“The RoseBouquet”

I did go the chiropractor Tuesday afternoon last week. He worked me over hard, but afterward I thought I was cured. By 4 pm the pain was back, and worse the next day. Then for a few days I was convinced it was a kidney stone - but I was not about to cancel my weekend trip! No way!

The weak, achy spot was there, but I was not really bothered by it while driving. Mostly just while loading and unloading the car with luggage and food hamper. Tom was good enough to not require to get out of the car until we arrived at the motel, about 7.5 hours after we left his place.

All the activities were at the Castor Missionary Church, where Uncle Henry and Aunt Frieda are active members. We arrived in time for Sunday School, but I ended up in the library, helping some of my cousins and their kids to tie again the 50 balloons that had deflated over night and needed some more helium from the rented cylinder.

We attended the friendly, informal worship service, (the pastor called it a national Henry and Frieda Day), and then we had lunch in the dining hall. This was especially prepared for the family and for all the guests that had come from a distance. We were about 55 at that point.

At 3 pm, we all went into the sanctuary, along with other local friends of the guests of honour. Here the children and grandchildren had prepared an hour of tributes and special music.

I did not realize it, but Aunt Frieda had always liked Wilf Carter’s song, “There’s a Bluebird on my Windowsill.” So their five sons and five daughters-in-law, and the 12 grandchildren had hunted it down, and learned it. They sang it as a choir, with Georgia, (an adopted granddaughter) singing the solo parts.

There were more musical pieces by various family groups and Ken, the eldest, did a fine job of introducing them. It was altogether a lovely program, with much love expressed so fondly and tenderly, and with gratitude to God.

Ah, and there was a lovely surprise for Tom and me! Our youngest sister, Erma, had flown from Toronto to Winnipeg and then come along with Ernie and Penny (our brother and his wife), who travelled with a camper trailer behind their truck. I had wondered if that might happen, but those who knew did not let on, until I saw her in the foyer in the church. I had not seen Erma, nor Penny since Dad’s funeral three years ago, so we ate lunch together at the same table, and sat together in church.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how many of Mom’s (and Uncle Henry’s) cousins showed up. Some from as far away as B.C., and some I had never met before. I had a delightful time visiting and networking around the dining hall. Because of my years with Mom and Dad I was more aware of these relatives than my siblings or our cousins. I felt like a bridge between the generations.

Aunt Frieda and Uncle Henry invited us back to the church for breakfast on Monday before we left. This time it was mainly Aunt Frieda’ siblings, and their spouses, and a cousin couple from Rosthern, and Tom and myself. But I was able to get directions from Walter (from Rosthern) on a different route back to Saskatoon that would be about an hour and a half shorter than the route I had taken on Saturday.

We were tickled to find the route was even more scenic and the sun was shining and sure enough, we were home in a bit more than 5 hours. Going there took us 7 hours.

Oh… the weather? Yes, that has been quite the factor over the weekend and again today. We had some great rains last week, which made my garden pop out of the ground! Everywhere you look the tree and grass are VERY GREEN! My pink tulips are in bud stage in the front yard.

It rained cats and dogs on Saturday and Sunday in Alberta, and it appears it did here too. Yesterday was fine and sunny, but my tomato seedlings were under an inch of water in their pots! There were branches down from the trees too. Today it is raining again!

Being away from my email for three days has really put me a bit behind. I worked hard at some catchup last night, but have quite a few to answer today yet. If I’m diligent I may get caught up again by the end of this week.

I’d love to announce next week that my new site is up with a few pages, but I better be careful not to commit to something that I might not pull off in just two mornings.

There’s client work that will take some precedence, and I’m discussing some major changes to another site with a client that I thought was going to stay more dormant.

Muriel’s older sister Cathy has gone to a party with plans to elope from there. But their mother is dying and wants to talk to Cathy. What is there to do but find her and bring her back - even against her will. How do you suppose Ruthe handled that? Find out by reading,
Ruthe’s Secret Roses. Available in e-Book edition Softcover edition.

Seems no one cares much for surveys. I have not received any results to last week’s request that you do a bit of a survey for me. Sorry, maybe it was too hard, or time-consuming. I will find a way to do my own research.

As you can see, I’m determined to work through all my workshops for my own benefit, even if you do not find this much fun. One day there will be lots of reads of my novel(s) who will be glad I did.

Let me toss out some more specific marketing methods and strategies - which do you think would sell my novel? Any other suggestions? Have you tried something that worked for you?

So far, Ruthe’s Secret Roses;
- is already in Foster’s book list and available upon request at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. and in your local bookstore.

- can be requested at your public library too (but of course, people need to know about Ruthe’s Secret Roses before they can ask for it).

- has a website by the same name, Ruthes-SecretRoses.com, and is advertised on every one of over 700 web pages.

- has 8 sample chapters to read on that website.

- has a blog, ezine and RSS feed, all called RoseBouquet!

My List of More Marketing Ideas:
- write better sales pages on my website for the novel. *
- take speaking engagements on related topics *
- more mentions in the RoseBouquet *
- prepare for and seek out radio & TV interviews
- write articles for magazines and websites on related topics

Maybe;
- try YouTube videos?
- sell some copies on eBay?
- social networking?

[Those marked with an * are ideas that I feel most willing to do. Time is of the essence].

Would you have any other suggestions to toss me?

Next week, in our last virtual workshop session, we will go into more detail on one idea above.

No one came to the workshop on Saturday. But I was pleased. I really itched to get to my gardening and though I was at the office for an hour in case someone showed up unannounced, I was glad to go home to my garden. Yes, despite the screaming back pain.

I had not really advertised and twisted friends’ arms last week, so I know it was my own fault that no one came. But I had already begun to see the week before that these seminar and workshop days are a lot of work, and unless you do them up big, they don’t give you the profit factor for your exertion factor. The day may come when I will have people standing in line to take a workshop or a course with me, but for right now I am going to focus on my own web businesses and bringing them to good growth and monetization.

I have clients to look after too, so I need to stick with my current daily agenda, and do well that which I am already doing. This is affirming and reassuring.

You will notice we are up to session 6 today in the Virtual Writers’ Workshop being run in the Ruthe’s Roses section of this blog/ezine. If you have been patiently forbearing with me, then you have only two more weeks to do so.

In thinking ahead as to what to tackle next that may be a blessing to my readers, I’m thinking of offering some sessions of advice on how to do evangelism online. A friend showed interest in this, but has not come to the introductory sessions I offered her. This may be a topic that will interest others too, and it is certainly in keeping with the theme of my novel, and this web site.

If you have other suggestions of topics you would like covered in articles in my Ruthe’s Roses section, do write and tell me.

Are you one of the thousands that check the webcam daily that is focused on an eagle’s nest on Hornby Island? The other day when I checked out this forwarded link I watched the baby eagle being fed long juicy worms by the parent eagle. hornbyeagles.com/webcam.htm

Another link leads to a YouTube video about how copiers store your data and when they are re-sold that stuff can go to another country. Scary! Copiers that Steal!

First I want to express my thanks to two friends who have been kind enough to respond. Barbara Good, a writer of children’s books in Australia wrote to say that she is busy reading my novel on her laptop. She isn’t finished yet, but she will have more comments when she has.

Robin Miller of South Africa sent in a very sensible suggestion about my cover design after last week’s workshop on that topic. He attached an MS office stock photo to illustrate.

“OK, ideas for a book cover. This is a Microsoft Office stock photo. Doesn’t it give the impression of a lonely person? Perhaps that kind of picture with a single rose somewhere?”

Wow! What a good thought. A picture of a target reader on the cover. That should catch the eye of those who identify. This would mean narrowing down the target readers to one good example, or, if I persist in a broader range, maybe a collage of lonely faces. Oh, a few happy ones would be helpful too, right?

I have not had time to work on a new cover design yet, but I will certainly keep this in mind and may well go with this. Thanks so much, Robin!

NEW QUESTION: My target readers are lonely people looking for friends and friendship with God, so how should I let them know about this book?

Would you do a survey for me? It will be simple.

Approach 1 to 3 people (from your home or friends) who you think might be a bit lonely or withdrawn, and ask them these 3 questions, then email me their answers.

1. What writers do you admire?
2. Where do you hang out on the internet?
3. Whose recommendation of books do you value?

You can give your own answers in your P.S.

As you can see, that will help me to know where to focus my advertising and which writers to study for how they get the word out.

This survey should give me a wider access to people not subscribed to the RoseBouquet and a larger answer base from which to see a trend or sense of direction for myself.

Rewards (bribes) have not worked too well in the past, so I’m still considering how I’ll thank those who participate. I’ll see what I can do for you if you go to this effort for me.

Thanks ever so much!

My seminar turned out okay. At least I think I did well with my presentation, and I had four very attentive, eager to learn attendees. Two were teen boys, and two were adults. (not related).
All seemed to need some time to think it over, and I’m content with that.

My theme was that SiteBuildIt! (SBI) is the best way to build a web business on the internet and that those who follow the instructions cannot help but succeed, even if they are teens.

In fact, I believe the Lord had been preparing me to realize that I would be better off focusing on making my own web businesses paying off, and save the teaching of others to later when I can afford to take time for that. So, if they do ask for some course sessions, I’ll be happy to accommodate, and if not, I’m quite willing to let it drop and get back to my normal agenda.

I have told people that Jondalar and I are offering a workshop this next Saturday on how to install an operating system. I spent so much time over the last two weeks inviting people to the seminar that I’m not sure how much to push for this one.

If no one calls and promises to come - I can always work in my garden. That is luring me these days. Especially as the sunny days are beginning to show up this week.

Business-wise, as I listen to the echos in my head of the things I told my seminar guests I realize that my best route is to focus as much as I can on my web businesses and bring them to the place where they pay me a living so I can do the things I really long to do. If nothing else comes out of this, I am grateful for this confirmation.

What high school grad would skip her banquet to dash away to help a friend in a crisis? Would you? Ruthe does this right at the beginning of this story. She can be quite daring for a shy, small town girl, when it is for others’ sakes. You’ll like her spunk! Get “Ruthe’s Secret Roses.” the softcover at Booklocker.com

It’s kind of you to drop in and listen to me having a brainstorming session all by myself. It would be more lively if you would participate - (hint-hint).

Last week I was mulling over the type of reader my novel, Ruthe’s Secret Roses is aimed at, and what style of writing appeals to them. I started out in the first person, and wrote like an intimate diary confiding all of Ruthe’s deepest thoughts and feelings, but somewhere in one of the many re-writes I decided that might be too intense for some, and it would give me a bit more range if I wrote in the third person, that is, about Ruthe, rather than from her mind and heart. However a lot of her intimate thoughts still shone through. I’m convinced lonely teen girls and woman who are also sensitive and deep thinkers, will identify well with Ruthe and be drawn along as she learns from her friendship adventures.

In fact, that’s one main trait of the readers I hope to attract - lonely people who long for friends!

My question today is, does my book cover attract such people?

My original dream cover was to have a diagonal splash of roses across the cover with a night-time city scene in the bottom triangular section and in the upper corner, a quiet sunrise meditation scene in a wooded and open field area to show the contract between the two lifestyles of Ruthe, the main character.

At this point I’m not sure if that would have attracted lonely readers.

However, at the time I signed up with Booklocker for POD contract, I couldn’t draw or put that design together, and Angela at Booklocker urged me to pay an extra $99 to have a professional design the cover. So I did.

The graphic artist sent me several tries. One looked like Alice in Wonderland leaping out of a rose. Another one had a very voluptuous, Spanish-looking woman swinging on a swing in front of a giant rose. I KNEW she had not read the book. So when she phoned me I tried to explain that the secret roses represented friends, and friendship. I tried to describe the theme and some scenes from the book, especially the finding of the Talisman rose behind the greystone mansion.

Then she sent me a picture of a rose beside a pretty teacup. That didn’t feel right either, so when she described a single rosebud against some green leaves (she was looking at photos at a stock photo site online), I yielded and said, go ahead with that then. I didn’t want to be a problem client and upset her. The rose cover looks nice enough, but it really doesn’t imply what the book is about.

So if I were to republish it, I’d like a new design and I think I might have enough graphics skills now to design it myself. BUT–!! I’d like some feedback as to what kind of design would really go over best with readers. What kind of cover design do YOU think would reach lonely people longing for friends?

Please, toss me some ideas.