Tag Archives: Sharing

Missing in Action – Mental Health

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As many of you know I was in England for 18 months. You may also know it was not a nice time except in small amounts. I struggled a lot, my mental health hit rock bottom several times and it wasn’t nice. One day I will write the story of my time in England.

One of the things I missed the most during my unwanted downtime, was posting blogs for my business, chatting to my clients and friends and sharing all your posts…especially those I thought would be interesting to others.

I finally came back to New Zealand and it has taken me a month to sort myself out – my mental health – and start anew with sharing posts. I must admit I was a bit disappointed. I’m not sure if it was with WordPress or if individual websites unfollowed my site. The reason I know is that I found myself re-following many sites I was still getting emails from. This caused issues with reblogging various posts, meaning it tool longer.

Ok, I do understand in some ways why my website was unfollowed…lack of content and new blogs, lack of shares.  However, I don’t recall anyone trying to find out what happened to me or my website. Perhaps I am overreacting…I blame my mental health issues.

Please note though. I will always follow you, even if you’re quiet. In fact, I way well send you a message to find out how you are and if you’re ok. You are all important to me and my company. Without you…I can’t move forward. I can’t promote and I can’t share.

Please think before you unfollow someone. You could save a life.

Thanks

Ghostly Writes – Interviews

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Introduce Yourself and where you’re from.
Mary R. Woldering From Euclid, Ohio USA

Tell us about your writing journey?
I’ve always been a storyteller. Now I am a chronicler of dreams and visions. I began to publish my writings at 65, so technology is still a great unknown.

What is your story about?
Three ghosts in a haunted mansion. One is a demonic spirit trapped in a staircase, another is an angelic young girl trapped in an upper room. The third is the spirit of the witch who trapped them, returning to finish her work.

Why did you choose this topic/genre?
The story is based on some paranormal research my friends and I did in 1970 combined with stories we had heard about these spirits. I always wanted to write the story as it was, in part, an origin story for one of the characters in my Children of Stone series

Why publish in the Ghostly Writes Anthologies?
It was suggested that I do that by another contributor.

Share your experiences of helping each other in the Ghostly Writes Group.
I doubt I’ve been much help, but Mara Reitsma has helped me.

What other Anthologies have you participated in and for what reason?
Dreamtime Dragons 2017 – again, it was suggested that I write a story for that group

What scares you the most? A Snake or a Spider? Why?  If something else, tell us about it.
Spider more than snake, but large jumping and flying insects like moths or cicadas  or flying cockroaches upset me from my childhood. They would crawl across my ceiling in the house we rented and one night one fell on me.

What is your favourite part of Halloween?
Giving out candy and frightening passers by

How do you celebrate Halloween?
Same as above

Share your favourite Halloween celebration from your childhood.
Getting candy as a child. Later on it was communicating with spirits

LINKS

Amazon:
https://amzn.to/2DMvkKJ

Page/Group:
https://bit.ly/2ubYwv1

Author Page:
https://bit.ly/2x1PZJe

Website:
https://www.maryrwoldering.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/maryrwoldering/

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7398194.Mary_R_Woldering

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ChildrenofStone

How To: Find and Set up Share Tabs on WordPress

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Yes I know there are tutorial for WordPress about how to use and improve your websites & blogs (especially for beginners. The tutorials are brilliant and informative. It is a great place to start your journey. Here is a tutorial link to various things you may want to learn

http://www.wpbeginner.com/category/wp-tutorials/

However. I keep getting asked how to do various things on wordpress, or I assist where I can depending on what I know.  Like everyone else I am still learning due to technology changing and updating.

This post is about Share Tabs…How I sorted mine out prior to knowing about wpbeginner.

SHARE TABS

Everything you do on your wordpress site starts with your HOME PAGE – Whatever name you call it. Mine is PACKAGES. This is also called your LANDING PAGE so it needs to be impressive.

Up on the top left hand side you can see the words MY SITES. Click on this and it will open a panel on the left side as shown below.

This is what you will find. Here you can check your Stats, look over your Site Pages, Customize and so much more. 

Scroll down to the bottom of this bar and you will find WP ADMIN. Click on this and it will take you to another page. Also note on the main page you can see all my share tabs for viewers to use.

This time you will find yourself on your DASHBOARD – Behind the scenes of your website where only you and those you give permission to can visit. Once you get to this page, you can do all the different things you wish to show on your website. Trial and error is part of the learning curve.

Click on SETTINGS  and a new small black box will appear.

This time we want SHARING so we can sort out the tab we wish to make available to our visitors.

The next three slides show you what is available to use and how to move the tabs so they show up where you wish them too.  Drag and drop, choose the style and choose where you wish them to show

DON’T FORGET THE REBLOG TAB. THIS IS HOW YOU CAN EXTEND YOUR REACH AND GET MORE FOLLOWERS.

IF YOU WISH ANY OTHER QUICK TUTORIALS TELL ME WHICH ONES AND I’LL GIVE IT A GO.

The Need to Write

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WRITING – Yep I do this sometimes.  Mainly when I am bored to tears or my fingers just take off and flow over the keyboard.  Why write?  Well there are several reasons. Here are mine:

To teach someone about something they have little knowledge about, if I know more about the subject

To research for information and take notes. Be it for fiction or family history and blogs.

To share an experience in life, work or anything else that comes to mind.

To share a story and engage readers.

To entertain children and adults with something which can take them away from reality for a short while.

Because it is fun and my teachers at High School wouldn’t put me forward for O’level English (yeah it still shows at times.)

I’ve never been one to prove a point when I don’t know the answer, though I do love a good debate and weaving stories through theories is amazing fun.  Could it really happen?  Well this is what fiction is all about MAKE BELIEVE.  It makes you think, dream and perhaps encourages you to try something new or find the answer.

WRITING is also about learning, listening and gaining knowledge.  Most of us know about the world today because we read, be it books or online.  However, we have to be careful not to get sucked into so much FAKE news which is a constant on many social media accounts today.

SADLY Writing is also exploited, used against us in many ways.  We read things into bible passages, taking them out of context.  Personally I won’t listen to anyone quoting bible phrases unless they have read the bible from the beginning to the end.  I know my grandfather did.  He was a Minister.  A lovely gentleman, who sadly I didn’t get to meet.  Politicans have also used the written word to their advantage, making us angry over things which really have no meaning.  Lawyers can complicate the language so we don’t understand and I am sure there are times people have signed away their rights without realising it – until it’s too late.  Journalists…News Media, Organisations who tell you something is wrong – many things cross out paths in life and it is up to US to work out what is true and what isn’t. 

HOW OPEN MINDED ARE YOU?  

 

ARC Reviews: The Night of the Moonflower by Poppy Mann

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The Night of the Moonflower is a book that can be judged by its cover. The glowing, exotic moonflower it features is a tantalising entrée into a diverse world which melds genres in a plot incorporating romance, diplomacy, intrigue, political machinations, revenge and with a mysterious soldier of fortune at its core. It is an intriguing story line crafted together with skilful insight. Poppy Mann is a debut author who writes with perception and the ability to leave readers demanding “what’s next?”. A sequel is eagerly awaited

 Jill Nicholas QSM

Journalist/reviewer  

PRE PUBLICATION REVIEW – FIVE STARS

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A scintillating ride, taking us from the suburbs of Wellington, New Zealand, to the diplomatic circles and presidential court of Jakarta in the 1970s. Poppy Mann shows a sure touch with plot, dialogue and character. Her Anna proves an attractive and resourceful heroine as she uncovers the truth about her glamorous husband’s past. Part romance, part thriller, part travelogue, The Night of the Moonflower kept me on the edge of my seat. I look forward to Poppy Mann’s next book.  

Catherine Watson

Wonthaggi, Australia

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An enthralling and luminous story of a young woman thrown into a diplomatic life and a country full of political upheaval.  This bold and daring novel is an intriguing insight into a tale of a passionate young woman and her dangerous involvement with a mysterious soldier.

The reader is vividly drawn into the beauty and romance of Indonesia and the talent of a young fashion designer in the 1970s.

Couldn’t put this book down and look forward to reading many more by this author.

Jude Robinson

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The Night of the Moonflower by Poppy Mann – I was drawn into its essence straight away with the clever first chapter, and it’s development throughout the book. It holds so many aspects of life including action and suspense, tenderness, romance and deep love, fear, sadness and courage, and so much more. I learned so much about people and places in the world. I also learned to love one character especially along the way, and wondered if others would too. It is a book I couldn’t put down. I can’t wait for the next one.

Jaci

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FREE Books – Hell No

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Seriously would you ask a plumber to do some work in your house and not pay them, would you tell a cashier their goods aren’t worth paying for. Then don’t ask an author for a FREE Book.  Seriously, that is just lame.

Do you know how much time and money goes into producing a book for you to read?  I doubt it somehow.

The first part is of course is finding your muse and writing your first draft. A draft can be anything from 500 words to 200,000 plus, after all it is their story to tell.  So think about the hours it take to write that many words.  Then you have the re-drafting x about 20 or more RE-WRITES until their story makes sense, flows well etc.  this could take 6 month or a year, if not longer. It depends on the genre, and research done.  

I recently spent 18 months with a client assisting her with writing and producing her book. Time is of course money.

Next is the EDITING PROCESS.  An author will work with one or more Editors for months to get their manuscript perfected.  Copy Editing, Line Editing, Grammar – It all costs money. 

BOOK COVERS are the next thing, and certainly not the last.  Once again you consult with a Graphic Designer or Book Cover Artist.  You may need changes or adjustments.  Once again this take time and MORE MONEY.

FORMATTING. This is when the manuscript is turned into ebooks and PRINT Books.  Another thing authors have to pay for unless they know how to do this themselves.  You book needs to look like any a reader buys from a shop or picks up at a library.  Professional. 

MARKETING.  This is an ongoing event.  Yes some marketing is free, though it doesn’t mean it works. An Author has to market continuously to get their work out there, make connections and a name for themselves.  They will need to do Interviews, Blog Tours, Events, Book Signing, Giveaways, Sales….

So perhaps you’d now like to add up all this time and money spent.  It is in the thousands. So the one thing an Author needs is YOUR SUPPORT!! So the small amount of royalties they earn can cover the costs of Editing, Book Covers and Marketing.

Oh don’t forget these Authors also have families, and daily job so they can actually live and feed themselves.  Unless you make the big time as an Author, it isn’t going to be your daily income.

The only free books we do are those to assist Authors get their name out there with Anthologies of short stories…We all absorb the costs and assist each other. Even then the FREE Version is an eBook not a PRINT.

DON’T ASK FOR A FREE BOOK.  

ASKING FOR FREE BOOKS IS JUST BLOODY RUDE.

 

PS Some Vanity Press can charge up to $20,000 for all of the above.