A new web address!

Good evening!

Back when I started this blog, I had just sold my very first book, Dream in Color, and I was awash with glory at the idea of starting a blog and selling a book.  So  my blog address not only contained my full author name, but the name of the book.

It was way, way too long.

Then recently I shut down my personal website.  Very few people were finding it and in the interest of streamlining my operations, I closed it.

Today I shortened the web address a bit so this blog is easier to find for those of you who haven't bookmarked it as the most amazing blog about the writing life...ever.  (Okay, in my dreams, it's the most amazing blog about the writing life.)

Ladies and gents, I give you:  authorsarahjbradley.blogspot.com

It's a bit better.

Anyway, I wanted to share that with you.  Now I must get back to edits.  I'd like to think the Elsie book will be out sometime next week.  Which means I have a lot of work to do between now and then.

 
 
 

New chapters...

Good evening!

A lot has been happening here, which you probably guessed since I haven't posted in a couple weeks.  Well, let me give you a run down:

1)  Fresh Ice  is doing quite well on Amazon, and I'm so excited every day to see people enjoying this book.  I can't WAIT to get out and do some book signings!  If you have a local book store and you'd like me to do a signing, let's see if we can make it happen. 

2)  Dream in Color is officially mine alone.  After a really great three years with Wild Rose Press, I took back my rights and have slaved for the last couple months at creating new cover art and new files to upload.  The new edition will be available in the next couple days exclusively through Amazon.

3)  Lies in Chance, the story of  my heart, will be the next one to undergo a bit of a makeover, depending on how Dream in Color does.  Reviews for this book have been stellar, but I'm still waiting for the right group of readers to find this book, and help me prove the establishment wrong about indie publishing.

4)  Meanwhile, yes, my workplace books about Elsie W are taking shape.  I won't lie, I love writing fiction more than humor because fiction is my escape.  But, while the March release date for "I can't Fix Stupid..." is simply NOT going to happen, look for the first Elsie W book to be out before the school kids are.

5)  Oh yes, I have started a new novel.  I don't want to give away too much, but let's just call this one a sort of sequel to Fresh Ice and Lies in Chance.  Thanks to my critique partner, Linda Schmalz, I'm thinking of someday bundling the three books into a sort of trilogy.  And, since we all love a good villain, I'm thinking of calling it my "Wicked Women" trilogy.  (That's got ya wondering, doesn't it?)

6)  It's with some sadness that I'll be closing my website soon.  After a lot of thought and notes from a very enlightening writer's meeting, I've decided to close down sarahjbradley.com  and focus on my two blogs since I can do everything with my blogs that I would do on a website, and you all seem to find me here more than my website.  I worked hard on it, so I'm sad to see it go, but letting it go means I have more time to do what I love most:  write.



So that's what's happening right now and if I'm not here quite as often as I have been it's because I'm focusing hard on producing more stories for you to enjoy!  I can't wait to see what these new chapters in my life are going to bring, and I hope you come along for the ride!

Meanwhile...go forth and WRITE!

Website or not to website...that is the question.

Hello all!

So during this period of cutting back whilst Hubby is on unexpected time off, I've been pondering the usefulness of my website.  I opened the site over a year ago, and haven't exactly burned up the Web with hits on it.

It's something I think every author/writer thinks about when trying to build a career without benefit of a six figure advance.  So, basically, if your name isn't Paris, Snookie, or Kardashian, you're wondering about this yourself.

Fledgling websites, generally created by authors who aren't Internet builders, and built on templates such as 1and1 or Intuit offer, are not terrible, but they aren't terribly awesome either.  I pay $8 a month for the site, and it sort of shows.  My goal has always been to flash it up once sales of my two books take off. 

Ahem...those of you who PROMISED you were going to buy the books...I'm waiting!

So while I'm still an otherwise employed author, does it pay to have a website bearing my name?

Some would say yes.  Your name in Web world is always a good thing, unless you're the HuffPost headline for some bad behavior.  (Wait, that's only bad if you're teaching Sunday School or running for President.)  Some would say that it's simply the right professional step for an author to get their name out there.

Some would say no.  With blogs, facebook, twitter, and myspace  (Does anyone still maintain their myspace?  I love mine, but only because I spent a year making it perfect.  I haven't been there in eons.) maybe we have enough of a presence, especially since with Pay pal, you can set up a blog to accept payments.

I'm not ready yet to close my site.  It's nice, I think, to have a .com that's simple and simply yours.  So much better than the web address for this blog, which clearly I created in a haze of pride for my first book and no concept of what a pain in the neck such a long address would be.  Thank goodness for bookmarks.

A year from now I may change my mind.  But a year from now I hope to have two Elsie books and a new novel out in the world.  Maybe more than one person a day will grace the doorstep of www.sarahjbradley.com

Welcome to post #200! Who wants a prize?

Good morning!


So here we are...post #200. When a television show has their 200th episode, they have a cake and take pictures. I don't like having my picture taken, and I really shouldn't be eating cake, so instead, I'm doing this:

Since I began this blog, back in June of 2009, a lot has happened in my life as a writer.  Today I'd like to take a trip back and look at things.

Since June of 2009, my first novel, Dream in Color was published through The Wild Rose Press.  I've done a handful of book signings, something I never ever thought I'd do.  "Dream" has been a joy to market, to share, with friends old and new.  (There are some women in my church who have surprised me with their...enjoyment of a good old steamy romance!)

Since June of 2009, I've had the pleasure and privlidge of meeting several talented writers, published and unpublished.  The biggest moment in my writing career came the day I met J. A. Konrath at a conference.  I listened to him talk about publishing online and then I was blessed to sit next to him at a book signing.  My whole view of writing and publishing changed that day a year ago.

Since June of 2009, I've opened up my own website.  When I was a teen, starting my very first novel, I never imagined that someday I would be able to build my own website and broadcast myself to the globe. (The internet wasn't a thought back in 1982, at least not in central Wisconsin.)

Since June of 2009, I joined an amazing group of writers at Mad City Romance.  Having the support and learning from the collected knowledge of this very motivated group of men and women has made a big difference in how I write.  I am no longer alone in my basement putting words to paper that no one will hear.  I'm rubbing elbows with multi published authors who make a living doing what they love to do...tell stories.

Since June of 2009 I found a home for my first writing love..humor.  Writing on my humor blog gives me joy, and makes me laugh.  Since my hero, and the person I ached to emulate as a writer, Erma Bombeck, gave me so much joy as a kid, I'm delighted to have a platform where I can share my own crazy, funny, and totally normal life.  And, because you, my readers, have given me so much encouragement, I am going to move forward and actually publish a series of books full of my tales of fun, foolishness, and falling down.  I can't wait!

Since June of 2009, I've mentioned Rick Springfield in my posts 51 times.  My favorite number...my favorite singer.  Coincidence?

Finally, the biggest thing that's happened since 2009, is that I've gained enough confidence in myself, and my writing to e-publish my second novel this summer.  Coming June 4, Lies in Chance, a book that could not find a home with any agent or publisher, and yet was loved by my beta readers.  Thanks to everything I learned in the last two years, and every person I've had the priviledge to meet, I will be able to publish the book I loved best, a book I never thought would see the light of day.  I can't wait to share it with you!

My friends, don't think for a moment that in the last two years I've become some sort of Internet whiz and that's how I was able to do all of this.  Those of you who have been reading this blog from the start  (thank you!) will recall just how goofy and amature my early days were.  It's taken two years, a lot of questions, and a lot of fumbling around to reach the level I'm at now, and I have a ways to go.  What I'm saying, friends, is that if having a website or managing a blog is what's holding you back from realizing your dream of publication...don't be afraid.  Jump out the bay door, and fly!  Don't worry about crashing...your parachute will open and you'll be okay!

So, for my 200th post...I have something special for my readers!  As a way of saying "THANK YOU!"  I'd like to enter you all into a little bit of a contest.  Here's what you need to do:

Read this post.

Leave a comment, including an email where I can reach you.

You'll be entered into a drawing for a FREE print copy of Dream in Color!

This contest will run from this moment, on May 24, until tomorrow, May 25, at 8 AM central Standard time.  That means you have 24 hours to leave a comment and get in the drawing!

Ready....set....comment!