 2nd & 4th Mondays – As name suggests, It’s a mystery blog, with members posting almost daily

Acme Authors Link – http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com – My days are each Wednesday. Members post almost everyday here – This is more of a personal life of writers blog, about our books and our writing and personal lives

Books Gone Viral – http://booksgoneviral.blogspot.com – The rules in this blog are there are no set rules on when to post. Our many members post whenever they feel the urge or have an event to tell readers about.

I also participate in a group blog owned by Dani Greer, called The Blood-Red Pencil, http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com, where I’m on the first Tuesday of the month and then later at an assigned date later in the month. This blog consists of mainly editors, but I was admitted because they like my hints for authors.

GUEST BLOGS: I own two guest blogs that are specific in requirements:

Sweet Not Spicy – http://sweetnotspicy.blogspot.com – Guests promote their sweet fiction and romances – Once a week a post appears on Tuesday and stays up until the next Tuesday’s guest.

Spunky Senior Authors and Talents – http://spunkyseniors.blogspot.com – Guests who are 50 years of age and older share their lives, and if they’re authors, they also share their books. – Once a week a post appears on Thursday and stays up until the next Thursday’s guest.

I HAVE TWO PERSONAL BLOGS:

Double M’s Take on Books, Blogs, Dogs, Networking & Life – I share what the title says, and at times host guests. This blog has no set schedule, whenever I have time or a special occasion to a post about.

Morgan’s Book Links – http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com – This blog is similar to a website, in that the content rarely changes. It highlights each of my books, plus offers buy links, and excerpts.

Morgan Mandel – http://morganmandel.blogspot.com 

Stephanie Burkhart wrote:

I try to post twice a week on my personal blog Romance Under the Moonlight. I blog once a month on 99 cent book, 4RV publishing and Once Upon A Word. I belong two other group blogs but I’ve neglected as of late because my writing commitments were overwhelming. I’m getting out from under the writing commitments this Nov.,_._,___

Celia Yeary added:

I post on my personal blog roughly twice a week. I co-own a group

blog called Sweethearts of the West, and each of us–15–have a certain

day, even days of the months, which gives each of us a two-day exposure.

These two are my focus and sometimes takes more time to do than others.

Two others I can post on anytime, as long as I get on the calendar. I can rarely

manage more than two blogs at a time, although I do have good intentions.

http://celiayeary.blogspot.com/

http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/

The use of blogs seems to be as individual as each of us. I can’t draw any conclusions from what I learned, but maybe you will. I hope you take the time to visit each of these blogs and read what they have to share. If you like it, you can ask to be a guest.

www.barbaraedwards.net  

http://twitter.com/barb_ed 

http://www.Facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards.Author

 

 

How do you give thanks? By Barbara Edwards

My Mom,

Long before politicians started pushing the value of volunteering, my Mom, Helen Gadamowitz, was a good example for me and my sister Patricia Anne Nadeau. We were far from well-to-do and money had to stretch to cover food, clothes and medicine. My Mother gave her time instead and taught me to do the same.

I was a member of our church’s Altar Society before I hit middle school. I found that what I gave didn’t equal what I received. One member taught me to crochet. Another’s daughter became a friend.

Over the years I’ve given time to many organizations. Because of my kids I was with the Boy Scouts for eleven years, the Girl Scouts for five and the Parent/Teachers association for six. Don’t get me wrong, I helped because it allowed me to spend more time with my children. The giving benefited me. It gave me hours of wonderful experiences with my sons and daughter. We camped with the troop, went to

Theresa Piazza Spahr Stark

summer day camp, and met some fine people. I can’t list the other places I volunteered, some for a day or a week.

From there it was a jump to RWA chapter President. I benefited so much from the writers who shared their talents and knowledge that I founded a chapter in Connecticut, The Charter Oak Romance Writers.

Again when I thought I was giving, I received so much more.

I taught Sunday School and joined the church choir. The joy I received cannot be measured.

So here I am making a list of things that I’m thankful for. Not in any special order.

1. My sons: the perfect men. Said with a mother’s smile but a belief it’s true.

2. And my Daughters-in-law who gave me grandchildren and are the greatest women I know.

3. Strength to survive the loss of my daughter Theresa Stark (Piazza, Spahr) was a gift from God, that and the sweet memories.

4. My grandchildren who are proving to be talented, smart and generally wonderful.

5. The ability to write is a joy that allows me to share my heart. Thank you God for five books published when I didn’t believe I could do it and for the dozen more in the pipeline.

6. How can I give enough thanks for my husband’s survival of his heart attack?

7. I thank God for the stubborn streak that pulled me through health problems that others failed under.

8. Thank you for my family, my friends and life.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Count your blessings and share your love.

Visit my website: http://www.barbaraedwards.net for free reads, excerpts and buy links.

 

Timeline for my manuscript by Barbara Edwards

Barbara Edwards, Author

Time can be as important as any character in a story. Over the years I’ve read anything from an entire novel that occurred during twenty-four hours to sagas that move through hundreds of years. The author’s job is to make the plot flow smoothly from beginning to end.

My mistake with book three of my Rhodes End was neglecting to keep a timeline as I’ve been writing. I have a lot of excuses. I tried a method of writing scenes as they occurred to me instead of in sequence. With my final edits underway I have to work them in.

Ooops, where does that fit go? Transitions are needed as well as more scenes.

I also had to deal with my husband’s heart attack and its aftermath. I wrote scenes on my Alphasmart in the waiting room or while he slept. They needed to be plugged in.

So here I am with a surprisingly ragged manuscript. Usually when I’m this far along, the work has been edited in an on-going process.

So I am making a timeline. I need to note time, place, weather, who’s there, points covered and anything else I think important.

It’s almost like writing another book.

The only benefit is doing more edits as I read.

While you’re waiting for Book Three, here’s more about Ancient Awakening

 

Ancient Awakening

In Ancient Awakening, Police Officer ‘Mel’ Petersen investigates a death only she believes is murder. By disobeying direct orders from the Rhodes End Chief, she risks her career to follow clues that twist in circles to her backyard and lead the killer to her.

Her neighbor Stephen Zoriak is a prime suspect. Steve worked for a major pharmaceutical company where he discovered a weapon so dangerous he destroys the research. He is exposed to the dangerous organism. He suspects he is the killer and agrees to help her find the truth.

In the course of their investigation Mel and Steve find the real killer and a love that defies death.

Excerpt:

“Don’t touch me, Mel, not unless you’re willing to do a lot more,” he warned as her hazel eyes flared golden.

“Don’t threaten me, Steve. You’re…”

He pulled her into his arms despite the alarm bells clanging in his head.

Danger! Danger! Danger!

Her widened eyes met his. Mel’s hands were trapped against his chest, but she didn’t push him away. Instead, her fingers curled into his shirt.

Her mistake. His mistake was to crush her mouth under his.

Mel’s soft lips parted. Need exploded. The taste of black coffee didn’t hide her sweet flavor. As her tongue tangled with his, her arms slid around his neck and her fingers burrowed through his hair.

Steve hungered to peel the starched shirt off her soft shoulders, lay her on the thick turf and ease his desire. He tasted her brows, her cheek, along her throat, seeking the source of her call. Her pulse whipped under his mouth, awakening another need.

His teeth gently closed on the vulnerable vein.

He wanted, wanted, wanted…

Cold alarm chilled his pounding blood.

Steve gasped for air. He’d forgotten his own ironclad rule. Mel’s eyelids flittered open to reveal the molten glow of desire but he forced himself free.

He had no right to touch any woman. Not until he knew he hadn’t become what he had set out to destroy.

 

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Facebook: http://facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards

Ancient Blood http://on.fb.me/naHRY5

Twitter: http://twitter.com/barb_ed

Authors Den: http://authorsden.com/barbaraedwards

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/barbaraedwards

Email: author@barbaraedwards.net

 

 

Buy hyperlink Ancient Awakening http://www.wildrosepress.us/maincatalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=177_136&products_id=4511

 

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002TG4NFG