A writer inspired by nature and human nature

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#RRBC Spotlight Author Gracie Bradford talks about favorite sites and apps


I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME

It is such a pleasure to introduce this “up and coming author,” Gracie Bradford, and her book about a child with brain cancer. The beagle, Lady Bird, takes on a leading role in this short story. Learn about the role of pet therapy in the healing process.

During her discovery journey and literary, educational adventure, Gracie relates that she stumbled upon software and websites that have proven to give a new meaning to work simplification. She used some of these in her business but discovered they could also be used with some of her writing projects. Most seasoned authors are already familiar with the apps and sites, but the “up and coming authors” may find some of these to be useful. She doesn’t use all, just those that she has the skill set to understand and can give a return on her investment. Although she confesses that she tends to gravitate towards the FREE stuff, she will invest in a few. It will be fun to hear about your favorite sites and apps. Leave your best in the COMMENT section.

Disclaimer: No fees received for recommending these resources nor is there an endorsement

https://evernote.com/

Use to organize research

https://yousendit-express.en.softonic.com/

Use to send large files

https://www.aweber.com/

Autoresponder

www.fiverr.com

Has a variety of functions; Can be used to hire someone to post articles or send out twitter tweets

https://www.upwork.com

Post a job, and they match your project with some freelancers

https://www.freelancer.com/

Post a job and receive a competitive bid from freelancers

https://www.aweber.com/

Autoresponder – An email marketing and automation platform for growing your business

https://www.getresponse.com/

Autoresponder – a marketing platform for growing your business

https://commun.it/growth

Autoresponder – tool used to grow your community

https://www.crowdfireapp.com/

Helps to grow your followers

https://www.shutterstock.com/

Royalty-free photos

Expect to see the 3rd book of the Lady Bird series late 2018 addressing Autism.

  • Pick up a copy of Gracie’s books at:

http://amzn.to/2gfLCEJ

  • Like and follow this author through the social media platforms below:

Blog: www.free1592.wordpress.com

Website: www.authorgraciebradford.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorgraciebradford/

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/graciebradford5/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamxordinary

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gracie.bradford.58

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorgraciebradford/

Thanks for stopping by today to meet Gracie Bradford. Don’t forget to tell us about your favorite sites and apps in the comment section. ~Bette A. Stevens

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Written

on 02/07/2018

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Winter Game (haiku) by Bette A. Stevens


Winter Game

Haiku by Bette A. Stevens

Frozen window pane
Plays peekaboo with the sun
A seasonal game

It has been a long, cold winter here at the Farmstead in Central Maine. Last week’s ice and wind storm left a perfect canvas for the sun to paint its magic on the living room window, inspiring me to write “Winter Game.”

What’s inspiring you this winter?

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Written

on 02/02/2018

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Writing is the Great Invention


Thanks to author L.M. Nelson for sharing Abraham Lincoln’s memorable quote on writing! ~Bette A.Stevens, Maine author http://www.4writersandreaders.com

L.M. Nelson's avatarlmnelsonscorner

“Writing is the great invention of the world.” ― Abraham Lincoln

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on 01/27/2018

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Celebrate National Puzzle Day with “The Tangram Zoo & Word Puzzles Too!” by Bette A. Stevens


Happy National Puzzle Day! This celebration is held every year on January 29th. It’s an opportunity to reflect on those puzzles, games and even challenges in life that we embrace every day but sometimes take for granted. Puzzles also offer us a great way to spend quality time interacting with family. In fact, puzzles are an awesome way to celebrate any day! ~Bette A. Stevens

Looking for some awesome fun with the kids or grandkids? Need some quality ‘together time’ on a rainy day? Visit THE TANGRAM ZOO AND WORD PUZZLES TOO! (On sale at YOUR AMAZON for only $6.99) … for hours of creative learning and hands-on fun. Solve 18 puzzles and riddles, make your own tangram puzzle pieces; then write your own riddles and add your own animals to THE ZOO! Solutions and project ideas included.

Although, this [The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too! by Bette A. Stevens] is a very clever and educational book for children, I appreciated the added bonus that an adult can sit down and enjoy it with the kids!~D.L. Finn, author

REVIEW

The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too! by Bette A. Stevens

January 2, 2018

Very Clever! 

I bought this book to give as a gift to my grandchildren. Reading through the book before giving it to them, I found it taught me a few things, too. First, I had no idea a tangram is a seven-piece puzzle with specific shapes. A pattern is provided to cut out and get started along with the history of it. There are many ways to put the pieces together, but the book supplies shapes to make– with clues or riddles as to what they are. Although, this is a very clever and educational book for children, I appreciated the added bonus that an adult can sit down and enjoy it with the kids! ~D.L. Finn, author

Ready to give Tangrams and Word Puzzles a try?

Here’s the handout the author uses with students.
Click the link or the image below.
Download, print and you’re ready to go…

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Written

on 01/23/2018

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How to extend the attention span of your children.


Happy reading with the kids every day! http://www.4writer~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author http://www.writersandreaders.com 

Dayne Sislen, Children's Book Illustrator's avatarDayne Sislen Children's Book Illustration

Kids today are bombarded with video games as well as fast action cartoons and movies. Picture book publishers are requesting shorter and shorter picture books for young children. No wonder our children have problems keeping their minds focused on one thing for very long.

What can you do to help your kids have a longer attention span? My advice is not some new technical invention or app for your phone or tablet, but something easy and inexpensive that you can do in your own home.

SCBWI_Postcard_sm_sq_WP

You can extend your children’s attention span by reading to them.

What better way to show them you love them and help them at the same time. Kids love getting attention from their parents and grandparents. This one-on-one time without any distractions from phones or TV is important. Children can later illustrate the stories you read together so you have a visual reminder of the time you have…

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Written

on 01/22/2018

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May the angel of…


COMPASSION—it’s LOVE in ACTION… ~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author

nataliescarberry's avatarSacred Touches

Screen Shot 2018-01-02 at 10.53.45 PM.png
**Image found on Pinterest; text added by Natalie

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Written

on 01/03/2018

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Have an Amazing New Year! (+poem by Bette A. Stevens)


May your New Year be Amazing
as a Monarch Butterfly

May your days be blessed and beautiful

May your nights, sweet dreams supply

May your New Year be amazing

As a monarch butterfly

Wishing all of you and our amazing monarch butterflies…
“An Amazing New Year!”

~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author

All About Monarchs

Monarch butterflies offer an amazing view into the intricate nature of the wild. Their science name, Danaus Plexippus, Greek for “Sleepy Transformation,” gets part of the story right, but not the epic whole. International conservation efforts to protect and restore monarch habitat are ongoing. These efforts may help improve the near-endangered/endangered status of the species; but we, as ordinary citizens, can easily help the monarch butterfly recovery right in our own backyards and gardens. Find out more at the links below.

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Written

on 12/30/2017

It’s “DOG BONE SOUP” Book Trailer Party Day!


What’s a book trailer? Well, it’s kind of like a movie promo trailer—a book trailer can help an author let the world know what sort of book they’ve released into the world! And today (December 29) you can win a prize  ($10 Amazon Gift Certificate) by watching the book trailer for DOG BONE SOUP by Bette A. Stevens and leaving a comment on the YouTube video page.

So, no kidding around, it’s time to party—and here’s the link to the party venue…

CLICK the YouTube Logo ABOVE or go directly to 

the YouTube page…

… be sure to leave a comment on the YouTube video page and YOU just might be the lucky winner of a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate!

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Category:

Book Picks, Book Promo, Books, DOG BONE SOUP by Bette A. Stevens, Historical Fiction, Literature, Maine Author, My Books, RWISA Author

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Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives – A Christmas image and poem from Bette A. Stevens


Christmas love and blessings to all! ~Bette A. Stevens

Category:

Maine Author, My Poetry, Photography

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Believe in Miracles—poem by Bette A. Stevens


 

Believe in Miracles

Poem by Bette A. Stevens

The whistling of the wind at play
Sunrise marking each new day
Rainfall crafting flowers to grow
Bright hues of every new rainbow

Planning skills for birds and bees
Conifer seeds becoming trees
Seas with creatures great and small
Land or sea, God made them all

Stars that mark the sky at night
Waning moon soon waxing bright
Seasons as they come and go
Wonders in each day they show

Wonder of wonders is mankind
Of every persuasion, you will find
God’s miracles are everywhere
Here to treasure, here to share

God made each one of us to show
His love and mercy as we go
About our life on earth each day
To all God’s wonders on our way

The greatest miracle you’ll find
God made the world with us in mind
He made it so that we might see
The love He has for you and me

John 1:3 (NIV) “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

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Written

on 12/17/2017

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