My Next Project and Ciara Knight's Book Cover

The final stop this week is with Allie Casey where I discuss my next project - one that’s been a long time coming!




Today we also reveal the cover art for Ciara Knight’s new book, Weighted. Isn’t it gorgeous?

Weighted is a young adult post-apocalyptic with paranormal elements. It is a prequel novelette to The Neumarian Chronicles, and will be released August 2012. Book I, Escapement, will be released in 2013.


Blurb:
The Great War of 2185 is over, but my nightmare has just begun. I am being held captive in the Queen’s ship awaiting interrogation. My only possible ally is the princess, but I’m unsure if she is really my friend or a trap set by the Queen to fool me into sharing the secret of my gift. A gift I keep hidden even from myself. It swirls inside my body begging for release, but it is the one thing the Queen can never discover. Will I have the strength to keep the secret? I’ll know the answer soon. If the stories are true about the interrogators, I’ll either be dead or a traitor to my people by morning.


Add Weighted to you Goodreads shelf


And your photo image of the day: 

"How do I reach it?"

It's All About the Speaking Engagements & Industry News

Today my stop is at Tina Games’ BLOG I cover some of the speaking opportunities I’ve had over the years.


Industry News and Interesting Articles:


Amazon Under Pressure to Relight the Fire at Seeking Alpha


Barnes & Noble Launches 16th Annual Summer Reading Program: Imagination's Destination at Book Business


Books-A-Million is still surviving at Publishers Weekly


Have you ever done a speaking engagement? Does the thought of standing in front of a crowd of people scare you? I’ll share this with you: 15 years ago I would’ve been terrified. Now I absolutely love it.


Your photo inspiration for the day:

BOOM!

Writers Beware!

Today my stop is at Life as Leels as I warn writers to beware of the different publishing paths at Leila Brenner’s site.


After teaching publishing and promoting seminars for over five years, it still amazes me how little writers sometimes know about the publishing industry. I hope that my guest post at Leila’s site really helps.


And on a sad note, a blogger friend of mine, Eric W. Trant at Digging With the Worms just lost his 18 month old son. Eric, my heart and prayers go out to you!


Today’s photo:

From the riverboat cruise in Wilmington, NC.

Typical Writing Day

Today I am visiting Launch Pad Publishing and discussing The Evolution of the Typical Writing Day with Faye Levow.


(And my guest post yesterday with Irene Roth is now available for those who missed it.)

Some people have very structured days and set writing goals. I’ve been self-employed for 13 years now, so a schedule went out the window for me. No two days in my week are the same. At first it was chaos, but I learned to make the chaos my balance.

Those of you who are writers, do you have a set time you write? Do you plan your days to a schedule?

I also wanted to note this upcoming blogfest from two very wonderful authors, Hart Johnson and Elizabeth Spann Craig - The Crazy Cozy Blogfest. They have teamed together to celebrate the release of their books on June 5th.




And your photo for the day:

SMILE!

The Beginning of an Idea and Industry News

This week I am on tour and today’s stop is at Irene Roth's Fearless Freelance Writing Tips Blog It's up now!!!


I discuss the beginning of an idea (and what inspired me to write Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK!) with Irene Roth.


Industry News:


Brian Jud offers 33 Tips for Profitable Publishing at Book Business


A cool Pinterest infographic that shows self-publishing vs. traditional HERE


And an image for inspiration!

(Taken at a recent Carolina Mudcats game.)

Spunky on Tour!

It’s been two years since I did a book tour, so this is really special. I am on tour for Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership & Goal-Setting. During April’s A to Z Challenge, I’d offered leadership and goal-setting tips from the book and everyone seemed to enjoy them.

This tour focuses more on the writing process and balancing it all when one is more than just an author. Chaos is the balance for me and I invite you to share my journey:

May 18 - My First Book
I discuss characterization with Misha Gericke

May 21 - Irene's Inspiring Book Reviews and Author Interviews
I discuss the beginning of an idea with Irene Roth.

May 22 - Launch Pad Publishing
I discuss the evolution of the typical writing day (for me anyway) with Faye Levow.

May 23 - Life as Leels
I warn writers to beware of the different publishing paths at Leila Brenner’s site.

May 24 - Tina M. Games
I talk about my speaking engagements and what I’m doing now with Tina Games.

May 25 - Communicate with Confidence
I discuss my next project - a publishing and promoting book - with Allie Casey

My focus the past few years has been my speaking engagements, as that is where I’ve been able to share what I’ve learned after almost ten years in the publishing industry and ten years with a motivational training program. I hope that you’ll follow along and learn from my triumphs and mistakes. Better to follow someone through the minefield than venture out alone!

Today, please join me at My First Book for tips on how to create believable characters.

A to Z Challenge - Zealous

For the A to Z Challenge, my topic is leadership and goal-setting. I am posting short excerpts from my book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, along with an inspiring photo. Today is the last day. Enjoy and dream big!

Zealous

There is no real magic trick to charisma, though. Basically, it is the ability to instill enthusiasm in others. Think back to the last time you were in the presence of such a charismatic dynamo. Were you not energized by his enthusiastic nature? Did the bright light of his life not draw you closer? We are all attracted to those who embody the pure essence of a zealous existence. However, charisma does not imply a hyperactive personality or a person of overwhelming intensity. It is simply a contagious spirit of optimism and enthusiasm.

A to Z Challenge - Your Internal Voice

For the A to Z Challenge, my topic is leadership and goal-setting. I am posting short excerpts from my book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, along with an inspiring photo. Enjoy and dream big!

Your Internal Voice

One of the first items we need to control is our internal voice. The chatterbox in our heads is detrimental to our self-esteem as well as our attitude. Develop awareness of the words uttered silently in the mind. Are the phrases uplifting or downgrading? Remove belittling words of condemnation from your vocabulary. Even if no one around offers an encouraging word, play the role of cheerleader for yourself. Allow your stream of conscious to inspire and uplift. Do not speak as if you are your own worst enemy.

A to Z Challenge - eXtra

For the A to Z Challenge, my topic is leadership and goal-setting. I am posting short excerpts from my book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, along with an inspiring photo. Enjoy and dream big!

eXtra

Like a battery, we must occasionally recharge. Allowing for a full night’s sleep or periods of rest during the day is vitally important. A little extra sleep is good for a tired body. Don’t forget that our minds require energizing as well. Senses grow dull when there are no new stimuli on which to feed. Provide the brain with a change of scenery and a break, too. Once rested and refreshed, we can attack our problems anew.

A to Z Challenge - Work Ethic

For the A to Z Challenge, my topic is leadership and goal-setting. I am posting short excerpts from my book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, along with an inspiring photo. Enjoy and dream big!

Work Ethic

Proper work ethic implies that we should display all of the qualities we want our people to possess. As a leader, we should work harder and encourage more often than anyone else in the organization. We must set the example and achieve results, not just activity. Followers will emulate our bad traits faster than our good traits, so provide them with as few negative habits as possible!

A to Z Challenge - Vision

For the A to Z Challenge, my topic is leadership and goal-setting. I am posting short excerpts from my book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, along with an inspiring photo. Enjoy and dream big!

Vision

We can begin cultivating a charismatic personality by developing a dream. When we share a goal that taps into the dreams and desires of others, we create a vision worthy of pursuit. By attacking this ambition with unwavering determination and intensity, others will feel inspired to join in the crusade. People will follow a charismatic leader, drawn by his enthusiastic belief in total victory. Think of all the great charitable organizations and worthy causes started by such an individual. What an incredible image of success!

A to Z Challenge - Understanding Shyness

For the A to Z Challenge, my topic is leadership and goal-setting. I am posting short excerpts from my book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, along with an inspiring photo. Enjoy and dream big!


Understanding Shyness

We offer many explanations for our shyness. Some people claim they are simply not the talkative or sociable type. Preference to follow rather than lead is often cited as an excuse. Others describe their bashful nature as a desire to remain out of the limelight and merely watch from the sidelines. Internally, many simply fear they will be disliked or hurt by other people. The reasons vary from one individual to the other.

But what is the real underlying cause? Despite all of these seemingly different excuses, shyness comes from only one thing- a problem with human relations. It is our inability and reluctance to reach out to other people that hold us prisoner.

Shyness is more than just a barrier to enjoying meaningful relationships. It is a wall that separates us from new concepts and experiences. When we cannot access people, we cannot access their ideas, either. It limits how far we can expand our world and confines us to only one way of thinking. In order to continue growing as a person, we must extend our horizons, and this means relating to other people.

A to Z Challenge - Take Action to Cure Fear

For the A to Z Challenge, my topic is leadership and goal-setting. I am posting short excerpts from my book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, along with an inspiring photo. Enjoy and dream big!

Take Action to Cure Fear

Acting upon a fear does not sound appealing. It’s probably the last thing we desire. That does not change the truth of the matter, though. We can only conquer fear by facing it and taking action.

Every person on earth experiences fear. No one is immune. Yet, for every anxiety we possess, someone in this world has faced and overcome that concern. That should give us hope! The good news is that once we take action, the fear dwindles. It’s the very first step that’s always the most difficult. If we can just do it once, conquer fear only one time, then the next time it is easier to accomplish the task. It is vital then that we take the first step.

A to Z Challenge - Self-Image

For the A to Z Challenge, my topic is leadership and goal-setting. I am posting short excerpts from my book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, along with an inspiring photo. Enjoy and dream big!

Self-Image

Our self-esteem is the deciding factor in whether we succeed or fail in life. It is an intangible possession of incredible power. What exactly is this internal force and what shapes its attributes?

Self-esteem can be described as a sense of personal worth. It is self-respect, confidence, and genuine joy on the positive side and self-doubt, worthlessness, and unhappiness on the negative side. Our ability to handle situations and accomplish goals is determined by the amount of self-esteem we possess. At any given time, this can also fluctuate between sufficient amounts or serious deficiency.

A to Z Challenge - Real Criticism is an Art

For the A to Z Challenge, my topic is leadership and goal-setting. I am posting short excerpts from my book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, along with an inspiring photo. Enjoy and dream big!

Real Criticism is an Art

First, we must define criticism on a basic and practical level. We are all quite familiar with movie critics and their ability to rake a film across the coals. These individuals appear to revel in their power to condemn a movie to box office disaster. However, the true purpose of criticism is not to tear down but build up character and content. To truly critique is to offer suggestions and possible improvements. Therefore, criticism should only be conducted in the spirit of assistance and encouragement.

A to Z Challenge - Questions

For the A to Z Challenge, my topic is leadership and goal-setting. I am posting short excerpts from my book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, along with an inspiring photo. Enjoy and dream big!

Questions

In order for us to listen, the other person must open up his mouth and talk. Asking questions encourages his participation in the discussion. He may seem reluctant or slow to respond, but do not let this discourage the pursuit of meaningful dialogue. That person might be unaccustomed to the attention or even suspicious as to why anyone would find him interesting. Persist with a genuine, caring attitude and honest motive. You will eventually coax a detailed and engrossing response. And if you discover his hot button, prepare for the sleeper to awaken.

A to Z Challenge - Proactive

For the A to Z Challenge, my topic is leadership and goal-setting. I am posting short excerpts from my book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, along with an inspiring photo. Enjoy and dream big!

Proactive

Proactive puts you in control. No matter how the scenario unfolds, whether for better or for worse, you are the master. This does not imply you can control the conditions or even the final outcome. However, the circumstances will not control you. More specifically, they will not control your attitude or behavior.

This is yet another important component of a positive mental attitude. A proactive person will not allow situations to control his actions. He is in full control of his attitude and can make decisions independently of the circumstances. Behavior and response will not be based on the crisis of the moment, nor determined by outside influences.

A to Z Challenge - Organization

For the A to Z Challenge, my topic is leadership and goal-setting. I am posting short excerpts from my book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, along with an inspiring photo. Enjoy and dream big!

Organization

If we are to become an effective leader, we must master organization, act with confidence, and instill these behaviors in our followers.

These two qualities are entwined. If we are unorganized, we do not give others confidence in our abilities. Our lack of confidence is occasionally due in part to misinformation or poor planning. One trait affects the other. How well we portray these attributes will have a profound effect on others as well.

As our organizational skills increase, so will our confidence, and we will gain our follower’s confidence as well.

A to Z Challenge - Never Take Criticism Personally

For the A to Z Challenge, my topic is leadership and goal-setting. I am posting short excerpts from my book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, along with an inspiring photo. Enjoy and dream big!

Never Take Criticism Personally

The best protection against criticism is to avoid taking it personally. Many times the judgment is not aimed directly at us, but we accept it as such. If our egos were not on the line, we would not feel so threatened! By removing our self-esteems from the equation, we find that criticism does little harm. We are then better equipped to handle criticism calmly and effectively.

A to Z Challenge - Making a Good Impression

For the A to Z Challenge, my topic is leadership and goal-setting. I am posting short excerpts from my book, Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership and Goal-Setting, along with an inspiring photo. Enjoy and dream big!

Making a Good Impression

As with all people skills, there are no gimmicks, but there is a secret when it comes to impressions. One surefire way to make a good impression on someone is to let him know he is making one on you! If you follow the basic rules during the encounter, he will regard your behavior as a vote of confidence. That person will conclude that you view him as important, valuable, and respectable. In his mind, he thinks, “Hey, he believes I’m really somebody!”