Month: October 2016

Let’s Talk About Webinars

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Have you ever participated in a live webinar?

I have participated in several. I have found the ones that I enjoy the most are the ones that have been set up by a group or organization that I belong to who do a complete webinar with no sales pitch at the end.

Sales pitch endings — yes, these are the webinars that I have come to strongly dislike. Why? Because they send you an invitation with lots of promises, like “in this webinar you will learn how to make money selling ebooks on Amazon”. There is also information offered about the speaker of the webinar which usually says things like “I used to be a struggling writer, trying to sell my work to feed my family” or something similar to give you a picture that the person had decided to try to have writing as his/her only job and wasn’t doing very well. He/She was struggling to pay bills, make ends meet, feed the family, etc. Then there’s usually something like “I hope you are not in a similar situation, but if you are, I want to help you. That’s why I’m sharing my secret for selling ebooks on Amazon with you. Just sign up to join my webinar, and hurry because space is limited and seats are going fast.”

So, you think to yourself, I relate to this person’s circumstances, and I would really like to be able to sell my (or more of my) books on Amazon. This sounds like a good marketing webinar. Therefore, you sign up and block out the date and time on your calendar to be sure you don’t miss it. (Of course, they send you several email reminders the day of the webinar, right up to start time).

Then with excitement and hopefulness, you tune into the webinar at the appointed date and time with a notebook and pen by your side so you can catch all of the important information. The webinar starts out well, giving you tips, advice and information that you think will be really helpful, but as the end of the webinar time approaches, the tips, advice and information slow down and eventually stop, just short of completing the information you were expecting and looking forward to.

What happens next? The speaker of the webinar begins a sales pitch. Yep, the information was to lure you in to pitch some new website or resource or online classes for writing that will cost you hundreds of dollars.

What happens to your excitement and hopefulness? Well, if you’re like me, it plummets into the pit of your stomach, and you think, “What? I thought you wanted to help the struggling (translate to starving) writers. How can wanting them (me) to spend hundreds of dollars they (I) don’t have, to get the complete information and help your webinar promised, help them (me)?

So, you turn off your computer, completely disappointed/distraught. And if you’re like me, you think, if they really wanted to help me, the struggling writer, why couldn’t they give me the complete information and offer their sales pitch on another webinar, or, why couldn’t they have been honest and informed you that to get the complete “formula”, you would have to purchase something at the end of the webinar? They claim they have made thousands of dollars with their “formula” and they want to “help others who may be where they were”, but in the end, they’re really not much help at all.

The last webinar I participated in, the speaker admitted, about halfway through the webinar, that he uses a pen name and if you search for his name (that he gave for the webinar), you’ll never find him, and he didn’t give his pen name so you couldn’t even look him up to see if his self-proclaimed success was factual or not.

(Sigh) These are all of the reasons I have sworn off webinars that are advertised on the internet or through email. If the webinar is offered through a group/organization that I am part of and know I can trust, I will participate. Otherwise, I’m not interested. I’m tired of empty promises from writers who claim to have found success that others could attain just as easily, only to have them want to make more money off of someone who can’t afford their prices, which also makes me really wonder if what they’re selling is really worth the money they are charging. Oh, sure, they have those little quotes they share that are supposed to be legitimate quotes by people who have learned their “formula” and are using it to become successful, but we all know, those quotes can easily be bought for a price for such purposes.

How about you? Have you participated in any of these webinars? Have you found any of them helpful and legitimate without your having to invest hundreds of dollars? I’d love to hear your story(ies). Please leave comments in the “Comments” section below.

Flash Fiction Friday: A Song for an Unwarranted Request

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She lies in the hammock, her place of refuge. The attacks had come again today; the name calling, the pushing and tripping, knocking books from her hands.

She didn’t fit into any of the school clicks, and she didn’t want to. They all had their stupid codes; the way they dressed, the things they did, the sports they played, or the level of their I.Q.

She liked being a mishmosh of unusual and unique things, but their cruel words and actions still hurt.

Some days were worse than others, and this one fell under one of the worst, so she had run home, tossed her schoolbooks on the kitchen table and retreated to her hammock. She breathed in the scent of lilac from the blooming bush in the corner of the yard, closed her eyes and slowly exhaled. Then she began to sing, a low and mournful song of loneliness and rejection.

When her song ended, a voice, so quiet she thought it came from the breeze, said, “Don’t stop. It’s beautiful. Your voice is the most beautiful I’ve ever heard.”

Her eyes popped open, and sitting on the ground two yards away, sat the most handsome boy she had ever seen. His hair hung to his shoulders in dark, unruly curls, his faded jeans had holes in the knees, and his pectoral muscles and biceps bulged through the “Star Wars” t-shirt he wore. His chocolate eyes studied her.

It was the first time she had ever wished she looked more like everyone else. He probably thought the purple streak in her hair was from hair dye. Did he think her black tights, short purple ruffled skirt and hot pink tank top and fingerless lace gloves odd? Did he notice that her eyes were two different colors; one emerald green and one cerulean blue?

“Please sing something else. Something less depressing.”

She didn’t know where this gorgeous guy had come from and she wasn’t sure she could sing knowing he was so near. She felt warmth creep into her cheeks, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes once more and she broke into another song. This time a song of hope, as she hoped this boy was not like all the rest.

A Couple of Haikus

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The Wolf
by Kelly F. Barr

Thick, gray winter fur
Snarl reveals menacing teeth
Watchful, yellow eyes

 

Old Man Winter
by Kelly F. Barr

Gray sky overhead
Icy winds blow from the North
Old Man Winter lives

Top Ten Tuesday

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Today’s theme, chosen by The Broke and the Bookish, is a Halloween Freebie, and we’re supposed to create a list of anything Halloween related or scary.

However, I do not celebrate Halloween. Therefore, I have decided to create my own Top Ten list of Books that encourage and inspire me.

  1. The Bible, my preference is the NIV published in 1984 or earlier, and the 1599 Geneva Bible.
  2. My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.
  3. A Charles Dickens Devotional This book offers an excerpt from a Dickens novel, with a lesson and Bible verse for each day. I enjoy it because I have always enjoyed Dickens’ novels, though I still haven’t read them all.
  4. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
  5. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. This is a wonderful story of redemption.
  6. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This story is a wonderful example of standing up for what is right, for what you believe, no matter what everyone else thinks.
  7. Long Way Gone by Charles Martin. This is a story about real unconditional love and second chances in an unexpected way.
  8. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd because it’s a great story of love and acceptance across color/race boundaries.
  9. Grey Matter: A Neurosurgeon Discovers the Power of Prayer by David Levy, M.D. This is a story of testimony of the power of prayer.
  10. Dirty God by Johnnie Moore. This book is about the amazing grace we can freely receive through/from Jesus Christ.

Author Interview: Laura L. Zimmerman

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lauralzimmermanpic-1
Would you tell us a little bit about yourself, Laura?
Absolutely! I’m an at home-mom of 3 girls–ages 14, 12 and 5. I homeschool the two oldest and spend the rest of my time writing. (Haha. That’s a joke for all those stay-at-home moms that have “lots of time” on their hands, right?) I’ve been married to my “Mr. Darcy” for 16 years–we met in YWAM where we both served the Lord for a few years. I love to write Middle Grade and Young Adult Fantasy and Sci-fi, and am excited to be a monthly contributor to the Almost An Author website for the Fantasy/Sci-fi column! I currently reside in AZ but grew up on the east coast in MD and PA.
When did you become interested in writing?
I’ve always loved to create stories! When I was little, I liked to make Fashion Plate drawings and then make up stories to go along with the pictures. I remember using my mom’s old typewriter and the frustration of making errors and having to use white out–then the excitement of getting to change over to a Word Processor in high school! Lol. Overall, stories have always been a big part of my life. It wasn’t until I was married with the convenience of a computer and time home with my babies that I found I wanted to start taking all those ideas I’d had over the years and actually try to write a book.
Do you have a special writing place?
Well, we moved a few months ago so I lost my official writing space–which happened to be in the spare bedroom/junk room! So now I store my writing desk in my bedroom. I had some back issues from sitting for so many hours, so my husband has insisted on ‘proper’ elevation of screen/keyboard/mouse. So it feels pretty official, anyway! 😉
What books or authors have influenced your writing? In what way did they influence your writing?
I want my writing to be the best it can be, so I’m one to take plenty of notes at meetings or conferences, and to read books on improving my technical abilities. But then I notice I focus too much on technical stuff and can forget my ‘voice.’ I would say the writers that influence me most have very unique ‘voices’ that help remind me to stay true to my writing style, even if it might break a few rules here and there. Authors that come to mind are Ingrid Law–who has a fantastic Middle Grade voice!– and Tahereh Mafi–her poetic style of writing breaks from the norm but makes the deepest parts of my emotion scream ‘yes!’ I also enjoy Lauren DeStefano who has a more introspective style of writing, and Jennifer A. Nielsen with her amazing ability at weaving mystery throughout her novels that make my jaw drop!
Who are some of your favorite book characters and why are they favorites? Have they influenced the way you create your characters?
This is a tough one for me because I don’t want to sound cliche, but ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and ‘Pride and Prejudice’ are my favorite books for a reason! Scout has always held a special place in my heart. She was an innocent forced to grow up and face the harsh realities of the yuck in our world. The powerful emotions she experienced through each lesson she learned hit me hard–maybe because I was just a teenager when I first read it. And Elizabeth Bennet is the every girl that we all deny lies deep within. She’s that spirit that refuses to conform yet can’t get out of her own way to allow love to find her. As much as I like to think I’m balanced in my beliefs and that I never play the part of the hypocrite, I think Lizzie is a good reminder that we all make poor choices based on our individual filters, but that it’s never too late for forgiveness and reconciliation. I do think both of these characters influence the characters I create, although maybe in different ways, depending on the story!
Do you have a writing routine?
Again, before I moved I had a fantastic routine of writing first thing in the morning! But now my youngest daughter is in kindergarten and I have her at the bus stop during the time I would normally write. So, unfortunately, I don’t have a routine at the moment. I do have a goal of writing and editing each day, and shoot for about 2 hours total of a mixture of both. Some days are better than others! Lol!
Do you set writing goals for yourself? What kinds of goals and are they short or long term?
Yes!! I have daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals! My personality thrives on meeting small goals along the way. I find when I have no ‘To Do’ list, nothing gets done. I love the sense of accomplishment that goes along with crossing off another item from my list! A daily goal might be as simple as “Tweet a line I wrote”. Long term goals usually involve the completion of a rough draft or a full edit of one of my manuscripts. For 2016 I’ve already written 2 brand new rough drafts and have a goal to complete 1 more, to give me a total of 3 brand new books I wrote this year!
Are you a member of any writing organizations or critique groups? 
Yes. In Pennsylvania I was active in the ACFW State and Local chapters, as well as Lancaster Christian Writers and Scribes Oasis. Since moving to Arizona, I’ve joined a small critique group one a week, and have begun to attend a library writer group twice a month. I’ve also connected with the ACFW Phoenix chapter here. I always have an eye out for new groups to join, since I am most encouraged just by being with other writers! 🙂
Have you attended writers’ conferences? 
Yes, I’ve attended the LCW Super Saturday a few years in a row and was excited to attend the Write His Answer Conference in Philly and Keystone Conference, last year. With my move, I’ve sadly missed the conferences I wanted to attend this year. But hope to jump back in this winter/spring with some conferences out west!
What advice would you give to a new writer?
Good question! Well, first off, I would say never give up. I’m sure you’ve heard that time and again, but really, don’t ever walk away from your talents. God gave them to you for a reason and they can be used to glorify Him, even if your work isn’t published in the traditional way. Also, surround yourself with those you admire! If you want to be a writer, make friends with writers! Not only is it encouraging, it will help hone your talent and make you better at what you do!
Thank you, Kelly, for having me! I had a great time with this interview!! <3
Bio: 
Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter @lauralzimm, and at her website, www.lauralzimmerman.com . Laura is represented by Cyle Young with Hartline Literary Agency.

Unblemished by Sara Ella: Can I Just Say “Wow”?

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers.

Unblemished by Sara Ella is a fantasy story about a young girl, Eilyana, in her seventeenth year of life. She has low self confidence due to a large red mark on her face and wishes she was invisible. However, there is a young man in her life that has been extremely kind and encouraging to her, and she is in love with him.

Tragedy strikes and Eliyana’s world begins to crumble. She runs out into the city at night, and that’s when she begins to see that her life isn’t exactly what she thought it was.

I am new to reading fantasy stories. I never really cared for them in the past, and Unblemished is one of two or three recent fantasy stories I have read.

Can I just say “wow”? This book is packed with so many things that make a great story. It has suspense, a couple of scenes are a little scary, and there is plenty of romance. I completely fell in love with a character named Ky. I was also frightened for Eliyana several times, but all of the romance in the story seemed so strong and sweet, and some of it came across as really pure.

Sara Ella did a fantastic job of creating characters that made me love and care for them, want to see them succeed, as well as some that made me hate them and want to see them destroyed, or at least defeated. There were a lot of characters and a lot of plot twists that moved the story along and kept me guessing at what was going to happen next. Ms. Ella certainly kept me riveted, to the point that I was always disappointed when I had to put the book down and wait to pick it up again the next day.

Unblemished certainly made me think about how easily we can become ensnared in things that are not for our good, or for anybody’s good, by the choices we make and in our actions. This is one of the rare books that continues to take up space in my mind as I continue to consider the characters and the things that happened to them, and that may yet happen to them.

Yes, Ms. Ella left an open ending, leaving me with lots of questions. This is the only thing I didn’t like about the story, although I will say, it wasn’t as much of a cliffhanger as some I’ve read. But I do so hope that she’s planning on writing another book to continue the lives of some of these characters.

If you are a fan of fantasy stories, I’m fairly certain you’ll enjoy this one.

Flash Fiction Friday:Dawson and the Pierian Guards

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Dawson ducked back into the shadows. The sound of marching feet too close for safety. He had to hold himself back as he saw Princess Nala in the center of the Pierian guards. His information was correct, but how would he get past all of those guards?

He tore a button from his shirtsleeve and tossed it onto the tiled floor behind the right read guard. The guard turned, stepped back a few paces.

Come on, just a few more strides.

Yes, the guard moved, and Dawson grabbed him from behind, applying a sleeper hold. The guard’s body went limp in his arms. He pulled the guard into the shadows and did a quick clothing exchange. Then, he slipped the guard’s helmet over his head, grabbed the immobilizer that hung at the guard’s waist and took the laser rifle from the guard’s shoulder.

Dawson marched down the corridor and soon took up the position of right rear guard. The left rear guard turned toward him, Dawson gave a thumbs up and faced forward.

Poetry: Trim Healthy Mama Happiness

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Trim Healthy Mama Happiness
by Kelly F. Barr

Who’d have thought I could cast off
sugar addiction and still enjoy sweets?
Who’d have thought I could still eat healthy
and enjoy such tasty treats?

Trim Healthy Mama helped me see the light
with a healthy eating plan for life.
No tasteless cardboard food or
“it won’t fit in my budget” strife.

I can still eat pizza and chocolate —
My two favorite things!
This plan will shrink my waist, improve my health
and make my heart sing!