Good Grief!

Welcome to Gadabout. I expect to use this as another tool for selling my books, which can be purchased at vandermeerbooks.com, but I also expect this will be of interest to readers all on its own. I would like to have followers and I would like to have input, so make comments, they will be more than welcome. 

A gadabout is defined by dictionary.com as 1) a person who moves about restlessly or aimlessly, especially from one social activity to another, and 2) a person who travels often or to many different places, especially for pleasure. My definition is a person who cannot make up her mind. That would be me, which is why Gadabout will be about "a little of this and a little of that."  

This is my response to a free online course about marketing available through Sandi Krakowski, an online marketing guru. Yes, she is selling herself and she’s selling WordPress, another blogging and web development site, but that does not diminish the value of what she has to offer. Click on Sandi's name to access her FREE 30-day introduction to marketing on the web. I’ve found it to be informative and user-friendly

What am I marketing? Obviously myself as a writer, but along the way I’m expecting to provide you as a follower with worthwhile information. When deciding what to focus on in this blog I realized that gathering information and writing articles is what I do best. That's why the content type may change from day to day, but the themes will be consistent. For example:

• In Explore I’ll take you on journies local and far-flung. (Well, not too far-flung. I’m old and I live on a tight budget.) Nevertheless, the articles will be interesting and entertaining.
• Interested in living a healthier lifestyle? Follow my once-a-week column, Age is Only a Number, on getting in shape and eating healthier. It will be painfully personal but worth keeping up with because you will likely see yourself in my struggle.  
• Keep up with ways to improve your life and your community with my weekly Make a Difference column.
• Want to be inspired? Connecting the Dots will lift you up and make you smile.
• Down Home in Northern New Mexico will include home decor, food, entertaining, area personalities and more. 
• Book Blast will introduce you to characters from my books and reviews of books by other authors.

So there it is, a blogilicious smorgasbord of interesting reading, all of it right here.

Also check out my other blog Writers Bloc. That one is exclusively about writing.

Stay with me! Become a follower.

Books by FS (Sharon) Vander Meer

Tiger Lilly, contemporary fiction (ebook/pdf only) fastpencil.com

Not Just Another Day, inspiration

The Ballad of Bawdy McClure, science fiction

Future Imperfect, science fiction

These books are available at www.vandermeerbooks.com, and at online retailers. Print books also available at Tome on the Range in Las Vegas, NM.
 

It's Back! Happenstance returns

Happenstance, life happens, is back. It's a monthly now with the fourth edition posted on January 3, 2011. I will be adding to my blog every day and want to have your feedback about Happenstance, life Happens, along with input for article ideas and how to broaden readership.

The January issue is chock full of interesting articles. I'm actually creating three zines. One comes out in PDF, which is accessible at the Happenstance, life happens site, the website itself which is new this month, and the zine version, which is at http://issuu.com/vandermeerbooks/docs/january_happenstance.

The website has everything except the serialization of Tiger Lilly, my contemporary novel about a family in transition, and a couple of end-of-the-year articles about exercise and healthy eating, and managing your finance in the New Year. See pages pages 12 and 13.

Happenstance, life happens, April 9, 2010

From the editor…

Whew! I didn’t think I was going to get this one done. I had a great time interviewing Jean Warner, Joel Scheinberg and Barbara Ewing for the article about dogs. We’ve had dogs over the years, but after the last one, Chipper, the happiest dog on earth, escaped our enclosed yard and got run over, I said, “Never again!” After talking to these dog enthusiasts I’m close to rethinking my position. There is nothing like the relationship between a pet and its human family. Even snooty cats take a down day and make it better. See Delightful Dogs on pages 4-5.

Talking to the tag team Arts & Culture District duo of Adam Caldwell and Roy Montibon had my head ringing with all the ideas out there. These two bounced comments and ideas back and forth like tennis players with a great volley going. It was like sitting in on a strategy and brainstorming session with Donald Trump and the apprentices, without the BSSS (blind silly selfishness and stupidity). It was a fun interview. See Grassroots on pages 6-7.

You get a break from my recipes this week. Check out the wonderful salad recipes by Kathy Allen, author of Someone’s in the Kitchen, a compilation of recipes she has gathered over the years. These recipes can be used as a side or as a dessert.
I’m introducing a couple of new ideas. I don’t want to run a calendar, the Chamber does a great job of that and so does the Optic, but I want to hit the high points of activities going on in town. I can’t think of a better source for that than the magical e-mail network of Karyl Lyne. See The Lyne Connection on page 10. It’s a calendar, sort of.

The Happenstance Walk About on page 12 is a new feature, a bird’s eye view of what is happening in some of the businesses around town. It is very much of a work in progress. My goal is to showcase the heroes of our town. Their heroism is at street level. They get up every morning, open the door to their stores and do everything within their power to provide a much-needed service, whether it is selling ladies’ apparel, jewelry, antiques, art, or diet Cokes. These happened to be the businesses I walked into this week. What businesses have you walked into? These stores contribute to the economy of our town in ways we don’t always recognize. We need them. For them to thrive, they need us.

Enjoy Happenstance, life happens.