Friday, February 20, 2015

Celebrate: Savvy Friends & Freebies


This week I'm celebrating:
1) I had a question about the Amazon CreateSpace/Kindle publishing process, so I posted on Facebook -- and a bunch of amazing people explained things I didn't even know enough to ask about. The writing community ROCKS!
2) Egyptian banks aren't accepted by Paypal or any banks in the west, so I can't pay for things or receive payment. (So annoying.)  BUT I've found I have more publishing options open to me than ever before -- even without Paypal.
3) I can now make choices about my publishing future that used to be impossible for me.  Short stories, "free reads," novellas -- even novels -- are a possibility now. I'm feeling empowered!

Have you ever received advice that helped you more than you imagined it could?

My kind and wonderful co-hosts of Celebrate the Small Things are:
L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge
Katie @ TheCyborgMom

Celebrate The Small Things Sign-Up Linky:



Grab the Linky html-code here:



 Celebrate the Small ThingsTo be part of this blog hop, all you have to do is put your name on the linky list on Lexa's Blog, and then post every Friday about something you're grateful  for that week.  It can be about writing or family or school or general life.  This is the funnest and easiest blog hop ever! (Originated by VikLit)



Foxy's Friday Freebies!

Foxy has been nosing around the net
When she finds great FREE STUFF, she'll feature it on Fridays Freebies posts -
  • Free short stories, novellas, and novels
  • Giveaways for books and swag
  • Free services for authors


Here are Foxy's suggestions for Feb 20, 2015:

Free Thriller NovellaClaudia Must Die by T.B. Markinson will FREE from Feb 20 – 23 on Amazon US and Amazon UK. I’ve read it and it was so good! Go get your free copy now! (ends Feb 23)



Free SciFi/Fantasy Short Story – Celebrate's own Tyrean Martinson (of Everyday Writer, Tyrean Martinson) has a Permanent Free Read short story for anyone interested! "Seedling" is a flash fiction story -- Dunnie has a secret: a power inside him that's gone wrong in the past. When it's time to introduce himself to a new teacher, what will he say? And, will his classmates ever accept the truth? 
Available FREE on:     Amazon-Kindle       B&N/Nook      Smashwords


Free YA Fantasy Novel & Swag – Win Sword by Amy Bai via rafflecopter on My Book Addiction blog. (ends Feb 25)




For Foxy's other Freebies, go to the Freebie page.

If anyone has a FREE short story (for download or online at a free ezine), novella, novel, special giveaway, or author service, please let Foxy know so she can plug you here!  Write to: laura.6eg(at)gmail.com

54 comments:

Unknown said...

love it! I'm glad you have more publishing choices for your future! the best :) I've gotten so much amazing support and advice from the writing community. It's the best :)

Dixie@dcrelief said...

Facebook, and the writing community have been blessings. I'm also a diy person and You tube has helped me with countless house repairs.

More choices = more peace! Have a lovely weekend, and thank you for directing this ship of celebrations!

Suzanne Furness said...

Glad you had some great advice and that you can now expand your publishing options. Feeling empowered is a great feeling.

TBM said...

Wonderful news for you! And I agree the writing community is so helpful. Thanks for helping getting the word out about the Claudia Must Die sale!

dolorah said...

Ah, so many freebies. I like it :)

It is awesome to be part of this writing community that give back so much support. I always find what I am looking for with a few clicks.

Have a good weekend.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Awesome how the advice helped you. And I love the idea of focusing on being grateful. I'm really trying to focus on that too these days. We all have so much to be grateful for.

eViL pOp TaRt said...

I'm glad you found a new way to publish!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's what makes this community awesome. Ask and you will receive so much help!

Cathrina Constantine said...

Guess what come through my email yesterday from Amazon? Some great reads, and Soul Cutter was the top book.

Thank you for all the freebies. Got 'em!

Bish Denham said...

I'm so glad you're learning about publishing options that will work for you! It's a brave new world that has such books in it! I know I couldn't have done it without the fabulous writing community, so I know exactly what you're talking about!

Melancholy and Menace said...

I love the Facebook community in general, especially where fellow bloggers are concerned. ♥

Anonymous said...

What a positive, upbeat post! It's great that you were able to get the advice you needed. Have a great weekend!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Thanks for listing "Seedling!"

And, I'm glad you've found some solutions and are feeling empowered!!! That's awesome!

Mere Joyce said...

People are awesome, =) Glad you have so many possibilities now!

Julia Thorley said...

Life without Paypal? How does that work?! Glad you're feel empowered.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I hear a lot of terrible things about FB and how some people wouldn't be caught dead on it. I love how I'm privy to everything my sons are up to. I think there is good in everything if you're open to it. Thrilled it's been such a great source of info, Lexa.

Birgit said...

Glad so many helped and now more doors have opened. It can take one person to change another's life. Glad you found this opportunituy

Kate Larkindale said...

You'll have to share some of your self-pubbing advice with me. I'd love to learn what you now know… Feeling empowered over your decisions is always important.

Sherry Ellis said...

The writing community is great about helping and giving advice. I'm glad you got what you needed.

Ava Quinn said...

So great you got such awesome advice, Lexa! Love it when doors open to possibilities you hadn't thought of before!

stephen Hayes said...

I can't remember the last time anyone thanked me for giving them great advice. There's probably an obvious reason for this.

Shah Wharton said...

Some great freebies!

I do love the writing community; it's taught me so much during my five years online, and supported me when I've wobbled.

If you need any advise re self-publishing, drop me a line. If I don't know the answer I WILL know where to direct you. :)

I left the Mental Muse post up this week because I just couldn't post again and keep up with the ghostwriting commitments. Forgive my shoddy attendance and I promise to get back on track. I will of course visit folks anyway. :)

Have a great weekend Lexa
shahwharton.com

Sheena-kay Graham said...

Publishing options are limitless these days. I asked about the title of an upcoming book in a FB group and ended up with a new much better title. So glad I asked for advice. Nice shares today Lexa and who doesn't want to feel empowered?

Anonymous said...

I have been so happy with the writing community(s) I've discovered online -- so awesome that we're all able to be there for each other!

Donna K. Weaver said...

I agree about the publishing community. So many helpful and knowledgeable people.

ELAdams said...

Yay for feeling empowered! I love that there are so many publishing options open to writers these days!

Unknown said...

Glad to hear you're learning more about your options!

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

Friends are so kind and helpful. What would we do without them.
My critique partners, love them, always give me the best advice, and I listen to them. :)

DMS said...

So glad people helped you with your questions and that you have more options open to you than you realized. Yeah! Awesome! :) Always good to have great news like that.

Happy weekend!
~Jess

T.F. Walsh said...

Agree... the online writing community is amazing:) So glad you've found a way around paypal... huge reason to celebrate:)

Patricia said...

You do have some awesome things to celebrate this week. No small stuff here. You go girl!

Deanie Humphrys-Dunne said...

I"m glad everyone helped you and now you have new choices for publishing stuff! You must be so excited, Congratulations.
Enjoy the weekend.

L.G. Keltner said...

The writing community is definitely the best! Have a great weekend!

The Author said...

Like you, I've found some wonderful writing groups on the web. Have a great weekend!

LD Masterson said...

When I first started meeting other writers online I was blown away by how supportive everyone was of each other. I still am.

Cathy Keaton said...

Yes, I have received advice that helped me more than I imagined. It was when I received the same advice you just received!

Sounds like you may have a great future with self-publishing. :D

Sharon Himsl said...

The everyday financial things of life...how to pay etc. and what you can and can't do...is so frustrating sometimes. Good progress on that end! I find the online writing community to be extremely helpful too. I recently connected with someone who had inside information on a publisher I'm interested in.
'Stay the course'

Michelle Wallace said...

Hi Lexa!
Thanks for all the freebie links!
We get Paypal here, but only through one bank...
You're so right! All the publishing choices are really exciting!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Unknown said...

Lexa, I used Amazon's Createspace for publishing so if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask! I am happy to help.

Anonymous said...

We receive so much amazing advice and knowledge from each other. This is a giving community. I love the options we have these days.

cleemckenzie said...

We should do a write in campaign to PayPal and see if they respond to making their service available in Egypt. You never know what might happen.

Congrats on finding a way around them.

Kimberly said...

I'm so happy you've found other avenues for publishing! I have found that sometimes I have gotten a small bit of advice or clarification and wha'la - it made a world of difference. :)

TheCyborgMom said...

Whenever I need information (and can't find it via Google) I just ask on facebook...it's great that so many people are willing to offer up their knowledge! Have you tried Paypal linked to your credit card? I know I have mine linked to both my cc and my bank. Enjoy your weekend Lexa!

Tonja Drecker said...

Yay to finding an empowering way to publish! The writing community is the best - always there and ready to help. And sorry about this week's Celebrate no show. The kids had the entire week off due to snow - so blogger world got one too.

Anonymous said...

Gotta love all the options available now that weren't before. And yay for the generosity of people!

Annie Neugebauer said...

I'm so happy for you, Lexa! Bummer about PayPal, though. I've really come to depend on them. =/

Peaches D. Ledwidge said...

People are more giving than we often believe. I'm happy for you.

I could not committ to a post every Friday as I now work on two blogs.

Carol Kilgore said...

I'm happy you found good things. Feeling empowered is awesome!

Kelley said...

Glad you're getting the feedback and insight you need!
Cheers to you!

Jeff Chapman said...

Really sucks that you can't use PayPal, but it's great news that you've found some alternatives. You need one of those Swiss bank accounts. In movies they're always stuffed with money.

Jocelyn Rish said...

The writing community really is amazing. So many people who are generous with their time and knowledge!

Loni Townsend said...

I'm almost a week late, but yay for getting answers to questions you didn't even know to ask!

Crystal Collier said...

The writing community is amazing. I've been shocked and filled with gratitude beyond words when needing help. They are definitely some of the most generous people I know. =)

Nas said...

Thanks for all freebies link. Hope you are doing well.

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