IF I SHOW YOU MINE, WILL YOU SHOW ME YOURS?

New Year's Resolutions

It’s that time of year, again. I’m taking stock of my accomplishments. 2009 was a great year, filled with milestones in my writing life. My short story, Lessons from a Squirrel appeared in the Pisgah Review, and my debut novel is out from Red Rose Publishing. I completed my second novel and I’m currently seeking agent representation. I’m busy revising a middle grade high fantasy that I wrote in between my more serious projects as an escape – it’s pure fun! And I have started to put pen to paper on a new, adult novel that has been percolating in my imagination for a few years.

In 2009, I started this blog, and my group blog: The Roses of Prose, launched a website, found a community of writers and readers on various yahoo and ning groups, Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, and more. But I feel as if I have only climbed an inch up the learning curve when it comes to book promotion.

It should come as no surprise that along with taking stock in past accomplishments, the New Year prompts me to set new goals. I’m going to share my New Year’s Resolutions with you—both writing-related and personal. As 2010 progresses, I’ll check in on Fodder for Fiction to share my progress.

Resolutions 2010:

1. Revamp Author Website

2. Punch-up Blog Lisa Leibow’s Fodder for Fiction and plan programming for the year

3. Finish my Fictional Slave Narrative by June and have it ready for a critique group.

4. Finish the rewrite of my middle grade high-fantasy by incorporating feedback from my new critique group.

5. Actively seek agent representation and a publishing home for my completed second novel.
6. Write four short stories

7. Donate blood at least 6 times

8. Exercise at least three times per week

9. Read at least 50 books (i.e. read all of the books I have purchased and are in my to-read pile)

I hope that my goals inspire you to set some of your own. Comment and leave your resolutions here, too. We can encourage one another on throughout the year. Wish me luck!

Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women's Fiction
http://www.llleibow.com/

Hanukkah Gifts: It's the Thought That Counts...

When I’m not reading or writing, I try to choose active recreational activities to counteract the impact of the many hours of sitting the work I love requires. I take walks, jog, spin classes, ski, swim, yoga, tennis lessons. I like to mix it up so I don’t get bored. And it’s fun to try new things and challenge myself.

I suppose honing in on this quest for an active lifestyle in the midst of an obsession with a creative process that is sedentary in nature, is what drove my family to buy me a very thoughtful Hanukkah gift – Wii Fit, Personal Trainer. I received the gift on the fourth night of Hanukkah, opened the disk and popped it into the machine. The virtual trainer put me through a surprisingly tough workout filled with simulated track running, squats, lunges, and even some cardio-boxing.

While the trainer demonstrated the exercises with a cartoon-version of me on the screen, I followed along, taking note of the calories I’m incinerating as I move my body. What a nice way to get in some activity on a cold, wintry, or rainy day when I don’t want to get outside for a run.

My husband and sons found me a beautiful, thoughtful, gift. So, why do I have this nagging suspicion that it is also a hint, somehow? As I contemplate this gift, I can’t seem to shake the image of a beer-bellied, scruffy man getting a gut-buster as a gift, or a woman with saddlebags the size of Oklahoma receiving a thigh-master. I have always thought I had a healthy body image, but maybe I’m wrong. Is the Wii Fit Personal Trainer, my family’s way of telling me I need a gut-buster?

There, I did it. I admitted my silly insecurities. I’m not an ingrate. I love the gift and I’ll bust my gut using it!

Happy Hanukkah everyone! May this Festival of light bring joy and laughter to you!

OPERATION eBOOK DROP

What is it?

It was originally conceived when an author on the Kindleboards saw a message from a deployed troop member saying that Amazon's Whispernet for Kindle doesn't work overseas. The author sent the troop his book for free by email and the idea was born, and grew. He now collects names of deployed troops who would like to receive eBooks and he has shared his list to any author who would like to donate eBooks.


What I'm going to do.

I'm going to donate Double Out and Back eBooks to military personnel by sending them prepaid ebook coupons from All Romance eBooks.

It’s my way of thanking those who serve our country overseas – and in a way, it makes me feel like a member of the USO because I’m doing my part to entertain the troops!

The Roses of Prose Leading a Workshop and Signing

Three of the five Roses of Prose (Amber, Laura, and I) will be presenting a workshop, Grogging: How Five Newbie Authors Bumbled Into a Successful Group Blog, at the Silken Sands Writers' Conference in Pensacola Beach, Florida in March. We'll also be participating in the multi-author book signing.

We'd love to have you join is for three sunny (and educational) days. The conference features speakers Dianna Love and Karen Rose, as well as dozens of workshops, and editor and agent pitch sessions. Click on the picture for more information and details on the fabulous gulf front location!



Our Workshop Description:
Amber, Laura, and Lisa, three of the five Roses of Prose, have been blogging together since the spring of 2009, and enjoying the flexibility and support of blogging as a group. In this workshop, they will share their grog-creation process, including researching successful group blogs, choosing a theme, assigning duties and titles (BlogMommie, TreasuryGal, GuestBloggerMistress, etc.,) setting schedules, and creating weekly topics. A small-group exercise will guide you through the basics of creating your own grog. Each participant will receive a goodie bag, and will be entered in a drawing for a grand-prize of books, promo items, and chocolate!

We hope to see you there!