Jan29

Creating Blogs People Want to Follow

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Creating Blogs People Want to Follow

I don’t know about you, but I follow some blogs that keep me both entertained and informed, so that I want to continue to follow them on a daily basis. It makes me want to analyze why I will spend the time following them and how to translate this to my personal blog. Some of the characteristics that they have in common, include:

  1. something valuable will be learned or gleaned from the post
  2. concise (short paragraphs) and well-written material with a personal, and often humorous voice
  3. entertaining and fun to read
  4. visual-pictures and videos (often crazy funny ones or those aesthetically appealing) are embedded in the post or images created in one’s mind. Video is also engaging on posts.
  5. regular
… Read the rest
Jan28

Free eBooks of Frenchie Series- Bks. 1 & 2

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Free eBooks of Frenchie Series- Bks. 1 & 2

Accept the gift of the first two eBooks of the Frenchie Series.  The books are available at

https://www.smashwords.comuntil Feb. 14, 2014 for free.

FRENCHIE’S BEST FRIEND- FOLLOW THE BLOG: Enter the Coupon Code DC85B before completing checkout.

FRENCHIE X2- FOLLOW THE BLOG:Enter the Coupon Code GZ32U before completing checkout.

Frenchie X2 Cover

Who enjoys reading the FRENCHIE SERIES?

·                           tweens (ages 9-12)

·                           librarians

·                          teachers

·                         parents

·                        grandparents

·                        pet lovers

     If you like a family-read that entertains and makes you laugh aloud, then the FRENCHIE SERIES are the   books for you!

Once you have enjoyed Books 1&2, Mary Laudien is hopeful that you will be keen to read her newest release: FRENCHIE DIVA- FOLLOW THE BLOG… Read the rest

Jan14

Win a French bulldog iPad Cover

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Win a French bulldog iPad Cover

Who Can Enter?

Anyone who has read the Amazon Kindle version of Mary Laudien’s latest release: FRENCHIE DIVA-FOLLOW THE BLOG and lives in North America.

Where is FRENCHIE DIVA- FOLLOW the BLOG (kindle version) available?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GXIW57E 

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00GXIW57E

Why choose to read Frenchie Diva- Follow the Blog?

      IT’S a TWEEN NOVEL (and a fun family read…)

Front

SYNOPSIS of FRENCHIE DIVA- FOLLOW THE BLOG

Will Sissy become the next canine celebrity sensation?  Ethan and Grandma Sis are counting on it! In fact, Sis (the 72 year old CHER look-alike) is convinced she’ll be discovered. (After all, her horoscope confirms that this is her year to soar creatively!)

 Nothing in Ethan’s tumultuous teenage world ever unfolds accordingly. His FBF blog followers continue to … Read the rest

Jan9

Cyber Shopping Blog Contest

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Cyber Shopping Blog Contest

Did anyone notice during the holiday season this year, just how inundated one’s Inbox was with the push for online sales?  Every day one had to slog their way through excess emails to find one’s personal gems that were only to be found after deleting the ads.  If it wasn’t Black Friday, it was Cyber Monday. If it wasn’t the countdown to Christmas, it was pre-Boxing Day Sales and of course, followed up with post Boxing Day Sales.  With three devices, the amount of time deleting unwanted ads became time consuming, to say nothing of the distraction …

The question is:  Did we all simply delete them and continue to shop conventionally in stores? Evidently, not … Read the rest

Nov30

Amazing Characters @Penticton Authors and Artists Faire

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Amazing Characters @Penticton Authors and Artists Faire

Penticton Author Artist Faire Poster-23

The trek to the PENTICTON AUTHORS and ARTISTS FAIRE started by taking a 6:30 am ferry from Nanaimo across to Horseshoe Bay.  Of course this was supposed to give us a head start on the drive to the Okanagan. NOT!  As expected, there was nothing but gridlock in the lower mainland. A couple of collisions had occurred. Surprise?  NOT!  Just the usual, when you live in Vancouver!  It always reinforces our decision to move to the ISLAND! Husband Ryan had gone out to purchase chains, certain we would end up in a snow storm. Thankfully, they weren’t needed! We drove in summer road conditions, except for the colder temperature. Island life is quite a bit milder … Are you getting … Read the rest

Nov27

New Mantra: TNT

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New Mantra: TNT

I devote time daily to read Kristen Lamb’s blog (Kristen Lamb@wordpress.com). She is a writer who dedicates her energy teaching others how to improve their craft.  This author’s writing tips grab your attention. One of her recent blogs was about “TNT”.  What is this, you ask?  It’s basic, but oh so succinct- “TODAY, NOT TOMORROW”.  This caught my attention, while awaiting the proof of my third book of the Middle Grade Frenchie Series.  It shook me out of that pleasurable reverie of thinking I was almost finished and deserved a break.  Not so! Authors continue to grow and develop their skills by writing daily. And with a new book, it is time to prepare for its launch-contacting reviewers, … Read the rest

Nov27

RAISE A READER @ OKANAGAN FALLS ELEMENTARY

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RAISE A READER @ OKANAGAN FALLS ELEMENTARY

                          Image

OKANAGAN FALLS  hosted a RAISE A READER visit on Friday, Nov. 22nd. This was the first class to be introduced to  the recently published novel, FRENCHIE DIVA- FOLLOW the BLOG. The students were entertained by some of Ethan’s (the 13 year old main character) blog entries to FBF (Frenchie’s Best Friend). Stories were shared explaining what inspired the Frenchie series, as well as a YouTube video that encouraged the writing of FRENCHIE DIVA. The students shared how they personally related to Ethan and his Frenchie, friend, school and family drama, as well as his teen-age angst. Everyone understood why blogs are written and what essential ingredients are crucial to writing a powerful blog. It was a … Read the rest

Oct24

BC BOOKWORLD AD

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BC BOOKWORLD AD

14549732_Frenchie Diva Cover JPG( 4341595 ) copyFrenchie Diva- Follow the Blog

             BOOK #3 of the Frenchie Series

                                     by  Mary L. Laudien

Will Sissy become the next canine celebrity sensation?Ethan and Grandma Sis are counting on it! In fact, Sis (the 72 year old CHER look-alike) is convinced she’ll be discovered.

Ethan’s tumultuous teenage world with its Frenchie drama continues to entertain (and alarm) his FBF followers. LOL 

TwoCanDo Books (http://twocandobooks.com)

      ISBN 978-1-4905652-9-3         $8.99

Pre-Order your paperback copy from Red Tuque Books

Order online at:  www.redtuquebooks.ca

Phone: 778-476-5651

I’m so excited to be able to start advertising my 3rd book of the Frenchie Series (FBF blog)! The paperback is about to be shipped and the kindle, e-book formats will not be far behind. I wanted you to … Read the rest

Oct16

Cruising Omens

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Cruising Omens

                     Image

Have you ever been tempted to book a Re-Positioning Cruise? We were, after hearing from others about the great deals to be had at the end of the season.  We booked a 6 day jaunt from Vancouver, B.C. to San Diego, on a whim. It was a trial run, really, to see how we’d like it. The boat was scheduled to depart Vancouver on a Sunday evening at the end of September and arrive in San Diego early Saturday.

 Living on Vancouver Island meant a ferry trip over to the mainland to board the cruise ship. Naturally, hearty sailors like ourselves, it never occurred to us to check the forecast. Once settled on the ferry, it became obvious that there … Read the rest

Aug4

Cover Concept Choices

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Cover Concept Choices

Decisions, decisions, decisions… Frenchie Diva- Follow the Blog will be available in paperback and eBook readers by September.  Right now, the cover concepts must be decided upon.  Although this is Book #3 of a series, I am breaking from tradition by modernizing the cover concept to have more appeal for my target  “tween” readers.

This decision to go with a different design concept is based purely on gut instinct and deviates somewhat from expert advice regarding book cover design for series.  Am I making an error in judgement?  You tell me.

What are some of the criteria for meeting the design elements for a series?  Check these out:

  • make the title have impact through use of font and
… Read the rest