Yes, I admit I stalked him...

It is true, I have resorted to stalker tactics. I found Matt Herzberger, not that he was hiding so much as not getting my emails. So I resorted to AIM. Then strong armed him in to lunch today. HE was very gracious about it, and did not inflict the 5 or 10 question limit that some of my family and friends have resorted to when we have conversation. I did give him the warning label, that I was a question asker, and still he agreed to lunch.

I thoroughly picked his brain to the point that my poor brain is on overload. Bonus, he suggested a cool place for lunch that I had not been to, they have WIFI, and so I will be working at Blue Baker often, now. (nice booths, good food, and my favorite jazz streaming in)

So the plan is a big brainstorming/marketing/site meeting for Monday, and I will announce some really cool new stuff we will be doing.

Also, tomorrow, at class, we will be installing the database to begin loading books to the site. Keep watching, something really special is happening here!

Happy Easter!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!! I couldn't resist the picture, that is Bella, yelling greeting to everyone. I though I should do the same.

Today's news is good. Lots of brainstorming going on, and Robert reports that he finished the back end of the database that will manage all the book info. I am working on beautifying the message boards. We are also planning on using the networks of writers groups to beta test teh site, before the big user launch. A marketing plan, and task action plan is forming, and we have all agreed that by May, in time for Book Expo America, we will be fully functioning. It is a lofty goal, but we will succeed, the is no other option.

Also, we are going over a press plan for Book Expo America, so we get as many interviews from Authors, and other book insiders that we possibly can. That way we can get them on to the site for everyone to enjoy, as well as get that info out there to bring others back to the site. Don't be jealous, I know we would all love to meet all our favorite authors, but I cannot afford to take everyone, so you will have to live vicariously through us!

Matt Herzberger.com » Bio

Matt Herzberger.com » Bio


Exciting times! I have lots of exciting things going on around the I just finished camp.

First: Today was the social media luncheon for the IABC. Matt ( refer above ) was the guest speaker, so I have been looking forward to the speech. So much so that I talked Robert the web teacher into going, also. I was one of those talks, that we went away from brainstorming the whole drive home. Matt offered so much insite and information that my poor brain is still spinning. I sent him ( Matt) a lunch proposal, so that I could further exploit his knowledge. No answer so far, but he seems really nice.

Second: The site is up, not really functional yet, but up none the less. We are still working on the database that allows us to load the books, but that should be finished by the end of next week. I also finished the bookmarks ( the first run anyway). They are really beautiful, and I think they represent the site well. They were popular at the luncheon today. Feel free to leave a comment or email me, and I will happily send you some.

That is the news of the day, now I have to go actually gather some real "book news" so I can get the book news section written.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

"Live, Love, Laugh" I have been fond of this way of thinking for years. Should I say before it became a decorating technique? When I opened up my Oprah magazine and found a small excerpt with Elizabeth Gilbert's new book "Eat, Pray, Love", I was intrigued to see if she thought in a way that might change my way of thinking. Who wouldn't want to include eating in their passions? The small excerpt was interesting and left me wanting to read more. The next day I rushed out to get this new book. It was only in hardback at the time so it was definitely a sacrifice for me to pay extra to read a book by an author that I knew nothing about. To my surprise, the book was great. I really enjoyed Elizabeth's journey and she kept my interest with the small story about the "guy from Texas". I read to the end hoping to find out the Texan was my neighbor or even our governor. Needless to say, she kept it a secret and probably for good reason. If it would have been Matthew McConaughey I would have been booking a trip to a Budhist retreat.

About a year later I heard Oprah announce a new book that "Will Be Life Changing". I had to have that book! I watched anxiously awaiting my life change. If reading a book was going to change a life then I am all into a good read! To my surprise the book that I had read so long ago was the life changing book she was talking about. I am not sure that "Eat, Love, Pray" was life changing for anyone but Elizabeth Gilbert or someone that was inspired to move to another country to find something to change your life but it was a good read and definitely made you think about what is really important in your life. It was a book that I passed on and recommended to others but I didn't give any promises with my suggestions. I hope you enjoy!

I took the day off!

Crossways2
Originally uploaded by Paleontour

Yes, it is true. I got the sites up, and online then I took a day off. It started with sleeping in, which with a baby is a huge luxury. Then, a friend met me for lunch, and afterward, we went shopping at the mall. Power shopping, all afternoon. It was the kind of afternoon you have to go home a relax from! I didn't buy much, since I have no regular income, but I did enjoy the process of looking around. It was so nice. Everyday, I have gotten so focused on "what did I do today?, it was nice to not worry today. My lesson for the day is that everyone needs a day off now and then! Tomorrow, back to the grindstone, and getting content loaded to the sites!!!

5...4...3....2.....1......blast off!!

Ijustfinished.com









inspireddesignconcepts.com
We are live!!! It is true! Try for yourself. After a four hour class with Robert, both sites are up and running. No exciting content yet, but a step in the right direction. I will be spending the next few days and probably weeks loading content, especially into the database for the boo title population. I won't bore you with the gory details of how the back end works for the site to run smoothly, just bear with me, it is coming. Also, you might see that the message board it up for the Ijustfinshed.com site, but also has to be populated with the books, and authors as they are listed onto the site. I am also teasing you guys with a list of the authors I am loading first. I have some commitments for help from fellow reading book lovers, and these are the authors that they have agreed to monitor. Since they love these books, I am sure that many people do as well, plus seems like as good of a starting point as any. Also, a little tidbit for the followers of the blog, the link to the blog with become the monkey on the bookshelf. I think I will keep it a secret link, though. On with the list:
Nora Roberts
Laurell K Hamilton
Christine Feehan
Maggie Shayne
Patti Callahan Henry
Sophie Kinsella
Nicholas Sparks
Libby Bray
Sara Shepard
Kim Harrison
Lyndsey Sands
Stephanie Rowe
MaryJanice Davidson
Charlaine Harris
Katie MacAlister
Kelly Armstrong
Jim Butcher
Simon Green
PN Elrod
Casey Daniels

That is of course just the tip top of the iceberg!

Remember Me? Sophie Kinsella

A must read! I sound like those old dudes that review movies but I can't think of any other way to get you to run out and get Sophie Kinsella's "Remember Me?". It is great. You could wait and watch the movie because it is sure to be the next big chick flick right after Hollywood finishes her first movie, "Shopaholic". I am officially a junky! Lexi wakes up with amnesia. She is not the person she is. No really, she is sweet and nice and the bitch from hell boss. Each day she learns something new about herself that doesn't even resemble the person she is. Imagine waking up with a new smile, an amazing body, different friends, a posh address, an amazing job, a drop dead gorgeous, successful husband and hating it. All you want is your old raggedy life back and the great friends that went with it. Sophie takes you on a fun trip into everyone's dream day. I hope you run out and get it no matter what the old dudes review!

A whole new computer but better!

Writing Life
Originally uploaded by dcJohn

I am doing a happy dance. I have been plagued with a painfully slow computer, since the 512 of memory that the laptop came with is not enough to handle photoshop and dreamweaver, and the 14 other things I try to ask of it at once. So, I have been waiting for the UPS guy to bring me my new order of 2 gig of memory, from www.crucial.com (very cool site thanks for the tip, Tim). Today, it came! I was doing a happy dance all morning. It is like getting a new computer, but better, cause you don't have to reinstall everything, and transfer data. So cool! Now I am smokin' fast!
On another note, we are planning on going to Book Expo America in LA at the end of May. http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/ It is THE place to be for book lovers, and insiders. I am very excited, and will give updates, and keep you all posted about that.
Okay, now I have to go play with my new computer!

Preparing for Launch

Launch 057m
Originally uploaded by p_c_w

I am feeling the anxiety and excitement of the imminent launch for the www.Ijustfinished.com website. I have been working on it for quite a while now. I hope to have the CMS done this week, as well as the unchanging content. Then for the loading of the books. That is an undertaking in itself, but that should be fun. I am now recruiting my friends and fellow book lovers who are interested in helping admin the site. I am hoping to get people to claim their favorite authors, since there are plenty to go around. I'll keep everyone posted, and if you are interested in claiming you favorite author, please comment, or contact me, since I need all the help I can get at this point!