What Does "Class" Mean? and Back-of-the-Book Blurb Friday # 43

What is classy behavior?

In my opinion, classy people are encouraging and inclusive, not denigrating and exclusive.

Classy people never make gutter-worthy comments. They keep their heads high and their standards just as lofty.

Classy people put "normal" first, and make sure their baby is home studying and getting to bed at a decent hour... even though her father is making an important speech.

It's been a long time since we've had such a classy, intelligent president. Thankfully, he left us hopeful. Hopeful that we are the instruments of change. Like classy people do, he gave us credit, saying it wasn't him--it was us who were responsible for the positive changes in our country.

And now, onto book blurb fun... 

Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. A book on art techniques? An artist's biography? You decide.

Write an enticing blurb--150 words or less. (The title doesn't count in the word count.) Blurbs are those enticing bits that prod you into buying the book. Sometimes they're on the back cover of the book. Sometimes they're on the inside front cover. What they always try to do is lure you into purchasing the book.

Lisa Ricard Claro was the original creator of this project and has at least 3 published novels under her belt. Check out her website. You won't regret it. She is incredibly generous with her talent and her encouragement.

Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, ink your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. You don't have to buy him a drink or anything. If you've never done it, you'll be impressed with how simple he is. And then, check out the other blurb(s). It's interesting to see the different directions writers take, given the same photo.

Above all, have fun with it. Think of it as a way to take a break from the truly important writing you do... like a bit of a warm-up.

Here's the book cover and the blurb:

Yo! Adrienne!

Adrienne loved her job. She loved having time to daydream in-between customers. She loved selling quirky earrings and bracelets from her little kiosk. She loved sitting on her butt.

But she dreamed of more. More time to herself… many times, Adrienne was traveling someplace exotic in her mind, customers would come, and her trip would come to a screeching halt. More money. She snagged a little over 50K a year, and this year, it looked like she’d double her profits. (Jewelry made out of cut-up soda cans was pure profit, and her stuff were selling like hotcakes. When Michelle Obama was photographed wearing Adrienne’s earrings, sales went through the roof.)

Wanting more, Adrienne shocked her customers, and closed up her booth. She enrolled in college. In four (or five) years, she’d be a teacher.

And then, she’d have lots of time to herself… and she’d be rollin’ in the dough. (150 words)

For those writers who like to work ahead, here's the photo for next week:

photo by pexels.com

Five Reasons Why You Should Listen to Sioux About the "Listen to Your Mother" Show

1. Sioux doesn't lie--at least not about this. Now, when I was pulled over last spring for going 78 in a 60, I did lie (by omission) and didn't open my mouth and say the truth, "It was a reeeeally good song on the radio. It was Uptown Funk," when the officer asked why I was going so fast. At least he was a nice guy and only wrote it for 70...

You should submit a piece to the Listen to Your Mother show. They're only taking submissions until February 17 in St. Louis.

2. They're open for submissions. Right now. Like, this minute. At least they're open in St. Louis. Writers around here--check it out. (Cathy and Lisa--check out the details for the Atlanta show.)

3. You're treated like you're royalty when you're in a Listen to Your Mother show. In St. Louis, the three producers-directors treated us to dips and chips and cookies (oh, my!) at the rehearsals. We guzzled mimosas the day of the show. We reunited in the summer for a BBQ when the videos hit YouTube. 


4. You might get some swag along with the notoriety. In St. Louis, we each got a new pair of designer shoes. The whole cast went to a shoe party and drank wine, nibbled on snacks, got massages, and tried on shoe after shoe after shoe. 

While at the shoe party, I held a shoe execution. My daughter and granddaughter (both quite stylish and both haters when it comes to my Crocs) came to the party and--as promised--witnessed me cutting up with scissors one of my favorite and well-loved ratty-looking pairs of Crocs.

I'm willing to do the same thing this year if I end up being part of the show. Which pair of Crocs might be heading toward the guillotine? Check out this beauty:

        And before you get to salivatin' over these stylish kicks, don't get too jealous. Yes, they're fancy Crocs knock-off Crocs, what with their swirly pattern. I know they're extra-special because they were purchased from the Five Below store (where everything is $5 and less). No, they don't have straps any more. Those were cut off a long time ago. And yes, these Crocs are sneaky as crocodiles. They look stylin' on top, but the soles have several holes. Hence my willingness to part from them... forever.

5. You don't have to have had a June Cleaver mother in order to tell your story. You could have had a good-for-nothin' mom. You could have been a rotten mom. Or dad. Google "Listen to Your Mother" videos on YouTube, and get inspired... 

      ... and then submit.