August 2024: Changing It Up… and Good Stuff
Stuff from Ann’s Brain …
It’s time to change things up …
“I’m not stubborn, I’m just reluctant to change.” – Unknown
This is how my luck runs: Mercury is retrograde this month, which means I should NOT make any big changes in my life, especially technological ones. Unfortunately, my newsletter email service company was gobbled up by a bigger digital marketing monster and now I have to change to a whole new company (since I don’t want to stay with the big ugly monster).
“I don’t always adapt to change, but when I do, I prefer to do it begrudgingly.” – Unknown
What does this mean for you? Nothing really, if all goes smoothly on my end. But there is the catch–IF ALL GOES SMOOTHLY.
“I put a dollar in a change machine. Nothing changed.” – George Carlin
What does this mean for me? It means I have to find a different newsletter template to use each month and start over with ZERO stored images (compared to the 200+ I have stored with my old service). So, things are going to look different in September. I don’t know how different the newsletter will look, but I’m determined to remain optimistic about it.
“Life is like underwear, change is good.” – Unknown
It also means I have to learn new-to-me software, and this old dog struggles with new tricks, especially when it involves technology. Violet Parker and I share a lack of love for technology. I often look longingly at baseball bats when I’m frustrated with my computer.
“Change is inevitable – except from a vending machine.” – Robert C. Gallagher
On top of it all, I’m trying my darnedest to write the second half of Deadwood #14, Cops & Clobbers in Deadwood. Time is ticking and newsletter matters weren’t figured into the timeline.
“I’m not a troublemaker. I’m a catalyst for change.” – Unknown
So, stay tuned for something different in September and keep your fingers crossed that Mercury takes pity on me this month and this newsletter shuffle doesn’t blow up in my face.
On to this month’s newsletter highlights:
* Another free ebook (this month’s is from a USA Today Bestselling author, Kristin Painter)
* Prize announcements for those who signed up to be a Deadwood Prospector and help us promote Hip Deep in Bad Company last month
* THREE chances to win this month’s newsletter prize (don’t forget to sign up via email)
* A spotlight on my Zazzle store and some of the fun new products available there
* A yummy new recipe from the old Ann Charles’ Moon the Cook cookbook
Happy newsletter reading and may Mercury not send birds to poop on your head!
Ann
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AUTHOR STAR SPOTLIGHT: FREE Ebook Every Month!!!Each month in 2024 I’m going to showcase an author friend who I think is quite wonderful. I’m going to tell you a little about her, in case you haven’t heard of this particular author yet, and then I’m going to include a special link in my monthly newsletter where you can go to get a FREE ebook from her. There are already 12 authors lined up for this fun monthly treat for you newsletter subscribers, and they are each ready to share a FREE ebook to give you a chance to escape on the virtual pages with some of their favorite characters. |
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The star in this month’s spotlight was … Kristen Painter!August’s Wonderful Author is … Kristen Painter. She is a USA Today Best Selling author, but before she started writing, she held a crazy mix of other jobs including college English teacher, maitre’d for Wolfgang Puck, personal trainer, salesperson for Christian Dior Bijoux, and she has even worked in a candy store and a doughnut shop! What else? Well, she has a slight shoe addiction and occasionally indulges in an unnecessary handbag. Hah! That was a joke. There is no such thing as an unnecessary handbag. She loves make up and jewelry and spa days. Yes, she is a girly girl. But that doesn’t mean all her heroines are. And speaking of writing… Her forays into writing have been as varied as the jobs she has held. She has written poetry, articles for magazines, short stories, paranormal romance (her current genre of choice along with cozy mystery), paranormal women’s fiction (another favorite), fantasy romance, contemporary romance, steampunk romance, and urban fantasy. She loves being able to write these funny, snarky, sweet books that are filled with great supernatural characters and lots of cats! She lives in FL with her retired Air Force husband and a horde of feline dependents. Click HERE to head over to Kristen’s website so that you can learn more about her and her books! HIP DEEP IN BAD COMPANY —PRIZE TIME!First and foremost—THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND HELP! We appreciate all the help promoting HIP DEEP IN BAD COMPANY so that we could let everyone and their brother and/or sister know about our newest book. There have been so many big toothy grin-inducing comments and reviews posted for this latest book. We feel grateful every day to have everyone by our side as a fellow Deadwood Prospectors! Now for the fun stuff … The following names were randomly drawn for the HIP DEEP IN BAD COMPANY prizes in return for all their time and generosity. HIP DEEP IN BAD COMPANY Tin Cup Magnet: Donna Legat, Linda Garcia, Melissa Phillips, Michelle Davis, Sharayah Brickey, Susan Schleicher, Yvonne Farmer Autographed Rawhide Edition of THE BACKSIDE OF HADES and a proof copy of HIP DEEP IN BAD COMPANY Print Books: Ashley Pruiett, Tara Schneider HIP DEEP IN BAD COMPANY Autographed Print Book: Jo Ann Reinhold, Shyanna Rask HIP DEEP IN BAD COMPANY Laminated Placemat and Tin Cup Magnet: Alisha McConnell, Barbara Guy, Becky Humphreys, Deb Kasper, Heather Chargualaf, Karen Evans, Melissa Hogan, Micki Sewell, Pat Dupuy, Pat Moshure, Sara Barenbrugge, Sarah Sorrento, Theresa Teague, Vicki Huskey, Wendy Kimber Legendary Sticker: Kelly Young, Judy Coates Legendary Magnet: Amanda Rethmel Cork Back Coaster with HIP DEEP IN BAD COMPANY with the Cover Art: Alicia Childre-Callaway, Andrea Chambora, Angie Anderson, Anita Rheinhart, Brad Benson, Chassity Biddix, Christie Johnson, Cindy Kane, Cynthia Robertson, Dawn Hute, Dawn Marie Black, Debbie Grim, Diane Rivera, Donald Wesolowski, Doug Wesolowski, Eva Davis, Gail Mathers, Gina Johnson, Heather Koehn, Jan Dobbins, Karina Ellis, Katrina Worthington, Kaysea Jonnesen, Laura Wollam, Mark Davis, Melinda Gagnon, Melissa Hoffman-Olson, Mike Johnson, Rieck Eske, Tara Beutow Ann Charles Boot and Sam Lucky Hat – Tote Bag: Joella Elbert Deadwood Undertaker Series – Magnet Set: Cathie Burris, Christine Weaver, Deidre Herzog, Kelsi LaMont, Virginia Cammack Thanks to everyone for their help promoting HIP DEEP IN BAD COMPANY, we can keep writing more stories for us all to read and laugh about together. Until the next assignment …
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