Tag: Awards

Me And Mine · So it's Saturday

Speculate to Accumulate

paulaacton21 Comments

043 (5)

I was going to catch up on some awards I have been lax in accepting lately but I am too excited not to share.  The digital proof for my bookmarks and business cards came back.  Now I have a head start having Mel’s amazing cover design to use as the basis for them but I still had to do a little cutting, pasting and manipulation so I am grabbing a tiny bit of the credit.  So bear in mind I am a newbie to these sort of things and go gentle with me when you tell me what you think.  Here goes the business card first..

mail.google.com

Then the one which I am more excited about in more ways..

133854_frontThe back of the bookmark is black with my contact details on in red.  So What do you think? I also realised I need to buy either a gold or silver pen that will write on the black otherwise I will have to write across the poor little girl ghost and that wouldn’t be good.  I have approved the proofs and had a message back saying both are now on the print run so I guess it is just a case of sitting back and waiting to take delivery.  I am getting so excited about the whole thing now but also a little scared. Here in the safety of my blog I have started developing a fragile belief in my abilities, you guys are so supportive and encouraging that it is easy to forget that not everyone will be.  Recently I have seen authors begin to doubt themselves because of bitter, overly critical reviews, I have seen reviews where the style of the review is to rip books to pieces for effect even if they actually say they liked it, and I am going to be sticking my head out above the trenches for them to start taking pot shots.  I am not sure if publishing is bravery or madness I suspect a little bit of both.

Me And Mine

Get the Kettle On

paulaacton33 Comments

Ben Trube has challenged me to the coffee quiz you can find his answers here

I totally misread the title at first and thought he was inviting me to a virtual coffee morning so ran into the kitchen and made a nice mocha then came and sat down ready for a chat but then found he wanted me to answer questions so here we go…

The Coffee Quiz!

 

1) How many cups of coffee per day? 1-2 I tend to prefer naughty coffee such as latte or mocha so I have to restrict the amount I drink

2) What is your favorite caffeine delivery system? Most of the day I drink diet coke I tend to be on the go so need a beverage that won’t go cold

3) What was your best cup of coffee? This mocha I had at a new coffee shop in town

003

4) What was your worst cup of coffee? I would say any provided while travelling be it on a train or plane it is always cheap instant that tastes like they made it with the washing up water

5) What does your favorite mug say? Mt favourite mug is this one Rhonda bought me

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

6) How do you take your coffee? White with sweetners (or sugar if I am being very bad)

7) When was your first cup? I only started drinking coffee after my daughter was born before that I really only drank hot chocolate my first coffee was when visiting a friend and it was all she had in.

8) Have you ever gone on a coffee date? Yes if you count my other half or my best friend although normally coffee dates with my best friend end up in the pub. My other half and I quite often try to fit in a coffee in the week between him finishing work and me starting as it may be the only time that day we actually have chance to speak.

So who shall we pick to test their beverage proclivities hmmmmm I think we shall go for Maddie from Breezy Books, TRG, Heidi and Mari Wells

Hope they the kettle on when I arrive!

300 Posts and the Start of a New Year
Highs and Lows · Me And Mine · Monday Musings

300 Posts and the Start of a New Year

paulaacton17 Comments

Okay so technically as a pagan the new year began for me just over a week ago with the Solstice but as I had no computer it passed by rather quietly.  I have to say in some ways I believe the Mayans had it right for me personally as the dates for their end of the world and the pagan year end were in time with each other but I think we misinterpreted their meaning.  I say this because this new year I really do feel like it is the end of one way of life and the beginning of a new one which I am really excited about.

In 2012 with the help of friends around the world who I have never met in person I found the self belief and confidence to actually believe in my own ability as a writer. I have written a specific writing resolutions post to be published tomorrow so I won’t go into that too much here but let me say I am very excited about the projects and aims I have set for the next year.

One area which has suffered this year is reading anything other than blogs, I really do need to remedy that in the future and although I hate reading by numbers I think setting a target of reading 20 pages a day of which ever book I have on the go is realistic, if all else fails I will read them while laying in the bath.

My blog which I envisioned as a sort of online journal which I only expected myself and a few friends to be interested in has become so much more.  You have provided a sounding board for my ideas, an audience for my stories, I have met people who have become not only friends but teachers showing me ways to improve my own work.  There is a preconception about the writer as a lonely, hermit locked away with a typewriter isolated in their own world, well maybe that applies to those for whom financial success has altered their way of life but I think the blogosphere shows in full technicolour glory the bonds of friendship, respect and comradeship is alive and well within this community.

In real life I am lucky that I will start this new year in many ways far healthier than I have the last few, my surgery has been a success (touch wood) though I am still in recovery stages as I work on getting the muscles working again, I have stopped smoking even though I still really really want one which is weird considering the smell now makes me feel sick.  But also I cannot help but think about those for whom the past year has not been so considerate of, poor little Charlie whose trial treatment failed to deliver the miracle we all hoped for, now the family are left facing a very bleak new year unless the power of prayer can provide a miracle.  It would be easy to lose faith at a time like this but it is the very time when one must draw strength from them Charlie as you know was given weeks to live a couple of months ago yet he is still here and fighting, there is an amazing young lady named Alice Payne who has been fighting off this disease and refusing to let it beat her for over twelve months now.  It is the most we can do to hold on to each day as it passes and pray it brings these children closer to a cure which surely must be found to combat this terrible disease.  Children teach us what it really means to appreciate life, they do not know that they should be defeated by this thing which has invaded their bodies, they do not know they should fear it and this gives them the very strength to keep fighting unlike adults they have not learned to give up.

I am determined to make the most of every day and to raise some funds for both the Charlie fund and for the other charity close to my heart The Joseph Salmon Trust which helps families who are struck by the terrible tragedy of losing a child.  Will I make thousands for either probably not but I do believe every penny counts and if I make a hundred pounds or so for each then I will be contented.

I know this has ended up as a far more serious post than I ever intended it to be so if you have read down this far may I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year and hope your wildest dreams may come to fruition.

My highlight of 2012….all of you guys coming into my life.

Blog of the Year Part 2
Awards · So it's Saturday

Blog of the Year Part 2

paulaacton11 Comments

Well here we go I now have all six stars yay!!!!!!!!

Please pop over to part one here to see the first four star nominators and the rules here.

So before I get on to dishing out some more stars let me thank the ladies who have given me my last couple of stars.  Firstly Chelsea over at The Jenny Mac Book Blog her mix of writing and video keeps you entertained and heading back for more but what really impresses me about this young lady is her determination to make a positive stand against bullys.

My final star comes curtesy of Heidi being the rule breaker she is she sent it back at me, she has suffered from some negative feedback and is now slowly bouncing back, I believe Heidi really has the talent to be a star she just needs to believe in herself and find her niche.

Soooooo time to hand out some more stars…

Joanne Phillips

Dianne Gray

Maddie Cochere

Maggie Myklebust

Bridget Straub – now technically Bridget did actually send me a star aswell but as I am only allowed to collect 6 I am gonna pretend I didn’t see hers so I can send one back at her 😀

Okay thats it for this one I have been thrilled and amazed to receive all 6 stars yay!!!!!!!!!!!!! But the best bit is getting to spread them round to you guys.  Right am going to carry on working out my new years writing resolutions for new years days post.

 

Awards · So it's Saturday

Blog Of The Year

paulaacton29 Comments

I have been terribly lax in accepting awards lately so today I am going to make a start and try to get as many done as possible though if the post gets too long I may have to split them into seperate posts.

I have received a couple of nominations for this one so lets get right to it…Blog of the Year 2012.

The “Blog of the Year” award is a little different from some other awards, because you accumulate stars.

Here are the ‘rules’ for this award:

1 Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award

2 Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.

3 Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/ and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)

4 Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them.

5 You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience

6 As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…

Yes – that’s right – there are stars to collect!

Unlike other awards which you can only add to your blog once – this award is different!

When you begin you will receive the ‘1 star’ award – and every time you are given the award by another blog – you can add another star!

There are a total of 6 stars to collect.

Which means that you can check out your favourite blogs, and even if they have already been given the award by someone else, then you can still bestow it on them again and help them to reach the maximum 6 stars!

For more information check the FAQ on The Thought Palette.

Okay so I have a couple of people to thank for this award. Check out their blogs by clicking on their name.

Firstly the lovely Miss Tribble

What can I say about this wonderful lady except I stand in awe of her.  She has overcome some terrible things in life and continues to battle living with an eating disorder and suffering from epilepsy, yet she does so with warmth humour and an amazing giving spirit to help others.  I have even forgiven her for going to the Discworld convention and not smuggling me in her suitcase and look forward to discussing Doctor Who over christmas with her.

Next up Vikki @theviewoutside

Where do I start with Vikki hers was one of the first blogs I found and she has been inspiring me ever day since.  I am terribly jealous of the writing retreats she has been on but grateful I can live them vicariously through her posts.  I know she has absolutely no idea just how talented she is and how much she inspires others and I really do believe if we could ever persuade her the sky would be the limit for her.

And my next nominator is Terry1954

She is possibly one of the lovliest people I have met through blogging/  This year has been tough for her she has seen her brother who she cares for deteriorate due to Parkinson’s disease and has now had to face her worst fear and accept she cannot do anymore. Al is now in a home and she seeks to adjust to her new found freedom but also her guilt at having it and her own feelings as she fights off depression.

And finally from the wonderful Renee

Sometimes you connect with someone and despite the fact you may never meet you just click well that is Renee, she has become one of those members of my blogging family that I smile when ever I see her posts.  She is so incredibly talented whatever genre she puts her pen too and let me say her erotica is some of the post sensual I have read and has been known to leave me a little hot and bothered at times so not always one for reading at work or on the bus lol.

Now to do the nomination post…

Firstly I would like to nominate those four special ladies I have just mentioned I know normally you cannot nominate straight back but given I have four I think it is perfectly acceptable for the reasons listed above.  Next up is my beloved Rhonda, I was supposed to meet up with her during her recent UK visit but it coincided with my surgery I love her take on her trip here and every time I read her posts I smile.

Next up is The Reclining Gentleman dont let the image fool you this guy is more than just a laid back gent he writes erotic most blokes couldn;;t even visualise let alone put into words and I also know from his Choonsday posts the guy has rhythm 😀

And onto MsKatykins my Udolpho partner and another blogging sister, she actually gets two nominations one for her own blog which has me laughing out loud on a regular basis, the other for her Spineless Wonders who have my son as their number one fan

On to Ahmin who has had an amazing year and continues to go from strength to strength as great reviews for his book pour in, I love the fact he gives so much back, visiting book groups and the fact his love for his family flows from his page

Next up my girl Emily Guido, at the start of the year she had self published a couple of books from her Light Bearer Series the start of a new year sees her with a publisher, her books hitting Amazon in paperback and her going from strength to strength.  She is an inspiration to never lose faith in your work.

Next is Hunter over at Hunter’s Writing I have been fascinated by her posts exploring the technology surrounding writing little did i know there was a Second Life habitat for writing and as soon as I get my new laptop I shall be heading out there to take a look round.

Over to T.W. Dittmer if you ever needed someone to watch your blogging back this is a guy you could rely on.  He has been an amazing support in my time here blogging and always has constructive points to make.

Next the wonderful Crazy Train To tinky Town who has shared a view of Turkey that has made me laugh, smile and cry and occasionally all at the same time, one day one of us will get a book deal and when that one goes on their book signing tour we will be meeting up for a coffee 😀

The final three I am going to pick are Heidi, Robin and Mel, these three special ladies have been amazingly supportive of me (as all my followers have been to be honest) but they have given me confidence on days when I have had none and made me smile during the worst days.

I really could carry on all day as there are so many of you I would give it to but this post has already grown longer than I intended maybe I shall get the final two stars and get to add some more names to the list. xxx

The Return of Udolpho
Flights of Fancy · Mysteries Of Udolpho · Tuesday Reflections

The Return of Udolpho

paulaacton4 Comments

Well not quite, I intend to begin Udolpho posts again next week and hope that MsKatykins will be joining back in very soon, as it has been a while anyone wishing to refresh their minds as to our progress can find all the posts here.

I have started the new week with high hopes of finally being back in the swing although I have made a discovery which I hope will help me in the future.  What have you discovered you may ask? Well simple when it comes to editing windows 8 sucks!  I spent an hour trying to split screens between a fresh document to type up an edited version of my WOCA story and the version marked up for editing and it just didn’t work.  I realise that I need to print it off and actually scribble on the paper to get my head round it.  Now this may seem like such a simple thing but previously I have always managed editing directly onto the computer.  I am not sure if this change is to do with my standards getting higher or my medication levels getting lower either way I need to get some ink for the printer.

I also have some other reading to look forward to, I have nearly finished reading Chocolate for Breakfast by Martha Reynolds and have just received my beta copy of Thomas Rydder’s The Clearing then throw into the mix The Life of Pi which I would love to read before the film comes out here next month I shall have a busy month or so ahead but luckily I am still off work and reading doesn’t involve too much strenuous movement.

For those of you who loved my accent I have a treat for you, not only will I be doing my second video blog later this week but one of my favourite reality type tv shows here in the UK Come Dine With Me is actually showing a week of episodes from my home town so I shall share the link today then again at the end of the week when all the episodes are up.  You have to laugh at the people they pick for these shows to represent an area as they pick the strangest people and throw in one or two normal ones.

http://youtu.be/kxthqNfXQjo

I have quite a busy week planned this week including the annual scrub down of the skirting boards in the living room (you know the one where you shift the furniture to try to work out how you fit the christmas tree in last year – don’t worry I am not doing the actual moving part).  I hope to really get stuck in on various things over the next couple of weeks so watch this space.

 

Characters · WIP Wednesday

The Next Big Thing

paulaacton4 Comments

I have been tagged by the lovely Vikki to take part in The Next Big Thing you can read here answers here if you missed them.

I quite like these ones as the questions are already done for you and all you have to do is answer so here goes…

what is the working title of your next book?

Voices Across The Void – A Collection of Ghostly Tales

where did the idea come from for the book?

it came from writing a few flash fiction posts featuring ghosts

what genre does your book fall under?

I would guess supernatural/horror though the stories are not really horror

what actors would you choose to play the part of your characters In a movie rendition?

Hmm tough because there are different stories but hell i would find a role for Johnny Depp somewhere

what is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

eeckk… how do you that for a group of stories.  Maybe.. A collection of tales to make you laugh cry and the hairs stand up just a little.

will your book be self published or represented by an agency?

Self published although I would still try the traditional route first on my novel

how long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Two months so far or possibly 6 years if you take into account I wrote one of the short stories I am expanding on while doing my Access course

what other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I hope the mix of different angles on the ghost story will make it stand apart a little

who or what inspired you to write the book?

Actually the comments from my blogger friends here who commented on each of the ghost stories that they would like to read more hence the inclusion of the flash pieces worked up into short stories

what else about your book might pique the readers interest?

There really is something for everyone and I am donating 50% of anything I make to Cords4Life which is baby Charlie charity as part of the Anthony Nolan Trust helping children fight Cancer.

Would love to hear your thoughts? How do you feel about reading a book that is somehow connected to 9/11?

It would depend on the angle the book took and the way in which the situation was handled, having a friend who was part of the emergency services that day makes it more personal despite the fact it happened thousands of miles away.

So now I have to tag 5 fellow writers Your post should go live next week I wont be around for part of the week to check but I hope you will join in and I will catch up when I can.

1]  M.S. Fowle

2]  Christopher De Voss

3]  davidmcgowanauthor.com

4]  “The Light-Bearer Series” Novelist, Emily Guido

5]  Breezy Books

Saturday and I am at Work Again
Awards · So it's Saturday

Saturday and I am at Work Again

paulaacton11 Comments

Okay another Saturday where I am sitting freezing on the checkout as you sit in warmth and comfort reading this.  I just want you to know I am not jealous in the slightest okay I lie I am lol.

A few awards to round up this week..

From the lovely Lucy Williams,

(I admit it I changed the colour as I know we all have it a few times I thought it could do with a fresh look on my awards page)

The Rules

Thank the person who nominated you and link back to them

7 things about yourself

Nominate some other blogs

Okay first I want to thank Lucy you can find her blog here she writes amazing poetry and is an inspiration in that she has turned negative experiences in her life to her advantage to become a very talented writer.

7 things about me well I am cheating I saw this idea onVikki’s last award post so instead of 7 things you get 7 pics of me

Actually I found a few more than 7 pics I thought you might enjoy so you get a little slide show.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I am going to be a little mean and nominate a few people but on a condition that their 7 things include a baby pic of themselves

Actually I found a few more than 7 pics I thought you might enjoy so you get a little slide show.

sumthissumthat

ellisnelson

The Reclining Gentleman

Waiting for the Karma Truck

I know I should choose more but I wanted to pick a couple I dont think I have nominated before

Next on the list is…

This comes from the wonderful Bird who I am sure most of you know her log is generally cassed as a Christian blog but she makes everyone welcome even a pagan like me check out her blog here.  Now I know if I say help yourself to this none of you will sooo…. if your name begins with an A this award is for you.

I am still working through my blog backlog so if I have missed any awards I will accept them as I find them.

More Awards While I am Out For the Day
Awards · So it's Saturday

More Awards While I am Out For the Day

paulaacton9 Comments

So it’s saturday and I am not here, as you read this I am tramping round Tatton Park probably spending way too much money at the craft fair and in the gift shop pretending they are christmas presents until I figure out a way to keep all the treasures I have found lol.

Now I still have a ridiculous amount of emails in my inbox full of your posts but am resisting the urge to hit delete I will catch up on all at some point but for today I am going to accept a few awards sitting there that I know about, if you sent me one and I have missed it I will get to it eventually.

I am also going to cheat today and not name nominees basically for today if you have not had one of the awards then please accept it from me as it is clearly an oversight which needs to be corrected, the problem is you are all so wonderful everyone assumes you already have been given it.

So first up in no particular order……

The wonderful Rheath has nominated me for the Inspiring Blog Award

What can I say about Rheath other than if you don’t already follow her blog Rendezvous With Renee then click here read her seven things and I guarantee you will hit the follow button.

Next up is the Booker Award from the talented Joanne Phillips (I must thank Vikki here as it was her that led to me finding Joanne’s blog)

You can check out Joanne’s top five books here while you are there also check out her later post she has an exciting short story collection coming out I think my TBR is going to get a little bigger again lol.  Now I have actually had this before you can see my original answers here for anyone picking this the rules are…

1) Thank and link back the blog who nominated you.

2) List five favorite books

3) List five fabulous moments

4) List five things you love

5) List five things you dislike

6) Nominate five people and let them know

So as I have done the answers and once was hard enough I will give you my top Five series of books I hope that will do for you

1] The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice

2] The Necroscope Series by Brian Lumley

3] The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J RR Tolkien

4] The Narnia Chronicles by C.  S. Lewis

5] The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

 

Okay on we go to the next…

This is a new one for me and comes from the amazing Emily Guido you can check out her blog here let me say this girl is going to be famous and I can’t wait to see her Light Bearer series in the bookshops

Last one for today…

From the lovely Mimijk over at Waiting For The Karma Truck, what can I say I have met so many wonderful, talented, strong women in the blogosphere whose work and personalities have blown me away and I am humbled so many of you think me worthy of coming back to visit over again and I thank each and every one of you.

Weekly Round Up #14
Fact Vs Fiction · Sometimes Sundays · Tasty Tuesday

Weekly Round Up #14

paulaacton7 Comments

Thank you all for you kind birthday wishes I have had a lovely day.  I have spent a couple of hours at the computer this afternoon while the family was out giving me that lovely gift of a couple of hours peace and quiet which am sure any of you with or that have had small children will appreciate the value of.

I decided as its my birthday and obviously the start of my next round of challenges 50 things before 50 I would do a little housekeeping on my desk and in my blog.

First you may have noticed a slight colour change I really was not feeling the pink anymore so have gone lilac maybe each year on my birthday I will change colour unless when I finally upgrade the blog to my own name I find a new layout I really like.

Now I am sure most of you will have heard me mention when it is quiet at work I end up scribbling on bits of till roll, discarded receipts, anything handy until I can get home and get round to making a proper note.  Well here is proof…

Now before I would work on them straight away or they got lost amongst the note books or in the bottom of my handbag so I had a bright idea…

Each idea is scribbled on a memo and folded up and popped in the jar for a later date…

I was going to leave the outside completely blank but given some days I have limited time I decided a hint on the outside of what the idea is suited to was acceptable.

Then it was off for dinner and it seemed even the food knew it was my birthday as my pork crackled perfectly for a change…

Sorry for slightly blurry pic but was hungry by this point and it smelled so good

Then of course came cake…

You know I would have shared with each and everyone of you if possible.

I realised my blogging schedule has a major flaw, having weekly round up on a Saturday was not working.   Saturdays are a busy day for me with work and family and I really needed posts that could be prepared ahead of time so I have tweaked my schedule a little so let me fill you in.

  • Thoughts on thursday

    Again no changes to Thursday

    • Photo Friday

      No change Friday

    • So it’s Saturday

      Saturday takes most of the subjects that sunday had before plus a new one Me And Mine which are posts about me, my family and more personal musings.

    • Sometimes Sundays

      Weekly round up will now take place on a sunday when I have more time plus most weeks there will be a bonus post where I shall either share a blog that I have really loved from the previous week or the new Fact Vs Fiction where I want to examine how world events or fiction can change our opinions or influence our writing.

      I am planning some new headers for each day and to tidy up my about and novel pages aswell as updating a few others.

      I am not going to set targets this week that will be resumed in the next weekly round up.

      I have had a lovely birthday but chocolate overload means an early night 😀