Make sure your Gravatar information is up to date.
Gravatar? What’s that?
It’s the information attached to the little photo icon that pops up next to any comments you make. If a reader hovers over it, they can find out your blog address, and if they click on it, there is a whole load of information that comes up, from your websites to profiles all over Social Media, so others can connect with you.
It’s important.
If someone fancies checking out your site, and the information is incomplete or incorrect, you could end up losing a prospective reader, or even follower… and you don’t want that!
I’ve just discovered something pretty cool… Netgalley!
And the first book I requested was Something To Tell You by Lucy Diamond.
I have heard of the author, but not read any of her books, and the blurb sounded pretty interesting.
When Frankie stumbles upon an unopened letter from her late mother, she’s delighted to have one last message from her . . . until she reads the contents and discovers the truth about her birth. Brimming with questions, she travels to York to seek further answers from the Mortimer family, but her appearance sends shockwaves through them all.
Meanwhile, Robyn Mortimer has problems of her own. Her husband John has become distant, and a chance remark from a friend leads Robyn to wonder exactly what he’s not been saying. Dare she find out more?
As for Bunny, she fell head over heels in love with Dave Mortimer when she first arrived in town, but now it seems her past is catching up with her. She can’t help wondering if he’ll still feel the same way about her if he discovers who she really is – and what she did.
As secrets tumble out and loyalties are tested, the Mortimers have to face up to some difficult decisions. With love, betrayal and dramatic revelations in the mix, this is one summer they’ll never forget.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC of this novel in return for an honest review. I’m always a sucker for family-based stories, and this one didn’t disappoint. Frankie finds a letter from her late mother which gives her information about her own parentage that she never knew before. Taking a brave step, she ventures into the lives of the Mortimers, her biological father’s family with irreversible consequences. There were so many different stories going on, stemming from the original plot, that there was no time to get bored. At times I found myself double checking who was saying what, and which character’s point of view we had switched to, but on the whole, an enjoyable read. Families are difficult at the best of times, this book highlights that, and also shows that you can overcome some pretty big hurdles, as long as you have your people around you!
“Christmas is forever, not for just one day. For loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away.”“
Norman Wesley Brookes
Well thank you Spidey for a festive thought there!
I’m not Christian, but I do love Christmas. I thoroughly enjoy the festivities, The feeling of joy and happiness that tends to emanate from most corners of the land.
There is that feeling of peace. An acceptance. You are more likely to see a smile from a stranger (unless you are both eyeing the last turkey in the store, when goodwill might not win!) rather than a grimace.
But wouldn’t it be wonderful if that was the way the world was at all time?
Sure, we pack away our Christmas decorations and stop playing the cheesy Christmas songs, but we can still be giving and loving, every day, can’t we?
So… tell me, what is your favourite part of the festive season, that you would want to keep all year round?
Day 2 of Blogmas… what gem of advice will my advent calendar or tips reveal today?
My muse, my tea my workstation!
Make sure you have a fantastic About Me page.
Seriously, this is so important. Many bloggers will click onto your blog, and head there first, so they can get a feel of you as a blogger, or a person, or at least the reason why you are publishing blog posts.
And it’s not enough to just start with your About Me page, then leave it to do it’s own thing… no, you should revisit it, refre3sh it and update it. There may be news, or achievements you want to add to it. Possibly life developments that change the direction of your blog.
November 29, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story using the phrase “into the dark.” What must a character face? Write about an encounter, journey, relationship, or quest. Follow the ship’s lights on gloomy seas. Go where the prompt leads you.
Into The Dark
Swaying slightly, she stumbled out into the dark. It took Penny a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the dim light. The door had slammed shut behind her. Why had she decided to have that last drink? She knew alcohol and her didn’t mix, yet all it took was the encouragement of a few mates, and she was knocking them back. And with each drink, came confidence. She danced, and smiled, and flirted. But he took it too far. The pushing to the toilets. The clawing hands. She shoved him and ran, fleeing via the fire exit.
But I Smile Anyway... 