Smorgasbord Blogger Daily – Monday November 18th 2019 -#Afghanistan Mary Smith, #WIP Jacqui Murray, #BookMarketing Nicholas Rossis with Kurt Walker

The first post is another of Mary Smith’s adventures in Afghanistan when working in a leprosy clinic far from civilisation but very close to local dangers.. This is the 9th post in the series and I can recommend that you check the links to catch up with those you have missed.

MarySmith’sPlace – Afghan adventures #9

One night, only minutes after I’d turned off my lamp, the usual silence was shattered by the sound of firing. This wasn’t the normal reminder from Hisb-i-Islami on their mountain, to which we had long since become accustomed. This was very much louder and uncomfortably close to home. For a brief moment I considered it might be to announce the birth of a son – proud fathers were often given to firing off volleys from their Kalashnikovs on such occasions. The sound of rockets, seemingly directly overhead soon put paid to the idea that this was a celebration.

In the dark I groped for my glasses, wrapped my chaddar securely about me, then, feeling my preparations for any eventuality were somewhat inadequate, but not knowing what else to do, I crouched on the mattress. I expected Hussain to appear to reassure me, to tell me what was going on – but he didn’t appear. And I was certainly not going looking for him. After what seemed like hours everything went quiet. In the sudden silence I could hear my heart thudding – a phenomenon I’d never experienced before.

Head over to find out what was going bump in the night….Mary Smith’s Afghan Adventures #9

Mary Smith, Buy: Amazon US
Website: Mary Smith – Goodreads: Goodreads

Please visit Amazon or Mary’s website to view all her books.

Now time to catch up with Jacqui Murray who is deep in the past as she develops the third book in the Crossroads Trilogy.. I loved the previous two books and very excited to read the third when available.

How I’m Doing on Against All Odds–2

When I started the final book of my Crossroads trilogy, I had no idea how to wrap things up. I spent many days–weeks–researching the Iberian Peninsula (where my main character Xhosa now lived with her People) 850,000 years ago, hoping if I drenched myself in the setting, I’d understand the challenges my people faced.

It worked. The land–I found out–was not just challenging and primeval but life-threatening in ways I’d never imagined. What I envisioned as a peaceful settling of Xhosa and her People into their new life wasn’t. Not even close.

Here’s what I have done the past month: Jacqui Murray – How I’m Doing

Jacqui Murray, Buy: Amazon US Website:Worddreams Blog – Goodreads: Goodreads Jacqui Murray

The next post is on the blog of Nicholas Rossis from guest Kurt Walker… on 9 Free ways to market your book.

9 Ways To Market Your Book With No Money

This is a guest post by Kurt Walker. Kurt is a digital marketer and a college paper help writer at Easyessay.org. Besides that, Kurt is a guest blogger at AustralianWritings, UK.bestessays.com, and Superior Paper writing service. Kurt specializes in email and social media marketing. He is the father of three kids and a passionate New York Knicks fan.

While publishing has never been easier, selling one has never been harder, especially for independent authors who have to rely on their own skills and professional networks. A report claims that 2.2 million new titles are published worldwide each year, so you definitely have a lot of competitors to deal with.

The situation gets even more difficult for authors who want to promote their works on a shoestring budget. It’s a very tricky situation, but don’t fall into despair. Remember that the year is 2019 and you can count on so many channels of promotion that won’t cost a thing.

So, what are the most practical ways authors can market a book with no money whatsoever?

Head over to find out: Nicholas Rossis – 9 Ways to Market your Book with no money

Nicholas Rossis, Buy: Amazon US Blog:Nicholas Rossis – Goodreads: Nicholas Rossis Goodreads

Please visit Amazon or Nicholas’s website to view all his books.

Mary

Thank you for dropping in today and I hope that you will head over to read the posts in full…thanks Sally

Smorgasbord Blogger Daily – Monday 14th October – Nicholas Rossis #Bookblurb – Charles F. French with Robbie Cheadle #1984 and Susannah Leonard Hill #Halloween Children’s story competition.

This series is an opportunity to showcase posts from around our community and the brilliant bloggers who share with us. It would be amazing if you would follow the links to the post I have highlighted and whilst visiting follow and support the blogger.

The first post today comes from Nicholas Rossis who has a wonderful archive of posts about writing, publishing, blogging and software. Nicholas hosts guest Ashley Halsey, writing about the importance of having an effective blurb for your book.

 

This is a guest post by Ashley Halsey. Ashely is a professional writer at Luckyassignments.com and Gumessays.com and is also involved in several nation-wide projects. A mother of two, she enjoys reading, traveling, and attending business training courses!

Today, she tackles one of the most annoying things about being an author: writing the blurbs to your books! I have shared some nice tips on writing blurbs in the past, but the whole subject still seems to be a nightmare for most authors, so I hope you’ll get inspired by her tips.

Top Tips on Writing a Book Blurb That Really Sells

They say not to judge a book by its cover – but let’s be honest, we all do exactly that. The cover and blurb are crucial in drawing in potential readers, sparking their interest and, in many cases, can be the difference between a sale and a missed opportunity. Bearing this in mind, hook your reader from the start with a blurb that sells!

Head over and read the rest of this post for all authors to ensure that our books stand out from the crowd: https://nicholasrossis.me/2019/10/11/top-tips-on-writing-a-book-blurb-that-really-sells

Nicholas Rossis, Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Nicholas-C.-Rossis/e/B00FXXIBZA
Blog:http://nicholasrossis.me/ – Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7426506.Nicholas_C_Rossis

Please visit Amazon or Nicholas’s website to view all his books.

The next post on from the blog of author Charles F. French, whose guest is a familiar face over here.. Robbie Cheadle, with her debut post for the Underground Library Society dedicated to opposing book censorship and book banning.. Robbie explores the futuristic and frighteningly prophetic 1984 by George Orwell.

Underground Library Society

Thank you to Robbie Cheadle for her post on 1984 by George Orwell. With this entry, Robbie has joined the U. L. s., the Underground Library Society, dedicated to opposing book censorship and book banning. Please visit her blog Robbie’s inspiration .

If a society similar to that depicted in Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury were to somehow come into existence and all books were banned, I would want to be part of any group involved in preserving books. If that meant learning a book off by heart, I would be prepared to do that. The big question for me would be what book to choose.

Out of all the wonderful and amazing books out there, my choice is 1984 by George Orwell. My over view of this book and my reasons as to why I believe it is still relevant to us are as follows:

1984 is a dystopian novel that was written years ago to portray a possible future for mankind as envisaged by the author in 1949. Why would anyone want to read this book now? 1984 passed more than thirty years ago so why would this book still be a worthwhile read today? The answer is that the content and ideas presented in this book are still relevant and it portrays a future that is still a possible outcome for humanity if the threats to our existing lifestyles and our planet are not resolved and harsh totalitarian measures need to be introduced as a last desperate measure to save our world. The threat of world destruction using nuclear weapons is much less likely now than in 1949, but modern people merely face new threats and obstacles which are also of our own creation.

Head over to read the rest of this fascinating post by Robbie Cheadle: https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/2019/10/07/a-new-u-l-s-member-and-a-post-on-1984-by-george-orwell/

About Charles F. French
I am a writer, novelist, and a professor of English Literature. I live in Pennsylvania. I am a devoted lover of nature, including hiking and fishing. I love reading, movies, cooking, and eating. I enjoy comic books and superheros as well as horror novels and movies.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Charles-F-French/e/B01M5BZZ6B – Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15997896.Charles_F_French – Blog: https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com

Robbie and Michael Cheadle, Buy: https://www.amazon.com/Robbie-Cheadle/e/B01N9J62GQ Blog: https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/ – Goodreads: Robbie Goodreads

Head over to Amazon to find all of Robbie’s books

And the last post today is news of a Halloween children’s story competition from author Susanna Leonard Hill.

It was a dark and stormy night!

Ghostly shadows lurked among the grave stones…

…and from the mist-shrouded forest a ghastly voice shrieked, “BOO!!!!”

Please ignore the fact that it’s morning and the kitchen smells comfortingly of fresh coffee and toast with strawberry jam and the only sound is your preschooler singing the alphabet song. We’re setting a mood here! 🙂

And I bet you can guess why!

Because it’s time to announce the rules for. . . The 9TH Annual HALLOWEENSIE CONTEST!!!

Head over to get the full submission details: https://susannahill.com/2019/10/10/boo-announcing-the-9th-annual-halloweensie-writing-contest/

About Susannah Leonard Hill

Susanna Leonard Hill grew up in New York City with her mom and dad, one sister and two brothers, and an assortment of cats. She went to the Brearley School for K – 12, then received her B.A. in English and Psychology from Middlebury College. She then went on to get her M.A. and M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology and Special Education of Children With Learning Disabilities from Teacher’s College, Columbia University.

She worked for many years teaching dyslexic students, but stopped after her third child was born. Now she spends her time being a mom, writing, teaching writing, and visiting schools whenever she gets the opportunity.

Susannah is the author of twenty children’s books and you can find them all on Amazon.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Susanna-Leonard-Hill/e/B001JS4H3I/ – Blog: https://susannahill.com/ – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanna.hill.7

Thank you for dropping in today and I hope you will head over to enjoy the posts in full.. thanks Sally.