Uh... Wow. What's Going on With this Blog?

Long freaking time no see, eh? I'm thinking of doing a little revival here because I need the habit of writing to come back and sit with me again. After 2020, things got a bit crazy for me. If you read my post from that year, you'll know a lot happened, but the blows just kept coming.

• My second-eldest son died.
• My mother died.
• My hubby changed jobs.
• I changed jobs.
• My art exploded (if there's one positive thing about grief...).
• We decided to move this year (after renovations--Lort help us all).
• I got five new pets, and I've lost four of them--the one hitting the hardest was the first one I got. She was the goodest girly and was very special to me.
• I haven't been able to write novels.

All that being said (typed?), I'm trying my darndest to come back. I have my last author conference this coming April (Authors Rock Roanoke), and after that, we move. I'm hoping to get back to some semblance of a routine once the dust settles.

Also! If any of you read Recipe for Redemption by TJ Kelly, a collab with Tia, Kelly, and myself, you'll be excited to know we've officially finished book two and are moving on to the editing stage! Yay! I think our title for book 2 is: Recipe for Redemption 2: Izzy's Story. After we get this one published, we're going on to Frankie. ;) I just have two more recipes to add to book two: Gluten-free Corn Cookies and Corn Cakes. Hey, it's set in Iowa. No shade. It will, however, have a hushpuppy recipe in it that's TO. DIE. FOR. So freaking yum.

I'm hoping to have copies at Roanoke, so if you're into RfR and would like some free recipe cards (and maybe the second book?), tickets for the event are only $5, and you can get them at the link above.

I have to say, I'm so grateful for those two ladies. We've continued our tradition of a yearly trip together after 2020, and those have given me something to look forward to while helping me hold on to the small thread of sanity I have left.

Did I say sanity? Not even sure what that means any longer, but here we are!

Moving on...

I'm still editing and formatting, and one of my clients is releasing the last in a series soon, so I'll be back with details once that happens.

Hold out hope I can keep going with the blog. If I can, it'll mean new books are coming soon. I have a number of them mostly written, so it shouldn't be long before they're done. Book three in my Guerrilla Grannies series, and book two in the Angels and Vampires series. Again, both are nearly done, but when I had things start to go south, they really took me off my path. I also have a cult book I plan to release sometime this year. It's also about two chapters from conclusion but has no definitive cover yet, BUT the handbook has a loose cover, and I'll show it below. I had a difficult time finding the motivation to finish any of these things. Seeing as I'm here now, it's a positive thing. Cross your fingers!

I have to include some of the pretty things in this post for you all to look at, so here you go!

Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Chapter.con London 2017 - Information and Ticket Specials

Happy Monday, everyone! I just realized it's only a month before I leave for my awesome trip to London to attend the first annual Chapter.con, and I have nothing ready. Nothing. Zilch. EEP! But it also got me thinking: WHO will I see there? So, today's post is the 411 on the conference. If I'll see you, drop me a comment below and say YES! Ready? Here we go!

 For a full schedule and to buy tickets, click here.

Authors of Horror, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, New Adult, Young Adult, Mid-Grade, Children's, Women's Fiction, Dystopia, General.

AUTHOR, READER & BLOGGER CONFERENCE + PUBLIC SIGNING EVENT
London. Twickenham.
Friday 25th & Saturday 26th August.
Join us in the beautiful surroundings of St. Mary's University and Strawberry Hill house for an intimate 2 day reader, author and blogger conference, including a public Saturday signing event.

ALL WRITERS, AUTHORS, BLOGGERS, PUBLISHERS welcome. It's time to step up to the next level and expand your community.

Whether you are a best-selling established author, an aspiring author, a blogger, a reader, a publisher or a book seller, we would like to invite you to  Chapter.Con; one of the U.K's very first conventions of its kind designed to connect, educate and inspire.

One of the primary beliefs of Chapter.Con is inclusivity; of celebrating diversity and indviduality.

​With a series of panels hosted by some of the world's most experienced and best-selling, trail-blazing authors, two inspirational key note speakers, business consultancy workshops, mindfulness seminars, and branding analysis services,  Chapter.Con is far more than a literary festival; it's home, family and mentorship.

Chapter.Con is a chance to exchange ideas with fellow authors, giving you the time, space and forum to create a vibrant and co-operative community.

Chapter Con is open to Indie published, Hybrid published and traditionally published authors of all ages and stages of their individual journey. It is also open to new and established book bloggers, and readers who want to see behind the scenes of the author world.

For a full schedule and to buy tickets, click here.

Now for the information about the signing day tickets and the deal the conference is giving to those folks who bring teen readers with them!

There are still author tables available! Go to the link above to find out more.

So, will I see you there?

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

Jo

My 2017 Signings

Happy Monday! Long time no speak, eh? Well, I'm finally managing to get a few things done, and I have some updates and news for you all. Ready? Let's get going!

First and foremost, in just FOUR weeks, I'll be in Virginia again with all the lovely Roanokeians. If you haven't heard about the Roanoke Author Invasion signing, I suggest you get on over to the website and check it out. It's organized by the lovelies Liz C. Long and Laura Howard. Be sure and give them a shout out on social media via those links. *wink* Tell 'em Jo sentcha. Ha!

What I love most about RAI is that it's very reader friendly. Not only are the tickets 100% FREE, but the first 100 folks through the door get special stuff like tote bags. Very classy.

So, if you're within a couple hundred miles and have nothing to do Saturday, April 8, pop on over and say hello to me. If you mention seeing this post, I'll have a special little something for you at my table. *grin*

Get FREE tickets for RAI here

Now, later in 2017, I'll be heading to a couple conferences. The first is Chapter.con, and it's in LONDON! *squeals*

It's hosted by the lovely Katie John, and it's a true conference lasting two full days. Dates are: August 25 and 26, 2017.

I have THREE super special Saturday signing passes to give away, so keep your eyes on the blog. That will happen very soon!

I've never been to London, so I can't say what I love about the city, and since this is the first year of the conference, I can't drop any super amazing tips or anything about it, either. We can figure it out together!

Find more info and get tickets for Chapter.con London here

OZARKS INDIE BOOK FEST!

Yeah, I typed that in all caps. You guys! I'm the Saturday keynote speaker for this event, and I'm thrilled beyond words. Ticket prices range from $10 for readers (one day, all day, entry either Friday OR Saturday) to $100 for a half table for authors all weekend. DATES: October 19-22, 2017.

Your hostess with the mostest for this event is Ms. Jaci Chaney. While there are several folks working to bring you the most awesome experience ever, Jaci was the one who came up with OIBF. We're forever grateful to her!

Not only is it the first conference I'm going to be a keynote speaker at EVER, it's also donating all the proceeds to pet rescue charities. Loving Paws and Companions for Heroes will be splitting the proceeds from both the conference and the anthology OIBF will be releasing later this year. How exciting is that?

I've been to Missouri once, but we were in St. Louis, so naturally, I ended up at the Anheuser-Busch distillery. It's a little foggy after that. *wink*

I'll be giving away a couple of fan passes to that event this year, too! So exciting!

I'm so looking forward to hitting OIBF. If you're in the area and want to come check out the awesome authors that'll be there, you know the drill.

Get your tickets for OIBF here

For the last conference of the year, I'll be up in Michigan for the Great Lakes Book Bash! It's the weekend after OIBF, so I mayyyy be hitting a few bookstores between one and the other. Keep your eyes open for that. DATES: October 27-29, 2017.

GLBB is organized by the always awesome Rachael Brownell.

This event is also FREE for readers, but you MUST pick up a free ticket. As of RIGHT NOW, there are only TWO Friday tickets left. Your free ticket gets you through the door on either Friday or Saturday. If you want more info before you buy, check out this page on the GLBB website. As you can see, prices range from FREE to $20.

I have TWO Rock Star passes to give away to you lucky readers, so be prepared for that! Not sure what I plan to do for you to enter, but I'll think of something amazing.

If you're ready (and I hope you are!), you know what to do!

Get your Great Lakes Book Bash tickets here

Which of these will I see you at this year?

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

Jo

Your Favorite Books of 2016 so far

Happy Monday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm gonna talk about my favorite reads of 2016 so far, and I wanna hear all about yours! These are in NO particular order. Ready? Let's get going!

My first isn't a book or series I've reviewed yet, but I've read all but the last one (The Crown). The Selection Series by Kiera Cass. I enjoyed this series more than I thought I would. You all know how much I love a spunky female protagonist, and America takes the cake in this series. She's vivacious, true to self, and endearing. Love it. Review to come (possibly on the air).

Second, I loved the Frenzy series by Casey L. Bond. Seriously. They're such quick reads, I think I blazed through the first three books in two days. Since the fourth just hit the shelves, I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I totally plan to very soon! Porcha Grant is witty, just tough enough, and good at keeping me on my toes as I read. Review of the whole series to come VERY soon.

I can't leave the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer off this list. I just finished Fairest, and Winter is sitting on my shelf, beckoning to me. I'm totally admitting to not liking Fairest. You all know how I feel about not telling the villain's backstory, and that's what Fairest does. I now feel kinda bad for Levana, and I don't like it. Hating on her was something I enjoyed, and it made me pull hard for Cinder to win. On the fence. Once I finish Winter, I'll review both of the last books at once. Cross your fingers for me!

I loved The Girl in 6E by A. R. Torre. Totally planning to continue that series, too! You've all read my review for that book (I hope). If not, find it here.

Totally can't forget The Adventures of Sir Edric! You'll laugh. I loved this book too much. See my review here.

Because of my fascination with the macabre this year, I greatly enjoyed Dark Bishop by Casey L. Bond and Rachel Brownell, too. Man, did that book make my jaw drop! Don't miss it! I wrote a review already and posted it here.

To be honest, this isn't all of them, but that would make for a VERY long post! haha!

What have your 2016 top reads been? Share in the comments!

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

Jo

An Interview on Author S. F. Benson's Blog

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Wow, yesterday was nuts with the posts, huh? Three in one day? Unheard of. Anywhoooooo, today, I'm highlighting an amazing interview I had the pleasure of doing over on author S. F. Benson's blog. Get your clicking fingers ready, and let's get going!

Mason Cooley said, “Reading gives us some place to go when we have to stay where we are.”

A Center Stage Moment shines a spotlight on writers who give us great places to visit with the characters we love and want to call friends.

Today, I have the pleasure of introducing to you Jo Michaels!


Jo Michaels is…

Hi, I’m Jo. Let’s forget all the “Jo Michaels is blah, blah, blah” stuff and just go with it. I’m a voracious reader (often reading more than one book at a time), a writer, a book reviewer, a mom, a wife, and one of the EICs at INDIE Books Gone Wild. I have an almost photographic memory and tend to make people cringe at the number of details I can recall about them and/or their book(s). My imagination follows me around like a conjoined twin and causes me to space out pretty often or laugh out loud randomly in completely inappropriate situations.

One of my favorite things is hearing from fans! You can find me on social media most any day of the week. Connect! I’d love to hear from you.

Without further ado, here’s her interview.

I love reading the bios of authors. Many of them did not start out as writers. Sometimes people stumble upon the craft. Did you always want to be a writer? I’ve been writing since I can remember, and I’ve always been drawn to the written word. Can I say I always wanted to be a writer? Well, no. There was a time when I wanted to teach literature, and I got my graphic design degree in the hopes of becoming a book cover designer, but I didn’t think back then I could write a whole book (or that anyone would give two nickels worth of a crap to read anything I wrote). When self-publishing started to grow, I looked a little more seriously at my ability to write. I never...

Head on over to author S. F. Benson's blog to read the rest!!

What did you think?

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

Jo

Quick Poll - Reader Survey

Happy Thursday, everyone! *dances around the room* It's allllmost the weeeeeekend! So! Yesterday, I was having a discussion about the general reader audience. We want all the information! As you all know, I'll share the results here on the blog once everything is said and done. I just need you to click buttons, if you don't mind. *grin*

I'm thinking I'll keep this totally anonymous poll open for one week.

Let's find out some stuff about your reading habits, shall we?


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Are you eager to see the results? I know I am!

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

Jo