Good News, Bad News and Funny Friday Photos

Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a wonderful week. I seriously enjoyed getting to play full-time writer during my spring break. Maybe someday...

The good news for today is sometime this weekend, Finding Meara will be available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, i-tunes and Kobo. Yay! I uploaded the file to Draft2Digital yesterday, and now am just waiting for it to show up on the various websites. I'm optimistic it will show up on Amazon today, but the others may take some time.

UPDATE: Finding Meara made it onto Amazon! If you would like a copy, click here! And if you enjoy the story, it would be lovely if you would leave a short review! Thanks to you all!

Can I just say, the most amazing thing was seeing the story in e-book format. I'm strangely lacking in celebration emotions, but it was pretty amazing to look at the story in the different e-book formats.

The bad news is that, because of Draft2Digital's contracts with Amazon and Barnes and Noble (I imagine this is the reason), the lowest price I can sell the book for on those sites is .99 cents. I had intended that it be free this weekend, so I apologize for the misinformation. My pricing for the next couple of weeks is going to be all crazy, as I figure it all out.

And now, it's time for the photos! I can't give you a winner from last week, because several each got two votes. So, we'll just get on with the new photos!

I can't remember if I already used this one, so I apologize if it's a repeat!

And some puns...

Crop Circle

My favorite is amoosing moose. It's face is priceless! The cat with the fur is my second favorite.

Which is your favorite? Do you have any big plans for Easter?

Fraction of Stone and Kelley Lynn!

I am so excited today because Kelley Lynn, author extraordinaire, is visiting! Her YA Fantasy, Fraction of Stone, released last Thursday, March 22nd, and Motivation for Creation is just one stop on her Blog Tour.

Kelley took some time to answer a few burning questions I had that helps us to know her and her characters a little bit better. Please enjoy the interview and then click over to Amazon (or any of the other book distributors) and pick up a copy of Fraction of Stone! You won't be disappointed.

Please introduce us to the characters of Fraction of Stone and tell us a little about what makes them tick.

The main characters in Fraction of Stone are Rydan and Akara. Rydan is considered the 'prince of his people' and is treated as such. He is very optimistic and is always first to give someone the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes this makes him come off a bit naive, but really he just wants to believe in the good in people.

Akara is pretty much the opposite. Her circumstances don't let her trust people. She has yet to find anyone who cares about what happens to her so she finds it impossible to care about anyone else. This proves to be a problem as she's needed to save the world, a world she doesn't believe should be saved.

What motivates you to create?

I think people are fascinating. The reasons behind what makes a certain person choose a certain path, answer a certain way, overcome something that maybe few could overcome. It's exciting to explore this about the characters.

What have you enjoyed the most regarding the publishing process?

Designing the cover was pretty awesome and Sapphire Star Publishing was very supportive of my idea. Also, just having the ability to share it with people and to get their feedback, is super exciting. It's been a year and a half since I typed 'the end' for this book. I've gotten feedback from my CPs and the fantastic people at Sapphire Star, but now I get to see what everyone else thinks. And no matter what that is, it's exciting.

Thank you for the interview! Are you so excited about your first book release!! (Of many more to come, I know it!)

Thank you for having me! I'm SO excited, there seriously aren't words. I'm excited to hear what readers think, the good and the bad. Of course I hope people like it, but no matter what, I just want to hear what people think.

Fraction of Stone by Kelley Lynn

Release Date: March 21st, 2013 by Sapphire Star Publishing
Genre: YA Fantasy

Book Description:

Wind tunnels, torrential rains and earthquakes tear apart Casden. The cause of the world’s imbalance is unknown, but the mounting occurrences suggest there’s little time before life ceases to exist.

Rydan Gale and Akara Nazreth are the only humans with the ability to wield magic. The tattoo on their necks and the discovery of an ancient book, dictate they are the key to the world’s survival.

But the greatest obstacle for saving mankind isn’t the bizarre creatures, extreme betrayals and magic-fearing men hunting them.

It’s that Akara doesn’t believe the world is worth saving. 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16160501-fraction-of-stone

Book Trailer:

About the Author:

Eventually the day came when the voices in Kelley Lynn’s head were more insistent then her engineering professor’s. So instead of turning to her Thermodynamics book, Kelley brought up a blank page on her computer screen and wrote. Somewhere along the way she became a Young Adult author.

Kelley was born and raised a Midwestern girl. She’s not afraid to sweat and fills her free time with softball, soccer and volleyball. (Though you probably don’t want her on your volleyball team.) She occasionally makes guest appearances as a female vocalist for area bands.

You can find Kelley hanging out at her blog, titled in her name, as well as the group blog she shares with her fellow critique partners, Falling for Fiction. Kelley is a member of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators.

Kelley Lynn's Links: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Funny Friday Photos

Don't tell the spam-bots, but I turned on anonymous comments again. I'm thinking having it turned off is why some of you had trouble commenting last week. Hopefully, they won't find me for a while.

This has been a hell of a week. I'm glad it's Friday and the start of Spring Break. Final edits are coming along. I can't believe I'm almost ready to let this book go. Over the course of writing Finding Meara, I have encountered some wonderful writers and amazing human beings. It's been a pleasure to share my journey with you, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the kindness and support you have offered. I always feel sappy when I write stuff like that, but I really mean it. I don't take any comment, friending, following, or vote for granted. I feel very lucky with each one.

Last week's winner for funniest photo was:

Ready for this week's photos? Let's get to 'em! Oh, and yes, I did get a little carried away this week. Please enjoy the extras. 

You know you are a child of the 80's if you understand this reference.

Too cute not to include. It's little face is adorable.

All the pink made me worry it's dead.

My favorite this week is the goal turtle. Which is yours?

Funny Friday Photos

Another week has buzzed past. I'm happy, but when time zips by like this, I can't get enough done.

NEWS!  Finding Meara will be available on Amazon and the other e-book distributors (for FREE!) over Easter Weekend. 

Does this mean I've got it all formatted and ready to go? No, of course not. But, I will. If you happen to pick up a copy and like what you read, it would be very kind of you to leave a review.

Until I started figuring out the self-publishing thing, I had no idea how important reviews are to an author's visibility on Amazon. I've read (from several sources) that an author has to get 40 reviews before you get hooked into the ranking algorithm. That means, until you get 40 reviews, you are floating along on the e-book torrents of monthly releases (which in January totaled 50,000+.) 

Last weeks winner was...

And here's the new photos!

I love the play on words.

Not what I envision when I think of Jesus walking on water. Just sayin.

The mouse is ON HIS EYELID!

Happy cat. I wish I could spread some of what he/she has around ye old workplace!

I love R. Lee Ermey, and the Rottweiler puppy is just cute!

There you have them! Seven of the funniest new photos I could find. 

A quick thanks to David Walker, who provided me with quite a few of the funnies this week. He's a Christian Fiction/Inspirational Writer whom I met through the Life List Club. He has a historical fiction series, Fancy, about a strong young woman making her way through the post-Civil War, male-dominated world. Thanks, David!

My favorite this week is the anti-depressant cat. It's the drugged little smile that gets me. I do love the pug, too.

Did you find a favorite this time?

Funny Friday Photos

Yay! It's Friday! This was one of those long, quick weeks. I can't hardly remember Monday, but it feels like it just happened yesterday.

I have two things I'm proud of this week. The first is that I've done Yoga every day since Monday. Yoga and I have an on-again, off-again relationship, and when I return to on-again, I always wonder why I stopped practicing. Already I'm feeling calmer by getting that tape out daily. I must be nicer, too, because my kids keep making sure I practice each day.

The second thing I'm proud of is how Finding Meara is doing on Wattpad. Today (which is actually Thursday) it rose to #28 on the Adventure list and #69 on the Fantasy list. I'm so gratified that people are reading and enjoying the story.  Thank you so much to those of you who are reading along. You make my writer-heart happy!

Next week I'll be announcing the date of Finding Meara's e-book release. It'll be this month, so start getting ready for a virtual party, complete with giveaways!

On to the photos! Last week's winner was:

Here's the new ones!

The funny animal photo world seems preoccupied with marijuana lately.

I thought my dog was the only one that chewed through walls.

A picky eater.

I have to share this video I got off Sungazing's Page on Facebook. It's hilarious. I mean it. You must watch. 

Kitten Falls Asleep

My favorite is the video. It makes me laugh - hard! 

What's your favorite?

Funny Friday Photos

First, I have to apologize for the word verification. I will be turning it off again soon, but I had to try something to get the spam to go away!

I hope everyone had a great week. I'm surprised at how fast it went. 

I am woefully wordless today, so let's get on to the photos!

Last week's winner is:

I hope you enjoy the new ones!

How I feel when my husband comes home and catches me on Facebook.

And one sign. My kids are rubbing off on me. I'm starting to find toilet humor funny.

I'm going with the catnip cat this week as my favorite. 

What's your favorite?

Have a very happy weekend!