January 30, 2017

Monthly Mishmash - January + GIVEAWAYS



I sort of stole this idea from Kelly Hashway who created Monday Mishmash. Well, I never feel like I have enough to share each week, so I decided to do a Monthly Mishmash. :)



HEALTH: I've been having a hard time since October. I never really talk about it, but I suffer from depression. Stress and drama, anxiety and responsibilities really dragged me down during those months. I am doing much better now, though. I'm taking a low dosage of anti-depressants (there's no shame in admitting this!), and I'm doing my best to stay positive.

I also experienced physical health problems in December. I started to have really bad nausea after eating (Nope, I'm not pregnant) that ended up impacting my eating. No matter how hungry I got or how much I wanted to eat, I couldn't. I lost a lot of weight. I was always tried and napping. I did no writing. Nothing. But...I'm eating normally again, slowly putting the weight back on, and my motivation has returned.


BLOGIVERSARY: 

On January 1st, I stepped into my 6th year of blogging. :)


PROMO EFFORTS:

Free Ebook - I announced my very first PERMA-FREE eBook, LIGHTNING CRIMES! I believe this is by far my best marketing strategy to date for my series. It got up to #21 on the Kindle Short Reads - Romance category.

To promote my free eBook so far, I did a Thunderclap campaign (which might not have had an impact). I also announced it in my IWSG post (best promo tool EVER!) as well as in a special newsletter to my subscribers. I did a $10 Facebook ad (I got 45 link clicks for that, so money well spent), set up a Goodreads Event, and submitted to free eBook websites. I think promoting something free is easier than even a 99 cents sale. ;)


GIVEAWAYS:

12-Month Book Giveaway - I am giving away 12 books I own throughout the year. All different genres. 12 months. 12 winners! Sign up for my free, monthly newsletter to see the books and enter the giveaways for the chance to win. 

Plus, enter this Rafflecopter giveaway for the chance to win a signed, paperback copy of Seismic Crimes and Hurricane Crimes playing cards.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

IWSG ANTHOLOGY:



Hero Lost
Mysteries of Death and Life
An Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology

Can a lost hero find redemption?

What if Death himself wanted to die? Can deliverance be found on a bloody battlefield? Could the gift of silvering become a prison for those who possessed it? Will an ancient warrior be forever the caretaker of a house of mystery?

Delving into the depths of the tortured hero, twelve authors explore the realms of fantasy in this enthralling and thought-provoking collection. Featuring the talents of Jen Chandler, L. Nahay, Renee Cheung, Roland Yeomans, Elizabeth Seckman, Olga Godim, Yvonne Ventresca, Ellen Jacobson, Sean McLachlan, Erika Beebe, Tyrean Martinson, and Sarah Foster.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these twelve tales will take you into the heart of heroes who have fallen from grace. Join the journey and discover a hero’s redemption!

Release Date: May 2, 2017



BLOGGER INTERVIEWS: After two years, I am going to stop doing Blogger Interviews on Write with Fey. I know that many of you loved them, and there are bloggers I still want to feature, but I'm trying to cut back. However, I might do them for a final time next year.

Here are the Blogger Interviews from Write with Fey:




QUESTION: What news do you have to share?


54 comments:

  1. As long as you're taking care of you, it doesn't matter what you do to try and get healthy. Sending positive thoughts your way!
    Best of luck with everything!
    Heather

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  2. Glad you're starting to feel better and more productive again. I know how debilitating depression can be.

    Thanks for the free download and giveaway! I'm going to nab my copy and tweet this post.

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    1. Depression is tough.

      You're very welcome for the free download and giveaway. :) Thanks for the tweet!

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  3. Congratulations on six years.
    Sorry you felt so sick you couldn't eat. Forced weight loss is no fun.

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  4. Hi Chrys - congratulations on six years ... and I do hope you continue to feel better during 2017 - here's to good health. Cheers and take care - Hilary

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  5. Loved the post, congrats on six years of blogging. I started 9 years ago and have had various blogs over the years. Hope all is well with you healthwise.

    Yvonne.

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  6. I'm glad you're feeling better. Lot's happening on your blog and so many wonderful giveaways. Congrats on 6 years!

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    1. Thank you, Bish! I'm having fun with my blog this year. :)

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  7. Glad you're starting to feel better! And congrats on the blogiversary!

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  8. Glad you're feeling better and on a good track. Hang in there, and take care of yourself the best you can. :)

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  9. Congrats on 6. Made it there too at my zoo. Hopefully the health woes stay on the upswing, they are never fun.

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    1. Thank you, Pat! I'd rather have them on the upswing than the downswing.

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  10. Congratulations! Downloading Lightening Crimes now. As for the depression, I'm glad you're getting help and I wish you the best of luck and hugs. All the hugs you can handle.

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    1. Thank you! I hope you enjoy Lightning Crimes. Hugs!

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  11. Sorry to hear about your health problems, but glad you're feeling better and taking care of yourself. *hugs*

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  12. Congrats on your blogging anniversary!

    I think you're scheduled to visit my blog on Friday, and I don't know if your post mentions your ebook, but if it doesn't already do that, send me the info, and I'll add it in.

    Take care of yourself, and hang in there. *hugs*

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    1. Thank you! I mentioned the free ebook, but it just might not be noticeable. lol

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  13. So glad to hear you're doing better and you're back writing again. Congratulations on year six! :)

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  14. I want to thank you for having the confidence in sharing your struggles with us. It is not easy to admit to depression because of all the stigmas but it is the brain that is causing a chemical imbalance which results in the suffering you are dealing with. I am proud of you for saying this because it takes courage by the way. I am glad you are feeling better and if you ever need to talk, I am here and will listen. Did you get a check up with your doctor about your nausea? Did he do an ultrasound? You know, way back in 1987, I had a lot of crap going on and then I started feeling nausea, extreme fatigue, listless, heart palpitations, I would eat but then feel full right away, dizziness, a whole list. It proved to be that I was hypoglycemic...my body produces too much insulin. I had to stay away from sugar, starch and caffeine (sorry). I did lose a lot of weight (those were the days:)) does anything more like this sound similar?? Anyway, just a thought. Congrats on 6 years blogging and that you feel the fun of writing again!

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    1. Thank you for your support, Birgit! Actually, the fatigue and listless is definitely ringing a bell. I do need to do a check-up soon with my doctor, so I will be sure to mention that. I had blood work done and will get the results of that.

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  15. Sorry about the healthy issues, but glad to hear they're improving. You've done a bang up job on your promo in spite of all those issues, so kudos to you on that front.

    I'm happy to keep sharing your cover (did earlier this month) on fb and other social media. Send me what you've got.

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    1. I am struggling with tiredness and still some low motivation, but I am doing much better!

      Thank you so much, C Lee!

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  16. Congratulations on your blogging anniversary--job well done. Sorry to hear about those health issues. Cold weather has been partly getting me down (thinking of cold weather in L.A. might seem strange, but sometimes it is kind of chilly). I need to eat better and exercise more. I don't need to gain any weight, but it might be nice to lose about 20 pounds or so.

    Spring is coming!

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. I also need to exercise more to get my heart pumping. Florida has been cold for the past few days. Finally. Lately, it's been so hot.

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  17. I'm glad to hear your health is starting to improve. I'm dealing with anxiety, a wrecked sleep cycle, and related issues myself.

    I'm currently preparing one of my books for physical copies, and have been going through it to make sure it's as polished as can be. A couple of the passages and scenes have also been rewritten for this new edition, since they strike me as really preachy now, more like a history lesson about twilight sleep birth, natural childbirth, and attachment parenting.

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    1. Anxiety and like-issues aren't fun at all. I hope you also improve.

      Updating scenes for a new edition is a smart thing to do. Good luck with the physical copies!!

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  18. So sorry you've been sick. That sucks. I hope everything is now on the mend.

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  19. Sorry you've been sick Chrys and wishing you all the best. I never mentioned this online before but until last week I had months of an issue of no appetite. I'd sometimes go all day without eating because I didn't feel hungry. To the point my own mother had to remind me to eat. Funny enough it wasn't until I read your post that I realized I started getting hungry again during the day last week. Talk about little cute miracles. Yay! Boo to the stomach bug though but yay for everything else.

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    1. Thanks, Sheena-kay. It wasn't really the stomach bug, though. I'm not sure what it was, really. But I am eating now. I'm glad you are, too.

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  20. I'm sorry to hear about your health. I'm glad you're feeling better. It's so hard to do anything when you're not feeling well, and it's so frustrating. Happy six year blogging anniversary. For six year anniversaries, you get candy!

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    1. Thank you so much, Jenny! And since I am eating now, I would love that candy. :P

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  21. Congratulations on the blogiversary, and glad to hear you're feeling better {{hugs}}

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  22. Six years of blogging is amazing! I hope this is a healing time for you and that you continue to feel better. Thanks for sharing your promo efforts -- it's always interesting to learn what works (and what doesn't).

    PS -- Love the playing cards! Where did you have them made?

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    1. Thank you, Yvonne! I customized the playing cards on Zazzle. :)

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    2. They are so cool, too. I was tempted to keep them for myself. ;)

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  23. Congratulations on six years of blogging. That is quite an accomplishment itself. Sorry to hear about your health and glad to know you are feeling better. :-)
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  24. Thank you for sharing your struggles with depression. Many others do as well and it's encouraging for them to realize that they're not alone.

    Congrats on six years blogging - that's quite an achievement!

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    1. I've felt empowered when others shared they suffered from depression. I hope to do the same. :)

      Thanks, Ellen!

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  25. Love your post, Chrys. Feel like I got to know you better. I had to go on anti-depressives when I had a nasty teacher event, but I got off them as soon as I could. Now I simply take a St Johns Wort tablet every day to keep depression at bay.Works for me. I'd always rather go natural, but you have to be careful to take St Johns Wort at a time it won't interfere with a doctor's medication.

    I did enjoy your blogger interviews, but I know how time consuming it is to line up bloggers, get the copy on time, upload photos etc. I'm glad you shared the links so i can catch up with some I've missed. Thank you for interviewing me. I wouldn't mind doing more on my blog, so might be in touch.

    I downloaded Lightning Crimes and will spread the word after I have a read.

    Please be well and look after yourself. Bloggers are always here to help in any way we can. :-)

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    1. Thank you, Denise!

      I did like doing the blogger interviews, but with my feature for TWRP authors, doing the blogger interviews this year too would be too much.

      Thank you, thank you!

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  26. Congrats on 6 years!
    I am so sorry for what you have been going through! I understand so much about depression! So much so, I didn't want to live anymore! I cried and cried for over a year. Through the help of my friends in blog land and doing some serious meditating, which I do continuously, I'm doing so much better! Sending you big hugs!!! I am so happy you are staring to eat again!!

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    1. Thank you for your comment. The support is wonderful. And I like to know that I'm not along in our blogging community. :)

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