Tag Archives: prizes

Blog Tour and Jelly Fish

P1070511

My first blog tour for Disappearing in Plain Sight started yesterday (July 3rd) with a kick off on Peace for Pieces, Pandora Poikilos’ blog.

Doing this blog tour isn’t what I thought it would be – so far. I have to qualify that because it is early. I am getting quick responses to my numerous emails, so that is definitely something. It’s a bit of a learning curve, figuring out links and schedules and being part of a Rafflecopter draw.

Today (Thursday, July 4th) you can look for me at Mommy Adventures with Ravina for an author interview. I’m quite a ways down the page – something I wasn’t expecting, but still – the interview is good. I was hoping the Rafflecopter draw would be promoted, but I can’t find it. You can follow the direct link above to take part.

Update to this post: The Rafflecopter draw link was on the post all along but for some reason, no matter how many times I checked, I couldn’t see it. Obviously something to do with my server or system. It is also not uncommon for popular blog hosts to post several times per day, so it makes sense I was further down the page. My sincere apologies to Mommy Adventures with Ravina for the false information and for the fact that I sounded like I was complaining. I thought I was getting the hang of this whole touring thing, but back to the drawing board for me.

The tour lasts all week and there are suppose to be different appearances each day. I’ll keep you informed as we go.

On the subject of my own June blog anniversary prize draws, the entrants have been listed, each name put on a small square of paper and deposited in the appropriate pink bowl (whew – that was a lot of work, folks). I will set the actual draw up today and you can look for winners to be announced in my next post, with pictures of the actual draw process starring granddaughters – Emma and Brit. Should be cute and fun for the winners.

P1070514

Who doesn’t love jellyfish? Right? Check out the Jelly Fish tanks at the Vancouver Aquarium this summer.

P1070425

A Little Bit of Rain on the Party Today

P1070028

Nothing drastic though! I promise. I had arranged my big iTunes free download of Disappearing in Plain Sight for Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th of June. Instead it happened on Thursday and Friday. I didn’t catch on until it was too late to fix the situation. So, I didn’t promote at all on Thursday – did a bunch of promotion on Friday – had a bunch more planned for today, which I won’t be doing. Life, right?

I would like to lay this at the feet of my assisted self-publishing choice, which took so much of the direct control of such things out of my hands. But to be fair, I read blog posts and updates on Facebook sites about mix-ups and messes every single day. We live in an imperfect world. Today it just happened to catch up with me.

During party month we (and I’ll happily use the royal form here) refuse to give into such frustrations. Life goes on and so should the party. Don’t forget the prizes I mentioned. All month long. All likes for the month of June will be put in a draw for the wonderful prize of a guest appearance on my blog. All comments for a $5.00 Amazon gift card. And all new followers and pingbacks for a trade paperback copy of Disappearing in Plain Sight. Get your name in all three draws.

P1070026

I am so in love with this clematis that is blooming right outside my kitchen door! Puts a big smile on my face.

Drum roll. Moving onto another topic. What could be more party fun than having tea with a dragon?

I invite you to pop over to Patrick O’Scheen’s blog and read the interview he did with me entitled – Tea with a Dragon. It is an absolute delight and you will be stunned at how articulate I can be while having tea and fancy cakes with a real dragon. I’m quite proud of myself – I don’t even get rattled when he so obviously thinks I’ve eaten all the lady fingers. As you can imagine, that is bound to get a dragon somewhat miffed. Please check it out. Reading is believing.

P1070021

Still Partying: My Book is Free on iTunes

Hanukkah-presents[1]

The party continues! Disappearing in Plain Sight is free on  iTunes right now. What are you waiting for – get over there and download a copy. We’ll be right here when you come back. Promise.

Check out the guest post I did over on the Alliance of Independent Authors Self-Publishing Advice Blog –  “It’s Called Fiction for a Reason People.” I was honoured to be asked to write for this prestigious group and blog. Tried to put my own unique spin on the topic.

IMG_1942

Remember – all likes for the entire month of June get entered for a draw with the lucky winner getting to do a guest blog on the topic of their choice. All comments are going in a draw for a $5.00 Amazon gift card. Pingbacks and new followers are entered to win the big prize – a trade paperback edition of Disappearing in Plain Sight.

So let’s hear the chatter people!

I’m Having a Party–All Month! With Prizes!!!

balloons-HD-Wallpapers[1]

I’m having a party . . . that’s right folks and all of you are invited. Cue the band, let the balloons fly, bring out the cake. My blog is one year old this month.

Believe me, there is something to celebrate here – over 12,000 views, 1,200 comments, and as of this morning, 862 followers.

Those stats are amazing to me when I consider that I had written six posts before I got a single like.

I look at those numbers, and I think – wow – every tenth viewer made a comment! (OK – some of you are riding on the coat tails of others, but stats are in the eye of the beholder, so I’m going let you keep on riding.)

Today’s post will be number 139.

Here’s a brief review of some posts that stand out.

The post that received the most likes: Share the Love. Makes sense, this was a post where I gave a shout to a number of other bloggers, and that should be popular.

The post that got the most comments: I Go Public with Disappearing in Plain Sight. I write about a book launch I did at a local mall.

My most heartfelt post: Uninvent: Fight Like Soldiers, Die Like Children.

My funniest posts: Emma does Michelangelo and Baby Brit’s Bad Rap.

Most popular guest posts: when my husband Bruce of Through the Luminary Lens posted up holiday pictures and when my friend Cheryl let me put her story – My Hero Becky on my blog.

My Favourite music post: Love is a Country by the Wallflowers

My Saddest flash fiction post: She never let herself believe in the magic of Christmas (though Starting Over was pretty gut-wrenching, too – don’t read these if you’re day is all happy face cheery – a dying daughter or a son going to jail – neither will pep you up.)

My Most helpful post: Holiday survival 101. This depends on perspective of course. Lots of people found both Twitter posts helpful – Like a Bird on a Wire (or wooden bench) and Twitter the Ongoing Saga.

I could go on and on. All of the posts are special to me and because of the wealth of views and comments and followers I’ve seen pass by this blog, I think some of those posts have been special for you, as well.

All parties should include some fun prizes. Everyone who likes this post will get their name put in a hat and I will choose one lucky person who will be invited to do a guest appearance on my blog (plug your book, interview, topic of your choice, you choose) – think of those 862 followers of mine before you decide this is a budget prize.

Not to be outdone by the ever popular Ginzu knife commercials – every person who comments will also have a chance to get their name thrown in the hat for a prize. This lucky winner will receive a $5.00 Amazon gift card (hint, hint, if you haven’t already bought my book you sure could, but gifts should have no strings attached.)

But there’s more. If you like my blog, make a comment, and talk about me on your own blog, (make sure you ping back to me, so I’ll know) I am going to do another draw and send the winner a trade paperback copy of Disappearing in Plain Sight. The only string attached to this prize is that I hope the winner would consider doing a review when finished reading the book.

Oh – if you aren’t a word press blogger and you can’t press the like button – let me know that in your comment so I can make sure you get into the final prize draw.

Here’s a photo to get you in the mood to celebrate! (Baby Brit and chocolate cake – oh my gosh, what can I say?)

P1020756

The contest prizes may be modest, but as Stuart MacLean’s record shop owner Dave (CBC Radio – Vinyl Cafe) always says, we may not be big, but we are small. The contest will close at the end of June – so spread the word and encourage other people to stop by. The more the merrier.

So, there you go, celebrations, prizes, balloons, cake, coffee, a glass of wine – we’ve had it all on Disappearing in Plain Sight. Please join in the celebration.