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Got Something to Crow About?

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©Judy Ben Joud
Yesterday, while walking my dog, Rascal, the crows seemed to be in a frenzy, hopping around, squawking their heads off. Hearing their raucous chatter reminded me of how I'm just the opposite.

Unless I know a person very well, it's hard for me to open up and talk. I've heard other authors are also like me, semi-recluses, more relaxed sitting at their computers than in the company of live people.

When it comes to sharing any of my accomplishments, I'm more comfortable doing so online. Still, it doesn't come easy. I go through the motions, but am not exactly thrilled about expanding on what I've done. I much prefer bragging about someone else.

Since I suspect I'm not the only one out there who hates to crow, I'll make it easy for you. I invite each person who reads this blog to crow about one thing you've accomplished.

If you're not a writer, you can always mention something else, like getting a degree, giving birth, preparing a special recipe, even vacuuming, or completing a crossword puzzle. No accomplishment is too trivial.

Writers, brag about some aspect of your writing life. Maybe you've released a new book,  finished editing one, started a new one, won an award, wrote a blog post, cleaned your desk. If you can't think of anything new, mention something you've done before. You get the idea.

One crow per person, and not too long. Please provide a link if you have one.

My crow:  Despite fighting a cold, I've been editing A Perfect Angel, the romantic comedy spinoff of Her Handyman, and am almost done.

YOUR TURN. WHAT'S YOUR CROW?



Experience the diversity & versatility of Morgan Mandel. For romantic comedy: Her Handyman & Girl of My DreamsThriller: Forever Young: Blessing or CurseShort Stories Sequel: the Blessing or Curse CollectionRomantic suspense: Killer Career. Mystery: Two WrongsTwitter:@MorganMandel Websites: Morgan Mandel.Com Chick Lit Faves. Coming Soon: A Perfect Angel, the sequel to Her Handyman. 

Comments

  1. Thank you for this. Writers have to have the self-awareness to listen to advice and act on it even if it means cutting their favourite lines AND be in your face promoting their book/story/poem.

    Here's my crow. BACK TO CREATIVE WRITING SCHOOL has 30 writing exercises and 41 five star reviews. Ebook and paperback.

    Thanks - that feels better!!

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  2. I suspect you've opened the flood gates here, Morgan.
    My crow:
    I finished writing a 600,000 word fantasy trilogy in June. Book 1, Joinings, A Seared Sky was published by Fantastic Books Publishing at the end of March and book two is due to be published in August.
    Wow! That feels better. Thanks, Morgan. On with the new sci-fi novel now.

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    1. That's a lot of words, Stuart. Definitely worth crowing about.

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    2. Wow! And I'm happy to be at 60,000 plus.

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    3. Took a while to complete, of course!

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    4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    5. Stuart, My schplellink was terrible in the comment I deleted. Trying again. Congrats wishing you much success.. I also think Morgan opened the flood gates

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  3. Thanks for the opportunity, Morgan! I'd like to crow about DEFINITELY DEAD, the first book in my new Empty Nest Mystery series, which is now available. The series is a wink and a nod to the old Thin Man movies starring Myrna Loy and William Powell. However, I've given things a modern day twist with the wife as an amateur sleuth and her husband as her often reluctant sidekick. Anyone interested in learning more can find an excerpt and buy links at my website: http://www.loiswinston.com/books_def_dead_1.html

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  4. I hate self-promotion. Truly. I'll write all day, but ask me to step away from the laptop and put myself out there and I just lose interest. I'm proud of all eight of my indy pubbed books. But for today's purposes, I think I'll crow about the Story Building Blocks series. I really think it can help writers get started, get unstuck, and polish their work until it shines. Just don't expect self-promotion ideas. :) http://www.amazon.com/Story-Building-Blocks-Layers-Conflict-ebook/dp/B0053001W4

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    1. How To Book are always a great idea, and can help someone get started.

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    2. How to books and courses are what the newbie (and not so newbie) author needs.

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  5. Since I work 2 jobs during the school year, summer is usually my only time to get most of my writing done. But a week ago I finally bowed to the inevitable, and after putting it off for 5 years, I got my gall bladder removed. I thought I'd be sitting at my laptop writing from the first day back...HA! I took those pain pills because I needed them, but each one put me to sleep for an hour or so. I have my follow-up apt. with the surgeon today, and sitting up is once again do-able. I think I'm finally on the mend, so I can commence with my summer project of weaving stories.
    What kind? http://www.fionamcgier.com

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    1. Hope your recovery speeds up so you can get some writing done.

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    2. Thanks! I bounced back from my 4 c-sections quicker, but then the last one was 21 years ago. I'm not as young as I used to be! Sigh...

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    3. A while back, I was fortunate enough to get the scope gall bladder surgery, not as invasive as the one where you get cut open.Since I like to sleep on my stomach or side, I found using a small pillow for support in that area helped a bit.

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    4. Maryann, Since I'm a praying person, I'm praying for your total recovery from this surgery, no complications, and health in all surrounding tissue.

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  6. Thanks, Morgan! I'll crow about finally having a new book out in November 2014. It's standalone suspense about a woman on the run, but she's dead wrong about who's on her trail. The title is "Dead Wrong."

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  7. Thanks for the invitation, Morgan. I'll crow about my thriller Chipset being named a finalist for the 2014 Hoffer Award.

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    1. Congratulations, Larry, on receiving that honor!

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    2. That is huge. I judge for the Eric Hoffer Awards and so many novels are submitted. This is huge.

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  8. Wow, great news... well, except for Fiona's gall bladder. But I guess it is good news that it is out. LOL

    Love this idea, Morgan, as there are very few of us who are really good at promoting.

    My crow is for all the wonderful recent reviews for my books, especially Boxes For Beds. http://www.amazon.com/Boxes-For-Beds-ebook/dp/B00BM9G53O/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1363706924&sr=1-1&keywords=boxes+for+beds+by+maryann+miller

    Also excited about a new book I started a few weeks ago. Totally different from my others, but words are just flying when I get a chance to write. Can't wait for my drama camp to be over, so I can really focus on writing.

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    1. Maryann, that's great about all those wonderful reviews. Also, it must be a wonderful sensation when words come out effortlessly. I usually have to yank them out, then later, twist them around so they're just right.

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    2. Isn't it wonderful to see those good reviews.

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  9. I have a number of new novels published by various publishers in mystery and romance. However, Eldritch Press has just published three of my speculative poems and offered a contract for one of my short stories. You can read the poems for free at: http://www.eldritchpress.com/online-poetry.html

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  10. Good for you! Thanks for letting us know, Jacqueline!

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  11. I'm happy to be editing book 3 of my dreamwalker series. I would love to be able to turn it in by mid-September. Earlier is always good, of course!

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  12. Yes, earlier is always good, even better!

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  13. My crow-went fhe freebie route in partnership with my publisher for Angel Lost and it was #! for two days in freebies over all and #1 in police procedurals. Stayed in the early 100s for a few days. nearly 51,392 downloads, and oodles of sales of other books in the series.

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  14. Marvelous, Marilyn! I'm so glad the freebie promo paid off for you!

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  15. My crow is that A Well-Kept Family Secret will soon be out as an audio book. I really enjoyed reading all the other crows!
    Marja McGraw

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  16. Thanks for the opportunity to crow. I enjoyed reading everyone's crow and commented on most of them. My crow is that my first indie release HARMFUL INTENT hit the top 100 in mystery > private investigator at the price of 99 cents and at $1.99 staid there for the first two days of my countdown promo. This was huge for me because my previous four-book series (out with a small publisher) was released in the Christian Fiction category. This was a much larger category and I was actually two behind Lee Child, which gave me a thrill. HARMFUL INTENT has lots of red herrings, twists and turns and a bit of humor, it is also uplifting, but is not Christian fiction. This was a departure and a risk for me, so I'm very, very pleased.

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