2013 BRoP Year in Review #3 - Anne E. Johnson
As 2013 comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the joys and triumphs of the year. To that end, we bring you the 2013 Blog Ring of Power Year in Review! We’ve teamed up with this past years’ BRoP interviewees to bring you 25 days worth of “year in review” guest posts and 20 fabulous giveaway prizes! Each day we'll share a new guest post on the year in review from a previous BRoP interviewee and you’ll have another opportunity to enter the giveaway—so get hopping! And be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of this post! The Blog Ring of Power Year in Review Presents...
Anne E. Johnson
The Blog Ring of Power Presents...
So…what exactly is going on with Hereafter and Thereafter?
I’m so glad you asked!
I’ve been sitting on this news for a while because there were a lot of moving pieces that weren’t in place, and I didn’t want to announce anything until I had firm release dates. And now that I have all the pieces and some set release dates… drum roll please…
The Blog Ring of Power Presents...
The Blog Ring of Power Presents...
Top Ten Tuesday is a great meme created by Jamie at The Broke and the Bookish that combines top ten lists and books. She’s come up with a great list of weekly discussion topics and I hope you’ll join in the discussion by commenting on this post or some of the other ones (you can find the list of participating blogs in this week's Top Ten Tuesday post on her site).
This week’s topic is Top Ten Sequels I Can't Wait to Get My Hands On.
Unfortunately, I had to tweak this topic a bit as in many cases, I have not yet read the first book, let alone the sequel. So my list this week, in no particular order, is “Top Ten Books On My TBR Pile That Have Sequels.”
Those of you who read my blog post after the Sandy Hook tragedy know I was deeply saddened not only by the horrific tragedy itself, but also by my own powerlessness to do anything to stem the distressing pattern of similar tragedies that are plaguing our nation. The problem feels so big, so terrible, and so overwhelming.
The beauty and simplicity of the #26 Acts movement that grew out of Sandy Hook gave me great comfort, but unfortunately, as is usual after one of these tragedies, the great outpouring of initial support seems to have petered out - or, at least, has faded from the public view.
However, I have not forgotten; Sandy Hook made me realize I needed to make some big changes in my life - not grand, sweeping, "Eat Pray Love" kind of changes like they do in movies or books, because, honestly, how realistic is that for most of us? Not very. And frankly, that's not the kind of change I needed. In fact, I'm not sure that's the kind of change most of us need. The truth is, sometimes it just takes something very small. If anything, the #26 Acts movement has shown us how small things can have a big impact.
And so, I've started small.
I joined Freecycle. I gave a box of unwanted yarn to a group of ladies who knit hats and mittens for those in need. Those scraps of odd colored yarn taking up space in a closet will now be used in the more than 1,000 items the women make and donate this year. I gave an old computer monitor to a woman whose son had broken her in-laws' computer - my old, unwanted monitor helped two families: the woman who could ill afford to replace her in-laws' computer and her in-laws. I received a 6' tall Christmas tree that my sister and I will use as the base of our contribution to the Billerica Public Library Festival of Trees, one of the major fundraisers for the Billerica Historical Commission (which means that this formerly unwanted tree has now benefitted three recipients). A gentleman took some old exercise equipment off my hands that was just making me feel bad about myself to use to supplement his kids' Christmas gifts since he'd been laid off and money was tight. I've seen exchanges of broken electronic equipment that will be used by students learning to repair these items or that will be used for parts to return an out of commission item to service for someone who can't afford to buy a new one. I've seen odds bits of string, ribbon, paper, and the like - stuff that collects dust in drawers or ends up on the rubbish heap - used to form the basis of the craft supplies for underfunded summer camp programs. Literally, once man's trash is another man's treasure, but not in a snarky, "there's no accounting for some people's taste" kind of way; rather, it's literally true that no matter how little you think you have, there's always someone who has less.
I joined Meetup.com. I didn't exactly volunteer to become a group leader/organizer, but ended up being one anyway (long story). Now I lead a weekly walk after work and a weekly hike on the weekend. About 20 people participate in these walks/hikes - people who might not be able to get out and enjoy the outdoors without a group of like-minded people with which to go. The simple act of showing up sometimes is enough to empower and enrich other people.
Now I'm taking another small step: Pay It Forward Fridays, a new, semi-regular feature on my blog. On a daily basis, I come across many pleas for help - requests to share information, requests for donations, requests for support/action - and each week I'll feature a few of them here. Not all of these pleas relate to charity - sometimes a fellow author wants help advertising that his/her book is on sale. Sometimes a blogger would like some help advertising a giveaway. And that's the thing about Sandy Hook and #26 Acts and Freecyle and Meetup and all the rest: we ALL need help. We ALL need to feel connected and supported and loved and impacted and impactful. Far, far too often that need can be met through the smallest act and yet, we don't act, either because we think the act too small ("I'm going to toss these scraps of yarn because who could possibly need them?") or we undervalue the acts we can do in the face of what we perceive to be far greater and valuable needs ("What difference in the world can giving my old computer monitor to my neighbor make when there are people in the world who don't have enough to eat?"). If I've learned anything in this last year, it's that we should never underestimate the magnitude of impact small acts can have. I've also learned that it's not the value we place on an act that counts - it's the value placed on it by the recipient(s). Something very small/simple to me may be very huge to someone else - it literally cost me nothing (not money, not time, not effort) to give away that computer monitor, and yet, I sense it was a big relief to the woman to get it) - so we might as well do what we can, no matter how small it might seem. It's better than doing nothing.
***
Attend and/or Bid: Live Audio Book Marathon to benefit grammy winning audio book narrator Bob Deyan, who has been diagnosed with ALS (Saturday November 9th - Sunday November 10th).
Vote: Help Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport, MA win a $5,000-$25,000 grant to support their new Gerrish Breast Cancer Support Center by voting for their video entry to the Pink Glove Dance Video Competition (voting ends November 8th)
Enter: Author Michelle Hauck is giving away five copies of her epic fantasy Kindar's Cure on Goodreads (ends November 30th)
Donate: NaNoWriMo, better known as National Novel Writing Month, isn't just about helping authors write a novel in 30 days; it's also about raising funds for youth writing programs. Consider making a donation or supporting their efforts in one of the other listed ways.
Enjoy: A lovely and heart-warming article about a photographer who puts strangers together in photos.
Top Ten Tuesday is a great meme created by Jamie at The Broke and the Bookish that combines top ten lists and books. She’s come up with a great list of weekly discussion topics and I hope you’ll join in the discussion by commenting on this post or some of the other ones (you can find the list of participating blogs in this week's Top Ten Tuesday post on her site).
This week’s topic is Top Ten Best Books to Read for Halloween (the alternative topic is Top Ten Scariest Book Covers).
Okay, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and anything by Edgar Allan Poe are a given, right? Masque of the Red Death, The Cask of Amontillado, and Anabel Lee are my favorite Poe works. To these, I would add the following as best Halloween reads:
The Blog Ring of Power Presents...
The Blog Ring of Power Presents...
Anne E. Johnson
Read more: 2013 BRoP Year in Review #3 - Anne E. Johnson Add New Comment
Interview with Jennie Bates Bozic
The Blog Ring of Power Presents...
An Interview with Author Jennie Bates Bozic
Today, we have an interview with fantasy author Jennie Bates Bozic via BRoP member Vicki Lempe Weavil, though I also know Jennie very well - we hang out at Agent Query Connect together. I'm so thrilled to have Jennie here today - I've been watching the progress of Damselfly for some time, and I couldn't be happer to see it finally in print. Welcome, Jennie!
Hereafter and Thereafter (Re) Release Dates Set!
So…what exactly is going on with Hereafter and Thereafter?
I’m so glad you asked!
I’ve been sitting on this news for a while because there were a lot of moving pieces that weren’t in place, and I didn’t want to announce anything until I had firm release dates. And now that I have all the pieces and some set release dates… drum roll please…
Interview with Crystal Collier
The Blog Ring of Power Presents...
An Interview with Author Crystal Collier
Today, we have an interview with fantasy author Crystal Collier via BRoP member Sandra Ulbrich Almazan. Crystal is here to tell us a bit about her creative process and about her novel, Moonless. Another gorgeous book cover this week and Moonless sounds fascinating. Definitely check out the extended description on Smashwords. Crystal and last week's BRoP interviewee, P.K. Hrezo, are running a giveaway through November 30th--$25 Amazon giftcard, books, and CHEESE! (yes, you read that right). Visit Crystal's blog to enter!
Interview with P.K. Hrezo
The Blog Ring of Power Presents...
An Interview with Author P.K. Hrezo
Today, we have an interview with science fiction author P.K. Hrezo via BRoP member Sandra Ulbrich Almazan. P.K. is here to tell us a bit about her creative process and about her forthcoming novel, Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc. Okay, tell me that this book cover isn't awesome. Now I dare you to tell me that the book doesn't sound awesome! This is going on the top of my TBR pile - stat!
Top Ten Tuesday: Sequels in my TBR pile
Top Ten Tuesday is a great meme created by Jamie at The Broke and the Bookish that combines top ten lists and books. She’s come up with a great list of weekly discussion topics and I hope you’ll join in the discussion by commenting on this post or some of the other ones (you can find the list of participating blogs in this week's Top Ten Tuesday post on her site).
This week’s topic is Top Ten Sequels I Can't Wait to Get My Hands On.
Unfortunately, I had to tweak this topic a bit as in many cases, I have not yet read the first book, let alone the sequel. So my list this week, in no particular order, is “Top Ten Books On My TBR Pile That Have Sequels.”
Pay It Forward Friday - November 1st
Those of you who read my blog post after the Sandy Hook tragedy know I was deeply saddened not only by the horrific tragedy itself, but also by my own powerlessness to do anything to stem the distressing pattern of similar tragedies that are plaguing our nation. The problem feels so big, so terrible, and so overwhelming.
The beauty and simplicity of the #26 Acts movement that grew out of Sandy Hook gave me great comfort, but unfortunately, as is usual after one of these tragedies, the great outpouring of initial support seems to have petered out - or, at least, has faded from the public view.
However, I have not forgotten; Sandy Hook made me realize I needed to make some big changes in my life - not grand, sweeping, "Eat Pray Love" kind of changes like they do in movies or books, because, honestly, how realistic is that for most of us? Not very. And frankly, that's not the kind of change I needed. In fact, I'm not sure that's the kind of change most of us need. The truth is, sometimes it just takes something very small. If anything, the #26 Acts movement has shown us how small things can have a big impact.
And so, I've started small.
I joined Freecycle. I gave a box of unwanted yarn to a group of ladies who knit hats and mittens for those in need. Those scraps of odd colored yarn taking up space in a closet will now be used in the more than 1,000 items the women make and donate this year. I gave an old computer monitor to a woman whose son had broken her in-laws' computer - my old, unwanted monitor helped two families: the woman who could ill afford to replace her in-laws' computer and her in-laws. I received a 6' tall Christmas tree that my sister and I will use as the base of our contribution to the Billerica Public Library Festival of Trees, one of the major fundraisers for the Billerica Historical Commission (which means that this formerly unwanted tree has now benefitted three recipients). A gentleman took some old exercise equipment off my hands that was just making me feel bad about myself to use to supplement his kids' Christmas gifts since he'd been laid off and money was tight. I've seen exchanges of broken electronic equipment that will be used by students learning to repair these items or that will be used for parts to return an out of commission item to service for someone who can't afford to buy a new one. I've seen odds bits of string, ribbon, paper, and the like - stuff that collects dust in drawers or ends up on the rubbish heap - used to form the basis of the craft supplies for underfunded summer camp programs. Literally, once man's trash is another man's treasure, but not in a snarky, "there's no accounting for some people's taste" kind of way; rather, it's literally true that no matter how little you think you have, there's always someone who has less.
I joined Meetup.com. I didn't exactly volunteer to become a group leader/organizer, but ended up being one anyway (long story). Now I lead a weekly walk after work and a weekly hike on the weekend. About 20 people participate in these walks/hikes - people who might not be able to get out and enjoy the outdoors without a group of like-minded people with which to go. The simple act of showing up sometimes is enough to empower and enrich other people.
Now I'm taking another small step: Pay It Forward Fridays, a new, semi-regular feature on my blog. On a daily basis, I come across many pleas for help - requests to share information, requests for donations, requests for support/action - and each week I'll feature a few of them here. Not all of these pleas relate to charity - sometimes a fellow author wants help advertising that his/her book is on sale. Sometimes a blogger would like some help advertising a giveaway. And that's the thing about Sandy Hook and #26 Acts and Freecyle and Meetup and all the rest: we ALL need help. We ALL need to feel connected and supported and loved and impacted and impactful. Far, far too often that need can be met through the smallest act and yet, we don't act, either because we think the act too small ("I'm going to toss these scraps of yarn because who could possibly need them?") or we undervalue the acts we can do in the face of what we perceive to be far greater and valuable needs ("What difference in the world can giving my old computer monitor to my neighbor make when there are people in the world who don't have enough to eat?"). If I've learned anything in this last year, it's that we should never underestimate the magnitude of impact small acts can have. I've also learned that it's not the value we place on an act that counts - it's the value placed on it by the recipient(s). Something very small/simple to me may be very huge to someone else - it literally cost me nothing (not money, not time, not effort) to give away that computer monitor, and yet, I sense it was a big relief to the woman to get it) - so we might as well do what we can, no matter how small it might seem. It's better than doing nothing.
***
Attend and/or Bid: Live Audio Book Marathon to benefit grammy winning audio book narrator Bob Deyan, who has been diagnosed with ALS (Saturday November 9th - Sunday November 10th).
Vote: Help Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport, MA win a $5,000-$25,000 grant to support their new Gerrish Breast Cancer Support Center by voting for their video entry to the Pink Glove Dance Video Competition (voting ends November 8th)
Enter: Author Michelle Hauck is giving away five copies of her epic fantasy Kindar's Cure on Goodreads (ends November 30th)
Donate: NaNoWriMo, better known as National Novel Writing Month, isn't just about helping authors write a novel in 30 days; it's also about raising funds for youth writing programs. Consider making a donation or supporting their efforts in one of the other listed ways.
Enjoy: A lovely and heart-warming article about a photographer who puts strangers together in photos.
Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books to Read for Halloween
Top Ten Tuesday is a great meme created by Jamie at The Broke and the Bookish that combines top ten lists and books. She’s come up with a great list of weekly discussion topics and I hope you’ll join in the discussion by commenting on this post or some of the other ones (you can find the list of participating blogs in this week's Top Ten Tuesday post on her site).
This week’s topic is Top Ten Best Books to Read for Halloween (the alternative topic is Top Ten Scariest Book Covers).
Okay, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and anything by Edgar Allan Poe are a given, right? Masque of the Red Death, The Cask of Amontillado, and Anabel Lee are my favorite Poe works. To these, I would add the following as best Halloween reads:
Interview with Katherine Lampe
The Blog Ring of Power Presents...
An Interview with Author Katherine Lampe
Today, we have an interview with paranormal fantasy author Katherine Lampe via BRoP member T.W. Fendley. Katherine is here to share some words of wisdom to other aspiring writers and to tell us a bit about her latest novel, The Cruel Mother, Book #5 of the Caitlin Ross series.
Interview with Joshua Legg
The Blog Ring of Power Presents...
An Interview with Author Joshua Legg
Today, I have for you an interview with fellow Agent Query Connect member, Joshua Legg, via BRoP member Vicki Lemp Weavil (Vicki's first interviewee for the BRoP - yay!). I've been hearing about Joshua's book for some time now, and I look forward to reading it - it definitely sounds intriguing! And I love the cover! Please give Joshua a warm welcome!