The waiting is over! He’s here!

Published on November 13, 2015November 12, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell16 Comments

Friday the 13th has always been a lucky day for our family, so I’m thrilled to announce Tryouts for Ben is now available at Amazon.com today!

Yes, Ben made it even with all my jumbling, fumbling and amateurish attempts to bring him into this world.

Whew! It feels as though I’ve just birthed a baby elephant instead of a book.

For some, writing and self-publishing a book, of any size, in paper and e-format is easy. They share instructions on how to self-publish in 3 easy steps or maybe 10. I read article after article, followed steps 1 through infinity and more times than not, ended up with a scrambled mess.

But I eventually got to the end. Even if I traveled terrain as rough as the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Seems as if I go about every project the hard way.

However, today is not for whiners. It’s a day of celebration!!

Small though Ben may be, he’s my first and I’m one proud mama.

Please hop over to Amazon and check out my little man.

To get your copy, click on this image….

Now that I’ve conquered Amazon and Createspace I’m off to try my hand at Ingram-Spark.

A big thank you to everyone who helped me achieve this goal.

And a giant thanks for all the encouragement from my blogging community.

Without all of you, I don’t know if I would’ve preserved.

I hope some of you will read about Ben and share it with the young readers in your family.

After you read Tryouts for Ben, please leave a review on Amazon. (Hopefully a kind review.) Book reviews are so important and much appreciated.

Next, a big book! LOL

Leave me a comment and look for me @jeancogdell on Twitter and jean.cogdell on Facebook!

And don’t forget, pay it forward with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

Summer is Over

Published on September 3, 2014September 3, 2014 by Jean M. Cogdell1 Comment

Homework

Well, school’s started.

Your house is quiet.

Time to get writing.

But let’s be honest, letting go of those hazy, lazy days of summer is not easy. This summer I’ve enjoyed reading for pure pleasure and daydreaming of sandy beaches.

Are you mocked by your computer screen too? Mine stares at me like a two-year old who doesn’t understand the word no.

However, I’m determined to get my groove back and shake out the cobwebs. At my age, not an easy thing.

So it’s back to basics, and homework. Prompts to get the rust off and articles, books and websites that remind me how to write. Yes, I need reminding.

I’ve listed a few of my favs. Hope they help you get going this fall.

The Six Great Epiphanies of Successful Authors

20 Things That Can Help You Find Inspiration for Writing

Kick it up a Notch: Top Tips on Writing a Page-Turning Novel

How Revising Rewards Mistakes

An Early Fiction Checklist

Storytelling: One Surprising Approach to Plotting

As I said, this is just a few of the many. I hope one or more of these great writers nudge you and get those fingers flying. Happy writing.

Do you have too many emails?

Published on July 22, 2014July 22, 2014 by Jean M. Cogdell1 Comment

How many new emails did you get today?

100, 200, more?

Do you subscribe to more blogs and newsletters than you can read? Me too.

Let’s not forget the time we spend checking Twitter, and Facebook, which leads to cute videos (I mean educational videos) or photos.

I’ve started applying the one in, one out system. It’s something I used with my kids to keep them from accumulating tons of junk. Sound familiar?

You can try my system.

One in – One out.

If I subscribe to a new blog or newsletter I must unsubscribe to one.

If I save an email, I delete an old saved email. (You know the emails with the little colored stars, check marks or whatever by them)

What tricks do you use to find quality over quantity?
How do you purge your inbox?

I may have to begin a new system soon: One in – Two out.

Sigh, still have too many unread emails.

Share your secrets to a clean inbox in the comments section.

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Here’s to life!

Published on August 13, 2013August 14, 2013 by Jean M. Cogdell5 Comments

“First comes love then comes marriage, then comes…” Can you remember the taunting nursery rhyme? Aimed at teasing a sibling, friend or maybe at ourselves at that first crush.

Then the real thing hits, love blooms and if you were like me the world had no limits. Oh to be that young again.

The sixties and seventies were magical. The world seemed to be exploding with opportunities. Young and in love we left family and friends far behind for a better life. We would be different, we would not become our parents. Our children would be exposed to all the differences and the wonders we could provide. After all we had a car, and steady paycheck from Uncle Sam. My new husband just had to avoid getting shot at a few more months. After the birth of our first child we left Uncle Sam and New England for the warmth of the South.

I worked hard to become the hippest/hottest new Mom on the block. Dr. Spock was all the rage and with the help of Dr. Joyce Brothers and saran wrap things were hopping at our house. But like many stay at home moms with two kids, a hard-working husband and various pets I became bored with the Desperate Housewife way of life. I needed more.

Along came a cause in the form of religion; Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker. Unless you lived underground you know I’m talking about the 700 Club in Charlotte, N.C. I fell hook line and sinker, found God, and set out to save the world. Soon my family and I were involved in the Assemblies of God and later an independent church that led us to Houston, TX.

We lived and worked in Houston for many years. As all things go in cycles, so did religion. Suffice it to say, our eyes were opened and our hearts broken. Along with a lot of folks we lost everything but each other.

Soon our path led us to Dallas where we’ve built a wonderful life and watched our kids become beautiful adults. Today I thought of an old Frank Sinatra song. Where the lyrics say something about being a puppet, a pauper, a poet, a something a other… Then goes on with… “That’s life.”

My life isn’t what I thought it would be, but I’m not sure how many people can say their life is going exactly as planned.

I set out to set the world afire, it doesn’t need to be ablaze.

I set out to change the world, it’s not a one person job.

I set out to make a difference, I think we all make a difference one way or another.

So here I sit attempting to do something for myself, write. I’ve dabbled at it off and on the last couple of years, as time permitted. Writing is a dream I’ve resurrected from my childhood. This is for me. I hope one day I’ll enjoy reading what I’ve written, as will others.

If not oh well, “That’s Life.”

So when my writing gets off course, like life, and I’m sure it will. I’ll pick myself up, read a good book, dust off my keyboard and try again. If you too need a little encouragement, check out some of the books/blogs below and get back in the race.