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Sunday, May 10, 2015

Better NEVER than LATE - my A to Z REFLECTIONS



Well, I outdid myself with my tardiness - epic late. But, it could not be helped. (FYI - I am the last one on the Linky List - now, isn't that just appropriate!)

Here are my thoughts about the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge.

My buddy, Bushman, summed up his feelings (the not so happy feelings) in his reflections post. He speaks for me with what he says so I’m not going to regurgitate it all again here.

Point is… I share his feelings.

I struggled with what I wanted to say and almost decided on giving the Reflection Post a miss.

BUT… here I am.

So...

In a nutshell I had fun participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.

I met some really cool new bloggers, they can be found over there to the right in the BLOGS OF NOTE - NEW ADDITIONS list. If you made it on this list you know I’m staying in touch.

If you’re a longtime regular, you’re probably on my BLOGS OF NOTE - THE ORIGINALS list. I read you, I enjoy you, and I thank you! You are the reason I blog as much as I do. 

Without my posse (Al, Ruth, Bushman) this year would have been harder. 

I twittered up a storm, and met some awesome folks out there too. Amazing.

Now… I wanted to end this by telling you all that over the next little while I’m going to be knee deep in the final stages of getting a book ready for press.

Yes… it’s true.

Part of the struggle for me this year, with the Challenge, was doing double duty. I can safely say I’m burned out, but in a good way.

I’ll be filling you in on all the gory details in the weeks to come.

Until then, thanks for making my April go by so fast.



Okay… a question… because I know a question makes you think.

What do you think my book is about?  (hahahaha - hint… not about me!)



Cheers, Jenny

A special shout out to Arlee Bird, from Tossing It Out. He’s the Founder and Creator of the  April Blogging from A to Z Challenge, As well as being a blogging friend, he is a great motivator and an inspiring leader. Thanks Lee - you rock!

31 comments:

  1. Eeek! Yu mean it really isn't too late for the reflection post? I am bad with guesses, so I will wait in suspense to see what your book is about!

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    1. Hahaha - it's never too late for reflecting! So do it! Heck, I did, and look how lame my reflections were! A truer copout you will not find! (a wee bow happening)

      No worries about bad guesses - I'll keep you waiting a tad longer. Today is a special day… just waiting for a nod from a key player in this publishing game.

      Once I hear back from her, I'll start the teasing!

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  2. Geez, such a slacker lol a newbie of note at your sea, works for me. Your book is about nudist pirates fighting probing aliens, right? Damn, I'm such a good guesser.

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    1. LOL - hahahaha, that's me Queen Slacker! Yup, I wanted you New Additons to have your own little Blog Of Note spot - so you can easily spot yourselves - and see how much I appreciate you.

      Close on the guess… wait for the big reveal, coming to a post soon!

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  3. I'm burned out just reading this. I still don't know how so many people finished this challenge without having to be committed.

    I'm just eager to hear about this book, though. Let's see... Spiderman reboot?

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    1. Well… you do burn out fast then - does the wife know about this! LOL

      This year the challenge was triple the work - first I wing my posts and that takes effort and time. Then I was assisting with the List, time consuming and taxing, then I had this book thing going on. The timing was all wrong, but… I survived to tell the tale.

      Well… the real tale will soon be told - stay tuned as Spiderman gets help for his self inflicted spider bites.

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  4. A book, congratulations! I'm knee-deep in blurb-writing, so at the moment the only book I can think about is my own... and I really hope you haven't written that :-)

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    1. Hi Annalisa - I wanted to especially say thank you for visiting and reconnecting with me. I hope we stay in touch. You're smiling avatar is a treat here in my comment area.

      No… I don't think I've written your book - you'll have to do that yourself, as it was writing mine took a daily toll on me. But I loved every word.

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  5. Ahh, gory details. They're the best.

    Congratulations on finishing again! So glad to have happening up the Pearson Report, it's one of my favorite places to be.

    It's so hard to be split between intense blogging challenges and our own stories, yes? But that's part of being a writer, I suppose. Learning how to divide our energy and passion up and just keep moving forward.

    I'm so pumped to hear more about this book. Umm...is it about...GOSH I HAVE NO IDEA. I'm burned out just by thinking about it. Goodness, Jenny, how is anyone supposed to guess what is in your crazy mind, especially story-wise?! Unfair question. Not cool, not cool.

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    1. What a lovely new avatar you have, Anne Marie! Very beautiful.
      I would like to tell you that you were indeed one of the highlights of my travels through this Challenge. I'm glad we connected and I'm looking forward to learning more about your writing ambitions.

      Yes, it sure was hard splitting my limited time up during April. More taxing than I anticipated. But… I'm still thrilled to have it under my belt - bragging rights and all!

      As to guessing… hahahah - no worries, what a cruel question that was anyway. Not even a hint. Well, I won't keep you all in suspense much longer. After today (I'm waiting for an important phone call) I'll spill a few beans. Just enough to grow a mini beanstalk…

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    1. Ooohhhh - that would be a good title! Sadly, I said it wasn't about me! LOL

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  7. You of all lovely ladies know the struggles of 'doing it' and finally getting to the 'I'm done' part, only to find you have a bit more of the 'doing' to do. LOL

    I'll be shedding a little light on my project in the next few weeks. I'm hoping for some good news today… cross your fingers.

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  8. Better late than never :). Good luck with your book!
    LISA

    My CajunLife
    http://justlittlecajunme.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks Lisa! Also, I wanted to let you know I enjoyed meeting you through this Challenge. You added such a wonderful energy to my comment area. I hope we stay in touch.

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  9. Congrats on the book, Jenny! I look forward to hearing about it.

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    1. Thanks, it will still be another three months before I see the finished product. I'll be sharing a few inside peeks over the next little while so you'll all be up to snuff when the big day arrives.

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  10. It is always aok to be fashionably late:) You had a lot going on! Congrats on your new book Godzilla meets the Kardashians. Oops not it eh? Oh well I can't wait to find out

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    1. I think I went beyond fashionably late, I hope I can be this late to my funeral!
      You're not far off on the book! LOL There's a little of both in it! More info after tomorrow.

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  11. I'm guessing it's not about lions! LMAO!
    Cheers JP and good luck with the book!

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    1. Definitely not lions - though if you don't get on that great book of yours I'll be sending the pieces I have to an agent on your behalf. :) :)

      You and Barb will be getting the 411 in a private email… so look for it!

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  12. Hi Jenny - good to see you blogging so regularly .. is the book about House Renovation? Glad you were around .. not that I visited that often I'm afraid - as too others I need to redress the commenting imbalance. You connect with many fun and committed bloggers - always good to see these connections.

    I know you gave us some very good tips before we started the A-Z - that I need to check in on again and actually put into practise ..

    Take care and enjoy the summer ...cheers Hilary

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    1. Hi Hilary, like you, I didn't get as much visiting done, what with all the checking out of bloggers on the list, there just wasn't enough time.

      I could write a book about House Renovations after all my experience but no, I am writing on something completely different.

      Thanks for your visits here, and your kind and encouraging words throughout the A to Z Challenge.

      I hope you're having nice weather and spending oodles of time outdoors!

      With smiles and hugs, Jenny xxoo

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  13. Been four days since you posted? Are you still burnt out? Should we send help? Should we send ice cream?

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    1. Ice cream would help! :) :)
      I've been knee deep in hiring a proofreader for my book - this whole thing is such a learning curve… and so time consuming.

      Thanks for checking in on me! Hugs, xxoo

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  14. Can't wait to hear about the book. . .that will be good news! I'm wondering if this was the result of the SIWC. . .

    The A to Z Challenge in my first year totally ticked me off as I naively expected others to play by the rules. That didn't happen. I grumbled but the last two years I just gave it my best effort. I made sure I kept my commitment to post and visited those blogs who visited mine and those that held my interest. I did try to visit new bloggers, but so many made it difficult with word verification, WP formats, and Disqus which I dislike. It is what it is and I accept that. I'm glad I didn't have the extra duties. Bravo to you guys who did.

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    1. Hi DG - in some ways the SIWC was inspiring, and one author in particular did stir my need to commit to my writing.

      I agree with your assessment re the A to Z. I was very frustrated with it. Particularly with trying to leave comments. Next year, I'm just participating and not stressing about visiting anybody but those I already adore and follow. Time is too precious to go to the lengths of reading a post only to find I could not comment. Sucks! The extra duties were taxing for sure.

      Thanks for your support of my posts during the A to Z and all the other times throughout the year. You rock! Hugs, xxoo

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  15. Anonymous10:46 am

    Finding your through your reflection. Sorry I missed you in April. A second novel was published the first part of April so I know your situation trying to get your novel done AND participate in the challenge. I used the AtoZ posts to write further about the settings for the novel, which was a good use of all the extra research you do but are not needed in the story. Now I'm trying to catch up in the garden. Wish we could sit down, have a glass of sweet tea, and you can tell me about your work. I'll be back to check on you.

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    1. Hi Stepheny - welcome to Pearson Report. I'm sorry for the late reply. I don't know if you'll be heading back this way, but if so, I dropped by and thoroughly enjoyed your website. I added your book, Greening of a Heart, to my Kindle Wish List. I have a few books to read before I get to yours but it does sound interesting.

      Sound like you're one busy lady. I wish you great success with Facing East - it too sounds intriguing.

      I'd love that cup of tea, but only if it's in your lovely garden. I have brown thumbs! I do dream about having green ones and being able to grow the most magnificent garden. Ah… dreams!

      Thank you for visiting - I do hope you'll drop by again. With smiles, Jenny :)

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  16. Just now getting around to visiting the blogs in the challenge. April was a busy month for me. Congrats on completing the A to Z Challenge! Looking forward to next year! See you on the Road Trip!

    Mary
    www.JingleJangleJungle.net

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  17. Hello there.
    Congratulations on completing the challenge! I actually got to visit your blog during April. I'm popping over today from the Road Trip. Wishing you all the best with the book, etc!

    Entrepreneurial Goddess

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.