Hi Jackie,

Thanks so much for accepting the invite.  I'm relatively new and trying to soak everything in.  It's a little overwhelming lol.  Also, thank you for clicking on my Facebook, I've clicked on yours as well :)  And I look forward to seeing your writing too!

Rebecca

Good morning, Jackie...All's well here.  Have been strapped to my computer chair, trying to get a review written for a book I didn't much care for, but the review is mandatory.  Really, really enjoyed "What the Dog Ate," though - so that review was a pleasure to write. ( I found a couple of typos; do you want me to send them to you? ) Other than that, I'm now trying to get ready for a Caribbean cruise we're taking November 11th, which has become the big stress-event in my life.  Hope it's fun once we get on board!  How's life in San Diego? 

Good morning, Jackie.  

Thanks for taking the time to answer my various questions.  Very helpful!  Seems like all I do since publishing the e-book is work on promotion.  Hate it.  

It was so much easier with "Remember The Time."  The whole publishing thing just kind of swirled around me and I did very little in the way of promotion: a few local interviews (paper and radio) and quite a few in-store signings and other events.  They all went well.  But I was lucky that "Remember" kind of took off and had a very long in-print run. Unfortunately, it's been many years since "Remember" was out and although it was released as an e-book by Random House just this past year, they (RH) didn't let me know the release date (!!).  As a matter of fact, I didn't even know it was out there until I happened to go into Amazon to buy a used copy of "Remember."  Imagine my surprise.  

So, if I'd known about the e-release of "Remember" I'd have done more to get "A Sea Change" out there at the same time.  Didn't. End of story.  

Again, thanks for listening.  If you need anything, let me know.  I'm sure I'll be bugging you again.  Truthfully, I feel somehow connected to you.  Maybe because your writing reminds me so much of mine.  Maybe because I went to SDSU.  Who knows.  

Have a great day.

Annette

Okay, I hope you don't think I'm imposing, Jackie, but I wonder if I could pick your brain for just a few moments?  

When you contacted the dog bloggers re: your book, what exactly did you say to them?  (You have to understand how new I am to the social networking thing.)  Since my newest book takes place in a little beach enclave here in Tacoma, I thought maybe contacting Tacoma Bloggers might be a good "niche."  But I have no idea how to present myself, or the book.  

Secondly, did you write your own back cover copy?  I'm not at all happy with mine for "A Sea Change", but since I wrote it myself I have no one to blame.  :-)  

Third: I see you've done a print version of the book.  When did you decide to do that?  After initial e-book publication?  Simultaneously?  How would you describe your experience with that?  (I'm assuming you published it yourself...)  

I really do appreciate your help.  I know you must be swamped (as am I)!  

All the best,

Annette

P.S. Just bought your book for my oldest friend (lives in La Mesa).  She works with 4 Paws Coonhound Rescue and has about 5 dogs, 3 cats, and would have more if she had the room. I know she'll love your book.

Jackie, I had to tell you I sampled your book last night, and then bought it and couldn't put it down.  Am enjoying it so much!  

Loved seeing the photos of your sweet pooches (here and gone).  We have one of our own (Kokkie) who is the big love of our lives.  Lost our other sweetie to bone cancer, too. She was pretty elderly when it made itself known so there was no way we could have her leg amputated.  Had to let her go.  

Anyway, won't make this too long, but just wanted to wish you the best with your new book and I'll look forward to it.  

Can't wait to get back to "What The Dog Ate" this evening!  By the way, my books (rather like yours) are hard to categorize, but always have dogs and cats in them.  ;-)

Annette

Oh thank you but I had him from the time I was ten all the way through college so I couldnt ask for more except I wish he hadnt had a stroke that forced me to put him down, wish he could have gone in his sleep, but he was 15 so I was lucky. He was my best friend all through school, puberty etc so you cant really replace that.

Anyway, yes hubbie os dfinitely hangin in there since he passed his "deathdate" over a year and a half ago. Hes stage 4 so it will eventually win but he is still strong.

Glad you like the group, Ive been trying to make it the best place possiible for everyone to maximize their potential and writing careers.

Thanks! Samantha

Hi Jackie!

Thanks so much for following through and joining Blooming Late!

I took the liberty of looking through your platform links and think that you have a great clean well informative and warm website for your book. CONGRATS on that first book by the way, thats wonderful!

Your blog is great! You are a really good writer that pulls you into what your writing about! I see you really love dogs too. I had a dog for 15 years but I just couldnt replace him so Iam more of a cat person now, which works out for our situation with us having to leave so much for my husbands chemotherapy treatments.

ANyway, over all you are doing a great job and I hope to see more in the future!

Now let me fill you in a little about us here at Blooming Late-

There are many wonderful women like you here in our group from all genres and levels of writing who are a real source of support,encouragement and inspiration. I hope that you will be able to make your writing home with us!

Please when you have time let us get to know you a bit better by posting in our "To kick things off" discussion or if you don't feel like doing an extensive intro then just say Hello" on our wall on the front page.

We have just started something new here. We have launched our own group platform,we have our own group blog called "The Blooming Late Journal" which link can be found in our Discussion area if you would like to write a post in there and then plug your blog, book and your own platform.

Then we have our own Twitter hashtag so we can talk to each other in there as well as make sure to retweet each others blog posts and important links, etc. It is #BLWriters - just add it to any of your tweets so the group can see them by looking for the hashtag.

And best of all recently we have our own  Facebook Fanpage under "Blooming Late Authors", please LIKE the page and then feel free to do your plugging in there as well as put things in there that you may find useful or fun for the group to see. Especially when you post in your blog.

We would like it if as time allows, you would "friend" everyone in the group in here as well as in Facebook and Twitter so that our groups publicity potential is maximized for all the writing work we do and is seen out there on the net.

We also have a PAGES section to the left of the group wall where you can list your great blog/website links-FB/Twitter handles (which I would ask if you could get that up right away so that everyone could connect with you),and the great book you have published among other things like your birthday etc.

We also have useful DISCUSSION areas that might be a help to your writing. You can choose to follow as many or as little Discussions as will interest and help you,we don't have any requirements on how much anyone participates but I would ask if you will set your settings in here to recieve the group emails so that you can be kept up on anything important in the group as a whole. On average I only email the entire group once a month.

And if there's anything I can personally do, I'll be happy to help with anything you may need.

I am glad you are here and welcome to YOUR group!

Samantha Stacia

Hello Jackie! Ive been out of town and just got this, in order for you to join Blooming Late you need to go in there and hit the request to join button and I can approve you, I will be happy to have you as part of our group!

Samanth Stacia