It’s Day 8–Saturday, Jan. 28–on our Publishing at Sea cruise. We’re so pumped up after yesterday’s first book signing that we’re ready to dive right in and start selling again at the second one. Not so fast, mateys. This is another sea day, headed back to Fort Lauderdale. That means more classes all day. The… Read More
Off Topic
#PublishingatSea Day 7: Will They Buy Our Books?
It’s Day 7—Friday, Jan. 27—aboard the Freedom of the Seas, and this is the day we’ve all been waiting for, our first of two afternoon book signings aboard the ship. We can hardly wait. But first, there are classes to teach and lessons to learn. This is an at-sea day, heading back to Fort Lauderdale.… Read More
#PublishingatSea Day 6: Cooking Class in St. Kitts
It’s a gorgeous 83 degrees today, Thursday, Jan. 26, and our ship arrives in St. Kitts at 5:45 a.m. This is the day we learn West Indian cooking on a shore excursion called Caribbean Cooks. Here are highlights from today. 7:45 a.m.: Most of the eight people on this little jaunt skip breakfast, except me. We… Read More
#PublishingatSea Day 5: St. Maarten, Nude Beaches, Close Calls
It’s Thursday, Jan. 26, Day 5 on the fourth annual Publishing at Sea cruise, where authors are learning how to market and sell their books. A few brave passengers venture out on their own to visit Orient Beach, a paradise for nudists. Others head for Maho Beach, where you can watch planes take off and… Read More
#PublishingatSea Day 4: The Food of Old San Juan
The foodies in our group can hardly wait to hit the streets of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico for our Food & Culture Walking Tour this afternoon, one of two excursions I’ve chosen on our fourth annual Publishing at Sea cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas. But we have two classes today on… Read More
An Entrepreneur’s Prayer by Rick Beneteau
While cleaning out an old folder, I found a copy of “An Entrepreneur’s Prayer.” My copy doesn’t mention a source, but a quick Google search shows it was written by Rick Beneteau, co-founder of MovementofChange.com. He’s on Twitter at @RBeneteau where he shares wonderful inspirational messages that are perfect for retweeting. If you’re an entrepreneur,… Read More
How to make inexpensive flower plate garden art
Gardeners, Crafters and Scavengers: If you’re looking for a fun, easy project—and perhaps a new revenue stream—consider making beautiful flower plates for your garden, or to sell at craft shows. They make lovely gifts. I’ve seen these at local art shows and in this stunning collection on Etsy. But I haven’t had the time to figure out… Read More
Presto! 51 containers of delicious basil pesto
It’s been so hot this summer, it’s almost hard to breathe. But all the sweating and suffering is worth the wait. That’s because I grow basil which loves sunshine and hot weather. This year’s bumper crop yielded a record 51 containers of pesto, a rich sauce consisting of basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, oil, and… Read More
With apologies to Betty Boop, I’m finding my voice
One of the questions a professional speaker never wants to hear is, “What’s wrong with your voice?” My friends in the Wisconsin chapter of the National Speakers Association started asking that more than a decade ago. They could hear me straining, almost as though I was tightening my throat muscles. I felt it, too, and… Read More
Harpist needs computer tips to save time—and her hands
Anne Roos of South Lake Tahoe, CA, writes: “I am really struggling with time management. I’m a professional musician and a published author, working on two upcoming CDs, live performances, and an upcoming book.” “I am also very physically active, taking classes in the martial arts. These activities all involve practice/rehearsal and being offline… Read More