I am a self-published author and an unbridled enthusiast, moonlighting as a middle manager. I started this blog with one purpose – to finish a novel. The good news is, that after almost three years of constant writing, editing, and more editing, I have published not one, but two comedy novels. I hope you have as much fun reading them as I did writing.
I am now writing the third installment in Isa Maxwell Escapades, blogging about the marketing game, and trying to figure out how to escape from the corporate grind to pursue my passion full-time. I would love for you to leave a comment or contact me directly on:
Email: ana.spoke( at )yahoo.com
Whoever you are, thank you for reading!
By Ana Spoke
Ana Spoke, author 
Thanks for stopping by at my blog Ana. Best of luck with the book…it’s tough out there! 🙂
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Thank you, Wendy. I plan on tackling the marketing and promotion the way I do everything – with a plan and endless effort. Hope to look at my current sales figures a year from now and be all “aww, those were so cute and little…”
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Much success with the book Ana, and thanks for the encouraging words. I wrote a thank you ( to you and another kind soul, in my blog at http://www.jamminjammies.blogspot.com/
Best
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No worries 🙂 I did not see a “like” button under your post, is it disabled?
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Wow! It must be a great and amusing novel. I’d love to read your book as soon as it has been released. *I’m sorry for the grammar-nazi 🙂
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Good luck with your book. I’ll get a copy of it here soon. I hope it sells like hotcakes. I look forward to reading it.
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Thank you, Lynne!
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Hi Ana
Just to say I’ve been following your blog, it’s been very interesting to see your progress, thanks for sharing. I decided to nominate your website as a nominee for the Blogger Recognition Award. I hope this is OK with you – here’s the link to the post on my site – https://writeattheheart.wordpress.com/2015/09/10/blogger-recognition-award/
In my choices I looked for blogs that I felt contributed to the writing community.
There are conditions to the award, though you may not have time to bother with them. Your link is on the post so people will follow through to your site and may feel inspired, which was my main point. You may not need it, but it’s a little piece of extra publicity which I hope will help.
Good luck with your book sales, by the way!
Jan
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Thank you so much, Jan! I hope they do – I’ve had so many well-meaning friends “manage my expectations”…It makes me sad that people may give up because it’s hard, takes so long, and so much effort. Don’t give up, I say, just make a plan and work at it every day.
Thanks again, you’ve made my day 🙂
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Hey Ana – after seeing you post numerous things about publishing your book ‘Shizzle Inc.’ I started really looking into independent publishing more. I finished a book back in July (as in a third or fourth draft that I was actually happy with) but then sat around contemplating whether or not to actually publish it because it was only my first ever novel. After seeing how excited you are with your novel I started looking into purchasing an ISBN and publishing on Amazon 🙂
Is it as simple as that? purchasing the ISBN and then publishing it on Amazon…or are there other cost factors and other legal things etc?
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Hi, Aneta, you don’t even have to purchase an ISBN – Amazon will give you one (there are some implications, but that all depends on where you want to take it). My biggest cost was editing. Then there’s cover design. There are legal implications in terms of mentioning brand names or quoting others. I’m glad you’re looking into it – just do more research and take it a step at a time. xx
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Oh really? that sounds so simple..I think that’s why I’m thinking that it’s too good to be true.. as soon as I put it up there..I can officially say I have a published book and I think that’s a little scary haha!
I have a cover designed already – also made sure I purchased the image with all correct licencing..so essentially all I have to do is get the ISBN to make it all official 😀
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Then go for it 🙂
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Hi Ana,
I’m writing to you to invite you to write with us for ideafortoday.com. On this site is created something like a network of/for bloggers.
Why this might be of interest? Let me explain.
By creating articles on the ideafortoday you can promote your blog. Next to each of items, which you add, will be displayed your name, photo and links to your social profiles and blog/website. You can also link to some article from your blog if it’s related with this what about you’re writing in the moment. You will increase your audience and it certainly will bring you benefits.
For now we are more than 30 bloggers but this count grows pretty fast so it will be more tens in few days/weeks for sure. Each blogger has their own audiency and when they are writing together, everyone can increase their traffic and followers. It will be benefits for you for sure!
What about is ideafortoday.com?
As the name suggests about ideas for each single day, ideas, tips and challenges. But from different categories. Some people have to cook something, there are recipes for today so, another have to care about kids, someone has a date, holidays, free week, alone night in home, desire to work out… and more.
So we can write articles in this categories, when we feel strong, not have to in everything, but can also.
I thought you can be interested in writing in some categories, so I wrote to you. Emotikon smile
If you are not sure if you have enough time you can just try. This is not life decision . There are no rigid guidelines for how often we should write, at least one per week is OK.
Let me know what you think about the idea and if you are interested in if you find a minute. Emotikon smile
ideafortoday.com/start
Best wishes, Tomasz Zając
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Hi, Tomasz! Thank you very much for the offer! I’ve had a look at your website – looks great! Very professional. Unfortunately it’s not for me, as I’m only interested in writing more books and keeping up this blog/diary of my experience. Thanks again!
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Thanks for your answer.
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Thank you for stopping by! Hope your book will have a great success and you’ll write youe second one and third and so on.
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Thank you! Me, too 🙂 already working on the second…
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Ana Spoke … She говорил
A pen name perhaps?
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Yes 🙂
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конечно 🙂
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Ana, What a lovely blog. I too am trying to finish a novel, God help me! LOL
Thank you for stopping by the Cow Pasture. I’m thrilled you liked it well enough to join the other fence jumpers, welcome. I look forward to hearing more about your progress and reading your comments.
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Thank you, Sheila, and good luck with finishing your novel. It can be done 🙂
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Thank you Whitney 🙂
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Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you 🙂
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Hello, my name is Gregory Thomas, I’m a writer and poet, and post my work on my blog at “Cascadialegends.wordpress.com” I just wanted to thank you for liking one of my stories on my blog. thank you very much! I don’t possess the know how, or money to make a book out of my work, if perhaps you know anybody that could help me, please do let me know, also thanks again. It’s my passion to make people smile through my writing, I wish you the best of luck as well
-sincerely,
Gregory Thomas
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Hi, Gregory – I don’t know a person, as I’m doing everything myself, but luckily the Net is full of helpful articles and blogs. Have a read of my old posts – they chronicle what I’ve done. You can do it yourself, just self-educate and keep going!
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Thanks Ana, 🙂 Let’s keep in touch, I write often. Be sure to check out my blog from time to time, I’ll do the same for you.
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Gregory, Amazon actually has a section that can help you. It’s called “Kindle Direct Publishing” and there is a forum full of people to ask questions of. Here’s the link: https://kdp.amazon.com/community/index.jspa
My husband is looking to publish some of his work which led me to this area.
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Awesome, thanks for your help and support, I’ll give that site a check over. Be sure to check out my blog whenever you get the chance, I write often. Let’s keep in touch. 🙂
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Pingback: Look who’s got a proper author page! | AnaSpoke.com
Nice new author photo. Wish I had a professional photographer friend.
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Hi, Skye – you just gave me an idea! I will update the post with a suggestion that if you don’t have one ready, you can use Starnow to find a young, upcoming one for very little money, if not for free. Youngsters are always looking for models for their portfolios. Thank you!
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CONGRATULATIONS on your first published novel & many more!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thank you so much!
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Congrats on the novel! I wish you a best seller! Thank you for following, I hope I keep you entertained as well. 😀
I am not a single-genre writer, I am all over the map, my latest “out of the box” writing effort is a romance.
Next one is ..I think… Maybe.. horror.
Maybe adventure.
Or a blend.
Anyway, keep checking back in!
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Thank you, Dash 🙂 it has technically been a bestseller – up to #72 on the Humor List for a few hours. So, yep, I’m technically a best-selling author 🙂
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Well, just wanted to pop by and say that I have just begun my journey in the trying-to-finish-a-book-boat, which you seem to have successfully vacated. It’s good to see people who have already made it/are in the process of making it when I’m just starting out!
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Haha, I like the way you phrased that…Great to see you join the party! And yes, one day at a time, and anything is possible 🙂
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Congratulations!! What a feat to accomplish; that’s wonderful! Thank you for stopping by and following my blog also. 🙂
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Hey,
I nomited you for the Liebster Award! 🙂
https://muffinsforeverr.wordpress.com/2015/09/23/liebster-award/#more-216
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Thank you very much, Debbie 🙂
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Congratulations the finished product! My blog is very similar, a purely innocent means of documenting the adventure that writing a novel brings! I imagine most writers struggle with similar trials, mine being mainly time. I find that having a blog illustrate the time I do get to spend on it, gives me momentum. I recommend this process to all that wish to create! Look forward to hearing from you!
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Thank you very much, and congratulations on getting serious and organised – even with little time to spare, it’s all possible 🙂
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Hi Ana,
Thanks for finding my wee blog. Good to hook up with another aspiring (or possibly in my case, deluded) writer. Your book is maybe not directed at a male reader (?) but I like comedy, so will go download later.
My Damp Dogs & Rabbi Wee is humorous (kinda dry humour) with interspersed with little compassionate and sad vignettes about the animals i look after. It’s loaded more in favour of the humour, though.. 🙂
I’ve just started a new (well, first) novel, called SOUL SURVIVOR. It’s a comedy / fantasy adventure, hopefully.
Good luck with the marketing of your book. If you have any tips, I’d be happy to hear from you.
Cheers
COLIN
(Cee Tee)
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Sorry – I’m confused. My gravataar here shows my music blog. – not my writing one ceeteejackson.com here on WordPress. Will try to figure out! (Have just downloaded Shizzle.) 🙂
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Where do you find the time? 🙂
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Hi, Colin! Looks like you’ve been in the game a lot longer than me, and what a cool blog you have 🙂
I did not originally think male readers would be interested, but I’ve had one 5-star review by a male, and a couple told me they are reading it and laughing. Thank you so much for buying my book – I would love to hear what you thought, being British and a male to boot!
I am currently trying out a whole list of marketing gimmicks, I’ve blogged about two of them, I’m currently doing a blog tour, and there will be many more. Hope my blog helps you – I’ve started mine to help me finish a novel, and it magically worked 🙂
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Hi Ana – I see you’ve ‘liked’ my blog. Thanks. But I think you’ve liked my LOUD HORIZON one. This is dormant for a while, till I get my writing priorities sorted. My current blog is at ceeteejackson.com – it’s also a WordPress blog. Starting on Shizzle tonight. Will let you know. Also have a couple ideas I can maybe run by you? Will message on FB later if that’s ok?
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Hi, CT – I don’t have a Facebook. If you found one, I’ve long ago stopped updating it. Need to remember my password and delete it. What are your ideas, generally? Just ask in a comment?
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Hi Ana, thanks for stopping by, and for the follow (did you see what I did? :p ). That post made me smile. You have a great blog and I wish you continued success as you continue to knock out those books. One love 🙂
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Hi, Damo and thank you 🙂
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You have been nominated for the The Starlight Blogger Award! http://booklovercircumspect4.com/2015/09/26/the-starlight-blogger-award/
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Thank you very much 🙂
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Hey Ana,
One of my suggestions amounts to what i guess you’re doing right now with your ‘blog tour.’ I was thinking about adding another page to my blog where I’d feature other blogs / authors I liked. But the main suggestion I was going to make was brought about from reading that youpaid for a proof reader that you were unhappy with. The following link will take you to group I’m a member of. Membership is generally by invite and you subit a sample of work. I know that ‘chick-lit’ is under-represented with the Incas and I know you’d be welcome. There’s a wealth of resources available, some you may need pay for,, but it’s a tight little group where everyone kinda mucks in and helps in whatever way they can. Though UK based, there are authors in the group from all over the world, and by keeping it smallish, it’s easy to build up working relationships with people you know you can rely on.. Anyway – here’s the address: http://www.incaproject.co.uk/index.html
(I’ve just read the first chapter of Shizzle …. but I did so last night after coming home from a ceilidh and drinking a few beers …. so will have to backtrack and re-read tonight!! 😀
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That’s awesome, thank you so much! You must be a real bibliophile – I think this is the first time I’ve heard of someone coming home from a booze up and getting into a book instead of bed 🙂
I would be very interested in collaborating, although I’m currently (and slowly) getting through a list of planned dozen or so guest spots . If timeline can be in a couple of months, that’d be great.
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I’ll leave it with you Ana. When you’re ready, just contact Robert at The Incas …. tell him Colin (Cee Tee) sent you. He’s expecting a call. 🙂
I’ll get on with reading Shizzle and get back to you. If you know any family / friends who are interested in dogs / cats and LAUGHING (!) and maybe sniffing back a wee tear, then please let them know about DAMP DOGS & RABBIT WEE on Amazon. Cheers. 🙂
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Thank you, Cee Tee, I will contact him and recommend your book.
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Hey, thanks for visiting my blog! The success you’ve found with your book is incredible and I wish you much more in the future!
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Thank you, Michael 🙂
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Thanks for the “like,” Ana! I really appreciate it, and am excited to have found your book on Amazon-sounds so quirky and interesting, yet accurate! I’ll definitely be checking it out! I love to read…. AND, I’ll definitely be keeping up with how you market yourself, in hopes of learning a thing or two! Best of luck! 🙂
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Thank you, Danielle 🙂 I’m currently working on a huge list of free and paid promo sites, should post this week, that will be a huge help to everyone.
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Definitely will be a helpful post!
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Pingback: Shizzle, Inc., by Ana Spoke | Tamara Morning
Thank you so much, I’m so glad I’ve made you laugh 🙂
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I thank thee, Ana, then hence to spence sense. good luck. ray
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Congrats on your novel 🙂
I know how it feels. Even I’ve just finished mine. I’m looking forward to publishing it soon.
Good luck for your future endeavours 🙂
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Congratulations to you too! Best of luck with the publishing process!
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Thanks 🙂
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Thank you for following my blog and congratulations on your book. You’ve got a lot of interesting information here and I look forward to digging into it. Might help me when promoting my next book. Thanks for sharing your experience in such detail. 🙂
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Thanks for following and congrats on your latest book. 🙂
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Thank you!
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Hello! Congrats on your book! I’m looking for authors to interview for my blog. It’s 10 questions about you as an author and will include links to whatever you’d like, be it Facebook, your site, your book. If you’re interested, please message me and I’ll send you the questions. thank you!
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Thank you, Emma! I would love to, if it could be in a couple of months? I’ve promised interviews to a dozen very patient people, and currently not even half-way through the list. If you are okay with me taking some time to answer, I’d love for you to send the questions to ana.spoke (at ) yahoo.com
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Absolutely! I’ll send it and when you get a chance answer and send back. Thank You!
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Anna, thank you so much for visiting and following me at Trigger’s Horse, and congratulations on your first book. That must be a very heady feeling! – Fawn
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Thank you – yes, it’s been a rollercoaster ride 🙂
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Thanks for the visit Ana and congrats on completing your book, bet you’re feeling over the moon about it
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Thank you, John – yes, it’s still a trip, even a month later 🙂
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thanks for the following me and congrats on your book. Any advice for a teenager writing a book that I hope to publish soon
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You’re welcome, and congrats to you too 🙂 My advice would be to polish and self-publish – have a browse through my posts for my personal experiences and tons of resources. Don’t forget the “polish” thing!
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thank you so much i will keep that in mind when i am ready to publish.
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Hi Ana – can’t keep up with you – where do you get all the time (a time-turner perhaps?)
I’m aiming to get a free short story up now on Kindle (if it’ll take it that is) I can’t remember now – did you think KDP Select was a waste of time? Cheers J.
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Thank you 🙂 I’ve thought a lot about Select, actually – the borrowed copies do improve your rankings, so I can imagine getting on Amazon bestseller list while in Select is easier. I will try Smashwords in December and will let you and everyone know about sales from other platforms and whether I’d consider coming back to Select.
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I thought you’d elected to go on Select already (I keep remembering things that never happened – I’m sure there’s a name for that!)
I’ve heard mixed views on Smashwords but they do spread your book over more platforms. J
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Yes, sorry if I was not clear – I’m on it right now, but will not renew. I may post the details of my experience – so far about 2,500 pages read, which is about $13.
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Hello. Thank you so much for visiting my blog and following. I am happy to return the favor as I am now following you also. My apologies for the delay in responding. I have been experiencing some computer issues. I look forward to reading your blog and your comedic novel. Congrats on that by the way! Continue writing! 🙂
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Thank you 🙂 I really should get back to writing, but marketing is so much fun 🙂
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Wonderful blog. Hoping that I can finish my book too. You inspire me
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Thank you so much! Hope you do finish it!
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Thanks for reading my blog, Ana. It’s blogs such as yours that have inspired me to pick up my writing again.
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How awesome, thank you!
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Thank you for following my blog Ana. Yours is packed full of helpful and interesting insights. I’ve been enjoying reading it and am now popping over to Amazon to take a look at your book. Sophie
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Thank you Sophie – would love to hear what you think!
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Thank you for following my blog. It’s always good to find fellow indie authors schlepping the marketing route….it’s a lot of work but it’s also a lot of fun – I do enjoy interacting with others I just WISH I had more time to do so!
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Hi, Clara – seems like you can just opt for throwing money at it. A lot more effective 🙂
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Thanks for following my blog. I’m looking forward to reading about your experiences; I haven’t decided yet whether to do the Kindle Select. Your book sounds great; I just bought it..
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That’s awesome, thank you Kate! Would love to hear what you think of it…
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Thanks for checking out my blog! I started mine last month for the same reason, to help me finish my stories, and so far it’s helped. I’ve also been looking at the self-publishing route, so your $.99 post was quite insightful!
Best of luck with your new book!
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You’re welcome! Have a look at my super-duper list of advertising sites, too
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Congratulations on passing a major milestone – your novel! Thank you for the follow too!
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Thank you 🙂
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Hello Ana – Thank you for ‘the’ like and for following. Best of luck with your novel – I will have a look when I get a moment. – Andrew G.
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Thank you, Andrew 🙂
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Hello, Ana. Thank you for stopping by my site, and a big thank you for the ‘follow’. I hope you continue to find something to interest you there. I’m glad to have found your site. There is much to learn here and I’m looking forward to spending time doing exactly that. I also bought “Shizzle, Inc.” and am looking forward to reading it in the next few days. I wish you much continued success. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Jay! Would love to hear what you think. Stay tuned – I’m planning a massive marketing campaign over Thanksgiving and will report all details. Hope to make it to #1 in Satire!
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Thank you for stopping by and for the ‘like’ on the post “No One Spoke.” I was so glad Stuart gave permission to re-post it on my site. He is an excellent storyteller and I highly recommend following him. God bless you. It’s so good to hear that another author has accomplished a dream.
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Thank you, Paula – and you have my permission to reblog any of my articles 🙂 hope you get your dream, too – I’m here to show how to climb Everest one step at a time…
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Hi Ana, thanks for following my blog. Well done for getting so far with your book – hoping that one day I’ll be able to say the same!
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Thank you, Kirst – I hope you do really soon!
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Do you have an event I can join, be it weekly or monthly?
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Hi kwolf, do you mean like a guest post? Not really, although I do reblog others occasionally. What did you have in mind?
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The last week of Blogging 101 has you taking part in an event weekly or monthly; see Daily Post. I was wondering if you had an event for bloggers on your site that’s a challenge for writers, readers, photographers, etc.
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No, I don’t, but what a great idea 🙂
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