Welcome to my first Saturday post! Recently, while reading a similar list in the WFWA Newsletter, the idea came to me to list the things I find while skating through the Internet during the week. Some of this you may already know, some may be new to you, but I hope all of it will be interesting.

What I learned this week:

I fumbled on this actually. I imagine everyone else already knows it, but just in case, here you go. You can pin a post to your page on Twitter just as easily as you can on Facebook! I talked to Katie (K.M. Weiland) about helping me promote The Cat Lady’s Secret and told her I pin a different post to my Twitter wall every day. It’s there. She doesn’t have to hunt for it, she just goes to my wall and hits the RT symbol (so folks, feel free to go to my wall and hit the RT symbol! 😀 )

LinkedIn can be a fun tool, too. I didn’t realize that folks actually read the newsfeed (I didn’t read it myself until recently), but they do! I post pictures there pertaining to reading, writing, authors, and the ever-lovin’ drug choice of most writers: coffee. I’ve had quite a few lively conversations on that site this week!

Learned this Google+ tip from friend and writing buddy, Ane Mulligan: go ahead and post to the world. She sets her readership at “public” and lets it rip. That makes sense to me. Some folks, I’ve noticed, have their setting at “private,” which means it’s only hitting their friends–a great way for us writers to sell our books to other writers, I guess, but we need to sell to readers too. Don’t get too personal on this site, and you can use the “public” setting.

Big news week for Sci-Fi/Fantasy Authors!

RealmMakers just finished up their 2014 conference. I hope the creator/organizer Rebecca Minor puts her pics up on the blog, but if not, I’m sure you saw a number of them on Facebook. It was a big to-do, during which agent Steve Laube announced that Marcher Lord Press is now Enclave Publishing! The website, enclavepublishing.com, is in the making and will be a place where authors and readers of Science Fiction and Fantasy can come together.

And for Steampunk authors, here’s a great way to get your name noticed and earn $10! Mocha Memoirs Press is collecting stories for their new Steampunk Anthology, Avast Ye Airships! They’re taking submissions just about all year, so check out the rules–and if you submit, let me know.

Marketing Maniacs:

Lisa Lickel had a terrific post on AuthorCulture in which she compared sites and prices for bookmarks. We were surprised how many printers’ sites there were, aside from VistaPrint. Take a gander at her comparative shopping results.

Have you noticed my Coffee Cup ads? I’ve been posting them everywhere with different quotes on them–for devotionals, reading, writing, author support. I got this idea from Linda Fulkerson in her Marketing for Christians site. She puts up daily tips. Well worth flipping through.

And if anyone attended Kathy Ide‘s release party for her latest, Proofreading Secrets of Best Selling Authors, you may have noticed how smoothly everything went. One of the secrets was intense planning and preparation. The other involved the wonderful and talented Christi McGuire, Writer/Editor/Speaker/Consultant. Christi excels as a Social Media Consultant and Assistant. If you need a helping hand for a few hours or for a month, I highly recommend her.

The Biz:

On Novel Rocket Wednesday, Brandilyn Collins shared a great chart for estimating Kindle sales from Amazon rankings. True, kdp calculator does this for you, but Brandilyn, on the stump for her March release Sidetracked, finds the “estimated spread too wide to be of much use.” See what she does instead.

I found the neatest newspaper for writers: Christian Lit Agents Post. There are all sorts of digital newspapers out there, but this one is specifically for Christian authors. Mike Hyatt, Steve Laube, Chip MacGregor are among the names that contribute. Could be that you already knew about this, but if you’re as slow as I am about finding things on the ‘net, you may enjoy this latest discovery.

New Releases:

The Cat Lady’s Secret just released from Pelican Book Group. Here’s the rest of their June Releases, including new ones by Clare Revell, V.B. Tenery, and Raquel Byrnes.

Writing in Obedience released in March from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, and June releases for them include titles by Linda Rondeau and Andrea Boeshaar.

Here are a few more:

Kellie Coates Gilbert, A Woman of Fortune:

Texas socialite Claire Massey is living the dream. Her world is filled with designer clothes, luxury cars, and stunning homes. But her Neiman-Marcus lifestyle comes crashing down when her charming cattle broker husband is arrested for fraud. Suddenly, she finds herself facing attorneys, a media frenzy, and a trail of broken hearts. Betrayed and humiliated, Claire must start over against incredible odds to save her family–and discover a life worth living.

Linda Glaz, Bride By Necessity:

JONATHAN LAMBRICK NEVER PLANNED TO MARRY AGAIN

But when the master of Kent Park takes in the orphaned daughter of a tenant, Jonathan doesn’t expect his young charge to be a stunning woman. Or for a predatory relative to lay claim to her. Marriage may be the only way to protect Payton from an unthinkable fate.

Payton Whittard knows her marriage to Jonathan is about safety, not love. But the feelings that soon arise during their arrangement are anything but safe. Still, there’s something about her handsome protector that makes her trust him with her life. Can Payton trust him with her heart, as well?

Kathleen Y’Barbo, Their Unexpected Love:

Opposites Attract

Widowed contractor Logan Burkett knows exactly what troublemaking teens need: discipline. A former rabble-rouser, Logan had his life turned around by firm guidance and hard work. But try telling that to Pippa Gallagher. The softhearted event planner runs a skate park ministry for troubled teens and thinks a place to be themselves is the answer. As he and Pippa work together renovating the space, they seem to disagree about everything. But when disaster strikes, Logan finds himself feeling very protective of the beautiful planner and surprised to discover they share one very special thing in common…love.

No doubt there were more. Not all that I got notification for were up on Amazon yet, so I’ll try to hit them next week.

That’s it for this week, folks. I hope you found something interesting.

Until next time,

Peppermint Hugs and Candy Cane Kisses!