What's Your Favorite Yahoo Group?

I don't know about you, but I have belonged to a whole mess of Yahoo Groups at one time or another. In fact, I confess that I currently am subscribed to over 100 groups. Many are writing/reading/publishing-related, naturally, but I'm also part of numerous gardening, regional, spiritual, and homeschooling groups as well. Do I have time to read these? Nope. Many are just places to promo, places I joined because my publishers have arranged author chats there, or places I no longer have the interest to follow.

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and wanting to streamline my chat groups. I'll admit, I look at them and just cannot decide which groups I really want to sit and "chat" on, especially when it comes to author groups. While many of these have active memberships, a whole lot of others are little more than drive-by promotional stops (and I'm guilty of this as much as the rest).

What I want to know is, what is YOUR favorite recommended Yahoo Group for good, friendly, old-fashioned CHATTER? That place where Everybody Knows Your Name, Where can you put up your feet with a cuppa joe to laugh and learn with fellow authors (or readers)? Inquiring minds want to know. I may hear some groups I'm already on, and just need to focus more attention there. Others may be new to me, but deserve a shout out for everyone to see. So dig out those bookmarks and share the wealth!

A few I like for chat:

Amethst Winters and Company --a fun group for chat, also nice hosts for author chats!

Marketing for Romance Writers --Not for general chat, but a good spot to get info on author promotion--without having to sift through any author promos

Romance Junkies Readers --Nice and fun for general chat, and they host a lot of publisher/author chats where they will try to jump in and comment while the authors are "live."

NaNoWriMo: And...We're Off

Are you NaNoing? If you haven't heard of NaNoWriMo, November is officially National Novel Writing Month. In honor of this, writers (published and for the loves alike) attempt to write a 50k novel in 30 days. Hop on over to http://www.nanowrimo.org/ and sign up--there's still time!

This is my 4th NaNoWriMo. I won each of the past three years, completing a total of four projects. Three have been published or are contracted. I love the camaraderie of taking part in something where I know that so many other writers are in there chugging along with me!

A few tips for NaNo:

1. You need to write an average of 1667 words each day to make 50k by November 30th. I like to start off with a bang the first week and strive for 2k+ daily, so that I have a head start for the inevitable times when life crops up and bumps my word count off. (Weeks 2 and 3 are famous for this.)

2. Consider hitting a write-in! On the NaNoWriMo forums, you can join regional boards for your local area and find out who's NaNoing near you! I do a once weekly write-in and it's a lot of fun. We actually DO get writing done, too, and it's a good way to find "sounding boards" when you're stuck for an idea, can't remember a word, etc.

3. Shut off your internal editor. It's not called NaNoEdMo (though there is one), and for this challenge, quantity is what counts, not quality. Of course, you can't cheat and write "la la dee dah" 20k times and be done, and you'll try to write a cohesive tale as you go along. But if you're one to go back and correct sentences, stop and fret over plot holes, etc., this is the time to change your ways--for a month, at least. Just let it rip, let the raw story pour out of you no matter how rough, and sort it all out during the editing phase.

How about it? Any NaNoer's here have favorite tips you'd like to pass along? I can always use more!

Good luck...

Halloween Zombie Movie!

Where the heck have I been?! You might be asking. Okay, it might not have dawned on you that I've been gone from the blog, in which case never mind. Otherwise, I've spent the past couple of months on the usual editing/writing stuff, PLUS helping film and edit a short horror film, DEATH DO US PART.

And just in time for your horrific Halloween entertainment, here it is! Rated R for ragin' zombie...

Organize with Streamy

Streamy Welcome from Streamy on Vimeo.

I'm sorry I've been off all this week; I took some bereavement time as my husband's grandfather passed on. Meanwhile, in lieu of our usual Feng Shui Friday I thought I'd leave you with this awesome new social networking tool, Streamy.

What's social networking got to do with Feng Shui? Hey, if this helps you clear social clutter, organize, and streamline your online experience, it definitely qualifies. I saw this over on Ask Angela/Market My Novel blog, and I just HAD to share this neat video intro to Streamy with you all.

I Did It!! Free Promo for YOU

I interrupt our regularly scheduled Feng Shui Friday for some big news!

It's been a labor of love, but for all of you who are seeking fun, unique content for your related site, blog, or social network, I've created a 1-minute video to promote the idea of reading eBooks.

Check out the final product, starring Yours Truly in all six female roles:



Give your readers something to talk about! Grab this promo to use wherever you wish.

If you enjoyed this "ad," would you do me a favor and please give it a high rating on YouTube? I'd also love to hear your comments here--and whether/where you will re-post this promo. Also, for any interested the "commercial" has its own official website at http://myebookcommercial.com.

One Lovely Blog Awards!

No one wrote in for a dream interpretation during my week off, so I thought I'd share this great smile-booster I received!

Imagine my surprise when I came back from vacation to discover I'd been given this award by the oh-so-awesome J.A. Saare! You rock in so many ways I can't begin to count...and your upcoming DEAD, UNDEAD, OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN is a faboo read!

Here are my three choices for a ONE LOVELY BLOG award:

1. Kealie Shay over at Menagerie Authors. This blog has loads of great book preview commercials, and if nothing else, you MUST scroll down halfway to get a load of the lovely eye candy on this blog! ;)

2.Susan Albert with her Lifescapes blog.Susan's got one of the loveliest blogs around, and with her knowledge of all things garden she helps her readers find more than great books, but the beauty in their outdoor realm as well.

3.Martha Cheves over at A Book and a Dish. Because you have GOT to love a blog that offers you not only a great read, but a great recipe to enjoy while you're taking it in!

All are truly lovely, and I hope you'll check them out!

Vay-Kay-Shun

Photo courtesy of StockXchgI'm on vacation until August 3, but I may be popping in from time to time to check on my favorite blogs!

In the meantime, I invite you to check out the new book trailer I just did up for a great, funny mystery author and good friend, Kit Sloane. Her latest in the Margot and Max series, THE FAT LADY SINGS, is coming in September. Check out this preview below:

Friday Day Off in Memory

Image courtesy of Stock Xchg

In memory of the artists and entertainment icons who have passed this week, I'm taking a moment of silence on today's Feng Shui Friday to reflect on life, and how we manage to touch others during the brief time we're walking through it. Selah.

Phonies, Balonies, and Oversized Cajones

image courtesy of Stock Exchange

"Why does SHE have to go?"

These six words, combined with some recent discussions, form the basis of today's blog: the importance of filtering words and actions when building an artistic persona.

Those of us involved in the arts--writing, music, acting, etc.--are told that to promote our work, what we must truly promote is ourselves. If we make our name recognizable in tandem with quality work and warm fuzzy feelings, we gain a base audience who will seek out future (and past) work. This "name branding" is a vital part of any artistic career, and much like a prize show pony, a great deal of time and effort must be spent grooming it to perfection.

As hard as artists work to create and maintain their name brand image, one would assume the investment would be carefully and jealously guarded. Yet I see "own worst enemy" scenarios every day, taking the form of online flame wars, rude or presumptive behavior, and two-faced acquaintances. Just a few recent examples:

1. One of my groups recently broke out in a long, multi-player assault thread featuring spectacularly petty and rude behavior. No hope of the moderator squashing things, either--they were one of the key flame throwers. Well, two weeks of this childish prattle nearly cost them a paying market, since I publish a webzine in the group's genre and came quite close to unsubbing. Though I relented, there are a few names I will remember...as individuals who don't maintain a calm, professional manner when dealing with simple issues.

Who knows how many other publishers/agents/readers/etc. sit on the sidelines clucking their tongues when such flame wars break out? How many take note of the troublemakers and blacklist them...or flat out leave? A sobering thought.

2. Another lip-curler was a rather unflattering Amazon guide that made the rounds recently. Created by a reader, the "guide" consisted of a detailed list of authors NOT to buy books from....not because of the quality or nature of the writing, but because of the authors' alleged rude behavior on the Internet. The guide has since been pulled, but while it was up the message made quite a splash. Yes, Virgina, there are consumers who won't purchase work--no matter how good--from someone they view as a bad-doer.

3. Then there's the opening line to my blog, a fun little slap in the face that happened last night. My husband is an actor/filmmaker with a variety of friends in the biz. One is a bit player hard at work building his "star" reputation, someone with a Eddie Haskell approach who has been in my home many times. While planning an out of town appearance this week with this actor "friend," my husband learned the guy's girlfriend inserted herself on the trip. Among other things, she gets so ragefully jealous when her man's "in character" that she recently kicked out a windshield. (FYI, they're going in OUR car.) That said, my husband mentioned I'd be going, too.

The "pal" who is trying so hard to win fans and influence people turned utterly nasty and incredulous. "WHAT? Why does SHE have to go?" Several uglier variations followed, and bottom line I was not welcome in my own car with my own husband driving...yet eliminating Psycho Sideshow Girlfriend was emphatically "not an option."

Needless to say, this flew like a lead balloon and he's been cut from several cross-promotions and future projects. Yeah, he'll survive, but why on Earth would someone trying so desperately to widen their horizons narrow their prospects instead?

That got me to thinking about how fragile reputation is, and how easily we can undermine our own efforts. It takes years to create a positive, recognizable image, and minutes to tear it down. So while I'm a firm believer in having minds and opinions of our own, it's vitally important to weigh the benefits and risks before opening ones' mouth in public and inserting a muddy boot.

Do YOU have a story about a time when the actions of a celebrity, author, etc. were so wonderful--or terrible--that it influenced the decision of whether to buy that person's work? Please share here!

The PC EZ-Bake Oven!?

This was just too funny to keep to myself...

For those of us who are too busy with Email, blogs, and discussion groups to extract ourselves from the computer, help has finally arrived!

It's no joke, ladies and gents...with the advent of the latest handy dandy computer add-on accessory, it is now possible to enjoy all of life's necessities without ever having to step away from your PC!

What, you ask, is this life-changing gadget? Feast your eyes:

This is not a gag! For a mere $29.99 you can experience the wonders of hot baked goods, fresh out of your own PC! The PC EZ-Bake oven fits into a standard drive bay and works off your computer's power supply. Imagine the enticing aroma of chocolate chip cookies swirling around YOUR PC tower while you read the latest witty blog entry! Not just for cakes and cookies, this wonder of wonders also allows you to toast PopTarts, mini pizzas, and other culinary goodlininess.

This latest gadget joins the accessory pantheon necessary for die-hard computer users intent on ne'er straying from their desks again! For maximum convenience, you will also need the following classics:

*"Commode" Chair

*Mini-Fridge

*Credit Card (for ordering grocery delivery and other necessities)

*Travel-size toiletry kit and spray bottle of water (for webcam appearances)

*Spitoon

*Automatic electrical muscle stimulator

So there you have it! A big thanks to Rida at Draumr Publishing for discovering the PC EZ-Bake Oven, in response to my comment about the wonderful on-board cup holder on my PC that my husband keeps insisting is something called a "CD drive."

If you're wondering where to order this little baby, no worries...you needn't leave your chair to do THAT, either! Simply visit ThinkGeek and order right from your commode, er, CHAIR: http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/ezbake.shtml .

So what do you think should be next? I vote for a PC autowash with blow dryer attachment.

Dr. Seuss Wrote...My Book??

Just when I thought I've seen it all...

A mere twenty-four hours into riding the high a new author experiences when debuting their first novel, I received a complaint from a Borders in Illinois. Seems they tried to order copies of Visions for their store, but couldn't find it. Curious, I did a little recon on my listings. It went something like this:

Publisher site....CHECK.

Amazon.com.....CHECK.

Barnes&Noble...HUH?

What's wrong with this picture:

Seems that my book was actually published and illustrated by none other than Theodore Seuss Geisel, aka "Dr. Seuss!"

I wonder what fans would think to know that the author of The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs&Ham switched to paranormal romance...

fifteen years after his death!

Thought I'd share this to give you all a laugh. It's not every day that a world famous writer tries to take credit for a newcomer's work...posthumously!

I've contacted my publisher, who is working with the distributor to fix the error. Meanwhile, Visions is available on Amazon, or my publisher site: Draumr Publishing.

I'm 'Spacing Out

Though I stoically resisted for a variety of eccentric reasons, after a year of watching my husband have all kinds of jazzy fun on MySpace I succumbed to the lure of my own page.

Just a few weeks after setting up my account, all I can say is WOW. What a great networking tool...and way to make friends. The learning curve is minimal, and while a bit of effort is necessary to build and maintain a presence, the results have been quicker and greater than any other online promotion I've tried. Coming from someone who's worked on Internet author promotion for a decade, that's saying something. Traffic to my personal site--and signups to my mailing list--have gone way up since joining. It's worked so well, in fact, that I'm debating whether to shuck this blog altogether and link lisalogan.net straight to my MySpace blog.

Are you 'spacing too? Check out my page at http://myspace.com/authorlisalogan. Then Add me as a friend! If you haven't launched yet and are looking for a good way to increase your online exposure, sign up and spend a few minutes a day for the next three weeks getting yourself established. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Do YOU Tube?

Well I did it...joined the ranks of the not-so-rich-or-famous at YouTube.com, where I can view and share free streaming video. What a great site! Those ready to fly on over to check it out should be forewarned, though...watching the clever, shocking, and hilarious footage there can quickly become addicting.

My favorite YouTube selection is the Clerks-genre ripoff, "Chad Vader." Well, that's not entirely true. My FAVORITE selection is the awesome, sultry, and stylishly short trailer for VISIONS (if I do say so myself). Another recommended short: G4TV's Star Trek Karaoke spoof.

If you're a reader, there are plenty of book trailers aside from mine on YouTube. Pop "book trailers" into the search box and you'll find enough streaming fiction to keep you entertained for some time. And if you check out my trailer, drop me a comment (and rating) there and let me know!

Do YOUTube? I'd love to hear about your favorite video--or the one you made yourself. Post it in comments and I'll take a look.

So start Tubing...and have fun!


Lisa.... Writing in My Wildest Dreams at http://lisalogan.net
**Pssst...mention BLOGGER When preordering VISIONS at lisalogan.net and get 10% off your purchase!**

At this time of year, New Year's resolution blogs abound. Endless lists of things people vow to do over the coming year can be found at every turn. I confess that there is something quite compelling about examining the corners of one's life as the calendar comes to its final page. Perhaps it is mere habit, or the need to keep up with the Joneses--who, after all, are busy resolving to lose weight and take that vacation they've talked about for years. Either way, come New Year's one is hard pressed not to take stock of the three hundred days behind--and ahead.

Last year I blogged about my NON-resolution for 2006, and that is where my mind drifts when running a mental abacus of how the year went. What's a non-resolution? For those not inclined to read the blog in question to find out (which, I suspect, represents most), I resolved to NOT do anything.

To that end, 2006 was a wild and smashing success. As suspected, it was easier to do nothing about resolutions than to do something. Thus, I did not bother with any fad diets (and still gained and lost the same ten pounds three times over), I was not too busy to stop and play with my toddler, and was partly successful in not worrying over things I have no control over anyway. The only hiccup on my non-resolution list: the promise not to get angry when cut off on the highway. Fate saw fit to help me with this goal by leaving me without a car for over half the year. Lesson learned, filed under the category of, "Be Careful What You Wish For."

Granted, this doesn't mean I accomplished nothing all year. I changed religions, adopted a child, got a novel contracted for publishing, had two other pieces of writing published, judged two writing competitions, and became editor for a new flash fiction publication (MysteryAuthors.com's Minute Mystery, a quarterly webzine). Most important, I became a happier person. I suspect many of these accomplishments were made possible by none other than my non-resolution; by vowing not to worry, fret, or belittle myself, this opened the door for personal energies to fund my life's pursuits.

That being the case, I've decided to vow my non-resolution for 2007. I can't wait to see what doing nothing brings to my life for the coming year.