Welcome to the weekly round up of posts that you might have missed here on Smorgasbord.
There are a few things going on around this neck of the woods in the coming weeks, including a bit of break from routine for me as I head off to dog and house sit for my sister whilst she takes on the Bay of Biscay in November on a cruise!
I will make sure the regulars are posted and there is plenty to read on the days that I am traveling. I intend to do some work on writing projects when I am away, but the good news is that the current WIP is now moving into the formatting phase and I hope to have it available by early December. It is a bit of a departure from my usual short story collections as I also include verse and flash fiction. I will let you know more about it nearer the time.
This year’s Christmas promotion
I am also plotting this year’s Christmas book promotions and I will be sharing a post in the next week or so about the International Christmas Book Fair which will including some guest posts on writing from some of the authors in the Cafe and Bookstore, offering additional separate promotional opportunities.
In the bookstore there are authors from all around the world and I want to make sure that every author is promoted. You won’t need to do a thing.. although it would be great if you would share the posts. Look out for news of this promotional feature in the last week of October with a start date of mid-November.
My thanks as always to the wonderful regular contributors and guest writers who share their work with us here. And also to you for your constant support for the blog.
Time to get on with this week’s posts….
The Travel Column this month with D.G. Kaye, is in response to the tourist board of the Bahamas request for visitors to resume their holidays on the Islands, recently devastated by the recent hurricane. Tourism is the main source of income for the Islands and without it reconstruction will be severely hampered.
We are coming to the end of the re-run of Jessica Norrie’s Literary Column from last year, with one more to come at the end of November with some great gift recommendations.. In the meantime, Jessica who was reaching a milestone birthday at the end of last year, shared books that were released in the year of her birth.. It is an interesting exercise to check which bestsellers were released at the same time as you were! The link is in the post.
Robbie Cheadle rounds off her popular series on the York Chocolate Story with the conversion of the factory to make munitions and the production of high energy sweets for life rafts.
If you are offered the opportunity to do a podcast or radio interview then grab it.. but also do your preparation to make sure you are getting the right message across to encourage readers to buy your book.
My book review for Silent Heroes by Patricia Furstenberg.
I recommend that if you are unfamiliar with why and how the young men and women of our armies are involved in this conflict, that you read Silent Heroes. It is a way to honour their service, that of their canine brothers-in-arms, and the bravery of the Afghanistan population, trying to exist in a country torn apart by devastating conflict.
This week for Colleen’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge 148 Colleen Chesebro has given us the prompt words ‘Empty and Space’ and I have selected the synonyms ‘Hollow and Distance‘ A butterfly cinquain– Rejection.
In Linda Thompson’sthird post, she explores the phenomenon that is the mystery of the missing sock.. it is rampant in our household too and I suspect from all the mentions online that it is now an epidemic…
This is the finalpost of Melanie Stewart who blogs at Leaving the Door Open: A Daughter’s stories about an aging parent.This week When The Money Runs Out
Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest forms of the reproductive system. Karen Ingallsis an ovarian cancer survivor and therefore supremely qualified to write this article.. The post carries an important message about understanding how our bodies work and how we should be on the alert for anything that seems out of the ordinary.
The Obesity epidemic – Part Four– Finding a point to intervene in the life cycle – 7 – 14 – School Lunches This week I am going to cover, what I consider the best time to intervene in the obesity epidemic, to achieve the most effective results.
Welcome to the weekly round up with some of the posts you might have missed on Smorgasbord..
This week has been interesting with the tail end of Lorenzo and with two more storm fronts rolling in behind it. I almost got my wish for my own swimming pool right outside the front door but thankfully we had one sunny day in the week and another today to evaporate some of the moisture. I have decided that my arthritis in my knee is actually rust and am going to see if the DIY hack of using WD40 might help.
But I cannot complain as the tiny pansies that I planted along with the mini cyclamens are thriving despite wind and rain and they are clearly Irish born and bred.
The week’s continue to fly by and hard to believe it is October, until you go into the supermarket and see that Quality Street is back in tins, two for a tenner and frozen turkey’s are on special! They do draw the line at mentioning the ‘C’ word but any week now..
Anyway… here are the posts from the week and thanks to the contributors who give up their time and offer their expertise to us all.. and to you for your continued support.
This week William Price King shares the life and music ofBill Evans, American Jazz pianist and composer (1929 – 1980).
Author Robbie Cheadle has been sharing The York Chocolatestory with us, following her recent trip to the UK. The York Chocolate Series Part Four – Chocolate in wartime First World War 1914 – 1918
The series continues after the summer break with a look at the minerals we can become deficient in… this week we feature Calcium and Carol Taylorwhips up a couple of great recipes to make sure you and your family are getting sufficient.
It is my mother’s birthday today and she would have been 102. Goodness knows what mischief she would have been up to if still with us, but I have a feeling that she is probably with my father and has got him suited and booted and going to a dinner dance tonight. Happy Birthday Mollie Eileen (The Duchess) 1917 – 2012
Imogen heads off to the wilds of Cornwall to start working at Killbilly Hotel… with a very spooky welcome..Chapter Fifteen – Killbilly Hotel, Cornwall and a Gothic Welcome.
This week it is poet’s choice for Colleen’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge 147 and since time is whizzing faster than I can keep up with… I thought I would remind you just what October is really all about…time to get prepared for the night of reckoning….The Spell by Sally Cronin
Despite the fact that it is very difficult to get the attention of the mainstream media, I still believe that you should make every effort to get your book noticed. If you have done everything right – well written, edited, formatted and produced either in print, E-book or both, then it deserves your best shot.
In her second post, Linda Thompsonshares her encounter with Donna C… who matured faster than her fellow schoolmates and had two elder sisters to give her a head start. Linda also has some wisdom to share on body image.. Thank you, Donna C., Wherever You Are
This is the third post ofMelanie Stewart who blogs at Leaving the Door Open: A Daughter’s stories about an aging parent. In this post, Melanie’s mother faces the loss of a friend who had become like a sister to her. Saying Goodbye, a Story of a Friendship
This is the third post fromPeter Mohan who blogs at Cheers, Govanhill . In this post witty observations on the absurdity of modern life. I’m not going to Polmadie at this time of night
The Female Reproductive System – The fertile years 10 – 50 years old. In this third part of the series on the female reproductive system a look at some of the health issues that might occur in the 40 years that it is active.
In part two of this series I looked at diet from two to seven years old with the emphasis on developing a healthy immune system in a relatively short window of time. This week I look at declining activity levels for this age group.
Welcome to the round up of posts that you might of missed this week on Smorgasbord.
September 29th each year is a very special date for us… and I thought I would share with you a fairy story that explains its significance.
Once upon a time there was a red-headed girl who was assistant manager in a hotel in a small hamlet in Mid-Wales. Bontddu ( the dd is th in Welsh and the u is ee so pronounced Bontthee) I mention this as my mother insisted on telling everyone that Sally was working in a hotel in Bonteedudu!
I had been there for 18 months and to be honest, the little time I had between shifts was spent either sleeping or walking (I had no car) to the two towns equal distance 5 miles each way. Dolgellau and Barmouth a delightful seaside resort with a long sandy beach.
I had been married before for seven years and that had foundered around the four year mark but dragged on for another three (I must have broken a mirror). I was quite determined that I was never getting married again after this experience, and to this end I still wore a wedding ring to deter any possible overtures I might have been lucky enough to receive.
On one sunny Snowdonia morning (rare at certain times of the year) I intercepted a phone call in reception from someone wishing to book two rooms for two weeks. I will admit that I was quite taken with the soft Irish accent of the man on the other end of the phone, and having reserved the two rooms, I put the receiver down and turned to one of the receptionists and uttered the famous last words ” He sounds rather nice, I think I’ll marry him!” Much hilarity ensued and a week went by.
On the day of the reservation I had been off for a few hours and returned to assume restaurant management duties. In those days I was required to wear a long dress in the evenings at dinner and guests were formally accompanied to their tables. It was not long before I identified the Irish accent as Room 40. Tall, dark haired and very handsome, a veritable Prince Charming. To be honest I was all of a twitter (not the 140 character kind) and during the course of my duties I enquired of room 40 if he had been given sufficient crackling….
To cut a short story even shorter. I arranged a number of meetings and dinners for Room 40, and two weeks went by without so much of flicker of interest from said resident. If not for the opportune intervention of a couple who were regular guests at the hotel it may well have remained a disappointing encounter.
They enquired, obviously in earshot of Room 40, if my divorce had been finalised. I replied that I had received that particular gift on my birthday back in February, and that I was officially free again. Well, talk about Speedy Gonzalez…. before I could say I was not that kind of girl, the next day I was taken out on my day off for lunch, treated to a Chinese Takeaway when I got off duty that night, and presented with a Celtic pendant for all my assistance..
There must have been more than MSG in the Chinese because I suddenly heard the words “I think there is only one thing for us to do, will you marry me”
I think my flabber must have been well and truly gasted because before I could laugh at this insane proposal, on our first date, barely past first name terms, I said yes.
That was 29th September 1980, 13 days after his arrival at the hotel and into my life. And forget the long engagement. He found us a flat in Dolgellau, posted the bans at the local registry office and 39 years ago on November 15th, we were married on a wild and blustery Welsh morning. Even more shocked than the bride where her parents, the groom’s parents and my boss.
After the proposal David left to get the flat organised whilst I went into the hotel for the normal busy Saturday. My boss was enjoying his morning coffee with the local paper when I announced casually I was getting married… “Who the hell to”…was the response and mine ” Room 40″
We have travelled the world together, lived in 17 homes both temporary and permanent, worked side by side and on occasion in separate countries. We have had our moments but they have been brief and usually down to me being a bit of a handful! We are best friends and have shared laughter, loss and humour, and somewhere I believe there is a very smug fairy godmother….
Time to get on with this week’s posts that you might have missed….
As always my thanks to contributors and guests who take the time to write such amazing posts, that are informative, entertaining and inspiring. And to you for dropping in and being part of the week.
Jessica Norrie is exploring books that are set on the coastline in various places around the world. I love the sea and hope that when we buy our final house it has a view of the ocean and all its changing moods.
The York Chocolate Series – Part Three – Chocolate in wartime Second Anglo Boer War 1899 – 1902 – In 1899, war broke out for the second time between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics in South Africa. In advance of Christmas 1899, Queen Victoria asked Cadbury, which held a Royal Warrant as suppliers of cocoa and chocolate products, to produce tins of chocolate to send to the British men fighting in South Africa as a gift..
Previously Imogen takes a temporary job selling advertising for a local paper and ends up running a very interesting section … selling personal services! Chapter Thirteen – Makeover and the art of buying a car.
Previously Imogen went into Central London for a much needed makeover and shopping trip, which brought to mind her friends escapades when buying a new car. She now moves on to a private school where she finds more interesting characters. Chapter Fourteen – Mayhew School for Boys and Girls.
Time for this week’s response to Colleen’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge 146 and this week we are tasked with finding synonyms for the words ‘Fall and Give‘.. and I have chosen ‘Drop and Gift’..
Linda Thompson’s first post is a wonderful, nostalgic look back through the years to special family dinners and how it is so important that our elderly parents are given the opportunity to still feel useful in our lives. A Place at the Table for All
This is the final post from educator and author Pete Springer .I think most of us who have finished our careers allegedly to retire, find there are elements of our jobs that are missed, and in this post, Pete shares the ones that he misses the most about teaching. What I Miss Most About Being a Teacher by Pete Springer
This is the secondpost of Melanie Stewart, she is faced with a logistical nightmare to get on the road for a trip and deal with a sudden change to her 87 year old mother, Ginny’s cable set up. The Cable Debacle.
This is the second post fromPeter Mohan who blogs at Cheers, Govanhill as his alter ego .. Boy David. I selected this post as we head into the late autumn and we get visitors both of the garden variety and field.Footprints in the Butter – Cheers Govanhill.
The obesity epidemic and finding a point to intervene in the life cycle – this week the diet of two to seven year olds, can determine their health in adulthood.
Thank you so much for being part of the week here on Smorgasbord, and I hope you have enjoyed your visit.. please pop in again next week.. thanks Sally.
Welcome to the weekly round up of posts the you might have missed during the week on Smorgasbord blog Magazine.
You might have noticed that the round up has a new header. Apart from looking to give the post a bit of a freshen up, I also wanted to emphasise the theme that I have developed over the last seven years, of a magazine style blog with a wide range of subjects. You will see from this round up that there are a number of regular contributors and guest writers.
Currently on a fortnightly or monthly basis I am lucky enough to have William Price King (music column), Carol Taylor (Food and Cookery Column), D.G. Kaye (Travel Column), Annette Rochelle Aben(Numerology) and Silvia Todesco (Italian Cookery) and I write the (Health Column). Jessica Norrie wrote a wonderful (Literary Column) last year which I am currently repeating.
Do you have an area of expertise that you would like to share and promote your blog or books at the same time?
If you have an area of expertise that you would like to share here on Smorgasbord and can write a column of between 1000 to 1500 word every two weeks or once a month, then please get in touch. It could be care of elderly parents, Cooking by nationality – French, Indian, Chinese etc, Writing or Editing guidance, History of where you live etc.. contact me on sally.cronin@moyhill.com so we can chat about it..
If you do not have the time to commit to a monthly column, perhaps like baking, chocolate expert and author Robbie Cheadle, you might like to do a short series of guest posts.. Check Robbie’s latest post on The York Chocolate Story later on in the round up and get in touch if you would be interested in doing something similar @sally.cronin@moyhill.com
From sun tan to wellies
We have had a wonderful week weather wise and we were lulled into a false sense of security. I checked the ten day forecast which predicted rain for until after October 5th and beyond so exchanging my bikini (thank goodness there are no drones in the area) I legged it to the garden centre and bought all my wintering flowering plants, some new potting compost and dashed back to spend the afternoon changing out all the pots.
This may be the last recorded sunshine of the year! So this week I am just going to share this special moment, and the new mini cyclamens and winter flowering pansies.
Now on to the posts from the week, and as always a huge thank you to the contributors, this week William Price King, Carol Taylor and Robbie Cheadle with some special mentions. And also for your support every week and generosity.
And a special thank you to D.G. Kayewho devoted her regular Writers Tips post to all the three Cafe and Bookstore book marketing posts so far…What an amazing thing to do. Debby has been part of the support team for the blog for five years and every night, even when she is on her winter break in Mexico she comments shares all my posts from the day across her social media. Thanks Debby and sorry they are not real…
Carol Taylor shares the joys of soup which can be eaten whatever the weather as a starter or as a snack even as a main meal if it is a substantial one served with lots of fresh crusty bread or with the addition of rice or noodles as it is served here
Carol Taylor is another friend that I owe a bouquet of flowers to. Not just for the wonderful posts that she brings us throughout the year but also the support she offers every week by sharing my posts on her eclectic and fascinating blog. Healthy eating, conservation, Thai foods and cookery and down to earth commonsense. Next month it will be the second anniversary of the food column and I am very grateful for her generous contribution. Thank you Carol.
Part two of The York Chocolate Story from Robbie Cheadle.. not sure how much more temptation I can take lol.. find out more about The Terrys and the Cravens.
My guest this week is regular guest to the blog, author Darlene Foster who has recently released another book in her successful Amanda Travel Series. Later in the post she shares an excerpt from Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action
Twitter – New look and and step by step guide to Book Marketing useful functions.
As an author with books to market, getting as storefront on Twitter is important. It is a networking site and whilst you may not want to use for social media, it is great for connecting with other authors, reviewers, bloggers, all of whom are likely to be readers too. Here is a step by step guide to getting your books front and centre.
For this week’s Colleen’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge 145 Colleen Chesebro has provided us with a photo prompt.. in a new twist the previous month’s poet of the week for the photo prompt gets to choose the image..This month that honour falls to Jane Dougherty. I have selected a #Tanka for this week’s challenge…Adrift
This is the final post from the archives of author and poet, Patricia Furstenbergwho as you can tell from some of her books is a dog lover. Children and pets can be magical and bonds are formed that ensure a child never feels unsafe or alone throughout their early years. In this post Patricia explores this in more details. Pets — Understanding Your Child’s Affinity Towards Animals (2018) by Patricia Furstenberg
This is the finalpost from the archives of author, fitness advocate and photographer Terri Webster Schrandt. In her post Terri offers four reasons to attend the next one you are invited to. Four Reasons to Attend a Blogging Conference (2017) by Terri Webster Schrandt
This is the final post from the archives of Jim Borden who blogs on‘Borden’s Blather’across a variety of topics. I know that my computer can be funny weird… frequently but have not so far seen it be funny ha ha! So I decided to end Jim’s short series for this season with this post. Can Computers be Funny? (2018) by Jim Borden
This is the third post from educator and author Pete Springer who began blogging in April this year. I am sure you will agree that he has made a fantastic start to his new project. Pete shares some incidents that could have been a lot worse if laughter had not been the outcome.. and there there is the mystery of the knocking in the pipes! The Importance of a Good Sense of Humor by Pete Springer
Delighted to welcome Melanie Stewart to the series.. In Melanie’s firstpost she shares some of the wisdom she picked up from author Judith Viorst who is almost 90 years old and the joy that her mother who is in her 80s, has found in following Tiger Woods…. Finding Joy in your 80s and 90s (2018)
This is the first post from Peter Mohanwho blogs at Cheers, Govanhill as his alter ego .. Boy David…I thought in this first post I would let Peter introduceGovanhill to you to set the scene for the other posts Thou shalt buy thy round
I repeat this series in particular every year, in the hopes that those who are new to the blog will find it interesting and useful. I worked with couples who were planning on getting pregnant and it was important that both understood how each other’s reproductive systems worked. Also if you know your body well, if something is even slightly different from the norm, it encourages you to have it checked out. The Female Reproductive System.
After 45 years of working in the food industry and then in the last twenty as a nutritional therapist, I explore where in the life cycle we can intervene to prevent the current obesity crisis.
Welcome to the weekly round up of posts you might have missed here on Smorgasbord.
I hope you have had a great week and certainly it has been fun and a little hectic around here. The weather was very autumnal and it seems that this next couple of days will be the last for quite some time for a bit of sunshine. We are thinking of all of you who are dealing with Dorian at the moment and hope that everyone is safe, whilst acknowledging that we might get wet in Ireland but never to the extremes that many of you have to contend with.
One of the tasks this week was to plan the autumn overhaul of the blog and put some new series in place to keep you entertained and informed. My intention is to focus the book promotions on the authors in the Cafe and Bookstore to increase their visibility on a more regular basis.
One of these is the new Sunday Interviewseries exclusively for authors in the Cafe and to kick it off and to show you how it is done… D.G. Kaye, Debby Gieswill be here next Sunday September 8th with her interview. I am now booking interview at the end of October and into November, so if you have a new book coming out then you might like to take advantage of this additional promotion. Details are in this link, including on how to get your books on the shelves of the Cafe and Bookstore in the first place.
Your regular contributors will be with us through the rest of the year – D.G. Kaye is here with the Travel Column tomorrow with another Caribbean gem, William Price King and the Music Column is back this coming Tuesday every two weeks, Carol Taylorwill have more recipes with a touch of Thai spice every second Wednesday and Silvia Todesco will be wowing us with Italian Cookery once a month.
I have some guest writers lined up and author Robbie Cheadle whose popular children’s series Sir Chocolate story and cookbook, is contributing a five part series on the history of chocolate…beginning Monday September 9th.
I also want to continue to support new and established bloggers by bringing back the Blogger Dailyat least two days a week if not more.
Help me promote you.
I would be grateful if you can help me out and hopefully give your books a boost by letting me know when you have a new release coming out. Some of you are doing pre-orders on your new books and I am happy to do the New Book on the Shelves promotions a week to 10 days in advance of publication date for readers to take advantage of any offers. I think that time scale adds a sense of urgency that encourages readers to buy whilst there is still an offer.
If you have a new review
There are 160 active authors in the Cafe at any one time and I do two review updates a week on Mondays and Fridays. It takes quite a lot of time to check each author and go into Amazon and Goodreads in search of a recent review and you would be helping me out if you give me a helping hand.
If you have a new review for a book that is on the shelves and are on Facebook, direct message me with the book title and I will do the rest, or you can leave in the comments on any of the Cafe and Bookstore posts. The posts receive on average 80 views and it does boost that if all the authors featured share on their own social media. It is free so all it takes is a little time and worth it if you make a sale or two.
Here is the link for the Cafe and Bookstore and you can check to see if you have your most recent review showing on your entry… if not let me know.
Another new series begins next week offering new bloggers whose blogs are 12 months or younger an opportunity to showcase their posts. Also a step by step guide to setting up your blog to be reader friendly. If you know any bloggers who are just setting out, then please pass this on to them.. thanks
The key element to all these promotion is you.. If you want to take advantage of my audience and blog and social media platforms, all you have to do is ask.
Now on with the posts from the last week.
As always a huge thank you to everyone who contributes, participates in the Archive post series and to you for dropping in and leaving a comment or sharing.. It is appreciated.
Annette Rochelle Aben shares the universal energy we can expect in September that will impact us all to one degree or another..
A took a look at the ‘Quoted’ following of one of the paid for promoting book sites when they approached me on LinkedIn a couple of weeks ago, claiming to put my book in front of 200,000 potential readers.. what I found was considerably less that across their website and social media.. in fact they fell over 198,000 short!
Goodreads is another great platform to have your books centralised and where anywhere in the world can review your books, whether they have been bought from Amazon, been given as a gift or borrowed from the library. Getting your author page set up step by step.
I have been reading a series over the last few months and am now reading the fourth David Slaton novel. I am reviewing the first in the series,The Perfect Assassin by USA Today Bestselling author Ward Larsen, as I cannot recommend the books enough…
In the last of the summer festival series, some of the music from the movies that have become iconic hits.. On Wednesday William Price King returns with more musicians in the spotlight.
This week’s Colleen’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge 142 offered the prompts ‘Character and Wild’.. with our choice of synonyms. I have selected ‘Protagonist and Primitive‘ in a double etheree.
This is the first post from the archives of author, fitness advocate and photographer Terri Webster Schrandt. I chose this post to kick off Terri’s series, since I need a severe kick up the backside with regard to fitness..I need to do better…Perspectives on Fitness (2014)
This is the first post from the archives ofJim Bordenwho blogs on ‘Borden’s Blather’ across a variety of topics –Wellness Wednesday: Take a Two-Minute Walk Before You Read This (2015)
This is the second post from the archives of the eclectic blog of writer Marilyn Armstrong and I have selected this one from 2014 because I think most of us have a favourite, stand out year. Marilyn’s Favourite Year – 1969 (2014)
This is the second post of author Antoinette Truglio Martin who began blogging in 2018.. I am going to share four posts from her archives that were part of her A-Z challenge last year. Since my downfall is and has always been food….I enjoyed browsing Antoinette’s challenge. Now who does not like a hamburger….
This is thesecond post fromauthor and designer, Valentina Cirasola who has three blogs all under the same roof to enjoy.Friday Fashion Blog Home Designs Master Blog and The Good Life Blog. I have chosen this post as it shares the creativity of the young designers of tomorrow, some as young as 14 years old. Artistry in #Fashion (2016)- Valentina Cirasola
This is the second post from the archives of Anne Copeland, writer of nonfiction articles, books, and poetry, as well as a mixed media and fiber artist. Fashion Sense More of Who I Will be Today (2018)
This is the second post of authorEllen Hawley who has enjoyed a wonderfully varied career before leaving the United States to settle in Cornwall. I love Cornwall and its unique place in our history and also its determination to retain its language and customs. So I thought you would enjoy this post as much as I did. A Cornish mile and a Cornish saint (2016)
Thank you again for all your support this week and I look forward to hearing from you should you wish to participate in any of the current or future promotions.. Sally.
Welcome to the round up of posts that you might have missed on Smorgasbord this week.
New series – Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – Book Marketing.
As part of my career I have been responsible for both sales and marketing departments in Advertising and telecommunications. I took my experience across to publishing in the 1999 when selling the services of a self-publishing company in Canada and then with our own authors from 2004 for our publishing company and with regard to my own books. The principals of selling a product are the same whatever the industry and one of the key elements is to find your buyer first.
I will cover that in part three of the series as I felt that I should address an issue that has cropped up several times in the years and certainly more so in the last few weeks that I have been promoting authors here on Smorgasbord, and being a key selling element for books, I wanted to address first.
This week I featured the Amazon Author Page and is importance in selling books. Far too often I am asked to add an author to the Cafe and Bookstore and I find that they either have no Author Page or there are books missing, no biography or photo. Also that even when those elements are included there are missing books.
I am missing books because of a very frustrating anomaly. As an author in Ireland, and independent, not through KDP, Amazon has interpreted the rules on VAT and have demanded that we register for VAT even though print books are not subject to that Tax here. And even if it was, most of us do not reach the 37,500 Euro threshold for registration (only wish I did!). So we took my print books down and I sell them locally through bookshops and at events. So you will only see my Ebooks available which is the majority. For me that is fine as that still allows me to sell my books to a global market, and to be honest most international sales prefer Ebooks as they are less expensive and don’t incur post and packaging charges.
However, for an author not faced with that issue it is important to have a central selling point for your books…and a link that you can give out on your blog, social media, email signature, business cards etc.
I have been asked why it is necessary to have an Author’s Page on Amazon if authors already have a presence on book promotion sites where their covers, blurb, reviews and a link to Amazon are featured.
The answer is that like my Cafe and Bookstore and Goodreads, they are book marketing sites not selling sites, so the reader still has to go through a two step process.
That is not to say that they do not provide a valuable service in identifying your books to potential reader (be careful of how much you are paying for the privilege) Goodreads are free as is the Cafe and Bookstore but others will charge.
When the potential readers click on the buy link to Amazon, it is a good idea if they go to a central selling point for several reasons, the most important being is that they don’t just see one book, they see all of them. And they may well decide to buy more than one book, especially if the book they clicked on is one of a series with two or three books before it.
Also, having an established author page with all your books, bio, photograph, rss link to your blog establishes enhances your credibility as an author.
I hope you will read the post and I have taken screen shots of the various steps to give you a guide to the process. If you do not feel confident enough to create the page yourself, then ask someone you are happy to share your Amazon password with and who is computer savvy to follow the directions.
Also I am happy to pop in and take a look at your Amazon Author Page and offer some suggestions as to how you might create a stronger selling message.
New series. Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore Book Marketing – Part one – a step by step guide to setting up an Amazon Author Page – an essential selling tool.
Just a reminder of the new Sunday Interview series beginning Sunday 8th September exclusively for authors in the Cafe and Bookstore. If you are not already in the bookstore there is a link in the post that gives you the details..
My thanks as always to the wonderful contributors to the blog and you will be delighted to hear that William Price King will be back from his summer in the Alps above his home in Nice, to share more musicians who have impacted the industry in the last 50 years.
Let me see if I can whet your appetite…Chicken and parmesan meatballs with a creamy lime and caper sauce…an iconic dish in Thailand called Pad Thai…
Two more chapters from my novel Just an Odd Job Gird.. and Chapter Three is all about the interview with the employment agency and some fun and games in Imogen’s first job.
The final letter home in August 1986 as I would be going to the UK for two weeks and then we began extending our Sunday telephone calls. This post covers are trip to Barbados, and you don’t want to know where that sand went!
This is the final post of Debbie the DogLady who lives in Toronto, Canada and posts about travel, music, life and of course dogs. I have chosen four of her dog sitting adventures to share with you and in this post we meet Muskoka a labrador with a taste of cigarette butts and socks…
This is the final post from Marsi, who with her husband Robert, embarked on a four month journey west.This post only has one photograph, but I thought it would make an amazing prompt for a bit of fiction…..35mm Film Photography – One Hit Wonders: Tumbleweeds in Thompson Springs, Utah by Marsi
In the final post from L.T. Garvin for this series, I have selected this on some of the excuses given and also predicaments some crazy criminals get themselves into. Crazy Criminals (2015) by L.T. Garvin
For the lastpost in this series from the archives of author Claire Fullerton, I have selected one of her book reviews. Claire is prolific reviewer and always brings out the best in both book and author…The Stolen Child by Lisa Carey reviewed (2017) by Claire Fullerton
This is the final post from the archives of Smitha Vishwanath who shares poetry, wonderful travel posts and life experiences on her blog. I have chosen this poem for the last post in Smitha’s series, not just because it is beautiful, but also because it won the Certificate of Outstanding Performance from Asian Literary Society. Dewdrop- The Love of the Wind (2018) by Smitha Vishwanath
This is the final post from author K.D.(Karen DeMers) Dowdall’s archives and she also has some news, with The Captain’s Witch, her latest book being released on September 1st. I have chosen one of Karen’s book reviews as her last post as I thought the cover was very striking. A Review of The Starling by Kathy Lauren Miller (2017) by Karen DeMers Dowdall
This is thefirstpost from the archives of the eclectic blog of writer Marilyn Armstrong. I selected it as it gives some background to the title of both her blog and her book. As writers we are inspired by experiences, images, people, emotions and the list goes on. I thought this was very special. The 12-Foot Teepee (2012) by Marilyn Armstrong
This is thefirstpost of author Antoinette Truglio Martin who began blogging in 2018.. I am going to share four posts from her archives that were part of her A-Z challenge last year. Since my downfall is and has always been food….I enjoyed browsing Antoinette’s challenge. A is for Artichoke.
This is the first post from the archives of Anne Copeland, writer of nonfiction articles, books, and poetry, as well as a mixed media and fiber artist. I have selected this post as I found it profoundly moving and inspiring. The Day in the Life of a Child (2018) Anne Copeland
This is the firstpost from author and designer, Valentina Cirasola who has three blogs all under the same roof to enjoy.Friday Fashion Blog Home Designs Master Blog and The Good Life Blog. I have chosen this post to start Valentina’s series as I found this ritual fascinating and will be trying the technique with our next bottle of cheap red plonk… plus I do like fennel to eat.Is There A Trick in Fennel And Wine? (2011) -Valentina Cirasola
This is the first post of authorEllen Hawley who has enjoyed a wonderfully varied career before leaving the United States to settle in Cornwall. Weather – The Beast from the East (2018) by Ellen Hawley
We have now worked our way down to the liver and in the surrounding area you will also find some other vital organs, the pancreas, gallbladder and the intestines.
Welcome to the the post on the blog for the week that you might have missed.
Firstly, I mentioned last week that there would be a new Sunday Interview beginning soon.. and the promotional post went out today. All authors who are currently on the shelves of the Cafe and Bookstore are invited… and there is also an opportunity for other authors to join them after their initial book promotions. I hope you will take a look at the post and take advantage of the opportunity to promote your work.
Secondly…Nothing much of note going on around here on a personal level, as the weather has been autumnal and we have had a lot of projects on. I am also offline during the mid part of the day working on my WIP.. which has now turned into 4 WIPs… I just can’t help myself!
As always my thanks to the contributors who bring such interesting content to the blog, and of course to you for supporting and sharing so brilliantly.
Jessica Norrie asks the questionCan your protagonist be too old to be interesting?And offers some examples of books where the protagonist’s age is a key element of the story. BTW.. Jessica is undergoing eye surgery and will be back to respond to any comments in a few weeks.
This week for Colleen’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge 140 she has given us the prompt words ‘Light and Dark‘ and I selected the synonyms ‘Fair and Night’ As last week I paid tribute to the dogs in our lives.. this week I thought the least I could do was pay homage to our cats. Double Etheree – A Cat’s Life by Sally Cronin
I hope you will enjoy my flash fiction in response to Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Challenge by Charli Mills This week the prompt was sweet jam… and here is my 99 words, no more no less. Strawberry Jam by Sally Cronin
Those of us who have books available on Amazon and other online book sites, particularly ebooks are also vulnerable to pirates, and Debby Gies, D.G. Kaye, shares an interesting possible action we are taking to enable this. Felony or Flattery? #Copyright Infringement and Content Scraping
This is the third post from Marsi, who with her husband Robert, embarked on a four month journey west. I will be sharing posts from their trip in addition to other posts in their archives. In this post Marsi takes us to the other Las Vegas…in New Mexico.With Film Camera in hand, I Explore Quirky Las Vegas (New Mexico) by Marsi
This is the third post from the archives of author Claire Fullerton, and I have selected another of her pieces on life in Ireland as I am sure you will enjoy as much as I do. The Thing about Galway (2016) by Claire Fullerton
This is the third post from author K.D.(Karen DeMers) Dowdall’s archivesKaren features guest posts and I have selected this one as even writers such as myself, with bad habits…. will find it useful. Ten Tips for Proof Reading and Editing (2017) by Karen DeMers Dowdall
This is the third post from the archives of Smitha Vishwanath who shares poetry, wonderful travel posts and life experiences on her blog. This week I am sharing one of Smitha’s favourite posts about family and returning to her roots.
A Few of My Favorite Words 2017 by Elizabeth Gauffreau Do you spend much time thinking about your favorite words, calling each one to the forefront of your mind so that you can explain to yourself once again just how much that word delights you and why?
This is the final post from the wonderfully varied archives of poet and authorRitu Bhathal. This week I have chosen the celebration and lessons learnt by Ritu when she lost two stone back in 2017… a great reminder of how you can lose weight healthily. #Weightloss #HealthyEating – 13 Tips I Learned Over The Last Year 2017 by Ritu Bhathal
This is the final post for author Chuck Jackson and I have selected a book review that he wrote for Educated, a memoir by Tara Westover Educated by Tara Westover
This is the final post from retired librarian and author Cathy Cade, who has been blogging since early 2018. I thought that now you have been introduced to Cathy we might find out more about her in this post, where she was awarded the Sunshine Blogger Award.
This is the last of the posts this series, from the archives of author and poet Joy Lennick, This post by Joy, written in 2013 is on the subject of poetry and explores the distinctions between what is considered serious poetry and that which is written by us mere mortals! Serious poetry is art but is it too elitist? 2013 by Joy Lennick
Last time I looked at the structure and basic function of the liver and in this post I want to cover some of the conditions that can effect this major organ.
There have been some studies that have identified that there is an increase in nutritional deficiency in the diet and here are three articles that are worth reading. Including A physician’s warning on the keto diet – Doctor Shivam Joshi
I hope I leave you dancing around your office with the partner of your choice… thanks for dropping in and I look forward to seeing you again next week..Sally
Welcome to the weekly round up of posts that you might have missed here on Smorgasbord.
I hope you are all well and thank you for dropping in to see me this week, and as always it is much appreciated. Nothing much to report on a personal level as the week has flown by and the weather has not been very conducive to being out in the garden.
There are however some upcoming events on the blog. Next Sunday 18th August I will be posting about the new Sunday author interview. This time it is specifically for the authors in the Cafe and Bookstore, as my intention over the next few months is to ramp up the book promotions. The Cafe and Bookstore has around 150 authors at any given time whose books are receiving reviews or they have a new release in the last six months.
I would like to give those authors another opportunity for promotion with an interview – answering five questions from a selection of twenty.. and excerpt from the book they wish to promote. Please drop in next Sunday to find out all the details.
I am also putting together the next Archive post series. This time it will be for authors who have only been blogging in the last 12 months. An opportunity to give new bloggers a boost and to welcome them to our community. It can be tough going those first few months and I would love to share the amazing posts that should have a wider audience.
This week sees the end of the serialisation of Tales from the Irish Garden and I am delighted at the lovely comments it has received. Next week I am starting a new book that has not been shared since 2016. Just an Odd Job Girl.. I know that many of you read the first time around, but I am hoping that new readers of the blog will enjoy.
Time to get on with the posts from the week… and as always my thanks to the contributors who spend time and effort to write such interesting and informative post.
D.G. Kaye, Debby Gies reminds us that preparation is key if you want to have a safe and secure holiday.
Those of us who have books available on Amazon and other online book sites, particularly ebooks are also vulnerable to pirates, and Debby Gies, D.G. Kaye, shares an interesting possible action we are taking to enable this. Felony or Flattery? #Copyright Infringement and Content Scraping by D.G. Kaye
Some rock ‘n’ roll this week to get your feet tapping. Status Quo, Queen, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner and Eric Clapton and Creedence Clearwater Revival.
This week in Colleen’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge 139 being the first challenge of the month, is for the poet to choose their own words. I hope you will enjoy my double etheree…A Dog’s Life.
The last two chapters for Tales from the Irish Garden this weekend… Queen Filigree is delighted to announce the betrothals of both her daughters and accept the gifts that are offered by their future husbands… Plus concerns about her health are getting the court into a bit of a lather.
This is the second post from Marsi, who with her husband Robert, embarked on a four month journey west. I will be sharing posts from their trip in addition to other posts in their archives. Due to the number of photographs I suggest that you head over to the blog to view them all.. Olympic National Park
This is the second post from the archives of Claire Fullerton, and this week a birthday celebration for renowned author Pat Conroy. An event over several days that clearly was a highlight for Claire. Notes on Pat Conroy’s 70th Birthday Celebration in Beaufort, South Carolina (2015)
This is the second post from the archives of Smitha Vishwanath who shares poetry, wonderful travel posts and life experiences on her blog. I have selected this poem as it brought back memories of all the times I have stood behind a podium to give a presentation or speech…The Speaker’s Ordeal…by Smitha Vishwanath
This is the second post from author K.D.(Karen DeMers) Dowdall’sarchives and she also has some news, with The Captain’s Witch, her latest book being released on September 1st…A short story, that might have its roots in truth… anyone’s worst nightmare when walking in the woods. Fire in the Sky or The Black Bear and Me (2017) by Karen DeMers Dowdall
This is the third post from the wonderfully varied archives of poet and authorRitu Bhathal. Today the joys of being a kindergarten teacher…. things I am sure they don’t share during the career advisory days at secondary school when you are faced with so many options! Kindergarten Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! 2015 by Ritu Bhathal
This is the third post from the archives of author Elizabeth Gauffreauwho has some wonderful posts, including an interesting look at her genealogy journey, seeking out her family history. This week a post by William Wordsworth, which reminds us of those moments when life or nature takes us by delightful surprise. Poetry – Surprised by Joy”
This is the third post from retired librarian and author Cathy Cade, who has been blogging since early 2018. This week a poem about a much loved old friend. Fred’s Legacy by Cathy Cade.
This is the third post for author Chuck Jackson and this week I have selected a post that Chuck wrote about editing software that I am sure you will find helpful if you are looking to buy a package. Do you use Editing Software
This is the third of the posts from the archives of author and poet Joy Lennick, although certainly not the first post that we have enjoyed here on Smorgasbord from this entertaining writer. This week a post from 2017 on the subject of fascinating and mostly long forgotten words… some I must really work into both conversation and story..thanks Joy. The Phrontistery revisited (2017) by Joy Lennick
Linda Bethea is a regular contributor here on Smorgasbord, but this time I get to select the posts from her archives to share with you… I am sure you will enjoy her stories as always. This is the third post and I have selected and it was one that Linda posted about a patient of hers, who inspired her as a nurse. Lessons from MIchael 2014
The liver is the largest waste organ inside the body (the skin being the largest overall). This week, a look at the role it plays in keeping us healthy and alive.
Welcome to the weekly round up of posts that you might have missed on Smorgasbord.
Thanks for dropping in today, and I wanted to share some news on the current series. The posts from the archives has been a wonderful series with 70authors trusting me to delve into their archives and select four posts to share with you.. That is 280 posts reaching new readers. The series is not over yet, but I have scheduled the dates for those remaining on the list through to the end of September which is another 48 posts for you to look forward to. If you have not seen your posts yet, don’t worry if you asked to go on the list you will be featured.
However, a new series begins in October – This time with the choice of the four posts to be shared, down to you. I will do a formal post nearer to October, but in the meantime you might be browsing your archives to find the ones that you feel deserve another airing and a fresh audience. As of this week, that audience across the blog and social media is 45,000.
Please don’t send any links right now, but I will do a specific post in September giving you the guidelines.
The summer Sunday Interview Series – Human in Every Sense of the Word will be finished next week and the following Sunday I will do a post about the next series which will be author interviews of those on the shelves of the Cafe and Bookstore.
I want to develop the promotions for the authors on the shelves and this is just one new series that will accomplish that so stay tuned.
Time to get on with the posts from the week….thank you again for your support, it means a great deal to me.
My thanks also to those who contribute to the blog on a regular basis, such as Annette Rochelle Aben and Jessica Norrie this week.
Gotta love August! Well, may be not but it sounds so regal, doesn’t it? Guess it depends on the way one pronounces the word, August.
Okay, August rocks because being the eighth month of the year, it is packed with energy. Not only the energy of the season but the Numerology Energy of the 8 as well. 8 calls to us to go for the gold, reach for all the brass rings and keep looking to and for the next opportunity. As this is the Personal Energy of this month, it holds a lot of weight regardless of where you are with Universal Energy or Personal Energy.
Jessica Norrie explores Loneliness in fiction and also in recently published articles on the subject in leading business and science journals. When you have read the article, Jessica would love to have your views on the subject. O is for Loneliness
Today my guest is Mary Hiland author of a book that everyone who has cared for or will care for elderly parents in the future would benefit from reading. Find out more about The Bumpy Road to Assisted Living: A Daughter’s Memoir and read a review later in the post.
Mary shares a memory of a wonderful summer day when despite being sight impaired, she enjoyed the freedom and fun of being a teenager aged 14. A Whiff of Chlorine on a Happy Summer Day by Mary Hiland
My response to Colleen’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge 138 The two prompt words this week were ‘Clear and Nature’ and I have selected the synonyms ‘Unclouded and Character’
This is the first post from Marsi,who with her husbandRobert,embarked on a four month journey west. Days 11 to 13 (August 9-11) Black Canyon of The Gunnison National Park, Colorado.
This is the first post from the archives of author Claire Fullerton whose book Dancing to an Irish Reel is set in Ireland, where she has family links. On an Irish Bus (2015)
This is the first post from authorK.D.(Karen DeMers) Dowdall’s archives and she also has some news, with The Captain’s Witch, her latest book being released on September 1st…For Karen’s first post I have chosen a poem…which I am sure you will relate to. Beyond Tomorrow (2016) by Karen DeMers Dowdall
This is the first post from the archives of Smitha Vishwanath who shares poetry, wonderful travel posts and life experiences on her blog. This week I have selected a travel post from 2016 to share with you and the wonderful Kerala Temples. Kerala Temples (2016) by Smitha Vishwanath
This is the second post from the archives of author Elizabeth Gauffreau who has some wonderful posts, including an interesting look at her genealogy journey, seeking out her family history. This week a post on the art of writing a short story that is believable but does not come across as a documentary. The Chet Arthur Five Play Jeffersonville: Some Thoughts on Verisimilitude 2017
This is the second post for author Chuck Jackson and he shares his journey of discovery of his heritage having been adopted at a young age. My Heritage by Chuck Jackson
This is the second post from retired librarian and author Cathy Cade, who has been blogging since early 2018. She shares posts on a variety of topics, including some excellent grammar tutorials. This week I have selected a post that is close to my own heart. Distractions….I love Codewords….and also online solitaire, which I have been playing for over 20 years. Puzzling It Out 2018 by Cathy Cade.
This is the second of the posts from the archives of author and poet Joy Lennick, although certainly not the first post that we have enjoyed here on Smorgasbord from this entertaining writer. Carrying on from Last week Joy and Eric face challenges as does Joy in her jobs! Thumbnail sketches – 1950: Hebrew, motzas and ‘Brown Boots’ (2014) by Joy Lennick
Linda Bethea is a regular contributor here on Smorgasbord, but this time I get to select the posts from her archives to share with you… I am sure you will enjoy her stories as always. Here is another of her fabulous family stories. Cousin Barbie Gets Married by Linda Bethea
The Digestive System Part Two – The Oesophagus, Acid Reflux and Stomach We continue the journey through the digestive system – not as exotic as an ocean cruise but far more critical to your health.
Welcome to the weekly round up of posts on Smorgasbord that you might have missed.
Short and sweet this week.. well my introduction to the post anyway.. I know for many of you the school holidays have just begun and you may be already on your way to a vacation and just hope your transition by road, rail and air is smoother than it has been for those leaving the UK in the last few days.
My thanks to all those who have contributed this week.. and every week… also to everyone who has liked a post. I still have that button and when people are busy and cannot comment on all the post that they read, it is a sign of appreciation. Please don’t get rid of the like button on your blog.. it is there for a reason.
Reblogging has become a two step process since the last upgrade, so thank you to those who have gone the extra mile… if you find you cannot reblog a post here or on anybody else’s blog.. refresh the page. I have a sneak suspicion that WordPress are trying to cut down on traffic, and hoping that most people will give up when the reblog button does not work.
Press This.. is a very useful way to share a post. You can add your own introduction and cut and paste an extract from the post as well as schedule for a time ahead. This is a great way to schedule content for overnight to reach an audience in other time zones, without having to write a post yourself. This is useful if you are too busy that day or week and also promotes another blogger at the same time.
Time to get on with the posts you might have missed this week….
More wonderful recipes from Carol Taylor.. including Chinese Chicken or Pork with Water Chestnuts.. and if you have a glut of cucumbers.. get pickling..
Patty Fletcher shares her experience of the bond between her Seeing Eye Dog Campbell and herself, including when there is something wrong that he cannot communicate.
Time of the week to respond to Colleen’s Tuesday Poetry Challenge 137 and this week the prompt words were ‘Kind and Shift‘ and I have selected the synonyms ‘Genial and Change’
Another wonderful prompt and post from Charli Mills for this week’s carrot ranch flash fiction challenge And I do suggest you head over to read about a loon chick who lost its way and the kindness of human strangers determined that it should have a chance to survive. The prompt this week was ‘For One Day’
This week I have chosen a post by Sherrey Meyer, that I am sure all of us who miss their fathers will relate to.. This was for Father’s Day June 16th 2013 so I am not too far out date wise. Memoir – Remembering Dad 2013 by Sherrey Meyer
This is the final post that I have selected from the archives of author Janet Gogerty. In the last few weeks Europe and the UK has been hit by the very hot weather courtesy of North African prevailing winds, and this was last year. Australia Some Like It Hot 2018 by Janet Gogerty
This is the final post from the archives of author Stevie Turner who has an extensive and eclectic archives and it is easy to get yourself lost in there for an hour or so. I have selected this post as it is that time again….school summer holidays…..
This is the final post from the archives of Laura M. Baileywho blogs on a number of subjects including history, family, horses, Southern lifestyle and cookery. With the tinder dry grass that these long hot summers are producing, there is always a risk of a bush or wildfire. Laura shares the terrifying moment she saw a wall of fire heading for their homestead and livestock.
This is the final post from the archives of children’s author Annabelle Franklin who lives in a lovely part of South Wales. She blogs from the Literate Lurcher..or should I say Millie and Pearldo….Millie has sadly passed away now but lives on in the hearts and minds of her pack. Millie goes to Uni 2017 by Annabelle Franklin
This is the final post in this series from the archives of Dolly Aizenman, who not only shares amazing recipes from around the world, but also shares the history behind them. I use a lot of herbs in my cooking and I love animals and the people who rescue and keep them safe….Saving Animals and Herbs by Dolly Aizenman
Ritu Bhathal has an eclectic range of subjects on her blog, and I am going to share a poem that I think will resonate with anyone with teenage children. Of Teen and Tweenage Angst 2018 by Ritu Bhathal
This is the first post from the archives of author Elizabeth Gauffreau who has some wonderful posts, including an interesting look at her genealogy journey, seeking out her family history. This post will strike a chord with many who have, like me got a drawer where previous creative ideas lie waiting for rejuvenation…
This is the first post from retired librarian and author Cathy Cade, who has been blogging since early 2018. She shares posts on a variety of topics, including some excellent grammar tutorials, but this week I have selected an early post about her writing journey. We often seek other’s opinions on our writing but it can be very daunting putting it out there on a site and invite criticism. Swimming with Sharks by Cathy Cade
This is the first post for author Chuck Jacksonand I have selected a post from last year that I enjoyed very much at the time… Working in a funeral home…A True Story From my Past by Chuck Jackson
This is the first of the posts from the archives of author and poet Joy Lennick, although certainly not the first post that we have enjoyed here on Smorgasbord from this entertaining writer. This week Joy shares the wonderful moment she met her husband Eric, who sounds, in her recent posts, not to have lost an ounce of his charm or humour. Thumbnail sketches of the past – 1949 (2014) by Joy Lennick
Linda Betheais a regular contributor here on Smorgasbord, but this time I get to select the posts from her archives to share with you… I am sure you will enjoy her stories as always. For her post I am going back to 2014 and Linda’s recollections of bringing her new baby home and the ensuing mayhem.. I am sure that many of you can relate! Baby Blues
Illustration Kathleen Holdaway Swain
