News, Updates, The Works

Writing Status -- Working on Newsletter
Mood -- Exhausted
Playing on itunes -- nada

I'm working on the news page for my website and realized there is a LOT of stuff going on the next few months. I have a couple of releases, some chats, blog visits, etc. As I got going, I realized that I can't cram that much information into a news page on the site once per month.  It's too difficult, and I'm bound to miss something.  So, after thinking it over, I created a yahoo author page.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AuthorJASaare/

I plan on keeping excerpts, sample chapters, etc on the loop, so if you're interested, come on over and join me.  It's in the beginning stages right now, but I hope to have it looking good by next week.

Speaking of...

Don't forget to drop by the Long and Short of It loop HERE as well as the Whipped Cream loop HERE to register for their annual author and reader weekend (it takes place on a yahoo loop, which is super easy to register on).  They are having a huge author/reading chat fest and will be giving out prizes galore, including books, the chance at a Nook, and gift cards. As a bonus, Long and Short of It and Whipped Cream also give away tour packages for authors seeking promotion. Last year they gave away book tours, dates for their author spotlights, and many other things.  So if you enjoy chatting with authors (you can find a list of who is visiting HERE) be sure to stop by and say hello!

My chats are scheduled for 6:00pm EST for J.A. Saare (will be discussing Crimson Moon and Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between) at the Long and Short of It group, and 7:00pm EST for Aline Hunter (discussing Eternity and a Day) at the Whipped Cream group.  I'm going to be giving away gift cards to Amazon.com and might toss in a couple of PDF's, so don't miss out. I hope to see you there!

I'm off to get some work done.  Hope you all have a safe and enjoyable weekend.

New Look

After much reflection, I decided it was time to change the layout of the blog.  This template is cleaner, easier on the eyes, and the nifty buttons will redirect you to both of my websites and the new blog that was recently started by five fabulous author friends -- one for each day of the week -- which I am so excited about.

I hope you like the change.  I'm still on the look out for something, but so far, this was my favorite.

**Updated the layout.  I had to change it or the bright "yellow" from excerpts and author Ten Questions segments didn't show.  I think this one is just as nice.**

New Webpage

I delayed in changing it as I was promoting Dead but now it's official. The webpage has a new look and is up!

www.jasaare.com

I'm going to fiddle with the banner, but overall, this is it. I think it looks so much better than the drab grey and black scheme I had!

What do you think?

Creative Blog Award

The lovely Cari Quinn and fabtastic Lynne Roberts nominated me for a Kreativ Blogger award. *blush* I've been lax in responding because revealing things about myself will probably bore the general public. However, to get in the spirit of things, I'm willing to give it a go!

Seven Things About Me:

1.) I detest Spam, and I don't mean the stuff you get in emails. The canned meat (is it really meat? it looks like cancer) has a smell that makes me retch. It sucks, too, because my hubs loves the gelatinous stuff. *gag*

2.) My career aspiration was to be an elementary school teacher...until I had four children of my own. Now? I just want a job that's calm, serene, and most importantly -- quiet!

3.) My favorite beverage is Wal-Mart brand Sam's Choice Cola. Nothing else will do. As I'm cutting calories, I only allow myself one on occasion, but it is definitely my favorite treat!

4.) Once upon a time, I appeared in the theater productions of The Merchant of Venice and Romeo and Juliet. Where forth art thou, Hollywood?

5.) My favorite scent is vanilla.

6.) When I got married, I didn't know how to cook. I couldn't even boil an egg. (I did, however, know how to bake...yeah, I don't understand it either!)

7.) I've gotten better, but I still have an unnatural yen for nail polish. I have over 600 bottles stored in my office, according to shade and rarity. I even had a photobucket account where I catalogued images of each manicure I did with them. Strangely enough, I bit my nails until my senior year of high school.

Okay, now that I've shared, it's time to spread the love. I realize I am nominating people who have been nominated by others, but I just can't help myself.

Lynne Roberts -- her witty Wednesday's make me chuckle.

Shelley Munro -- always has something to share, and rocks my socks!

Cari Quinn -- dynamo of a friend and awesome to boot.

Helen's Hardt -- shares hotties with us, what's not to love?

Jacqueline Paige -- a fantastic friend and writer who cracks me up!

Kaye Manro -- writes thought provoking blogs and is hella nice to talk to.

Wendi Zwaduk -- has some hot stuff coming out soon, and is always a blast.

Thanks for nominating me Cari and Lynne. I heart you gals!

New Website

Writing Status - About to start
Mood - Excited
Playing on ipod - Hot Mess by Cobra Starship

The children wouldn't leave me alone to write, but I did accomplish something today. The website for my smut alter ego Aline Hunter is up and running.

www.alinehunter.com

I mailed off the contract for Eternity and a Day to Loose Id this morning. I have never been more nervous! I'm not sure why. I've done this before, but somehow, it feels...different.

Tonight marks the return to NaNo. Hopefully I will be productive and get some writing done.

Website Updated

Writing Status - Don't Ask
Mood - See Above
Playing on ipod - Lights in the Sky by NIN

I finally got my website updated. As a computer dummy, it was not fun. I do think it looks a lot better. The dark woodsy thing was nice at first, but eventually got old.

If you get a chance, let me know what you think. I created the banner but gave up on centering it. After two-hours, I figured it was best to pick and choose my battles.

www.jasaare.com

Missing Emails

Where do all the missing emails in cyberspace go? Do they just float around in the digital abyss indefinitely?

I'm ready to strangle both Yahoo and AOL at this point. Two separate email accounts and the same thing continues to happen - my messages do not make it to the intended sender.

Damn you WWW!!!!

Networking

There are several aspects about writing I don't particularly enjoy and networking is at the top of the list.

Don't get me wrong, I get it. I know that in order to get the word out you've got to "get the word out", but it's incredibly difficult when you're a shy kind of person that doesn't like attention or the spotlight. I'm not a writer that loves her material (half the time, I border on hating it) nor am I the type of person to toot her own horn.

How do you exude confidence when you're terrified of being perceived as arrogant? I've seen some of the profiles of other writers on various sites and I cringe. I like my material, but I do not believe I am the second coming of Kathleen Woodwiss or Nicholas Sparks.

It's a jagged path to walk - and an exhausting one.

Playlists

Today, I decided to add a playlist section to my homepage. As cliche as it may be, I do listen to music when I write, especially on those juicy fight scenes or very emotional ones. But as I was doing the list, I realized I couldn't put them all down. That's hours of listening. It was tough narrowing it down.

One funny thing, though. Each story has it's own "theme" song if you will. A song that always comes to mind when I think of the material.

It makes me curious how many other people do the same and what songs come to mind when they think of their story and characters.

Why WWW!!!??

I absolutely deplore the world wide web and all that comes with it...okay maybe not ALL things (Google - Yes, please) but I do detest things like freaking web hosting,domains, FTP servers, and so forth.

I have been busting my balls trying to get my website up and running. Who knew it could make me so miserable! Days have been spent staring at the screen, working on the layout, and contacting customer support when I wanted to pull out my hair.

Thankfully, I think I've finally got most of the work done and my site should be available within the next 24 hours.

Thank.The.Lord.

Until...

As I am completely and utterly lost and worthless when it comes to my computer (aka - the language of the geek Gods. aka - domain names, DNS, hosting, IP addresses). And thus, I have decided I will leave the real work to the big boys (aka - the lovely and insurmountable hubs!) and will relay what is going on in my world via good old fashion BLOGGER.

There is a reason I return to this venue again, and again, and again...

And contrary to what my lovely husband says, it is not because I'm impaitent or violent when something confuses me beyond belief.

Speaking of.

Where did I put that sledge hammer?