Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Dealing with a Stalker!

Stalking is a punishable offense here in Pennsylvania as it is in many other states within the United States. Yet, some people feel as if they are above the law when it comes to them. This is a first person experience of dealing with a stalker. 

Because this is now an active case with my local police department I cannot disclose the exact details. A stalker returned to my house after I told him a month earlier that I did not want anything to do with him. When he first knocked on my window, I sure as heck felt in danger until I knew he had left my neighborhood. I should have immediately called the police when he returned at quarter of one on November 15, but I did not. 

Instead I waited until the afternoon to talk with the local police. I was apprehensive in talking to them as he did not harm to me or my property I filed a report and I was told they would go talk with him. They also told me if he comes back to call them and they will be right here. I feel confident they will be here quickly as I live within a few blocks of their station. 

I know realize that I should have called the cops while he was here but I just wanted him off my property. I was so worried about my blood pressure soaring, as a heart patient I know to keep my blood pressure down. I felt I did the right thing, however I know now I did the wrong thing by not filing the report sooner. 

If a stalker comes to your home call the cops immediately do not hesitate at all there. If he or she seems harmless they could be simply buying their time trying to catch you off guard. 

Do not open the door at all if there is a stalker or other unknown person on the other side. Look out the window or simply talk to the person with the door closed. Do not open the door to get a better view! 

I do not think my stalker is a serial killer but serial killers can act sweetly as they lure you into their car or out of your home. Be a responsible person when you have an unwanted person hanging around, do not become a victim.

Monday, August 27, 2012

New Print Book Circle 8 Writers! Check it out!

The newest book by the Circle 8 writers is now out. This one is titled ‘If”.  Stories that are more exciting are coming your way once you purchase the book.

The stories of If: Amy Browne: "And So It Begins: the Birth of Paisley" Short (Paisley)story: The kingdom rejoices at the birth of a new princess. If only grandma had been more careful, the baby would not have floated up, up and away.

Andi Caldwell: "Saint Theresa" Short Story: Theresa had something in common with her namesake Saint Theresa: seeking terrible vengeance on those closest to her. If only she had known then what she knows now--that the saint was no saint in her young life, either.

Angel Sharum: "As If You Cared" Short story: If Robert hadn’t been so alienated by his wife’s manic depression, maybe the cure wouldn’t have proved so deadly.

"If You’d Only Listened" Short story: Nobody ever listened to Will, not his mother, not even his best friend Dale—NOBODY! If they had, maybe Will wouldn’t have decided it’s time for Judgement Day. 

"I’m Sorry" Flash story: Sorry, Charlie.

"I Want You Back" Flash fiction: If only Nathan would’ve washed his own dirty shirts.

LL Darroch: "Artemis Unbound" Short story: A scarlet ribbon always around her neck. Oh, dear, if poor Henry had only known or had guessed why his beloved never took it off.

"The Bracelet" Short story: If Mattie can only conjure up fake spirits, how can one that keeps taunting her with a bracelet prove to be too real. 

"UserError" Flash fiction: If you’re going to use a computer to cheat, don’t drink coffee.

“Green Cheese” Flash Fiction: Green Cheese: What if the moon really was made of green cheese?

"Fortress" Poetry: If the past is a dead thing, should a tombstone marks its grave?

Brittany Joy Chadwick "IF" Short story: If Frank could only believe in his Imaginary Friend.

Robert L. Arend "Snow Globe Short story: If only Ralph hadn’t been so ambitious, greedy and selfish, he and his family might not be homeless and struggling to survive the harsh Philadelphia winter. If only he could change their present by changing his past. 

"The Andre Peterson Conspiracy" Short Story: If Sirhan Sirhan didn’t kill Robert F. Kennedy, who did? Time will tell.


~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Got a Nook buy a Book

Here are some links to the collection of eBooks I have currently for sale on Smashwoords—books are available in other formats as well.


Nonfiction


3x Heart Attack Survivor 14,710 words for $2.99 USD This book contains  my personal story. I share how mine felt and share how I work each day to prevent more heart attacks from occurring. Readers can learn how to prevent their own here as well.


Bipolar Patient’s Guide to Symptoms and Coping Price: $0.99 USD. 3090 words. Published on July 18, 2012. Nonfiction. 
I wrote this guide for newly diagnosed bipolar patients. I am not a doctor or therapist, but I am the wife of a patient. I have learned a lot about this illness and I want to share that knowledge. You are not alone; many people have this illness. I share coping tips, and I share where you can find treatments and support groups.


A best friend’s guide to Inflammatory Breast Cancer Price : $0.99 USD. 4610 words. Published on January 3, 2012. Nonfiction. 
This e-book is for friends who are watching helplessly while their best friend undergoes treatment for inflammatory breast cancer. I discuss the treatments your best friend will undergo and give you ideas on how to help them on this tough road.


Fiction


Cheaters Never Prosper Price: $2.99 USD. 7150 words. Published on December 13, 2011.
When a spouse or someone you are dating cheats on you, first, you get mad and then most of us at least think about getting revenge. In these three short stories, women take that step and get their revenge. Revenge on a cheater comes in many forms.


Merry Christmas  Darling Price: $0.99 USD. 1740 words. Published on December 6, 2011. . 
Nurse Hollister strolls into work one night and sees the perfect opportunity for her long awaited revenge. The man, who broke her heart years ago, was a new patient in the ICU. Whatever is a girl to do? Why of course she does whatever comes naturally. This short story does contain mild adult situations.


In Plain Sight  Price: $0.99 USD. 2540 words. Published on November 20, 2011. . 
Elmer is a nursing home resident who has dementia and terrorizes the other patients on the floor. Elmer is reliving his younger days in his mind and goes hunting, in reality he is hunting on the nursing home floor.

Price: $0.99 USD. 4360 words. Published on November 19, 2011.  
Ralph is a con man who has spent his life taking whatever he wants. He is the type of man who takes justice into his own hands, no matter the costs. In the end it all catches up to him. His punishment by Saint Peter and God show they both have a sense of humor. This short story lets us see how karma comes around and bites us in the butt when we least expect it.


Paisley Series

The Gift Price: Free! 5710 words. Published on July 25, 2012. Fiction. 
Paisley and Joe are two old friends, who love each other deeply and have for decades. Her royal heritage forbids her from acting out any form of love with a mortal man. Readers will see she often breaks the rules when it suits her, because her heart leads her astray. In this edition of the paranormal romance series, they have a gift exchange straight from the heart.


Sacrifice Price: $0.99 USD. 4700 words. Published on July 25, 2012. Fiction. 
Paisley noticed Joe is not his usual self, what is she to do? Her herbs and poultices can only do so much to help. She spends time some time with a client named Sarah, while contemplating Joe’s condition. When she realizes the extent of his condition, she makes the ultimate sacrifice in order to cure him.


A Paisley Christmas Price: $0.99 USD. 4390 words. Published on December 26, 2011. Fiction. 
Its Christmas time and Paisley is headed home for the Yule festival. Her special friend awaits her, and truthfully, she is more excited about seeing him than she is her family. She is nervous that Joe might be mad at her for saving his life. Come and celebrate Yule in the Eternals with Princess Paisley and her family.


~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Crazy summer, but I am back on track!

It has been a crazy summer for me and not particularly a good one. However, I must say with hard work and determination things are now moving in a more positive way. Life sure does get crazy when you are focusing on work and family and sometimes you forget about the more important things like living.


This year I have been so driven on creating the multiple streams of income with my eBooks, that I pretty much left the writing sites where I make decent money alone. I realize now in hindsight what a huge error that was. I need to find a way to work on everything during the day so that nothing is left out.  The only way to do that is to write a list in a spreadsheet and follow it daily.


 I simply made a list of all the web sites that I do something on in a column of the spreadsheet. As I do something on that site, I can just simply add a number of articles or ratings I did for it and simply move on to the next. I have also left time at the end of the day for the creative writing, which I love to do. This should keep me focused. 


~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

New eBooks Paranormal Romance series Paisley is published

 In the summer of 2008 I wrote a short story for a contest. That short story gave birth to my favorite character, a white witch named Paisley. Since that time, on and off between writing content, a part time job and living life I have been writing her life stories  as I found a few spare hours. 

 

I decided long ago to make these a series. Much like Amanda Hocking did with her books.  Jennifer Malone Wright who I have known for a few years also made her Vampire Hunter’s Daughter story into a series.  

 

Like their series, mine is paranormal as well.  How could a portal jumping white witch story not be paranormal?  Once Paisley meets Joe, it turns into a romance of sorts. She loves him and without a doubt he loves her.  Will they ever get together in that special way that lovers do? Your guess is as good as mine. Like you I am simply watching their tale unfold.

 

The Gift is the first part of the series. Paisley and Joe are two old friends, who love each other deeply and have for decades. Her royal heritage forbids her from acting out any form of love with a mortal man. Readers will see she often breaks the rules when it suits her, because her heart leads her astray. In this edition of the paranormal romance series, they have a gift exchange straight from the heart.  

 

Purple Flames is the second adventure.  This story is based on the one that was submitted to that contest, so you might say this started it all. Paisley noticed Joe is not his usual self, what is she to do? Her herbs and poultices can only do so much to help. She spends time some time with a client named Sarah, while contemplating Joe’s condition. When she realizes the extent of his condition she makes the ultimate sacrifice in order to cure him.

 

A Paisley Christmas is the third adventure in the series. This one is based on the one I wrote for the Dark Christmas book the Circle 8 Writers group published, but I revised it.  Its Christmas time and Paisley is headed home for the Yule festival. Her special friend awaits her, and truthfully she is more excited about seeing him than she is her family. She is nervous that Joe might be mad at her for saving his life.  Come and celebrate Yule in the Eternals with Princess Paisley and her family.

 

The first book is free, so please go over and download it (link is up there) and leave a review. Have a great day.

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Paypal Blocked Thanks Hackers and YCN

I wrote about my experiences of being one of the almost half a million YCN contributors who got hacked when my email address and password were publically displayed for the world to see.

Do those clowns at YCN really realize how bad their slack of security has hurt their writers?  Honestly I do not think they have a clue. In their apology email they suggested we change our passwords, (no chit did that long before your email). However, changing the password is not going to help with some things. Well let me tell you, it was not as simple as changing a few passwords.

The email address that was publically displayed is my main email. Even though, I did not use the same password for all those 100+ websites the email was used on 99% of them. 

Like many writers I have passwords to writing sites, promotional sites, websites which pay me to do advertising or blog posts on my own blogs. That does not even include the other professional websites that I belong too.

When people tried to unsuccessfully log in my accounts and failed after a number of times, my account was blocked. With some accounts it is fine but others it is just a huge pain in the ass.

Like my Paypal. Imagine getting blocked out of your bank, and your money taken by bandits. My Paypal account was hit over and over, at least eight times within the week following the snafu. I am grateful there is a zero spending limit on my account with Paypal, because the thieves cannot steal my money.

However since most of the money I earn is paid through Paypal, I am effectively without money until the spending limit is lifted.  Imagine what the clowns at YCN would do if their paychecks were held up for a week or more. 

~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Snafu email/pass posted online affected the writers more than YCN

By now, everyone has heard about the big snafu with a hacker releasing the emails and passwords of 450,000 freelance writers over at the Yahoo Contributor network. I was one of those writers whose email and password was publicly posted online for millions to see.
 
Most of those affected including myself, were notified by friends who shared the news reports by various websites. It was not until 2 days later that YCN sent their emails to those affected writers.

By the time YCN notified us, writers had changed passwords on various websites multiple times. Every time we fixed one, an attempt would be made on another of our accounts. I changed my face book and twitter accounts so many times it was unreal. It is a giant cluster smuck because some hack wanted to teach YCN a lesson.

Who is really suffering here? Sure YCN is suffering because some writers trust the site even less now. They lost money because they had to fix the mess they made when an employee posted unencrypted emails and passwords on line. To me paying an employee their hourly wage to fix their chit is not suffering.

The people who really suffered here were the writers. Many of us whose emails and passwords were posted rarely write on YCN anymore because the pay is very low. Instead we sought out private clients, other lucrative websites, and other forms of income making opportunities.

I spent the better part of 12 hours changing account passwords on over one hundred web sites that I use on a monthly basis for some aspect of work. Granted not all are money making sites, there are research sites and other typed of depositories and forums.

As I mentioned earlier some of those sites required the password be reset multiple times as different hackers got them locked down. This slowed my work right down. It caused me to spent time I should have been writing for income  on changing passwords. I would have much rather spent the time writing to put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads. 

Some may wonder why I used the same email and password combo on so many websites. The answer is simple, it is ease of use. Can you imagine having to keep track of several hundred passwords? You can bet all my accounts have different passwords now, I keep them all on a spreadsheet on the other computer.

A hacker may snatch control of my Twitter but since my Facebook or Email passwords are different he will not grab control of the others without a lot of hard work.

~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Freebie Weekend Amazon eBooks

Indie Authors and Books is a group of great Indie Authors. On Friday July 13, 2012 we will begin having a free book weekend. This is our second event and we invite you to join us.  
 

Humor

Spaztastic Zombies  Tammy Lee Morris (July 14)

 

Fiction: Dark, Twisted Short Stories

DestinySteps In (when bad things happen) Theresa Leschmann (July 13 and 14)

Creepy Bits Tammy Lee Morris (July 13)

Devil's Playground Mercy Meyer (July 13 and 14)

Collection of Dark Short Stories Amy Browne (July 14 and 15)

 

Non Fiction

Content to eBooks Amy Browne (14 and 15)

I love You, I hate You- A Bipolar Marriage Alice Madison Young (July 13, 14 and 15)

 

Erotica

Restraint Erica Chilson (July 13 and 14)

Anticipation Sarina Asheford (July 13 and 14)

911 I need Help! Felicity Freedom (July 13, 14, and 15)

If you are an Indie Authors who would like to join our Facebook group, please click this link. We formed this group to learn from each other and to help each other grow. We are very laid back, but we will not tolerate rudeness in any form. Join us to discuss all topics concerning indie publishing


~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Good reads at .99 USD!

In celebration of good old summer time, I have lowered the prices of some of my eBooks on Amazon!  There truly is something for everyone!

FICTION If you are in the mood for some short stories I have a collection of six short stories! In these six you’ll read stories in which Karma plays a big role. There is a nasty know it all man who lets his snake handle his dirty work,  a single mom who has the world by the balls until she becomes a victim in a deal with the devil, while another woman gets away with murder! What really happens in a nursing home when dementia patients are mixed in among the healthy and frail patients, Elmer deceives everyone? 

Fiction  The Devi’s Playground is a collection of short stories which all center around murder, deception, and of course lies. There is the crazy teacher at a private school who spikes the brownies and two innocent young girls are in the mercy of a sadistic big sister and her friends. 

Shiner’s diner has the best sandwiches but what happens when the  guys who lay the big pipes for the natural gas begin to disappear?   Chloe and her 2 best friends found a way to get rid of the men in their lives long ago. On her death bed as an old woman one tells how they got away with murder for over fifty years.

Fiction  Cheaters never prosper is a collection of short stories of three women who were cheated on by lovers. They all get revenge in unique ways, but only one pays the ultimate price. 

Kindle Single Story Fiction  A short story about the  revenge of a  nurse with an axe to grind with an ex boyfriend.  http://www.amazon.com/Merry-Christmas-Darling-ebook/dp/B0069Z362O/ref=la_B004EW761G_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1340293704&sr=1-12 

Kindle Single Story Fiction
Paisley is a portal jumping white witch who lives in two realms. It’s fantasy with a bit of romance tossed in. 

GAMES Bingo Blitz is a fun game on Facebook. This eBook gives some hints and tips to new players. http://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Guide-Bingo-Blitz-ebook/dp/B005NU3KLI/ref=la_B004EW761G_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1340295333&sr=1-13

True Story For the fellow heart patients out there, I offer my 3x heart Attack Survivor eBook. I describe what happened to me and how I made the changes within my life so I cold be here for my kids and grandkids.

Medical When your BBF gets a diagnosis of Inflammatory Breast Cancer, you need to educate yourself about the illness so you can help her remain positive. 

~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Bloomberg says Ban SODA, I say Ban added Salt


Michael Bloomberg who is the Mayor of New York City recently announced a ban of soft drinks in cups larger than a sixteen-ounce cup. He believes the citizens of New York City consume too much sugar. People across the nation are voicing their opinion and here is my opinion.


I am a woman who is over the age of forty who enjoys soft drinks as much as the next person does. I have been known to walk into a fast food restaurant or convenience store and purchase the largest drink. As long as I can afford it, no one should tell me that I should not purchase it. If I was purchasing the soda with money given to me by the government then yes, I can see limiting this purchase. However, when I pay for the soda with money that I earned, no one should tell me that I should not purchase this soda.


If I needed to limit my sugar for health reasons that is one thing, but I am not a diabetic and I am not morbidly obese. If I was a diabetic, who purchased these sugar-laden drinks and it increased my need for insulin, which is paid for by government money that is a different story. However, diabetics should be alert enough to limit their sugar on their own. If they do not well that is their own problem, as they will suffer the health consequences. If those diabetics are consuming excess sugar, and are living on welfare, need more insulin to keep their health in check, limit their soda by removing it from the items, which are approved for purchase with a welfare card. Those of us who do not make the laws can understand that no brainer.


As a heart patient who does watch my sodium intake, I would love to see a ban put on the added salt restaurants add to food they serve. I do not eat at many places outside of my house because the foods prepared in restaurants and food that is made at convenience stores is salted before they are served or when they are prepared.


Too much sodium pushes up blood pressure, and can cause a heart attack. This is what should be limited for the good of everyone, and not the soda! Heart attacks kill more people in any given year then consuming sugar does for the average person. Too much sugar does harm diabetics but for the rest of the population excess sugar makes them susceptible to other illnesses if they are predisposed to those diseases including obesity and diabetes.


The Center of Disease Control and Prevention lists heart disease as the leading cause of death in the nation, while diabetes is the seventh leading cause. Almost 600,000 people die each year from heart disease while 68,000 die in that same year from diabetes. Those facts should speak loud and clear to any rational person. These statistics can be viewed on the CDC website


Mayor Bloomberg I encourage you to read those statistics yourself when you make proposals that effect the citizens in your city. If you were simply trying to create a media stir, then you have done that. I am sure there are more pressing matters you can fix within your city, than sugar consumption.

~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Chicago Bulls NBA tickets


One of best gifts you can give a basketball fan is NBA tickets! This truly is an all occasion gift as it is suitable for any occasion such as birthdays, retirement, graduation, or simply a great way to say I love you.   
If someone you love is a fan of the Chicago Bulls, you can purchase United Center Tickets at the TicketAmerica website. This website has plenty of tickets for all sorts of events such as sports and music. 

Friday, May 18, 2012

Dealing with Deadbeat Clients

Dealing with deadbeat clients is an unpleasant fact as they surround us all. They simply want a free ride in life and well it is not fair. Here is how I dealt with a deadbeat client.


In early January of 2012, I won my first bid on one of those freelance writing websites. I was commissioned to create a wordpress blog for 30 dollars for a man who owns a web site that gives virtual tours of a famous place. He wanted one post and a few links to his website. He wanted a 400-word blog post, and I gave him an extra 400 words free.


Now he had the two-blog posts, which came up high in the search engines. I snagged the most popular keyword phrases to help him gain rankings. I sent him the URL, and he said he approved it. I am a nice person and trusted that he would pay me. I sent him the password to the word press blog and the newly created g-mail account.


I invoiced him and he ignored it. After a week, I wrote him back and I asked for my money. Life happened, and somehow in the following months I forgot about him. I wrote hundreds more articles, blog posts and even some eBooks. Winter, turned into spring and as a working freelancer I just threw myself into work. 


On May 17, 2012, I finally remembered the work once more. It really made me mad that a man expected to get something free from me. Perhaps he thought I was one of those rich Americans. Yes, I am a rich American, rich in family and friends but not money. So I logged in to the accounts I created for him, the blog site and the g-mail both. I changed the passwords and resumed control. I then went ahead and removed his links from the blog posts.


Some people might say why not simply delete the posts from the blog, and be done with it. The answer is simple It comes up high in the search engines, and draws attention away from his web site. Some people may think this is mean spirited. Yeah some may say it is, some will say it is well-crafted revenge of a deadbeat client. I call it job satisfaction. 

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Dating Losers, EWW Stop me Now

Dating is rough. I hated it before marriage and now that I am single once more, I hate it even worse! Men say women are full of drama etc, ladies have you ever dated a know it all? They are full of drama and a lot of BS.


I am not a man hater. I simply hate some of the personalities they harbor! I know I have a bad personality where some men are concerned I am one of those women whose kids come first and then work does.  I keep meeting men who do not know the meaning of commitment or they want me to support their lazy butts. 


Any man I date has to take a third place unless he is willing to help to support me so I do not have to work as much. See so simple, yet so hard to attain. Anyways back on track here. If you want to read some of the personality types which men have that make them the worst dating material, check out this article.  


Ladies, have you meet a man on a dating web site that you think might be dating material? How can you check him out quietly? Trust me there are several ways to do this, without them knowing. I am going to share my methods with you ladies, right here in this article.


Ladies, when you are on the dating websites, it seems that you attract the wrong type of men. It happened so much to me that I was seriously thinking of giving up dating game. How can we change this? Find out how I did it


~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous

Bipolar eBook I love you I hate you A Bipolar Marriage

Bipolar is a mental illness, which affects the moods of the patients affected with the disorder. Sometimes that makes these people hard to live with. There is help out there for the people who are in a relationship with a bipolar patient. Here is a great book on the subject.

 

Alice Madison Young published ‘I love you, I hate you, A bipolar marriage” in March of 2012. This eBook shares her personal insights of being married to a man with the disorder.   If you are on the fence about staying in the relationship her story may help you.  On June 2, 2012 this will be a free eBook, but it is available other times at an everyday low price of $2.99 (USD), on Amazon. You can purchase the English version here, while readers from the UK can purchase the eBook here.


~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Self Published Authors 411

The goal of any novel writer is to get a book published and there are two main avenues to do this. Writers can go the self-publishing route or the traditional route of getting an agent. Which is better for profit, ease of use and reaching the ultimate goal? Read more here.

Creating an eBook
Any freelance writer who types content for a living can turn to eBooks with ease. We already have the skills, we simply need the inspiration and to be pointed in the right direction. Read more here.
One question, I am routinely asked is how do you set up Microsoft word so that it formats text eBooks correctly. It is easy just follow these systematic instructions on setting it up to format correctly. Read more here.
There are many options when it comes to your book cover. All of these options work for eBooks as well as any size of print books. Some of these options are free while others are options, which require a payment of some sort. Read more here.
If you are selling your eBook, you may wonder what the best pricing model is. Everyone has their own opinion, but there are some standards. The pricing models also seem to vary by website, type and genre of eBook. Read more here
Self-publishing eBooks for the Kindle or Nook is easy. I have my eBooks available in many places on line and I am sharing my knowledge here. Read more here.
Selling your eBooks on Amazon and Smashwords is a great idea for indie authors who want to sell eBooks. I have been doing both since October 2011 and am finding good success. Read more here.

Marketing
  Create a Facebook event to help move your free eBook. This is a great way to promote your eBook and hear from your fans. It is marketing on steroids for independent authors. Adding in a few author friends will ensure you have a variety of eBooks to offer. Read more here

Selling your eBooks on Amazon is profitable but you can become a ‘bestseller’ by giving away eBooks freely. The trick is not breaking any rules so you do not jeopardize your Amazon account. Read more here.
Self-published authors have a distinct advantage over traditional published authors as we control the marketing of our books. Some self-published authors may think this is a disadvantage, but it really is not. There are ways to promote your book free. Read more here.
Firsthand experience with KDP program
Recently I had the opportunity to talk with Alice Madison Young, who wrote the book ‘I love you, I hate you a bipolar marriage’. This eBook, which is sold exclusively on Amazon, is doing quite well for a new book. Read more here
Many people wonder what the Kindle Select program will do for them. I was one of those people, who wondered about it, then I dived in and put an eBook into the program on February 7, 2012 and I am so glad I did. Read more here.


~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Posting an Article in Many Places is Easy

Freelance writers and authors are you looking for a program that allows you to post one article to multiple places at once. It is very tedious to post a link to your Facebook, and then to twitter! There is a program to combine the two of them, but I am talking about a service that allows you to post that article to a blogger blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, WordPress, Tumblr and a few more. Better yet, it allows you to post to multiple accounts on each of those social networks. The program or service that allows you to do this is called Posterous.

Short and sweet! Simply write a blog like post and email it to your Posterous account. Write it as if you were emailing a friend, include the links in the body of the post or add them at the end. The subject of your email becomes the title of your post. Once you send the email it automatically posts to your page over on Psterous along with any of the accounts you post to.

When it hits twitter, the title of your email will be used as the post and the URL of your blog follows it. It appears the same way to your Facebook profile but it posts the whole thing on blogs

 

This post is going to

http://twitter.com/AmyBrowne (title and url)

http://www.facebook.com/authoramybrowne (title and url)

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/amy-browne/1a/936/495

http://amyjob.blogspot.com/ (whole post)

http://writingishardwork.blogspot.com/ (whole post)

https://amybrowne.wordpress.com/

 

http://posterous.com/ sign up for a free count today

 

Promotion of our work is hard and time consuming and I am so guilty of skipping promotion because I need to write for upfront payments. I am a very active content writer, something writing 200-300 smallish articles a month for various blogs.

I also am a published author who needs to promote both print and digital copies of my work. Posterous account allows me to do this.

Plus when I send a posterous post to a blog it updates the blog!  


~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous

Friday, March 16, 2012

Identity Theft


Recently I dealt with some creep who stole my money online when he used my credit card to make random purchases. Perhaps he is not a creep in real life but identity theft is theft and that makes you a creep.

Anyways back to the story…

I could have simply reported it to the police as was my first thought. However, I did not like the officer who was on duty that night.  Some online friends told me I should become my own detective and track down the thief and I began my search.

Solution:
Cancel the card. Go to the transactions area of your online account
Contact each business where the cash was used. Tell them your story.

Here is a link to an article I wrote with more detailed version of the identity theft problem, and steps to the recovery of the money. 

Friday, March 9, 2012

Asking for help


Sometimes when life sends an avalanche of bad luck, we feel overwhelmed and are not sure where to turn for help. I am weathering such an avalanche at this time. I believe that no man or woman is an island, and we all need help but sometimes I forget this. I have been self reliant for so long that I just focused on working hard.

Sometimes when we are experiencing these bad times we forget that we need the help. We just toss up the walls and try to fix things on our own. When the odds are stacked against us though, it is hard to do it yourself. We all need to ask other people for a hand, as we help ourselves.

When you are living on the edge and one late payment begets you shut off notices well it is overwhelming. After making two house payments and paying a rather large bill in one month, I found myself in that position recently. I tried to work hard by writing more. I ended up turning in shoddy work, which got me suspended for a week and a half on one website I write for. That means I could not write for that site for that period. Being suspended simply added to my problems and made the situation at home worse.

Do not be a person who shuts off everyone during your time of need. Ask for the help you need, but try your best to help yourself as well. Work hard to get some income at home by doing odd jobs for neighbors, babysit children, or deliver newspapers. If you have to sell that set of antique dishes on eBay, do it. If people see you trying to help yourself they are more likely to help you with the other things you need.

In every community, a group is set up to help those people who occasionally go through rough patches. These places can help with money for bills, like your heating bill, or electric bill. There is always a food pantry to help you with food. Call your local Salvation Army and they will help you with food. No one should ever go without eating.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Crock Pot Cooking and the Food Pantry Visit

Crock Pot sauces are easy to make and they taste much better than the crap you get out of a can or jar.  Usually I do use cans of Del Monte, because it is priced to fit my budget   I simply add onion, peppers, meat and seasonings and let it cook all day. It has been known to fool people. LOL People think I do it homemade, but it is simply a shortcut here.

Crock Pot Soups are good for you and so easy to make!  Try chicken noodle today! Toss a few pieces of chicken in the pot; add some broth, and seasonings. Allow it too cook all day on low When it is almost time to eat toss in some noodles.

When food is running low at home and you need something to fill the bellies of your family rice always does the trick. I have a rice casserole that everyone seems to love. It is make with cream of mushroom soup, cheese, vegetables, chicken, and lots of rice. It is easy to prepare and it is filling.

When the pantry gets way to empty and there is no money for food, it is overwhelming. I am a full time freelance writer but found myself in that position recently.  For two weeks, I simply limited my food intake, at the end of those two weeks I was eating once every two days so that my child could eat daily.  I ended up going to the local food pantry. I am not telling you this for sympathy, but I choose to write about it so others would know they are not alone. I felt horrible about going but I swallowed my pride and went there. I am glad I did as well. I am grateful that they helped me put food on my table.


~~Goals do nothappen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Bingo Blitz Addicts Unite

Bingo Blitz is a very addictive free game on Facebook. I am addicted to this one and I play if often during the day.  I find it to very relaxing as a break between writing the articles. 


  Today I shared my knowledge of the game to help others as well as gain teammates. 


  Therefore, read my articles and add me as a Facebook friend. After we are friends on the site, please send me an invite to be a teammate!


https://www.facebook.com/authoramybrowne


Articles

Game review http://knowabit.com/2012/01/4522/

How to get credits http://knowabit.com/2012/01/bingo-blitz-credits/


~~Goals do nothappen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Posted via email from Amy Browne's posterous