The Tumultuously Delightful Triple Threat Investigation Agency Trio

The gals—JJ, Rey, and Linda—are excitedly immersed in a new case, “Forever Poi”.  The torching of two highbrow Chinatown art galleries is how it begins.

     Ald adjusted the volume.  “Two galleries are about to end up as cinders, specifically the ones belonging to Carlos Kawena and James-Henri Ossature.  Weren’t you supposed to be here for Carlos’ six-to-eight do?”

     “I had to be somewhere at five.  But I had drinks with Carlos last night to celebrate his forty-sixth and he provided a sneak-peak of the exhibit.”  Xavier’s voice took on on a serious, business-like tone.  “What happened?  Is he okay?”

     “We just found a barely recognizable body.  All that’s certain at this stage is that the fire was no accident.  And the only thing I can confirm at this time is that the little intimate soirée ended at eight on the nose.  Carlos had planned to leave the gallery no later than 8:15 to be at a snooty function at nine.  The fire, as an FYI, was called in at 8:35 p.m.”

     “Did he show up at the affair?”

     “He didn’t tell anyone where it was, so it’s proving a challenge to follow up on.  And I’ve not been able to reach James-Henri.”

They look forward to sharing their mis-adventure(s) late summer / early fall of 2017.  Until then—aloha!

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Rolling Along the Blogging Trail

This is exactly what I’m doing, rolling along the blogging trail . . . like a honey-coated golf ball . . . and progressing like a keen Monachoides vicinus (otherwise known as land snail).

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“Forever Poi”, the fourth in The Triple Threat Investigation Agency mystery series, is taking forever to complete, but it’s all good.  Sometimes you just need to invest [more] time in a project than you’d initially anticipated.

Never rush.  Errors and sloppiness abound as a result (to this I can and will attest).  Take those baby steps I always [ad nauseam perhaps] refer to.  Some say have a plan or an outline; others say take it as it comes.  I’m a have-a-plan kinda gal (coz I am so not spontaneous), but do whatever works best for you.

Straightforward and simple advice for today (I’m counseling myself as much as you):

  • stay focused
  • be proactive
  • suck up as much information as you can, and above all,
  • believe in yourself.

Never give up or in.  It will come.

 

Staying Faithful – Staying Posted

One focus of this blog: sharing snippets of advice.  The other: the Triple Threat Investigation Agency series.

<ROTFL>  To be honest, in my quest to get it looking good, I’d almost forgotten.  The gals—JJ, Rey and Linda—are so not impressed.

So, lest the ol’ gray matter enters scatterbrained drive again (and Rey’s wrath runs rampant), let me advise that the gals are doing exceptionally well.  They’re happily and excitedly ensconced in an upcoming case called “Forever Poi”.

We’ll share a scene or two soon . . . and have a giveaway when the case is wrapped up, and this blog is shipshape and Bristol fashion (I’ve always wanted to use that phrase).

In the meanwhile, if you haven’t already, please feel free to check out their daily adventures at The Triple Threat Investigation Agency Mysteries on Facebook.  (I’m sure the trio would welcome a visit or two.)  I know I would.

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Hey, Didya Hear . . . ?

Or maybe you saw, read . . . ?

This may well be a senseless post to those under 40, but I’m gonna do it anyway.

We know that a mailing list is important—a must—if we want to sell ourselves as writers (or anything else).

Another must self-promotion tool: social media.  And I will personally attest to this: it works.  Period.

One bit of advice: every social media platform has a different audience—with different focuses and interests.  Determine which ones best suit your needs/goals.

I’d recommend not spreading yourself too thin, at least not in the beginning when you’re starting to market yourself as a writer or blogger.  Focus on a couple only and learn everything you can about them—use them to the fullest.  My first choices (and not necessarily yours): Facebook and Twitter.

Get involved with social media groups that have interests similar to yours.  They can provide lots of guidance and support.  If you haven’t already discovered how easy it is to attract viewers/followers, do so now; there’s tons of information and advice to be found and absorbed.  Run with it.

As the [paraphrased] saying goes: you’re only as limited as the limitations you place on yourself.  Faith, support, and creativity know no bounds.  Either should you.

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Mail Lists, Mail Lists, Who Wants a Mail List!?

I do, I do!

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And so do you, if you hope to succeed as a writer.  Renowned gurus Mark Dawson, Derek Murphy, and Joanna Penn (among others) tout the necessity (!) of having one.

I totally get it.  Now, if I could totally do it.  <ROTFL>

Given the weekends are the only times I can work on “technical” components, it’s been three weeks now that I’ve tried to get a mailing list organized.  Every time I follow a couple of steps, it seems there are six more to perform . . . and a-Googlin’ I go.

Eventually, it’ll happen.  It’s merely the multitude of baby steps required for yours truly to get there.  But I digress.  <still ROTFL>

Consider this my first official advice as a blogger/writer: get a mail list going!  It doesn’t matter if you have 10 or 1000 names on it.  The important thing is that you have one.  Everything else, in time, will follow.

+ + +

There’s simply too much information about mailing lists to include in a post.  To help you get started, here are three links to awesome sites that can provide essential must-knows and must-dos.
https://markjdawson.com
https://www.thecreativepenn.com
https://www.creativindie.com

 

 

Choo-Choo-Choosing

Like an old locomotive, I’m chugging along, choo-choo-choosing the direction(s) of this blog.

In truth, I have a pretty decent picture, kinda like a photo of an awesome vista . . . with a thumb or finger obscuring one small segment.  The only thing stopping me from cropping that eclipsing piece: time.

For now, here’s to chug-chug-chugging along, sharing the journey and communicating knowledge gained.

The first commitment, fellow bloggers/writers is to be consistent and post twice a week (to start).  Expect something Wednesdays and Saturdays or Sundays.

I’m gonna be like The Little Engine that Could.  Not only do “I think I can, I think I can”, I know I will, I know I will!

Choo-choo-choosing to keep the faith and stay focused, and chug-chug-chugging on this fantastic blogging journey: it’s all (amazingly) good.

Woo-Hoo-ooooooo WordPress!

Slowly but surely this blog is coming along—a little due to personal detective work (excavating through mountains of info!), a lot due to professional assistance from the wonderful folks at WordPress.

These Happiness Engineers (and, yes, they provide much happiness because they solve a myriad of issues) are helpful and committed.

Kristen S has been amazing.  Proficient and efficient, she responds to all my emails (and there are many) with utmost patience.

There’s a long way to go and a lot to learn, but I’m sure—with the assistance of my happy Happiness Engineer—I’ll become the successful blogger I dream of being.

Happy: that’s one contagious word, very much like Pharrel Williams’ song.  Hmm.  I think I’ll just clap along.

 wdpress

Ode to a Gal Who Wears Many Hats

Speaking of hats, I’ve been meaning (for a rather long time now) to say hats off to you, Katrina Joyner.

What I adore about her—besides the fact she’s a kitty rescue mom—is that she always finds some time, no matter how swamped she is.

This amiable young woman is the formatter and cover designer of my Triple Threat Investigation Agency e-books.  I love her work, which goes without saying, but there’s also been a lot of good feedback from others I’m happy to state.

In demand and super busy, she’s not taking on any additional clients at this stage.  If and when she does, I’ll post accordingly.

While we’re chatting about hats, I bought a lovely little number—I digress.  <LOL>  Other hats Katrina wears: comic book creator (The Heavenly Bride), writer and poet, and founder of the Writers of the Apocalypse.

I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you visited her on Apocalypse or Amazon.  (You may even be tempted to partake of one of her well-received books.)

kjbooks

www.apocalypsewriters.com

https://www.amazon.com/Katrina-Joyner/e/B007V4Z134

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