Twitter Etiquette and Me

The definition of etiquette is proper social behavior, and according to Derek Blass (thank you Derek for all your helpful tips) in his blog post a while back, one should always thank another when they retweet your tweet—but I had to give up on that. I was spending most of my time thanking folks, and didn't have time to do much of anything else while on Twitter. So, what I decided to do was retweet, retweet, retweet. That's my way of saying thanks. I hope y'all don't think it's rude of me. And if I miss retweeting for you, I will catch you later. Also, I read the tweets, and then I click over to blogs, websites, and whatever is of interest to me. Isn't that the point? I don't just retweet for the sake of retweeting. I do it because I think you have something worth reading that others might also like. So, that's my excuse for not saying thanks anymore to all the folks who retweet for me. I do appreciate it, so please don't think I don't. My thanks will be in the form of a retweet for you.

Now to the subject of who I follow. I follow people who interest me, so if I don't follow you, feel free to unfollow me. If you speak a foreign language, I don't follow you. I can count to ten and I know one sentence in Spanish, and a few words in Latin. That's the extent of my understanding any language other than English. And... I don't follow people who use really foul language. It's not necessary, and it's not fun to read. I did not follow the funeral home that was following me. Sorry, but I don't want to read your tweets about coffins and planning my last goodbyes. Life is hard enough as it is without reading that stuff first thing in the morning.

To be honest, most of the people I follow are writers (*but not all). They post great tips on everything from improving your writing skills to telling you about a great book they've read. I take what I've read, bounce it around in my head, and then decide for myself if its for me. Like the time a guy posted on his blog that you should never sell your books on your website. What? For several years I've been selling my books through my website, because that's where the traffic goes. Remember the purpose of the internet highway? Now, I wouldn't sell my books on my blog (don't even know if I could). That's why I have a website. My website is my livelihood. My blog is for fun.

Just like Twitter. Twitter should be fun, entertaining, and a way to meet people. When it becomes a chore, I'm done. And, when I'm on Twitter, I'm live. I don't do pay-for-tweets. Where's the social connection in that? It might work for others, but its not for me. I guess if I had a gazillion followers I might do it, but since I don't, when I tweet, I'm there in person.

Think I'm a Twitter snob? I'm not. I'm just honest. I want to have fun, talk with people, and then move on to something else. Fighting or arguing on Twitter? No thanks. I have better things to do.

To all those who are following me, tks for the #follow, and I hope you enjoy what I have to say. I want to learn something from you and hope you'll learn something from me. My Twitter etiquette might not be the best, but my social behavior will always be proper. So... let's tweet and enjoy the moment.

P.S. The photo above was a photo shot. I don't really do my writing outside on my laptop... and my dogs don't usually sit still like that. Thanks, Alex Carrier, Photographer/Journalist for being able to get my dogs to do what I couldn't.

In Case You Missed It

Just in case you missed Emily Lewis' interview of me, here it is:

Q.  What inspires your writing?

A.  Living in the mountains. I know you’ve probably heard this before, but it’s the truth. If I had stayed in the city, I’m sure I never would have written a book, let alone more than one.  Life is refreshing here. The air smells so good when the wind blows down the mountain and stirs up all the scents around me. There’s always something in the air—the smell of wild roses, pine trees, mountain laurel, jasmine, and my favorite—honeysuckle in spring.  So, when I’m bored or need inspiration, I get in my car, put the top down, and cruise. That’s for the warm months. In the winter, all I have to do is look out my window at the snow. That always works for me. Another inspiration: people who smile.

Q.  What is your favorite thing about being an author?

A.  The satisfaction I get from knowing I can actually write something someone might want to read.  So many people aspire to this, but very few ever realize their dream. Creating a story isn’t just putting words together. It’s hard work and takes up all of your time. Most people don’t have the time even if they have the imagination to do it. When I retired and moved to the mountains, my imagination found me. Was that luck? I think so.

Q.  What is the toughest part of being an author?

A. Trying to live up to the expectations of my readers.

Q.  If you could not be author, what would you do/be?

A. I’d be me.  That’s who I’ve been for sixty-two years, and I’ve been happy with my life the majority of the time (there’s always those times when drama stops by for a visit). I’m retired. I’ve had a career, spent my time in the work force, and have no desire to go back. If I decided to stop writing, I’d just be retired, living in the best place in the world.

Q.  What would the story of your life be entitled?

A.  The Unplanned Benefit of Murder

Q.  What is your favorite book of all time?

A.  That’s so hard to say. I’ve read many good books, but I really became an avid reader after I read All That Remains by Patricia Cornwell. I was enthralled with the storyline about a young couple who went missing at the New Kent rest area on I-64. This (fiction) book was based on a true story, and the area where it took place was close to my home town.  Familiarity grabbed me, and curiosity held onto me. Now, I have too many favorite books to only choose one, but I will give Cornwell the credit for pulling me into the world of books.

Q.  Which character from ANY book are you most like?

A.  I think authors create characters from bits and pieces of others, and I have yet to find one who is like me.

Q.  What character from all of your book are you most like?

A. My main character, Jesse Watson, of course. Don’t we all put a piece of ourselves in our protagonist? I know I did. However, Jesse does things I would never do. I’m smiling.

Q. What is your favorite season?

A. Winter—without a doubt. I used to be a sun worshiper, but that all changed with age and hot flashes.

Q.  What inspired your book cover(s)?  Or what is your favorite book cover and why?

A. I don’t know what sparks my ideas for my book jackets, but sometime during the writing process, up pops the image in my head. I can see it plain as day, and that’s what I go with. My favorite jacket cover is the one on book #5, Greene County Killer. It was the first time I had the courage to put a full-length photo of myself on the back.

Q.  Tell me something funny that happened while on a book tour or while promoting your book.

A. During an interview—I was at a restaurant talking with my reporter/journalist friend and I told her I had killed off someone, but was now having my doubts about what I had done. I can get a little loud when I get excited, so it didn’t take long for others close by to take notice. They started staring at me as if I were indeed a killer. Alex and I laughed all the way to the car.

Q.  Are you working on something new?

A.  Yes. The Prey Bites Back, book eight in the series. It’s a little slow going because life seems to get in the way.

Q.  Anything you want to say to followers of this blog or those that are just stopping by?

A.  You can only be a success in your heart when you’re doing something you love. Keep on writing, reading, or singing in the shower—whatever makes you happy!

*Be sure to stop by Emily's blog to read interviews of different authors and reviews of the books she has read. It'll be a fun visit! www.mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com

We're Having a Baby!

It's official! Our donkey, Sable, is having a little donkette! We felt it kick the other day. What an amazing thing it is to feel a little life moving around inside her belly. We bought Sable and Donkey (the jack) about a month or so ago, and boy did we get a bargain. We got both donkeys for the price of one, and now we're getting an extra bonus. Donkeys are pregnant for a year (ugh... glad humans aren't pregnant that long) and since she's about ready to explode, I'm sure she was with donkette when we got her. Needless to say, the coral has to be enlarged. So much work to do/so little time. My guess is she'll probably give birth when we're knee deep in snow.

We know about as much about raising donkeys as we do about raising chickens, but we're learning. We now have twelve hens and a rooster to keep the donkeys company. Or is it the other way around?

Wish us luck. We're going to need it! Ain't life grand!

First Two Books Free on Kindle

I'm celebrating my birthday early (Monday, Sept. 10... and yes, I'm 29... again) by offering the first two books in my Jesse Watson Mystery series FREE on Kindle.

#1 WHAT YOU SEE Sat. & Sun. Sept. 8 & 9

#2 SOUTH RIVER INCIDENT

Mon. & Tues. Sept. 10 & 11

Log onto Amazon.com and check them out. Read the sample chapters. See if this is the kind of mystery you'd like to read. It's free, so what have you got to lose? Just click on the book title to begin a journey with Jesse and Billy as they travel down the road to murder and intrigue, but watch out for the bodies alongside the road. You never know what you're going to encounter when you hang with private eyes. I hope you enjoy!

Method to My Madness

I might have caused some of you to wonder if I've lost my mind with some of my recent reviews of the books I've read, why I haven't given a book less than four stars. I've had a few emails questioning my sanity—kinda like the time I told a woman at a party that I killed people for a living. Needless to say, that didn't go over real big. I'm not saying any of the books I've reviewed were in question, just the lack of any bad reviews. Haven't I read any books that were horrible? Here's the truth: I have. I've preview many books, and knew right away it'd be a waste of my time. Either there were so many typos and bad grammar, or the storyline just didn't work. And some of the ones I've downloaded and tried to read, I just couldn't finish (for one reason or another). Those are the books I don't post reviews on. Writers have a hard enough time, and I'm not going to be the one to make it any harder. Let someone else do it.

Also, I'm not a professional reviewer. I've had writers ask me to review their books, but I can't give an honest review of a book that isn't the kind of book I like to read. I love a good mystery, with or without romance (preferably with romance, and definitely not erotica), and with some humor. If Janet Evanovich would clean up her mouth a little, she'd be my favorite author. So... I'm a mystery lover. I just can't get into Sci-Fi, vampires, erotica, paranormal, or YA (but I will support those who write it). I did read a book I thought was YA (after I had read a few chapters) and decided to finish it and judge it accordingly—by what I thought young audiences would like.

I bought Janet Evanovich's Metro Girl at the thrift store yesterday for $2, but I haven't been able to really get into it. I keep finding myself drawn back to the mystery I downloaded the other day. I've read the first chapter, and if the rest of the book is as good as the beginning, I'm in for a real treat... and you'll hear about it.

Pretty soon I'm going back to work on my next book, and I won't be reading as much... probably not at all, but until then, I'm going to finish the book I'm reading, and hopefully, find a couple more before I go off the radar.

Also—my first book in the Jesse Watson Mystery series, What You See, has found a permanent home in the Prime Kindle program, so it will no longer be available on NOOK. Sorry, NOOK, but you're just not doing it for me. Kindle rules!

So, if you haven't read any of my books, the first one will be free on Kindle very soon. I hope you'll give it a try. Happy writing and happy reading!

To all authors out there, I send you many wishes for your writing success. Keep up the good work. Ann Mullen

The Puzzle by Peggy A. Edelheit

The Puzzle by Peggy A. Edelheit Aug. 2012 ***** 5 Stars

Title: I loved, loved this book!

What a terrific read! Peggy Edelheit kept me glued to the page with her description of events and her likeable (and not so likeable) characters. I can still see Samantha running around her house, storm brewing outside, while her laptop stared back at her, demanding her to get back to work. And… the characters, Betty and Hazel were a hoot. I can’t wait to start her next book in the series. Five stars, Ms. Edelheit! You did good!   

Let's Talk About Book Reviews

Book reviews can be so misleading. Everyone has an opinion, and not everyone is going to like the same book. Try as you might, there's going to be something in your book that just doesn't jive with a reader. Sorry, but it's true. I say this because I surf Amazon looking for free Kindle books (I don't buy a book until I've read one by the author before, and liked it), and sometimes the reviews just blow me away. Usually, I don't read too many of the five star reviews because they tell too much about the storyline. I want to be surprised. I don't want to know the ending until I've read it for myself.

It's the bad reviews that catch my eye and intrigue me. Some of them are so brutal, I find myself wanting to read the book just to see if its as bad as they say it is. Most of the time it isn't. For example, I just read a short story that was clobbered by readers who said it was weak, had typos and poor grammar, and ended too abruptly. *They didn't realize it was a short story. Yet, I thought the story was very good, and I didn't find any problems with the grammar or any typos. I even wanted to read more by the author, so what does that tell you? My opinion verses others. Who's right?

And then there are books with rave reviews that I just can't get through. I start reading and find myself shaking my head. What was this author thinking, and who in their right mind would love a book such as this? See what I mean? It wasn't my kind of book, but I'm not going to write a bad review just because I didn't care for it. Others loved it. Why make an author's job harder than it already is?

No writer wants to get a bad review, but let's face it, it's going to happen. You're going to get slammed, beat up, and dragged through the mud, taunted as the worst writer in the world. But don't let it get you down. *Remember what I said in my first paragraph. When I got a review that said "Ick" I thought I was going to die. I was in a blue funk for days, but I got over it when I noticed a jump in my sales. See, sometimes a bad review might not be so bad. But, if everyone complains that your book wasn't edited and was laden with typos and poor grammar, do something about it. That's the one thing you can do to improve your reviews. Fix the problem.

Can't afford an editor, you say? That's bunk. There's more than one way to skin a cat as they say. With my first book, I hired a proofreader and thought everything was okay. It wasn't. Why? Because the proofreader wasn't as good as I thought she was... and I paid her $200. That taught me a very valuable lesson—but once it goes to physical print, it's too late—so... I came up with an idea and it's worked pretty well for me. I have five FREE proofreaders, and between them all, they find almost all of my mistakes. Of course, nobody's perfect, so a few might slip by. Ask someone to read your manuscript and tell them you'll give them credit for their help in your acknowledgements (but don't rely on just one person, ask a couple of people to help you out). You'd be surprised at how many people would love to do this for you. We all like to see our name in print, don't we? Sift through your proofreaders to see who can find the errors and who can't, and then weed them out.

Also, keep in mind that people will read your book, but won't post a review. That happens a lot. People just don't take the time to do it. They think it isn't important, or they don't know how to do it. Crazy, you say? You'd be surprised at how many times people have told me they didn't know how to post a review. I try to explain it to them, but they still don't do it. But that's okay, because word-of-mouth is worth its weight in gold. As long as they're talking about your book, others are listening.

Also, take note. Kindle readers are fickle. Since they have the opportunity to grab as many books for free as they want, they don't give you but two seconds to amaze them with your writing (and let's face it, it's hard to knock it out of the ballpark in the first paragraph), whereas, readers who purchase the physical book (after giving it a thorough examination) will savor the feel, examine the cover, and languish the thought of a good read. I'm not knocking Kindle readers—I'm just saying they're impatient. They might read half a book, get to where something happens they don't like, and then it's over. They hit delete and you're done. Any chance of a good review just went south. I say, if they can do better, let them write the book, but that's just me being me.

But I digress. What I'm trying to say is, take reviews for what they are—they're just the opinion of others... but not the opinion of all your readers. The best way to get an honest review of your book is to have a book reviewer read it (make sure the reviewer is one who reads your type of book), and then learn from it. Good luck and here's wishing you good reviews. It'll make your day, and you deserve it. Be tough and let the bad reviews roll off your back. Don't let them drag you down. Keep on writing!

P.S. I added the image of yellow daylilies to cheer you up. Did it work?

Book Reviews

Here's my take on the books I've read on Kindle so far:

Perfect Crime by Jack Erickson *****5 Stars

Aug. 2012

Title: Great short story!

First, let me say I don’t know Jack Erickson, I’m not related to him, nor have I been asked to give him a good review. He earned the five stars I gave him. His short story was tight and well written. Typos, grammatical errors—where? Normally, I don’t miss bad grammar and typos, so if there were any, I was too busy enjoying the story to notice. It takes a good writer to capture your imagination, and Jack Erickson did it for me. His style is unique and kept me glued to the storyline. Not only that, but at the end I was treated to a preview of two other short stories I can’t wait to read. There’s so much trash out there, it was really refreshing to read something worthy of five stars. Way to go, Jack! I’ll be back for more.

She’s Gotta Be Mine by Jennifer Skully

Title: Delightful Aug. 2012 ****4 Stars

I gave this book 4 stars because some of it was too unbelievable even for fiction. A woman who lusts after a serial killer, tries to help her husband find his high school sweetheart, and talks about how good she looks but doesn't feel it? That's poo. But it was so well written and kept me so interested, I had to give the author credit for that. The sex scenes were more than I care to read about, but even those were well written. I can't put my finger on it, but there was something about this book that makes me want to read more of Jennifer Skully's works. I would've given it 5 stars if the main character had been chasing after a mechanic or a doctor, anyone other than a serial killer, and if she had been helping her husband find a long lost friend, not an old girlfriend... but then we would've missed the animosity between said girlfriend and Roberta (Bobbie). Ah, Roberta (Bobbie), that was a little confusing. Still, the book is a good read. I won't be a spoiler, so I'll just say the ending was a (good) surprise. Kudos, Jennifer Skully!

Mile Marker 148 By Jess Butcher *****5 stars

Title: Loved it! 

I didn't read the previous review (spoiler alert) before I downloaded the book, and was glad I hadn't. When I realized the book was told through the eyes of a dog, I was impressed. I can tell you that now, since I see it's already been revealed that a dog was telling the tale. At the beginning when I read the part about "noisily licking my testicles" I went, Whoa...what? I had to continue. I'd never read anything like this. What a terrific concept. A dog telling about his experiences at Mile Marker 148. It was well-written, fun, and entertaining! Five stars for this short story. Thanks Jess Butcher!

Already Home by Vicky Lewis Thompson (Sons of Chance) ****4 Stars

Title: A good, short story. 

After reading the reviews on this short story, I had to read it because of all the complaints about it being rushed, etc. Of course it was rushed, it's a short story! People, start checking the page count! Then you'll know what you're getting. Already Home was a good read. Short and sweet---A tale about two people (Hutch and Trina) who have been hot for each other for some time, and when they get a chance to reunite, the sparks fly. The characters are likable and I couldn't wait to see how it was going to end. I wasn't disappointed. One star? No way. I've read full-length books that weren't as good as this short story. It was well-written with proper grammar, and I didn't find one typo. Give the author a break. It was a short story, for Pete's sake! Entertaining! Four stars!

Midnight Sun by M.J. Fredrick May 2012 **** 4 stars

Title: My first MJ Fredrick book.   

I spent Mother's day reading this book because I just couldn't put it down. I could've done without the intense sex scenes, but otherwise, I loved the book. Her writing reminds me of Sandra Brown. Will be looking forward to reading another one of MJ Fredrick's books.

Land of the Noonday Sun by Carmen DeSousa Aug. 2012

Title: Land of the Noonday Sun *****5 Stars

Land of the Noonday Sun is not the type of book I normally read, but I decided to give it a try after meeting the author on Twitter. And, I’m glad I did. It was a well-written, lovely Christian based/romance/suspense novel with interesting characters and a storyline that comes to a feel-good, dramatic conclusion. Good for you, Carmen DeSousa! Five stars!

NOTE: I failed to mention in my review on Kindle this is a YA book. If you don't like young adult novels this book isn't for you. 

Visit Noon Whistle Pottery

If you're planning a visit to my neck of the woods in Virginia, be sure to stop at Noon Whistle Pottery on Main Street in Stanardsville. You'll be so glad you did. The shop is owned and operated by John and Holly, and has some of the most amazing stuff for sale, items you won't find anywhere else. I love this place. I'm always telling folks to stop by and check it out. A travelers paradise for those who love quaint little shops offering homemade crafts, pottery, paintings by local artists, and of course, my books.  

John makes gargoyles out of clay like you've never seen, and Holly crafts some of the prettiest dinnerware I've come across. Homemade handbags, jewelry, and so much more are offered there, too. Visit their website and see for yourself. http://www.noonwhistlepottery.com Enjoy your visit, and tell them Ann sent you!

Donkeys—Are You Hungry?

Tom and I knew very little about donkeys when we bought them. We just thought they were cool and would be fun to have as pets. We didn't know what they ate or how to take care of them, but we figured we could learn just like we did with our chickens. And learn we did. We now know they eat and poop all day long. That's what they do. ALL DAY LONG! And they don't eat normal stuff like meat and potatoes. They eat grass, branches, twigs, hay, and tree bark. I'm sure there's probably more to add to the list, but for now, that's all we know about. Both Donkey and Sable have tried to nibble on my jeans, but I guess they don't have much interest in material things (pardon the pun), because they didn't strip the clothes off my back like they did the bark on the trees. Notice the tree in the picture (which used to be a healthy plum tree full of leaves and branches) has been stripped clean of bark all the way up as far as the donkey's teeth could reach. Note: The rest of the trees in the corral look the same way.

Because of their fondness for wood, they must have decided that the chicken coop looked like dessert, so they helped themselves to the trim. Fortunately, we nipped that in the bud before they could do real damage. We put up a separate fence just to keep them out of the coop. Sable is not happy about that. Donkey doesn't care—he's got me to nibble on.

Will they eat the fence? We'll just have to wait and see.

*Chairs in the chicken coop? The chickens needed a place where they could sit back and laugh at the donkeys.

Pedicures for Donkeys

Donkey and Sable were treated to a pedicure this past Saturday. I don't know what else to call it. They had their hooves cleaned, clipped, and filed, so to me, they had a pedicure. I'm not saying they enjoyed the procedure, but they sure felt better afterward. Sable was prancing around, and Donkey had a big smile on his face. Perhaps they were just glad it was over. Andy & Cody (farriers/Value Shod 540-718-1503 Madison, VA) handled them beautifully. Even though the guys were gentle and friendly, the donkeys knew who they were. They saw `em coming and took off. Once Andy & Cody finally captured them, it was a breeze. The only thing missing was the nail polish. What? No nail polish for donkeys? Oh well... I guess that means no bows either.

The man in the camo pants is my husband, Tom, and you can tell by the smile on his face that he thought pedicures for donkeys was pretty cool. I do, too. What about you?

Helping Others Don't Cost a Thing

Just wanted to give a shoutout to Donald Breeden, owner of Don's, Aroda, VA. Don buys, sells, and trades all kinds of stuff. Need a new car part? House doors? Give him a call 540-718-7089 or email donsdoors1@comcast.net Here's to one neighbor helping another.

Pull Up Your Pants

A new widget has just been added to my site so you can click and follow my Tweeter Updates, and thank you in advance for doing so. But I'm sure you've seen it by now (it's on the right sidebar), so while I'm doling out useless drivel, let me also say there ought to be a law against young guys dragging their pants around by their knees. Stop it! It's not a fashion statement anymore. Nobody wants to see your underwear, and by all means, not your butt. Pull up your pants, put on a belt, or better yet, buy/steal the right size. Steal, you ask? That's right. When you dress like that, what do you expect people to think? Folks see you in a different way. And, it's not good. So, do us all a favor and pull up your pants, or stay home! No hate mail please. Just saying...

Folks, what do you think?

Donkey Update

Sable and Donkey are adjusting to their new home. Sable looks bored, but Donkey loves to play... and scratch. Here is a short video of Donkey doing his thing.

Just Call Me Farm Girl

Our two donkeys were delivered Monday, and boy have we been busy. We purchased the donkeys from Carlyle Weaver (Madison, VA 540-718-1200) and found out that a lot of the stuff we were told about donkeys wasn't true. A rope fence will not keep them in. Mr. Weaver laughed good-heartily when he saw our setup. We have a stable, but the fencing wasn't finished and we had roped off sections of it. He said the donkeys would just walk right through it. Fortunately, we have a large dog pen that we could keep them in temporarily. He unloaded the donkeys into the dog pen, and now Tom is working diligently to get the rest of the fence up. Note: We used our pickup truck to block off one area. Love those donkeys! They're so adorable and friendly. So, if you're looking to purchase a donkey (and I'm sure he also has horses—I'll get to see for myself Thursday), he's the man to see. He's honest, his prices are very reasonable, and he cares about his animals. He called us the next day to see how the donkeys were doing. Tom and I used to be city folks, so I'm sure he probably thought the donkeys had gotten away from us. He was glad to hear all was well.

The dark brown donkey is female (a Jenny) named, Sable. The tan donkey is male (a Jack) named, Donkey.

If you have the space, donkeys make good pets. Once they get to know you, they'll come right up to you every time they see you. And, if you don't take a minute to speak or pet them, they'll nudge you and let you know they want attention.

Give Carlyle Weaver a call (540-718-1200) and you too can enjoy the love of a donkey.

Heat Too Much For You?

It's hot here in Virginia! I can't remember when the temperature has ever been in the 100's for so many days. The plants are wilting, the grass is dying out from lack of rain, and folks are staying inside. So what can you do when you don't want to go outside and brave the stifling heat? Like they say... "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." In this case, grab your Kindle and sit down with a good book and enjoy the air conditioning. South River Incident, the 2nd in the Jesse Watson Mystery series will be FREE on Kindle, August 1, Wednesday. Don't miss out. Get your copy and follow Jesse and Billy as they venture into dangerous territory... again. You'll be glad you did!

Explosion Felt Around the World

It wasn’t a bomb. It wasn’t a ruptured gas main. It was the explosion of the eReader. Taking the market by storm, the eReader is a device that is fast becoming the way of the future, almost guaranteeing the demise of bricks and mortar bookstores. Kindle (the leading eReader) and NOOK will change the way you read books forever.

Gone will be the days of being able to hold your book in your hands and sitting back for a relaxing read. You won’t be able to touch the pages, smell the book, and when you’re finished reading it, place it on the shelf with the rest of your collection.

Instead, you’ll be reading from an eReader—if you aren’t already. They’re small, easy to use, and the books are cheap. The eReader allows you to download and store hundreds of books, making it possible for you to carry your entire collection with you wherever you go. It’s lightweight and compact, so it’ll fit almost anywhere.

Need large print, you say? Got you covered. Select Font Size and change the size of the words. You’ll no longer have to buy the more expensive large print version of a book to be able to read the words. Afraid your eyes will get tired like they do when you read from a computer screen? Nope. They’ve added a non-glare feature, and some even have a night light for reading in the dark. They’re thought of everything. And if you don’t actually have a Kindle or a NOOK, you can download an app to your PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry, and any Android-based devices. So now you can read a book on your cell phone! How cool is that? It’s so easy.

Think you can’t afford an eReader? Let’s talk about cost verses quantity/quality. That’s a no-brainer! A Kindle can be purchased for as little as $79, and then you can download free books all day long. A book in physical form averages $24.95 for hardcover editions. 3 books @ $24.95= $74.85. For a few dollars more, you could’ve bought a Kindle and download some of those same books for $0.99. On the average, most books on Kindle sell for $2.99. Now, that’s saving money! Cheap reads with the same quality as a printed book.  

With all this new technology, how can anyone expect the printed word in physical book form to survive? They can’t, and it won’t. I’m sorry to say, but that day is fading fast. Trade Publishers, printers, and those who work in the book publishing industry are already feeling the pinch. Publishers are taking on fewer and fewer new authors, relying on the more well-known and bestselling ones to keep them afloat. They can’t take the risk of publishing an unknown author in a market so weak.

Printing companies who once required a minimum of a 100,000 copy print run have now lowered their minimum to as few as 500 copies. There’s little profit for book printers in amounts that small, but it’s better than the alternative. Any money is better than nothing. Lowering their minimum amount has been a plus for self-publishers and independent publishers, but even those publishers are giving up on the printed book and making the leap to publishing on the internet. It cost little to nothing to publish on Amazon’s Kindle or B&N’s NOOK, and by going this route, it eliminates storing and shipping of books. It’s all done wireless.

If you think I’m just trying to plug the eReader over the printed book, I’m not. I publish my books in print form because I, too, love to hold a book in my hands. But things change, and we have to change with them. Actually, we’re not given much choice. Think about the 8-track tapes. Yeah, the 8-track tapes. I don’t need to tell you how far we’ve come since then in how we listen to our music. I guess progress always wins out, and that’s not a bad thing, is it?

So, if you don’t have an eReader of some sort, you might as well break down and buy one. Modern technology has taken over, and we’re leaving the printed book on the side of the road.

Farewell my old friend.

Your humble book lover,

Ann Mullen

Donkey Stable

Building a stable for the donkey we're getting in July.

Please Post a Review!

Have you bought a book on Kindle or NOOK that you just love and think others would enjoy and benefit from reading? Why not tell everyone? Whether you buy, borrow, or download a book for free, you have the option of sharing your opinion with the world. Reviews can be helpful to those who are having a hard time choosing which book to read, so please take the time to post a review. It gets your voice out there and it can help others. Remember, your review is just your opinion, but carries a lot weight. Make a writer's day. Post a review!



Surprises like this make my day! Tom you are the best. Gotta love a man who thinks ahead. Mine always does. Came home from shopping and caught him trying to arrange them in a vase. Hey, I can't do that very well, but he managed pretty nicely. Don't you think?

Come to Virginia

Virginia is for lovers, so they say. I say Virginia is for anyone who loves beautiful scenery, great historical places to visit, and shops that offer things you won't find anywhere else. On the top of my list of places to visit is the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, Massanutten Resort, the Tidewater area in Hampton Roads, and the fruit stands/gift shops on Rt. 29 and Rt. 33. That's just to name a few. There are so many wonderful attractions, I could go on forever. So, if you're looking for a great getaway, come to Virginia. Be sure to take a drive on the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. There's nothing like it! Bring your pet. We love animals! And, Sallie (in the photo) says, "Hello!"

Beware of Dog

A few weeks ago, my uncle, Henry Whitley, NW 9th Street, Boca Raton, Florida 33432 was walking the family dog on a leash on a public sidewalk in the 800 block of NW 2nd Avenue when he was attacked by a Pit Bull mix. Fortunately, Henry, 72, survived the unprovoked attack and will eventually recover from his physical injuries. The dog that attacked him has been released, determined to be OK, and is now back with the family. That’s right. THE DOG IS BACK IN THE AREA! Be careful and stay alert. This happened to Henry. It could happen to anyone. The dog owner told the police the dog had previously bitten someone else. How many attacks does it take to get a dangerous dog off the streets? If you have doubts about the validity of this incident, call the Boca Raton Police, and ask them about the attack. You have a right to be safe. Demand to know! If you don’t live in the area, but know someone who does, please warn them. I don’t want this to happen to someone else. It’s scary, and it’s not pretty. Pit Bull Hater? Not me. I love animals, just not the ones that attack. Unfortunately, Pit Bulls have lived up to their reputation as being dangerous dogs that attack. Help stop these senseless attacks. Protect yourself and the ones you love. Carry a gun… a big one.

Light Fixation

What is it with our fixation with lights? My husband, Tom, has this thing about the light switches being in their proper on/off position—which I find to be a little silly. Who cares?—while I believe that if you leave a room and you’re going to be gone for more than ten minutes, you should turn off the light. This thing about using more electricity turning lights on and off, rather than leaving them on, had to be something the electric company made up. I don’t believe that for a minute. How can you save money by keeping your house lit up? So, I go around turning off the lights, while Tom follows me checking on the switch position. I get a laugh out of this every time I think about it. Then, I found out his sister feels the same way about light switch positions as he does. She says it drives her nuts. And lo and behold, her husband is just the opposite. He’s like me. He obsesses about turning off the darn lights! He goes around turning off lights, and then she secretly does her backup check to make sure the switches are right. Did I tell you the light switch police do this in secret? Wait until Tom sees this light switch! I don't think the one in the middle is either off or on. Oops!

Yep, we all have something in common. How about you? Do you have a light fixation? If so, I would love to hear your story. I can always use a good laugh. Post it on my blog or email me at aftonridge@aol.com  Enjoy your day! Ann Mullen

And the Winner is...

And the winner of the 1st book, What You See, in the 7 book Jesse Watson Mystery series is Della Morris! She correctly answered a question posted on Facebook. Congrats Della. Della is a member of the Greene County Rescue Squad in Stanardsville, Virginia. She told me she was not into reading until she came across one of my books. Now she's hooked, and I'm so glad she is! Thanks, Della!

Thirty-four years and counting. Tom is my soul mate. He inspires me, challenges me, supports me, and makes my life a happy one. Here's a big hug for the man who has made me a better person. I love you, Tom Mullen!

Spice Cat is so happy that my books are on Kindle and NOOK. Now... I have more time for him... and he always wants a lot of my time. It's not enough to be the kitty cat in my books; he wants it all! Cat lovers—you know what I'm talking about. We love our critters!

Kindle Users

Now available on Kindle!

Click on title:

What You See

South River Incident

A Crying Shame

Middle River Murders

Greene County Killer

Death on the Bella Constance

All About the Money

To get a new signed personalized hardcopy of one of my books ($24.95 each or check the package deal) go to my web site: http://www.aftonridge.com/.

What I do for fun.

Raising chickens is fun. Everyone needs something. The small grey chicken that's eating kale from Tom's hand lays blue eggs. Honest. When we were told about the blue eggs, I had my doubts. I've heard of green eggs, but I've never seen one. Blue eggs? Now that's a new one on me.

Look at Sally. She, too, was thrilled to hear the news, but all she had to say was, "Show me the money! I want a new chew toy!" 
Note: Sally is my son's new puppy. Normally, she's a spitfire, but I think I bored her with talk about my books. All she wants is a bone.

All About the Money video

I'm trying out the updated version of blogspot. Let's see how well it works.

Black Bear. I'm going to call him Max. He's my new friend. He must be. He keeps coming back to visit. We're not really close. At least he weighs a lot more than I do. You go, Max!

Mullen takes the 50’s road to a new career Alex Carrier, Journalist
    When Ann Mullen retired in her early 50’s, she hadn’t quite decided on which road to take in her new life. She and her husband had already spent summers and vacations building their dream home in Greene County, VA. Their children were adults and her husband had moved his work to their new location.
    “I often think about the different paths we take,” says Mullen, “and all the little life-changing side streets along the way. I look at how different people’s lives are in comparison to each other and wonder what paths they must have taken to reach this point.”
    Although writing was a completely different career path for Mullen, it shared some similarities with her first. Mullen used her degree in machine technology to work in the engineering center of Phillip Morris. Her job included rebuilding machines to make them work better, faster and meet the demands of the consumer. Now, she builds stories and works to make the characters, location and plot mesh together, and lead to a conclusion that satisfies her readers’ demands.
    Mullen had never thought of becoming a writer before moving to Greene County. “I don’t know what sparked the idea of becoming a writer,” says Mullen. “In college, it was all I could do to write a short story for a class. It once took me two days to write a letter to the editor.”
    “When we moved here, I wanted the freedom of not needing to work,” she admits. “But I look back and wonder what would have happened if I had never set down that first day and starting writing that first book.” That first book, What You See, became just one in a series following the life and relationships of Mullen’s main character, a fictional female detective named Jesse Watson. All About the Money, the seventh novel in the series, was released in June of this year.
    “My stories are not about real people but they are based in Greene County,” Mullen stresses. “In my sixth book, some of the characters go on a cruise, but the story still comes back to something local. The characters come from Greene, Charlottesville and Central Virginia.”
    It is Mullen’s characters as much as the Greene County location that keeps readers coming back for each new addition to the series.
    “The series is just a long story about characters developing relationships. People are introduced. Some stay and some go,” explains Mullen. “In each book I try to introduce a few good characters that readers will really like and not forget. I have developed a whole population I can pick from and add to.”
    “Each book is just another chapter of the story, and just like life, I keep adding on. I don’t see a time when this series will end, but I do see a time when I might go on to another set of characters and write two or three books, and then merge both series in some future event. We’ll see.”
     Like the books she plans to combine someday, Mullen found herself merging her new career as an author with an additional career as an independent publisher. “I just set down and started writing, and had no idea of what I needed to do—what really happened after the writing,” admits Mullen. “Getting the book published turned out to be as much a job as writing the book itself.”
    In the end, Mullen started her own publishing company. Although the plan has proved successful, it has not been without its own set of problems. “For me, it was a step by step process while walking blind,” she explains. “I didn’t know what I was doing. I made mistakes with my first book and it cost me money. But I learned a lot that helped me when I published my second book.”
    Seven years of experience, missteps and lessons learned as an independent publisher have led Mullen down an unexpected road in her journey.
    “For several years, people have been suggesting I do consulting so I could help others,” says Mullen. “Then I had a woman approach me about helping her publish her book, and the time seemed right.”
    “There are thousands of independent publishers,” states Mullen. “It’s not that hard to do if you know what to do, how to do it and how to avoid making mistakes that cost you money and don’t improve your product.”
    As a writer, publisher and now consultant; Ann Mullen is just one example of what many Baby Boomers are discovering themselves. The journey through life is filled with unexpected turns, side streets and new paths. For Mullen’s avid fans, they just enjoy the journey through mayhem, murder, mystery and, of course, Greene County.
    To find out more about Ann Mullen, go to her website at www.aftonridge.com where you can also read about the her characters and Greene County, get her books and even check out some of Mullen’s short stories.

*Ann pictured signing a book for one of her readers, Gloria, at Massanutten Resort.

Finally! My web site www.aftonridge.com has a new look. Check it out. It took a while, but I think everything is A-okay. Web design isn't for the sqeamish! If you find an error, please let me know at aftonridge@aol.com. Thanks! A new page will be going up soon. Watch for What's New? for details on my next book, All About the Money. Happy reading! Ann

It's that time of year!

Christmas is coming!

Thanks to all my readers for their support. I hope your holidays are happy ones spent with family and friends. Be safe, and keep your eyes on my web site for my new book, All About the Money, due out in the spring. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Warm Regards, Ann Mullen

~SAFE~

Safe (Services to Abused Families, Inc.) is there to help families, women and children who have been exposed to abuse. On Sept. 25, from 7-9 p.m. at the Prince Michel Winery in Madison County, Virginia, you can help SAFE protect those who are suffering. Come and participate in an evening filled with lots of good food and wine, silent and live auctions, and I will be there with other authors who will inform, hopefully entertain, and sign copies of our books. We want you to join us on the frontline to protect and defend families who need you. Visit www.friendsofsafe.com to buy tickets, or to give a donation. My husband, Tom will be there with me as always. Thank you for your support. Ann

~Cats and their funny ways~

I finally got Spice Cat to stop drinking out of the toilet, but now he has found his water source some place else. I guess I could lock all the bathroom doors. What's wrong with his own water bowl?

Don't have a snow plow? Make one of your own!

Introducing the Pallet Plow!

This is how Tom and I handled the snow. Friday, Feb. 4th, we got another snowfall (17 inches) the 4th one since Christmas. I, (the inventor in the family), came up with the idea of tying two pallets together and then draging it around the driveway and yard. And it worked! I have to give Tom credit with the idea of adding two large, cut pieces of a tree that he had cut down a while back (but hadn't split yet). Adding the logs gave the two pallets the weight we needed to hold them down. Then, using a heavyduty rope, we tied the pallets to the back of our 4Runner SUV and started the drag. And... it worked like a champ! We thought our Pallet Plow might clog up behind the 4Runner, but it didn't. You'd be amazed at how well it worked! There is one drawback to the Pallet Plow--you can't back up. Ha... ha... laugh out loud!

~Speaking of which~

No, the pic you're looking at isn't the result of the melting snow we had a couple of weeks ago, but is the flood we had Monday, Jan. 25th. We woke up to flooded roads and impassable bridges. In this photo there's a road and a bridge under all that water. As my new friend, Margaret (who always looks at the possitive side of everything) would probably say, "Well, that's just part of living in the mountains!" We love it!

~~Ann's Advice~~

December 19th will be a day most of us will remember for some time to come. It started snowing on Friday and by Saturday we had eighteen inches of the white stuff on the ground. What a glorious sight! I loved it... even though it meant there would be no birthday dinner for our 28 year old son, and no traveling to Newport News to see our family. We would miss my mother's Christmas party. As a matter of fact we wouldn't be going anywhere for a while. But that was okay, because we were finally going to have a white Christmas! That kind of made everything all right. Excited? Yes, we were. My husband and I were like little children. We went out and played in the snow with our dogs as we watched the snow fall. We even mustered up the courage (and energy...at our age) to build a snowman! It was wonderful. Well, the snow hung around until I had gotten so used to it that I forgot how dangerous it could be. I had trudged through it, played in it, and even drove my 4Runner around the driveway—just for the fun of it. The fun ended the afternoon of December 30th when I slipped on the ice trying to get out of my monster-sized truck. If anyone had been watching, I'm sure they would've have laughed at the sight of me slipping, sliding, and then flopping out of my SUV. I know I would have--at first. But when I hit my head on the running board, and finally came to rest on the ground, it was no longer a laughing matter. I lay there for a few minutes trying to figure out if I were alive or dead... or just injured. Fortunately, I survived the incident. But not so many would be that lucky. Several days later, I read about a young man who had taken a spill on the ice, and then died the following day. More tales of falls soon surfaced, and that's when I realized how lucky I had been. Snow is beautiful, but it's also dangerous. No matter how invincible you think you are, you're no match for the ice underneath it. When you least expect it, you, too, could become a victim of nature's magic. So, what I'm trying to tell you is, don't let your guard down, and don't take chances. Dress appropiately for the weather. Shoes really matter. I was wearing snow boots when I fell, and later I thought about the few times I went out wearing tennis shoes. That was a recipe for disaster. Never, ever wear tennis shoes in the snow! Enjoy the snow, but most importantly, be safe!

Setting sail with author/publisher Ann Mullen

By Alex Carrier

    In an economy that is sending many Americans down the path toward creating their own businesses, Greene County resident Ann Mullen has a good head start –a 10 year head start. Since moving to Greene County with her husband and family in 1999, Mullen has lived a second career as both writer and publisher of her Jesse Watson mystery series.
    “I had never thought of being a writer until we made the move to Greene County,” admits Mullen who retired from her job in the engineering center at Phillip Morris before moving to Greene. “My husband started it by suggesting I write my dreams in a journal. Then I entered a short story contest and the book followed.”
    While Mullen enjoyed the process and got support from family and friends after finishing her first book, the publishing world was not as receptive.

    “Once I wrote my first book, I decided I wanted to have that book in my hand,” explains Mullen, “but all I got from mystery publishers was rejection. When you have exhausted all your avenues, most people just give up but some of us are headstrong and won’t give up.”
    Mullen credits much of her inspiration to become her own publisher to Dan Poynter's “Self-Publishing Manual.”
    “It was the best book to use as a guide,” says Mullen. “He explains everything you have to go through. After my experiences with publishers and hearing stories from other writers, I decided that if my only option was to use a vanity press or do it myself, I would do it myself. I would have complete control of everything.”
    “Once I made up my mind, I started my own company, paid my dues, paid my fees, and took all the other necessary steps to becoming a publisher,” explains Mullen. “You can’t win or lose if you don’t try.”
    Mullen tells other entrepreneurs her bottom line truth. “One of the problems with self-publishing is that all the money is going to come out of your pocket,” warns Mullen. “Expect to put out a hefty sum to pay others for the work they do so you can create a quality product. It’s all about the money – which is the title of my next book.”
    Mullen warns would-be writer/publishers to be willing to invest a lot of time as well. “It is a full-time job,” she admits. “You’re writing, dealing with proofreaders, layout, graphic designers, printers, marketing, and bookkeeping, while trying to keep your readers happy.”
    “It can be done,” stresses Mullen. “I have had my own form of success and a lot of that is because of my readers. They have gotten behind me and kept me in business.”
    Those readers/fans will be happy to know her sixth book “Death on the Bella Constance” is now in print. This time, her main characters take a cruise to Bermuda but, as in all good mysteries, the trip turns into a working vacation as bodies start piling up on this “cruise to die for”.

    Mullen invites anyone interested in self-publishing to contact her.

    “I had people who helped me through the process,” says Mullen. “I want to help others if I can.”

    Those wishing to contact Mullen or looking to purchase any of her books can do so online at http://www.aftonrige.com/ or by phone at 434-985-1957.

This article's first print was November 9, 2009 in the Greene County Record where you can read Alex Carrier's weekly column. To read other articles about Ann Mullen be sure to visit http://www.vgreene.com/.

All I wanted for Christmas was to have a white one, and boy did I get my wish! For three days I didn't see a car on the road where I live, nor did I venture out. Tom and I built a snowman, drank plenty of hot chocolate, and sat by the fire. What a wonderful time of the year! I hope everyone had a great holiday and will have a healthy and prosperous New Year!