Serials and Scenarios ~ I'm Sure You are All Wondering

You can be honest. All of you who know Zula, one of our characters from Out of the Frying Pan, know Zula has a bit of flare. 

She shares some of her top Diva tips with Ane Mulligan's readers. http://blog.anemulligan.com/flash-your-flare-diva-darling/  I'm sure you will find something of value in Zula's quick fix fashion, food and fluff suggestions. 

Serials and Scenarios ~ Feedback

You know what feedback is...right? That horrific screechy sound that feels like nails on chalkboard. Feels like. Because it is so deeply painful. A sign that you are doing something that has attracted everyone's attention. 

Writing a book invites feedback. In this case feedback grabs attention and gives us details about what the tiny piece of the world we've touched thinks of our book. In the past couple of days I've gotten the following feedback. And what an interesting picture it is. 

		Jennifer Slattery May 9 at 11:08am
Working on some interview questions this morning, and in it, the interviewer asked what literary character I'd most love to have dinner with. Kelly, you knew who I said, right? The Ethel and Lucy of the 21st century! (I'd bring plastic flowers, of course! ;) ) #outofthefryingpan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z88w0hV074I Here's the link to her interview. Question 5 is our spotlight. http://newhorizonreviews.blogspot.com/2017/05/q-with-author-jennifer-slattery.html This on Facebook. That moment when you're in the checkout lane and the older woman in front of you is purchasing silk flowers in red, white and blue and it's all you can do to not start laughing out loud because all you can think about is Zula, from Out of the Frying Pan. Thank you very much, Jayshua Porterand Kelly Klepfer!!   I think it was national love on Out of the Frying Pan day. What did you do to celebrate? HaHaHa! Then this in the comments on Zu-fer (Fern and Zula's blog) I just love Fern! And a 3 Star review on Amazon. 3.0 out of 5 starsGood mystery Byrehabberon May 6, 2017 Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase I enjoyed the mystery, but it took me over a week to finish it, could have done without the senior citizens acting like hormonal teenagers. I am 78 and no one I know acts like that. ;)  Our "negative" reviews are even pretty positive. We got one 2 star and the reviewer called it fluffy and cute. Well. Sometimes fluffy and cute is just what the doctor ordered. But I'm going to suggest you come back tomorrow for a fictionalized story that is based on a true event. A flip side to what sees as a 78 year-old who has chosen those around her very, very well. Just sayin.....

Book Giveaway Chance. And Who's the Inspiration

Hum Chicago's You're the Inspiration while reading the last part of the post title. 

http://amzn.to/2ndM0qv

Okay. Now go to Elaine Stock's blog to hear Michelle's take on how she fleshed out her characters. Including Wifi the Wonder Dog. 

You don't know Fifi? Well, then you might want to go to the link under the book cover, buy a copy and meet her. 

Finally. If you like easy throw together meals, especially Meatless Monday ones, go to Zu-Fer and give Zula's Minestrone a try. 

Serials and Scenarios ~ Winner of Rafflecopter

My big Rafflecopter event is over. The winner now has the e-card in his possession. 

If this above description does not fit you, well then, you aren't the winner. 

But I think Rafflecopter is fun. So I may just have to do a contest again. 

Congrats, Will. And remember you can buy two copies of my book for under $20.00. Just Sayin!

Serials and Scenarios ~ Buy em Books and Buy em Books

I thought I needed to come back around and share some of the places I visited for our Out of the Frying Pan blog tour. 

In case you missed any of them I share parts of pieces of my story and my life at the following places around the world wide web. 

Of course you can get a copy of Out of the Frying Pan at Amazon. 

Without further ado, part two of my blog tour recap. 

http://www.mariaimorgan.com/loving/  about my admiration for a young woman doing great things. 

https://jenpheobus.com/2016/11/23/cats-vs-dogs/ on what kind of worshipper I want to be. 

http://shannonvannatter.com/kelly-klepfer-recipe-for-romance-part-2-of-2/  for my recipe for romance. 

http://shannonvannatter.com/kelly-klepfer-real-life-romance-part-1-of-2/ and the most romantic gesture my husband has ever made. 

http://sarahruut.com/2016/11/15/out-of-the-frying-pan-michelle-griep-kelly-klepfer-review/  Official review post. 

https://moderndaymishaps.com/2016/11/16/smiling-piles-of-ooopsss/ absolutely nothing to do with Out of the Frying Pan, but fun-funny. 

http://www.faithfriendschocolate.com/2016/11/buried-treasure.html?m=1 My love of words. 

Serials and Scenarios ~ Spiky Balls and Iced in Mondays

I am currently experiencing and ice storm here on the edge of the Might Mo. That would be the Missouri River which is just down the old interstate from me and is very, very cold right now. 

All schools are closed. Many other locations are shut down. People are experiencing epic snowday fun inside their homes. I'm cleaning. And getting a few blog posts posted because I'm a slacker and have not done much of either the past few weeks. The doggos are going to get a bath today. The round headed little kid of cuteness is sliding up and down the stairs checking out the Hulu marathon upstairs and the crazy haired grandma downstairs. 

Two bloggers featured me last week. Well, not exactly me. My hedgehogs and my blog. But I'll claim it's all about me. 

My cute little daughter blogger (who shockingly still likes me after living with me for two months) posted about her love of this here blog. Silly girl who made a beautiful baby. You can read her post here. 

And my hedgehogs as writing inspiration is here. As you will see, they are not exactly muses. 

Serials and Scenarios ~ Hopeless? Think Again

Here is the last 2016 Out of the Frying Pan blog tour post. My whole testimony of God's grace. Well, the big stuff anyway. 

https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/2016/12/22/a-mountain-of-hope/

Serials and Scenarios ~ Around and About

I have a couple links to share. 

For starters, visit Maria Morgan's site where I share my thoughts on a hero who is close to my heart. 

And last but not least, I share a bit about the difference between cats and dogs and what type of worshipper I want to be at JenPhoebus. 

Serials and Scenarios ~ Recipe for Romance

I shared a recipe for romance over here. 

It might be just what you are looking for for Thanksgiving. Or not. But you still might be hunting for a free copy of the book. You know, THE book. Wink. Wink. 

Serials and Scenarios ~ Romance

Today I was asked to share the most romantic thing my husband has ever done. 

Now this romantic gesture might shock you. 

If doesn't involve diamonds.

Or chocolate. 

Or a massage, rose petals or a perfect-for-us play list. 

You have to go here to read it. Oh, and there's a free copy of Out of the Frying Pan waiting to be won! 

Serials and Scenarios ~ Appearances...Keeping Them Up...

I told you November would be a busy month again book wise. 

Here's the first blog post of the month wherein I share about buried treasures. Yes. It's true, I do!

Well. Maybe not the treasures you are expecting. But treasures nonetheless...ask any book lover or Jesus lover. 

http://www.faithfriendschocolate.com/2016/11/buried-treasure.html

Tomorrow I am on the road appearing with Michelle at a writers' tea. I believe we are guests of honor. I assume that because we don't have to make food and there was an invitation. I'll let you know if we are the cleanup staff or something like that. 

Serials and Scenarios ~ My Stars

The weirdest part of being published is being read by people who know me.

That may sound funky to say because the people who know me and love me are going to find my voice and picture me in the whole mix and somehow that's going to ensure that they love my story. Right?

Early on in the "shopping" process where we were given an offer from the publisher we decided to go with eventually a lady from church asked to be able to read the manuscript and edit it because she just loves to edit. I sent it to her over email. Granted, this was just a gesture because our book had already gone through the edited-to-death phase.

This lady, a few weeks later came to me in the church bathroom, of course. "Hey. I've gotten a start on your book. I told you I'd be honest. There are a lot of words. So many I finally have decided the whole plot was about one woman wanting to get flowers out of a dumpster. Is the whole book going to be like that? Because I just don't think it's my cup of tea. I read hard books, I've read Frank Peretti so I'm pretty sure it's not me, it's your book." This comment is paraphrased. 

Fortunately, my co-author is an extremely good editor and multi-published herself. And the critique group I worked with is no-nonsense, get-rid-of-that-paragraph, red-pen-slashing tell-it-like-it-is sucker punchers. So my skin had developed a tough enough exterior that I was able to tell her to please stop reading it and thank her for her time.

Honestly, there are people who aren't going to love this story. I'm okay with that. Because likely, they are folks who don't really "get" me any way. I get looks on occasion. I know when I'm just being tolerated and when I'm being dismissed and when someone truly enjoys my company.

I've also had bloggers who didn't know me from Adam tell me that my interview process caused them to instant click and order Out of the Frying Pan or suggest it for their next book club meeting. And so far they haven't been disappointed. One friend purchased two copies hoping to eventually get one back from her sister who loved it. The other copy went to a friend who's husband is going to be reading it out loud to her during her chemo treatments. This comment alone has made all the struggles worth it. To think that something we wrote could bring escape during a really rough period of time makes me feel so blessed. 

Several people have told me it's been a long time since they read a book that made them laugh out loud. People are loaning their copy to friends. Right now a copy is going around my office. The girls, one by one, are reading it over nights and weekends and during lunch. One plans to take it to Portland next week, another is taking it to Texas in November. We are still in a top 100 on Amazon, in the 60's. We are there with books in the Amish genre and with books written by big name authors. Our 17th review was just posted on Amazon. Three reviews from strangers have been three star reviews, seven gave us four stars, the rest are five star reviews. The most critical three star review made a few comments about errors she'd spotted, one being the airport being mentioned as five minutes away then it morphed into two hours of fast driving...the five minutes down the road referred to the nursing home not the airport so I'm not sure how she misunderstood that. She also questioned "white noise whooshed in his ears" and said "what is white noise?" So I'm thinking she was VERY generous giving us three stars because she did not get us at all. Romantic Times gave us four stars. They rarely, rarely give out five. 

The fact that I review novels has made the reviews very interesting. I won't write a review of a book that would be less than a three star read. Three stars means theres several reasons I liked it but others might like it a whole lot more so I keep those readers in mind. I only give five stars if I feel like the author nailed characters, plot, timing, dialogue and setting/scene. I don't often give five stars. So four is very good. 

I now have an author signing at my local library in November. Where I am likely to run into patients and who knows who else. This is a small town. So I'm using all of the above swirling feelings to help me get through that day. The one where I'm likely going to feel like I've forgotten to get dressed and am walking through crowds in my mismatched underwear! 

Serials and Scenarios ~ My First Podcast!

Michelle and I were guests on Writers & Authors on Fire a few weeks ago. That conversation is now published. Here's the link. http://bit.ly/2dVDvuY This was so fun. We laughed quite a bit and John Vonhof was VERY PATIENT!!! We actually manage to give some tips and helpful advice along the way. 

So much fun. It's an hour. So if you are cleaning or cooking or folding laundry (my favorite times to listen to podcasts) pop it on and enjoy! 

Serials and Scenarios ~ Zula's Glossy Mag

Zula is all atwitter. Once you are wide awake and able to handle her chirpy excitement head on over to Zu-fer to see how you can read her interview. I'm pretty sure she got all the details for downloading the free stuff correct. Trust me, don't read it until you have your caffeinated drink of choice in your system. 

It might be a three part process for you to download everything but 1) it's all free until Thursday. 2) next month promises that there will be more...I did an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink style interview that will post in the November issue. So once you have the two steps done downloading the free Amazon reader app and joining the book club you'll be able to one step order next month's during the free period. Win. Win! 

Serials and Scenarios ~ The Rest of the Story...Frying Pan

If you are hankering for more of Fern and Zula's back story, our behind the scenes story is here today. 

And there is still a giveaway going on here! 

Serials and Scenarios ~ Wait, There's More....

Our Out of the Frying Pan Goodreads contest is closed. If your name isn't David or Nancy, you didn't win one. Oh, your name is David or Nancy...you might not be THE David or Nancy. But good news! Real good news. There is another contest. Yes. You heard that correctly. And this is an autographed copy signed by both of us, a book you can fold the cover back on and dog ear the pages and give to your aunt's best friend to read when you are done with it. 

Go here to read about why I read, what I like and why. And sign up for that coveted copy. 

Serials and Scenarios ~ Books, Books, and Life

Part of me feels a little guilty for just moving forward and not acknowledging the stuff happening in our world. Train wrecks, shootings, racial tension, politics. 

But then what do we do with this upheaval and angst and fear and horror? If we are praying people, we pray, and hope for mercy and cling to our faith. If we are not, we attempt to escape. 

My heart and my prayers are turned not only toward the victims but toward the only hope I have, we have, and I just can't join the discussions over these tragedies and hairpin societal turns and plunges. Because then my focus shifts to the darkness and the seeming hopelessness.

I would hope this silly little book would give someone a break from the world around them. And maybe a sense of hope that though darkness hovers over us, light does break through, and the fat lady hasn't sung yet. No matter how loudly she's rehearsing. Does that make sense?  

I just sent out another free e-book. 

Here's a chance to win a signed copy from Michelle. And a little more about Michelle, and the book.  Yes, I signed it too at our book signing event last weekend! http://eahendryx.blogspot.com/2016/09/michelle-griep-writer-wednesday.html

Serials and Scenarios ~ Where Are We Today?

I'm nowhere but here, kids. I know. This book tour flurry is now down to a manageable soft smattering of appearances. However, I do have a few things. 

Michelle dissects how to do a book launch party, here. 
Zula's POV regarding the book launch party is here. 

What can I add? Oh, that it was a blessing in so many different ways. The best part might have been when the party was almost over, aka safe for curious hands to be touching food and stuff, my grandkiddoes showed up. Of course it was all they could do not to scatter and search for the coolest stuff but fortunately the mocktail table with the bright colors and cherries on toothpicks caught their eyes. I happened to be standing there signing a book. When I passed the book over their heads little boy saw the back cover and my picture. He started pointing at it and his eyes grew huge. 

"Yeah, buddy, that's what this is all about, why we are in Minnesota for the weekend. Grandma and Aunt Michelle wrote this book." He was impressed. Til he saw the food table anyway. 

Enough warm fuzzies to still be keeping me smiling though. Once Upon a Crime was incredible to work with and their store is just pretty perfect. If you are ever in the area and you love a good mystery you should pop in. The poster they made for their front window that publicized our book will be hanging permanently in the store because Michelle is one of their locals. Good people. Great store. 

Michelle is here, today, sharing a bit about her side of the Out of the Frying Pan journey.  

Our Goodreads giveaway is still live. Relz Reviews and Fiction, Faith and Fun are running ones, too. 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Out of the Frying Pan

by Michelle Griep

Giveaway ends September 30, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Serials and Scenarios ~ Who's My Favorite?

I guess you'll just have to go here for the answer!!! 

Okay. I'll give you a little more to go on. It's one of the characters in Out of the Frying Pan! 

And Sarah Ruut is running an e-book giveaway, too. So you should probably go. 

And Michelle visited there when promoting her last novel, so check it out as well. 

Serials and Scenarios ~ Oh You Wanna Know, Doncha???

I'm in much cooler (this is good right now) Minnesota getting ready for my first book signing! Woot! Woot! This is tomorrow at 6:30 should you be passing through the twin cities. We are doing three gift giveaways. Two will contain original art work by Fern. Yes. True story. 

Attention readers in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area ...Saturday, September 24th, y'all are invited to the book launch of Out of the Frying Pan. Join me and my co-author, Krazy Kelly Klepfer, for a night of mystery and mocktails at the Once Upon a Crime bookstore in Minneapolis at 6:30 p.m.
604 West 26th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55405

Today Michelle appears at the cute/fun Animals & Authors blog with Ada Clare her crazy boxer babe. You should go check this out because Ada's real cute, especially in the picture where the next frame would show Michelle upside down and Ada on top of her. 

Tonight we will be doing an author interview via Skype...so www will be talking and recorded. There are a list of questions for us to ponder so we hopefully sound slightly less than idiots. 

Giveaways still alive and kicking. 

Relz
Elaine Stock's