Two Platform Lessons

I read a great blog post last week by Karla Akins, author of The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots. It got me to thinking about my marketing journey regarding my debut novel. It was suggested in much of my research that you ask for endorsements, and aim pretty high. What could it hurt? I wanted my message to reach as many folks as possible. So I got brave and asked some pretty big names for endorsements and reviews. I also asked some  lesser known authors and reviewers. Here's what happened.

The famous, high profile authors responded to me within a few days. The answer was "Sorry, no," but I received warm congratulations and well wishes. (Apparently, when you reach a certain pinnacle of success, your name doesn't belong to you anymore, or at least that was the case for one of the authors.) The emails were from assistants. That didn't bother me at all. They responded, and wished me well. The messages might have even been automated, but it didn't seem that way.

The lesser known folks DID NOT RESPOND. Now I will concede that there could be many reasons for that. This is not a rant or criticism, but it just illustrates a point. Who do you think I'm still a huge fan of, and who do you think not so much? The response I received solidified the message of the authors who responded. The lack of response caused me to lose a little faith in the message of those that completely ignored me.  Let it be noted that everyone with whom I have a relationship, whether multi-published or not, online or in person, said Yes!.

So the lessons I've learned in this journey so far are:

1. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

2. Relationship - build relationships with people who need your message and/or who can help get your message out there.  

Here's a link to Karla's post: You're Doing Twitter and Facebook all Wrong

What say you?

Happiness is....

Charlie Brown was popular and my favorite when I was a kid. I wrote a poem in the fifth grade called "Happiness Is" inspired by the Peanuts cartoon. I don't remember much about it, except that it ended "and at schoolwork, doing your best." I got to go to the office and print it on a poster to be displayed in the school foyer. The idea of making an impact with writing stayed with me. 

I thought we might reconstruct that poem together. So what is your one liner to go with 

Happiness is.....? Go! I'll post the results later in the week.

You're So Beautiful to Me

 I thought you all might like this sweet poem written by a friend of mine, Windy Lanzle


YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL TO ME

With dirty clothes scattered round my feet,
And toothpaste globs dripping down the sink,
I hear the words, "You're so beautiful to me."

With dark circles round my eyes,
And extra padding round my thighs,
I hear the words, "You're so beautiful to me."

When supper is boring or not there at all,
When shoes crowd the doorway, or laundry fills the hall,
I hear the words, "You're so beautiful to me."

When my eyes grow dim and my face becomes lined,
When hearing becomes an effort and my teeth aren't mine,
Whether you're still here with me, or have been gone for some time,
I know I'll still be hearing,
"You're so beautiful to me."

Here's Windy with an outfit her husband bought for her birthday. He said that if God can put those colors together, why can't he??  He sounds like a keeper. But I know this little lady...she is a jewel, so I think her hubby is just as blessed, don't ya think?

 

Heav'n Rescued Land

 Ran across this post from a few years ago...still feel the same way.

 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord..." Psalm 33:12

I don't have a Bucket List, but I do have a list of dreams.  One of them came true on Saturday when I was asked to sing the National Anthem at the Permian Basin Fire Convention.  (I almost got to sing at a Maverick's game once, but that's another story.)

It was a tremendous honor to sing The Star Spangled Banner.  Normally, only the first verse of Francis Scott Key's masterpiece (which is a bear to sing by the way) is performed at public events.  I wish we could also sing the last verse:

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! 

I do believe that the success and freedom of our nation will be determined by God, and the extent upon which we trust Him.  I'm not going to start waxing political, but I'm just sayin'.  May we be "heav'n rescued", and "blest with victory and peace".  We praise you, Father, the "Power that hath made and preserved us a nation".  Have a blessed week.