L J Green Author Now Has an Online Store

Just a quick video update and a little bit of fun for the day. I had to create a Shopify account for one of my school assignments and thought, why not use it as an online store for the series? I have a free 60-day trial before I have to begun paying the monthly fee. Hopefully, some people will like my designs or maybe just take pitty on my and buy somethings. Lillian's Online Emporium - https://ljgreens-emporium.myshopify.com The great thing is Shopify allows you to add the listing directly to your own website too! - Check out the new pages on the right side of the page to see the products we have created so far. On Yes, I also had to create a Business Page in order to be able to connect the new Shopify store to Facebook in order to offer them for sale there. Series Page on Face book - https://www.facebook.com/MisadventuresJanieAndDiane

Please Like, Share, Follow and Visit the New Online Store

Janie and Diane Go to Cuba

As a participant with the First Coast Romance Writers group my very first published novella will be added to the bi-annual anthology. This one is filled with 'sweet romances' somewhere in the tropics. Love the preliminary designs for the book cover. The anthology will be available for pre-order in June. The picture above gives some hints about the elements within the story. And yes, there will be a romance. Stay Tuned for More Details!

The story is an in-between short set after the Bloody Murder at the Blanche Hotel and one other that hasn't been written yet. I know that seems a little strange but the opportunity to write a feature story for an anthology that is produced by one of the writers groups I joined last year was an exciting opportunity. Besides helping them with their Social Media and new website design I was also one of the volunteer judges for the NERFA contest. Those winners will be announced in July. 

The Anthology is non-paid for the writers. Each of us had to pay for our own editing but the club will be paying for a nice digital marketing package. This is considered a great opportunity for new writers to get their work out in the public. My editor is insistent though that after the six months contract is over I incorporate the story in a full novel. By then I hope to have all of the stories published on Kindle Vella and them have them revised and re-edited for publication as full-length novels.

In the meantime I have uploaded thirty-nine chapters, so far, for the new Kindle Vella book, Dastardly Deeds at the Dearborn Theater. Today there are episodes posted each weekday until June the 2nd. This story introduces the characters and why they started their adventures in the first place. The Dearborn Theater was a historical building in Chicago with a German Opera Theater and acting group putting on shows all through the year. The theater was built next to and part of the the old Schiller building with large sculpture heads of men from the theater including Shakespeare gazing down on the patrons as they entered the building. It was also known as the Garrick Theater. Sadly the whole thing was demolished in the 1970s.

From Chicago History Website

Opened in 1891, the Schiller Theater was originally funded by former Illinois Staats-Zeitung publisher Anton C. Hesing (1823-1895) and other German investors and was projected to be used for German-language operas and cultural events.

I am collecting names and emails for ARC Readers for the upcoming anthology. If you would like to participate I have a couple of slots opened. I also would like to start a news letter for the Janie and Diane Series. Please use the CONTACT FORM on the right side of the page and I will add you to the listing. Gmail account holders can also click on the FOLLOW button. 

Prizes and Giveaways will be forthcoming

Short Story Done and New Story Posted on Vella

We are all searching for ways to reach our ideal readers. Most of us are just throwing stuff on the wall hoping that something will stick. Me! Me! 😁- After viewing a couple of videos from some of the authors who are actually making money on Vella their main suggestion was to post an episode a day and have several different stories going at once. 

Now, I am a natural multi-tasking type of person. (Can you say A.D.H.D) so I start a lot of projects and end up with way too many balls up in the air so that nothing really gets finished. So, after a long and emotional phone conversation with a friend and fellow Indie Author I have decided to WRITE OUT the top five things that I want for myself? Not for my friends, not for my family but for me, personally. What goals do I truly want to accomplish? 

That, my friends, is a truly harrowing thought process. Most women of my generation have almost never been told to put ourselves first. Think about that for a moment. Of all the things that society (mostly white, hetero-males) has dictated for the female of the species, we have always been thought of less-than, not truly worthy of our wants and needs. I will not even go into the whole reversal of  the long-fought for legislation about a "Woman's Right to Choose". Sorry, I am going off on a tangent.

My five things that I want most for myself is:

1. Learn How to Tell a Great Story

2. Find my ideal readers who will enjoy that story that I want to create

3. Get Back on the Road again (6 months out of the year) and travel in an RV - preferably with a companion to enjoy the journey and share the expenses.

4. Have a home base that belongs to me (piece of land with a trailer or a small house)

5. Be able to make enough money to enable me to do all of the above, comfortably.

You do have to write these things down. Just having them in your head may not be enough. I am printing them out and taping them to the top side of my laptop (the only thing that I look at every single day), and say them over and over again. My author friend is right, you say your intentions with feelings and determination and the universe will find a way for you to achieve those goals. 

Let's get started!

Dastardly Deeds at the Dearborn Theater

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C16XHW7R/

Added to Kindle Vella - first 3 episodes are up and the rest will be posting once a day beginning April 5, 2023

Bloody Murder at the Blanche Hotel

https://www.amazon.com/Bloody-Murder-at-Blanche-Hotel/dp/B0BFN1M469/

L.J. Green Amazon Profile

https://amazon.com/author/ljgreen

Subscribe, Like, Share and Comment - Of course reading the first three episodes would be great too!

COMING IN JULY

I have recently finished a complete novella set in the Janie and Diane world for a Romance Anthology that will be published in July 2023 for the First Coast Romance Writers. It is called, "A Widow's Dilemma in Cuba". The theme was sweet romance in the tropics.  I will post a link when it is in pre-order.

SUBSCRIBE AND GET A FREE GIFT

For all those who subscribe to my blog I now have a FREEBIE story for you. Just hit the subscribe button and I will email the short story called , "The Box". It is a prequel to the Janie and Diane Series.

Enjoying the Chapter Videos

One of the hardest things for a writer is to constantly put things out there and not get any feedback. Yes, we have beta readers, ARC readers and pay for editors but I am doing this series as a labor of love and cannot really afford all that. If you have been reading my posts and watching my videos I hope you will take a few minutes out of your day and answer the Poll below. Don't be afraid to share this post with your friends and fellow readers! 

 

 

 

CHAPTER FIVE - Porch of Blanche January 1903

CHAPTER FIVE - Porch of Blanche January 1903 of the Bloody Murder at the Blanche Hotel - Lilly, a local maid, is being recruited to in on the investigation that the Janie has discovered in the local newspaper. Right now it is an exercise to occupy her mind. But will it lead to something more sinister. You can view this episode on Kindle Vella but you must use your coins: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/episode/B0BFMYZJWG

Tips for Fellow Writers - The Evolution of Book Covers

As a newbie fiction writer I am constantly learning new things. This particular project started off as a non-fiction history/biography/memorial book about the haunted, historical hotel in Lake City, Florida called the Blanche Hotel. It was in the process of FINALLY being renovated. They get the renovations almost done and, bam! covid hits and everything shuts down. But, hey, I still want to write the history book so I keep working on gathering information, reading about 40 years worth of old newspapers, spending a couple of days in the old county records vaults and trying to get the local historical society to back with either a grant or endorsement. Sadly, my research flounder as I ran out of resources and would need to travel out of state to finish off the biographies of those who began and ran the hotel for the first 55 years or so. Covid still happening and no one willing to take a chance on sponsoring another history book with limited appeal. [hey, it appealed to me and most of the long-time residents of the area] So, I decided to take all of that knowledge, create a pen name, and write a fictional story using real places and events as characters and parts of the story.

Thus, "Spies at the Blanche Hotel" was born. I have been working on it off and on for about 2 years now. Sadly, life intrudes and other needs and family have to be taken care of. I do meet some great author friends along the way who are helping with the editing and development, encouragement and the push to finish. Seeing a great potential for the main characters and loving history as well as mystery the way I do this has morphed into a possible series. The latest book cover I designed sparked ideas for 3 other story titles. One of which I will be starting November 1, 2022 for #NaNoWriMo2022

Very exciting but also I am very nervous. It will be a learning experience for sure. So, if you want to help a sister out please visit the first book on Kindle Vella - https://amzn.to/3gV5Dkj - at give it a go. The first 3 chapters are free and every new person to Vella is given 200 tokens for FREE to begin. Might as well toss them my way please!!!!! Thanks and good luck to all my fellow writers out there who will be participating as well. -@jolenemacinjax is my handle on the site https://nanowrimo.org/ #writers

CHAPTER FOUR - Meeting of the Bad Guys

CHAPTER FOUR - Meeting of the Bad Guys from the Bloody Murder at the Blanche Hotel where we learn just a little bit more about the bad guys and what they have been up to in the small town of Lake City, Florida. - The first three episodes on Kindle Vella are free. The view the next ones you will have to use your Vella coins. https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/episode/B0BFMXLCF8

CHAPTER THREE - Morning Train Delivers New Visitors

CHAPTER THREE - Morning Train Delivers New Visitors. The main characters have arrived and the locals are taking notice. Lurking in the background is the bad guys who have also taken note of the two ladies from the train. To view the episode: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/episode/B0BFMXRBL1 The First three are FREE.

Chapter TWO - We Found a Body

Chapter Two - We Found a Body - the story begins with the a couple of local boys finding a body next to Lake Jeffery. The only witness was the boy's family cow. No clues to the identity of the man. Till next time. To view the episode - https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/episode/B0BFMWZRPZ