Hmmm. Been thanking deep thoughts, y’allses
Hello Dear Ones!
Summer is here. Vacations. Traveling. Outdoor Activities. Novel-writing/Arts-Creative Endeavors (The Lightning Charmer for me and whatever you may be writing, creating, etc! And if you are creating something, then tell me about it!).
Following our paths here, there, yonder . . .
As well as “events” — I have speaking engagements more often in the warm months, and as well, though I haven’t done a booksigning in maybe two years, I finally gave in to a “group author signing” at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville on July 14–lawd–where I’ll be signing for The Graces Trilogy and Sweetie along with fellow Bellebooks/Bell Bridge Books author Kimberly Babb Brock (The River Witch) and another author whom I haven’t met yet. We’re going to have music and food, too, so it should be fun, which is what enticed me to do it :-D. If you are in the area, come join us!
Don’t wanna hear you ain’t writing or moving or eating right – huhn -don’t make me come put a ass whoopin on you!
So, what I’ve decided for my blog schedule–and whether it is temporary or permanent I haven’t yet decided–is to post less frequently.
Ha! *personal trainer evil eye!*
just cause I post about it fewer times, don’t mean y’allses out there shouldn’t be moving, strengthening, stretching. For motivation, see archived tags/categories here on personal training!
I’ll continue to post a “Friday Photo No Words” on Fridays since my photography is something I am experimenting with, and you don’t have to read me going blab blabbity blab! However, I’ll be posting only twice a month on Wednesdays–alternating between Monday Classroom and I am your Personal Trainer (or I am your Guinea Pig). The first Wednesday of the month and the third Wednesday of the month.
This’ll help you all so you aren’t bald in the eyes from reading so much yappity do dah day - haw!
Try out some new products and let me know if you liked them, or not –ewwwww on the vodka here–and maybe I’ll try them for my next I am your Guinea Pig” post . . .
And you can see Monday Classroom archives as well if ye’s wants a boost to rememorate sumpin. Write write write! write with abandon; edit with a keen critical eye!
If I have a special announcement, I will post that off-schedule, of course. I love letting you all know when I have some news or my books are on promo, or etc etc etc.
take some time to relax and have fun this summer, even if it’s just to study the inside of your walk-about hat
There are so many social networking sites now, I know many of you, like me, are scrambling to keep up. So’s I’m lessening that load. You can visit me/friend me on Facebook–where I am fairly active, and go there at least once a day if not more on other days. I ain’t as active on twitter, but I am there. I’m also on Pinterest and fiddle-dee-dee around in that.
Jump in the car and see things!
Appreciate you, my regulars and new-visitors/followers! Thank you!
Stop and smellses the flowerses – especially with a friend
Now, y’all go Do the Day and I’ll see you all on Friday!
Note: For my vacation this summer, lucky me: I’ll be visiting my Lil Boop in Oregon from June 26 through July 11 – leaving my dawgs, the ghost dawg, GMR, and our critters here in the little log house to fend for they-selves. I’m hoping to post ahead of schedule, but if not – I know all y’allses folkses understand!
A bit of news first – I passed this news on at my facebook page (come ‘friend’ me if you like!- I’m rather shy so I mostly stand on the corner waiting for people to come to me *laugh*), and will do so here – either Amazon, or Bellebooks, has put my first novel – the first in the trilogy – Tender Graces – on a free promo for two days only (far as I know) - yesterday and today. It’s for a Mother’s Day promo (there are strong mother-daughter themes in the trilogy), and as a “launch celebration” for Family Graces release. I always love passing on promos, and you all know it’s difficult for me to post/talk about my books–lawdy be in a bucket!
Tender Graces, back when it was first released, became a Kindle best-seller – hitting number 1 over The Help on the Kindle Paid list of top 100 for a while there – it was most exciting! It then hovered there in the top 5 for a while, and that was quite 
exciting, too.
Now, on the Free list, it is hovering at No 1 on contemporary fiction and No 4 on over-all kindle books–this does help with people seeing an author, I do believe, but whether it does or does not, it’s a great promo for readers to try out an author. So, thank you to all you who have downloaded my Virginia Kate — I hope you enjoy it and if so, you will perhaps read the rest of the trilogy! *smiling warmly* And if you want to try out my books without risk, here’s your chance.
There is much debate about “free books” and I won’t go into what I think or don’t think or in between–but, those promos are here to stay, I do believe, and at best they give readers a chance to check out an author and as a Thank You for reading our work. At worst – well, I’m not going there because that’s not what this is about!
If you have B&N Nook, then it is not free but it’s there as well. I want to give a shout out to Barnes & Noble, and the indie bookstores — I support them, as well, and all they do for authors.
Now . . . Photos of the day: Spider Webs
There's nothing like this feeling . . .
oh sony cybershot, how I'll miss you
I have blog post up at Bellebooks/Bell Bridge Books blog -called: “The Stories are Made Real by the Telling” – I hope you’ll stop by to read and while there check out the other wonderful posts by BB authors! And thank you all for your supportive emails, comments, updates, messages on the release of the final in the trilogy Family Graces. I so appreciate you all — more than you may ever know!
Today is the day I go with my photographer/chef friend to buy my “Good Camera” – like a kid before Christmas, I could barely sleep thinking about it -teeheehee.
I love visiting Oregon. And not just because my precious granddaughter lives there, and my son and daughter in law. But because it is beautiful and interesting with mountains, water features, nature, beer (laugh – Asheville, NC beat out Portland, OR in beer city contest!), just as does my Western North Carolina.
Photos have their stories, too, don’t they?
So, once again, I leave you with a few photos casually taken, as I say goodbye to my Sony Cybershot – oh, my camera and I were best buddies! If it weren’t for the malfunctioning blobs and streaks, I’d keep it and use it every so often–perhaps I will anyway.
I’ll be returning to Oregon this summer to see “Lil Boop.” If you’ve never been, then you must . . .
(I apologize if those of you who subscribe by email receive this twice! I accidentally hit “publish” last night instead of “draft” – lawd!)
I am in love with Agadir Argan Oil line of products. On two earlier “product review” posts, I 
happily talked up Agadir shampoo and conditioner, and the Agadir Argan oil.
While strolling about CVS in Waynesville–okay, I don’t get out much y’allses — huhn, so CVS is close by and it has stuff in it and I can gawk and meander and look and sometimes buy something. Even though GMR has accused me of going all “girly-fied” lately. Huhn. What-EVER.
Annnyyyywaaaaay, I happened upon this lovely wonderful sight: Agadir styling mousse . . . be still my beating hair follicles! I grabbed it and with no shame whatsoever paid the full price for it instead of going through Amazon (where I see it is cheaper – if you receive free shipping) as I did with the shampoo and conditioner. But I wanted it Then. I felt completely spoiled–though may I just say and of course I may, that I have come to adore Agadir products and they are worth every penny (Dear Agadir, please do not raise your prices–do not toy with me!). Not only do they make my hair feel wonderful, but the scent is exotic and clean and soothing to my pea-headed brain.
What they say: Moisturizes, conditions, smoothes, humidity resistant. No build up and gives super shine to dry, damaged, stressed hair. Protects hair against chemicals and hot tools. Great aroma that will waken your senses! Paraben free. 24 hour, lasting shine. Enriched with antioxidants and Vitamin E. With protective sunscreen. Sulfate free. Anti color fade for long, lasting hair color. Great body, volume & shine. Hydrates, smoothes, detangles, controls frizz.
What I love about it: Every.Little.Thang!
What I do not like about it: There’s nothing so far that I can say negative. If I had one teeny thing, even though I said it’s worth every penny and it is; well, folkses, it is a bit more than some of the other “over the counter” brands and more in line with “Beauty salon” items. But again, worth the money in how it makes my hair look, feel, smell. Whoopeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
You will only need a bit of the mousse – so be careful. I splorked a big-arse glob of it onto my hand, accidentally. It’s thick and creamy-rich–feels like a cream instead of a mousse. I put it all in my hair because I didn’t want to waste it, but it was a bit much, so I’ll be careful next time. The scent is the same as with the other products, and I had a whiff of it all day as I went about my business.
I have baby fine hair, but this product, even though it has the word “oil” in it, does not weigh down my hair.
I can’t say enough good things about this product.
Now, while I am here, might as well tell you that FAMILY GRACES is on Amazon Kindle; it’s there in trade paperback, too, but since the release date isn’t quite “official” yet, there’re still doing their thang and all (the trade paperback is at BelleBooks/Bell Bridge books now and they always enjoy readers contacting them, of course!) It should be out in all the usual places soon. I guess they are trying something different by slipping in the kindle book first–I do not know!
I’m excited and terrified that it’s finally out *pant pant pant!* – My goal (and I have no control over it, so I guess it’s more of a hope than a goal *laugh*) is for it to reach the top 100 of Kindle – or as Tender Graces did, the No 1 spot on the Kindle paid bestseller’s list—yes, TG was No 1 over The Help for a little bit–lawdy! Ohhhhh doggies, wouldn’t that be excitervating? :-D
So, at last– my Virginia Kate Sagas, the Grace’s Trilogy, is at last complete. What a journey. It feel so bittersweet. I spoke of this hope and love for the characters and writing here when this blog was MSN spaces, so some of you may remember those days *smiling*
I’ve loved this character dearly. I’ve loved writing about her and all the others. She has been such a part of my life — I think I just may cry. And here they are–the three books that I have spent so much time with. The entire trilogy. Lawd. *sniffle* I’ll miss you Virginia Kate . . . Micah, Andy, Bobby, Rebekha, Katie Ivene, Frederick, Mee Maw, Miss Darla, Amy and “Mr. Husband” Campinelle, Jade, Soot and Marco–and all the rest.
Morning from my porch at Killian Knob!
Remember I wrote last Friday that I’d not be on any panels at the Fairhope Conference? Welp, somehow I ended up on two panels *laughing* lawd (Our Rose & Thorn Journal panel of what editors are looking for, and I’ll be on a “what works and what doesn’t in social media [when it comes to our books], etc, panel). If you are in around those parts, come join us. Angie Ledbetter and I would love to say hello.
Also, I hope you will stop by our newest feature at the Rose & Thorn – our Art Galley “wall.” We are blown away by the art/artists. While there, check out the prose and poetry–soon, May 15, our spring issue will go live. Every other Wednesday on our blog, our Art Director Alaine Benard announces two new artists. We are honored. The alternating blog posts are Back Story posts from our writers and poets. Y’all come!
Linda Hoye, a wonderful beautiful woman, has a new book coming out in June, a memoir “Two Hearts.” Go by and check it out. I’m looking forward to buying my own copy!
I’ve been visiting Write It Sideways, and today’s post is about “How to read your way to better writing.” I can’t imagine never reading (double negative -haw!). It’s always been about The Book. I adore books, and that’s part of the reason I became a writer–the two are intertwined.
Karen Elliott has had “Musician Week” over at her blog. Prior to that was “editor week” — I always look forward to her “weeks” :-D
Sharla Lovelace is having some wonderful contests over at her blog to celebrate the release of her new book “The Reason is You,” which comes out next month. Go by – it’s easy and fun and you just may win a prize.
I had a wonderful time at Book Blather on Marilee’s blog. Unfortunately, I, and some others who stopped by, weren’t able to comment, so I want to to thank those who stopped by and read. I enjoyed the conversation with Marilee. As well, I was so nervous about putting up that small excerpt from the new Graces book coming out this spring– it was one of the sadder/darker parts of Family Graces.
spring is here in the mountains! wow!
I stumbled on this site, Space Porn (laughing!), from a Huffington Post article. I love science and physics, and even if I don’t always grasp every concept, I can’t get enough of it! At Huffington, I spend time on the Books and Book Publishing areas, but I’ll also go to the food and science posts as well.
That’s enough for now. I’m busy listening to the Sweetie audio book files just to make sure all is well. I 
want to finish that this week, since I’m hopping in the BoopMobile and heading Down South to Fairhope next week. Poor GMR and Not Quite Fat Dog and Psycho Cutie Girl will miss me – - maybe, haw! Oh, ‘course they will, teeheehee. I am amazed at how the “voice-artist” reads–her instincts are so on point and her voice so clear and mesmerizing, it’s really not a chore at all to listen. She’s absolutely wonderful and is bringing to life my characters. She’s perfect for Melissa’s voice. Love it and her!
boop-boop-beep-beep!
Now, y’all go do the day, feel Gratitude, and have a wonderful weekend.
Valentines Day:
GMR never has to worry about Valentine’s Day, for he knows I couldn’t care less, and in fact, have grown to dislike Valentine’s Day – bleah!
I gave a nod to it by reading the posts on BelleBooks/Bell Bridge Books blog for their Valentines Week blog posts. (I have one called The UnRomantic Queen but this is a repeat post from some time back, so some of you may have already seen a version of this–see, couldn’t even inspire myself to write up something new for V’s Day -haw!).
Diane Estrella had a “how cupid shot me” bloghop – so if you are looking for something a bit more romantic, bleah romantic bleah (but not bleah on her blog, which is wonderful!), then go by and take a look at the offerings others have posted there (look in the comments section for their links or on the linky thingee there).
And I’ve just discovered (again, for a friend had a poem published here a few years back) Hyper Text where the V’s Day offerings are eclectic, and where fellow blog-buddy Kristin Bair O’Keeffe from Writerhead has fiction.
Enough of V’s Day (once again: Bleah!).
Rose & Thorn:
There’s a new blogpost every Wednesday on Roses & Thorns (our R&T blog) – we hope you’ll sign up to subscribe to posts–we never give away your email address, and your support really does mean ever so much to us and to our writers, poets, and artists. Every other Wednesday is our new addition–our Art Gallery with mentions by our new Art Director Alaine Benard, and on the alternating weeks are Back Story (our poets/artists/writers give us a peek into their artistic process, how they crafted their stories, etc) or general blog posts. Please come join us! We’re also on Duotrope Digest, and have an Editor’s Interview if you want insight into what we are thinking/looking for/etc. Come follow us on Twitter, and on the right sidebar is a link to “like” R&T on Facebook. As I said, your support is important and we appreciate you!
My physicist crush:
My other “physicist crush” (besides Neil deGrasse Tyson who hosts Nova scienceNow) is Professor Brian Cox, who hosts “Wonders of the Universe,” and when I write that, I keep saying it as he does “Wonders of the U-nee-vuhse” teehee, what a cutie. There is a mathematician-scientist whose name I can’t recall, though I can see his face, and wish I could pull that name out of my blackholed brain, for he is fascinating as well. Dang. I *heart* physicists/scientists :-D
Online Journals/Magazines:
The Nervous Breakdown, an online magazine/journal, sends me a newsletter to remind me of its eclectic offerings – check them out, sign up for their newsletter. Yes, I realize/recognize that I am a Publishing Editor of an online journal (above!), but someone else’s success or great-ta-tude does not take away from the enjoyment and love Angie Ledbetter, I, and our Managing Editor Cynthia Toups (and all our wonderful staff) have publishing our little journal. TNB puts their all into their endeavor and it shows! I believe we should all support and tout about one another–this goes for authors, too.
Russian (and Washington) Kat Lovers?
I sometimes go look at my website (kathrynmagendie.com) stats just to see where people are clicking from. I don’t know who they are, just where they are from. Like my State Department friend(s) who visit daily–could Hillary be a closet Kat novel-lover? reading my books under the covers with a flashlight? *teeheehee.* But the last couple of days I’ve had a lot of visits from Russia. Tender Graces and Secret Graces are going to be released there (so far?), but I don’t know when or how that works. I did find this page that has that airbrushed photo of me that I hate (where I look like my much younger twin teeheehee) and everything else is in Russian, so I’m clueless–there is a “lib” in there; library? Dunno. Maybe I’m now a Russian bride and will start receiving mail from creepy . . . uh, I mean lonely . . . American men until they realize I’m an almost 55 year old American woman *haw!* Some of the pics at the bottom made me laugh :-D. If you know Russian, maybe you can clue me in!
Videos that made me go “Haw!” or “aww” or “lawd” . . . :
GMR just shakes his head, or at least he used to when these commercials would air, but it makes me laugh every danged time – I’m laughing now! *they have a PEPPER BAAAAR!* laughing . . . lawd.
And my poor brother *laughing* – he spent hours doing this and keeps saying “No one likes it! Huhn . . . well, shoot . . .” and I just laugh, because it’s so silly, but it still makes me laugh at how he spent hours on this, moving the dogs and doing all this stop-action and cutting and pasting and etc, and, well, um, see for yourself *laughing* . . . oh, of course I mean, *poor brother* teehee.
Finally, last video – this is wonderful and must have taken hours and hours (take a lesson brother *HAW* -okay, just kidding . . . lawd). I love the idea of magic happening once humans have left a building/room.
That’s all for now. You all have a wonderful weekend and I’ll see you Monday for Monday Classroom. I have been trying to visit around on social networking, but soon I’ll have to bury my head in the new book and that will really curtail my visiting–I’m writing something even more Supernatural this time. My books have ‘hinted’ at it or touched on it, but this time I’m giving myself full reign to use my imagination–release the hounds! :-D
Dear Indie Bookstores,
How are you? I am fine. Okay, well, really, I’m not so fine because I have quite the dilemma. You see, I read/listen to all the discussions rife with anger and confusion and angst and worry and more anger about Amazon and B&N.com, and other online and e-book sales (but in particular, Amazon), and the Indie Bookseller, and frankly, it makes me most uncomfortable, for here I am in these past months touting up online retailers, and yes, most lately, most particularly, Amazon Kindle, despite where my heart may lie with The Community.
And why, you may ask? Why would I do that? Why?, when Brick and Mortar stores need our support—especially the little Indies who are hanging on by their eye-teeth and who are the backbone of a community and who need, require, our loyalty and support. Yes, yes, I understand this, very much so. And let me tell you, Indies, I surely did tout you to the winds and talk you up most energetically—before I was published and then right after my first book, Tender Graces, was published. TG was even nominated for a SIBA award, and I thought, “Oh, wonderful! The Indies are with me! We shall work together!”
So sincerely did I urge readers to the Indie bookstore. So sincerely did I put names of Indies on my website. So sincerely did I write posts on my blog urging readers to buy my books at the Indies. I purposefully did not mention Amazon; I rarely mentioned B&N.com; and even more rarely did I mentioned e-books.
Yet, what happened over and over was this scenario:
Reader: “I went to such and so bookstore and asked for your book and they said they don’t have it.”
Me: “Oh! Well, I am sure they will order it for you.”
Reader, “I didn’t think about asking that. I’ll do that next time I’m in there.”
And then I wondered—did they? Or did they forget me? Or did they end up purchasing it elsewhere—online. What happened “later.”
Or, even worse, this scenario:
Reader: “I went to such and so bookstore and they didn’t have your book so I asked if they would order it and they said they couldn’t order it. Where can I get it?”
Me: “Wait, what do you mean they couldn’t order it? It’s available in all the places books are usually ordered from, just as with any other book. BelleBooks is a small press, but they’ve been around for 12 years or so. Hmm, I don’t understand . . .”
Reader: “They said they couldn’t. I guess I’ll order it online.”
Oh, dear Indies, these are true scenarios that happened more than once, more than twice. And for every reader who contacted me, I have to assume there are more of them out there who experienced the same things—I do not like to have to explain to readers why they can’t find my books in Indie bookstores, or why an Indie bookstore wouldn’t take the time to order a book for a reader, for it makes my heart feel funny.
Now, yes, there is this wonderful scenario and my heart is filled with gratitude:
Reader: “So and such bookstore didn’t have your book, so I asked them to order it and they did.”
Me: “Thank you, and thank the bookstore for me, too!”
And the very best scenario yet,
Reader: “I went to such and so bookstore and there your book was on the shelf, so I bought a copy.”
Me: “How wonderful! . . . etc etc etc.”
Alas, the last scenario hasn’t happened as much as I’d love for it to, for we all know how much we love to make those impulsive purchases, and how much we can forget about something and someone when out of sight out of mind, yes?
I do understand how this is Business, but do you not see that I have to think this way as well? This is a career for me, my job, my life, my love, and yes, I must make a living, too. We both, dear Indie, have a love of books and words, which is why we are in this business, right? However, we both must also look at the business side of things. If you do not sell books, your bookstore will not survive. If I do not sell books, then my publishers will not keep publishing my books—and, as well, I want to be able to support myself, just as you do. I simply cannot stand living off my husband’s earnings; I am an independent woman who needs to support herself. Further, I can’t imagine if I couldn’t have my books published; all my work for naught? Oh no! Indies, I am as passionate and frightened and worried and sincere and hopeful as you are about this business, just from the other end of it.
So, when Amazon creates a buzz about my books, I am “forced” to talk it up. My biggest sales have come from Amazon sales, and e-book sales—not because I “advertised” for readers to go to Amazon and B&N.com and other online retailers, but because that is where my readers most often find my books in print and in e-book, and then it grows from there. And once that begins to happen, I then talk about those promotions or those mentions or where I am becoming a “best seller,” as I have been on Amazon Kindle. Oh, but I know it comes at a price that is at your expense; however, I am also aware that I am but a blip on the radar of so many books and authors, and I am but a tiny woman/author.
So, I ask you, dear Indie Bookseller, what am I to do? How do I remedy the dilemma of your asking us to Support the Indies with the reality that you do not know who I am and or you do know who I am but I’m so small, so very small. How am I to step back and look at this? How do I resolve this conflict of the heart versus the business side?
I suppose I always thought that Indie Booksellers and Small Press Publishers were “in this thing together,” and would work to support each other, to help each other to grow, and to find ways to survive together, when really, it seems that may not be so at all? Or perhaps I am too close to the forest to notice all the new growth.
If you have a solution to my dilemma, then I am so very happy to hear it. For I’d love to work with you, to know we are together in this thing called survival and love of books and words.
I am your servant, if you so desire, and all the best to you,
Kathryn Magendie
HAPPY NEW YEAR! . . .
Update: Ha! success – the old blog posts did transfer in the import. I don’t know where the comments went, as somewhere it read that it had transferred near 8000 comments (could that be correct?) but where, I do not know. However, a friend said she saw a bunch of my posts go to google reader – oh dear; I am sorry if you received a whole big passle of my crap-a-doodle doo in your reader – I hope I don’t receive a bunch of angry mail or comments – ungh! But, it’s done. Now on to the next thang to spiff up this blog.
Thank you to followers new and “old” as I make this transition back to my former blog - I’m still fiddle dee-dee’ing with WordPress and hope all will be spiffy by next week. I don’t know wordpress at all, and I even couldn’t figure out how to log-in (had to google it – that’s pitiful, Kat – geez *laugh*)
I’m going to attempt to import my other blog posts here from the tendergraces blogspot blog – lawdy be!- we’ll see what happens!
My usual schedule from the old blog was Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and I plan to stick to that. Right now, I have my “linky love” up at the old blog (BelleBooks/Bell Bridge Books is highlighted there). So though I don’t usually publish on Saturdays, I’m only doing so to familiarize myself with my New-Old blog (I was here when it was spaces live! – yup, there’s a long “archives” over there to the right that shows my start here – it was my first blog), and in the case I completely mess up and all my posts disappear or I throw my laptop across the room in frustration or . . . um, sure, no, I wouldn’t do that *teeheehee* Until I have the blog how I want it, I can’t post regularly how I’d like to, so, there you go. Ungh.
If anything wonky happens as I fiddle around with this, or you stop by and everything has changed –again — (laughing)– just ignore it – soon I’ll have it all done and done.
For now, I can leave you with a post at BB/BBB’s blog entitled Write What You Know. Stop by, follow BB/BBB’s blog, or by their website and peruse their wonderful authors. They’ll love you for it.
kathryn
Kat Magendie: Amazon & WNC best-selling Author, Publishing Editor of Rose & Thorn Journal, former Personal Trainer, and kick-ass woman who says and does what she wants cause she can.
Think it sucks to be in your fifties? - well, it doesn't have to be that way.
Novels: Tender Graces, Secret Graces, Family Graces; Sweetie, and novella Petey. Published by BelleBooks/Bell Bridge Books. Look for The Lightning Charmer to be released September 2013.
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-Magendie/e/B002D1ESDE
