The Circle of Friends

Catching Fire with Alex

2012-02-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today is the Catch Fire Blog Party, celebrating the release of CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh! The goal is to help CassaFire “catch fire” on the best seller charts and achieve the success of the first book, CassaStar. There’s also a special package of prizes being given away at the author’s blog (copies of CassaFire, CassaStar, tote bag, mug, and bookmarks) as well as book giveaways during his two-week blog tour. See Alex’s BLOG for details.

CassaFire
by Alex J. Cavanaugh

CassaStar was just the beginning…

The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend - to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.

The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities.

To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves; the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…

Available today!
Science fiction - space opera/adventure
Print ISBN 978-0-9827139-4-5, $15.95, 6x9 Trade paperback, 240 pages
EBook ISBN 978-0-9827139-6-9, $4.99, available in all formats

CassaFire is the sequel to Cavanaugh’s first book, CassaStar, an Amazon Top Ten Best Seller:
“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal

You can visit the author’s site HERE and his book is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Amazon Kindle.

Congratulations to Alex! I know he’s been working so hard to make this day a big success.

The Best Book Festival Ever

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

I’ve attended many book and author events over the years, but nothing compares to Book ‘Em. I’ve participated in events in Virginia and S. Carolina and this year I’m thrilled to attend the first ever Book ‘Em in N. Carolina. I’m also honored to be on the Book ‘Em committee and will participate in two panel discussions during the event.

If you are a reader, writer, or author, you don’t want to miss Book ‘Em NC!!

Book 'Em North Carolina
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Robeson Community College
Lumberton, North Carolina

Attendance is FREE and open to the public.

Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair brings together more than 75 authors, including two New York Times bestselling authors, Carla Neggers and Michael Palmer, more than 24 award-winning authors, and authors of almost every genre for all ages under one roof to sell and sign their books, participate in panel discussions and talks, network and interact with fans one-on-one.

It is open to readers of all ages. There are book readings and events scheduled for children from pre-school to teens. There are panel discussions and talks for writers trying to break into the field or working to increase their sales or exposure. There are talks and events for readers of various genres, including mysteries, romance, true adventure, historical, biographical, and many others.

The purpose of The Book 'Em Foundation and this event is to raise public awareness of the link between high crime rates and high illiteracy rates. Proceeds from the Book 'Em North Carolina book fair will go directly to increasing literacy in Robeson County, North Carolina and to reducing crime in the area.

The Book 'Em Foundation was founded by suspense author p.m.terrell and Waynesboro, Virginia Police Officer Mark Kearney as a partnership between authors and law enforcement. The mission of The Book 'Em Foundation is to raise public awareness of the correlation between high illiteracy rates and high crime rates.

Visit these sites for more information:
Official Website
Twitter
Facebook
Book ‘Em NC Blog

Please join us on February 25th!

Industry News About EBooks and Christmas Giveaway Winners

2011-12-19T06:59:00.000-05:00

CBS News posted an article - Will Publishers Kill Amazon’s Golden Goose?

Big publishers are starting to push the price of their ebooks up again. Since ereaders such as the Kindle require an investment to begin with, this could hurt sale. Who will get hurt more - publishers, Amazon, or both?

The New York Times featured an article - Pulp Fiction: The Kindle Debate

It’s in response to an earlier article concerning the dissatisfaction of Kindle Fire owners. It does end with a note that Amazon does have the advantage, even though the Barnes and Noble Nook Tablet is better and the Apple Ipad years ahead of either device.

Anyone care to share your thoughts?

And the winners of the Christmas Giveaway-

One print copy-
A Southpaw’s POV - Holly
Cruising Altitude - DL
Ciara Knight

One ebook copy -
Sia McKye
Visiting Reality - Linda
Nancy Williams

Congrats, everyone! Send me an email and let me know what book you want.(The Circle of Friends Books I-V or Overcoming Obstacles.)

Christmas Giveaway Special!

2011-12-01T18:12:00.001-05:00

As a thank you to all of my blogger friends and faithfulfans, I have a special giveaway for you.

There are two parts to the giveaway:

1 - Comment to win a free book -

Must be a follower & comment - 2 points

Tweet this giveaway #SpunkyChristmas - 5 points

Post giveaway with button in sidebar of blog - 5 points

Post giveaway on Facebook - 5 points

Blog post about giveaway - 10 points

Three physical books and three ebooks will be given out tosix random winners - the more points, the more times you are entered! Book iswinner’s choice.

Contest runs until December 16, 2011 - winners announced onDecember 19, 2011

2 - Purchase a book to receive free book -

Buy any book from the list below and receive free books!

Purchase a print copy and receive ONE free, autographed copyof your choice.

Purchase an ebook copy and receive TWO free ebooks of yourchoice.

Books must be purchased between December 1 -16, 2011. Sendcopy of receipt from any retailer to wolferock@earthlink.netand let me know which book(s) you want. Don’t forget a snail mail address forprint books!

Qualifying books:

OvercomingObstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership & Goal-Setting

Non-fiction- self-help/inspiration

Print ISBN 978-0-9816210-2-9 $13.95
Ebook ISBN 978-0-9827139-2-1 $1.99

The Circleof Friends series -Fiction -YA:

Book I…Lori

Print ISBN978-0-9816210-0-5 $20.95

Ebook ISBN978-0-9816210-8-1 $1.99

Book II…Sarah

ISBN978-0-9816210-1-2 $20.95

Ebook ISBN978-0-9816210-9-8 $2.99

Book III…James

Print ISBN978-0-9816210-3-6 $19.95

Ebook ISBN978-09827139-0-7 $2.99

Book IV…Mike

Print ISBN978-0-9816210-4-3 $19.95

Ebook ISBN978-0-9827139-1-4 $2.99

Book V…Heather

Print ISBN978-0-9816210-5-0 $19.95

EbookISBN978-0-9816210-7-4 $2.99

Books available retail and online and in all ebook formats.

For a full description to all books, click the tab above marked ‘Books’ or visit Spunk on a Stick’s Tips.

You have until December 16 - now go!

AndMerry Christmas! (Doesn't Spunky look festive and happy?)

Holidays Coming & Special Feature

2011-10-27T08:05:00.002-04:00

The latest newsletter went out last week and below are some of the highlights. My newsletter goes out four times a year and the most recent is archived here. Thanks and enjoy!

* NEWS & UPDATES *

Greeting friends & fans!

The holidays are now only two months away!

The joy of reading is the greatest gift you can ever give.

When selecting Christmas presents this year, be sure books are among your purchases.

Print books are still available in bookstores and online. If you are a fan of the physical book, your purchase sends a message that you don’t want to see this form of media vanish.

Many people now own eReaders. A gift card from iTunes, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble would make a eReader owner very happy! EBooks tend to be 50-75% cheaper than their print counterparts, so that’s twice the reading.

And like any good author, my books are available in all formats!

Enjoy your holidays. Thanks again for all your support and remember to dream BIG!

L. Diane Wolfe
“Spunk On A Stick”
The Circle of Friends
Spunk on a Stick

* SPECIAL FEATURE *

Double feature for you today!

Two of my fellow Dancing Lemur Press LLC authors have books coming out in the next few months.

Charlette Denise Sutton was one of the co-authors for my Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! book. She’s a talented writer, poet, and songwriter. Her book, Seizing Opportunities to Propel You Forward, debuts in eBook form on November 5, 2011. You can visit Denise’s site at My Words and Me

Alex J. Cavanaugh’s next book, CassaFire, comes out February 28, 2012. A truly incredible book trailer is now available at You Tube and featured below. You can visit Alex at his BLOG.

Both are amazing authors and I hope you have the opportunity to check out their books!

The End of the First Draft

2011-09-15T10:57:00.000-04:00

This week I finally finished the first draft of my nextbook. A month behind schedule, but it is done!

This weekend I begin the task of entering it into thecomputer and doing the first round of edits. (I hand-write all of my work.)Usually I start this process after writing a few chapters, but this time I didn’t.So, I am in new territory.

Since this is a non-fiction how-to book, I have a lot ofreferences to include. Most I already have saved in several files, but some willrequire me to jump online or check book listings to complete. So the firstround edit will be very time consuming.

I’d hoped to be further along in the process, but I’ve beenpulled in many directions this year. Here’s a short list of what else I dobesides write:

Speaking engagements - which includes sending out flyers,making calls, developing new seminars, research, announcements, and lots oftravel.

Social networking and website maintenance.

Book ‘Em NC committee member duties - author school visitsand school writing contest.

Publishing consultation and ebook formatting.

Run and maintain another business that requires travel.

Obligations to three different clubs and organizations.

Obligations to church and our local photo club.

Family obligations which include husband (very important),two needy cats, and phone calls and trips to Oregon for my mother, who is inassisted living now.

(They say diversity is good - you shouldn’t rely on just oneincome source - but some days I wonder.)

I think once this next book is done, I need a vacation!

2011-08-16T16:10:00.001-04:00

Some outstanding opportunities for writers and authors:

Book Blog Tours is an online class, run by Dani Greer. I took the class 2 and 1/2 years ago, and it really taught me a lot about blogging, Twitter, and preparing for a book tour. If you have a book release coming soon or want to hone your blogging skills, she is hosting a new class next month. Visit Book Blog Tours for details.

The Muse Online Writers Conference is this October 3-9. The largest and longest running online conference of its kind, it features week-long forum discussions, chat room discussions, and pitch sessions with publishers. Run by award-winning author and editor, Lea Schizas, this conference features many authors, editors, and publishers sharing their advice on how to succeed as a writer and author. Sign up today at The Muse Online Writers Conference

Book ‘Em NC is February 25, 2012. The Book ‘Em Foundation’s slogan is “Buy a Book - Stop a Crook” and the proceeds go to fight illiteracy. Of all the book festivals I’ve attended over the years, Book ‘Em is by far my favorite, and I’m thrilled one will finally be held in my home state. Over sixty authors are scheduled to appear so far, including headliners and NY Times bestsellers Carla Neggers and Michael Palmer. Registration is open until October. Visit the Book ‘Em NC website for details. If you’re a reader and live in either NC or SC, put the date on your calendar, because there are talks and panel discussions all day. You can also follow the Book Em NC Blog for more tips on preparing for the conference. Author p.m.terrell has done SO much work to promote this event and it’s gonna be huge!

When Speaking is a Joy

2011-07-22T07:55:00.000-04:00

I had just one seminar this month, and it was a total joy!

Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC is always a great place to visit. Returning to do Part II of my Publishing & Promoting seminar to a room full of eager writers was wonderful. There were a few new faces and many returning from the first seminar last month. Makes me feel good to know I didn't scare everyone away!

This session was a total joy because...

At least four of the attendees drove down from Jacksonville to see me and plan to attend my seminars in Jacksonville this fall. That really touched me.

Most of the attendees were familiar with the Internet - blogs, social sites, etc. That is so refreshing! Often half the group isn't even online. (I know - the horror!)

The group was so responsive and eager. I fed off their energy.

So many came up and talked to me during the breaks. Sometimes people are afraid to do that. I'm only 5'3" - I doubt I intimidate anyone!

This seminar is my favorite!

I always enjoy speaking to others, but some days, it's total bliss!

Do you have moments of joy like this doing what you do?

Extra Time to Write

2011-06-14T09:43:00.000-04:00

I was supposed to teach a seminar on goal-setting today, but it was cancelled. Summer speaking engagements are hit & miss. People are on vacation and traveling. In my neck of the woods, no one wants to go out in the heat. I know I don't! Next week's seminar will make up for it, because every summer I go down to Wilmington, there are more and more people attending.

What this WILL give me is more time to write! Sorry, it's not another book in The Circle of Friends series, but a non-fiction book about publishing & promoting. (It ties in with two of my seminars.) I've been writing at a pace of two chapters a day, but today I'm aiming for four!

Where are you at in your writing?

Book Industry is Shifting...

2011-05-04T13:23:00.000-04:00

Noticed something interesting this week!

In going over the details of my royalties, I noticed a change.

EBook sales had almost tripled.

Library sales of print books had increased.

Retail sales of print books had dropped.

EBook sales are on the rise - that's a given. But this also says something about our economy. More people are choosing EBooks (when they are cheaper) or going to their library (free books) rather than buy print books. Or maybe with fewer stores, they have no choice.

Curious if any of my readers or followers are seeing such a trend, too?

Flexibility!

2011-04-05T11:40:00.000-04:00

Flexibility really pays off sometimes!

Due to miscommunication, I just found out I have a seminar scheduled for next Thursday. Surprise! The director apologized - he thought he'd confirmed it with me. I usually send out announcements a month in advance and promote my seminars, but there's no time to do that now.

No big deal. I still had that day open. It's all good. I haven't had a set schedule for my life for years, so nothing to disrupt. Makes life interesting that way.

Would something like this cause any of you to panic?

And for those of you participating in the A-Z Challenge, I am posting promo tips the month of April on my blog, Spunk on a Stick’s Tips.

End of the Bookstore - and Author Signings?

2011-03-10T07:54:00.000-05:00

Everyone has heard of Borders filing for bankruptcy and closing stores. (For a full listing of stores closing, go HERE ) And that Barnes and Noble is on the market for sale.

But bookstores have been on the decline for several years now. In less than ten years, Waldenbooks went from 700 to barely 100 stores. B. Dalton is gone now. Over half of the independent stores have closed. And it's not just eBooks killing the stores, it's the availability and price of physical books online. It's also the economy.

I don't believe all of the stores will vanish. Those that specialize or diversify will survive, such as an independent store that also offers gifts and coffee. Powell's, which specializes in used books, will survive.

But I also see the days of author appearances and signings dwindling. Fewer bookstores means fewer opportunities. (Although there's always libraries and book festivals.) My favorite was always Waldenbooks, as they usually boasted awesome, book-loving employees and busy stores. But those will soon be gone.

And in seven years of doing signings, I've watched a decline in interest. When I began, there were less than 200,00 books published that year. 2010 saw a million books published. Authors are plentiful and meeting one is no longer a rare occurance. It's lost its appeal.

Where do you see the bookstores and author appearances headed?

The Birthday Post

2011-02-16T09:11:00.000-05:00

Yes, it’s my birthday today. I missed being a Valentine’s baby by 26 & 1/2 hours. I’d tell you what year I’m celebrating, but you wouldn’t believe me. Let’s just say I remember men walking on the moon for the very first time…

It’s a really busy week, too. Three speaking engagements, five clients, Valentine’s Day, and my birthday right in the middle. Guess every birthday can’t fall on a Saturday, right?

My mother’s birthday is in a couple weeks and I decided to make her a picture book with old photos. Since there’s nothing quite like embarrassing myself on my own birthday, thought I’d share a few of the photos I scanned. Hold all laughter and chortling until the end…

This is my father and I at the Oregon Coast. We're bundled, so probably summer. LOL

My mom and I at Yellowstone National Park.

I went to see the Mercury Cougar, and while you couldn't touch the big cat, I got to pet her cub.

Graduation day with my buddies Violet and Marlene!

Halloween with my best friend, Dale. No idea what I was supposed to be...

Okay now you may giggle and snort!

Valentine's Day

2011-02-11T09:52:00.000-05:00

I'm a sucker for this day. The love, the romance... There's several Valentine's Day scenes in my series, too, since they all revolve around a love story.

The gifts of chocolate and cards and stuffed critters are nice, but why not give your loved one a book instead? Doesn't have to be a romantic book. I'm sure your man would appreciate something less mushy! Reading is greatest gift - show your love with a book.

And for those who are a part of The Crusade, my blog is Spunk On A Stick’s Tips - come find me there!

Thanks and everyone stay warm. I always recommend snuggling.

Book Trailers and Upcoming

2011-01-14T10:13:00.000-05:00

I hosted a book trailer contest on my blog and winners were announced this week - to view them, go HERE. In addition to other prizes, winners received a book donation in their name of my series to the library of their choice.

Third place winner, Mary Montague Sikes, selected West Point High School in High Point, VA.

First place winner, Alex J Cavanaugh, selected the Fayetteville Public Library in Fayetteville, NC.

Second place winner, Bill Walker, declined to donate books to his local library.

The trailer contest was fun and it highlighted some great trailers and books!

Next week my quarterly newsletter goes out! If you'd like to to receive the newsletter, sign up at the bottom of the left sidebar. The newsletter will also be posted here. This month, I am featuring a wonderful new author and friend, Terry Lynn Johnson!

Dream big!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2010-12-21T12:47:00.000-05:00

Wanted to wish all of my friends and fans a wonderful holiday season!

Thanks for your support this year with the release of Book V of the series. A special thanks to author and fan, Jamieson Wolf, for placing it on his top ten books of 2010!

2011 promises to be another year of new adventures.

Never lose sight of your goals!

Never lose sight of your dreams!

Christmas Special!

2010-12-12T15:13:00.001-05:00

My publisher Dancing Lemur Press LLC is offering a buy one - get one free deal on all titles.

Buy any book and get a second book (same price or lower) free. They will also ship the second book for free to any gift recipient of your choice and are encouraging donations to libraries and organizations. And if you buy two books, you’ll get two free and so forth.

I will gladly match their offer with my own books, too! (And of course, they’ll be autographed.) Buy one at full retail plus $3.00 for shipping and I’ll include a second book free.

There are many needy families at Christmastime. Consider donating the book to an organization as a Christmas gift to some young adult. As a former foster parent, I know many of these kids receive few gifts, especially those in Level 3 group homes or Level 4 institutions. Malls often feature a gift tree with names of needy children attached to the branches. There’s probably a needy family in your church or neighborhood. So many opportunities to give!

Visit Dancing Lemur Press LLC to place an order or contact me directly at wolferock@earthlink.net.