As you can see from the infrequent postings, I'm not a good blogger! So I'll apologize right now if you're here and there is nothing fresh to read. Actual, the blog is pretty much inactive as WebforAuthors and other clients keep me very busy.
We keep a page of super sites we have completed, please drop by for a visit.
Best wishes,
Marshall
Friday, February 01, 2008
Saturday, April 28, 2007
WriteStuff Writers Conference
Hello from Indianapolis, IN where Tom Britt is presenting the atFishers Young Writers Short Story winners. Three 9 to 10 year olds were the winners and you can find more about them at. Www.atFishers.com.
I will be on one of the panels this afternoon.
Marshall
Sunday, January 07, 2007
WebforAuthors - January 2007 Newsletter
Happy New Year and best wishes for a prosperous and successful 2007 from WebforAuthors!
The WebforAuthors Team is busy making plans for new features to add during 2007. On our agenda is adding a Guestbook, Press Kit and Clips pages to your websites. These features were planned for 2006, but our new Domain Registration (register domains without a WFA website subscription) feature has taken longer than expected. But they will definitely be out later this year. As always, these features will be added at no additional cost to you.
In addition, based on your input, we are working towards providing more flexibility to our system so that you can add additional pages, change page layouts and more. We’re calling this “WebforAuthors 2.0” and it will be a major upgrade to our system. This effort is still in the planning phase, so there is still a lot of work to do before our plans are finalized.
On The Air – January 9
I will be the guest on “Book Marketing with Fran” on Achiever Radio on Tuesday, January 9. Achiever Radio is a Web Talk Radio Station. You can find out more about Fran’s broadcasts at http://achieveradio.com/~fran/. The show is at 2PM EST, if you miss it you can listen to previous broadcasts by visiting her website.
Conferences and Sponsorships
We have not finalized conferences or sponsorships for 2007. If you would like for me to speak or if you would like WebforAuthors to be a sponsor of an event, please contact me.
Advertising
We run advertising in selected magazines and websites. We appreciate you telling writers and authors about our service and offer referral credit if you help bring additional subscribers on board. If you have ideas on how we can reach more authors, please tell us!
2006 Recap
New Features That Were Added in 2006
Processing and Handling Fees:
For those using our optional Shopping Cart, we added the ability for you to control additional fees (processing and handling) for orders.
Order Tracking:
For those using our optional Shopping Cart, we added the ability for you to easily send a shipping notice and tracking number to your customer.
New Designs:
We added five new website designs for you to choose from.
Domain Registration:
This was our major effort in 2006 – to add domain registration to our list of services. This allows authors (actually anyone) to buy a domain name without a website subscription. It also allows you to purchase additional domains that you may want. We launched the “front end” last fall – which allows you to purchase domains. We are finishing up the “back end” – i.e. the domain management tools – this month. Until then we handle changes via a support request (email or call). Our charge for one year domain registration is only $9.95!
Sponsorships, Conferences and Other Things of Note for WebforAuthors in 2006:
WriteStuff Writers Conference – Speaker
Yosemite Writers Conference – Speaker and Sponsor
San Francisco Writers Conference – Sponsor
Whidbey Island Writers Conference – Sponsor
Indianapolis Book Fest – Sponsor
Backspace Writers Conference – Sponsor
South Carolina Writers Workshop Writers Conference – Speaker and Sponsor
Book Expo America, African American Pavilion – Sponsor
Backspace – the writer’s place – Article published (http://www.bksp.org/secondarypages/articles/authors/MTurner.htm)
I wish to thank all of you for using and supporting WebforAuthors. If we may be of assistance in any way, please contact me.
Note: As always, this newsletter is sent using the WebforAuthors Newsletter feature that is included in your WFA Account Manager. Use it to keep in touch with your fans and readers!
Best wishes,
Marshall
The WebforAuthors Team is busy making plans for new features to add during 2007. On our agenda is adding a Guestbook, Press Kit and Clips pages to your websites. These features were planned for 2006, but our new Domain Registration (register domains without a WFA website subscription) feature has taken longer than expected. But they will definitely be out later this year. As always, these features will be added at no additional cost to you.
In addition, based on your input, we are working towards providing more flexibility to our system so that you can add additional pages, change page layouts and more. We’re calling this “WebforAuthors 2.0” and it will be a major upgrade to our system. This effort is still in the planning phase, so there is still a lot of work to do before our plans are finalized.
On The Air – January 9
I will be the guest on “Book Marketing with Fran” on Achiever Radio on Tuesday, January 9. Achiever Radio is a Web Talk Radio Station. You can find out more about Fran’s broadcasts at http://achieveradio.com/~fran/. The show is at 2PM EST, if you miss it you can listen to previous broadcasts by visiting her website.
Conferences and Sponsorships
We have not finalized conferences or sponsorships for 2007. If you would like for me to speak or if you would like WebforAuthors to be a sponsor of an event, please contact me.
Advertising
We run advertising in selected magazines and websites. We appreciate you telling writers and authors about our service and offer referral credit if you help bring additional subscribers on board. If you have ideas on how we can reach more authors, please tell us!
2006 Recap
New Features That Were Added in 2006
Processing and Handling Fees:
For those using our optional Shopping Cart, we added the ability for you to control additional fees (processing and handling) for orders.
Order Tracking:
For those using our optional Shopping Cart, we added the ability for you to easily send a shipping notice and tracking number to your customer.
New Designs:
We added five new website designs for you to choose from.
Domain Registration:
This was our major effort in 2006 – to add domain registration to our list of services. This allows authors (actually anyone) to buy a domain name without a website subscription. It also allows you to purchase additional domains that you may want. We launched the “front end” last fall – which allows you to purchase domains. We are finishing up the “back end” – i.e. the domain management tools – this month. Until then we handle changes via a support request (email or call). Our charge for one year domain registration is only $9.95!
Sponsorships, Conferences and Other Things of Note for WebforAuthors in 2006:
WriteStuff Writers Conference – Speaker
Yosemite Writers Conference – Speaker and Sponsor
San Francisco Writers Conference – Sponsor
Whidbey Island Writers Conference – Sponsor
Indianapolis Book Fest – Sponsor
Backspace Writers Conference – Sponsor
South Carolina Writers Workshop Writers Conference – Speaker and Sponsor
Book Expo America, African American Pavilion – Sponsor
Backspace – the writer’s place – Article published (http://www.bksp.org/secondarypages/articles/authors/MTurner.htm)
I wish to thank all of you for using and supporting WebforAuthors. If we may be of assistance in any way, please contact me.
Note: As always, this newsletter is sent using the WebforAuthors Newsletter feature that is included in your WFA Account Manager. Use it to keep in touch with your fans and readers!
Best wishes,
Marshall
Friday, November 24, 2006
Coast Trip Story
I heard a funny story. Second hand, of course.
Three guys went on a trip to the coast. On the way, one carried a giant cooler. When asked why the cooler, he replied “I’m bringing back some shrimp.” “How much?” they asked. “One hundred pounds.” was his answer.
They planned to kayak and camp for four days, but a cold front brought off shore winds that shortened their trip. Having an extra day in town, they arranged to stay overnight aboard a local friend’s boat. Moored at the city marina, the 40 foot sail boat was nice accommodations for the three.
On the way to pick up the shrimp, the other two were curious and asked questions about where the shrimp came from, how much they cost and such. “Well,” he said, “they still have their heads and they were $1.50 a pound.”
Great price, but they still have their heads? “Who’s going to de-head them?” one asked. “Oh, it won’t take long to pop their heads, it’s real easy” … Shades of Tom Sawyer, they had been had.
After hours of shrimp head popping, made even more fun by the biting of "no-see-ums", they returned to the sail boat. “Let’s make coffee in the morning.” said the shrimp buyer. They decided to get the coffee making setup that night so it would be easier in the morning. Although they had camp stoves, they noticed the boat had a galley and a stove.
The first tried the stove and said it didn’t look like it was used much and that there were problems lighting it. The shrimp buyer took a second look and caused some liquid to run from the burners, but couldn’t get it lit. They discovered it was an alcohol stove and that’s what had run out. They messed around and found the pressure tank, pumped and it and tried again. More liquid came out but would not burn. “Never mind.” said the shrimp buyer. “Let me try.” said the third.
Trying harder, more liquid came out, he tried to light it and finally it did. But not the burner, the stove! The liquid had pooled around the burners and had finally caught fire. The fire was catching and starting to flame up through the four burners of the stove top. They had caught the boat on fire!
The first guy, standing nearby, had picked up the fire extinguisher mounted above the stove. The fire flickered, almost going out but caught back up and promised to grow bigger. He gave a small squirt of the extinguisher, hoping to put the fire out without causing a big mess. But the fire roared back, encouraged by a blast of air and little actual extinguishing. The other two started scrambling for safety, the shrimp buyer being pushed up the ladder by the third.
Whoosh! He hit the fire with a full blast of the extinguisher. The interior of the boat suddenly turned into a white cloud, all vision obscured. Quickly the cloud thinned enough to see, the fire was out but a snowy landscape covered everything in sight. It was particularly thick in the galley of course, but the whole cabin was filled. Remembering to breath, their breath was caught by the thick powder that hung in the air. Scrambling up the ladder to the stern, they were relieved that they were safe and the fire was out. They sat there, under a starry night in the harbor, staring alternately at each other and the smoke filled cabin, in disbelief that they had nearly burned up a boat!
Fortunately, they had extinguished the fire before any damage was done. After a long night and next day of cleaning everything, no sign of the fire remained. Well, except for the empty fire extinguisher.
Three guys went on a trip to the coast. On the way, one carried a giant cooler. When asked why the cooler, he replied “I’m bringing back some shrimp.” “How much?” they asked. “One hundred pounds.” was his answer.
They planned to kayak and camp for four days, but a cold front brought off shore winds that shortened their trip. Having an extra day in town, they arranged to stay overnight aboard a local friend’s boat. Moored at the city marina, the 40 foot sail boat was nice accommodations for the three.
On the way to pick up the shrimp, the other two were curious and asked questions about where the shrimp came from, how much they cost and such. “Well,” he said, “they still have their heads and they were $1.50 a pound.”
Great price, but they still have their heads? “Who’s going to de-head them?” one asked. “Oh, it won’t take long to pop their heads, it’s real easy” … Shades of Tom Sawyer, they had been had.
After hours of shrimp head popping, made even more fun by the biting of "no-see-ums", they returned to the sail boat. “Let’s make coffee in the morning.” said the shrimp buyer. They decided to get the coffee making setup that night so it would be easier in the morning. Although they had camp stoves, they noticed the boat had a galley and a stove.
The first tried the stove and said it didn’t look like it was used much and that there were problems lighting it. The shrimp buyer took a second look and caused some liquid to run from the burners, but couldn’t get it lit. They discovered it was an alcohol stove and that’s what had run out. They messed around and found the pressure tank, pumped and it and tried again. More liquid came out but would not burn. “Never mind.” said the shrimp buyer. “Let me try.” said the third.
Trying harder, more liquid came out, he tried to light it and finally it did. But not the burner, the stove! The liquid had pooled around the burners and had finally caught fire. The fire was catching and starting to flame up through the four burners of the stove top. They had caught the boat on fire!
The first guy, standing nearby, had picked up the fire extinguisher mounted above the stove. The fire flickered, almost going out but caught back up and promised to grow bigger. He gave a small squirt of the extinguisher, hoping to put the fire out without causing a big mess. But the fire roared back, encouraged by a blast of air and little actual extinguishing. The other two started scrambling for safety, the shrimp buyer being pushed up the ladder by the third.
Whoosh! He hit the fire with a full blast of the extinguisher. The interior of the boat suddenly turned into a white cloud, all vision obscured. Quickly the cloud thinned enough to see, the fire was out but a snowy landscape covered everything in sight. It was particularly thick in the galley of course, but the whole cabin was filled. Remembering to breath, their breath was caught by the thick powder that hung in the air. Scrambling up the ladder to the stern, they were relieved that they were safe and the fire was out. They sat there, under a starry night in the harbor, staring alternately at each other and the smoke filled cabin, in disbelief that they had nearly burned up a boat!
Fortunately, they had extinguished the fire before any damage was done. After a long night and next day of cleaning everything, no sign of the fire remained. Well, except for the empty fire extinguisher.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Domain Registration Now Available
WebforAuthors launched our new Domain Registration feature last week. While we have always had the ability to register your domain as a part of our website subscription plan, we now have the ability for you to register domains by themselves.
To register a domain or purchase additional domains, visit www.webforauthors.com, click the Sign Up Now! button and select Domain Registration.
For a low cost you can now register your domain name using our system.
Our domain account management tools are under development. Until we launch these tools, please contact WebforAuthors Support for help and assistance in updating your domains.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Yosemite Writers Conference
I was fortunate to participate in a web marketing panel at the Yosemite Writers Conference on August 26. The 2006 Yosemite Writers Conference was held August 24-27, 2006 at Tenaya Lodge near the south entrance to Yosemite National Park. It was a great conference and rather than try to tell you about it, please read about it on the blogs of two terrific writers I met there. While I may call this a blog, it's more of a journal of things related to WebforAuthors or things I find interesting. However, these writers have real blogs!
www.matildakay.com
http://www.nlbelardes.com
Click on "pods and blogs" at the top and then look for links to Yosemite.
Read and enjoy, it was a great conference.
www.matildakay.com
http://www.nlbelardes.com
Click on "pods and blogs" at the top and then look for links to Yosemite.
Read and enjoy, it was a great conference.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Elberton Star - Friday March 6, 1936
While looking through an old hometown newspaper I noticed this ad, which struck me as quaint and a bit creepy. Think about it, would you accept ambulance service from a funeral director? Just where do you think they want to take you? And it's a department store too? Sounds like the plot from a scary movie!
Actually this was not unusual. In 1936, and up until the 1960-70's, ambulance service was often offered by funeral homes. At least this was true in small town America....
Ad from March 6, 1936 newspaper:
Free Ambulance Service
Day or Night
Funeral Directors - Embalmers
Phones: Day 39; Night 133 and 198
Elberton Dept. Store
T M Maxwell, CP Furcon, JH Sayer
Actually this was not unusual. In 1936, and up until the 1960-70's, ambulance service was often offered by funeral homes. At least this was true in small town America....
Ad from March 6, 1936 newspaper:
Free Ambulance Service
Day or Night
Funeral Directors - Embalmers
Phones: Day 39; Night 133 and 198
Elberton Dept. Store
T M Maxwell, CP Furcon, JH Sayer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
