Poe lived in a dump and why I suck

Good weekend, all!  If only everyday were a Sunday ...

Writers are notoriously obsessed with writing spaces.  Like unsettled dogs, we're known to tirelessly meander about, investigate and sample settings in an effort to find THE ideal spot for our Muse to call home.  For some, it's a cluttered dining room table.  Others seek out the comforting bustle of a coffee shop, while there are some who crave solitude to such a degree that they prefer to literally write in a closet.

Once we do find the Spot, we tend to get very possessive and territorial, which can lead to some socially awkward exchanges if your spot happens to be in public.  I can't recount to you all of the times I've patiently waited for MY table at the local Starbucks to open up.  I'll seriously stop writing and pack up a mountain of electronics, notes and coffee cups just to snare my happy place from the jaws of Mr. I'm Cool Cause I've Got an iPad.

GO PINCH-ZOOM YOUR PEOPLE MAGAZINE SOMEWHERE ELSE, JACKWAGON!  I DON'T SIT AT YOUR WORKPLACE DESK DOING CROSSWORDS AND SIPPING SOY LATTES, DO I?

So it's probably no surprise that writers are also obsessed with the homes and writing spaces of the most revered names in our craft.  We know how important a writing space can be to the delicate process of mining the imagination.  Thus, it's endlessly interesting to see where Hemingway might have decided for whom the bell was tolling, or where Austen dreamed up Darcy.

That's why I'm sharing this great website: Writers' Houses.  It is organized by a group of historians and authors who've traveled to many of the birthplaces and writing homes of the worlds most famous authors.  There are pictures, sketches and biographical tidbits.  Here is a blurb from the site:

"Founded in July 2010 by writer A. N. Devers, Writers’ Houses is an online publication dedicated to the exploring writers’ spaces and art of literary pilgrimage.

The impulse to create a site dedicated to documenting writers’ houses came from a growing obsession, since childhood, with books, travel, and making connections between a writer’s work and place. It also came from a realization that there wasn’t a comprehensive resource online, or in print, that helped literary pilgrims find their way.

Of course, it is easy these days, to search online for a favorite author and find out if they have a house to visit. But sometimes there are multiple sites of interest, and not all have websites. The Writers’ Houses database is designed to be a field guide to deceased writers’ homes, searchable by author, city, state, and country."

It's great fun, and a fascinating way to kill a few minutes.  

Now for why I suck.  (As if I needed to put it in writing ...)  Lots of you great folks have given my blog some sort of award and/or other recognition.  I truly can't express my appreciation enough for being recognized for anything other than being out of my mind most days, especially when it comes from the people I respect the most.  (All of the awesome bloggers that I follow.)   I've tried my best to make it over to your blogs to say a personal 'thank you'.  If I've missed you, I can't apologize enough, but my Google Reader has been in hyper-drive with the number of blogs I'm following, so sometimes I miss things.   

Here's the problem.  Most of these awards require me to provide some sort of revelatory exposition, and are cross-promotional; meaning they ask me to pass it on to other bloggers, which in the blogging community is the only proper way to show respect to your peers.  Unfortunately, that takes a ton of time, and I do good to get my 3-4 updates a week finished without stopping to answer 10 questions about myself.  Furthermore, with the number of awards I've been given in the last 3 weeks I'd be writing about myself for the next month, and I know that's not why you guys and gals read this thing.  (Do you really want to know how much I love dogs, and that I hate black olives?  Really?)  

So here's my proposal:  I'm going to start a weekly blog spotlight of the folks who follow my blog.  I'll pick 1 or 2 and give a shout out here on the OV.  While this may not directly give props to the people who have recognized me, I think it will be a consistent way of saying thanks to the community as a whole.  Plus, if you stick around I'll for sure spotlight your blog at some point.  Sound like a win/win? 

I'll start this week.  Keep an eye out, I might pick your blog!

Hope what's left of your weekend is great,

EJW  

Don't Fear the Reaper - The Book Business is Fine

Howdy, folks! Hope the weekend was good to you, and that the new week is off to a roaring start. A few odds and ins before I get down to business …

First, I'd like to welcome all of the new followers, especially the Blog Crusader folks. I've had so much fun reading all of your blogs, and we're only 1 week into the actual event! Only great things to come, I'm sure. I'll also say 'hey' to the followers who've joined me via Twitter. A couple of weeks into the Twitter experiment, and I'm already glad I did it.

Second, in response to my previous post (Crusade Challenge #1), I'll now reveal my “secret” or lie. E.J. Wesley is a pen name. I can't actually say it isn't my REAL name, because it kind of is—just rearranged a bit. At any rate, I'll say congrats to Jess for guessing it. I hear Sir Holmes is looking for a new Watson, Jess, so you might want to put in your application! :0) Now to the post.

Don't fear the reaper - The book business is fine

Publishing industry news hits fast and hard nowadays. It seems there are daily declarations of drastic sweeping changes to the book business, and I'm not even talking about the prognosticating going on with regards to eBooks. No, most of the news isn't simply bombastic “wolf!” crying. There are hard indications that trouble isn't just a'brewing, it's spilled over onto the stove top and is now making a hell of a mess. Bookstores closing, publishers downsizing, authors struggling with escalating expectations and diminishing support—we've read and heard it all.

Interestingly enough, the latest addition to the bad news pot seems to be the one causing the most stir. The blogs and FaceTweet were alive with outrage and despair over the announcement that mega-bookstore chain, Borders, was declaring bankruptcy. Frankly, I think it jostled so many people because it was the first really tangible indication that change was no longer something to prepare for, but something that would have to be endured. Borders closed enough stores in the initial cut that many people lost their neighborhood bookstore. People they knew lost their jobs. Book clubs lost their hangout spot. Authors lost some longtime supporters of their work. Simply put, it gave a face to the problem.

What's to blame? Lots of things, some of them self-inflicted, some not. As much as anything, I think publishing is a victim of the times. The merciless hunter, also known as the struggling world economy, is taking down the vulnerable businesses in the herd. Only the extremely fit are surviving the culling, and sadly the publishing industry has been limping along for quite some time. It hasn't aged gracefully, and the years of navigating a harsh landscape have left it struggling to keep up with the times. Now it looks like the book business has been singled out from the group, primed for an easy kill.

Before you change the channel to avoid the kiddos seeing the brutality, you should know there might be hope for the 'old buffalo' yet. She's still got some fight in her, if she can only find her focus. 

For writers and readers the news has been bleak; however, I have a theory that may assuage our fears. My theory is simple: At its core, the publishing industry is about reading and writing. All the other 'stuff' that comes along with it—like paper, coffee, electronic gadgets, big dollar advances, and a comfy chair—are extraneous.  If I believe that (which I do, with all of my nerd heart), I can safely say the book business is in great, if a little unsettled, shape.

Books, or more specifically the written words they contain, readers, and authors aren't going anywhere. Ever. It's a form of creative expression, and it's a part of our DNA. Cavemen (and women) doodled on--well, caves--and musical instruments have been found with the earliest civilizations. The human need to communicate, create and express is perhaps only a step below food and shelter on the life scale. We're not losing language (although texting and the Twitter may have something to say about that), so writing and reading are safe.

How we produce and consume the writing, however, is changing. Paper books, no matter how fondly we may perceive them, are a medium. A vehicle, if you will.  First and foremost, they serve a function, and that function is to disseminate an idea or story with words. They used to write on stone tablets. The medium evolved. It's evolving again, simple as that.   

Hey Barnes & Noble, I think we're going to need more cowbell ...

Are bookstores doomed? Possibly. If they can't figure out a way to facilitate reading and writing by offering something other than paper books, sadly they may have to go away. (Incidentally, publishers are at a similar crossroads.) Businesses involved with the industry must examine how they can support readers and authors. That's it. If you can add to the experience, fine, but make damn sure you're handling the prime directive as best as it can be handled. 

Again, strip it all down to reading and writing and I believe the problem will self-correct. In the end, authors will write and readers will read. If you can let go of the other 'stuff', I think you'll sleep well tonight.

~EJW~

Crusade Challenge #1 ... I'm a dirty, naughty liar.

This is a bit of break from my usual blog shenanigans, but I hope you'll be entertained nonetheless.  I've mentioned that I'm taking part in this blog Crusade thing *waves at all of the following Crusaders* and as part of my involvement I'll be responding to a few fun weekly 'challenges' on Ye Old Blog.

Here are the rules for the first challenge:

In 300 words or less, tell us: 

· one secret 

· one lie 

· one interesting quirk 

· one annoying habit 

· one of your best character traits, and 

· one of your favourite things in the whole world. 

The post can be in any format, including poetry, but must include the random words, “bloviate,” “fuliguline,” “rabbit,” and “blade”.


Pretty straight forward, so here goes. My name is E.J. Wesley and I once owned a 10 lbs white rabbit named—wait for it—rabbit. Never one to bloviate, I'm very honest and tend to speak my mind with the precision of a well-honed blade. Few people know that I can't swim, but at least I'll never be confused for a fuliguline. I'm a fan of numbers (particularly statistics), but hate math. I tend to question everything, which never endeared me to figures of authority. My dogs are very dear to me.

I'll reveal my 'lie' in my next post, but I'll almost guarantee that no one is going to be able to guess it!  Hint: it may really surprise some of you.  :0)  
~EJW~

Consumer Reviews: The Future of Publishing Rests in Your Hands

**UPDATE** 2/18/11 - Just wanted to mention that this post is being featured on the # publishing Daily Twitter site/feed.  You can find it under the #books section on the bottom righthand side of the site.  I'm a little biased now :0), but they feature some cool stuff going on in the world of publishing.  Polish up those comments folks, the Twitterverse is watching!  Way to go gang!

Good evening, Blog Friends! I see a lot of new faces in the crowd, so I'll say a quick welcome and encourage you to find a comfy chair, pour yourself some tea/wine and settle in for a little chat. This is a long post, but please stay with me as I'll make a valid point. (PROMISE!) Also, be sure to hit me back with your thoughts when we're done. It's your opinion (not my own) that I really want to hear.

Have you ever purchased a product from online retail giant Amazon? Chances are you have, or are at least familiar enough with the site to know how it works. You can purchase anything--from beer bongs to books, they have it all--and it gets shipped directly to your door or mailbox. Naturally, I'm more concerned with the books. (Now if you had asked me 10 years ago, you might have gotten a different answer ... )

Once you've ordered that new set of steak knives, you can clip right over and post a review to give other consumers the scoop on your Turbo Ginsu. (Can you really use it to chop wood? REALLY??)



In moments, thousands of Amazon browsers will see your opinion. Did you love it? Hate it? Perhaps the larger question is will it matter? Does anyone really care if you tried to cut a can in half, but ended up starting a modest kitchen fire instead? Surely no one is going to base their decision to invest in something based upon the thoughts of a complete stranger. You might be surprised ...

Before we get too far into the discussion, I'd like to point out that the importance of a strong reception isn't strictly an anomaly of the electronic age. Authors have known for ages that perhaps the single most powerful publicity tool is good old word of mouth praise.

Be it in living rooms or chat rooms, if folks are talking about your book, it's a good thing.  (Especially if they're talking sweet. ;-)    

Granted, consumer reviews have really gained in significance since the dawn of the internet. It has become a global world, where shoppers are no longer limited to the stock on hand at the local Target, but can truly purchase just about anything from anywhere. As our choices have expanded, so has the need for a discerning opinion.

There is a fairly large amount of anecdotal evidence to support the power of receiving positive reviews on shopping sites, particularly in the realm of books. I did a little (highly unscientific) research myself, and discovered the following: The top 5 selling books in the Amazon top 100 averaged 470 reviews and an average review rating of 4.5/5. Similarly, I looked at 4 of the top selling genres (Romance, Literature & Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, and Teen) and they averaged reviews/ratings (respectively) of 58/4.5, 328/4, 213/4, and 804/4. (NOTE: 2 of the top 5 Sci-Fi/Fantasy are pre-orders, so the numbers were divided by 3 instead of 5.)

What conclusions can we make based upon those numbers? That the most popular books are being reviewed en masse, and the consumer feedback is largely positive. You can chicken/egg this thing to death, but I think it's safe to say that the number and tone of the reviews is having an impact on sales.

Clearly, numerous positive reviews mean more to Joe Starting-Out-Author than Stephen King, Jo Rowling or James Patterson. However, don't believe that it doesn't make a difference to the big dogs as well. Just last year mega-popular author, Michael Lewis felt the sting of bad pub in the form of slamming Amazon reviews. Sadly, it wasn't even the writing that was fueling his detractors, but the fact that his book wasn't made available in eBook form by his publishers. (Something the author had ZERO control over.)

In fact, perhaps the most compelling evidence that your thoughts make a difference is shown in the great (and sometimes bizarre) lengths that people have gone/will go to in an effort to skew consumer feedback. In May of last year, the Cincinnati Beacon ran this story about the efforts to 'pad' book reviews by hired publicists. Then there's this story about an author who noticed she'd been receiving some oddly consistent negative reviews. After some investigation, it appeared that she actually had been the target of a smear campaign instigated by--wait for it--COMPETING PUBLISHERS! (Allegedly...) Oh, and authors aren't immune to the shenanigans. Here's a story of an author's spouse posting dodgy reviews of competitor's books, and another story of an author going all ePostal on someone who posted a bad review of her book.     

This brings me to the point.  (Told you I'd make one ...) 

After reading the unfortunate news that popular bookstore chain Borders is going belly-up, coupled with the soaring popularity of eBooks, I think we as book consumers (and producers) are facing a very real shift in how the business of literature is grown and sustained. Diminishing are the days of publishers and mass distributors ensuring that we take notice of great books and great authors by placing them in front of our noses. The supply is increasing and, with the loss of physical marketing, the ability to stand out (for books) is decreasing.

To a much greater extent, books will flourish from reader support, not marketing dollars. Increasingly, the success of your favorite author is going to ride on YOUR shoulders as a reader and reviewer. You're going to be the store manager and publishing professional who decides which books pop-up first in the store/search engines.

I challenge you, as people who love to read, get in the habit of reviewing every book you enjoy on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, SmashWords, etc. Most of the sites will allow you to review even if you purchase elsewhere. If you love an author, share your opinion online (particularly on the sites that allow you to purchase books). It makes a difference now, and it may mean everything tomorrow.

~EJW~

Are you on the Twitter? Then let's be brief together!

Howdy all!  Hope you had a restful weekend or at least did something your mother might not approve of.  This is a short/sweet post.

I created a Twitter account, and have no idea what I'm doing!   You can click my shiny new badge in the upper right corner of Ye Old Blog for my details.   Fortunately, my Twignorance (see what I did there?) isn't going to stop me from following you.  :)

I'm in the voyeuristic stages right now, but would love to connect with my blog friends.  I know many of you have accounts already, so if you'll simply let me know in the comments, I'll look you up and follow you.  Sound good?

Also, feel free to share any useful resources for the Twitter n00b ... many of you have been posting about such things on your blogs, so feel free to plug away in the comments.

Hope you all have someone or something sweet to enjoy today!

~EJW~

Why do we need libraries? Bonus: How to make new blog friends.

Happy Monday all!  (Especially now that it is almost over ...)  I just wanted to share a couple of interesting informational tidbits.

First, I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I've started listening to the Litopia podcasts, and the most recent episode of Open House really caught my attention.  Being a UK show, there was much discussion of the widespread closure of UK libraries due to governmental funding shortages.  Folks are trying to rally to save them, but it doesn't look good.  Here's a link to listen to the episode.  (Adult content warning; they use--you guessed it--four letter words! ;)

There are some excellent points made throughout the broadcast, but one thing really stuck out to me: an author was asked by BBC news why she thought we needed libraries.  Sadly, the author struggled to give a straightforward answer (most likely due to being shocked at being asked such an idiotic question).  With the future of libraries in the US not facing a much brighter future, it made me wonder how I would answer that question, or if I even could in a concise and effective way.  I'm talking about an answer that doesn't include the 'warm and fuzzy' or strictly intrinsic/internal value received.  Something quantifiable that would get the attention of people who don't use libraries.

So I'll ask you, readers great and small: Why do we need libraries?  If I'm ever faced with trying to save my local, I sure want to have a great answer.

The second thing I'd like to bring to your attention is a wonderful networking opportunity.  Blogger Rachael Harrie is holding her second annual Platform Building Crusade.  Basically, you sign up and get partnered with other bloggers who are taking part in the Crusade.  Then you'll blog about similar topics, follow each other, and hopefully expand your readership.  It's pretty easy, and I've already gotten a handful of new folks to following and we haven't even started yet!

Rach has some great ideas, and most importantly I think this is going to be a blast.  So head on over and get signed up!

~EJW~

Four Letter Words in YA

$h!t happens in real life, but should it in literature geared toward younger readers?  I've thought a lot about the use of swear words in YA, and it seemed like a logical finale to my impromptu four letter word week here on the OV.  (You can view posts one and two if you'd like, but be warned neither of them have anything to do with cursing. :0)

This isn't a new topic of debate by any means.  Opinions on the subject are all over the place on whether it is acceptable for your characters to drop an F-bomb, or if they should stick to the King's English.   From the highly unscientific research I've performed (the Google), I'd say the general consensus is that it's okay, so long as it is character or situationally appropriate.

Here's the thing: For some real-life folks, it's always situationally appropriate to DAMN! the dog.  (So to speak.)  Furthermore, for some folks it's never okay to say things you wouldn't say to momma or Jesus.  Would it be okay then, to have potty-mouthed Uncle Mort be a main character and shout an expletive in every other scene?  It's what Mort would do, after all.

Here's an excellent post on the subject I found over at Kidlit.com.  More recently, YA author Kirsten Hubbard discussed the subtle art of Cuss-cromancy.  She thinks that, like every other word you choose to include in a story, curse words should be heavily judged to see if they serve a purpose.  If they aren't moving the story or provide some sort of essential color, they should be removed.  In other words, unlike in real life, Kirsten thinks there should be no casual cursing in writing.

As for me, I tend to fall in line with Kirsten.  I think anything overused in a novel runs the risk of becoming gimmicky and distracting to the reader.  However, I also think if you try to filter too much--or underuse with a purpose--the writing can become stale or unrealistic.  I'd also advocate for finding more creative ways to express curse words, as opposed to omission, in books for middle grade readers.  The movies The Fantastic Mr. Fox (the main character says, "cuss" in place of expletives) and A Christmas Story (dad says a string of nearly unintelligible words in place of expletives) come to mind.

I'll leave you with a few questions to further the debate:


Is there an age cutoff as it pertains to readers/target audience and cursing?  Should there be, considering YA and middle grade books are commonly mingled in school libraries?  Do we need a rating system for books (similar to movies) that would guide readers, parents, etc. ?  


I'll also say a quick thank you to all of the new followers AND for all of the awesome comments on the last couple of posts.  Even if you don't read the nonsense I spew, you should read the comments and thoughts of the readers.  Great stuff!  


Have an awesome Super Sunday!


~EJW~

How I know I CAN quit you and my 100th post!

I'd like to continue my FOUR LETTER WORD theme for the week and discuss blog followers. Moreover, I'd like to discuss how we lose them.  The word QUIT came to mind, because that's typically how I'd define the termination of my keeping up with a particular blog.

First, let's take a quick look at why people might follow a blog in the first place.  I follow blogs for a handful of reasons, which include:

They provide useful and/or interesting information - I'm a writer and like to read about, and learn from, other writers.  I also enjoy reading and seek out others who do as well.

An act of reciprocity - The blog world is a community, and the 'Do unto others..." guideline definitely applies.  You must follow to be followed--especially in the beginning.  Simply put: could you make friends and build relationships by walking into Walmart, shouting your name and telling everyone to meet you in in aisle 15 of the parking lot if they want to get to know you?  Heck no.  No one is going to care if you create a blog and start posting stuff unless you make a genuine effort to get to know them too.

For entertainment - Some blogs I follow have nothing to do with writing.  I follow them because they're funny, quirky or touch on some other aspect of life I enjoy.  Sometimes I follow for purely voyeuristic purposes, meaning it's somebody who has an interesting life or (more likely) interprets their ordinary life in a unique way.

Before I get into how to run people off, I'll qualify a few things.  I don't have a ton of experience in 'unfollowing'.  I started following blogs when I started blogging (about a year ago), and in that time I've probably quit following 3-7 blogs.  That's out of the dozens I currently keep up with.  However, I have noticed a pattern in my jumping ship, and that's what I'm going to share.  Reasons I quit following:

Lack of reciprocity - I've dropped a few blogs because I continually left comments on their posts and they didn't follow me (minor offense as I'm willing to accept that not everyone I follow is going to dig my blog and some folks like to keep their lists manageable) or didn't acknowledge my comments (major offense)--ever.  I don't expect every comment I post to receive a direct response, or even be read for that matter.  However, if I comment on your blog weekly over a period of months, at some point it would be cool if you answered my questions or responded to anything I said.  Followers of my blog get a ton of slack in this area, btw.

Continued posting of things I completely disagree with - I can probably be accused of this one myself!  :)  I stopped following a couple of major writing-related blogs because the blogger continually posted offensive content. I'm not talking about nude photos or anything, they simply kept posting things that made me bristle intellectually.  Not to mention one of the blogs posted an outrageous slam of pretty much half the human race and, when commentors began to call them out for it, they disabled the comments.  If you're going to say controversial things in public, you need to be able to take your medicine.  I might delete a profane response to one of my posts, but I'd NEVER prohibit people form disagreeing with me.  As a matter of fact, I think some disagreement is healthy.

Constant pandering to the publishing gods (or being a fake, phony, fake) - We all know this is a fickle business.  It's hard to get started and even more difficult to stay once you're there (so I'm told).  Spitting in the face of conventions is probably not the best thing to do.  That being said, I've dropped blogs because they were constantly trying to mirror things the "industry" seemed to encourage as opposed to being an organic representation of the author's voice and style.  In my somewhat limited viewing, I'd say prospective YA and young reader bloggers are far worse at this than many of the other writing groups.  I don't know if it's a voice thing, a market thing--or something else entirely--but it drives me a little crazy at times.  Don't communicate what you think people want to hear, communicate what you think and what they NEED to hear.  

Again, I'm sure I've done some of these myself.  I've lost a few followers over time, and I may lose a few over this post.  I don't think committing any of the 'offenses' listed above on occasion is going to necessarily lose you followers.  Unfortunately, it might over time.

What say you?  Do you monitor your following?  Do you notice when someone drops you?  Have you quit following blogs?  Why?


PLEASE DON'T QUIT ON ME!


~EJW~  

Forged by Fate ~ Reese Monroe

He’s waited more than 900 years to love her…

Being the Gatekeeper to Hades is no small feat, and waiting almost a millennia to meet your mate is damn near impossible. But Theo Bradford’s mark has finally surfaced on his intended. Now all he has to do is find her and convince her to embrace her supernatural heritage.

Young genius, Sadie Nowland, has got life figured out. Graduating college at the age of eighteen and accepting a six-figure job is just what she needs to prove she’s made something of herself. But when a strange tattoo mysteriously appears on her shoulder and Theo starts talking about Mates, it catapults her neatly laid out life into chaos.

Targeted by a vicious demon escaped from Hades, Sadie is thrust into the volatile world of Shomrei warriors and a connection to Theo her brain can’t comprehend and her body can’t deny. That primal bond proves more imperative to their survival than either could have ever imagined—and just may be the key to the world’s survival.

Buy Links:

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Forged-Entangled-Embrace-Reese-Monroe-ebook/dp/B00GQ67V3G

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/forged-by-fate-1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forged-by-fate-reese-monroe/1117445681

iBook: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/forged-by-fate/id755271968?mt=11&uo=4 

Originally from Minnesota, Reese Monroe currently enjoys living

in the sunny Arizona desert with her husband of seventeen years and her loveable Shetland Sheep dog, Maddux. Monroe holds a degree in psychology from Southwest Minnesota State University and a master's degree from the University of Iowa. When she’s not busy writing her next trilogy, she can be found pounding the pavement, training for her next endurance event.

Reese Monroe is a contributing blogger at the widely popular site New Adult Alley (NAAlley.com) and has been part of the New Adult revolution for years having penned over thirty novels in the exciting new category.

Connect with Reese on Twitter (@ReeseMonroe1), through Facebook (Facebook.com/ReeseMonroeWrites) or her website ReeseMonroe.net.

I are a writer and THIS is a dumb weatherman.

Sadly, I just found out today that the school district I tutor for is considering removing internet access from its schools in an effort to save money in the face of massive budget cuts next year.  While I do think teachers (and heat on a cold day like today) are more essential to education than the web, I can't help but think that removing technology access from public schools is somehow not in the best interest of our young people.  How many modern students would survive college without being web savvy?  Many of the students I work with can't afford internet access at home, so their only option for doing web research is at school or public libraries which they or may not have access to.

I know, money is money, but I still think it's a rotten idea.  To liven the mood I'll share this video, which probably supports the idea that education has already fallen far enough.  In the future, everyone may be as dumb as this guy.  Enjoy!

NOTE:  I intentionally butchered the title of this post.  I shouldn't have to qualify that, but folks are so serious these days!  :)

~EJW~

Time On Her Side by Shelly Arkon

They say God gives second chances.

Forty years have shown Wilhelmina has nothing but a lifetime of four failed marriages, a job she hates, and her most recent affair with a married businessman. Until one day, while sipping coffee her silent prayers are answered--she’s visited by her future self, offering Wilhelmina a chance to re-do her life, giving her a mission to save the future world from the baby she’s unknowingly pregnant with.

Is it the miracle she hoped for, or will this lead into a whole new set of problems?

FREE through November 5th on Amazon! Available for all countries.

About the Author

Shelly Arkon is the author of Secondhand Shoes.

When Shelly isn’t doing the laundry, cleaning, cooking, chasing grandkids, listening to daughter drama (five of them), or lopping heads of hair at the salon, she’s writing beside her two fur-peeps, Sir Poops and Hair Ball, popping an occasional chocolate while her hubby is flipping through TV channels. 

She lives in New Port Richey with her husband and two dogs. She’s also a member of Florida Writer’s Association and Writer’s of Mass Distraction.