Build A Better Blog

Click Here To Buy This Book

Dear Mr. Darren Rowse;

After purchasing your ebook, 31 Days TO BUILD A BETTER BLOG, I knew I would love this book after I turned the pages and immediately got to TASK 1.

I'm all in for action! I love that you get me to DO not just preach at me or passively tell me "what I need to know". I'm now a fan and shall support your endeavors.

Your book is so outstanding and deserves to be known as a blogger bible. I want every blogger that has a goal in mind to read this book!

Since you give us a hashtag and encourage us to blog about this, that's what I'm going to do. I will now have a label #31DBBBDefineYourBrand. 

And thank you Jeff Goins for introducing me to this book. You too have a fantastic blog for writers and look forward to your posts and emails every day.


Sincerely,

Stephanie McKibben

Watch my journey to build a better blog! Continue forth!

Mr. Penn Jillette--My New Role Model

Dear Mr. Jillette,

I saw, or rather heard, an interview with you and three women of hysterical ravings about "the gun issue". These women were so incredibly hysterical that I wanted to shut them the hell up. I was going to beg my boyfriend to change the channel until your rational, calm voice brought focus into my world. 

It was like a espresso shot of zen. In the face of such chaotic panic you remained stoic and unaffected by frantic musings of your hosts that typify "hysterical woman". 

My heart went out to you when you sympathetically explained that you had friends with Asperger syndrome and to please don't make fun or blame those people with that affliction for what one individual, with the same affliction, did. 

This note is a hug and a thank you for remaining collected in the face of irrational passion. 

I know those ladies were expressing their fear. They feel helpless and want someone to deal with the problem which is the reason for the high-pitched antics. But, fear and panic is not what the topic needed. 

I am forever your fan.

Sincerely, 

S.N.McKibben

Self Publishing Podcast

In the spirit of sharing and collaboration, I highly recommend "The Self Publishing Podcast with Johnny, Sean, & Dave".

DW, my dearest, suggested this podcast to me.  Now, I'm no podcast listener, but I'm an audible listener, so a podcast seem to be the cross over drug.  

I love it!  Podcasting is my new sliced bread and this particular podcast is my peanut butter!  

If you know anything about me, I love peanut butter.  I have "Ode To The Peanut Butter" somewhere in my journals.  I explain why peanut butter should be two words and how without PB I would starve.  

So now that you understand what this podcast means to me, you should go listen!  

Now, because I was no podcast listener, I asked my hun, how do I listen?  Oh crap--I'm not going to do the he said she said thing--here's the convo:

"You should listen to this podcast."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Who recommended it?"

"Alex Haddox."

"The personal defense guy?"

"Yeah!  He wrote a book and recommends these guys."

"I don't know how to listen."

"Go to BeyondPod.  Do it on your phone cause you'll listen to it on your phone the most."

"Oh, okay."  I hand my phone to DW.

He punches in beyondpod on my internet connection on my phone.  

"I can listen to it on my computer?"

"Yeah."

"But I want to listen to it on my phone."

"That's what I'm doing."

"Oh.  Okay."

DW hands me my phone.  "Look up self publishing in the search."

Type, type, type.

"Oh!  They have 28 episodies!"  (No that's not a typo, that's a stephonism.)

*giggles*

--"...Welcome to the self publishing podcast where you can publish your book without agents, publishers or other gatekeepers of the traditional publishing world..."

 

 

I Believe That...

Inspired tribute to American Gods.  In a scene near the end of American Gods by Neil Gaiman, one of the characters explains what she believes in.  It's inspiring and awesome along with the book.  I highly recommend it!

I Believe That...

 

People can change if they want to but they can't change if someone else wants them to.

E-books and traditional publishing will still be around 100 years from now but traditional publishing might not be 200 years from now.

Planet earth is so far in the boondocks that it's going to take us humans to go visit for life in the center of the galaxy.

Another planet in the opposite end of the boondocks is wondering when we'll show up.

I could eat PBJ's for lunch every week day but maybe not every weekend.

You should take care of what you think in your head because it shapes your soul.

When I die I will be missed even if no one knows who I am.

Because the sky is blue and the grass is green I've adapted to love those colors as the epitome of health.

Crying is the soul bleeding and tears are poison that needs an outlet for one to heal.

Death is an adventure.

Righteousness is an eternal inheritance and Alucard will come for you one day.

Love is God, not the other way around.

Hell is not a place or a destination but your own personal nightmare that needs to be confronted before you gain true confidence.

Zack Fair is a sexy-ass whatever he is.

Marcus interferes with my life more often than I'd like to admit.

Fun is a requirement to live, otherwise you exist.

Google is the next American God.

Just because I talk to myself, doesn't make me crazy, it makes me sane.

Kindness should be sprinkled out liberally everyday so that this world doesn't become intolerable.

With Corso Riggs by my side, I will defeat Darth Vader.

Those who tell me to shut up are those I shouldn't bother talking with.

The safest place on earth is under a rainbow.

Reality is too constrictive when it comes to imagination and children.

Stephanie is the most beautiful girls name ever.

Opening your heart to yourself can be dangerous but worth the risk because if you don't it has no reason to beat.

Yak's spit to be funny.

No one can make you feel a certain way, but that doesn't give them license to hide behind when they try to hurt you or say something that's "truthful".

The Queen Chess piece should never be relied upon; she's a woman and can change her mind and sides.

Vegan's don't understand that this world is not fair, but I admire their choice, not because they are "superior" and don't eat meat but because going without something that the body needs for years takes beyond the will to live and longevity or a devil's worth of self loathing.  

X is the universal sign for "this is worth the booby-trap that might kill you."

Steal This Poem...Give It To Your Lover

I think about you all the time.
Be my new discovery,
An exciting uncharted territory,
To explore you, adore you,learn again.
Can I wrap you up in my love,
So much I would like to claim you as my woman.
Surround you completely, play with you sweetly,
Fall in love with you totally and completely.
Then ever so tenderly slowly undress each layer,
Finding each a new desire.
Those special things about you I will and do so admire.
Like your beautiful cheeky smile and charm,
Or the freckles on your arm,
The music in your soft voice,
When I am locked in surrender of your embrace,
Just to hear you whisper,
The way you say my name.
Like the look in your eyes,
When you are thoughtful.
Or the things you like,
Like what goes on in your mind.
Those cute dimples on your chin and where you are ticklish,to just begin,
Just silly things which are part of you.
Like bare naked simplicity.
I want to give you all of me so will you give me all of you?
Truly one thing I really want to say,
Is I want to make you mine one day,
Tell you how much I love you so very much,
Each day more and more, Miss you being in touch.
So for now I just let you know how much I love you so,
Sending you kisses lots and lots.
I want to ask you will you be mine,
So we can catch up on all them lovely cuddles and hugs.
I love you more all the time.

Random Epiphany

"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

I figured this saying out!  It's simple but the word "conspires" tripped me up; yet it was the right word.  

The universe will use negative and positive influences to get you to move in the direction of your personal legend.  When Santiago lost his money to a thief the universe was moving him in the direction of his personal legend.  

You might think, how could God let this happen?  But really God is conspiring with the universe to get you to MOVE!  The universe is a power of negative and positive.  This epiphany has hit me and yet at the same time I feel stupid for not getting it the first time.  It took me two times for something right up my alley to click.  But I feel enriched for having "got it", or really being led to the conclusion, by myself. 

~ The Alchemist ~ What a fantastic story. 

Audiobook review: Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel narrated by Sandra Burr

As a writer I see various different sections that could have been handled better throughout the book yet I admire the foretelling, the pace, and Mrs. Auel's storytelling ability.  As a reader, I found this book just as unique and moving as I did when I read it at fifteen though I remembered the overall story.  Ayla is an inspiring heroine without being overpowering or losing her femininity.  The story intrigued me at the beginning, crescent in the the middle and came to the authors full meaning at the last two hours.  Mrs. Auel's thoughts about the stone-age make the story and her point drive home with Creb's (a main character) insights.  The divide between clan and "the others" is firm, each character had their own voice and the plot was built up greater and greater till the last bomb at the end.  Style was great -- Mrs. Auel has a definite voice. 

Now for what readers can understand--this book was fun, entertaining and extremely unique to any book I've ever read or ever will read I suspect.  And I mean unique by it has nothing to do with sci-fi either.  It's refreshing from other historical books as it's set in the stone-age.  I liked the book even though, and I quote another reviewers comment, "Ayla (the main character) discovers everything aside from cold fusion...".  She (Auel) gets you into the culture and life of her world that could have very well been a real occurrence.  It's a must read.  I didn't rate it higher only because of technical writing issues even my amateur eye caught, not because the story was not fully integrative.  I plan on reading the next in the series -- or "remember" it as I listen to it again anyway! 

Book Review: Catch Him And Keep Him by Christian Carter

* Re-post from Thoughts, Adventures and Uncommon Questions

As a writer, I read many different books to get different insight.  When I read, I look at the style, voice, the intrigue I feel for the characters or the person if it's a memoir.  But the way Christian Carter writes draws you in and it's hard to break off.  He grabs your insecurities, throws them on the floor and says, now how does that look?  Ugly, huh?  Then, he jumps on the the poor insecurities and stops you from picking them back up when they scream for mercy. 

I can completely tell he's using the "I have a secret" method to get me to read more and it works!  I feel compelled to absorb every paragraph, consume the knowledge he has and is trying to pass on.  It's maddening because you want to know the secret!  Instead of plopping answers in your lap, you have to listen carefully, re-read and analyze what the point is.  What?  Actually engage your brain to help him find the answers? 

Christian markets to women.  What does he sell?  Advice.  MEN advice.  His ability to communicate to women at their level is amazing.  He's worked with countless therapists, advisers, and councilors to help women better understand their men, themselves and their relationships.  But what he really does is get women back on track to their inner power.  He reminds us not to give away our feminine strength while giving away the "secrets" to men in such a subtle way you'll think it was your idea.

So much of what he says I already know, but it's so uplifting to hear his positive message that I can't help but get back to the most secure and confident person that I can be.  To me his writing is worth studying not only to research as a how to get your reader hooked, but also -- he's got a great message.  Who wouldn't want a caring, generous man who lifts up your spirits in their life? 

Audiobook review: Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind

Here's the book synopsis:
An Epic of Awesome Power Kahlan has at last gained the one goal she had always thought was beyond her grasp ... love. Against all odds, the ancient bonds of secret oaths, and the dark talents of men long dead, Richard has won her heart. Amid sudden and disastrous events, Richard's life is called due to satisfy those treacherous oaths. To save his life, Kahlan must forsake Richard's love and cast him into the chains of slavery, knowing there could be no sin worse than such a betrayal. Richard is determined to unlock the secrets bound in the magic of ancient oaths and to again be free. Kahlan, alone with the terrible truth of what she has done, must set about altering the course of a world thrown into war. But even that may be easier than ever winning back the heart of the only man she will ever love.

My take:

The short version--Terry Goodkind is a powerful author and has done a fantastic job of entertaining us!

SPOILERS WARNING
Only hit the "read more" or look down if you already have read the book or don't mind spoilers.

Book Opinion: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (Edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner)

Themed Christmas stories as told by werewolves!  How can you get any better!?  Along with some of my favorite authors (okay I bought it because of the authors) but the title is a hoot and I loved it from there.

Patricia Briggs, Carrie Vaughn, Simon R. Green, and Charlaine Harris captured me in this book.  There were more authors to mention and brought worthy stories to my eager eyes and I loved most the stories (some didn't grab me, but I was exposed to the writers works and that's a good thing because they probably got other readers involved in their writing). 

Some stories were light hearted, some funny and others a little sad but all brought my mood up during the holidays.  I enjoy sampling other writers works and the shorts were a wonderful break from reading an entire novel sized story.

Knowing that werewolves and vampires have a heck of a time during the holidays is actually a comfort for me and shows they're people too.  But what I've learned is that a compilation of short stories are entertainment to be reckoned with!  I've forgotten how much fun it is to read short stories.

So if you're around the book store and need an uplifting boost, try Wolfsbane and Mistletoe ~ even if it's no longer Christmas they are great stories to be read!