Friday Chuckle For You

We made it to the end of the work week. Let's laugh and celebrate. My friend Frank emailed me a whole bunch of jokes. These were the ones that tickled my funny bone the most.

1. Ladies, if a man says he will fix it, he will. There's no need to keep reminding him every 6 months. (That is SO my husband!! But don't tell him I said that.)

2. My mother-in-law is coming. I had to clear out half my closet so she could have a place to hang upside down and sleep. (Doesn't remind me of anyone personally, but I thought it was a hoot.)

3. NASA's robot Curiosity landed on Mars. Early pictures show no sign of ESPN, beer, or porn. This makes it very clear that men are definitely not from Mars. (I'm still laughing at that.)

4. I want one of those jobs where people ask: "Do you actually get paid for doing this?" (Yes, like the host of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, or a judge on Food Network's Chopped, or any of those jobs where you basically hang out and eat.)

5. When someone says to me: "You look familiar. Where have I seen you before?" I like to respond with: "Do you watch porn?" (I don't think I'd ever be brave enough or brazen enough to do that, but it sure is funny.)

6. I tried exercise but I was allergic to it. My skin flushed, and my heart raced. I got sweaty and short of breath. Very dangerous. (And that's why I don't exercise between Thanksgiving and New Year's. After all, no amount of exercise will kill all the calories in holiday meals and Christmas goodies.)

Takeaway Truth

Friday is here, and I've accomplished so little -- but I've been well-fed with Thanksgiving leftovers! Have a great weekend. See you tomorrow with a review of what I've been reading this week.

Adversity by Nancy Goldberg Levine

This morning, I'm welcoming a new friend, Nancy Goldberg Levine. She and I became acquainted earlier this year, and I learned about her personal battle as well as her writing challenges. Her topic today is adversity, and, trust me, she knows too much about the subject.

Who Is Nancy Goldberg Levine?

Nancy writes sweet contemporary romantic comedy, and she has two ebooks available in her Practically Perfect Heroes series: Mr. Short, Dark...& Funny (Practically Perfect Heroes)and Mr. Tall, Tan...& Tasteless (Practically Perfect Heroes).

Presently, Nancy is hard at work on the first book of a new series: Sweeter Than W(h)ine. Nancy is also the author of more than 60 short stories and Tempting Jonah, her first full-length romance novel which was published by a small press but is now out of print.

As you can tell by the titles of her ebooks and her series, Nancy has a heck of a sense of humor. She invites you to visit her blog, Laugh With Me. Find her on Twitter @NancyGLevine.

Adversity
by Nancy Goldberg Levine

Lately, I’ve been reading (or listening to) books where the characters go through plenty of adversity and give their all to finally reach their goal of justice, finding the killer, etc. I’ve also had plenty of adversity myself and have been thinking about it since life intervened, and I got laid off from my day job.

Looking For The Silver Lining

Sometimes, I find that I have to make a negative into a positive. Okay. I’m laid off. I know I’m going back, I just don’t know when. That should give me more time to write.

Since last November, I’ve had to turn a lot of negatives into positives when real life began intervening in a big way. I was halfway through Sweeter Than W(h)ine -- which at the time had a different title, wasn’t a comedy, and the hero had a different profession -- when my computer crashed. I lost everything. I didn’t have a flash drive, or a hard copy. Luckily, my co-workers bought me a flash drive, and I now have hard copies too.

Later, that fateful month, I had knee surgery. The operation was a success. The next day I had a scheduled physical therapy, and I went to sleep. And stayed asleep for five days. I discovered later that the doctors didn’t know if I would wake up. Fortunately, I did finally wake up. I learned that I had pneumonia and had almost died.

Fast Forward

One year later, and I’m doing better. I finished Mr. Short, Dark...& Funny (Practically Perfect Heroes),which began life as 2 short stories that got rejected. (More adversity.) I turned the 2 stories into a book and re-titled it.

Mr. Tall, Tan...& Tasteless (Practically Perfect Heroes)had a similar story. It was originally a novella that had also been rejected. (There's that adversity again.)

After recovering from surgery, I went back to work in May. While I was off though, I had more time to write and explore Indie Publishing. I worked on my existing stories -- expanding and retitling them and in October, published both as ebooks.

But that old adversity just won't leave me alone as is evidenced by the recent layoff. Of course, that means I'll have more time to write. (Looking on that bright side has become a habit.)

What about you? Have you ever had your real life intervene on your writing life? What did you do to turn a negative into a positive? The first 3 people to Comment win copies of Mr. Short, Dark...& Funny (Practically Perfect Heroes).

Takeaway Truth

I hope you'll support Nancy -- and her delightful off-kilter sense of humor. Leave a comment; win a book. Or buy a copy of either of her books.

Attention: Movie Producers

I feel I'm somewhat of an expert about Christmas movies -- that's a nice way of saying I'm addicted to the often schmaltzy movies that dominate the small screen at this time of year. My DVR is set for every Hallmark channel offering.

After viewing so many Christmas movies for several years, I want to say: "Please option my Christmas romance Nobody's Cinderella for a holiday movie."

I hate to brag, but I'm convinced my romantic comedy Nobody's Cinderella would be a perfect holiday movie because it's funny and sexy and involves a man who may, or may not, be Santa. Oh, and there's that whole wish on a Christmas star -- but be careful what you wish for -- theme.

So, anyone who knows a movie producer looking for a great book to adapt for next year's holiday season, take a look at Nobody's Cinderella by Joan Reeves.

Takeaway Truth

Have your people call my people, and we'll do lunch.

Holiday Gifts #1: 826 National

Shoppers, start your engines! It's the season for shopping for that special gift for the holidays.

Each year, I offer hand-picked gift suggestions for the perfect gift for readers and writers. Today's gift suggestions were inspired by an email from Claire and the 826 Crew.

I feature 826 National every Christmas season. I applaud this worthwhile organization that was co-founded by Dave Eggers and Nínive Calegari in 2002. 826 National is an organization of nine non-profit tutoring and writing centers that serves 30,000 students in eight cities across the country. Free one-on-one tutoring attention in our vibrant writing labs empowers students to be playful and imaginative, hone their writing and thinking skills, and flourish as published authors.

Donate And/Or Shop

For philanthropic creative types who want to support the development of young voices — and find some out-of-this-world gifts that give back this holiday season — check out the 826 online store! All proceeds help to fuel our endlessly fun and formative after-school tutoring programs, writing workshops, and field trips for under-resourced youth.

Claire said: "We sell a plethora of items that delight all writers young and old, students, teachers, and even coffee drinkers! Behind every Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the 21st century lies one of our Emergency Novel-Finishing Kits, or at very least our “Are You Absolutely, Positively, Wholeheartedly Ready to Publish Your Novel?” Poster.

"For amazing parents and teachers we’ve crafted the Don’t Forget to Write Collection, featuring over 100 creative writing lessons for elementary and secondary students. For kiddos we have the world famous 826 Pocket Activity Book and Cartoon Activity Book, as well as our declarative Future Author Tees. And we have so much more, including signed benefit books from famous authors, 826 student publications, t-shirts, coffee mugs, snuggies, and tote bags.

Here's a link to take you to the Donation Page. Help 826 and make a Gift Donation in your name or a friend's name.

My Favorite 826 Gift
I have one of these postcards taped above my computer monitor. I give them to writing friends as a little gift. Maybe it's corny, but sometimes I look at it and feel a little boost. I don't know of any writer who thinks what they write is perfect and wonderful in every way.

Just about every writer I know starts a project with great enthusiasm, but eventually we find ourselves slogging through day after day. We're grinding it out to use Tiger Woods's apt description of hanging in there, hole after hole in a golf tournament, enduring with the hope that eventually a point is reached where success is possible.

Takeaway Truth

Make a donation or buy a gift from the Online Gift Shop. You benefit a worthwhile organization, and the lucky gift recipient. You also get an endorphin release from giving to others. Hey, that's a triple win!

Shopping

Are you tired from all that post-Thanksgiving shopping? Do you need to recharge your batteries between now and the official Christmas shopping season that's marked by December 1?

I have two bits of wisdom for you, and both address the appeal shopping holds for women.

The late, great humorist Erma Bombeck said: "Shopping is a woman thing. It's a contact sport like football. Women enjoy the scrimmage, the noisy crowds, the danger of being trampled to death, and the ecstasy of the purchase."

Come on, girls. We all know that ecstasy, don't we?

The fabulous comedienne Rita Rudner said: "Buying something on sale is a very special feeling. In fact, the less I pay for something, the more it is worth to me. I have a dress that I paid so little for that I am afraid to wear it. I could spill something on it, and then how would I replace it for that amount of money?"

Yep, bargains. We're all bargain shoppers. Bet you have something you bought, even though you didn't need it, because the price was so rock-bottom low that you couldn't leave the store without it.

Takeaway Truth

Remember, you Word Slingers and Word Readers, as an anonymous wit pointed out: "Only one shopping day left until tomorrow."

Review: Women Heroes -- A Must Read

Today I'm reviewing a book that left me choked with awe, sadness, admiration, and gratitude. I urge you to read Women Heroes of World War II: 26 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Resistance, and Rescue by Kathryn J. Atwood.

About The Book

The stories of these women who stood up for right against tyranny are organized by country. Young girls, teenagers, and women risked their lives to fight the Nazis in World War II. In everything they did, they knew that their lives were forfeit, but that didn't deter them.

This book is written in such simple language, explaining the historical aspects of World War II -- what country did what and why -- that it's completely accessible for younger readers. Simply and concisely, Kathryn J. Atwood, the author, lays the groundwork for the stories she tells. These are stories that aren't familiar to most, and they are each amazing from the woman radio operator who parachuted into occupied France and transferred crucial messages, the Dutch housewife who hid Jews in her home and was repeatedly interrogated by the Gestapo, a German teenage university student who helped publish an underground newspaper that decried the immoral, heinous acts against humanity.

Move Over Charlie's Angels

These women did it all: sabotage, weapons transport, and assassinations. They lived with danger every moment of their lives. These girls and women should be praised, memorialized, and honored. They should be held up as icons -- role models for girls today. They were bigger action heroes than the fake Charlie's Angels, Lara Croft, or any of the TV and movie female action heroes which are the female heroes most women look to for examples of bravery. The women in this book were real. They lived. They loved. They gave everything in the name of freedom.

Women Heroes is well-researched and includes photographs and a bibliography of relevant books, websites, and films. It is available in a Kindle Edition for $8.77 and a Hardcover Edition for only $13.57.

Takeaway Truth

Gratitude is a feeling or attitude of appreciation or gratefulness in acknowledgment of a benefit received. In this season of Thanksgiving, I am humbled by the sacrifice and bravery of these women, and I am grateful for the benefit received -- freedom.

Dana Taylor: The Power of Gratitude

My guest this morning has a message particularly appropriate for this season of Thanksgiving. Dana Taylor is an author and Reiki Energy Practitioner.

In case you don't know, Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. Based on the idea that an unseen life force energy flows through us. This life force energy is what causes us to be alive. Low life force energy makes us susceptible to illness and the negative effects of stress. High life force energy enhances our ability to be healthy and happy. Reiki therapy is accomplished by the technique of laying on hands.

Dana's work with Reiki influences the stories she writes. Her book, Ain't Love Grand?, won the Golden Quill Best First Book Award in 2005. Her novel Jaguar Jack: A Romantic Adventure is a 2013 EPIC Awards Finalist.

You can find out more about Reiki on Dana's website Supernal Living with Dana Taylor. You can discover more about her writing and the authors who visit her blog at Book Luvin' Babes. Now, please welcome Dana Taylor.

The Power of Gratitude
by Dana Taylor

My experiences as a Reiki practitioner make me increasingly aware of positive and negative vibrational influences. Gratitude is more than an attitude; it is a healing energy. Dr. Masaru Emoto, author of The Hidden Messages in Water, illustrates the power of thought vividly in his landmark work photographing ice crystals. (Like the photograph shown here.) The Hidden Messages in Water shows before-and-after photographs of water exposed to positive or negative phrases. Ugly thoughts produce ugly crystals; uplifting thoughts produce beautiful crystals.

Gratitude changes ordinary water into multifaceted crystal jewels. If a single word pasted on the side of a bottle can cause such a transformation, think of what a focused meditation of gratitude can have on the molecules of our bodies.

In Reiki, we believe that our healing energy follows the intention of our thoughts. Having a "grateful heart" is the first step toward having a "healthy heart." The next time you’re feeling ill, try concentrating on a few things you can be thankful for. At the very least, gaze out a window and be grateful for wind, clouds, and sky. Calling in those higher energies will raise your frequency and your basic level of health.

A national holiday that calls for an attitude of Thanksgiving is healing to the country. There are always challenges ahead, but coming together in a grateful attitude even one day a year lifts our collective consciousness. Practice a Gratitude Attitude for a healthier, happier life.

To celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday my book, Supernal Stories, is free at Amazon November 22-24th. This collection of short stories, essays, and excerpts is largely inspired by my work with healing energy.

Takeaway Truth

Supernal means "from on high, heavenly, ethereal." Want to have a positive impact on your life force? This book just might help.

12 Thankful Authors

T'is the season to give thanks. So, dear Readers and Writers, here's an even dozen of your favorite authors who want to tell you what they are thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day.

(If you want some holiday reading, these books are perfect.)

E. Ayers, author of A Love Song in Wyoming (Creeds Crossing), is grateful this Thanksgiving for all the wonderful friends she has who have stood by her in difficult times and shared her joys in the good times.

Juli D. Revezzo, author of The Artist's Inheritance (Antique Magic), is grateful this Thanksgiving for all my friends, family, and readers who've bolstered me up this year.

Stephanie Queen, author of The Throwbacks (The Scotland Yard Exchange Program), is grateful this Thanksgiving for living the life of a novelist after all these years of dreaming about it.

Donna Fasano, author of Her Fake Romance, is grateful this Thanksgiving for family, friends, and the awesome life she's been blessed with.

Nancy Goldberg Levine, author of Mr. Short, Dark...& Funny (Practically Perfect Heroes), is grateful this Thanksgiving to be alive and for my new kitten, Jay Galloway III.

Elaine Raco Chase, author of Double Occupancy, is grateful for the support of a wonderful family and extended family of friends, who are there no matter what.

Dana Taylor, author of Ain't Love Grand?, is grateful this Thanksgiving for the Healing Power of Gratitude and Humor.

Christie Craig, New York Times Bestselling novelist and author of Love, Laughter and a Little Murder: 3 Novels by Christie Craig, a book set of three humorous romances, is grateful this Thanksgiving for her family’s ability to laugh their way through life’s hurdles -- because if you can laugh at it, you can live with it.

J.D. Faver, author of BAD VIBES: The Edge of Texas ~Book 3 (Romantic Thriller), is grateful this Thanksgiving for the health and well-being of her children and grandchildren, especially that her son had no major damage to his home in Freeport, NY, during Hurricane Sandy.

Janelle Taylor, NY Times Bestselling novelist and author of Necessary Evil, is grateful this Thanksgiving for family, friends, health, god, our country and my career.

Cynthia Wicklund, author of the The Garden Series Box Set, is grateful this Thanksgiving for the Indie writers who have transformed the publishing landscape. What a thrill to be part of it!

I'll take the last slot here because I'm going to be long-winded. Joan Reeves -- that's me -- author of the Christmas Romance Nobody's Cinderella (Book 1 of San Antone Two-Step), is, of course, thankful for her writing career and for all who have helped her get to where she is today in the writing and publishing business.


Stepping Away From 3rd Person

I want to say how particularly thankful I am for a year without surgeries, for having the good fortune to be married to the most wonderful man in the world, and for being blessed with such a wonderful family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving.

Takeaway Truth

May today be just a fraction of the bountiful blessings headed your way.

Plan Black Friday In Advance

The Christmas retail season begins earlier and earlier every year. By the beginning of October, I saw holiday decorations in several stores. That just seems to smack of economic desperation, doesn't it? Soon enough, all the retailers kick off their Christmas sales.

My Version of Black Friday

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and the next day officially begins the Christmas shopping season. I guess I'm different from most people because you couldn't pay me enough to hit a mall on Black Friday. It's not that I hate shopping. It's just that I prefer my own brand of Black Friday -- watching Christmas movies on TV, making my first batch of pralines and Texas Trash to send the kids, and curling up with a Christmas romance.

Lazy Friday

I'll probably let my fingers do some shopping online. I find I buy more online with every month that passes. Other than that, I'm going to settle in front of the TV with my Kindle beside me. Anyone who stops by for a break from the crazy shopping will be offered some homemade dark chocolate pecan bonbons like my mom used to make and a cup of espresso.

That's Black Friday at its finest. Excuse me while I go check out the Christmas movies scheduled for Friday.

Takeaway Truth

However you choose to spend Black Friday, have fun.

7 Tips For Writing Good Reader Reviews

The formal book review with its formal parameters seems to have gone the way of daily milk delivery, newspaper subscriptions, and the dinosaur.

Now we have reader reviews. Many of them are thoughtful. Many of them are like snarky cocktail party chatter. Yet, many readers never post a review.

Why?

They don't know what to say. They're afraid they'll get attacked by readers with different views. They don't see why they should take time to do this.I'd like to give the average book loving reader some tips.

What To Say

1. Don't worry about summarizing the book. There's already a product description on the book's webpage.

2. In an online review to be posted on the book's webpage, you just need to say how you felt about the book and why.

If you liked the book, say so. Then say why.

For example, if you were posting a review of Gone With The Wind, you might say: I liked this novel because it's set on a plantation in Georgia as the North and South are on the brink of war, and I love books set during the Civil War. Or, you might say, The heroine of this book is Scarlett O'Hara, a spoiled, head-strong young woman, and I like the kind of conflict created by women like that. Or, you might say, I like to read anything that is historically based and well-researched.

If you don't like the book, say so. Then explain why.

Using the above example, you might say, I didn't care for this book because I just don't care for books set in the Civil War. Or, you might say, I didn't like this book because I thought the character was self-absorbed and arrogant. I prefer to read books where the heroine is a likable woman.

3. Never include “spoilers,” elements of the book that are to be surprises, in a review.

4. Give your opinion of the book as it is written, not how you think it should have been written.

5. Do NOT allow your personal prejudices or attitudes about the author, the premise, the theme of the book, the manner in which it was published, or anything else not related to the book to intrude in your review.

Please don't ever make personal remarks about the author, i.e. anyone would have to be a moron to write a book like this.

To paraphrase what Danielle Steele once said about reviews: "Writing a book, getting it published, and getting bad reviews is like making a beautiful cake and someone comes along and sits on it."

6. Summarize your thoughts about the book and feel free to make recommendations such as, if you like southern humor, you'll love this book.

7. Always be respectful of the author and his time and effort. This doesn't mean suppress your true opinion. It does mean to present your opinion in a respectful, professional manner as if you were talking in person to the author.

Take The High Road & Ignore Those Traveling The Low Road

If you post reviews and someone makes a comment on it, for instance, This person is an idiot if he thinks this is a good book. (Or a bad book.) Don't answer back. Ignore the comment. Ignore that person. A fight can't start without 2 combatants.

Why Post Reviews

Believe it or not, writers try to learn from their reviews. If a thoughtful review mentions something the author is doing particularly well, she'll do more of it. If it mentions something she failed at, she'll try to improve. Good reviews boost an author during the long process of writing another book. Bad reviews may bring her down, but if they contain some insight, then they too are valuable.

Be responsible. Be objective. Be polite.

I think a lot of the acid-tinged reviews I see wouldn't be posted if someone had to say all that to the author's face and/or would have to sign their real name to the review.

Takeaway Truth

Please keep in mind that no one ever sets out to write a bad book. If you see a book in print, then you can bet the author spent long hours working on that book. Authors know that not everyone will like their "baby," but they expect literary criticism to be handled in an objective, friendly way.