Aug 10, 2014 |
My NOLA Cookbook
In my previous post, you met Ms. New Orleans 2014, Lindsay Reine. In this post, you’ll get a chance to win her cookbook.
This review is different than most. There are no spoiler alerts. No characters to introduce you to. Just some mighty fine eats.
The first two recipes I chose were the Mayonnaise biscuits (Pg. 24) and the Baked Potato Soup (Pg. 9). They paired well together. Or, they would have. I’m not a perfect cook and I had one of those moments when the recipe called for self-rising flour but This Girl used all-purpose instead. The flavor was good but the density was atrocious. That was my fault. And this week I hope to make them the proper way. You can see the biscuits trying to crowd their way into the soup photo here:
Baked Potato Soup, from Laughter is Louder with Good Food Cookbook
So let’s ignore those little biscuits and focus on the soup. That heavenly, creamy, warm, soothing, comfort-food, old-fashioned baked potato soup. It’s reminiscent of my mother’s Egg Gravy she would serve over boiled potatoes. I never thought to put the potatoes in the gravy! Lindsay’s recipe calls for something extra, as well: green onions. What a flavor boost.
Baked Potato Soup from Lindsay Reine
I’d love to say we all enjoyed the soup. I’d love to, but I can’t. Because there wasn’t enough to go around. Dot was at work all day and well, I was hungry. Really hungry. And so I did the Hobbit lunch thing and had three servings over a few hours. I shared some with my mother down the street. I put some away for my lunch at work the next day. I did save Dot a small serving. But that’s all she got. Okay. Two small servings. The recipe makes six good-sized servings. But like I said. I was hungry. And it was good.
The next recipes I’m salivating over are the Mexi-Corn Dip (Pg. 3), Oven-Fried Pickles (Pg. 4) and the Strawberry Lemonade Beer (Pg. 7). Oh, and the Lasagna Soup (Pg. 14), Brunch Egg Casserole (Pg. 28), Brown Sugar Maple Ham (Pg 39), and well, pretty much the rest of the book, too.
Laughter is Loudest with Good Food
With 150 recipes, there’s something for everyone. Printed through Morris Press, this cookbook has a spiral binding which makes it great for laying flat on the kitchen counter. There’s a complete Table of Contents in the front, and an Index of Recipes in the back. There are pages of helpful hints like how to use different spices, how to buy and cook different vegetables and fruits, and fun things like creative napkin folding. Do you need to substitute dried herbs for fresh? Or cocoa powder for chocolate? Yup. There’s a page for all that. Oh, and an Equivalency Chart. How much is one pound of raisins? About 3-1/2 cups. Now that’s useful information!
As mentioned in my interview with Lindsay, there are a few typos in the book. That’s okay. It’s not hard to figure them out. You wouldn’t really bake biscuits for 152 minutes, would you? Aside from the typos, the cookbook is really put together well.
Lindsay and her boyfriend Mike hand-typed each recipe from old, faded recipe cards. What started as a fundraising project for her turned into a labor of love to create a family heirloom collection. And they succeeded.
There’s plenty of NOLA-based recipes, too. Crab Meat Dip (Pg. 2), Shrimp Spread (Pg. 5), Crawfish Soup (Pg. 13) to name just a few. There’s also Shrimp and Grits (Pg. 35). But I’m really looking forward to making the New Orleans Praline Brownies (Pg. 70).
So. Are you hungry? Can’t wait to win one? Click here to order.
But if you want to win one, just enter below. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE MANDATORY ENTRY OR ALL OTHER ENTRIES WILL BE VOID. Leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite comfort food?
Lindsay and I can’t wait to read your answers. But first . . . let me grab something to eat.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Aug 10, 2014 |
My NOLA Cookbook
While researching and writing NOLA, my great friend Lisa posted a link on my Facebook page for a cookbook. Not just any cookbook, mind you, but a cookbook from New Orleans, with recipes compiled by Ms. New Orleans 2014 Lindsay Reine. How much better could things get? A little bit better. Because of my affinity for all things NOLA, I explained this to Lindsay and she agreed to send me an extra autographed copy for this giveaway. She also became my friend on Facebook, and a huge source of information for my book.
Lindsay confirmed an idea I’ve had from the very beginning- “Most people (in New Orleans) are good people who love and care for everyone, even if they don’t know ya.” There will be a cookbook review/giveaway on my very next post, but first, I want you to meet her.
I love this photo Lindsay sent me for the blog. It shows the woman I know- fun, pretty, and not afraid to work.
Help Wanted – Lindsay Reine (photo used by permission)
Lindsay graciously sat through hours of emails and questions so I could interview her for this post. Here are her answers:
- MoJo: Tell me about yourself, whatever you want to share.
- Lindsay: I’m 32 years old, the youngest of three girls. I live in Slidell, Louisiana which is about thirty minutes from New Orleans. With the exception of college, I have lived here my whole life. I love Slidell, I love the people, the city and mostly I love being so close to my family as most of us have stayed here. My grandparents built this town in various ways and the values of family, charity, and tradition have been passed down to all of us as we continue to serve our community today.
I attended Southeastern Louisiana University where I graduated with honors holding two degrees, one in Management and the other in Marketing, but as you will learn, I did not stop there! I have been a Louisiana real estate agent for eight years as well as being a dental assistant and insurance manager for seven years, where both my sisters and brother-in-law work as well.
I am also the reigning Ms. New Orleans. While all these things keep me pretty busy, I would not have it any other way. I am so honored and excited to have each and every opportunity that has been presented to me so far!
- MoJo: Talk about the Pageants you’re involved in. How long have you been doing Pageants? What do you like/dislike about them? Which titles have you won, and which are you going for?
- Lindsay: Pageants…..well….until the Ms. New Orleans pageant in December 2013, I had not done a pageant in about 28 years. My family has been doing pageants for as long as I can remember and when we were little my parents took me and my sisters to quite a few. My Mother holds a few titles herself so it seemed pretty normal growing up for us to do pageants and stay to watch her compete. In addition to many other titles, my mother was Miss. Crescent City, and holding the title of Ms. New Orleans means so much more to me because I feel like I am carrying on a legacy, different title names, but the same great city.
Pageant Girls – Lindsay Reine (2014) and her mother, Carol Reine (1989)
- Lindsay: I credit my ability to confidently stand in front of a crowd and also my ease of public speaking, to having the pageant experience when I was young. I fully believe those skills have carried me though many group presentations and in everyday life. Pageants are meant to be confidence builders and to get people involved in their community. I really enjoy being a beacon of self-acceptance and giving women a reality check. So many women have come up to me and thanked me, which I never understood until one said “Lindsay, you’re 32 years old, very little pageant experience, a few extra pounds and a lot of personality. You went out there and you did it. It made me reevaluate how I see myself.” I was not offended, not in the very least.
While I was volunteering at a Children’s hospital function a beautiful girl told me her story of how she gained weight after her chemotherapy treatments, she was so excited to see me because she felt like if I was a princess she could be a princess too. ABSOLUTELY she can be a princess, but until that day she didn’t have the confidence to even dream of becoming one. Her mother was in tears after we spoke, she changed my life more than I could ever hope to have changed hers. A few little girls have run up to me and I can see how excited they are, it makes everything worth it and it makes me want to work even harder to show everyone. “If I can do it, so can you.” Participating in the pageant system opens doors and gives you so many more opportunities you may not have had before.
To me, the worst thing about the pageant is the spray tan and the fear of falling on stage! During the Ms. New Orleans pageant, my heel went in a crack on the stage and I almost fell…twice.
I am currently filling out the application to compete for Ms. Louisiana State in August. It is going to be a tough competition as all my competitors are intelligent and beautiful but I am going to get out there, smile and hope for the best!
All that being said, competing in Ms. New Orleans happened by accident. I had no intention of competing; honestly, pageants were the furthest thing from my mind. Then, in usual fashion, I was motivated in the most common way, someone said some awful things to me and I got mad. I was made fun of for my weight, my skin, my accent, my background, even my height, (like I have any control over that) and I was tired of letting it happen. I was tired of feeling like I wasn’t enough and like I needed to change, quite frankly I liked myself and was content. I stirred over the comments, texted friends who gave their support and I love them dearly for it. This wasn’t the first time they had to come to my rescue, nor will it be the last, of this I am sure. My nieces and nephews are the light of my life and I started thinking “Would I want this to happen to them? Do I want them to ever be mistreated and have someone say demeaning things to them? What kind role model am I to let them see me accepting this behavior as normal?” Not going to happen, I will not allow them to be taught these things and I understand this person is just one of millions and they will have their own battles to fight. However, as far as I am concerned, the days of letting people walk on me were over.
Then a friend messaged me about the pageant -boom- life changer. I participated in the pageant for the most important reason, me. Win or lose, I was going to get up there and prove to myself and everyone who needed a flare of hope, it could happen and if you want it bad enough, it will happen.
- MoJo: How did the cookbook come about? What was your inspiration for it?
- Lindsay: I come from a long line of excellent cooks and I am Southern. Gathering around good food is tradition. Holidays and gatherings are always centered on what is cooking in the kitchen and what is set on the table, so to me, it just made sense.
The big joke is that I do not know how to cook for less than 20 people at a time, and it is true, I don’t. I love cooking big meals and sharing with friends and family as often as possible. It is a small way to show them I care and that they always have a place at my table and in my home, any time or day, no matter the circumstance.
The cookbook was originally a way to raise money for me to compete in the Ms. Louisiana State pageant and ended up becoming a family heirloom for quite a few people. So many people graciously donated their family recipes to me and the book grew a life of its own, it became a piece of history for families to treasure. Every recipe has a story and I was so blessed to hear a few of them along the way. My boyfriend, Michael, and I hand-typed each recipe to submit to the publisher and I could not have done it without him. Some of the recipes were handwritten and very old, it was an adventure to decipher a few but we got through it. There are 150 recipes filled with love and yummy goodness in the cookbook and I am so proud of how it turned out.
- MoJo: I did notice a few typos in the cookbook. For instance, in one recipe instead of “simmer” it’s typed “sinner” which I found humorous since it originated in New Orleans. Another typo instructed me to bake biscuits for 10-152 minutes. That’s quite a time difference!
- Lindsay (laughs): I knew there were a couple, the publisher was supposed to check and by the time they sent it to me to edit I was burnt out! Mike and I typed in all the recipes ourselves to save money, it was an adventure!! Some of the recipes were so old it was hard to read (the mayo biscuits was one of those recipes). It was fun but I’m glad it’s over.
- MoJo: Tell me about being a real estate agent in NOLA. I imagine the properties you have access to are a bit different than standard cities.
Lindsay Reine, Top Agent Realty
- Lindsay: Being a real estate agent is a really tough job. People are asking you to help them invest a very large amount of money into something they expect to shelter and protect them and they have no idea what they are looking for. There is a lot to playing detective and research involved but I love it. My grandfather, father and uncles are all contractors and are custom builders for commercial and residential. My mother and father both held real estate licenses for 30 years so real estate runs in my blood, which may explain why I love doing it. As far as the properties, each one is unique in its own way. We have to pay special attention to flood zones, swamps, Mardi Gras parade routes, historically protected homes, and elevation here so it is probably very different from places outside of the Gulf Coast.
- MoJo: Tell me about NOLA.
- Lindsay: New Orleans, to know her is to love her. The city of mystery, magic, ghouls, spirits, love, laughter and fun all rolled into one. The history and structure of New Orleans is amazing by itself but when you add the people, there is no other city that can compare. There are so many cultures here everyone can find a place to fit in and it feels like home, no matter where you are from. Everyone, at least once in their lifetime, should experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans or one of the surrounding cities.
There are so many things I love about New Orleans but there are also things I wish would change. It is my wish that the economy in New Orleans would continue to pick up, with all the movie producers coming in and other businesses interested in relocating to New Orleans, more jobs are steadily becoming available. There have been some really positive changes happening around the Parish and surrounding areas giving people hope and uplifting spirits.
- MoJo: Since my novel is set in New Orleans, I’m researching a lot about the culture and events. Katrina is a big part of that. What can you tell me about hurricanes in NOLA?
- Lindsay: If you want to visit New Orleans, avoid hurricane season. Seriously, hurricanes are scary. If you are not prepared you are in more trouble than you know. When the water rises and the wind howls, it is like nothing you have ever experienced before. You feel the wrenching of your organs in your insides and your mind goes in to preparation mode before you even realize what is happening. We have been taught and trained for hurricanes since the day we are born on the Gulf Coast. All the elders make sure you know every story of “the big ones”, not to scare you but to make it a reality. There is nothing you can do to stop the water once it decides to come your way.
Every part of the country has its share of Mother Nature’s choice of wrath and as ironic as it sounds, I would prefer to face hurricanes over mudslides, earthquakes, blizzards or tornadoes. Not only because that is what I am used to but because we do have a little bit of warning and time for preparation. While a hurricane will cause mass destruction and devastation, at least we are given a chance to prepare and evacuate if necessary.
Everyone asks about hurricane Katrina and when I talk about it I feel grateful, grateful it was just material possessions that got washed away. Not everyone was as blessed and lost loved ones who, for whatever reason, could not or would not evacuate. I had six feet of water in my home, as did many people. While I cannot understand why people were looting televisions, I do understand people taking food and necessities that they needed to survive, heck, I even understand the guy who took a bucket Heineken beers. I came back home three weeks after Katrina and it was a mess, buildings were gone, trash was everywhere and the spirit of the people was broken. As always, New Orleans came back better than ever, the Saints even won the Super bowl and the city continues to build and thrive today.
- MoJo: If you couldn’t do pageants or sell real estate, what would you be doing?
- Lindsay: If I had to choose a job other than the ones I have, it would be in Public Relations. I love meeting new people and do not mind speaking in front of people; it would be a great fit for me.
- MoJo: Most people want to travel to NOLA but you live there. What places do you want to travel to?
- Lindsay: I am a Disney fan, my favorite character is Sleeping Beauty, and while I have been to Disney World a handful of times I have never made it to Disneyland! I would love to see Aurora’s Castle! I also want to see more of Europe. I was able to travel to various cities in Italy and I loved traveling abroad, and the Italians know how to have a good time. Niagara Falls and an Alaskan cruise also top my list of travel destinations.
Lindsay has continued to share her NOLA life with me. Her insider tidbits are essential to adding more meat to my story. She’s a great source of not just tourist information, but history as well. One of her favorite drinking holes is Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, purported to be the original building (with a few upgrades).
We also talked about the myths and darker side of New Orleans. It’s filled with Rougarous and violent crimes. But as she says, “For the most part the crime is kept amongst those who are involved in ‘that life’.” Every city has its good and bad parts. New Orleans is just more colorful than most.
With the rich history of New Orleans, her strong family background, and her go-getter attitude, it’s no wonder Lindsay is ready to conquer the world . . . and already has, in part.
So are you ready for the flavors of New Orleans? Read on to the next post for my review and your chance to win.
My NOLA Cookbook
In addition to working at a dental office and in real estate, Lindsay has several online shops. Check out her links:
On Facebook: Ms. New Orleans 2014
On ebay: Shopgirl05
Mail order invitations and stationary: Carlson Craft
In need of a great NOLA dentist? Lakeshore Family Dentistry
In need of a great NOLA realtor? Top Agent Realty
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
[All photos in this blog post are property of Lindsay Reine, used by permission, with the exception of “My NOLA Cookbook”, property of Molly Jo/New Inklings Press.]
Aug 8, 2014 |
Five Things Friday at Frankly, My Dear…
The calendar tells me it’s been nearly two months since I last blogged.
Inconceivable!
Without going into dramatic detail, suffice to say life with all its twists and turns has been a great distraction from blogging. It’s been full of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. And we’re all learning to exchange beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3).
The calendar also tells me the year is about two-thirds behind us. Now that’s crazy! I look back on my resolutions and I’m so happy I had just one.
BETTER! 2014
I’m proud to say I’ve continued to do what I can to make life Better for those around me, and yes, for myself. I’m not proud to say I’ve put blogging on one of the back burners. It’s one of those things that I have great aspirations for, yet lately seem to not have time. So today, I’m taking time. I’m making time. I’m blogging. And I feel better because of it.
This week’s Five Things Friday theme is Start/Stop. It’s about those things in life that we either need to step up to, or let go of, or find a happy medium to make them better.
Here’s my Five.
1. NOLA. Is that really such a surprise? I hit a very tall Writer’s Block wall over two weeks ago. Thankfully, my writing mentor, Aaron Gansky, talked me through it. Based on feedback from Aaron, The Wordsmiths (the critique group I belong to), and several other beta readers, I’m going back to the beginning. Just the beginning. The plot itself will remain nearly the same, with just a few more twists and turns than I originally mentioned. But I need a better diving board, so I’m rewriting what I have and moving on from there. [Thank you, Aaron, for pointing out that my murder mystery novel has yet to include a murder.]
The Wordsmiths Critique Group
2. My budget. I had a long talk with God about my finances and to be honest, I didn’t like what He had to say. Because He said “Trust me.” It’s scary to trust a God I can’t physically see, for money that I physically need. I’m learning to be still, to not force anything, and to communicate. I stopped going from paycheck to paycheck, and started to really use my Mead OrganizeHer Expense Tracker. No, I’m not trying to be a commercial for them. But if you were to ask me a year ago how I keep track, I wouldn’t have a clue. Now, as soon as a bill comes in, I put it in the Bills pocket. Each month has an expense list, suggestions, and blanks for me to include my own. I’m learning to call my creditors before the due date if I can’t make the full payment. And you know what? They work with me. I’m no longer afraid of my finances. And that’s a good start. I’m still praying for a way to cut down my Sycamore tree, as it’s leaching into my watering system and I found out I’m highly allergic to it. And Beckie and I are hoping to attend next year’s Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference in May. There’s a huge correlation between my prayer life and peace about my finances.
3. Who’s Beckie? She’s the Newest member of The New Inklings, the writer’s group I formed around my company, New Inklings Press. Beckie and I know each other nine ways ’til Sunday and are just now realizing how many connections we have. I met her over a year ago while promoting The Unemployment Cookbook, and she recently reached out to me for a writer’s get-together. She’s been published in magazines, completed the Institute of Children’s Literature (ICL), and inspires me to keep going when I want to quit. Because of her, I’m going to start the next lessons at ICL and finally complete the course I signed up and paid for so long ago.
4. Complicated. In May/June, I was thrilled to have met up with an old friend and we had the idea to pursue a relationship. The relationship aspect didn’t work out, but I learned a valuable lesson through it: Don’t Leave. Period. While our romantic intentions didn’t flourish, I learned better communication skills. I prefer writing, of course. He prefers speaking. Long texts and longer phone calls were the norm between us. And no matter that any long-term romance was never a really good idea between us, the friendship has remained. As has my determination to not walk away from the fundamentally most important parts of life. He and I haven’t left each other, we just left behind an improbable romance. And I’m okay with that. Because, fundamentally, he’s still here for me. And I’m still here for him. No matter what.
Don’t Leave. Period.
5. Social. At the beginning of this post, I alluded to some, shall we say, challenges in the past few months that have sapped my attentions and my strengths. Because of this, I’ve had to evaluate my social calendar and make some changes. I momentarily stepped down as Social Media Manager (SMM) for my writer’s club. Aaron hired me as his SMM for a reciprocal mentoring agreement. I’ve taken as much off my plate as I can, and I’m still paring down. I’m learning to fit dinner and socializing into the same event. I’m learning to say “no” instead of “let me try”. I’m learning to rest. I’m learning what and who the important socials are. And I’m learning to let go. It’s not my favorite thing. But it’s important.
5b. [BONUS] Social. Aaron is teaching me how to nerd it by playing Magic: The Gathering. Stay tuned for his guest post on the subject. I enjoy the complexity of strategy, the lottery-feel of opening a new pack to search for random “rares”, and that while he’s always winning at Magic, he’s also mentoring me on my writing. It’s a win-win-win situation, in my book.
5c. [DOUBLE BONUS]. Social/book. If any of you bloggers reading this are interested, Aaron is giving away five free copies of his newest book, THE BARGAIN, (either digital or audio) in exchange for a thorough/heartfelt review on your blog. Just leave a comment below and we’ll be in touch with further details.
The Bargain by Aaron D. Gansky
Well, now that I’ve started blogging again, it’s time to stop this post. It’s your turn to comment, like, link up, and otherwise share what your FIVE THINGS FRIDAY: Start/Stop items are.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
MoJo Book Review and Giveaway: The Bargain by Aaron D. Gansky
It’s Complicated, Part One: My Relationship
FIVE THINGS FRIDAY: The Experience.
2014: BETTER.
Doing the Write Thing: Writing Conferences Fundraiser
Jun 15, 2014 |
It seems like just yesterday that I slightly bared my soul and asked for pray and partnership toward Doing the Write Thing . . . oh, wait. It was!
I do my best writings on Sunday afternoons when the chores are done, the errands have been run, and it’s nothing but me, Pandora, a nice breeze, and a cool beverage.
I always have at least two drinks available at all times. Today I’m drinking ice water or Ginger Ale, depending on which I grab first.
I was invited to post directly at LinkedIn so today I created my first article, 10 Things Your Insurance Agents Wish You Knew.
All that to say, every Sunday in my quiet moments, I’ll post updates on my fundraising campaign as well as my weekly writing production in general.
As of this moment, I have one sponsor for $20.00. This contribution isn’t a surprise to me, since it’s my friend Mary and she told me before I even started the campaign that she’d help out. So thanks, Mary. She’s a fellow member of the California Writer’s Club, High Desert Branch, the leader of the critique group I’m in, and a great friend.
I also have three Social Supporters: those who can’t contribute monetarily at this time, but are sharing my links and dreams through their social media circles to help gain visibility. Thank you, William, Ann and Melanie.
NOLA is coming along quite nicely. I’ve nearly 21,000 words which, considering the average adult novel is 70,000 words, means I’m about 30% finished. Last week I realized the rest of the plot which meant going back through what I’d previously written and making sure I dropped the right hints and dialogue.
My other writing projects are on the back burner until I finish NOLA, which I plan for the end of August. I guess that means I’d better get back to it. These words don’t write themselves, and I’ve a character or two to add.
Side shout to Toronto Mary and the Strumbellas. I hear-tell my CD is finally crossing the border and should be here in a week or two. Can’t wait!
Until then, thanks for keeping me on the path to Doing the Write Thing!
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
Doing the Write Thing: Writing Conferences Fundraiser
I am Defined. And I am a Mystery.
FIVE THINGS FRIDAY: POETRY
The Strumbellas
2014:BETTER.
FIVE THINGS FRIDAY: THE BIG EASY
Jun 14, 2014 |
Doing the Write Thing
Last month I was offered a scholarship to the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference for 2015. This morning, I was asked to participate and present at a still-in-development women’s conference later this year, organized by one of my fellow Writer’s Club and critique group members.
Needless to say, both of these opportunities are attractive to me. Even necessary if I’m to be a more professional writer. Conferences offer the opportunity to share what we know, to learn more, to meet fellow writers. We nourish each other with different writing styles. We treat each other to new paper palates. Conferences give attendees and presenters a means to reach each other on a more personal, involved level. Sharing the knowledge of what we do and why we do it is fundamental to growing in the writing industry. Not just as a writer, but in all capacities: publishing, public relations, marketing, editors, and yes, readers.
I’ve dreamt about attending and making great connections as well as being able to learn how to better craft my writings. No, really. I’ve actually dreamt about it!
My particular dilemma is I’m not out of the financial hole that unemployment dug for me two and three years ago. I’m very happy to say that I’ve eighteen months at my “new” job and continue to grow in job security. The home finances are still underwater, but it’s not as murky as it was and I do see rays of light beaming into the rough seas. Okay, so that’s just a poetic way of saying, I can’t afford to go to the conferences.
This brings me to my knees for prayer and to my keyboard for typing. Two weeks ago I started thinking up ways to earn extra money. The truth is, I can’t do it alone. I could sell my cookbooks for higher profit, but it’s called The Unemployment Cookbook for a reason: I can’t justify raising the price on something I wrote to help get others through their own hard times.
So I’m taking a huge, humbling risk by writing this:
Will you help me?
Would consider donating funds to help me in these endeavors? Each conference requires tuition, transportation, food, and other sundry costs including but not limited to resource materials, snacks, personal items, and of course books!
In anticipation of some Frequently Asked Questions:
*WHAT IF I HAVE EXTRA FUNDS? Any extra funds will be invested in support of my writing career. This means attending other conferences, paying all related taxes and fees associated with your donations, and minor resource/networking costs (printing of business cards, purchase of a small calendar, etc). Now that’s exciting!
*CAN YOU SUPPORT MY FUNDRAISER WITH ANY DONATION? Yes, of course any little amount helps! Thank you! There is a “donate” button on my blog. You can just head over to the coffee cup icon at the end of this post or in the right side column of the blog page and it will take you to my PayPal site. In the message line, be sure to specify “Do The Write Thing”.
*HOW WILL YOU KNOW HOW I’M ACTUALLY USING THE FUNDS? I want to be very transparent with all donations. I’ll post my totals weekly (and if you want your name mentioned in big neon lights, I can do that, too!). I’ll let you know what I’m spending, when, how, and why. And I’ll let you know how much is saved and how much I still need. As soon as I get any donation, it will be earmarked and banked specifically for these conferences and, as previously stated, all associated costs. Every step of the way, you’ll be with me. If not in person, then definitely with my blog!
*WHAT IF I DON’T GET ENOUGH DONATIONS TO MAKE IT TO ANY OF THE CONFERENCES? Okay, that’s a really legitimate concern. Let’s be real: these things can be expensive. So if I get some money, but not enough to attend the two big conferences, I have a Plan B: There are plenty of local promotional events that require fees. Things like renting space at book faires or crafts/creative shows. Networking opportunities like mixers and drop-ins. And of course, the aforementioned marketing tools.
I hope this explains the who, what, when, where, why and how of this post. If you have any questions, just let me know.
Thanks to so many for your incredible support of my writing. The responsibility is not lost on me, and I strive to do justice to your faith in the talents God has given me.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
I am Defined. And I am a Mystery.
Life is Rough. I’m still a diamond.
Why I Write. Every Day.
