Welcome to the round up of posts on Smorgasbord you may have missed this week.
It would be comforting to see the numbers of new Covid infections coming down as the vaccinations are rolled out, but nearly 900,000 people worldwide were reported in just one day on Friday.. taking the total to over 146 million so far and over 3 million deaths. Personally it will be a long time before I am tempted to travel despite many European countries opening up for tourists this summer, some like Spain with no requirement for masks on crammed beaches. Of course those vaccinated are not immune to catching the virus in whatever variant it is hiding in at the time, and whilst Spain and other countries may not see the fallout from these trips abroad, their home countries will.
We have restrictions still in place for non-essential travel in Ireland but public demand is likely to loosen that necessary mandate for the summer months. We personally are more than happy to remain where we are and I am afraid we do not want any visitors however much we love them, staying with us. Vaccinations are definitely part of the solution but continued safety precautions are also going to be essential for far longer than we anticipated. I hope that others will consider staying at home and enjoying what is on the doorstep and leaving more time before leaping into someone else’s backyard.
On a brighter note.. this week the sun has been shining and I have spent time in the garden catching up on my reading which was long overdue.
Podcasts – Marketing and Pleasure.
I also had the pleasure of being interviewed by Rebecca Budd for her Tea, Toast and Trivia Podcast –
The reason I am including this in the round up is to encourage more authors and bloggers to add podcasts to their marketing options and reach a new audience for their writing.. and to enjoy as it is great fun too.
About Rebecca Budd who has a other wonderful blogs including Clanmother – Lady Budd – And On The Road Book Club
I was given the title, Clanmother, September 2008, when I was travelling the Scottish Highlands with an audacious collection of young people who came from all over the world to join an expedition to the misty Isle of Skye. I was the oldest woman on the tour so the title was appropriate. What was more surprising was that I liked the label – it was catchy, spirited and encompassed the next stage in my life. It was my turn to grow old. I stood at Glencoe, breathing the chilled air, memorizing, for future recall, the rugged terrain covered with proverbial heather. There was certainty in my thoughts. This was going to be my most profound and daring adventure.
I want to share this journey with other, like-minded individuals – young, old, or in-between. It is an exploration that will take many turns as life advances. Many say that wisdom comes from the aging process. I am not ready to accept that premise as I have learned from children. What I do know, is that connection is the greatest gift of all. Clanmother is about a backward look forward!
We talked about book marketing, obesity and life in general and the time flew by.. A wonderful experience and I am looking forward to sharing the interview with you in coming weeks.
I have also been catching up with previous podcasts over the week on Rebecca Soundcloud with more to enjoy, including from some of your favourites from the Cafe and Bookstore: Liz Gauffreau, Paul Andruss, Teagan Geneviene, Robbie Cheadle, Darlene Foster, Shehanne Moore and D. Wallace Peach.
You can sign up to Soundcloud with your email or by linking to Facebook etc, and it means you can share the interview and comment to your own social media.
Because of the care taking with editing the interview before broadcast (thanks to sound engineer and editor, Rebeccas’s husband Don) the resulting broadcast is top notch.
I love radio as a medium and it was wonderful to get back on the air. I know from passed conversations that many of you are reluctant to take the plunge. But you are in safe hands with Rebecca, and it is not live so you don’t have to worry if you fluff your lines. It is very relaxed and enjoyable. I do recommend that if you are an author who would like your books to reach a wider audience that you get in touch at the link above.
Meet the Authors
Over the last few weeks I have been sharing the bios and books of authors who have joined the Cafe and Bookstore over the last six months. In May I will be revisiting all the other authors in both the Cafe and the Children’s Reading Room and updating their bios for promotional posts going forward, social media links, covers and most recent reviews to share in posts throughout the summer.
I am in and out of Amazon UK and US in particular and Goodreads to check on reviews for the authors in the cafe and to check for new books. There are quite a few new books that I have to search for because they are not on the author page. So in preparation for the new series here is a checklist you might find useful in updating your online platforms.
- Make sure your up to date bio is on your country of origin and also Amazon US and UK as the main English speaking sites.
- Check that you claim any new books you have released in the last few weeks or months through Author central so that potential readers are not chasing all over the place to find them.. and they can see your complete portfolio in one place.
- If you have a Goodread Author page please do the same.
- If you don’t have a Goodreads Author page then I highly recommend that you do. This is the one place that you can showcase all your reviews from any country and worth offering this link to readers to place their reviews as well as their regional Amazon. This is also the place readers who have borrowed the book, been gifted or have read an advance copy can post their reviews by-passing Amazon’s buy to review policy. (Despite the fact Amazon owns Goodreads!)
- If you have changed the cover for a book make sure that it is changed on Amazon and Goodreads.
- Just a reminder that you need to update your bios on Facebook pages, Twitter and other social media platforms when you have a new book. Don’t forget to pin a tweet about your new releases.. and thanks to Hugh Roberts who recently reminded me that you need to change your pinned tweet every week or so and anyone wishing to share it can only do so once. If someone retweets a post of mine I will reciprocate by tweeting their pinned tweet… it is a marketing tool that is underrated and sometimes I see pinned tweets going back several years.. if it cannot be retweeted by your most supportive followers then it is being wasted.
Probably time to get on with the posts from the week… otherwise you will be needing a packed lunch and a bottle of wine to get through the rest…. okay perhaps you do anyway.. here you go..
As always my thanks to my friends who contribute to the blog each week William Price King and Debby Gies …. also to you for dropping in and so kindly commenting and sharing.. .
The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1967 – Part Two
Forming Healthy Relationships – Rewind – What’s Inside the Box?
Chapter Chapter Fifteen – Summer – The Piglet Races
#Fantasy #Adventure #Humour – H.M.S Lanternfish (The Lanternfish Series Book 2) by C.S. Boyack
Double Reversed #Nonet – Ageism
Family Health A-Z – Arthritis (osteo and gout) by Sally Cronin
Tuesday 20th April 2021 – #Community Jennie Fitzkee, #Wellbeing Toni Pike, #Guestpost offer Beetley Pete
New Book on the Shelves – Tina Lost in a Crowd by Miriam Hurdle
#Psychic #Thriller – Anasazi Medium (Rachel Blackstone Paranormal Mysteries Book 4) by G G Collins
#Fantasy Savagery (War of Nytefall Book 6)
Pre-Order – #Romance #Humour Shh… It’s Our Secret by Lizzie Chantree
#Suspense #Mystery – The Vanished Boy by Harmony Kent
-#Genetics – My Father and Other Liars by Geoff Le Pard
#Family – An Uncommon Family by Christa Polkinhorn
Lens Artists Photo Challenge #119 – My Hideaway by Miriam Hurdle
A tale of many cities by Joy Lennick
#Cricket- Don’t Stop the Carnival by Barbara Spencer
#YAFamily Sian Turner, #Fantasy P.L. Stuart, #Scottish #Historical Ailish Sinclair
April 20th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Genius and Maths Lesson
April 22nd 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Stress Test and Cheap Cow
Open Mic Night – 23rd April 2021 – Guest Malcolm Allen – Physics and Collies
Thanks very much for dropping in and all your support during the week.. it keeps me motivated.. have a good weekend.. Sally.
What a wonderful Round Up, Sally! Thank you so much. I had missed the “Stress Test” cartoon and the horse therapist (beautiful!). Have a great weekend.💗
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Thanks very much Gwen.. and that horse melted my heart..♥♥
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What a collection of talented, kind and creative bloggers, starting of course with you! Such a wonderful community to be a part of. Thank you for highlighting such deserving bloggers Sally and thank you for your ongoing thoughtfulness my friend. You are an integral asset in this awesome community.
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Thanks very much Cindy.. an amazing community and as I have discovered always someone to reach out to or who gives you a lift.. as your images do. This world would be very different without it, particularly during the times we are going through…hugs ♥♥
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Great weekly roundup, Sally. We aren’t traveling for a while, although did just finish our shots this week:)
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Glad you have them Denise. Hopefully down the line there will be herd immunity we are lucky being a small population of just under 5 million, much easier to manage than 65 million or 360 million… but our economy is suffering from the lack of tourists and so many small businesses have suffered…xx
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A great week, Sally. I love the Round-up, which allows me to catch anything I miss.
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Thanks very much John.. and all your support during the week…hugsx
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What a great week, Sally! Thank you for all that you to do support others!
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Thanks Jan.. I am given so much back in return so always my pleasure…hugsx
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What a wonderful week, Sally. Thanks, as always for my shout out – much appreciated. I was thinking about Paul Andruss today as I was hiding pots of gone over bulbs behind the shed. Is he on the Rebecca Soundcloud podcast?
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Always delighted to have you over anytime..Yes Paul has a couple of interviews on their Mary and he has some books in the pipeline and is busy with those.. It is great to put voices to names and faces..xx
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I must make time to check them out. I miss his gardening posts on your blog 🙂
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Perhaps he will share a new series on his own blog going forward they were excellent… ♥
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Those Covid numbers are staggering. I think we’re in this thing for the long haul (especially with the anti-mask riots, government wavering, and teen parties), so we best get used to it.
Thanks for the tips, Sally. I try to stay on top of everything but it’s a challenge, lol.
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I know how tough it is to juggle…you do an amazing job…hugsx
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Dear Sally – thank you so much for connecting with me over 7000 kilometers. I felt we were in the same room and had known each other for years. Your thoughtfulness and compassion for our blogging community builds resilience, hope and fosters new ways of writing and sharing. Vancouver continues to tighten its lockdown. I have not met with my 90-year-old mother, Frances, in person for over 5 months even though she lives only a few miles away. Those phone calls and Zoom conversations have been invaluable – we have found belonging, even during social distancing. We have learned to transform loneliness into solitude. As you said, Sally, Continued safety precautions are also going to be essential for far longer than we anticipated.
I have been very interested in the indie community, which is growing with strength and enthusiasm. Books have become a source of joy and solace during the past year. My gratitude goes to writers – your stories have given meaning to my life, your adventures have taken me to long-ago civilizations, and allowed me to travel to remote mountains and new planets. Sending my thanks to to all! Keep writing and I’ll keep reading.
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Hi Rebecca, I am so glad that you and Sally have hooked up and she will be featuring on Tea, Toast and Trivia. I am looking forward to listening to the conversation. I was interested in how you acquired the name Clanmother and it is very appropriate. Sally, is a Bloggermother and she looks after all of us in the blogosphere. I hope we all look after her too.
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Thank you so much Robbie for sharing your insights, books and love of life on TTT. Your generosity of spirit is truly inspiring. Hugs!
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Thank you, Rebecca.
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Thanks very much Robbie that is a lovely and wear the name with pride… and I am very well looked after…♥
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Sally as Bloggermother–I like that!
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Thanks Liz.. I was very touched by Robbie’s comment..hugsx
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🙂
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I enjoyed myself very much Rebecca and as you say our technology allows us to reach out and at least talk face to face with those we love.. You are providing a wonderful conduit for the writing community to talk about their work and to add another dimension to our connection to the.. their voice.. Thanks again..
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Thanks for including me in the roundup as well as the feature today.
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Delighted to Craig.. always welcome.. x
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Thank you for the round-up, Sally. I can imagine that you and Rebecca had a lot to chat about. You are both such interesting and determined women.
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Lol… I think things went on a bit longer than expected Robbie and it was lovely to talk about all sorts of things…hugs
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That was how mine went too, Sally. Like having a chat with good friends.
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♥
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Another fantastic week, Sally. Glad you are enjoying sunshine, too. The numbers here are staggering and the country will begin to slowly “unlock” in the coming days. So, here we go again. Take care, stay safe, and be well. Hugs
Reblogged on Improvisation – “The Art of Living”
https://williampriceking.tumblr.com/
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Thanks William and for helping me get the Breakfast Show out each week. Stay safe too and enjoy the coming week…thanks for sharing on Tumblr…hugsxx
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Thank you for another great week of information, and also distraction, Sally! Enjoy a wonderful Sunday! Michael
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Thanks Michael and for all your visits and encouragement.. hope your Sunday and week are great…xxxhugs
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Thank you, Sally! Always a great pleasure, with many thanks for the great last week. Every week i am very surprised about the news. hugsx
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Me too Michael.. xx
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xx
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Pingback: #Reblog Alert – Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord Weekly RoundUp | The Write Stuff
Thanks so much Marcia..♥
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What a wonderful week, Sally – thank you so much for including me in that great lineup. Toni x
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A pleasure Toni and thank you as always for your support throughout the week it helps keep me motivated…hugsxx♥
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❤️❤️❤️
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I’m so excited that you will be featured on Tea, Toast & Trivia! I can’t wait to listen to the episode!!
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Thanks Liz.. delighted to be joining you all.. great fun…xxx
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😀
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A great weekly roundup always, Sally a pleasure to read and catch up with anything I have missed…I loved the impromptu trad and the man in the blue top made me smile such a straight face when everyone around him was living in the moment…Hugs 🙂 xx Shared x
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Thanks Carol… I am sure he was smiling inside lol… hope you have a great week and see you around the usual haunts…hugs♥
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Indeed…I hope you have a lovely week and get to do some gardening Hugs xx
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Pingback: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – April 18th – 24th 2021- Hits 1967, Podcasts, Online presence, reviews, new books, health and humour | Retired? No one told me!
Thanks for the daily laughs, information, and entertaining reads. I seldom miss a day.
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Thanks Pete and I am so grateful for your ongoing support… have a lovely week..xx
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Thanks so much for adding in the reminder about pinned tweets, Sally. You are so right. It’s a missed opportunity if pinned tweets are not updated at least once every few weeks.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend. ☀️
Hugs.
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Great advice Hugh and enjoy your weekend too.. hugs
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Great round up. Thanks for sharing, Sally. Hugs xx 🙂
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Thanks Harmony and as always you ongoing support around the network…hugsx
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Happy Sunday, everyone. Thanks for sharing!
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Same to you Jay and have a good week…xx
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Always love this roundup, because I never fail to miss something during the week!
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Thank you Barbara.. glad you find useful and thank you again for your kind award nomination.. hugsxx
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Another fabulous week Sal. Thank you. And I seemed to miss your interview with Rebecca. I will look for it. ❤
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Thanks Debby and don’t worry the interview has not gone out yet.. being edited and will share a link when it is up…Thank you to for the support during the week it is lovely to see you..♥♥
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Thank you Sal. I ebb and flow like the tides. ❤ And good to know I'm not crazy (altogether) as I searched Rebecca's page for the interview to no avail lol ❤
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I should have been clearer hun..♥♥
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❤ xx
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Another great roundup. Thanks for sharing, Sally.
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Thanks for the support Staci..enjoy your week.. xx
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You’ve topped yourself, Sally. So much to see here! Listening to Procol Harum as I comment, and want to tell you I spent much time perusing Rebecca’s blogs. What a delight! The bagpipe videos speak to my Scottish lineage. LOVED it all!
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Fantastic thanks so much Claire and Celtic blood never fails to be stirred by the bagpipes…Rebecca certainly has a wonderful blend of passions she shares…hugx… ♥
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