Summer Wrap Up
I launched Sign of the Green Dragon, and am still alive to talk about it. If that’s not a miracle, I don’t know what is. I jumped into a couple of Blog Hops that I felt I could handle along with my book event, and I tackled two garden projects that were long overdue. But I looked out at my hammock and thought how I hadn’t spent half the time there I’d planned to this summer, and already the back-to-school ads are popping up. So it goes.
That Hammock Awaits!
Some of you know that just before this book launch I signed up for an online course in copyrighting–something I knew nothing about. I skipped through the course, picking out what I needed to give me immediate help, so now I plan to take some time to explore the modules more carefully. I’ve already shared some information with my Email Connect followers and I’ll be sharing more with them soon.
My Email Connect Buddy
Connections with writers continue to keep me writing. A new friend (we actually had coffee and talked) connected me with one of her friends who is starting a Silicon Valley publication for local authors. Because I’m among the early subscribers, I get a full page ad for Sign of the Green Dragon. I love the energy of young writers and publishers, so this is going to be fun. When the magazine comes out, I’ll show it to you here.
Mark Noce, Author of Between Two Fires
August will be the 5th month for my Featured Follower of the Month. I’m still experimenting with the idea for supporting authors more fully and more creatively. It’s not a finished product yet, but I’m hoping I can polish and tweak it as I go, especially as I learn more from the copyrighting course. Oh, and about this month’s Follower. . . I’m going to meet Mark Noce. He’s signing books at a library near me.
Here’s to a wonderful end of summer month to all of you.
Lynda R. Young has a book out this month, so here’s Lynda!
Cling to God: A Daily Devotional.
by Lynda R Young
Release date: October 18th, 2016
Published by Freedom Fox Press
Cling to God in the chaos of life…
Cling to God is a book of devotionals for every day of the year. The aim is to encourage Christians in their faith, to help them think about their beliefs and learn more about God. The devotions are short and inspirational so that people with busy lifestyles will still be able to spend time with the Lord each day. It will appeal to a wide Christian audience, to those new in their faith as well as those matured beyond milk and honey.
Author Bio: Lynda R. Young, a Christian first, writes devotionals, articles, and speculative short stories. In her spare time she is also an editor, game developer, artist, and dabbles in photography and all things creative. She lives in Australia with her sweetheart of a husband.
Links in full:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5832201.Lynda_R_Young
Quote of the Week: “The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” William James, philosopher
DEZMOND says
I've been seeing green dragons all around the Twitter too! It's almost like Pokemons….
C. Lee McKenzie says
Just bigger!
D Biswas says
I wants me that hammock!
And cool to hear all this publications news 🙂
Damyanti
klahanie says
Hey superstar author, Lee!
Nice mentions of Mark and Lynda. Congrats to them, to you, heck, congrats to everybody and then some.
Ah yes, it's "Hammock Time" by "MC Hammock"….
As usual and always n'stuff, I'm your starstruckest fan, Lee.
Penny's fictional character,
Gary.
Sherry Ellis says
That hammock looks pretty good! I think it's calling your name.
Mark's new book is terrific. He should have a lot of success with it.
Nicola says
Summer seems to have stalled over here in northern europe. I don't know where it's gone. Congratulations to you, Mark and Lynda on the new publications. Enjoy the rest of the month 🙂 More time in the hammock required 🙂
Barbara Fisher says
…and very comfy it looks. I’m not great at getting into and out of a hammock, but I do enjoy them once I’m aboard!
Congratulations on the launch of Sign of the Green Dragon and Congratulations to Lynda also.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I've landed upside down a few times. Only the birds saw me, so that was good.
Susan Gourley/Kelley says
That hammock looks so inviting. I admire your goals of support for other writers.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Susan. I love writers. I've always loved them, but now more than ever because I understand what they're up to and up against.
Chrys Fey says
Congrats to you for Sign of the Green Dragon. Congrats to Lynda and to Mark. A congratulations for everyone! 😀
That hammock does look inviting.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Tomorrow that hammock swings with me in it.
emaginette says
Summer is flying by for me as well. Every now and then I enjoy an afternoon out and about. Otherwise it's work, work, work. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
C. Lee McKenzie says
I hear you about the work!
Yvonne Ventresca says
Congrats to Lynda and to you, Lee! Book launches can be exhausting. Go use the hammock!
C. Lee McKenzie says
You're up soon! Got vitamins?
DMS says
Bravo on surviving the launch! The copyrighting class sounds interesting!
I love the hammock. Summer is somehow slipping by too fast. Glad you were able to get outside to some gardening projects.
~Jess
C. Lee McKenzie says
If only I'd known all of that before. What a difference it would have made.
Medeia Sharif says
Congrats to you and Lynda. It's wonderful making connections and reaching for those opportunities.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Always something new popping up in this business.
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – that publication sounds a great idea and opportunity. Meeting Mark will be – fun – looking forward to that … while Lynda's book looks to be a 'must have' …
Now gently rocking in a hammock sounds very good to me! Cheers Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
I hope this publication takes off and succeeds. Another way for authors to showcase their work.
Carrie-Anne says
Congratulations to Lynda!
I'd love to have a hammock, though knowing my weak stomach, it'd give me motion sickness. I have fond memories of the glider on my paternal grandparents' front veranda, though, and always wanted to have my own glider someday.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm not good on the open sea, but so far the hammock has treated me well.
J.H. Moncrieff says
I can relate. I feel like this summer has been nothing but work, work, work. Life is short. We need hammock time too!
Congrats on a successful launch, and congrats to Lynda as well. <3
C. Lee McKenzie says
We do work hard, don't we? Every writer I exchange thoughts with is on the go all the time.
Liz A. says
Glad you made it through the book launch. The back to school ads always start about a month before back to school for us, so I don't pay them much mind, or consider them the end of summer.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yours is probably the best way to approach this seasonal change.
Kelly Hashway/Ashelyn Drake says
Congrats on the free ad. That's awesome!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm loving free these days.
Mark Noce says
Can't wait to meet you in person, Lee:)
C. Lee McKenzie says
It will be great!
Lynda R Young says
That hammock is pining for you… I can tell.
Yay on getting the ad. That's great. Hopefully you'll gain heaps of interest in your book from it.
Thank you so much for sharing the happy news about my book. You're wonderful!!
T. Powell Coltrin says
Congrats! Hard work and a great imagination eventually pays off. Woot!
Heather R. Holden says
A free full-page ad? Wow, how exciting! Congrats!
Elephant's Child says
Your hammmock looks enticing. And congratulations on surviving (and triumphing) the latest launch.
I am so not looking forward to summer. Would you like to keep it? Please.
Shooting Stars Mag says
Sounds like you've had a good, yet productive summer! Oh, I could use a nice hammock right now.
L. Diane Wolfe says
Everyone is excited for Lynda's book.
I wish we had a hammock. We need a few trees for that though.
Jemi Fraser says
I'm completely ignoring those back to school ads!!
Strangely, I've never been in a hammock but I'd love to try one out.
Congrats on surviving – definitely not an easy task but you were great!
Yay for Lynda! 🙂
Tamara Narayan says
I used to have a hammock in my parent's back yard. I would spend the whole day in it with a pillow and book. (Throw in some M & Ms and Root Beer and that's my idea of heaven.) Hopefully, you can visit yours soon.
I finished reading Sign of the Green Dragon and posted about it over at http://www.tamaranarayan.com today. It's a fun and creative story. Congrats.
Cherie Reich says
It sounds like the book launch went well. Have fun in your hammock!
Kathleen Valentine says
I sympathize with your longing for your hammock. I have a chair o my back deck that is my happy reading place and I have not spent early enough time there this summer.
C. Lee McKenzie says
We need to make a pact. One hour a week, at least, in that hammock before it's too late.
Kathleen Valentine says
And it will be too late, too soon!
Spacer Guy says
Hammocks are extremely relaxing. You can assemble one now (designed by a student) for sleeping under your desk at work!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Perfect!
Natalie Aguirre says
There's still time for you to get into your hammock. You deserve it with all you have been doing. Glad your book release went well. Congrats to Lynda on her book!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Natalie. Birthing books is always interesting and tiring.
Roland D. Yeomans says
I miss my old hammock — it was from the Navy, made of canvas, and very much relaxing to lay in and watch my two dogs wander and play in the backyard. Best of sales for SIGN OF THE GREEN DRAGON!! Thank you for helping me with my last book blog hop. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
I love the swinging, swaying motion of a hammock. Nothing lulls me faster than that. Thanks for the good wishes.
Shady Del Knight says
Hi, C. Lee!
I live in Central Florida where summer doesn't end until December and spring starts again in January. 🙂
When I was a young boy in rural Pennsylvania we had a hammock stretched between two trees. I loved to recline in it for hours at a time gazing at the patches of sky and clouds visible through the canopy of leaves above.
I realize that the vast majority of your cohorts are published authors. During the two phases of my career, I worked in the fields of television news copywriting, advertising and promotional copywriting, and script writing for short films, motivational seminars and business presentations. Thank you for accepting me into your circle even though my background does not match most of your other friends. I sincerely thank you for continuing to take an interest in what I am doing at SDMM and I invite you over this Friday when I present a 50 year flashback!
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend C. Lee!
C. Lee McKenzie says
You are the perfect friend to have. You understand copywriting ( which I now see that I misspelled!) You're always welcome here; we need new blood. I'll pop in for your 50 year flashback.
Patricia Lynne says
Don't remind me that summer is almost over. Soon snow will be here and the winter catering that comes with the day job. I'm not ready.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I understand. Of course, we don't see much snow where I live, so all I can hope for is some rain.
Emily R. King says
Very cool about that class! And yay for Mark and Linda! I loved Mark's book.
C. Lee McKenzie says
The setting was particularly interesting.
Birgit says
You need to make the time to spend one day on that hammock. If you don't make the time, there will always be something that needs your attention. Sometimes it is a good thing to say, "What is put off today can still be put off tomorrow." Congrats to the 2 authors and I like your idea about showcasing an author on your blog
C. Lee McKenzie says
You are so right. I will pay attention to your advice, Brigit! Glad you like the Email Connect idea.
Chemist Ken says
Getting in early is the key. Good luck with the ad.
I'm pretty much to the point where I'm letting the garden do whatever it wants the rest of the summer. Groundhogs have already decimated the marigolds and deer have nibbled off all the shoots on my phlox. Right now I'll even welcome weeds if they add more green to the garden.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I hear you about those critters. Last year we had a deer break in that wiped out almost everything. It took one night for them to undo a year's work. Here's to greenery–weeds or not!
Brandi Kosiner says
Love the hammock, would love to have one one of these days
C. Lee McKenzie says
They are soothing. Just have to find the time to be soothed.
Beverly Stowe McClure says
Congratulations to Lynda on her new book.
That hammock does look inviting.
Have fun with the new magazine. That's exciting.
Have a great week.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi Beverly. Thanks. Same to you.
Pat Hatt says
That is great you got a free ad. Never know what connections will be made along the way.
C. Lee McKenzie says
That's what makes this writing business so interesting.
Mason Canyon says
Congrats to Lynda on the book release and looking forward to hearing more on Mark. Glad you survived your book launch and the new magazine sounds interesting. Love your hammock. Can't use mine today as it's raining.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Raining? Now that's what I call a miracle, but that's because I live in California.
Bish Denham says
We have a hammock but no place to hang it at the moment. Anyway, by the afternoon it's too dang hot to be relaxing in it.
Congrats on the ad, and I'm looking forward to your sharing more tips!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hope you find a way to hang your hammock!
Dianne K. Salerni says
I can never enjoy the hammock for long. I always see something in the garden that needs tending, and the longer I lie in the hammock, the more it bothers me! Hopefully, with your garden projects completed you'll get to enjoy yours!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Oh yes. I hear that!
Juneta Key says
Congrats to everyone on book releases and Lee on your launch glad you survived it.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
C. Lee McKenzie says
You helped, so thank again.
sage says
That hammock looks real inviting. It has finally cooled just enough here to be able to enjoy a hammock outdoors. It appears you've found a great contact with Mark and congratulations to Lynda.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I see that hammock from my office window and it beckons. Glad you've finally gotten good outdoor weather to enjoy.
nashvillecats2 says
Glad you survived the launch,
Most enjoyable post to read, loved the hammock. Oh I do miss a garden.
Yvonne.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Gardens make me very content. I must have or be near one.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
That's cool you get a free ad.
Looking forward to Mark and Lynda's books!
C. Lee McKenzie says
One thing about blogging is you get to meet the authors. I'm such a fan girl when it comes to authors.