Downton Abbey

I'm not exactly sure why but I'm addicted to the TV Series Downton Abbey. I'd been hearing over and over from people how good this show is but I always seemed to miss it when it was on. When I did catch an episode, it just didn't grab my attention. I thought it looked "cheesy."  I never really watched a full episode.

However, while I was browsing through Target one day, the Season 1 DVD would for some reason not let me continue with my shopping without purchasing it. So I did. Then I went back and bought the rest of the seasons.

I am totally hooked on this show now. In fact, so
much so that I am watching the seasons for a 2nd time around, which I have never done in my life! Sure, I watch reruns of some shows but it's really only because nothing else is on. There are only a handful of shows that I would intentionally watch over again. But would probably never buy the DVD's.

Downton Abbey is brilliantly written, in my eyes. The characters all have something very unique and special about them. They really draw you in. This show also makes me realize the power of make-up, clothes and hair. This picture is what the lady looks like playing her part of a "devious, manipulative" ladies maid on the left and on the right is how she really looks. What a tranformation!

But what I really love about the show is learning how they did things back then and the difference between how the rich live and think, versus the serving staff. I also enjoy that the show brings out problems that you and I face even today. But totally shocking to me is when the "high and mighty" rich family show that they have real feelings of love towards their staff.

The show also makes me completely thankful that I wasn't born back in those days. They didn't even have TV's or computers! For shame!! Actually, it's not for those reasons that I'm glad I wasn't alive back then. There is no way I could dress up for every meal like they do. The women have to wear long gloves for dinner and the men white tie tux's.

There is one episode where one of the men's white shirts and ties disappeared so he had to wear a black tie! Everyone at dinner noticed this and made some kind of comment. Anyway, not my thing!

And the ladies all have to wear their hair up for some reason. You only see it semi-down at night when they go to bed.




Although I would have a very hard time with most of their "rich" traditions, there is one I could definitely get used to. When a woman gets married, she no longer is required to come down for breakfast. She is served breakfast in bed! I would be all in for that tradition.

Now, all my husband needs to do is ask for at least a 20 million dollar raise or I need to become the next J.K. Rowling and maybe I'll get that breakfast in bed!!

So how about you? Do I have any other Downton Abbey addicts out there?

Marketing

I'm sick of this heat, anyone else with me!!?? It's been over 100 degrees here in Louisiana for the past week. Oh if only we could buy weather like we can buy everything else in this world. But it's the one thing that is entirely left up to God. However, if he ever decides to "put it up for sale", I'll take some 70 degree weather, please! I want to breathe again!

But since I can't buy good weather, I bought a spot in an online marketing class instead. (At least I can take it indoors in the air conditioning!). I'm not finished with the course yet but one of the things it's teaching me is that marketing isn't all about getting my face out there to sell my book. It's more about getting my face out there to offer people something they might really want. Then once I make that connection with them, then I can plug in my "buy my book" pitch once in awhile.

I'm learning that on social media if all you're doing is advertising that you have a book for sale, that that doesn't really work. People get tired of seeing that all the time. People want something that will benefit them. Which is so true. I myself get tired of authors who only advertise their books but have nothing else to offer. So why was I thinking it would work for me?

Well, I just didn't know any better, that's why. What this course is teaching me is really making sense and I'm learning things I've never heard before.

So, my first order of "changing my marketing strategy" starts today. Instead of telling you more about my books, I'm going to give you the link to this course, put on by Children's Book Insider/CBI Clubhouse  so that you might get some benefit out of it too. It's at a very reasonable rate and in my opinion, well worth it. To find out more, click here: http://easyauthormarketing.com/order

I'm also going to share with you a link to one of my favorite blogs. Kristen Lamb is a hoot and not only gives authors all kinds of very valuable info but she also delivers it in a very entertaining way. Here's the link: https://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/

Enjoy!

New Picture Book Release

I'm so happy to announce that my newest picture book The Color of Love, is now available for purchase!

 

 

This book has been a long time coming. I first wrote it in 2011, had a contract on it in 2012 but that fell through. So after that experience, I decided to try my luck at self-publishing. I was able to hook up with a local artist in my writers group and together we worked really hard to get my story finally published. This was only the 2nd book Deborah Forbes has done and I think she did a great job, don't you?

 

I'm proud of this story because it sends an important message without shoving it in a child's face. Denny is concerned about what color love is so he and his mother go on an adventure to find the answer. Of course the best way to get answers is to sprinkle a little magic into the picture so that's just what I did.

 

The Color of Love is available through me at allyn_stotz@yahoo.com, Mascot Books at http://mascotbooks.com/mascot-marketplace/buy-books/picture-books/the-color-of-love/, amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Color-Love-Allyn-Stotz/dp/1631770195/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438869796&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=the+colof+of+love%2C+stotz as well as Barnes and Noble, Books-a-million and other online retailers.

 

If you decide to purchase, I hope you enjoy it and I'd love to hear from you. I'd also love for anyone who does purchase a copy and has time to post a review on Amazon.com. Thanks so much!

 

Look for an announcement about my next book Cookies for Punch, coming soon!

 

 

 

 

 

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