Today's blog post has its roots in a movement online to bring awareness to the problem of bullying. I found out about this movement from author K.C. Neal on her blog. Have you been bullied? Have you been a bully? What impact does bullying have on people? Well, I'm not an expert but I can give anecdotal evidence . . .
I've heard "I don't know how to write a review" many times now as I've talked to friends who read Jasmine: Energy Book 1 and told me how much they enjoyed the story. After reading reviews in the New York Times or other large outlets, I see how writing something thought provoking and compelling while remaining in impeccable prose is daunting.

Today's author is C.K. Volnek. I met C.K. this fall at the Seward Writers Group and knew instantly that she was and still is awesome!
I read A Horse Called Trouble and literally could not put the book down. I stayed up until 3AM reading because the characters and story caught me and held my attention. Next on my list to read:Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island. I hear it's also a great read.
Enough about me, on to the interview . . .
I am humbled and awed at the outpouring of support for Produce, Publish, Publicize. I have to wait until Sunday to find out exactly how many copies I gave away for free but the number is well over 3,000! Thank you everyone who downloaded a copy, told your friends about the book and clicked "like".
There is a person I need to especially thank. I am a huge fan of Crystal over at Money Saving Mom. She graciously shares her knowledge and wisdom with everyone who visits her site. I've saved hundreds of dollars this year alone following her advice. She has posted about free books before and I didn't think Produce, Publish, Publicize was too big of a stretch to fit her readers' interests so I sent her an email and let her know it was free.
She posted a blog about it and tweeted the information!
Why is that so amazing? She's launching her own book right now. I told her I understood that she was busy and if she didn't want to dilute her book's push by mentioning mine, I'd still be a huge fan. Well, she posted it anyways and I am humbled by her continued grace.
Here's her book.
From Amazon:
Crystal Paine, who has helped busy women everywhere take control of their finances, presents her most effective strategies designed for families of all sizes and income levels.
With hundreds of inspiring “why didn’t I think of that?” TIPS, plus WORKSHEETS, Paine breaks down your goals into easy, manageable steps so you can:
• Achieve a complete financial makeover
• Set up a realistic budget
• Never pay retail
• Slash your grocery bill
• Organize your time & your home
• Use coupons wisely
• Pay with cash only
• Live simply
• Become debt free
• Choose contentment
• Make every dollar count
Sabrina:
Those of you who know me well, understand the next statement is major:
I bought a copy.
Why is that major? I don't buy books. Ever since doing book reviews, I receive free copies regularly and rarely have time to read much less review all the books. I knew this book would contain valuable information so I bought a copy for myself.
Publicly, thank you Crystal! You're amazing and a blessing in countless people's lives.
I can't wait to share with you knowledge I've gathered over the years helping authors gain the media's attention! This book is for anyone who has considered writing and wants to avoid many common mistakes.
From Amazon.com:
Do you want to increase your book sales? Are you ready to publish a book? Have you published a book before but weren't really satisfied with the experience and want to find a new publisher? Are you confused by all the options available to you as a writer? Maybe you want to make a million dollars or maybe you only want to record something for posterity. Whatever you motivation for venturing into the literary world, let Sabrina Sumsion, a publishing insider, help you navigate the muddied waters of the literary world.
"Working with Sabrina has really opened my eyes about what is expected of the beginning author in the writing industry. As a novice writer trying to get published for the first time, Sabrina's savy and real-world instruction techniques have helped me understand the requirements of getting the publicity I need while avoiding the scams and dead ends that can catch the naive story teller off guard and kill a book before it gets printed. --Brett Beyer
It's a 5 star book you shouldn't miss! Get it FREE today on Amazon.com!
Yesterday was my birthday and I offered a lotion bar to a random post telling about a favorite memory. The memories are worth the read so check out the post here.
It's time to pick the winner! And the winner is . . .
As the numbers tick higher, I'm developing a love/hate relationship with birthdays. I get excited thinking about the New Year and all of the possibilities that lay open. Unfortunately, this also means another year slipped by. I find myself wondering if I reached out and grabbed every opportunity. Did I make the right choices?
No matter how I personally answer that question, I'm thrilled that you're here today! I know that a birthday girl or boy usually gets the presents, but today I'm giving away a present.






