Backups, Critiques, Facebook, and Grass Skirts

Imagine losing twenty-five years of financial records. Or even worse, five years of manuscripts.

I had a week of horror wondering if nothing remained of my computer hard drive. Farm records, emails, photos, music, and *heart thumping horror* my manuscripts. Yes, I had backup. In fact, I had three, one more than I thought I had. In my heart, I knew nothing would be lost. But wondering, speculating about the prospect of losing everything to the wrath of God jangled my nerves.

All is back to normal...relatively. After updating, sorting, slotting, and using words that would rate the stink eye from my mom, my records and manuscripts are back in place. There is still some warfare continuing between my preferred browser (Google Chrome/blogger) and my internet security program (Norton). But I’m not losing any sleep over it.

My advice? Use redundant backups. Online as well as an external drive. I use Carbonite Mirror Image, Norton, and Dell for storage. Seagate is my external drive. If you don’t have backups, for the love of Pete get them. Now. Set them up and then you can forget about them.

At least until you’re working on the sequel to your book and something pops, the screen goes dark and the computer starts beeping.

Critiques. My writers critique site, Unicorn Bell has new blood, fresh eyes. Check out the additions to our team:

• Matthew Keith
• Misha Gericke
• Kristin Smith
• Beth Fred

Our blog is the crucible of critique, a writer’s realm with crits, information, book reviews, book tours/spotlights, and bloghops. This week the query monster has taken over the site.

In line with our new faces, we now have a Facebook page. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and mosey on over.

Want a good laugh? Check out the duel between our Alex, Blogateer Extraordinaire, Cavanaugh 

and Mark, Looking Good in a Grass Skirt, Koopmans at Father Dragon's house.

And how about this tidbit from the Ninja Captain: From February 4 – 10, CassaFire will be 99 cents at Amazon Kindle, Amazon UK, and his publisher’s site. 

“This sequel to Cavanaugh's first novel, CassaStar, delivers on the promise of its predecessor, combining military action sequences and political intrigue with strong, memorable characters. Reminiscent of the action-driven stories of Robert A. Heinlein's early fiction…” - Library Journal

Check out CassaFire. And MK's legs

Out of Magic, Released Today. 50 States of Pray Link is open

Released today.

Out of Magic
Magic can't fix a broken life. Just ask Sable.

Prequel to Wilder Mage, a stand-alone short story about Sable’s introduction to magic.

Sable Rounds has every basic need a seventeen-year-old girl could want. Shelter, food, and an education. She is safe. Clean. Provided for. Nothing is missing. Except parental affection.

Her parents’ attitude changes on the day she speaks to a whirlwind. And it answers. 

Now they pay attention to her. They were only waiting for her magic. And the end of their obligation to raise her.

Go to Musa Publishing for the free read.

Did I mention it's free?

**

Mark Koopman's 50 States of Pray is an event of devotion and inspiration. 

"On Dec. 24, 2013, take a moment, (and in about 100 words), share a prayer, a thought, a memory, a hope, a regret about the past and/or a wish for the future."

Follow the Linky List and sign up. Sounds like a wonderful event.

Out of Magic and 50 States of Pray. Quite a combination.

A Blogfest, Book Tour, TV show, and Let's Rumble

Variety. It's not just a word.

On Monday, the blogfest that I subtitled “Who is He Really" begins.

The Cavanaugh Blogfest sponsored by Mark Koopman, Morgan Shamy, Stephen Tremp, and David Powers King, let's us use our God-given talents to speculate, postulate, and otherwise poke fun at our leader in the blogosphere, the Ninja Captain of all time Alex Cavanaugh. Author of CassaFire, CassaStar, and the upcoming CassaStorm, the man is an enigma, too humbled by the accolades to even post a picture. This gives us writers the perfect chance to embarrass the hell out of him.

Also on Monday, it is my turn to host Unicorn Bell, a critique site for writers in all stages of their careers. From newbie to published, we are your source for news and advice. Looking for the junction of Traditional Street and Published? That’s us. How about small publishers and self-pub? We got ‘em.

This week, my theme comes from the movie, Michael:

‘BATTLE!’

December 17^th stars another Michael and the beginning of his book tour for Oculus, his second in the series, A Crisis of Two Worlds. Michael Offutt is one of my most favorite bloggers. I consider him a good friend and, more importantly, a real sweetie. My blog is set for a promo stop on the 20^th.

Lastly. January 8^th, a whole month from now, Justified starts another season. Easily the best, most underrated show on television.

Got Green? Blog O'Hop

When Mom told me that my ancestors were Scottish, I said, “No. I’m Irish.”

I continued to insist that my ancestors came from the Emerald Isle until she lost her temper. 

“Fine. You’re Irish,” she snapped.

Even when I was seven, I knew I wanted to be Irish. Never mind that my surname was Carmichael.

To me, March 17^th means planting potatoes, wearing green, eating soda bread, and watching the ‘Worlds Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade’.

Got Green Blog O'Hop

"What does St. Paddy's Day mean to you!"

Mark Koopmans is sponsoring a blog hop, excuse me, Blog O’Hop.

I’ll save my Irish thoughts for next Saturday, the 17^th but for now, lemme say that visiting Ireland is at the top of my Wish List. 

Oh, did I mention he is offering prizes? *BG*

Even without the OMGoodness-prizes, it is worth your time to skip over and read his blog.

I'm *still laughing*