Michigan Authors Series, Disney On Ice Ticket Giveaway & More! via Kent District #library @kdlnews

March 2012 ____________________ In This Issue Director's Letter Celebrate the Mitten Computer Classes Disney On Ice Giveaway Branches: Stories Rooted in the KDL Community Photo of the Month ____________________ KDL Locations Alpine Township Alto Byron Township Caledonia Township  Cascade Township Comstock Park East Grand Rapids Englehardt (Lowell)  Gaines Township Grandville Kentwood Krause Memorial (Rockford) Plainfield Township Sand Lake/Nelson Township Spencer Township Tyrone Township Walker Wyoming & LBPH Map of all KDL branches ____________________ KDL Kaleidoscope     Pick up a copy of KDL's seasonal event and news publication at your local KDL branch.   ____________________    Free Downloads @ KDL   eBooks, eAudiobooks and music -- download them today at KDL.org. ____________________    Featured Online Resource   TumbleBooks is an interactive reading resource for kids available 24/7 with your KDL card. ____________________    What's Happening @ KDL   Check our online event calendar for a complete list of events and activities for all ages. Search by branch, age group, and more. ____________________    Connect with KDL     From the Director: Fair Funding, Strong Libraries     Greetings!      The proposal in Michigan's Legislature to eliminate the personal property tax on businesses without a clear replacement strategy has those who provide services deemed essential by you, the voters, feeling as though we're walking a tightrope. We're promised a safety net by our legislators, but we can't see one.   All libraries in Michigan are at risk. At Kent District Library, the PPT accounts for nearly 8 percent (over $1.1 million) of our operating budget. We have already cut expenses to the bone after several years of declining tax revenue.   If PPT is not replaced, KDL will need to make significant operational cuts such as staff layoffs, cuts to the materials budget, fewer open hours and elimination of early literacy workshops and classes for job seekers. Click here to see an easy-to-read slideshow about possible cuts. These reductions come at a time when use of the library is booming; the number of items checked out from our libraries has increased by 50 percent over the last six years. More people -- 3.3 million -- visit KDL than any other library in Michigan except Detroit Public Library.   While I agree that the PPT is not necessarily a wise tax, the services it funds -- municipalities, schools and, of course, libraries -- are vital. These are the entities voters have regularly said are worthy of their tax dollars. These are services that keep property values steady and growing, and create vibrant communities that attract new businesses and residents.   Michigan's public libraries are not asking for more money; we're simply asking that we be allowed to continue to provide quality library services that meet the needs of our residents. Please tell your legislators you want a PPT replacement plan, and that you want libraries included.   Thank you for your support.   Lance Werner, Director Kent District Library _____________________________________________________________   Celebrate the Mitten Michigan Authors Series & Showcase   From March to May, Kent District Library will host "Celebrate the Mitten," a Michigan authors series and showcase aimed at highlighting the state's home-grown literary talent. More than a dozen authors from across the state are scheduled to appear at various KDL branches to read from their work, talk about the craft of writing and host discussions and writing workshops.   Also, on April 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Kentwood branch, 4950 Breton SE, nearly 20 Michigan-made authors will be on hand to meet with readers, sign copies of their books for sale and participate in a trio of panels aimed both at aspiring writers and book lovers. And it's all FREE!   For a detailed list of authors and their books and bios, plus appearance dates and specifics, click here.    __________________________________________________________________ Computer Classes   Whether you're a computer novice or looking to update your skills, KDL's free Computer Confidence classes can help you learn something new! Our large line-up of classes includes Email Basics, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Online Photo Editing Fun and much more! For class descriptions and schedule, please see our brochure or search our events calendar.   Unless otherwise noted, registration is required and will begin the month before the scheduled classes on the first Monday of each month for KDL patrons and the second Monday for non-KDL patrons (if space is still available): March classes: Registration began Monday, February 6 for KDL cardholders (Monday, February 13 for all others) April classes: Registration begins Monday, March 5 for KDL cardholders (Monday, March 12 for all others) May classes: Registration begins Monday, April 2 for KDL cardholders (Monday, April 9 for all others) To register, please call 616-784-2007.   ___________________________________________________________     Disney On Ice Giveaway    We are excited to offer you the chance to win tickets to Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey, presented by Disney on Ice! Stop by your local branch before March 9 and register to win by filling out an entry form (one entry per person please). Each of our 18 branches will be giving away a family four-pack of ticket vouchers to the opening night performance taking place at 7:00 pm on Thursday, March 22 at the Van Andel Arena. One lucky winner will even win VIP tickets and a Disney prize pack!   Don't miss out on this great opportunity to win a free evening of family fun! Good luck! ________________________________________________________ Branches: Stories Rooted in the KDL Community   If walls could talk, those that line the sorting area at KDL's Comstock Park Service Center would have many tales to tell: of love and longing, faith and family, humor and humility.   Read the full story here.     _____________________________________________________________ Photo of the Month Checkups aren't so scary, see? Pint-sized patrons of the Byron Township branch wait their turn for the teddy bear clinic, presented at a number of branches in partnership with the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.   KDL Staff Picks: Let us help you find something good to read!       Check out our online Staff Picks booklist.     Kent District Library | 814 West River Center Dr. | Comstock Park | MI | 49321

[Book Marketing Expert] How to Create a Powerful Media List via @bookgal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE BOOK MARKETING EXPERT NEWSLETTER! A newsletter all about SUCCESSFUL publishing and POWERFUL promotion. March 1, 2012 Issue #267 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ in this issue -- Note From The Editor -- Facebook: Did you know? -- Feature Article: How to Create a Powerful Media List -- Are You Making These 7 Mistakes with Your About Page? -- Check Out AME's Book Marketing Resources -- Book Bits and Bites -- Why You Must Suck It Up & Create Your Facebook Business Page Today -- Taking Submissions: The 2012 Indie Excellence Awards -- Sign Up for Social Media Magazines Today! -- AME in the News -- Hear What The Publishing Insiders Have to Say -- Facebook + Twitter = More Exposure -- The Beginner's Guide to Blog Analytics -- The Future of Sharing on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ -- 8 Powerful Tips for Marketing Your Business With Ebooks -- 6 Tips to Resuscitate a Dying Author Blog -- Social Media Snippet: 56 Ways to Market on Pinterest -- Social Media Snippet: Increase Your Facebook Page Visibility -- Reader Tip! -- WHO ARE WE -- ------------------------------------------------------------ Penny C. Sansevieri, Editor penny@amarketingexpert.com Welcome to a new issue of THE BOOK MARKETING EXPERT NEWSLETTER. You are receiving this newsletter compliments of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. To opt out, please scroll down to the bottom of this newsletter. Note From The Editor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Welcome to another issue of the Book Marketing Expert Newsletter! Dear Author, Can you believe it's March already? It seems like winter just flew by, and now our thoughts turn to spring. We have a great issue for you this week and it's packed with tips! Our feature story is all about how you can build your own media list without subscribing to the expensive online databases. While it takes time to create a comprehensive list, those contacts you've developed will come in handy when it's time for pitching. We also have a great special offer in this issue for our newsletter subscribers - a free copy of Social Media Magazines. We hope you enjoy them! Wishing you publishing success, Penny, Paula, Amy and everyone at Author Marketing Experts, Inc. Facebook: Did you know? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ According to a study by Roost.com, after evaluating 10,000 Facebook fans across 50 industries, the following strategies are the best tactics for social engagement on Facebook: * Photo posts get 50% more impressions than any other type of post * Quotes get 22 percent more interactions * Questions generate almost twice as many comments Feature Article: How to Create a Powerful Media List ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Building a media list is often tricky. Traditionally PR firms spend a lot of money on yearly subscriptions to online databases that give them access to every media contact in the US and sometimes the world. As a business owner, speaker or author you don't need to have that big of a media list, you just need a strong set of contacts that you can go to when you have a news item, a launch, or an interesting story to tell. When we consider our publicity budget, we don't often take into account the pricey subscriptions to these services. It's generally not a good idea, or a prudent use of your marketing budget, to sign up for a database such as this. But the problem is that you still need the contacts. There is, however, an alternative that does require some work and planning but will help you build a strong, long-term list. * Start early: This process, while it will save you money, will take you anywhere from three to six months to pull a good list together. The longer you work this process, the more comprehensive a list you will develop. * Topics: Be clear on the topics you feel you can cover and if you're unclear on how many areas you can address, spend some time with a professional publicity person who can help you brainstorm some areas. The more areas you can cover, the better and more fruitful your media campaign will be. * Google Alerts: First and foremost you want to keep track of any news breaking in your market. You also want to keep tabs on other speakers, authors, or businesses that are similar to yours so you can see where they are popping up. This will also alert you to the various media (including online media, i.e. bloggers) who work in your particular area. * Which media: Not all media is created equal, so be clear on which media you want to go after and what's doable for you. As you start building your list, you might find that your topic is very popular (lucky you) and there are opportunities in both broadcast and print media. Are you ready for prime time? Only you know the answer to this, but if you're just starting out the answer is probably no. Don't go for the big time media just because everyone else is. If you've had media training and you're not a novice then great, but likely you're just starting out. It's rare when a national morning show will feature a "green" guest. By that I mean someone who's never been on media or has no media training. If you're getting your feet wet start locally and build from there. * Networking: The next phase of this will be networking with your media contacts. And even though I cautioned you not to shoot too high if you're just starting out, that doesn't necessarily mean you can't start networking with them early. By networking I mean connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Comment on their posts, their news and be sure to connect with them if the stories they publish are also featured online. As you get to know your target media (and they get to know you) you'll begin to build a relationship with them and, if you're lucky, even become a source for their stories. Most media folk are pretty well connected. If they do broadcast media and you can't find their stories online, check out the station website to see where you might find them in the social media world. * HARO: Don't forget to sign up with HARO (Help a Reporter Out). If you aren't familiar with this I have an article on media leads that will guide you through this process: (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/maximizing-media-leads_b_748574.htm). Responding to media leads, even in the early stages of your project, will really help you build your media database and potentially get interviewed. * Staying in Touch: Once you have a story you are actively pitching, I recommend "touching" each of your media contacts at least once every six months or once a quarter if you have a really hot topic. You can keep contact with them through a quick email telling them you enjoyed their story, or through a pitch idea, but this contact should be direct. A posting on Facebook or response to a Google+ update is just part of your daily/weekly communication but it can't and shouldn't replace direct contact. * Events: As you go to industry events, always be alert to the media attending so you can network with them. Some events might publish their attending media list, but if they don't you can often spot media by their badge (many press passes have special colors on them so they are easy to spot). Be sure to attend evening functions, which is always a great place to identify new, potential media who may be interested in your pitch. Building a media list is more than just creating a list, it's about building long-term relationships with media (both online and off) that you can turn to again and again. Once you have this media list, you'll want to keep enhancing it. As your message and media data base grows, these relationships can grow with you. Like any relationships, they'll take time so it's best to start early. Once you implement these action items, they should become part of your daily/weekly/monthly marketing goals. At some point, as you continue networking and connecting with the right media, you'll find that media opportunities become almost second nature. There's no substitute for a mention in a popular blog, magazine, radio or TV show - you just have to be ready when opportunity knocks. Good luck! Are You Making These 7 Mistakes with Your About Page? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Learn what to avoid - and what to include - to make this important page on your site shine: http://www.copyblogger.com/how-to-write-an-about-page/ Check Out AME's Book Marketing Resources ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Put AME in your circles on Google+ at: https://plus.google.com/u/0/117877257839352379062/. Please "Like" our Facebook Page for marketing articles and tips, YouTube videos from our book marketing channel, notices about upcoming webinars, Publishing Insider shows, and more: http://www.facebook.com/bookmarketingame. Want Book Marketing Content? Visit the articles page on our AME website and you'll find a range of articles by Penny, which may be used along with her byline (provided at the top of the page) at no cost. The complete list is at: http://www.amarketingexpert.com/articles/. See "David Meerman Scott on News Jacking" and much more on AME's Book Marketing Channel on YouTube. New videos are added regularly to keep you up to date on all things book marketing! http://www.youtube.com/user/BookmarketingAME. Book Bits and Bites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Rediscover Those Books: A survey says re-reading books can offer mental health benefits: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2101516/Reading-book-really-better-second-time-round--reading-offer-mental-health-benefits.html * For Book Lovers: The Top 10 book sites on Technorati: http://workflowwriting.com/655488/top-ten-book-sites-on-technorati.php * Mini Checkout: See the repurposed phone booth library in NYC: http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/19325/repurposed-phone-booth-library-in-nyc.html * Single-Minded: Famous authors and their unlikely obsessions: http://flavorwire.com/261579/famous-authors-unlikely-obsessions Why You Must Suck It Up & Create Your Facebook Business Page Today ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If kids, soon-to-be-adults and millions of not-so-young adults are your future audience, then you need to have a Facebook Business Page as you need to be where your audience is. And, today, our children, teens, young adults and even older adults like my former room mates and my ex (who deny they are addicted to Facebook) can be found updating their profile, commenting and changing their status updates regularly. The New York Times even wrote an article recently that showed kids are finding crafty ways to get around the increasing number of Facebook bans their schools are implementing. One eighth grader, who preferred not to be named, said he coached a school administrator on avoiding the ban last year. "She hated not being able to get on Facebook at work and asked for my help one day in the office," the boy explained, more than a little sympathetic to her plight. "What could I do?" It came as no surprise to me, and it's speaking volumes of the need for small businesses, as much as they want to continue down that stream of FB Denial, to get on board and create a Facebook business page. It is time for them to put themselves in front of this next generation of Facebook addicts. Need more proof? 5 Reasons Why You Must Set up a Facebook Fan Page Fast! 1. Kids, soon adults, and millions of young and not-so-young adults are your future audience and they are all there, "friending" Justin Bieber under their covers (like my daughter last night) when they should be asleep. 2. With over 600 million users and almost 50% of them on Facebook daily - stop - think about it - AND over 40% of existing businesses already up and running on it, you want your business to be where your customers and potential customers are going, right? If you knew that your customers were passing by one of the huge billboards in Times Square every day and those billboards didn't cost millions per month to be advertising there, you would want to be up there - wouldn't you? 3. Your Facebook business page is like the huge billboard in Times Square except for the fact that it's free. Your customers are there, their friends are there. And you can say a heck of a lot more on a FB page than you can on a billboard. 4. The search engines love a Facebook Business Page. Because a business page is a public URL and not a private one, your site will have a much easier time making it to the top of a Google search than your website. That's unless you've invested a lot of $ into SEO (not that there's anything wrong with that). 5. As mentioned earlier, your competition already has a Facebook business page, and not because they want to share about their favorite rice and beans recipe. The "Like" button has become the new "link." Many online marketers, myself included, now believe that the Facebook "Like" button is becoming just as significant as backlinks to a website. In other words, the more "likes" your page has, the greater the chance of it ranking high in the search engines for your specific field and keywords. So think of it as a link and encourage your customers to press it. Every time you update something on your page these customers will now see it as they have been "linked" to it. There are so many good reasons to create one of these Facebook business pages I could blather on and on about them forever. For now, think about the math. The average Facebook page has 140 friends. When you post to Facebook, your "friends" and all their "friends" will view your post. Can you spell V-I-R-A-L? As insane as it might sound, there's a reason why Shop Rite wants you to "Like" them on Facebook. Guest post by Suzen Pettit: Suzen specializes in designing, building, marketing and maintaining optimized websites and social media profiles for busy small business owners. By using her strategic internet marketing techniques you will ensure your business is being found and that clients are seeing what YOU want them to see on the Internet about you. For even more free tips, tools, strategies and resources, read her free articles at: http://www.omaginarium.com/blog/ Taking Submissions: The 2012 Indie Excellence Awards ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Indie Excellence Awards contest is taking submissions! NIEA celebrates overall excellence, including design and promotional text. To enter, please send one copy of your book per category entered. Books with publication dates of 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 are eligible. Books published anywhere in the world may be submitted as long as they are in English and can be purchased in the United States. For more information, expanded category listings and entry forms please visit: http://www.indieexcellence.com Sign Up for Social Media Magazines Today! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Get your free copy of Social Media Magazines, compliments of Author Marketing Experts: http://tweetingandbusiness.com/customissues/ame-authors http://fbandbusiness.com/customissues/ame-authors http://liandbusiness.com/customissues/ame-authors http://thebiggandbusiness.com/customissues/ame-authors AME in the News ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Penny was interviewed by M.O., where you can view and vote on the article: http://www.mo.com/Penny-Sansevieri-Author-Marketing-Experts * Penny's article "Social Media Savvy" was published by Small Business Opportunities: http://www.sbomag.com/features/social-media-savvy/ * Keep up with Penny's latest articles for Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri * Penny has a series on book marketing underway at BookBuzzr: http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/?s=Penny+Sansevieri&x=0&y=0 Hear What The Publishing Insiders Have to Say ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Be in the know and hear what the publishing insiders: Penny Sansevieri, CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. - and her guests - offer in terms of tips and insights into the industry! Listen here. Publishing Insiders is now available on iTunes, so you can keep up with the show wherever you go! Upcoming show: Tuesday, March 6 at 4 p.m. Pacific: "Like" My Stuff http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepublishinginsiders/2012/03/07/like-my-stuff Learn to boost sales, promote your brand, and increase your online presence with the author of "Like My Stuff: How to Get 750 Million Members to Buy Your Products on Facebook." Dr. Natalie Petouhoff helps companies understand how social media affects the bottom-line and to create strategies that provide real business value. She does this by benchmarking your "As Is" and compares it to your "Could Be" best practices. With this insight, you can create a world-class social media and digital presence. You'll be well-armed to devise a social media roadmap, track your progress, gather the right metrics to transform into a social media ROI analysis, articulate the business case, and justify the plan to upper management. Shows available for download include: * Secrets to Creating Children's Book Apps * Lead Without Followers with Dave Ursillo * Facebook Facts from Social Media Expert Mari Smith * Special Guest Mike Stelzner on social media marketing * Special Guest Amy Porterfield on Facebook Marketing * Special Guest Chris Brogan on Google+ * How and Where to Sell Your Self-Published Book * Speaker Tips for Authors * How to Get Your Book Reviewed * The Future of Author Events * What Authors Must Know About Book Cover Design * SPECIAL GUEST Seth Godin: Poke the Box * Smart Self-Publishing: Why Book Design & Editing Matter * Smart Self-Publishing: Making Money with eBooks * Smart Self-Publishing Series: Becoming Your Own Publisher Facebook + Twitter = More Exposure ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Did you know that blog posts shared on Twitter have 63% more page views than those just shared on Facebook alone? Combined sharing on Twitter and Facebook increased inbound links by 149%. The Beginner's Guide to Blog Analytics ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Learn some basic methods for tracking and analyzing your blog stats: http://www.mackcollier.com/beginner-blog-analytics/ The Future of Sharing on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Check out these predictions for social media sharing and how people will use Twitter, Facebook and Google+: http://mashable.com/2012/02/15/future-of-sharing-facebook-twitter-google/ 8 Powerful Tips for Marketing Your Business With Ebooks ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Creating ebooks is a great way to build - and keep - your following: http://mashable.com/2012/02/10/ebook-marketing/ 6 Tips to Resuscitate a Dying Author Blog ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Your blog does require some maintenance, but an author who's been there offers some advice on keeping things relevant: http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/6-tips-to-resuscitate-a-dying-author-blog Social Media Snippet: 56 Ways to Market on Pinterest ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pinterest may be a lot of fun for users, but it's also proving to be a potent marketing tool: http://workflowwriting.com/654695/56-ways-to-market-your-business-on-pinterest.php Social Media Snippet: Increase Your Facebook Page Visibility ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Begin with a schedule, so your fans know when to expect new content. Here are additional ways to keep your Facebook Page going strong: http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/4-ways-to-increase-your-facebook-page-visibility/ Reader Tip! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you've got a Reader Tip you'd like to share, please send it to penny@amarketingexpert.com with the subject line "reader tip." Submissions should be 75 words or less. WHO ARE WE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Author Marketing Experts, Inc. is a full-service book marketing, promotion, and publicity company. We serve authors at all stages of marketing and promotion. We offer a full range of packages and services to choose from. To see a price list or schedule a free consultation, send your e-mail to penny@amarketingexpert.com with the subject line "Author Services Info." You can also visit our website at www.amarketingexpert.com. Reprint permission ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ You are welcome to reprint any items from "The Book Marketing Expert Newsletter." However, please credit us as a source with the following paragraph: Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com ------------------------------------------------------------ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Like this newsletter? Pass it on! We never rent or sell subscriber lists to any third party. Your privacy is very important to us. Always. To subscribe to this newsletter, click here: subscribe@amarketingexpert.com. ----- Copyright 2012 Author Marketing Experts, Inc. ----- Follow us on Twitter Keep up with the AME blog Like our Facebook Page Join us on Google+ Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ email: penny@amarketingexpert.com web: http://www.amarketingexpert.com

What's New from Author @GailGMartin March 2012

What's New?  From Author  Gail  Gaymer Martin  March 2012 Winter has been gentle this year in much of the country, but it has been more than wonderful for my husband and I spending January and February in Sedona, Arizona. Though the nights and mornings are cooler, many of the days are warm enough for short sleeves. We golf and go for walks, and last week, I went on a 4-1/2 mile hike around Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte which took me close to three hours. I've never walked on such difficult terrain in my life, but it was something I wanted to do. The hike was around the two distant rocks you see in the middle of this photo. Our friends Jan and Frank Corace spent a week with us here, and we had a great time on a Pink Jeep tour, laughing on our bumpy ride through the rocks and desert. We stopped to learn about the foliage of the area and to view many of the lovely sites. Another day we did the exciting trip down Oak Creek Canyon, and we stopped at the famous Sliding Rock which is filled with swimmers in the summer, using the smooth rocks as slides. We also took a trip to the ghost town Jerome which is a mile high above the town of Cottonwood, and once had 19,000 residence, mainly men who mined the copper. Today the town has about 444 residence, but it is bustling with tourist who visit the interesting shops and boutiques or those who come for a tasty meal.   Although I enjoy having time to read, with all the company visiting us and working on my book when I had free moments, my reading time seemed to diminish. I love Nicholas Sparks novel,  The Best Of Me, but as always it didn't have a happy ending, and I enjoyed Jodi Picoult's  House Rules very much. She's not known for happy endings either, but this one at least ended with a feeling of hope. Today I started Kristin Hannah's Angel Falls. I've heard good things about it so I'm anxious to read it.   I am happy to report that the novel due on April 1 is complete, and I've listened to it read to me on Natural Reader, and I've made some edits. Today I printed a hard copy and will read it once again to edit as we drive back to Michigan. We leave on January 29 and hope to be home in three days. This book which I originally called Waiting For You, is now titled Her Valentine Hero and will be released in February 2013. I will now work on a proposal for the next two novels in the series. The second story will revolve around Neely's sister Ashley, and the final book will be a surprise. I'm also excited to tell you that I now have the cover for my June 2012 release, the last in the Dreams Come True series, titled A Dream Of His Own.   Dreams Come True      Book 1 A Dad Of His Own  Love Inspired March 2011   Order Here       Book 2 A Family Of Their Own Love Inspired September 2011 Order Here    Book 3 A Dream Of His Own   Love Inspired June 2012     STILL AVAILABLE    Dad In Training           Click here to purchase  Groom In Training      Click here to purchase Bride In Training         Click here to purchase Monterey Memories    Click here to purchase  Christmas Gifts          Click here to purchase 2012 APPEARANCES, TRAVEL AND EVENTS Nothing scheduled at this time. RECIPE When my niece was visiting us in Sedona, she asked to cook a meal for all of us. She chose one that her family liked, and one that we all enjoyed too. The meal is called Pollo Saltillo (Pollo is chicken and saltillo means little skip.) It's an easy but tasty dish served with rice or wrapped in flour tortillas, if you prefer. Pollo Saltillo Ingredients 1 lb. Chicken breast, cubed 1 small onion, chopped 2 Tbsp. oil 1 Tsp oregano 1 Tbsp chili powder ½ Tbsp cumin 1 cup V-8 juice ½ cup of chicken broth 2 cans pinto beans, drained 4 to 6 ounces of cheddar cheese, cubed sour cream (optional) Directions Sauté cubed chicken, onions and spices in oil, add V-8 juice, chicken broth, and pinto beans. Cook 20 minutes. Add cheddar cheese and cook until melted. Serve on brown or white rice and/or flour tortillas. Add a dollop of sour cream when serving. GAIL'S FREE BOOK CONTEST DRAWING The winner of the March free autographed book and small gifts is Dina Cox from California. The free book drawings are held six times a year: January, March, May, July, September, and November, offering you six opportunities to win, but you must sign the guestbook for each drawing. The next drawing will be in May, so please drop by www.gailmartin.com and look in the boxed area for the Read and Sign My Guestbook. I love to hear from you. SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER If you have friends or family who love to read, please share this newsletter, and invite your friends to subscribe for all the monthly news. DO YOU HAVE A NEW EMAIL ADDRESS? When you change email addresses, please don't forget to re-subscribe to this newsletter with your new email address. You can delete the old or you can let it stay and it will be deleted automatically by Ezine Director who manages my newsletter account. FAITH THOUGHT Leaving this amazing setting and our lovely townhouse and returning home is difficult. Although home is "where the heart is," I realize that Sedona has become my home. I love it here, and I am saddened to return to what I've called home much of my life. Here I have not only the amazing red rocks that daily remind me of the power of God's glory and majesty, but I have weather that stimulates daily walking, days that I golf and hike in terrains that I cannot find at home. There I sit in my office on cold winter days and write and write, or go to music rehearsals or do the "couch potato" act and watch TV in the evening. Two homes that beckon to me. As I think about leaving here, I feel a tremendous sadness, but I also recall the comforts of home in the familiar surroundings, the family and friends I've missed, and the items I left behind that make life easier. Then I recall God has promised us a home in heaven, even more glorious than anything we can imagine on earth. The thought of leaving my earthly home and going to heaven saddens me, too, but I know, just as I know when I leave this place, I will be with family and friends and have every comfort imaginable and even greater, I will be in the presence of my Lord and Savior. In John 14:23, Jesus says, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." Though we often fear the unknown, heaven is a glorious promise, a new home where we will live forever with the Lord. What could be better?                            Gail