E-books, Games, Squidoo, New Year's 2013

The week between Christmas and New Year's is kind of a let-down after all the preparations for the holidays. To fill your time I am sure you are downloading e-books to your new reading devices and taking time to enjoy a good book. I should add a shameless promotion for my e-books at this point--J.Q Rose Amazon page--Watch for my new cozy mystery/sweet romance, Coda to Murder, scheduled for release from Muse It Up Publishing in February. More information about that in 2013!

This week is a good time to settle in with the family and friends to play games. You may discover some for your New Year's Eve party too. I added the disc game in the right margin under the title, New Year's Fun. You can while away the hours (when you're not reading). Just grab the disc with your cursor and let it drop anywhere on the board. Warning! It's addictive..

Dominoes is a traditional favorite for youngsters and grown-ups alike. We especially like to play Mexican Train and Chicken Foot. Rules for Mexican Train here and rules for Chicken Foot here. Please remember there are as many variations of rules as there are players, so whoever supplies the game also makes the rules and lets the players know BEFORE the game begins what they are!!

So many card games. So little time. We enjoy playing Hand and Foot. Some folks say it reminds them of Canasta. You need a calculator to keep track of your points!!

Because we like to play games, I shared some of our favorites and included the rules and information on squidoo.com, a place filled with lenses on games, crafts, books, etc. 

Our neighbor taught us the Sticks Card Game. Making the game using popsicle sticks is part of the fun. AND there are no points to keep track of. Take a peek at the Sticks Card Game rules here.

Our all-time favorite game, hands down, is Pegs and Jokers. This game is full of strategy very similar to the rules of Sorry. There are a lot of variations and that's what makes it fun. Again, no scoring. Whoever gets all their pegs in home first wins. It can be played as partners or not. Pegs and Jokers game rules here.

Other games I have on Squidoo are the Hodge-Podge Card Game and Dice Games for Fun. 

What are some of your favorite games to play? Monopoly, Poker, Bridge??? Jenga, Scrabble, Clue, Checkers?

Whatever you choose, have a fantastic week and a Happy New Year 2013!!

Merry Christmas to the World!

The Nativity Scene at Disney World

The angel said, 

"Don't be afraid. 

I'm here to announce a great and joyful event 

that is meant for everybody, worldwide. 

A Savior has just been born in David's town, 

a Savior who is Messiah and Master."

--Luke 2:10 (The Message, the Bible in Contemporary Language)

Merry Christmas greetings to everyone around the world!

Feliz Navidad, 

Gledelig Jul, 

Mele Kalikimaka, 

Joyeux Noel, 

Buon Natale, 

Chook Sung Tan

Il-Milied it-Tajjeb

Jesus brought his message of peace and love to the whole world. Let's spread the word to transform this world into one filled with peace, love, joy, and hope.

God bless you.

Recipe: Cream of Broccoli Soup

Fresh broccoli

Here's a tummy warming recipe for Cream of Broccoli Soup for all the folks who are or will be experiencing blizzard and winter storm conditions. Since I can't be at your house to drop off the actual bowl of soup, the next best thing is to share the recipe. Enjoy!! Thinking of you.

Cream of Broccoli Soup Recipe

4 T. butter or margarine
1 1/2 c. chopped broccoli
1 1/2 c. chopped carrots
1 c. chopped celery--Add more if you like a lot of celery taste
1 medium diced onion
20 oz. chicken broth
1/3 c. flour
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
2 1/2 c. lowfat milk--you can replace evap milk with lowfat and use total 4 c. milk
salt and pepper to taste

Melt margarine in Dutch oven. Add vegetables and cook over medium heat about 10 minutes or till veggies are tender. Add chicken broth and allow to begin to boil. Stir in flour gradually, then slowly stir in milk. Salt and pepper to taste.

You can add more veggies to make a heartier soup and you may want to add ham and cheese too.

Enjoy this tummy warmer.

Another Five Star Review for Girls Succeed

Thrilled to share this 5 star Review on Amazon from Sue's Reviews below:

5.0 out of 5 stars Girls Succeed to become Successful Women, December 9, 2012

By 

Sue Pernz "SueP" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women (Kindle Edition)

This book is well written and very informative. If you have a dream you don't think you'll be able to attain I suggest you have a look at this book. It will certainly give you inspiration for your own goals.

The women in this book have all achieved their dreams and are to be applauded for their efforts. All worked hard to get to the level they desired, but some had to work harder than others when life put obstacles in their way. They're not all high flying professional women, their goals range from chef, to minister, to scientist to gold medallist. Do you have dreams? Get inspiration to achieve them from this book.

Smashwords Buy Link

Amazon Buy Link

Decorating for Christmas

Our Christmas tree

Are you all decked out for Christmas yet? We went crazy this year. About a year ago, we bought a huge tub full of Christmas lights at a yard sale. Paying the whopping sum of $3. for the entire tub, we packed it away in our shed. This year we decided to get out the goodies and see how many of the strings worked. Happily only two of them were duds, so we unloaded the entire box and strung them up on our house. WOW! What a fun blaze of twinkling colors. If I get a really good picture of the sight, I'll add it here. It's hard to get the right lighting outdoors to take a picture. Anybody have a good hint as to time of day to take it or camera settings?

We have not put up outdoor decorations for years...probably since our kids were little. You see, we were in the floral/greenhouse business for twenty years in Michigan. One of the services we did was  put up outdoor decorations for folks and for businesses. Yes, my DH was not thrilled to do all those jobs  (remember the cold weather is always the coldest and windiest when putting up lights) then come home to decorate our house. 

This year he actually enjoyed putting up the lights and seeing the beautiful results. It was quite a different experience in Florida hanging strings of lights in 75 degree weather in the sunshine. Don't tell him, but I believe the lights twinkle brighter against a snowy background....shhhhh...But they are fun and festive.

What a special time of year. Wishing you all the peace, joy, hope, and love this season brings now and for the brand new year, 2013.

FREE FREE FREE E-book: The Good Neighbors

For a fun read, pick up my holiday short story, The Good Neighbors. 

It's FREE on Amazon December 6-10.

The main characters are Jim and Gloria Hart whom you met in the mystery novella, Sunshine Boulevard. This snowbird couple from Michigan always help out the neighbors in their Florida retirement community when asked. 

Who knew being good could turn out to be so bad?

FREE on Amazon December 6-10

Amazon Review:

I disturbed the peace at Wendy's because I was laughing so hard reading this while I had lunch today. It's another great waiting room read--the kind of short-story you can devour along with a quick burger or while waiting to see the doctor. But try not to laugh too loudly unless you want to tell people what you're reading. On second thought, go ahead. Laugh out loud. Don't be afraid to let people know how much you're enjoying Ms. Rose's writing. Isn't a good hearty laugh in the middle of Wendy's a great recommendation for a book?  Rochelle Weber

The Good Neighbors Buy Link

All royalties will be donated to local food pantries.

Self-publishing or Traditional Publishing--It's Your Business.

BREAKING NEWS! Publishing your book is a business!

Whether you are submitting to traditional publishers (who take on all the cost of producing your book) or self-publishing (where you are responsible for ALL the costs), getting your book into the hands of readers is a business. You are the entrepreneur trying to sell your wares to the public.

A business person can set up a booth at a market, rent a downtown storefront, or even set up a lemonade stand in order to sell their wares. You, like the ancient marketers of old, are providing a product to a consumer when you write a story and have it published. 

I know it is difficult to wrap your brain around the fact that you are a business person no matter how your book is published. Even if your book is released by a traditional publisher, the advancement of book sales is squarely on how good you are at selling and distributing your story. You will have to market your stories to readers and that will create expenses which are considered the cost of doing business. You will have to keep records on revenue. Like it or not, you will be a business person in the publishing industry. 

My husband and I owned a floral shop and greenhouse business. We spent money to create the corporation and invested our lives, our fortune, our talents into making it a profitable venture for our family. 

That scenario is no different if a writer wants to open a business, hang out her shingle so-to-speak, and take on all the risks, the worries, and the JOY of publishing her own work.

Just as we learned the ins and outs as retailers in the floral industry, you will learn many lessons in the publishing world by joining in and experiencing it for yourself. IF you have the money to invest in the venture, then what is holding you back? You'll never know until you try. But first, do your home work just as if you were putting your nest egg into an actual storefront. Don't go in with stars in your eyes and pockets open to every scammer in the business. Be sure to publish your BEST effort for your readers.

So are you ready? Perhaps you will one day add author and entrepreneur to your resume. Best wishes!