Last year I said I wanted to change up my blog to keep me interested in blogging and hopefully to keep my readers interested as well. So here we are in 2017, and while my look is the same, some of my content is different.
Featured Followers in Review
In April 2016, I started this feature on my Email Connect, and nine authors played with me. Here they are again:
If you’re interested in joining my Email Connect, just sign up. The form’s in the right margin of this blog.
January’s Featured Follower
Welcome Sandra Cox, author of the three book series Mutants. I’m featuring her and book #1, Love Lattes and Mutants, but be sure to check out her other work.
Like most seventeen-year-olds, Piper Dunn wants to blend in with the crowd. Having a blowhole is a definite handicap. A product of a lab-engineered mother with dolphin DNA, Piper spends her school days hiding her brilliant ocean-colored eyes and sea siren voice behind baggy clothing and ugly glasses. When Tyler, the new boy in school, zeroes in on her, ignoring every other girl vying for his attention, no one, including Piper, understands why.
I read this book in an afternoon. It’s fun. It’s light with adventure and some clean teen romance. Who can resist a story about a beautiful girl with a dolphin blowhole?
Let Me Tell You A Story
We tested her fern beds that night, and they worked! Although it was cold and the ground hard, I don’t remember a better night’s sleep–even after a good hike. It seems ferns give off a dose of hypnotic flavonoids that induce sound sleep.
When I did some research, ferns are the plants recommended you have in your bedroom. Here’s a quick list other sleep-enabling plants I found online.
DMS says
Plants are so amazing! I guess ferns should be kept out of the office and in the bedroom then. 🙂
Excited to see Sandra here!
Wishing you a wonderful, happy, and healthy 2017!
~Jess
Beverly Stowe McClure says
How interesting about ferns. They sound exactly like what I need. May have to try some. You always tell such fascinating stories too. Congratulations to Sandra. A dolphin blowhole. What a neat idea.
H.R. Sinclair, Southpaw says
You know I'm down with plant info! 🙂
And, uh, Love Lattes and Mutants just went on my TBR list and it pushed up to the top–cause dolphin mutant? Totally cool.
Juneta Key says
Great story and tip.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Kelly Hashway/Ashelyn Drake says
Congrats to Sandra!
Happy New Year, Lee!
Natalie Aguirre says
Sounds like a fun adventure in a beautiful area of the world. Happy New Year!
Mason Canyon says
Congrats to Sandra. The book sounds intriguing.
Great hiking story, too. I'm definitely looking into adding ferns to my bedroom. Happy New Year.
Yvonne Ventresca says
Also, congrats to Sandra. 🙂
Yvonne Ventresca says
Hooray for ferns!
Birgit says
I had no idea that ferns can do this but glad you had a nice sleep and your worries went away. I'm also glad your friend knew bout this. Happy New Year,
Shooting Stars Mag says
Happy New Year! I'm glad you switched things up to keep yourself more interested/motivated in blogging. It's needed sometimes!
Susan Gourley/Kelley says
That's amazing about ferns. I know people liked them but I never knew about their supposed properties for well being. Very cool.
Carrie-Anne says
I love ferns, and the name Fern. Most hikers seem to have had at least one misadventure like that. The most important thing is that it ended well.
Elephant's Child says
Yay for featuring the very generous and productive Sandra.
And yay for a good nights sleep.
Here in the sweaty season the snow sounds wonderful, with or without the soporific ferns.
A very happy and productive New Year to you and yours.
Liz A. says
I seem to recall ferns being the go-to plants in the '70s. What happened with that?
Barbara Fisher says
Hello Lee, thank you for such an interesting post a great start to 2017. There were masses of ferns on the farm where I grew up, they were fun to hide in, and they made excellent ‘camps’ but I had no idea about the hypnotic flavonoids. Perhaps that has something to do with the dreamy way I recall my childhood. The days were long. The sun was always shining, and life was good. Now I wonder if I was under the influence of all those flavonoids. 😉 Happy New Year to you and your family.
Denise Covey says
You're off to a great start for blogging in 2017, Lee. I'm still getting over Christmas, LOL! Loved your spotlight on Sandra. She's a great writer. And I love your story about ferns and hiking in the snow. Now I want to pick some ferns and put them in my bedroom. Might help my husband's insomnia! Anything. Anything…
Pat Hatt says
Wow, I never knew that about ferns. Nature sure has a way of helping out if we let it. Getting stuck in a snow storm though, I'll avoid haha
Lexa Cain says
That is so cool about the ferns! I've never heard of anything like that. I think your highlighting one author a month is great. You're such a generous person! Wishing you and your family a happy, peaceful, and prosperous 2017!
Sarah Foster says
Wow! That must have been scary having to make shelter in a storm. I had no idea about the ferns.
Jacqui Murray says
What a fun book. I must say, I've never seen a character like Piper before.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Exactly!
Toinette Thomas says
Happy New Year!
I like your follower feature.
Your hiking/snowboarding adventure sounds novel worthy. Hope you're feeling better. Glad to learn something new about ferns; oh, and sleep enducing plants. Thanks.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Not exactly snowboarding, which I've never attempted, but there was some slogging through snow that did occur.
Shady Del Knight says
Hi, Cheryl!
I enjoyed reading about your hiking adventure and winding up snowbound in a shelter. How exciting! Those are fascinating details about the benefits of ferns. I will pass the info along to Mrs. Shady because she has trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep. Maybe we would both benefit from ferns in the bedroom. They are a much better idea than popping sleeping pills every night, don't you think? I was an avid houseplant collector in the 80s and 90s and was fascinated with ferns. At one time I owned a Rabbit Foot Fern.
I hope your shoulder and arm are much better by now, dear friend. Happy 2017 to you and your family, Cheryl!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I love ferns in the house and, yes, they're much better than pills for inducing sleep.
I'm still doing therapy for this darned arm, but I'm seeing results. I can now raise my arm to should level without crumpling to floor in a heap. Thanks for remembering.
Julie Flanders says
What a great story! Now I want to get some ferns. I like your new content ideas.
And it's great to meet Sandra – following on Twitter now.
Happy New Year to you, Lee. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi Julie. Thanks for the vote of confidence. See you lots in 2017!
Sherry Ellis says
That's quite an adventure! I didn't know that about ferns.
I like your new content. The featured follower is a good idea.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Just don't let Schultz near them. I think I read that ferns are poisonous to dogs. Or was that periwinkle? Check it out.
Libby Heily Author says
I will be looking into ferns! Thanks for the tip. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Let us know the results as soon as you wake up!
DEZMOND says
ferns are so pretty too! Happy New Year!
C. Lee McKenzie says
They are, and they live a long time! Back at you with the good wishes.
Jemi Fraser says
That's so cool! I'll definitely have to find some ferns to help me sleep! Awesome. What a great adventure for you – glad it turned out so well 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
My cousin's an Alpine Swiss Miss! She knows the ropes when it comes to snow. Thank heaven. I'm a CA girl and only speak sandy beach.
Elizabeth Varadan, Author says
That was amazing news about ferns. Glad you were able to get a good night's sleep despite the cold. But a scary adventure, all the same, being caught out on the trail in a snowstorm. Did you ever work that one into one of your stories?
C. Lee McKenzie says
I haven't found a place for the snowstorm/fern experience, but it's in the wings! Happy New Year, Elizabeth.
Donna K. Weaver says
Love the cover of that book and the title's adorable.
I need to get some ferns in my bed! 😀
C. Lee McKenzie says
Your new home is begging for ferns!
Patricia Lynne says
Sounds like i should get a fern plant for my bedroom. I toss a lot, so am always looking for ways to calm my sleep.
C. Lee McKenzie says
The more ferns the better! Give us a report post fern acquisition.
nashvillecats2 says
First and foremost Lee Happy New Year.
Loved your post, getting stuck in a snow storm in swizterland must have been an experience.
Enjoyed your book review.
Excellent start to the new year.
Yvonne.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi and happy 2017 to you, Yvonne. Glad you enjoyed the story and the review. All my best as always.
Yolanda Renée says
Such a cool story, and love the idea of ferns! On my shopping list. I love decorating the house with plants, thanks for the info!
Happy 2017!
C. Lee McKenzie says
No dusting to speak of if you have plants instead of tables. 🙂
L. Diane Wolfe says
That is quite the adventure. I think we need some ferns in our bedroom now. Happy New Year!
C. Lee McKenzie says
They're guaranteed to be more efficient than pills. Also no side effects.
Bish Denham says
Wow, stuck in a snow storm in the Switzerland! That's definitely scene material for a story. I get your email, and I thought I'd signed up… but maybe not. Anyway… HAPPY NEW YEAR, LEE!!!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I do remember being darned cold! Happy New Year to you, too, Bish.