New FR*E Classes for Writers

I'll be away for a couple of days - finally getting to celebrate Christmas with the grandkids. My recent surgery and the g'kidlet's illnesses made it impossible to do in December.

Just added new links for FR*E classes for writers at http://tinyurl.com/dfkd9z Check under the "Classes" heading on the Links for Writers page.

Also... Added new items to my pride and joy gift store, Linda's Gifts and Decor: http://tinyurl.com/c5bgcx

I recently had the privilege of critiquing a fiction manuscript for Ms. Hope Clark of Funds for Writers. She had the sweetest way of saying Thank You! www.ediblesinc.com Her verbal TY was quite enough payment for reading an enjoyable and satisfying mss, but the surprise delivery of the Edible Thank You was over the top!

This morning's social media events!

If you're a writer - or if you have expertise in a field like PR, social media, marketing, life - join HARO. Peter Shankman's Help A Reporter is a must-sign-up-for three-email-per-day must-belong-to experience. If you're looking for sources, post your request at www.helpareporter.com/press. Read the list on the morning, afternoon, or evening emails to see if you can contribute. Often, if you contribute to a story, you'll get a mention and some will even include your website address. (My ENT is being featured in Good Housekeeping because I responded to a query for input.)

Another reason to sign up for HARO is that you'll get to see what others, as in those names that appear in all the places you want your name to appear as the author, are querying and to which publications. This point is often overlooked by the newbie writer.

And, you'll have the opportunity to email back and forth with, or talk on the phone with, published writers if your response to their query fits their needs.

MY WEBSITE is FINALLY back up and running after the final encounter of the raging 4+ year-old war with my former webhost. The final blood-letting scene had them shutting down my site on two day's notice - NINE days after my very serious spine surgery. (I'm chronicling my recovery at Living With Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis blog site. All of my blogs are listed on my website.)

I'm now with GoDaddy, which is The Writer's Chatroom recommended webhost of choice. (Use TWC's affiliate link to sign up. It helps support the chatroom.)

Oh, and I'm building my entire Linda's Gifts and Decor store within my writer's website. Many less hassles on both sides. Just click the link about half-way down the menu on the left.

If you don't Twitter, you're losing out! You'll meet so many who can contribute to your writing career. While checking out PodCast 2009 in Ohio's website (I follow them at Twitter), there was a link to Words to Mouth. What an excellent site for writers and readers! It's definitely worth the stopover. I'll be following them SOON, as in today.

HARO, GoDaddy, The Writer's Chatroom, Linda's Gifts and Decor, Linda J. Hutchinson, Living with Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis, Twitter, Words to Mouth, and PodCast 2009 in Ohio were all mentioned in this post. And many of those listed here will be included in other blogger's and website owner's sites.

See how social media works?

To Be Read Stack, Excuses, and ...

My TBR stack is huge. The Price by Alexandra Sokoloff is at the top of the stack. It has received rave reviews from the likes of Ira Levin, author of Rosemary's Baby and The Stepford Wives.

I'm finding it a little slow getting started, but won't give up because PJ Nunn of Breakthrough Promotions has said it's a very good book. I value her opinion.

PJ has also sent me Chili con Corpses by J.B. Stanley. This is the third installment of the Supper Club Mystery series and sounds like a fun read. It's next on the list.

And ... Consequences of Sin, a first novel by Clare Langley-Hawthorne, who has lived in England, Canada, Australia, and now makes her home in the U.S.

AND ... The Olive Horseshoe by Ben F. Small.

I believe strongly that we must do what we can to provide for ourselves. It is this training that keeps me canning and preserving food for my family, and away from reading for the summer. I' m also an avid Freecycler, believing that keeping millions of tons of usable and durable goods out of the landfills is a worthwhile cause.

This summer has been a tough time for me physically. My movement has been hampered by a pinched nerve in my neck. I'm now undergoing physical therapy for the second time this year. You can read about my angst at Living with FM and OA. (Perhaps some of my best writing is done when I'm totally pissed about something.)

I've wanted an online store for a long time. Linda's Gifts and Decor, with thousands of choices for gifts and decorating, is now open for business. The store is a fun place to shop. Special catalogs are available for your group's fundraising efforts. Email me for a complimentary $10 gift card. Fr*e shipping through the end of August!

So now you know what I'm reading and what's keeping me from reading - and what's on my list to be read first. With my right arm going numb, sometimes twice per minute, typing isn't the easiest thing to do.