The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Friday, February 10, 2017

Radar's Got a Brand New Bed, The Luck of the Irish and Back-of-the-Book Blurb # 47


Radar is getting used to sleeping on a dog bed instead of a crate that takes up half our familyroom is ginormous. Don't worry about the change of bedding. He's still the king. (And speaking of his royal highness, if you live in the St. Louis area and go to Half Price Books in U City, they're having a pet photo contest. Radar is # 19 and voting goes on until Feb. 13.)





It's not St. Patrick's Day yet, but leprechauns have been working their magic. We just got word yesterday that St. James the Greater School will be open next year. (That doesn't necessarily mean I will have a job last year, as registration packets will have to be returned, enrollment numbers will have to be studied, etc. However, it is 100% marvelous news for the students.)


And now... book blurb business.

Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. A time travel tale, where a fun-loving group of hooligans try to reenact Thelma and Louise's trip? A how-to book explaining how to refold travel maps?  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. She's a dog and cat lover. She's a pro editor. She's gotten a multi-novel publishing deal... and now that those three books are out, she's working on more. Check out her site. You won't regret becoming a follower.

Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, ink your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. 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.

Here's the book cover and the blurb:


Maggie Mortensen?

Maggie knew he was there. Close. Somewhere.

Viggo was hiding from her, holed up in Jefferson City. In past years, she’d stalked him when he filmed movies. Deep in her heart, she knew he’d fall for her… if only they ran into each other. But each time she got close, he slipped away. Wily. Elusive.

Viggo was on the brink of getting a restraining order on Maggie.

Or was he simply playing hard to get?

Now he was living an ordinary life smack dab in the middle of the Midwest. Viggo was just a couple of hours away… just a short roadtrip away.

Her husband, tired of seeing Hidalgo and Northern Promises and Lord of the Rings for the umpteenth time, helps Maggie plan her trip.

Will Maggie’s husband ever have to set eyes on Aragorn again? Will Maggie and Viggo finally get together? Or will Maggie’s plan prove tragic? (150 words)


And if you want to work on your blurb for next week, here's next week's photo:

photo by pixabay.com




Tuesday, February 7, 2017

First Jobs

       I've had many jobs. For the past 27 years I've been a teacher. But before that, I've done a variety of things... some fun and some not-so-fun.

      For example, I worked at a pill factory. I was responsible for using a machine to make capsules filled with medicine. I lasted less than a week. Too many of my capsules got dented and had to be thrown away (that fact I succeeded in keeping hidden) and at the end of my employment, I cut the tip of my finger off in the machine (that I could not hide).

     I've been a waitress in several different restaurants. I was so talented at it, I could (accidentally) spill a Bloody Mary onto a businessman with a lot of style.

     I've begged door-to-door for ACORN, a community activist organization.

     Speaking of door-to-door, I've sold pre-arranged funeral plans. I think I lasted two weeks on that job, since I sold not a single, solitary plan.

     My first job, however... I still remember it with fondness. It was a blast in many ways, but unfortunately, worsened an addiction problem I had (and still have). 

     Go here to read about my first job. And tell us all about your first job. We're all curious.