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29 September 2018

Saturday Spotlight | Banned & Challenged Books Week



In addition to the usual blog posts on Mondays and Wednesdays (and the occasional Friday) about our eccentric travel adventures and day-to-day life living aboard a sailboat, I also occasionally post on Saturdays, focusing on things related to writing such as cover reveals, book launches, reviews, interviews with authors etc. So if you're a bit of a book nerd like I am, check in on Saturdays - you never know what might pop up.


* * *

The annual Banned Books Week wraps up today and in its honor, I selected four books from the American Library Association's list of frequently challenged books with diverse content to add to my TBR (to be read list). I was pleased to see that all of these books are available at my local library.

While I might not agree with the content / themes of certain banned and challenged books, they might make me uncomfortable, or I might just find them boring, I think it's important to read banned and challenged books from time to time to get a different perspective on things and try to understand where people are coming from. In my opinion, freedom of speech is critical, even when I don't like what certain people have to say.




Beloved by Toni Morrison is considered by many to be a modern American classic and won the Pulitzer Price in 1988. Graphic sexual content has been cited as the reason for it being banned, although some would argue that there are many other books that have similar content which haven't been subject to the same restrictions.

Here's the blurb from Goodreads:

"Staring unflinchingly into the abyss of slavery, this spellbinding novel transforms history into a story as powerful as Exodus and as intimate as a lullaby.

Sethe was born a slave and escaped to Ohio, but eighteen years later she is still not free. She has too many memories of Sweet Home, the beautiful farm where so many hideous things happened. Her new home is haunted by the ghost of her baby, who died nameless and whose tombstone is engraved with a single word: Beloved.

Filled with bitter poetry and suspense as taut as a rope, Beloved is a towering achievement by Nobel Prize laureate Toni Morrison."

I was surprised to see Tintin in America by Herge on the list. I used to read the original French-language versions as a kid as part of French class. I had no idea why this was on the list until Tonja Drecker told me that it was due to stereotypical and racist depictions of indigenous peoples. I'm looking forward to revisiting Tintin and seeing what he gets up to in America. And it will be so much easier to read it in English this time.

Here's the blurb from Goodreads:

"The classic graphic novel. Tintin comes to the U.S.A. to clean up the mean streets of Chicago but ends up in the wild west! Will Tintin make it back home?"

The Curious Incident of the Dog in Nighttime by Mark Haddon sounds really interesting as it's written from the perspective of someone who has Asperger's. It was challenged due to use of the F-word and for the main character's views on God.

Here's the blurb from Goodreads:

"Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.

Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, for fifteen-year-old Christopher everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning. He lives on patterns, rules, and a diagram kept in his pocket. Then one day, a neighbor's dog, Wellington, is killed and his carefully constructive universe is threatened. Christopher sets out to solve the murder in the style of his favourite (logical) detective, Sherlock Holmes. What follows makes for a novel that is funny, poignant and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing are a mind that perceives the world entirely literally."


Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a graphic novel memoir about growing up in Iran. I remember seeing it at my sister's house, but I didn't have a chance to read it when I was there. It has been challenged due to "coarse language," depictions of torture, and Islamic content.

"Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi’s memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah’s regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran’s last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.

Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran and of the bewildering contradictions between home life and public life. Marjane’s child’s-eye view of dethroned emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution allows us to learn as she does the history of this fascinating country and of her own extraordinary family. Intensely personal, profoundly political, and wholly original, Persepolis is at once a story of growing up and a reminder of the human cost of war and political repression. It shows how we carry on, with laughter and tears, in the face of absurdity. And, finally, it introduces us to an irresistible little girl with whom we cannot help but fall in love."

Do you ever read banned or challenged books? If so, which ones would you recommend?

28 September 2018

Flashback Friday | Moa Preservation Society



Flashback Friday takes place on the last Friday of the month. The idea is to give a little more love to a blog post you've published before that maybe didn't get enough attention, or is something you think is still relevant or even a something that you really love and want to share again.

Many thanks to Michael d’Agostino for starting Flashback Friday and inspiring me to go back and revisit some of our earlier blog posts.

* * *

I remember laughing out loud when I wrote this post. Sometimes, I crack myself up. I guess the person that gets your sense of humor the best is usually yourself. I laughed again when I reread it. I also noticed that I referenced being active on Pinterest. It was something I did a lot of for a while, but then it fell by the wayside. I actually started a new account which I might do more with.

Anyway, this is a flashback to when we lived in New Zealand and I learned about moas, flightless birds which are now extinct. Or are they? 

This post was originally published in July 2014. You can find the original post here

* * *

If you're read our blog for a while, you may have noticed the mention here and there of the >>Moa Preservation Society<<. Scott and I are the founding members and the purpose of the society is to save moas from extinction. Some people foolishly believe that the moas are already extinct, but we've seen a few in our travels around New Zealand so we know that's not true. Here is some proof.
We saw this guy on the South Island. He stopped and kindly posed for a picture for us. I think he was on his way to get a pie. Bacon and egg is my favorite. Not sure what his favorite is - I forgot to ask because I was so excited to see a moa.



And we saw this fellow on the North Island. Notice how he tries to blend into the bush. Moas are notoriously shy creatures, which is why you don't see them very often.



I'm not sure why this myth that the moa is extinct is so prevalent in New Zealand, as well as the rest of the world. Just the other day, I read this article in the New Zealand Herald about Labour MP Trevor Mallard raising the idea that the moa could be brought back from the dead. But not just any moa, as according to Mr. Mallard it would be foolish to have the 3.5m variety roaming around. As he points out:
"They would be dangerous. But the ones 1.3m tall (and 1.8m tall) don't weigh much more than turkeys. I'd like ones I could pat on the head, rather than the ones that are going to bowl us over."

I don't know what surprised me more - that Mr. Mallard thought this was a good issue to talk about in the run up to the election or the fact that he thinks they are actually extinct? Even the Prime Minister knows that they aren't extinct. As John Key pointed out, "there are a few Moas in the Labour caucas."

I guess the good thing about this news story is that it has highlighted the danger that moas are in. Look at this sign for example - an entire business dedicated to hunting the moas down. 




And do you know what they do with the moas they kill? They turn them into {gasp} beer. It's true - check out this site here. They even tried to serve me some on Air New Zealand the other day. Of course, I said no. 

But with your help, we can put a stop to it. Join the Moa Preservation Society and work with us to help keep moas around for generations to come. It only costs $25 for your annual membership - what a bargain! And it can be any variety of dollars you like - US, Canadian, New Zealand, Australian etc. You get the idea. Make sure you send it to us in cash and mark the envelope, "Urgent - Large Cash Donation Enclosed." That will ensure the post office gets it to us promptly, as well as safe and sound.

If you want to see some more inspirational pictures of moas, you can check out my Pinterest Board which is dedicated to the subject. I've recently discovered Pinterest - why didn't anyone tell me about it before? It is amazing how many hours can evaporate just like that when you're looking at pretty pictures of things like moas and adding them to your boards.

Once we receive your $25 donation, we'll send you one of these lovely membership certificates which you can proudly display in your home or on your boat.

Fancy becoming a member of the Moa Preservation Society? Are you active on Pinterest? If so, share a link below and I'll check it out.
Thanks for stopping by our blog - we love it when people come visit! We're also on Facebook - pop by and say hi!

Murder at the Marina - a lighthearted & humorous cozy sailing mystery - available in ebook and paperback format at:

Amazon (US) | Amazon (CA) | Amazon (UK) | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple iBooks | Google Play | Book Depository | Books-A-Million

Find out more at ellenjacobsonauthor.com 

26 September 2018

Wordless Wednesay | New Marina Cats





Wordless Wednesday is supposed to be about posting a photo(s) without any words. But, I'm a rule breaker, so here are a few words:

1 - We have three new adorable cats at the marina. Actually, I can only confirm that two of them are adorable. I've never seen the third one, although it's a cat, so of course it's adorable. Goes without saying.

2 - The three of them used to be outdoor semi-feral cats that a lady would feed. Unfortunately, she passed away and they were relocated here. Which is a good thing as the rat population needs to be checked.

3 - One of them is super-friendly and goes to the office every morning to demand food and petting. The other one is a bit more skittish, but still loves to get cuddles. I hope the third one is okay.

What words does this picture(s) bring to your mind when you look at it?

For more Wordless Wednesday fun, click here

Thanks for stopping by our blog - we love it when people come visit! We're also on Facebook - pop by and say hi!


Murder at the Marina - a lighthearted & humorous cozy sailing mystery - available in ebook and paperback format at:

Amazon (US) | Amazon (CA) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (AU) | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple iBooks | Google Play | Book Depository | Books-A-Million

Find out more at ellenjacobsonauthor.com 

24 September 2018

What You're Saying | Fun & Interesting Blog Comments


My friend Duwan had this great idea to do a blog post highlighting some of the fun and interesting comments you all have been leaving here on the blog. She has lots of great ideas - just check out the super cool and uber-frugal way she transformed Parmesan cheese containers into funky silverware holders using socks. Yep, you read that right - socks.

So here we go - some of the cool comments you all have left. I've left links to the commenters' blogs. Hop on over and say hi to them.

Talk Like a Pirate Day

On my post about Talk Like a Pirate Day, Alex J Cavanaugh said:

"Won't be dressing up but I'm willing to discuss salty seadogs with Simon."

What I love about this comment is that he's referring to my imaginary cat, Simon, who tends to make appearances on the first Wednesday of every month as part of the IWSG blog hop. Sometimes, I think Simon might actually be real and maybe I'm the one who is imaginary. Should I be concerned?

Loni Townsend at Squirel Talk made me laugh out loud with her comment on the same post:

"Arr! What be a pirate's favorite letter? Ye might think it be 'R,' but no, it be the 'C'!"

Go pay Loni a visit. She just did a cover reveal for her upcoming release. It's gorgeous!

Blogger or a Writer?

On my post about whether I'm a blogger who writes or a writer who blogs, Inka at Compass Heading 180 said:

"I think you must be some sort of a humanoid to be able to write as much as you do! For me it's an effort to even read as much, let alone write... I usually binge read your blog posts because I just can't keep up with your pace!"

I'm a ordinary human, right? Or am I an android who thinks she's a humanoid? Or a humanoid who thinks she's an android? Is Simon real or am I? I don't think I'm going to be able to fall asleep tonight - too many deep thoughts about what I really am and the meaning of life.

Inka is a Finnish sailor. She has some beautiful pictures of classic sailboats up on her blog right now. You'll want to check them out.

The White Shoes Debate

When I asked the question about whether or not it's okay to wear white after Labor Day, Sandee from Comedy Plus said:

"Fashion statement? I do what I want and at my age no one even says a thing. I used to go by these things, but no more."

Such a great sentiment! I'm of that age where I'm no longer worried about making a fashion statement. Sandee regularly features adorable pictures of kittens and puppies.

And Christine Rains cracked me up with her comment:

"... wear white shoes? All my shoes are black, so I'm good. :) I think these days no one pays attention to that fashion rule anymore, and I have no idea any other rules... as I type this wearing Captain America pajama bottoms and a T-Rex t-shirt."

I love her fashion sense! Where can I get a T-Rex t-shirt? Christine is an awesome writer. Hop on over to her site and check out her books.


* * *


Thanks for the awesome blog post idea, Duwan! I know that I've been slow to respond to them lately, but I love reading everyone's comments. I think highlighting what you guys are saying might just be a regular feature on the blog.

If you're a blogger, what are some of the fun and interesting comments people have left you?

19 September 2018

Wordless Wednesday | Talk Like A Pirate Day



Wordless Wednesday is supposed to be about posting a photo(s) without any words. But, I'm a rule breaker, so here are a few words:

1 - Ahoy, mateys! It's "Talk Like a Pirate Day"!

2 - We're not big on dressing up, but I know people who take every opportunity they can fin to don their pirate apparel.

3 - Did you know that the term "filibuster" has pirate origins? It must be true - I read it here.

What words does this picture(s) bring to your mind when you look at it?

For more Wordless Wednesday fun, click here

Thanks for stopping by our blog - we love it when people come visit! We're also on Facebook - pop by and say hi!



Murder at the Marina - a lighthearted & humorous cozy sailing mystery - available in ebook and paperback format at:

Amazon (US) | Amazon (CA) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (AU) | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple iBooks | Google Play | Book Depository | Books-A-Million

Find out more at ellenjacobsonauthor.com 



17 September 2018

A Blogger Who Writes Or A Writer Who Blogs?

Last month, I offered an apology for slacking off on responding to blog comments and returning visits to all of you lovely people's blogs. Someone left a really interesting comment saying something like "some people are bloggers who happen to write, others are writers who happen to blog and you have become the latter."

This blog used to be my main creative outlet, but I wonder if that's changed over the past year or so as I've focused more on writing cozy mysteries. Have I become a writer who happens to blog? I certainly haven't given this blog the love and attention it deserves, and I've even missed posting a few times (I usually post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday).

It feels like my creative well has been a bit tapped dry as of late while I've been working on my latest manuscript and The Cynical Sailor has suffered as a result. Do we have a limited amount of creativity and have to choose where we invest it?

On the bright side, I sent >>Bodies in the Boatyard<< off to the editor this weekend and am thinking of a publication date sometime in November if all goes well. (Many, many thanks to all of my wonderful beta readers!) So now I should have a bit more time for blogging while I switch gears and move into outlining the next book in the series.

Here's a sneak peek at the cover - kind of makes it real looking at it like that. You can find out more on my author blog here. There's even a post about alien abduction today over there.



Since my creative well is a bit dry at the moment, I'd love to get some ideas from you - what would you be interested in having me blog about? What questions are you dying to have me answer?

12 September 2018

Wordless Wednesday | Ethiopian Food & An Interview


Wordless Wednesday is supposed to be about posting a photo(s) without any words. But, I'm a rule breaker, so here are a few words:

1 - I'm writing this before breakfast. I can't decide what to have. All the usual suspects sound kind of dull - oatmeal, yogurt, toast etc. What I really want this morning is Ethiopian food.

2 - We really need to learn how to make it for ourselves. It's not always easy to find Ethiopian restaurants in your travels.

3 - Want more words on your Wednesday? Hop on over to Operation Awesome to read an author interview with me. I talk about writing, living on a sailboat, and Ethiopian food.


What words does this picture(s) bring to your mind when you look at it?

For more Wordless Wednesday fun, click here

Thanks for stopping by our blog - we love it when people come visit! We're also on Facebook - pop by and say hi!

Murder at the Marina - a lighthearted & humorous cozy sailing mystery - available in ebook and paperback format at:

Amazon (US) | Amazon (CA) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (AU) | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple iBooks | Google Play | Book Depository | Books-A-Million

Find out more at ellenjacobsonauthor.com 

10 September 2018

Mother Nature Is At It Again


Three hurricanes in the Atlantic - Florence, Isaac, and Helene, plus something else brewing in the Caribbean which could impact Texas and Louisiana. It's pretty awful to see what's headed toward the Caribbean islands and the States right now. Especially when we just had the one year anniversary of Hurricane Irma.

Fortunately, Florida isn't in Hurricane Florence's path so we and our sailboat aren't in any danger. Unfortunately, many other people are in the cone of destruction. It's just gut-wrenching to read people's updates about prepping their sailboats, moving them to secure locations (if they can get to one), hauling their boats out (if they can find a place that can take them), making plans for evacuation, and worrying where she'll strike and if their boats will survive.

And that's just our boating friends - there are so many people on land in danger as well. Our thoughts are with everyone watching and waiting and prepping for what may be headed their way.

Are you in the midst of hurricane prep? Is there any place less prone to natural disasters? Have you been through a natural disaster?

07 September 2018

Cost Of Cruising & Living Aboard A Sailboat | July & August 2018



We track and report every penny we spend living aboard and cruising on Tickety Boo, our Moody 346 sailboat for a couple of reasons.

1 - It helps us see where our money is going, helps us make informed choices about where to spend our money, which in turn helps us stretch our money further so that we can keep adventuring longer.

2 - We found it really useful to check out other people's cost of cruising when we were starting out, so we figure we can return favor by sharing ours.

We're currently at Indiantown Marina in Florida. Scott is working overseas so the costs are lower than if he was here. He'll be back in the next month of two and then costs are going to skyrocket as we start work on the very long list of boat projects that we have to do.

You can find links to other cost updates from ourselves (on Tickety Boo, camping across the States, and our previous boat in New Zealand) and others on this page, as well as on The Monkey's Fist.


* * *

Cost of Cruising & Living Aboard | July & August 2018

Overall, we spent >>$2,402<< during July and August.

When you look at the nitty-gritty details of what we spent below, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1 - All costs are in US dollars.

2 - Not all expenses are included - here's what we've left out:

(a) We don't report how much we spend on alcohol. I remember reading some horrible, judgy comments in a blog post a few years back about how much someone spent on booze, so I left it out when we first started tracking our cruising costs back in New Zealand. For consistency's sake, I've continued to leave it out when tracking our cruising costs.
(b) We've also left out our costs for medical insurance. We didn't think it made sense to include insurance costs as they can vary so widely depending upon your nationality, where you cruise, what level of coverage you want and can afford, whether you get subsidies etc. In case you are curious, while we're back in the States, we do have a high deductible/high out-of-pocket expenses insurance through the health insurance marketplace (aka the Affordable Care Act), primarily to protect our assets and cover us in case of a catastrophic medical condition.
(c) I haven't included any expenses related to my writing projects (e.g., editor, book cover design, publishing expenses, author website).
(d) Scott was in Scotland during the past two months, so our expenses are a lot less than they would be if he was here.

3 - I've included any shipping and taxes we've paid in what we report - Florida has a 6% sales tax.



* * *

GROCERIES | Total = $333

This category includes everything we put in our bodies in terms of food and drink (excluding booze) that we prepare ourselves. It doesn't include things like paper towels and ziploc bags, which I know some people would classify as groceries. Sure, you could probably eat them, but they wouldn't taste very good.

Although we don't budget (you can read more about that here), I'm happiest when we keep our monthly grocery spend per person under $200. So that means a spend of $167 for the past couple of months for just me made me very happy.

PERSONAL & HOUSEHOLD | Total = $30


This is the category where we include household things (like paper towels and ziploc bags) and personal hygiene items (like soap and shampoo). We also capture items for the "home" here - like bug spray.

ENTERTAINMENT | Total = $140


In terms of drinks and eating out, this includes everything we don't prepare ourselves, even if we get something to go and eat it back on the boat. We also track how much we spend on books, magazines, DVD rentals and going to the movies in this category, as well as the occasional lottery ticket.

 
COMMUNICATIONS | Total = $110

Our cell phone is actually one of our biggest non-boat related expenses. We have a monthly prepaid plan with AT&T which includes 8GB of data and unlimited calls and texts.

BOAT FUEL | Total = Nil

Tickety Boo has been sitting in her slip so we haven't needed to get any fuel.

PROPANE  | Total = Nil


We have a propane/LPG cooker on our boat, which we need to replace as the stove no longer works and replacement parts aren't available. While we're at Indiantown Marina, we use an electric hotplate and a crockpot for cooking, so we haven't had to spend any money on filling our propane tanks.

MARINA COSTS | Total = $1,345


Keeping Tickety Boo in a slip is one of our biggest expenses, and the rates went up in January. The new monthly cost of a slip with electricity at Indiantown Marina for a 34' boat is $657. The guys at the marina will also come pump out our holding tank on demand - $10 for each visit.

BOAT STUFF | Total = $282


This category is for all the stuff we buy for the boat, as well as  repair and maintenance costs. Our big purchase was a new-to-us Walker Bay dinghy with a sailing kit. We also renewed our Coast Guard documentation.


TRANSPORT | Total = $32

This category is for costs related to our vehicle, mostly for gas to drive into the nearby "big city" of Stuart for errands.


MEDICAL EXPENSES | Total = Nil


This category includes medical expenses outside of our monthly insurance premium (which aren't included here - see section on exclusions above), like over the counter medications, prescriptions and things for our medical kit. It also includes the costs of doctors visits and medical tests which aren't covered by our insurance. It's always nice to report nil spending in this category.


OTHER | Total = $127

In this category, we break out how much we spend on clothes and travel expenses. We also include a catch-all miscellaneous group for stuff that doesn't fit neatly anywhere else - things like laundry, Amazon Prime, presents, computer parts, postage etc.




Any money saving tips to share? What do you spend the most on each month? Are there any areas you're trying to cut back on?

Thanks for stopping by our blog - we love it when people come visit! We're also on Facebook - pop by and say hi!


Murder at the Marina - a lighthearted & humorous cozy sailing mystery - available in ebook and paperback format at:

Amazon (US) | Amazon (CA) | Amazon (UK) | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple iBooks | Google Play | Book Depository | Books-A-Million

Find out more at ellenjacobsonauthor.com 

05 September 2018

Simon Goes Nuts For Catnip | IWSG


The Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) is a place to share and encourage, where writers can express their doubts and concerns without appearing foolish or weak. It's a great place to mingle with like minded people each month during IWSG day.

Every month there's an optional question which may prompt folks to share advice, insights, a personal experience or story. Some folks answer the question in their IWSG blog post or let it inspire them if they're struggling with what to say.

This month's question is:

"What publishing pathway are you considering / did you take, and why?"

Check out how people have answered this month's question, as well as the other insecurities and writing topics they may have shared by visiting the IWSG sign-up list here. If you want to see how I answered the question, have a look below. 


* * *


Image via The Graphics Fairy


"Simon, get off of my laptop." I set my coffee cup down next to my computer and stared at the unresponsive ball of fur. "Simon, come on, I need to work."

The large gray cat lifted his head and gave me a haughty look. "Leave me alone, lady. It's my nap time." He stretched out, completely covering the keyboard and erasing all of my work in the process.

"Aargh! You deleted my IWSG post!" I tried to shoo Simon off of the table, but he wasn't having it. Then I remembered the secret weapon I had stashed away. I opened a drawer, pulled out a small bag, and waved it in front of the feline's nose. "Do you want some catnip?"

Simon started meowing loudly and batting at the bag. I sprinkled some of the dried leaves on the settee and watched as Simon darted across the room in a frenzy. While he rolled around in the catnip, purring loudly and kneading the cushions, I tried to resurrect my blog post.

"Oh, this is hopeless, Simon," I said. "There's no way I can rewrite this before IWSG day."

Simon stared at me for a few moments with a glazed look in his eyes, then rolled on his back and promptly fell asleep.

"I guess I'll have to take a leaf out of your book and be lazy about my answer to this month's question. Rather than tell everyone what publishing path I took and why, I'll point them to my author blog where I've already addressed this before."

I looked over at Simon. His paws were twitching. I wondered what he was dreaming about. I kept talking out loud despite the fact that he was ignoring me.

"I'll tell everyone to check out this post, where I talk about why I chose to self-publish my cozy mystery rather than go down the traditional publishing route. Then there was the post where I discussed the pros and cons of being exclusive with Amazon or going wide and distributing to other ebook stores, like Kobo, Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple iBooks, and Google Play. I went wide, by the way."

I carried on while Simon continued to chase imaginary lizards in his sleep. "Then there was the post I did earlier this week, where I shared details of my book release in numbers which illustrates some of the publishing choices I made."

After I finished typing and scheduling my post, I sat next to Simon and rubbed his belly while he purred. "See isn't catnip fun? Let's make a deal. You don't sleep on my laptop anymore and I'll reward your good behavior with catnip."


* * *

If you're interested in finding out more about what publishing path I took and why, check out these posts on my author blog:


Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing - the pros and cons of both approaches to publishing and why I opted to go down the indie route.  

Amazon Exclusive vs. Going Wide - the pros and cons of making your book exclusive to Amazon and why I chose not to.

Cozy Mystery Book Release in Numbers - recap of my recent release of Murder at the Marina in numbers, including percent sold on Amazon vs. other retailers, ebook vs. paperback sales, and sales by country.


* * *

And, now for a favor. If you've read my cozy mystery, Murder at the Marina, could you take a moment to leave a review? It would mean the world to me and help other readers find my book. It doesn't have to be long - just a sentence or two would be great. You can leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. If you picked up a copy on another retailer like Kobo, Barnes & Noble, or Apple iBooks, you can also leave reviews there. Thanks for your help!


Writers - what publishing paths are you considering or have taken? Readers - does it matter to you if a book is independently or traditionally published? Do you leave book reviews?

Thanks for stopping by our blog - we love it when people come visit! We're also on Facebook - pop by and say hi!

Murder at the Marina - a lighthearted & humorous cozy sailing mystery - available in ebook and paperback format at:

Amazon (US) | Amazon (CA) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (AU) | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple iBooks | Google Play | Book Depository | Books-A-Million

Find out more at ellenjacobsonauthor.com 

03 September 2018

The Big White Shoes Debate


I was at a barbecue last night and we were talking about the no-white after Labor Day rule. I remember this being such a big deal when I was younger and having to say goodbye to my white shoes at the end of each summer. Is this still a big deal? Do you wear white shoes or any white clothing after summer is over?

For those of you who are celebrating Labor Day today, I hope you have a wonderful time free of work and full of good weather. If it's just an ordinary Monday for you, I hope it's an awesome start to the week.

What fashion rules do you swear by? What fashion rules do you think are outdated?

Thanks for stopping by our blog - we love it when people come visit! We're also on Facebook - pop by and say hi! 



Murder at the Marina - a lighthearted & humorous cozy sailing mystery - available in ebook and paperback format at:

Amazon (US) | Amazon (CA) | Amazon (UK) | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple iBooks | Google Play | Book Depository | Books-A-Million

Find out more at ellenjacobsonauthor.com