Giveaway For Social Online Conference Ticket

What do all these people have in common?

• Sherri McConnell
• Caitie Ramsburg
• Mary Jaksch
• Holly Homer
• J From J's Everyday Fashion
• Kole Mcrae
• Caz Makepeace
• Chrisite Glascoe Crowder
• Jenny Dean
• Michele McGraw
• Ronique Gibson
• April Durham
• Stephanie Peterson
• Krizia
• Jules
• Carolina Moore

You probably can't guess, so I'm just going to tell you.

All of those people have spoken online at The Social Online Conference and another one will be held on February 3-5, 2012. Great speakers and great information!



Since the three day live event is online, you can enjoy it in the comfort of your own home. That means I can sit in my pajamas and learn! Does it get any easier?!

You don't have to worry if you miss any of the sessions because all of them will be recorded for you to watch later when you do have the time. You will always have access to the recordings and there will be transcriptions of all the sessions.

This conference is very easy to attend and will help to take your blogging to the next level. You will learn how to earn money from your blog and how to become a superstar blogger.

Here's a sample of some of the great topics that will be discussed:

• Overcoming the Blog Beginner Blues
• Create Your Voice – Blogger’s’ Guide to Creating a Blog’s Voice
• Blog Writing
• Hosting Successful Giveaways
• Blogging Offline
• How to Find a Niche for Your Blog
• Blogging On A Budget When You Are Broke
• Twitter for Business: Tapping Into the ‘Me, Too’ Community
• Social Media in 60 minutes a day!
• Branding the Blog: Why You Need the Three Ds
• Working With Brands
• Marketing Your Blog

And many more pertinent topics!

Now you are probably wondering how to get the tickets. You can register and pay for them or you can win them!

Yes, I am hosting a giveaway for the Social Online Conference of a golden ticket!

No wait! Willie Wonka had the golden tickets.

Let's start over again.

I have no idea what color the virtual ticket will be, but you can win a ticket to the Social Online Conference.

How To Enter The Giveaway

I'm going to make the entry very easy...

Enter the giveaway for a free ticket to the Social Online Conference by doing the following:

• Leave a comment on my blog or LIKE the Social Online Conference's Facebook page
• Google follow The Redhead Riter
  

That's all you have to do!

If you want to post the giveaway on Twitter up to 3 times a day, then leave separate comments on this blog that say something like, "I posted to Twitter and the link to the tweet is ___________" and/or you can LIKE The Redhead Riter on Facebook.

Good Luck!

Giveaway ends at midnight on December 8th!

Tweet

Giveaway - $25 To Spend At Goat Milk Stuff Ends 3/7

I love goats even if they are in the living room every now and then.

I also love beautiful soap that not only lavishes me in luxurious fragrance and creamy clean bubbles, but also looks gorgeous. I'm a very visual person.

I wish that I could combine goats with soap?

Poof!

Wishes come true!

I present to you Goat Milk Stuff.

Let me tell you what I always tell everyone before I take a product or review it...I will be honest. If I don't like the product, I let them choose whether they want me to post a review on my blog or not. Jim and PJ Jonas at Goat Milk Stuff had no reason to worry.

I want to move next door and become their employee and life long best friend.

I'm in love with their product.

No, really, I LOVE THEIR PRODUCTS.

Me and Alyssa fought over the package of goodies.

Do you know what sold us first?



Our lips are DRY and in our package we found PEPPERMINT LIP BALM. We both put it on our lips before we opened anything else because we have been desperate to find something really good for years. We've tried everything! The Goat Milk Stuff Lip Balm has helped our lips to become luscious. Yes, I'm bragging! Luscious lips, I'm telling you! That's why we started fighting over the package.

Next we found a PINK SUGARY LOTION STICK.



OH MY GOODNESS! It smells and feels like Heaven! I am not being dramatic! I know what Heaven feels like...I'm angelic. Okay, no one choke! I'm telling you this stick is so good especially for my elbows. I now have elegant elbows to go along with my luscious lips!

You think I'm kidding, don't you? Have you ever heard me go on and on about anything other than ice cream?

But wait! There's more!

Did you hear my TV voice say that? Yeah, I'm professional! I have real skills!

Soap.

Not just any soap, but GOAT MILK SOAP produced by the ten members of the Jonas family. Made with goat milk and no harsh chemicals. You can FEEL the smoothness in these soaps.

Here...Peek inside the bag that each soap comes packaged in...



I'm telling you that I have NOTHING to gain by offering this giveaway. I'm buying the products for the winner. All that Goat Milk Stuff wanted me to do was review their product. So see...I'm telling you the total truth. THIS PRODUCT ROCKS and YOU WILL LOVE IT! I'm sure you will love it.

Wait! They also sell UNSCENTED SOAPS, so you can still enjoy the creamy bubbles without bothering your allergies with fragrances.

And...

LIQUID SOAPS

FOOT SCRUBBY

LUFFA SOAP

SHAVING SOAP

SHAMPOO BAR

PET BAR

BATH BALMS

SUGAR SCRUBS

and more!

You don't have to believe me. Just go to their website and read the testimonial page. I'm just one among many that love their products.

Also check out the information and picture of their family. Don't they just have the cutest family? Wholesome and clean (no pun intended) with values and a great work ethic. Sounds like the American dream!!!

So I'm totally thrilled to offer this review of the products sent to me and equally excited to buy the winner $25 worth of whatever you want from Goat Milk Stuff LLC and they will ship it directly to you.

I've made it really easy to enter. If you really like giveaways and want more entries, I also give you an easy way to just rack them up especially with # 6. If you do all of # 6, you will know me for sure.

Enjoy this giveaway.

I'm giving you plenty of time to get all the entries submitted. If you buy anything from Goat Milk Soap LLC before this giveaway ends, I will give you an extra 15 entries.



I wish I could buy you all a lip balm and soap. They are just glorious.

Thank you Jim, PJ and family for allowing me to review your products and for doing such a superb job. Alyssa and I will forever be loyal customers with our elegant elbows, luscious lips and smooth, beautifully fragranced skin! (smile)

You gotta buy some ya'll.

I promise you'll be hooked.

Mandatory Entries:

1. (1 entry) Publicly Follow on Google The Redhead Riter and leave a comment telling me you are already a follower or that you are a new follower now.

2. (1 entry) Visit Goat Milk Stuff LLC and leave a comment telling me which product you find interesting and intriguing.

3. (3 entries) Leave me ONE new comment on a "Non-Giveaway" post and then come back to this post and leave a comment telling me that you did - I changed the archive in the right side bar to list the names of my posts so that you can choose one that might be of interest to you. There's a big selection, so hopefully you hit one that floats your boat (wink)...

Extra Entries:

1. (2 entries) "Like" The Redhead Riter on Facebook

3. (1 entry) Follow @RedheadRiter on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TheRedheadRiter

4. (1 entry per Tweet) Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below...(can be done 3 times per day

RT ♥ $25 ♥ #giveaway #win #prize YOUR CHOICE OF GOAT MILK SOAP or OTHER PRODUCTS @ http://www.TheRedheadRiter.com ENDS 3/7 EASY ENTRY ♥

5. (1 entry) Fave my new me (http://www.theredheadriter.com) on Technorati

6. (30 maximum - 1 entry for each comment on non-giveaway post which is most of my posts) Leave me a new comment on a "Non-Giveaway" post on TheRedheadRiter (http://www.theredheadriter.com) then come back and leave the name of the post. All the little square pictures in my footer are linked to posts too.

Additional Information:

Giveaway is open to U.S. Residents Only, 18+ years old.
Giveaway ends March 7, 2010 at 11:59 p.m.
Prizes will be shipped directly from Goat Milk Stuff LLC
The Redhead Riter is purchasing the giveaway.

I will use Random.org to choose the winner.



***Remember, one comment for each thing you do...

Example:
one comment: I follow on FB
one comment: I follow on Twitter
one comment: I commented on the post called "Goats In The Living Room"


On my way to take a long hot bath with my luxurious soaps,

Share

Tweet

Giveaway - Cuisinart I'm Obsessed With You 11/28

I have an obsession.

I love to day dream about it.

Feel it.

Taste it.

Play with it.

Experiment with it.

I even love to just look at it.

This amazing obsession that I do not get to indulge often enough is deliciously rich and flavor filled ice cream. When I was a teenager, Mom had a big wood ice cream maker. She would fill the metal canister with the ice cream mixture, put on the cover, attach the motor to the top, surround the canister with ice and rock salt, turn it on and then have me stand watch to keep the hole in the side unclogged to drain the melting ice as the mixture churned into a heavenly concoction. Although it was extremely delightful, the ice cream would always take so long to make and would be eaten up so quickly!

Eventually, I grew up, got married and bought my own heavy and cumbersome ice cream maker which I used over and over again. I made ice cream so often that eventually the canister rusted and the wood started splintering pretty bad too.

Because it was such a mess with the water draining out of the hole, I didn't buy another ice cream maker until...

I saw the Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker. Let me just say that I couldn't buy it fast enough and now my freezer always has a fresh batch of the most tantalizing flavors of ice cream my mind can imagine. As Karen Carpenter once sang, "I've only just begun!"

This little machine is still amazing me. It only takes 30 minutes to make a batch of ice cream and there are very few things that I have to clean up when it is finished churning. I love to watch all the ingredients through the hole in the top as they mix together until it gets thick and officially turns into ice cream.

Because I was high on the sugar from the ice cream and because I think you are just phenomenal, I bought another ice cream maker just for my lovely readers. You too can experience frozen heaven in your bowl with your very own Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker.

Mandatory Entries:

1. (1 entry) Publicly Follow on Google The Redhead Riter and leave a comment telling me you are already a follower or that you are a new follower now.

2. (3 entries) Leave me a new comment on a "Non-Giveaway" post and then come back to this post and leave a comment telling me that you did - I changed the archive in the right side bar to list the names of my posts so that you can choose one that might be of interest to you..

Extra Entries:


1. (2 entries for each giveaway) Enter any of my other giveaways (shown in the right sidebar)

2. (2 entries) "Like" The Redhead Riter on Facebook

3. (1 entry) Follow @RedheadRiter on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TheRedheadRiter

4. (1 entry per Tweet) Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below...(can be done 3 times per day

"RT ♥ #giveaway #win #prize CUISINART Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker @ http://TheRedheadRiter.blogspot.com ENDS 11/28 EASY ENTRY♥"

5. (1 entry) Fave me on Technorati

6. (20 maximum - 1 entry for each comment on non-giveaway post) Leave me a new comment on a "Non-Giveaway" post on TheRedheadRiter (http://theredheadriter.blogspot.com) then come back and leave the name of the post. All the little square pictures above my header are linked to posts too.

Additional Information:

Giveaway is open to U.S. Residents Only, 18+ years old.
Giveaway ends November 28, 2010 at 11:59 p.m.

I will use Random.org to choose the winner.



***Remember, one comment for each thing you do...

Example:
one comment: I follow on FB
one comment: I follow on Twitter
one comment: I commented on the post called "Equals 30 lbs."


Screaming for ice cream,

Share

Tweet

Giveaway - Diamond Sand Necklace

There's nothing like a great Etsy shop to catch my attention and Diamond Sand is one of those shops.

I love getting to know the owners of an Etsy online shop because each has a unique experience that motivated them to make handmade items to sell. I had the pleasure of interviewing Lisa at Diamond Sand and I'm sure you will find her delightfully refreshing and talented. So Lisa, please tell us all about you and Diamond Sand...

I have always been a creative person. Some of my earliest memories are of my Mum and me sitting together sewing and making all manner of things, my biggest passion being clothes. Jewelery began as an extension to that. I love the idea of creating something that someone would want to wear, that someone would choose something I had made for a special day, or for every day.

I was talking to a friend one day about a little fantasy I had of opening a shop, and they suggested Etsy to me. I fell in love with Etsy straight away and so ‘Diamond Sand’ was born. I love nothing more than spending time creating new pieces of jewelery. I love every bead and stone that goes into a piece, and as anyone who creates something knows, you pour a little piece of yourself in to every item.

I have been on Etsy for nearly a year, and it has been a fantastic experience. The wonderfully talented and clever people that I have had the pleasure of discovering and making friends with is just astonishing. I am really proud to be part of it.

I think what makes my pieces special is that I really do wish the wearer a lot of love and luck. It’s so much more than making a sale to me. I want much more, for the items to become something special to the wearer. So much so, that when friends fall in love with something I’ve made, they may well very soon find it winging its way to them in the post.

At the moment my jewelery can only be bought via Etsy at the following link:


Diamond Sand


but I post all new listings via my Facebook page too, so you can keep up to date with all the goings on in my little shop:

Facebook - Diamond Sand

If you were to ask me where I would like to be a year from now, I would like nothing more than to have bought a beautiful rustic house in the Spanish countryside, with room for a small studio, in which I can work and be inspired by the wonderful views from its window, and making a living doing something I love. I know its a bit of a fantasy, but I do understand that to achieve certain goals and dreams there is a lot of discipline behind the scenes. One dream that I have achieved is living in the wonderful city of Barcelona. I came here six years ago and I certainly feel like I can turn around after that time and say I have achieved that ambition. Perhaps my little jewelery studio in the Spanish countryside will be next.

Thank you so much for sharing your shop and allowing us to get to know you better Lisa!!

EVERYBODY WINS!

Everyone that makes a purchase at Diamond Sand and mentions that The Redhead Riter sent you in the message to the seller, will receive a 15% discount on the purchase!

GIVEAWAY!

These gorgeous Lemon Jade beads have been strung periodically along tigertail with silver plated beads. Two 4mm Lemon Jade beads sit at the nape of the neck, either side of a sterling silver lobster clasp.

*Please note there are matching items available

Healing functions of Jade:
Balances the heart chakra, which helps to improve our relationships with other people.
increases a sense of belonging. Relaxes at a deep level.

Lisa is generously offering the Lemon Jade and Silver on Tigertail necklace as a gift to one of my readers! All you have to do is...


Make sure you complete both of the Mandatory Entries and leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry.


Mandatory Entries:

1. (1 entry) Publicly Follow on Google The Redhead Riter and leave a comment telling me you are already a follower or that you are a new follower now.

2. (1 entry) Visit Diamond Sand and leave a comment telling me one of your favorite items.


Extra Entries:

1. (2 entries) "Like" Diamond Sand on Facebook

2. (1 entries) "Like" The Redhead Riter on Facebook

3. (1 entry) Follow @RedheadRiter on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TheRedheadRiter

4. (1 entry per Tweet) Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below...(can be done 3 times per day with at least 2 hours between each tweet. Please leave a link to your tweet EACH time)

"RT ♥ #giveaway #win I want to win the Lemon Jade necklace from Diamond Sand EASY ENTRY at http://TheRedheadRiter.blogspot.com ENDS 11/21"

5. (1 entry) Fave me on Technorati

6. (20 entries) Buy anything from Diamond Sand and let me know which one you purchased.

7. (20 maximum - 1 entry for each comment on non-giveaway post) Leave me a new comment on a "Non-Giveaway" post on TheRedheadRiter (http://theredheadriter.blogspot.com) then come back and leave the name of the post. All the little square pictures above my header are linked to posts too.

Additional Information:

Giveaway is open to U.S. Residents Only, 18+ years old.
Giveaway ends November 21, 2010 at 11:59 p.m.

I will use Random.org to choose the winner.

Share

Tweet

Giveaway - Love and Tim King 11/12

I'm a firm believer that nothing happens by chance and that the people who cross my path are there for a reason.

Towards the beginning of my blogging experience I joined forums and voraciously read comments, posts and anything else people wrote. I jumped from site to site and blog to blog trying to "feel" the whole experience so that I could develop my own blog into something worthy of reading. I also was desperately seeking approval by my family, but that explanation will have to wait for another post.

During this internet cruise, I joined a forum for authors because if truth be told, I have two chapters written of a book that is still patiently waiting for me to complete. Being amongst the "real" authors was inspiring and insightful. I felt very at home and lingered in that community longer each day than I stayed at any other location.

One of the authors I met was a man named Tim King. The same photo you will find on his books is the profile photo he uses around the internet.

I can go to my BlogFrog community, see him and read his ever thoughtful and thought provoking interactions.



He is also supportive on my Facebook and also makes comments on my blog.



So I sent Tim the interview questions and he generously offered his book as the giveaway. Some time during the last week the package came with the book and when I sat down to finally try to catch up emails, I noticed the box and that it looked a little fat. Upon opening it, I found not just one giveaway book called Love Through The Eyes of An Idiot, but also a personally inscribed book for me, a different book for another giveaway, and a religious book that is focused "on the Lord's relationship with us and our relationships with one another."

I sat staring at all the books with a grateful heart that Tim has crossed my path and that I can call him my friend. His thoughtful gestures and empathetic words during a time when I am still raw with the pain of losing Dad have truly touched me. Thank you Tim for your all your kindnesses.

It is my pleasure today to post a wonderful interview of the very talented, intelligent, witty and thoughtful author, Tim King.

1. How long have you been a published author?

Well, I've been writing and sharing what I write since the mid-'90's. That's what I think being a published author is all about. It's funny, many authors seem to feel that being published is about status, about being accepted by the industry, about being part of the "in" club, because they struggle for years to "get published." But that's not what being published ought to be about. Publishing your work ought to be about sharing it with the world and making a difference.

So my own road to publishing my first fiction book was as nontraditional as my views on the publishing industry. I first decided I wanted to write a novel, a romance, when a personal experience inspired me. I wanted to portray what I think is the true meaning of love and marriage. At the time, I was working full-time developing computer software. I wrote technical documentation as part of my job, and editorials and commentary for fun. I also loved science fiction, especially the work of Stanislaw Lem, which I still admire. But I quickly discovered that I knew very little about writing fiction, and even less about writing romance. So I put that novel back on the shelf and started writing short stories, so I could learn how.

Some of those short stories I managed to publish in online publications. But it wasn't until I published the first installment of The Conscience of Abe's Turn, about 2 years ago, that I had a fiction book to my name. Abe's Turn is a character-driven drama series about the dangers of political power, a labor of love that I want to continue at some point, because those characters hold a special place in my heart. But it's a little alternative, even for me.

2. Do you still work in the computer software industry?

Yes. At this point, I'm pretty much just writing to make ends meet until my software-development career takes off. Seriously, though,writing books and writing software, you almost can't tell the two apart. Both teem with creativity, depression, and Dilbertesque incompetence. And both give opportunities to express oneself.

It's easy to see how to express oneself writing fiction. But most people don't think of writing software as self-expression, because software is just numbers, just codes in a computer. But no matter what you do, whether writing or software or fixing cars or stocking store shelves, if it's to have personal meaning, you have to invest part of yourself in it. And many software developers invest themselves in their software. I certainly did. And when you do that, even software becomes an expression of yourself, of your personality and values. Anymore, though, when I write software, I do it for the money, and I write prose for self-expression. Ironically, I find that I can now accomplish the former better than ever, and that I long for the latter now more than ever.

I sometimes wonder if a part of a software-developer dies when he starts coding just for the money. That's why I never want to write just for the money or just for the fame-- or just to "get published," which is a phrase you hear a lot among aspiring authors. I wonder if a part of a writer dies when he begins to write just for best-seller status. I want to write what excites my passion, in order to make a difference.

3. Where do you feel most inspired to write? Where do you write?

Frequently, in my living room, because the couch is comfortable. But I write on my laptop, so I can pack up my virtual office and take it with me anywhere there's a WiFi connection. Sometimes, I'll move to another room in the house for some peace and quiet or a change of pace. Frequently, I'll go to an Internet café, or head down to the library, or even sit on a park bench on a sunny day.

Writing is much more than inspiration, though. You do need emotional energy, but you also need discipline. If you simply wait for inspiration to strike, it never will. Sometimes, you just have to sit down and start writing. And that can be the hardest part about being a writer.

4. How long does it take you to write a book?

Once I figure out what I want to write, I can go from blank page to finished manuscript in a few months. With each new book I write, I try to refine my writing process to write more that works the first time, and less that I need to rewrite later. But the initial plotting still stymies me sometimes. I've been spending a lot of time marketing my last book, while I'm trying to plot out my next book. I'm not sure that's not such a bad trade-off, because it does take a lot of effort to market a book once it's written, much more than most people realize.

5. Do you self-publish? If so....How do you advertise? What important lessons did you learn about both?

I don't use Lulu or CreateSpace or a subsidy press, but I do run my own publishing company. That is, I take responsibility for the whole of the publishing process, from line-editing to layout and cover art, managing ISBN's to printing and distribution, marketing to taxes. So I'm indie-published, yes. But if there's a difference between "self-publishing" and "indie-publishing," that's probably it: whether you're running your own publishing company as a business model, or whether you're simply paying someone to get your book out there.

I decided to go indie, because I knew from the start that I didn't want to write for the mass market. "Mass market" to me says "lowest common denominator." Some years ago, when I worked in a cubicle farm, I sometimes listened to music softly, with the permission of my cubicle neighbors. But one day, I put on a Karen Carpenter tape--this is back in the days before CD's. And my cubicle neighbor asked if I could put on something else, because the sound of Karen Carpenter singing sends him into an involuntary spastic conniption. I chuckled, and I changed the tape, but I didn't truly understand how he felt... until I heard Lady Gaga.

Lowest common denominator. Please switch to a different station before my head explodes. (I also can't stand Yellowtail wine or watered-down beer.) As a writer, I never wanted to be part of that scene, and if I tried, I'd be miserable. But the mainstream book industry builds its entire business model around the lowest common denominator and the mass market. So I needed to be able to customize my business model to work with a smaller number of hard-won fans, and that's why I went indie.

I know others have been able to get similar models to work. I hope I can get it to work.

Running a publishing company requires some business skills. I'm still experimenting with different kinds of advertising. Marketing fiction is way harder and more expensive than you think. But my biggest successes have come through sharing publicity and credit with other bloggers and indie authors. That's the opposite of the traditional, mainstream wisdom, so no surprise there. And even when you hit upon a success, it takes way more work than you think to take advantage of it. That's the part that often stymies me, and if I ultimately fail, I suspect that will be my downfall, that I couldn't find the time or energy to take advantage of the clear opportunities that were available to me.

6. What kind of books do you read?

My reading interests span the spectrum. When it comes to fiction and memoirs, my tastes cut across genres, but I prefer stories with deep characters and uplifting themes that explore the human condition. I also read a broad array of non-fiction and watch a lot of documentaries, in order to expose myself to new ideas and different models of understanding humanity.

While I tend to enjoy a good fictional story more than a good non-fiction book, ironically, I find the non-fiction helps me appreciate the fiction all that much more. Because non-fiction provides a framework of understanding in which to comprehend and create fiction. For example, this past spring I read Lies MyTeacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, by James W. Loewen, In it, he talks about native American culture, before the Europeans and the European-American conflict, and highlights numerous little-known facts and story threads of that conflict. Then just recently, I read Holly Lisle's 2006 fantasy epic Talyn. It could have been written as a sequel to Loewen's book, because the fictional societies Holly portrays so aptly demonstrate a number of Loewen's points. Holly's heroine, Talyn, is a Tonk soldier, living in a society in some ways reminiscent of native American culture. The Tonks' adversaries are the Eastils, who come with some of the same attitudes that the 18'th-century Europeans came with. I'm sorry I waited so long to read Talyn. But on the other hand, I'm glad I waited until after I had read Loewen's book, because the one helped me to appreciate the other.

And then occasionally I'll read a non-fiction book that excites me as much as a good fictional story. I recently read a pre-publication copy of a small book my pastor, John P. Lathrop, has been working on, a collection of sermons and essays. It reminded me why I like his teaching style, cerebral, full of substance, light on the clichés, thought-provoking and inspiring. He was looking for a publishing option for the manuscript, entitled The Power and Practice of the Church, so I hemmed and hawed about it, because I don't publish other authors' books, because I'm not set up for it and it could even be a conflict of interest, and then I jumped at the opportunity. The book looks good, too, after we got done with the cover and layout, and should be hitting Amazon and BN.com soon.

7. Who is your favorite author?

I have a number of favorite historical authors, including Mark Twain and Robert Heinlein, and Stanislaw Lem, who just passed away a few years ago. Throughout my younger years, I was a huge science-fiction fan, and it wasn't until the 21'st century that I started getting into romance novels. My favorite contemporary author, though, is Holly Lisle. I mentioned reading her book Talyn. Before Talyn, my all-time favorite novel was Heinlein's SF classic The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Now, I think, that may have changed; Talyn might me my new all-time favorite. It'll take a few more years of reflection and rereading before I'll know for sure. But I've even had dreams based around Talyn. That's a powerful omen.

In the meantime, I haven't yet read everything Holly has ever written-- I haven't read everything any individual author has ever written. But I'm still making my way through Holly's back-list, as many of her books as I can get a hold of. And she's never let me down: I've always enjoyed her stories. Like me, her interests run across genres, and her writing crosses genres. Talyn is not just a fantasy epic; it's a fantasy-romance-adventure. Her other back-titles include romantic suspense, juvenile fantasy, and science-fiction. Most of them unfortunately are now out of print. (But that's a different story.) So I have to get them off the used market.

8. Do you have hobbies other than writing?

I actually consider writing a second career now, rather than a hobby, though I think writing is a wonderful hobby for someone to pursue. I've been pursuing fiction for almost 8 years now, and writing non-fiction for years more. But I've been playing music for almost 35 years, since I was a boy in the mid-'70's. I started with the piano. Then one day when I was 12, I picked up a guitar and started noodling on it. Then one day when I was 16, I was jamming with a friend, and I picked up his bass and started plucking on it. And I'm still plucking on my bass, which is my musical forte.

(I didn't mean that to be pun, I swear.)

(But you'll notice, I didn't delete it and rephrase.)

As a boy, I enjoyed playing music, reading books, building electronic gadgets, and programming my first home computers. And watching TV. Of these, music is the only one that has remained only a hobby, a pure passion, something I do for the sheer love of it, regardless of the fame or money in it (or lack thereof). And at this point, I think it will probably remain as such

9. What kind of music do you play on the bass guitar?

I mostly play at a local church on Sunday and a local synagogue some Saturdays. Two completely different styles of music. On Saturday, we do a lot of ethnic Jewish tunes. On Sunday, contemporary christian. But, you know, I can appreciate them both. I guess my taste in music is analogous to my taste in fiction: I don't really identify with any given genre or style of music. But there are certain musical characteristics that captivate me and excite me. I enjoy complex, interweaving parts; the ebb and flow, dissonance and consonance, tension and resolution of a song; varied chord sequences; lyrics with imaginative metaphors and deep meaning, rather than just strings of clichés. One of my rituals is to make fun of banal, four-chord songs--and there are a lot of them in worship music, as in pop music--by playing the bass line to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" over at least one verse of each.

10. Ever been in a band?

Some years ago, a few of us had an eclectic christian-alternative band called "Priority One." During that time, I bought most of the music equipment I still use today. I also developed a lot of the creative values I still have today. The bass lines that I develop now reflect the songs I wrote back then for Priority One. And during those days, that's when I truly began to appreciate the diversity of sounds and styles that the electric bass can generate. Bass is not just about playing the bottom note, because a creative bassist can add fills up and down the neck, leads in the upper registers, meaty chords in the middle. And I began to appreciate the power behind the instrument. Most people don't realize that more than any other instrument, the bass sets the tone for the entire musical piece. You can keep the drums, guitar, keys, everything the same, but change the bass line, and you can change the entire feel of the music

11. What is next on your horizon?

Over the summer, I spent a lot of time and mental focus doing software development. And now that the summer is over, I have a few book ideas on the back burner, but I'm mostly working on the next Ardor Point novel, currently untitled, about a young woman and her newlywed husband, who get hit by an economic depression: he loses his job and falls into a deep psychological depression; meanwhile, she constantly tries to fix his mood, and when that doesn't work,she blows off steam by buying stuff she doesn't need-- not a useful habit to have when you're on a limited budget. And not a fun way to get into a new marriage, either. She wrestles with their relationship, finally discovering a source of hope that breathes new life into it.

12. What else would you like everyone to know about you?

If you're into ebooks, I have some free short ebooks you can download. And I hope and plan to release more of those as well. They're on my website, at http://www.jtimothyking.com/free-ebooks. And I also post free stories on my "Stories" blog http://stories.JTimothyKing.com/ (although I've been lax about writing new stuff over the summer--that software thing again).

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/JTimothyKing

Facebook:
http://facebook.JTimothyKing.com/
(That URL will redirect you to my Facebook page.)

Website/Blog:
http://www.JTimothyKing.com/

Name of books written with URL to buy them:

The Conscience of Abe's Turn http://abesturn.com/series

Love through the Eyes of an Idiot: A True Story of Finding the Secret of Love, Sex, and Romance http://www.loveidiotbook.com/

From the Ashes of Courage http://ardorpoint.com/books/1

Thank you Tim so much for such a wonderful interview!

Now it is time to giveaway a copy of Love Through The Eyes of An Idiot to one of my readers and riters!

Make sure you complete both of the Mandatory Entries and leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry.


Mandatory Entries:

1. (1 entry) Publicly Follow on Google The Redhead Riter and leave a comment telling me are already a follower or that you are a new follower now.

2. (1 entry) Visit Tim's Blog and leave me a comment telling me something you learned.


Extra Entries:

1. (2 entries) "Like" Tim King on Facebook

2. (2 entries) Follow @JTimothyKing on Twitter at http://twitter.com/JTimothyKing

3. (1 entries) "Like" The Redhead Riter on Facebook

4. (1 entry) Follow @RedheadRiter on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TheRedheadRiter

5. (1 entry per Tweet) Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below...(can be done 3 times per day with at least 2 hours between each tweet. Please leave a link to your tweet EACH time)

"RT ♥ #giveaway #win I want to win Tim King's Love Through The Eyes of an Idiot EASY ENTRY at http://TheRedheadRiter.blogspot.com ENDS 11/21"

6. (1 entry) Fave me on Technorati

7. (20 entries) Buy one of Tim's books and let me know which one you purchased.

7. (20 maximum - 1 entry for each comment on non-giveaway post) Leave me a new comment on a "Non-Giveaway" post on TheRedheadRiter (http://theredheadriter.blogspot.com) then come back and leave the name of the post. All the little square pictures above my header are linked to posts too.

Additional Information:

Giveaway is open to U.S. Residents Only, 18+ years old.
Giveaway ends November 12, 2010 at 11:59 p.m.

I will use Random.org to choose the winner.

Share

Tweet

Ways to Relax #11 and Giveaway

I have four very important words that will help you feel more peaceful and better able to handle the stress in your life...


time

noun \ˈtīm\

Definition of TIME

: the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues
: duration



re·lax

verb \ri-ˈlaks\

Definition of RELAX

: to make less tense or rigid
: slacken



pam·per

vt \ˈpam-pər\

Definition of PAMPER

: to treat with extreme or excessive care and attention
: gratify, humor



aro·ma·ther·a·py

noun \ə-ˌrō-mə-ˈther-ə-pē\

Definition of AROMATHERAPY

: the use of aroma to enhance a feeling of well-being


Take the time to relax and pamper yourself by using aromatherapy.

Someone who knows how to create fragrant products that can be used to add peace to your life by helping you relax is Kia at Beacon Creations.

So let go of your computer mouse and take a moment to read this lovely interview...

1. What led you to open a shop for this type of product?

Everyone in my family is an artist. I grew up surrounded by sewing, crocheting, drawing, photography, beading….the list goes on and on. Almost 4 years ago I decided to stop working to stay home and raise my 3 boys. I knew that I wanted to go into business for myself. A lifetime of creativity along with my obsession with Bath & Body made this most natural choice.

2. How long have you been in business?

I’ve been mixing lotions and potions for my family and friends since I was a teenager. In school my nickname was "The Mad Scientist"! I decided to start a business selling my creations in the summer of 2008.

3. What makes your products special?

I think what makes my products so special is that they’re handmade… by ME! Sometimes it’s still hard to believe that I get to spend so much time doing what I LOVE to do. I draw inspiration from everything around me: the smell of wet soil and rain, my favorite ice cream (Edy’s Mint Chocolate Chip, yummy) and even my favorite books.

I enjoy taking care of my skin and body and try surrounding myself with things that invoke feelings of comfort and relaxation. To have the ability to create products that allows others to share a piece of what I love is priceless.

4. Where can we buy your products?

You can visit my online shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/beaconcreations

5. Tell us about you… hobbies, goals, dreams

My name is Kia and I am married to my best friend. I have the privilege of being “Mommy” to 3 AWESOME boys: Nicholas (9), William (6) and Ian (3). I am a vegetarian so finding new recipes for meals is always an adventure. When I’m not creating I can be found with my nose buried deep in a book.

My most immediate goal is to continue expanding and improving my product line and brand. Right now I’m preparing sugar scrubs, bath salts and body oils that launched this summer.

My dreams for the future include a large piece of property, a couple of goats and chickens, fruit trees, LOTS of homegrown vegetables and countless days surrounded by my family.

Thank you so much for such a wonderful interview Kia! Isn't she lovely? She has offered to giveaway any soap of choice to one of my readers.

Mmmmmmm....I can almost smell it...I think the Coconut Lemongrass looks beautiful?!!


But that isn't all! I will also buy you any soap of your choice from Beacon Creations soaps as shown below.

Now can you smell them?!

Try the scratch and sniff method on your monitor.



Did scratching and sniffing your monitor to experience the fragrance of the soap work?

It didn't for me either, so don't feel bad. (snicker, snicker)


Mandatory Entries:

1. (1 entry) Publicly Follow on Google The Redhead Riter and leave a comment telling me are already a follower or that you are a new follower now.

2. (1 entry) Visit Beacon Creations and leave me a comment telling me what other type of product besides the soap that you would like to try and why.


Extra Entries:

1. (2 entries) Like me on Facebook

2. (1 entry) Follow @RedheadRiter on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TheRedheadRiter

3. (1 entry per Tweet) Tweet about this giveaway using the tweet below...(can be done 3 times per day with at least 2 hours between each tweet. Please leave a link to your tweet EACH time)

"RT ♥ #giveaway I want to win 2 soaps of my choice from Beacon Creations and I entered at http://TheRedheadRiter.blogspot.com ♥ EASY "

4. (3 entries) Fave me on Technorati

5. (20 maximum - 1 entry for each comment on non-giveaway post) Leave me a new comment on a "Non-Giveaway" post on TheRedheadRiter (http://theredheadriter.blogspot.com) then come back and leave the name of the post. All the little square pictures above my header are linked to posts too.


Additional Information:

Giveaway is open to U.S. Residents Only, 18+ years old.
Giveaway ends October 8, 2010 at 11:59 p.m.

I will be given the same product that my winner receives.
I will use Random.org to choose the winner.










Stretched out in the tub with a coconut and lemon sitting on the side
while I dream of my new smooth and aromatic Coconut Lemongrass soap,

Tweet