I am so thrilled to be here! By Peggy Jaeger

Hello and Happy New Year, dear Readers.

My name is Peggy Jaeger I can truly say I am grateful and thrilled to be here.

My tagline says I write Contemporary Romance books and RomComs about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them. If I can make you cry on one page and bring you out of the sadness with tears rolling down your cheeks from laughter the next, I figure I’ve done my job as a writer.

That’s a pretty tall order some days, but I strive for it. 

My books have been traditionally published but in 2019 I released my first indie romance. For years I’d resisted the pull to self-publish, but during an enforced recovery period from surgery, I thought now would be the best time to figure out if I could do it. So I spent eight weeks watching videos, listening to podcasts, and picking the brains of fellow indie authors until I felt confident enough to release that little gem into the bookreading world.

I live in nature’s backyard in the beautiful New England state of New Hampshire, and when I say that, I’m not kidding. I live in the woods, surrounded by 75-foot evergreen and elm trees, woodland animals in furry and wild abundance, and, at this time of year, several feet of snow. 

 
Family and food play huge roles in my stories because I believe that nothing holds a family structure together better than sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, I bring all topics of daily life into my books: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents I longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through my books, I’ve created the families I wanted as that lonely child.

I came to the publishing industry a little later in life, since my very first book was published at the age of 55. 5 years and 20 books later and here I am: fulfilled in the second act of my life and darn happy to be able to live my lifelong dream of being a published author.

This month's topic is HUMOR and we are charged with telling you something funny about ourselves, our family or friends, or even something amusing we read or in one of our books. I've got a little gem planned for January 24th for you, but I will tell you something personal about me that may make you chuckle. I have what is referred to as logorrhea. The true definition is extreme loquacity. My husband refers to it as don't-know-when-to stop-talking-itis. And I am afflicted with it to the max!!! You can probably tell that just from this blog. I love to talk, and I will talk a subject to death. But I also love to listen to other people talk, so I'm not as narcissistic as the definition of logorrhea would tell you.

Too much TMI? I guess I'll find out from any comments left, hee hee.

I look forward to blogging with the plethora of talented authors here- I’m actually a bit intimidated ( in a good way) - and interacting with new readers and writers. Thank you so much for allowing me to rant (!) and until we meet again, it’s been a pleasure.

Until next time ~ Peg

Oh, and if you’re looking for me, I’m usually here:

 Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me// Triber// BookMe // Monkey me //Watch me

Humor isn't always funny

Hi, I’m Judith Ashley, author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, soul nourishing romantic women’s fiction that honors pagan spiritual practices. My stories show you what life could be like if you had a place like The Circle where you are unconditionally accepted, supported and loved. And where, with this support, you do overcome obstacles and find your happily-ever-after.

Romancing The Genres’s January 2020 topic is about humor. We’ve challenged ourselves to tell a funny story about family, friends or perhaps a funny scene in a book we’ve written or read. And, as you follow the Genre-istas through this month as well as check in on our Romantic Comedy Author guests each weekend, I’m sure you’ll be entertained to the point of at least chuckles if not outright laughter.

I was raised in a family with an excellent sense of humor. Memories of people laughing so hard tears coursed down their cheeks are many. So I start this post from the position of laughter being a good thing, agreeing with the saying “Laughter is the best medicine.”

Imagine my surprise when I scoured those memories I just mentioned for The Story to tell in this post and nothing showed up. Somehow trying to write about the time my mom and I got the giggles or, according to my dad, hysterically laughed, in church and “the look” he gave us did not translate to the page.

A warning: while I do believe laughter heals, I also know some people weaponized humor and laughter. Talking about writing this post with my best friend who visited a couple of weeks ago firmed my decision to take this tact with this post. Over the course of her several day visit, we talked about the political climate in the United States and other parts of the world. As we shared our perspectives, we both said pretty much the same thing. Humor can be deadly, laughter can harm.

In a scene in Book 1 in The Sacred Women’s Circle series, Lily: The Dragon and The Great Horned Owl, my heroine Lily Hughes is explaining to the hero, Jackson Montgomery, that her first husband would say something cruel and then add “I’m just joking.” Underneath his denials, she knew he did mean what he’d said. If she or someone else challenged him, his pat response said looking and sounding wounded was “You can’t believe I meant that.”

Like Lily, I’ve been in situations where someone has said something untoward and couched it as “teasing” or “joking.” Then when I said something about what they said was hurtful, the comeback was “What was wrong with you?” And that was often followed by a remark designed to embarrass or humiliate.

Unless we’ve buried our inner knowing so deep, we’ve lost contact with it, we do “know” when someone’s joke is an actual attack. And when that inner knowing tells us the other person is serious what can we do?

How do we defend ourselves?

How do we take exception when someone weaponizes humor?

Can that be done without becoming the target ourselves?

In this political climate having strategies to protect oneself from “teasing” or “just joking around” or “you can’t believe I was serious” statements is important.

My best friend was in line when she heard two people “joking” about shooting someone living in a car. She turned and said “That’s not okay.” And, that’s all she said before facing forward again.

It behooves us all to know where that line is; that line where we will stand firm; where we will state out loud “That’s not okay” where we will challenge the ‘teaser’ and call him/her on their word choices.

Words do matter. And while I may believe most of the time that “words can never hurt me” unless I allow them to, that belief is not held by everyone.

Let’s help each other create a rich and varied arsenal of responses to those who weaponize one of our best “medicines” that gets us through the tough times.

A word of caution: do be aware of your environment. Can you stand firm and be safe yourself. This is not about putting ourselves in danger but, instead, letting people know that the joke isn’t funny.

I’m adopting “That’s not okay” but also adding “Are you serious? You’d really in this case kill someone who is living in a car?”

How would you or do you deal with people and in situations where humor is weaponized? By sharing, you make all of us stronger in an effort to keep humor as one of our best medicines.

You can find all of my books at your favorite e-book vendor. Be sure to ask your local library if you’d prefer to read my books through that resource.

Learn more about Judith's The Sacred Women’s Circle series at JudithAshleyRomance.com

Follow Judith on Twitter: JudithAshley19

Check out Judith’s Windtree Press author page.

You can also find Judith on FB! 

© 2020 Judith Ashley

2020 First Blog

By Robin Weaver

Happy New Year, Everyone!!

This month's theme, a funny story about family and friends, had me stumped, until I remembered an event from many, many Christmas's ago.

So… We exchanged gifts at the home of my parents’ Rook partners (Rook is a card game not always know but extremely popular in some circles). Those partners had a multitude of kids, to include twins who were a mere year older than me--but a decade of sophistication in their minds.  Anyway, their gift to me was a pair of pettipants—it even sounds gross, right?  Well, pettipants were a type of undergarment--a slip in pants form.  In my mind, they were granny-panties.  Needless to say, I did my best to hide my disappointment.

A few months later, I was at the home of the twins again for a sleepover.  We decided we’d have the perfect slumber party ambiance (we probably didn’t know what ambiance meant back then, but that was the idea) if we could put something over the lamp—something colorful.

Ah-ha.  Finally a use for those darn granny-not-thongs my mom insisted I include in my overnight case.  The pettipants were red, and did I mention, covered in hideous beige ruffles? But, oh Victoria’s Secret, did they cast a nice pink glow to the room.

Until, ten minutes later…

We started to smell something.  E-gads, what was burning?  Yep, it was the petti-pants-on-fire. The beige ruffles were antiqued with a smoky edge. 

Well, I couldn’t very well take those home.  I’d get into a million kinds of trouble.  Nope, the poor pettipants would have to “get lost.”  After maintaining a straight face through multiple parental interrogations, I was convinced, the pettipants were petti-past.

The following Christmas, I was a freshman in high school and could finally participate in the Secret Santa gag gifts.  The entire student body (well, not counting the regulars who routinely skipped class and goofy school events) was gathered in the main study hall around the newly chopped and decorated cedar tree.  I tore into my package the minute I received the red and silver shiny box.

Yep—you guessed it.  One pair of O’ Holy (and I do mean holey) Night Pettipants!

Wishing you every happiness in 2020.

Rw

New Year's Traditions from Around the World by Sarah Raplee

LISTEN UP, READERS! I went down the research rabbit hole and this blog post is the result. Be forewarned. (Reprinted from 2016)

Although many countries and peoples around the world celebrate New Years’ Day on January 1^st (according to the Gregorian Calendar,) not every country nor every religion follows the Gregorian Calendar. Named after Pope Gregory XIII, the Gregorian Calendar was officially introduced in Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain in 1582 to replace the Julian calendar, which was considered too inaccurate.

Interestingly, many countries that are not predominantly Christian use the Gregorian Calendar for government business and other secular activities. And lots of predominantly Christian countries include many citizens following different religious or cultural systems. It stands to reason that billions of people observe two different New Years’ celebrations. (As a member of the Baha’I Faith, I am one of those people.)

Most of the Gregorian New Year’s celebrations take place on New Years’ Eve and involve fireworks. Sydney, Australia, puts on the world’s biggest fireworks display at the waterfront near the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

A less-widely-known observance occurs in Rio De Janeiro. The traditional celebration of Reveillon includes millions of people standing along Copacabana Beach. All dress in white and throw flowers into the ocean to honor Iemanjá, the goddess of the sea, according to the African religion of Candomblé. There’s also live music, dancing and a wonderful fireworks display, along with many traditions and superstitions. And parties! Reveillon is also observed in New Orleans.

REVEILLON IN RIO

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is Scotland’s world-famous New Year’s festival, presenting three days of spectacular events. Festivals, parades, street parties and concerts lead up to fireworks bringing in the new year. The celebration lasts through New Year’s Day.

WHEN NEW YEAR'S DAY DOESN'T FALL ON JAN. 1

Baha’i New Year, Naw Ruz, marks the Vernal (spring) Equinox, when day and night are equal in length and spring begins in the northern hemisphere. For members of the Baha’I Faith, work and school are suspended. The new year marks the end of the month of fasting and is usually celebrated with a festive get-together including prayers, dinner, music, dancing, and other fun activities. There are few fixed rules for observing Naw-Rúz. Bahá'ís all over the world celebrate it as a festive day, according to local custom.

BAHA'I NAW RUZ DANCERS
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Pagan New Year, Midwinter (or Winter Solstice) Many Pagans consider the festival of Midwinter, or Winter Solstice (usually Dec. 21st) as a celebration of the transition from the old year to the new.  In the past month, the sun was ebbing. In the new month, the sun waxes brighter. This reversal symbolizes the rebirth of the solar god and foretells the coming of the fertile seasons. The ancient megalithic sites of Newgrange and Stonehenge are precisely aligned with the Winter Solstice sunrise and sunset. Practices vary, but usually include offerings, feasting, and gift-giving. Tree decorating and bringing evergreen boughs, sprigs and wreaths into the home are common customs.

Muslim New Year, Al-Hijra, marks the Hijra (or Hegira) in 622 CE when the Prophet Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina, and set up the first Islamic state. The date marks the beginning of Islam as a community in which spiritual and earthly life were completely integrated. There is no specific religious ritual required on this day, but Muslims will think about the general meaning of Hijra, and regard this as a good time for 'New Year Resolutions'.

CHINESE NEW YEAR

Chinese New Year The Gregorian calendar is used in China for civil purposes in modern times. The Chinese Calendar is used to determine important festival dates, such as Chinese New Year, as well as auspicious dates, such as wedding dates. Chinese New Year is celebrated for fifteen days and falls  between January 21 and February 21 on the Gregorian Calendar. This is considered the most important festival of the year, with many traditions. People go to the temple and pray for good luck in the coming year and to have their fortunes told. They clean their homes to sweep out the bad luck that has accumulated in the past year. Red is the New Year’s color, representing good fortune. People hang red decorations and wear red clothes. At midnight when the New Year begins, people set of firecrackers that are loud and mostly lit on the ground. The loud noises are thought to scare the bad spirits away, to prevent them from bringing bad luck.

Buddhist New Year For three days after the first full moon of April, Buddhists celebrate New Year’s Day in certain countries. In other countries, the New Year is celebrated around the full moon in January. The time it is celebrated depends on the country and people. For example, people in Tibet celebrate at the full moon of February, while people in China, Vietnam and Korea celebrate at the end of January or the beginning of February. Customs and traditions vary in different countries and among different forms of Buddhism as well. For all Buddhists, visits to temples or monasteries are important. All include feasting and merrymaking.

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S(S)!!!

2020 Predictions from ALLi's Debbie Young and Friends

NOTE: ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors) is revamping their website, so links to ALLi's web pages in this post will 'go live' on Jan.2nd or 3rd, depending on what time zone you live in. ~Judith

By Debbie Young. Indie Author & Ambassador for the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi)

Debbie Young’s Author Website: http://www.authordebbieyoung.com

ALLi Self-publishing Advice Center Blog:  http://www.selfpublishingadvice.com

ALLi Membership Website http://www.allianceindependentauthors.org

With a growing number of choices and opportunities available to indie authors during 2019, it’s easy for us to feel bewildered and overwhelmed. To help you decide your priorities for 2020, here are my predictions for what next year will bring to the ever-changing self-publishing landscape, with a little help from my colleagues at the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) www.allianceindependentauthors.org.

Self-publishing Ebooks

With ever more aggregators making it easier to reach more readers around the world, more indies will “go wide”, ie publish on multiple platforms, despite the lure of page-read income from Amazon’s Unlimited subscription reading service. The general acceptance that you now have to “pay to play” on Amazon by investing in AMS advertising has unnerved even those previously 100% committed to Select.

Sacha Black, manager of ALLi’s Self-publishing Advice Center blog (www.selfpublishingadvice.org)  observes: “I’ve noted a trend in larger indies who have been exclusive or with a narrow focus starting to look wide – not only with books but also with products and income streams generally. Whatever the big indies do, the masses eventually follow.”

Self-Publishing Print Books

Until now, ALLi has recommended that indie authors publish their print books simultaneously with KDP Print and IngramSpark (more on why here: https://selfpublishingadvice.org/kdp-print-ingram-spark-paperbacks/), but I’m keeping a close eye on another print-on-demand service. The slick and user-friendly aggregator Draft2Digital, an ALLi Partner member, has just started piloting a print book service - one to watch in 2020. Read more about the pilot scheme here: https://draft2digital.com/blog/d2d-print-now-in-beta-heres-what-you-need-to-know/

Self-publishing Audio Books

In 2020, most authors will accept that self-publishing is no longer just about ebooks and print, but that audio is an essential part of the mix.  Although audio is expensive to publish, and relatively slow to repay the substantial initial outlay, the public’s thirst for podcasts proves a ready-made habit for listening at their leisure.

ALLi’s Multimedia manager Howard Lovy reports; “In the battle between the eyes and ears, the ears have it. More content is being listened to through podcasts and audiobooks as our devices come along with us everywhere in our busy lives. We’re all going to have to think about how our work sounds.”

In 2020, authors would be wise to take the potential of audio into account even as they write their first drafts. Reading your work aloud has always been a useful part of the self-editing process. Now there’s another reason to do so: to test it will work as an audiobook.

The Impact of New Technology

I can’t write about the new decade without mentioning technology– although I confess AI etc goes over my head! So I’ll turn to ALLi’s News Editor, Dan Holloway, for his predictions:

“AI will continue to increase in profile, but there will be lots of unjustified hype, so treat most AI announcements with caution. We are still a long way from it being really useful in helping us as writers find our voice, so I think most of the applications will be marketing based, like PublishDrive’s Savant. Blockchain is popping up again, but I’m not sure whether this is genuinely post-hype or an aftershock of the initial hype. The most exciting thing for me is VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality) – from a storytelling point of view it’s like the world’s biggest sweet shop is opening up on our doorstep.”

Marketing Self-published Books

For many indies, 2019 was the first year that they had ventured into substantial paid advertising campaigns, not only with AMS (Amazon Marketing Services), but also with Bookbub and Facebook.

Each of these services requires a significant financial investment with no guaranteed return. While many authors have made money or broken even on their ads, others have lost money and given up. The unpredictability of Amazon ads in particular makes it a nerve wracking

process: two identical ads, set up a day apart, can for no apparent reason yield completely different results, one flying, the other bombing. In 2020, learn as much as you can about each platform before making your investment.

ALLi Moderator David Penny also counsels planning ahead for other means of reaching your readers:

“As ads become both more expensive and less effective, authors will be forced to explore alternative means of reaching people. This could mean the resurgence of some of the old methods and the even greater importance of building your own list.”

In 2020, authors will be paying more attention to the state of their list and trying to make it work harder for them. But a word of caution. In 2019, Mailchimp, a longstanding favourite with indie authors, radically changed its terms and conditions. Check you’re happy with the terms offered by your current provider, especially if your planned growth will require you to step up to a more expensive subscription category.

How to Grow Your Mailing List in 2020

So, how to grow your list? Newsletter swaps are big at the moment, although I query whether that bubble will burst as readers accumulate more ebooks on special offer or free than they can reasonably consume. Use newsletter swaps sparingly and appropriately so as not to devalue your newsletter.

Another increasingly important tool will be a mailing list magnet representative of your work to lure in new readers and to maintain the loyalty of longstanding subscribers.

Content marketing in general – sharing quality information and material relevant to your target readers -  is also set for a revival, not least because it does not require a huge budget or risk. It’s also enjoyable as it plays to your strengths and your passions, rather than forcing you to step outside your comfort zone. Find out more about content marketing here: https://selfpublishingadvice.org/content-marketing-for-fiction-and-nonfiction/

Your 2020 Vision

But above all else, in 2020, focus. Prioritise your key aims, rather than trying to do everything, because that way madness lies. Ring-fence your writing time to keep growing and refreshing your catalogue.   And above all, be true to yourself.

Last word to Orna Ross:

“Drop what everyone else tells you you should be doing and go creative.”

Find out how and why here:  https://selfpublishingadvice.org/creative-self-publishing/

I wish you a happy and successful 2020 – and above all, keep writing!

Debbie Young – Bio

Debbie Young is UK Ambassador for the Alliance of Independent Authors, the global nonprofit for professional self-publishing authors. She is also a prolific indie author, with two growing series of cozy mystery novels, the Sophie Sayers Village Mysteries, starting with Best Murder in Show, and the new Staffroom at St Bride’s series, starting with Secrets at St Bride’s. Her fiction is inspired by the English Cotswold village in which she has lived for most of her adult life.

She has also self-published three collections of short stories, two of essays, and some self-help books, and writes for local community magazines. She speaks at bookish events far and wide, runs the Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival (www.hulitfest.com) and two local writing groups, and is a regular guest on BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s Book Club.

She is never bored.

www.authordebbieyoung.com

Twitter: @DebbieYoungBN

Instagram: www.instagram.com/debbieyoungauthor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDebbieYoung/