Sched App - Why You Need it, How to Start - Official UTOPiAcon2016 Blog Post

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm here to talk to all you utopians about the Sched App. I'll walk you through signing in and updating your profile. This month is all about that app, and the official UTOPiAcon bloggers are gonna show you how you can use it to your advantage. If you still need tickets to the con, you can get them here.

Here's the lineup:
Today: How to sign up/sign in and update your profile
Paisley Reader: How to integrate the schedule app with your calendar on your phone
A Book Vacation: Adding events and panels to your schedule
A Little Bit of R&R: How to get more information on a panel from the schedule page
Book Junkie: Not so Anonymous: How to buy or adjust tickets bought and add friends to your list

Now, let's get into SCHED!

First of all, you need to find the app. Click here. You'll get a screen that looks like this:

As you can see, in the top, right hand corner, there's a place that says sign up or log in.

Before you go all click-crazy, let me give you a little tip. If you have a ticket, you got an e-mail about this app and were auto-added. Be sure and use that e-mail address to log in. Even better, if you can locate the e-mail, click through from there.

Let's continue.

Once you log in, you'll see a screen like this:

Shana will go into how to add stuff there later. We don't want that screen, we want to click on your icon and choose settings:

Now scroll down and you'll see this:

Fill it out!

Once you're done and you've added your pic and details, click save settings.

Boom! You're done!

As we move through the weeks of May, you'll learn all there is to know about this nifty little app, including how to sync it to your calendar so you can get reminders for panels or activities you want to take part in.

I have three more posts for you this month: UTOPIA awards voting, an interview with the head of Crushing Hearts Black Butterfly publishing, and information on how you can snag a copy of the UTOPIA anthology!

Exciting, huh?

What do you think? An awesome way to save paper, huh?

Have you used the app? Tell me about your experiences.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Q&A With Listeners of A Daily Cup of Jo

Happy Wednesday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm going to be asking you all some questions I'd love to have a few answers to. These will all pertain to my podcast, so if you haven't listened, I'll be linking you up to a couple of short productions and a couple of long ones. Ready? Get your typing fingers and your ears ready and let's get going!

Here are the links:
Introduction to the podcast (10 min) Hosted by Jo Michaels
Utopia Veteran Interview (45 min) Hosted by Jo Michaels (and Ren Reidy when possible)
Utopia Resolutions (30 min) Hosted by Ashley Bodette and Maria Pease
Utopia Revolutions (30 min) Hosted by Christina Marie
Utopia Revelations (30 min) Hosted by Jo Michaels
Interview with The Indie Pub Podcast - SM Boyce and JN Chaney (45 min) Hosted by Jo Michaels
Roanoke Author Invasion - Liz C. Long (45 min) Hosted by Jo Michaels

I'm going to start with a list of specific questions, then move on to general ones.



Thank you so much for your time!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

UTOPiAcon 2016 - What the Heck are Revolutions and Revelations?

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today is my very first post as one of the 2016 official Utopia bloggers. We have quite a lineup of rock stars for you this year, so I hope you're ready to get your information buzz on! As many of you may know, the theme for UTOPiAcon 2016 is Fight for Your Write.

Before I get going on revolutions and revelations, and how those pertain to the theme, I'd like to share with you all the ways you can keep up with news about the goings on at UTOPiAcon for 2016. Get your clicking fingers ready, and let's get going!

First and foremost, get your tickets! They're available now here (including one day fan passes).

Subscribe to the blog on the Utopia site:
Utopia blog

Subscribe to the official blogs:
Mine (link is on the right)
Maria Pease
Toni Lesatz
Shana Benedict
Kathryn Grimes
Ashley Bodette
Ren Reidy
Delphina Miyares

Subscribe to the official book tuber's channel:
Christina Marie

Follow Our Magazine on Flipboard:
UTOPiAcon BUZZ

Give my radio show a follow:
A Daily Cup of Jo

Join the Unofficial Facebook Group:
We Are Going to Utopia!

Like the Official Utopia Facebook Page:
UTOPiAcon

Join the event on Facebook:
UTOPiAcon

Follow Utopia on Twitter:
@utopia_con

So, now that you know where you can get your news about the most amazing writer's conference on the planet, let's get into what all this revolution and revelation stuff is about, eh?

Revolution: a dramatic and wide-reaching change in the way something works or is organized or in people's ideas about it.

Janet has already introduced her own revolution by changing the way Utopia happens. In 2016, there will be games, more workshops, and new age ranges for the con.

Attendees are creating revolutions of their own because of what they felt or learned at the conference. On the Utopia Revolutions portion of A Daily Cup of Jo (every other Thursday), Christina Marie has a chat with attendees creating their own revolutions. How their minds changed because of the conference, and what awesome things they're out there accomplishing now. There have already been two interviews, and you can expect many more! Check out Christina Benjamin here and Kelly Risser here.

See and hear what these women are doing. Revolutions are all about change, and Utopia embraces and incites those changes with warm hugs and author education.

Revelation: a surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way.

Attendees will say it all the time: I never thought I was anyone, and I never thought I was capable of anything, until I attended Utopia. I had this moment, this spark, this idea, and everything seemed to sort of click into place. I realized: I can do it. I am someone. I'm part of something bigger than myself.

Now, these folks didn't come by this information gradually. No. That would be too un-life-altering to make an impact. They were hit with a sneak attack lightning bolt that shot from the ether and struck their heart, making it swell and grow with ambition and self-assurance.

One Wednesday morning a month, Ren Reidy and I will be talking with someone who had that lightning struck moment. We'll find out what caused it, what it was, and how the author has put it into action. One Wednesday evening a month, Kathryn Grimes will take over and have a talk with an author. You'll be shocked at how many people have had their whole lives changed by Utopia. Allyson Gottlieb joined me last week to talk about how her mindset was altered. Check out the interview here.

Revelations are all about being introduced to new ideas. Whether it's how to do something, when do do something, or just the fact that you can do something, you'll find your spark, your tribe, your herd of unicorns at Utopia.

Come join us and FIGHT FOR YOUR WRITE!

~~~ 

You need to be sure and check out Maria's post for this week to discover what Utopia resolutions are all about. Those are some fun posts!

Did you learn anything from this post? What are you waiting for? Get your tickets already. We'd LOVE to see you there!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

The Versatile Blogger Award

Happy Monday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, a little bit of a change. Since my guest last week, Mindy Ruiz, has one book published and we already discussed on the post here (big giveaway going, GO ENTER) and featured it on the sidebar, today I'm talking about an award that was bestowed upon me by a fellow blogger. She's also a member of the 2015 Time for Books Review Team. Who is she and what's this award about? Well, grab a cup of coffee and let's get going!

Thank you, K. J. Farnham, for nominating me for this awesome award! Here's a little about Ms. Farnham:

I was born and raised in West Allis, Wisconsin, home of the Wisconsin State Fair and the Pettit National Ice Center. In 1999, I graduated from UW-Milwaukee with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. I went on to earn a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction while teaching full time. After teaching first grade and third grade for six years each, I am proud to say that I had the privilege of helping hundreds of children learn to read and write.

In 2011, my family of four relocated from Milwaukee to western Wisconsin. (We are now a family of five!) While I was sad to leave teaching, I was ready for a change and excited to explore my love for writing. I got caught up for two years writing and editing for various clients while the book that I’d started back in 2009 went untouched. I finally made it my New Year’s Resolution for 2014 to finish Click Date Repeat, and it was published on August 21, 2014 (my wedding anniversary).

Things I enjoy: travel (especially road trips), running, biking, nature walks, beach outings, coffee and tea.

Things I love: watching my children participate in various activities, reading, writing, Body Pump at the YMCA, The Walking Dead, peanut butter and coconut milk.

Check out K. J. Farnham's blog here.

Information about the award:

The Versatile Blogger Award is given in recognition for the great commitment, diverse talents and generosity shown by bloggers here in our community. There is so much creativity on display that it is difficult to reduce a list to only a few, but for those nominated, it is hoped that it will motivate them as well as celebrate their work to date.

Here are the rules:

• Show the award on your blog
• Thank the person who nominated you
• Share seven facts about yourself
• Nominate up to fifteen blogs
• Link your nominees’ blogs, and let them know

My seven facts:

1. My life is chaotic most of the time, so I tend to lean toward super controlling habits in my writing, editing, and design work
2. I have this strange compulsion to help people, and look for different, interesting ways to give back to the Indie author community (because I'm selfish, and I get to pat myself on the back)
3. I'm very opinionated
4. Because I have such a strong work ethic, I expect the same from others, and it's destroyed relationships when things aren't followed through on or when I feel I'm not getting back the level of commitment I put in
5. I believe in magic
6. I push myself harder than I should, and I'm harder on myself when I fail than anyone else could ever be
7. When people don't like me, I'm okay with it; because everyone doesn't like everyone (just like all people don't like the same book), and I'm not going to be someone other than me to change that

I nominate:

• Ashley Bodette from Book Junkie: Not-So-Anonymous
• Maria Pease from The Paisley Reader
• Ren Reidy from A Little Bit of R&R

You should check those blogs out. Those ladies are amazing!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

UtopYA Sched App - Signing in and Profile Updates - Official utopYA 2015 Post

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm here to talk to all you utopYAns about the Sched App. I'll walk you through signing in and updating your profile. This month is all about that app, and the official utopYA bloggers are gonna show you how you can use it to your advantage. If you still need tickets to the con, you can get them here.

Here's the lineup:
Today: How to sign up/sign in and update your profile
A Book Vacation: Adding events and panels to your schedule
Paisley Reader: How to integrate the schedule app with your calendar on your phone
Book Junkie: Not so Anonymous: How to buy or adjust tickets bought and add friends to your list

First of all, you need to find the app. Click here. You'll get a screen that looks like this:

As you can see, in the top, right hand corner, there's a place that says sign up or log in.

Before you go all click-crazy, let me give you a little tip. If you have a ticket, you got an e-mail about this app and were auto-added. Be sure and use that e-mail address to log in. Even better, if you can locate the e-mail, click through from there.

Let's continue.

Once you log in, you'll see a screen like this:

Shana will go into how to add stuff there next week. We don't want that screen, we want to click on this button and choose settings:

Now scroll down and you'll see this:

Fill it out!

Once you're done and you've added your pic and details, click save.

Boom! You're done!

As we move through the weeks of April, you'll learn all there is to know about this nifty little app, including how to sync it to your calendar so you can get reminders for panels or activities you want to take part in.

What do you think? An awesome way to save paper, huh?

Have you used the app? Tell me about your experiences.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Book Junkie: Not so Anonymous - utopYA Con Friday Night Event and Saturday Signing

Happy Friday, everyone! Wow, what a busy couple of days it's been, huh? I totally missed my post yesterday. BOO! But today's will make up for it, I promise. *grin* As always, on Friday, you get some amazing information about utopYA Con 2015. This week it's from Book Junkie: Not so Anonymous. Our dear Ashley has a BIG giveaway of Saturday signing space! I know you're all excited, so let's get going!

From Book Junkie:

Alright, ladies and gentleman! Every time I get to put together one of my official posts, with more information about the conference (which is only EIGHTY-THREE DAYS from now!) I get more and more excited about this year's events! And today, I get to share with you some REALLY exciting information!

First up is an awesome, exclusive opportunity for 225 utopYA attendees...

See the rest here!

Yeah, you know you want to read more of THAT! What are you waiting for? Oh, right! You wanna know how to win.

Well, you have to collect all four parts of the entry phrase then enter them in the Rafflecopter form. But you have to visit all the bloggers' official posts to get the pieces.

Here they are (in order):
Jo Michaels Blog - C. J. Redwine interview
A Book Vacation - Victoria Faye Whit & Ware interview
Paisley Reader - How to create a Google pre-order form
Book Junkie - Special Friday night event and Saturday signing

Now, what are you waiting for? Getcher booty movin'!

Did you enter to win?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

The Paisley Reader - utopYA Con 2015 Walkthrough on Creating a Pre-order Form

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, as with every Friday, I'm bringing you a snippet from one of the utopYA Con 2015 blogger's posts. It's Maria over at The Paisley Reader. Grab a cup of coffee and let's get going!

Don't forget to go get part three of the phrase you'll need to enter the giveaway for Saturday signing space at utopYA con!

Hey Authors, this one’s for you!

A big question you might have before going to utopYA is, “how many books should I bring,” and let me tell you, it is an important question to answer. Take too many, and you’ll have to ship some back home. Take too few, and you’ll sell out quickly, leaving you sitting at a table with no books.

So how can you begin to know how many books you should take to utopYA?

Pre-Orders.

By creating a pre-order form, you’ll know how many books to bring for definite sales. You can also have people prepay via PayPal...

Why are you still here? Get going! Learn how to create a beautiful pre-order form, and collect the third piece of that phrase so you can enter next Friday!

As you can see, the lineup changed due to circumstances beyond our control, but Maria's post is a must read!

What do you think? Did you check it out? Find it helpful?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Paisley Reader - utopYA Con Book Match Scavenger Hunt Game

Week THREE! Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! As usual, on Friday you get a utopYA post. Today, you'll be heading over to The Paisley Reader to enter the "guess the book" contest. Get your clicking fingers ready, and let's get going!

From The Paisley Reader:

Now, let’s get to the book hunt! Here’s what you have to do to win:

• Read the synopsis below.
• Guess which book from my short list the synopsis belongs to.
• Type your answer in the Rafflecopter entry form.
• Enter every day throughout the month of February for a shot at the prize!

Each blogger will list one synopsis and five possible titles for you to choose from. It’ll be a different title each week (this is week three).

This form will stay up on my blog for one week. Then, I’ll change the entry form to a link for the new hunt over on Book Junkie: Not-So-Anonymous. And so on, and so forth. At the end of the game, all incorrect entries will be removed before the winner is chosen.

What’s the prize? Well…

You have a shot at winning a pack of three e-books–one from EACH of our keynote speakers:
Denise Grover Swank, Kim Holden, and Lauren Miller

These prizes are being donated by the official bloggers. We wanted to do something awesome for you guys. What’s better than books written by awesome women you’re going to meet?

Go to The Paisley Reader now to read the synopsis and titles and enter!

Don't forget to visit the other official bloggers this month:
Week 1 – Jo Michaels
Week 2 – A Book Vacation
Week 4 – Book Junkie: Not so Anonymous

Well? Did you enter? What book do you think Maria chose?

That's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Paisley Reader, Lauren Miller, and Denise Grover Swank - utopYA Con 2015

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! This week, over on The Paisley Reader, there's a huge opportunity for you. I'll give you a snippet of Maria's (she's the blog owner) post and give you a link so you can go check it out. Without further ado...

From The Paisley Reader:

Now back to this fantastic opportunity.

Each of these amazing authors, in addition to their keynote addresses, will be answering 10 questions in a blog post interview on utopYA’s webpage.

Guess what? Eight of these questions in each interview will come from you! That’s right, EIGHT! This is your opportunity to ask your burning questions of these authors.

This week, I am accepting questions for Denise Grover Swank and Lauren Miller. That means you have sixteen...

Yeah, you're dying to know more, huh? Well, get on over to this post and check it out!

Week one was an interview I did with Marissa Meyer. If you didn't catch that, you should certainly do so. It can be found at this link.

If you missed the post from A Book Vacation where Shana had the awesomesauce that's Heather Hildenbrand bring you a guest post, be sure and pay the post a visit here.

Next week, Ashley (Book Junkie: Not so Anonymous) will give you the chance to ask Kim Holden a question or two.

How exciting is this?

What are you waiting for? Get over to Maria's blog and get those questions rolling!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

My Guest Post on Why Reading Matters and a NaNoWriMo Update

Happy Monday, everyone! Today, the lovely Maria Pease allowed me to take over her blog and post a little bit about reading and why it matters. Here's a snippet, you can check out the full post at the link below:

I’d like to start off by thanking Maria for letting me take over her blog for a day! *waves and smiles* You’re awesome, lady! Today, I’d like to talk with you all about reading and what you might not know you can get out of a work of fiction. Usually, I’d say grab those pens and notebooks and let’s get going, but today, I’d like for you to grab a book from your TBR and be prepared to dive in at the end of this post. Let’s go!

Have you ever lost yourself in a book? Become so enraptured and entangled with the characters on the page...

  Visit The Paisley Reader for more!

Now for my NaNoWriMo update!

As you all know, my right elbow has been deemed unfit for work for a little while. I was hoping to get to write more this month, but fate seems to have other ideas. If I don't let it get better, it'll get worse. Hey, we're talking about my career; I'm going to err on the side of caution. So very little writing for me.

My NaNo word count = 0

Hopefully, I'll be back to normal soon.

In the meantime, go check out Maria's blog and give her some love with a comment!

Thanks!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Announcement - UtopYA 2015 Official Bloggers

Happy Hump-Day! Wow. I can't even begin to tell you all how excited I am! Today was going to be a book review, but that'll have to wait until tomorrow. I have some amazing news to share with you all. If you're a writer, you'll be excited. If you're a reader, you'll be happy dancing. Best of all: If you subscribe to my blog (or follow me in any way) you'll have opportunities to win some amazing things, and you'll be one of the first to get information about things happening at UtopYA Con in 2015.

Why?

Because, the announcement has been posted on the UtopYA Con blog...

AND I MADE THE LIST!

That's right! In tandem with three other amazing bloggers, I was chosen to be one of the official news folks.

Plus, I get to display this awesome badge on the blog (look top right)! *drools over the pretty*

Along with myself, here are the other awesome ladies bringing you news and prizes from the event:

Maria Pease

The Paisley Reader

 

Ashley Bodette

A Book Junkie Not so Anonymous

Shana Benedict

A Book Vacation

Go subscribe to their blogs, because you don't want to miss a thing.

Are you going to UtopYA Con 2015?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo