I cannot state enough how happy it makes me that Carl Hiaasen has a new book being released today.

An actress secretly stands in for a derailed pop star and finds herself stalked on South Beach by a crazed paparazzo – and befriended by an unhinged hermit who was once the governor of Florida..

- Carl Hiassen’s Official Web Site

I remember reading Tourist Season for the first (of many) times. I was in Waldenbooks (remember Waldenbooks?) looking for a birthday present for my dad. The inflatable alligator immediately grabbed my attention. After reading the back cover and all of the South Florida references, (I lived in West Palm Beach at the time) I knew I had to buy this book. Correction, I knew I had to read this book.

Read it I did. In fact, before giving the book to my dad I read it and decided I wanted to be a journalist (short-lived as it was). And since I am so adept at reading a paperback without breaking the spine, it looked good as new and no one was the wiser.

I went on to read every story after, recommending them wholeheartedly. So it comes as no surprise that I would be jumping up and down (figuratively speaking) at the mere mention of a new story, nah, a new story which includes the fictional former Florida governor Clinton Tyree, aka, Skink.

I think I may have died and gone to heaven.

For those of you new to the world that is Carl Hiaasen run, don’t walk, to your nearest library and start feeding your newly acquired reading addiction. I for one plan to get my hands on Star Island pronto!

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Carl dreamed of wide open spaces…think Bonanza here…while Mary Lynn dreamed of gardens overflowing with flowers, elegance and thoroughbred horses…think Town and Country here. Accidental Cowgirl is the tale of their search for the perfect retirement spot and the unexpected place they ended up calling home. When they purchased Twin Creeks Ranch their dreams were quickly replaced by a reality of ornery irrigation systems, calluses, and wild turkeys. And that was just the first week!

If you’ve ever found yourself smack dab in the middle of a wacky adventure or even just wished for a wacky adventure, don’t miss the tale of this couple who went from city dwellers to cowhands with the signing of a deed.  Will they survive? Will the cows? Would you?

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Stop  by The Muffin and leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of Mary Lynn Archibald’s book, Accidental Cowgirl: Six Cows, No Horse, and No Clue.

Meet the Author

Mary Lynn Archibald grew up on an apple and chicken farm in Soquel, California and went on to be a chorus girl, an herb grower, a teacher, a ballerina, a switch board operator, an interior designer and a model. She did not intend to add cattle farmer to that list. But there was a tiny town called Zenia, a husband longing for “vistas,” and a dream of elegant country living. And without warning she was plucked from comfy city living and plunked back on the farm.

When she isn’t mucking out stables, Mary Lynn is a copywriter, editor, and author. Her first book, Briarhopper, was written about a woman’s journey from the coal region of Kentucky to California from the early 1900′s to World War II. She has also written about interior design, gardening, real estate, business communications and (surprise!) farming and ranching. With her partner-in-crime Carl and dog Fizzbo, Mary Lynn now spends her days in the country trying to get the dirt out from under her fingernails.

Author’s Websites:

Wine Country Writer
Accidental Cowgirl

Upcoming Tour Dates

July 19, 2010 Monday (Today!)

The Muffin
Mary Lynn will be chatting with WOW! Women On Writing at The Muffin. One lucky commenter will win a copy of her book!
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

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July 20, 2010 Tuesday

5 Minutes for Books
Stop by 5 Minutes for Books to read a review of Mary Lynn’s memoir, Accidental Cowgirl.
http://www.5minutesforbooks.com/

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July 22, 2010 Thursday

Mom-e-Centric
It’s time for a roundup at the OK Corral with Mary Lynn Archibald who just wrote a memoir about retiring to a cattle ranch after a lifetime of city living. Talk about culture shock! Don’t miss it and a chance to win her hysterical memoir Accidental Cowgirl.
http://www.momecentric.com/

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July 27, 2010 Tuesday

Cathy C.’s Hall of Fame
Author Mary Lynn Archibald shares the key to the fountain of youth with readers today. Shhh…it’s a secret. But this isn’t a secret…you can win her latest book, Accidental Cowgirl!
http://www.cathychall.blogspot.com/

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July 29, 2010 Thursday

Writers Inspired
Learn how to spread the word about you and your book from Mary Lynn in “I Have to Talk? How to Have a Successful Author Appearance.” You can also enter to win a copy of her book!
http://writerinspired.wordpress.com/

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July 30, 2010 Friday

WordHustler
Don’t miss another fabulous WordHustler interview with author Mary Lynn Archibald about her latest memoir and writing!
http://wordhustlerink.wordhustler.com/

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August 2, 2010 Monday

Selling Books
Mary Lynn has lots to say about country living in her interview about writing and her latest book Accidental Cowgirl.
http://www.sellingbooks.com/

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August 4, 2010 Wednesday

Silver & Grace
Eliza will be sharing her laughs and review of Mary Lynn’s memoir, Accidental Cowgirl.
http://silverandgrace.com/

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August 9, 2010 Monday

Meryl’s Notes
Mary Lynn Archibald, known as the Wine Country Writer, stops by with some writing advice on finding humor in your life and using it in your writing. You can also enter to win her latest book, the hysterical memoir, Accidental Cowgirl: Six Cows, No Horse, and No Clue.
http://www.meryl.net/section/blog/

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August 10, 2010 Tuesday

Write for a Reader
The guest today at “Because of a Book” will be author Mary Lynn Archibald. Mary Lynn will also be giving away a copy of the funny tale of her country adventures, Accidental Cowgirl.
http://www.writeforareader.blogspot.com/

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August 12, 2010 Thursday

The Book Buff
Three times the fun at Kate the Book Buff today! She’s interviewing Mary Lynn Archibald, reviewing her latest memoir, Accidental Cowgirl, and holding a giveaway of the book!
http://www.thebookbuff.blogspot.com/

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August 17, 2010 Tuesday

Silver & Grace
Mary Lynn is back at Silver & Grace for an author interview conducted by the fabulous Elisa!
http://silverandgrace.com/

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August 18, 2010 Wednesday

Silver & Grace
Don’t miss your last chance to win a copy of Mary Lynn’s hilarious memoir, Accidental Cowgirl!
http://silverandgrace.com/

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Disclaimer: I was not compensated for posting this information. Thanks to WOW! Women On Writing for sharing this information with me.

Ever wonder who you write like?

Well, now you can find out, sort of. See, it’s not an exact science. It never is, is it? Anyway, Russian software programmer Dmitry Chestnykh created an algorithm for all us writers to submit a few paragraphs and see who we may write like. Genius!

Dmitry created this not for fun and games, but to help writers become even better at their craft. There’s even a newsletter sign up to receive monthly tips.  You’ll also get the free ebook Short Story Writing: A Practical Treatise on the Art of the Short Story by Charles Raymond Barrett, Ph. B. And for those wanting a little more social interaction, follow on Facebook and Twitter.

My results

I put in my Dream Sequence and found out I write like Neil Gaiman. I didn’t know who he was either. I looked it up and found out he writes Science Fiction and Fantasy. He’s also tops in Comics. I think that’s pretty cool. Of course, now I have to find one of his books and see if I really do write like him.

What about you?

Wonder who you write like? Go find out for yourself and get your very own I Write Like badge to display proudly for all to see.

I write like
Neil Gaiman

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

“Journaling is like a daily vitamin–in that it heals, detoxifies, and is essential for optimal health.” ~ Diana Raab

Do you love journaling? Do you want to learn how journaling can help with the healing process? Then this tour is for you!

When Diana Raab was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of forty-seven, she turned to journaling as a way to help ease the pain and release bottled-up emotions. Diana says, “When it hurts, write harder.” And her book, Healing with Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey, shares some of these journal entries, along with reflections, poetry, and writing prompts for readers to express their own stories.

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Stop  by The Muffin and leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of Diana Raab’s book, Healing with Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey. Proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to the Mayo Clinic Foundation.

Meet the Author

Diana M. Raab, MFA, RN was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1954 and received her undergraduate degree in Health Administration and Journalism in 1976. A few years later she received her RN degree. After 25 years as a medical and self-help writer, she’s directed her creative energy towards nonfiction and memoir writing. In 2003 she earned her MFA in Writing from Spalding University’s low-residency program.

Diana is the author of eight books. Her first memoir, Regina’s Closet: Finding My Grandmother’s Secret Journal (2007) was the recipient of the 2009 Mom’s Choice Award for Adult Non-Fiction, and the 2009 National Indie Award for Excellence in Memoir. Her award-winning work has been published in numerous literary magazines and is widely anthologized. She has one poetry chapbook, My Muse Undresses Me, and two poetry collections, Dear Anais: My Life in Poems For You (winner of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Award for Poetry) and The Guilt Gene (2009).

After experiencing three successful, but high-risk pregnancies, she wrote a comprehensive guide for other women. The award-winning Getting Pregnant and Staying Pregnant (1989) was updated and revised in collaboration with Dr. Errol Norwitz of Yale School of Medicine under the new title, Your High Risk Pregnancy: A Practical and Supportive Guide (2009).

Diana is also editor of the anthology, Writers and Their Notebooks (USC Press 2010), a collection of essays written by distinguished writers who journal, including Sue Grafton, Kim Stafford, Dorianne Laux, John DuFresne, James Brown and Michael Steinberg, to name a few. The foreword is written by world-renowned personal essayist, Phillip Lopate.

Diana’s latest book, Healing with Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey, reflects her experiences battling breast cancer at age forty-seven, and then multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer, when she was fifty-two.

Diana currently teaches creative journaling and memoir in the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program. She facilitates workshops in journaling and writing for healing around the country, and is a frequent moderator for panels on writing.

Author’s Websites:

Website: Diana Raab
Blog: Diana’s Notebook
Facebook: Diana Raab

Upcoming Tour Dates

July 12, 2010 Monday (Today!)

The Muffin
Diana will be chatting with WOW! Women On Writing at The Muffin. One lucky commenter will win a copy of her book!
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

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July 13, 2010 Tuesday

Cancer Spot
Stop by My Breast Cancer Blog  for a peek inside  Diana Raab’s book, Healing with Words. You can also enter to win her book!
http://cancerspot.org/

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July 14, 2010 Wednesday

Writers Inspired
Today at Writers Inspired Diana Raab writes about the link between creativity and depression. She’s also giving away a copy of her latest book, Healing with Words.
http://writerinspired.wordpress.com/

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July 15, 2010 Thursday

Mom-e-Centric
Stop by Mom-e-Centric to meet author Diana Raab, and enter to win her book, Healing with Words!
http://www.momecentric.com/

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July 16, 2010 Friday

Selling Books
What inspired you to begin writing? Diana Raab, who can claim a shelf full of books to her name, tells us what started her on her writing journey.
http://www.sellingbooks.com/author-interview-

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July 20, 2010 Tuesday

Self-Help Daily
Diana Raab shares her thoughts on the link between creativity and depression today at Self-Help Daily.  Are depressed people that are also creative an exception to the rule?
http://www.selfhelpdaily.com/

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July 22, 2010 Thursday

Beyond Breast Cancer
Author Diana Raab shares the secrets to writing a healing poem today. You also have a chance to win her latest book, Healing with Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey!
http://beyondbreastcancer.wordpress.com/

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July 27, 2010 Tuesday

Silver & Grace
Eliza will be reviewing Diana Raab’s latest book, Healing with Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey, today at Silver & Grace. Stop by and read her thoughtful review!
http://silverandgrace.com/

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July 29, 2010 Thursday

Spirituality and Self-Help
Stop by this wonderful blog today to learn some techniques for coping with life’s craziness from author Diana Raab.
http://superenlightme.com/

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August 3, 2010 Tuesday

Write for a Reader
Author Diana Raab will be sharing a special memory about her love of books today. You can also enter to win a copy of her book!
http://www.writeforareader.blogspot.com/

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August 3, 2010 Tuesday

Silver & Grace
Diana returns to Silver & Grace to give away her book, Healing with Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey.
http://silverandgrace.com/

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August 5, 2010 Thursday

Crazy Sexy Life
Diana stops by Kris Carr’s blog Crazy Sexy Life to tell us how creativity and depression can coexist. Last chance to win a copy of Healing with Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey!
http://crazysexylife.com/

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August 10, 2010 Tuesday

Silver & Grace
Diana returns to Silver & Grace to answer a few questions about her latest book Healing with Words.
http://silverandgrace.com/

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Disclaimer: I was not compensated for posting this information. Thanks to WOW! Women On Writing for sharing this information with me.

I just downloaded the audiobook for The Time Traveler’s Wife. I have been wanting to see the movie, but since books are always better I decided to give it a go. I’m a reader more than a listener of books, but when a good book comes along for free AND someone to read it to me, well, I just can’t pass up that offer!

Your turn:

Head on over to Amazon’s free book section on audible.com. Choose the book you want (there are quite a few). Save it to your cart. Checkout. No credit card information is required. No long-term contract. Just your name, email address, and a user name + password.

You can listen to your free book using your iPod or other mp3 player. According to audible’s site, their books work on over 500 devices.

Get your today, because this offer ends July 2, 2010.

(Thanks to RedPlum and About.com for sharing this great offer!)

This is a sponsored guest post written by Logan Lenz on behalf of WeReward. Post powered by Sponzai.

I pretty sure you’ll want to sign up for WeReward after reading this post.

As a friend of Ted Murphy and everyone at Izea, it’s good to see that they have remained ahead of all of the social media companies around today. Since they were there at the beginning with Pay Per Post, I’m glad they have been able to move and shift with the fast-paced industry, all while doing a little innovating of their own.

Izea may have had successes with Social Spark, Sponzai, and Sponsored Tweets, but their newest innovation is the one that I am most excited about. It’s called WeReward and it monetizes the current social media trend around location-based services and check-ins. In other words, it’s created an opportunity for the socially active to make money just by living – checking in to their favorite venues, completing tasks there, and sharing the results with the world.

Before I ramble on too much about the idea, you should probably just watch the overview video below:

WeReward launched last week at Techcrunch‘s Disrupt Conference. This means that since the application is still so new, it has yet to hit the mainstream. The reason I mention this with such enthusiasm is because of the referral program that Izea has put into place for the application. If you get in early and are able to help spread the word, you could end up making a decent amount of cash from other people’s actions on a consistent basis.

So, for everyone with an iPhone and a Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare account – It’s time to start getting paid to be social. It’s the new craze of action marketing. Are you going to be ahead of the trend?

Click below to register and install the iPhone app.

Sign up for WeReward Now

♦ Four weeks. Broken eggs. Downy feathers.

♦ Cut ten inches. Long now short.

♦ I wanted it so badly. Why?

And I thought writing a novel was hard! I’m going to keep working on my brevity, but I’m not sure I’m ready for a career as a six-word story writer. Not yet, anyway.

Think you have what it takes?

Narrative Magazine is looking for your super short six-word stories, among other things.

Guidelines:

A Six-Word Story should provide a movement of conflict, action, and resolution that gives the sense of a complete story transpiring in a moment’s reading.

Payment: $50 for each six-word story accepted for publication. You may send up to five stories in a single submission.

Submission Fee: $15 fee for each submission. Additionally, you receive three months of complimentary access to Narrative Backstage.

Formatting Your Manuscript: 12-point type, with at least one-inch margins, and double-spaced. Your name, address, telephone number, and email address should be typed at the top of the first page.

You may also include a brief biographical note with your submission.

Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things you will ever go through. Moving forward without them is even harder. We cope with loss in many different ways, but, as writers, we have a unique tool at our fingertips to help us deal with what we’re feeling. And hopefully, with some editing and construction, we can help others who are experiencing the same thing–simply by putting words on the page. It’s one of the best things about being a writer!

Barbara Barth turned to journaling when her husband died a couple of years ago. She chronicled her experiences–along with her adventures of getting back into the dating pool and living with a bevy of rescue dogs–with a bit of levity that is true to her nature. “I deal with things in an offbeat way and use humor to get me through the darkest times,” Barth says. “I hope my story will make someone else smile.” And that she does in her candid interview today!

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Stop  by The Muffin and leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of Barbara Barth’s debut book, The Unfaithful Widow: Fragmented Memoirs On My First Year Alone.

The Unfaithful Widow is available for purchase at Amazon.com. (You can also read an excerpt.)

Watch the book trailer on YouTube.

Meet the Author

Barbara Barth likes a lot of things: turquoise jewelry, surfing the ‘net, margaritas. Then there are the dogs. Six at last count. But who can keep it straight with all those tales wagging? This Georgia antique dealer and jewelry maker published a hobby newsletter for 13 years. After her husband died she recorded the year that followed in a series of essays. When she isn’t writing you can find her at the local thrift shops or pounding another nail into the wall to hang the paintings she can’t resist.

About Barbara’s rescue dogs: Boy Dog played cupid to us when I met my husband. My grand dame Foxy has been with me for fourteen years. Jake, my ninety-pound German Shepherd who couldn’t walk and was incontinent kept me a caregiver when I had nothing to do after my husband died. He finally left me a year ago. There have been a bevy of dogs to enter these doors since then. I have adopted five rescue dogs in the last year. Each dog has its own personality and quirks. They have stories I’ll never know, but they now have a home and are a riot to be around. They are: Bray, the Afghan mix; Annabelle, the hound dog mix with gingivitis; Chloe, the Chihuahua who rules the house. Then there was New Year’s Eve. I couldn’t get a date, so I thought get a dog, maybe two. That brought Rascal, my bull dog mix with the polka dot belly and brindle sweater, and April in Paris who dreams of the city of lights.

Author’s Websites:

Website: Barbara Barth
Blog: The Unfaithful Widow
Facebook: Barbara Barth

Upcoming Tour Dates

May 24, 2010 Monday (Today!)

The Muffin
Barbara will be chatting with WOW! Women On Writing at The Muffin. One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of Barbara’s book!
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
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May 25, 2010 Tuesday

Write for a Reader
Essayist Barbara Barth tells us about her love of books in the Write for a Reader feature “Because of a Book.” Don’t miss a chance to win her memoir The Unfaithful Widow!
http://www.writeforareader.blogspot.com/
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May 27, 2010 Thursday

Selling Books
Stop by for an interesting interview with Barbara Barth about writing, dogs, grief, and her memoir The Unfaithful Widow.
http://www.sellingbooks.com/author-interview-
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June 1, 2010 Tuesday

Mom-e-Centric
Don’t miss a visit from author Barbara Barth and a chance to win her memoir The Unfaithful Widow.
http://www.momecentric.com/
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June 3, 2010 Thursday

Readaholic
Stop by Readaholic for a review of Barbara Barth’s memoir The Unfaithful Widow.
http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
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June 7, 2010 Monday

Writer Inspired
Stop by Writer Inspired to learn about essay writing from Barbara Barth. And enter to win her memoir The Unfaithful Widow!
http://writerinspired.wordpress.com/
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June 9, 2010 Wednesday

Silver and Grace
Eliza Fayle has a few questions for memoir writer Barbara Barth. Stop by and ask Barbara a question of your own! You can also read Eliza’s review and enter to win a copy of The Unfaithful Widow!
http://silverandgrace.com/
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June 10, 2010 Thursday

4 the Love of Animals
Stop by to enjoy the musings of Barbara Barth, author of the memoir The Unfaithful Widow, about her six rescue dogs (at least six at last nose count). Don’t forget to enter to win your copy!
http://4theloveofanimals.com/blog/
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June 14, 2010 Monday

Tilly Rescue Dog
Barbara Barth, author of The Unfaithful Widow, is taking a break from her WOW blog tour today. April in Paris, a dog unlike any other is filling in for her today. Don’t miss it!
http://tillyrescuedog.blogspot.com/
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June 16, 2010 Wednesday

Words by Webb
Stop by for a review of Barbara’s memoir The Unfaithful Widow and some thoughts on book titles.
http://jodiwebb.com/
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June 21, 2010 Monday

Choices
Barbara Barth stops by Choices for a visit. Come ask your questions about memoir writing, self-publishing, and marketing your book!
http://madeline40.blogspot.com/
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Disclaimer: I was not compensated for posting this information. Amazon affiliate link above belongs to WOW! Women On Writing.

Irma’s parents won’t let her have a puppy. “They chew on furniture and tear up house slippers,” they say. One day Irma’s friend Jimmy brings over 3 goldfish. His had babies and if they don’t find a good home they will be flushed down the toilet. With the gentle encouragement of her mother, Irma learns there is more to the guppies than she first thought.

What a charming story! And yes, I read this to myself, by myself and enjoyed every minute. Everyone can learn a little something from Irma and her guppies.

Written by Holly Jahangiri and illustrated by Ryan Shaw,  A Puppy, Not a Guppy is a delightful story and is a recommended read for anyone who has, knows, or has ever been a child.

Get your copy today.

Disclaimer: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% mine. Amazon affiliate links used in this post, but I would highly encourage you to visit Holly’s page and buy directly from her.

Twenty years go by
Our lives passed before our eyes
A friend gone too soon

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Life is short, sometimes shorter than we would expect. Twenty years ago I was 18. Twenty years ago life was just beginning. Twenty years ago seems like yesterday. Twenty years ago was so long ago. This poem and song is dedicated to my friend, whom I lost touch with yet never forgot.

Ever since I was a little girl this has been my favorite song. Something about it has always lifted my spirits even though it is a very sad song.

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