francene--blog. Year 2013
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Nov 16th

11/16/2013

 
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The coldest weather of the year so far is about to hit parts of the country in UK as Arctic winds bring flurries of snow and widespread frost, with temperatures dipping as low as -3C. The weather is expected to be picturesque rather than cause serious disruption.  However, long-range forecasters predict a horror winter ahead in Britain with months of freezing winds and heavy snow.

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Maya Angelou

Okay. We've established we can't change the weather. What can we do to alter our attitude? Enjoy the diversity of nature. Look forward to the next season when buds form on bare branches. Most of all, appreciate the warmth and security of our home. There are so many people in the world right now who lack basic protection from the elements.

Despite this, there's a chill in my heart. I've blogged every day this year in the hope that my readers will appreciate my writing and choose to buy one of the five books displayed in the sidebar of my page. Four hours a day have been wasted with a goal I couldn't reach. Perhaps I should shift my perspective. Or stop blogging and concentrate on writing with these spare hours. I have three more books waiting to be edited.

I ask you, dear reader; has your curiosity been aroused enough to take a look at the first novel, Still Rock Water? Solstice Publishing have placed the novel in their paranormal category—and rightly so. It's also a love story. A tale about how a woman conquers her insecurities to find the strength lying inside. How a woman can subjugate herself for the sake of someone she loves. How she can never help that person unless he wants her to. And how positive thinking can influence so much more than we know.

You can see it on Amazon and take a peek inside here.  Click on my name there and you'll see my bio and list of books.

Francene,

who wishes her time on earth wasn't drawing nearer at such an alarming rate, who needs to stay alert to achieve each goal, and who cares about you.


Andrea link
11/15/2013 06:46:48 pm

Actually, funnily enough, I was reading one of your posts yesterday and thought your book looked really interesting. I may even have thought about buying one if we weren't in the middle of moving home. Too many boxes to pack to read a book! So, I would say, don't give up. Maybe there's some other way you can use blogging to promote your book if that's the purpose of your blog. I'm new to blogging but it seems just in the short time I've been doing it that it does work. And your book looks great. I may be back in a couple of months, so don't disappear! Love to you on your journey.

Francene Stanley link
11/15/2013 07:21:31 pm

Thank you for such a supportive comment. It does me so much good to receive encouragement. I know how hard ti is when you're packing up for a move. Some say it's one of life's major traumas.

Rick Bylina link
11/15/2013 07:08:35 pm

I understand the lament. But FB is just one of many avenues an author needs to attack (and that is the right word) on a repetitive basis to build support, readership, and drive sales. One suggestion: readings. I've slowly begun doing more readings and have seen a slow rise in sales face-to-face and online. The road is long to achieve JKRowling-like figures, but diversity of approaches helps. Ask yourself, who would appreciate my books? Now, go target those readers specifically. Party on, Garth! Enjoy the brutal cold of the winter for it can reduce the number of mosquitoes.

Francene Stanley link
11/15/2013 07:24:10 pm

Thank you for your helpful hints, Rick. You should be asleep right now, which makes your encouragement all the more precious. You deserve every success. However, a disabled woman without transport is like a tortoise on it's back.

Rick Bylina
11/15/2013 07:48:29 pm

Then we must find ways to make the mountain come to you.

1) Articles for online or paper mags related to your research that relate to the topics in your books.
2) Teaming with someone in an organization related to a topic in your book (Egyptology, astrology, paranormal, Romance Writers) to help get the word out about what you know and your book.
3) News article about you in the local paper. LOCAL AUTHOR WRITES FROM THE HEART
4) Adopt 40 cats - LOCAL AUTHOR GIVES AWAY A CAT TO BOOK BUYERS
5) Join more groups online that identify with your topics.
6) Cap your FB entries at two hours instead of four hours to explore these other opportunities.
7) Have you donated books to the local library for more name recognition?
8) Start "THE ONLINE SOCIETY OF FRANCENE" to organize all the Francenes and get recognition.
9) Send more books to targeted reviewers who have greater weight than Rick Bylina or Carol Kean. Plead your case if necessary.
10) Find a book show (online, radio, television) and bug them for an interview.
Yes, I'm awake. I'm old. I pee. I can't go back to sleep. I write. I drink coffee. Damn, why did I do that?

Later gator.

Rick Bylina
11/15/2013 08:08:59 pm

Sorry about multiple posts, but it was telling me I had an error. Who knew the error was in the error message about the error that created the error of too many posts of the same thing erroneously.

Kama link
11/16/2013 02:34:34 am

My first thought was gosh hope I can get to Spain in December lol. My second thought was ohh those are your books. I had noticed the books but had not registered that they were written by you. This is possibly this is because your blogs have not bought my attention to the books but to other issues. That is not a bad thing though because it means I enjoy your writing enough not to be distracted by the others things on your page. Maybe if you were to use a line from one of the books as a focus for a post then you could bring the attention back to the book? Just an idea. Now I know that the are written by you I will purchase one in December for my trip to Spain or for being snowed in :)

Jewel Williams link
11/16/2013 04:25:22 am

This is my first time to your blog, and I am really surprised by your writing concern and need to refocus. Understand that your writing I not in vain. In your blog post, make I an announcement of a twitter chat, or a virtual book tour. Keep your audience in the loop. Your writing directs your readers. Much success!

Gena Livings link
11/16/2013 04:59:51 am

I truly believe that everything I do serves a higher purpose even if the outcome isn't what I imagined it to be in the beginning. I just keep doing what I do because I'm "inspired" to do it and with the voice of inspiration motivating me - comes the "knowing" that all is well.
Healthy blessings

Alana link
11/16/2013 05:01:53 am

I see some interesting comments on this post, which I hope are of help to you. I can't give you any advice, only encouragement. I'm not a published author, not even close. In my various meanderings through the Internet, though, I have seen where various authors use blogging as a means to put their books out there - by giving away free content. (The free content could be advice on how to write, promotions of other authors, contests where someone wins an ebook of one of your novels-to enter they must like your blog, follow you on Twitter, and maybe o other things that would put your name out in front of them, that kind of thing.) I enjoy your posts greatly because they are so well researched and I can well believe it takes you many hours to research and write one. I hope you can find a way to keep writing and make your blog-every-day-in-2013 goal without spending that much time-which must drain all of your energy. Have you thought about publishing excerpts of a WIP on your blog, the way Sophie Bowens, for example, does? Would this work for you?

Sophie Bowns link
11/16/2013 07:03:01 pm

I have so say that I am dreading this! I hate the cold enough as it is without having to endure Arctic winds? Do they think it will be colder than winter 2010?


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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