Category: Happy Friday

Happy Friday

What every romance author wants to hear (and I heard it from an insurance agent)…

Elodie

There are words romance authors love to hear.

No… not those words. Well, at least, not in this case.

I shared in my newsletter today a pretty eventful day from a couple of days ago. For the full story, click here.

Here’s the very short version.

As I was looking to switch car insurances, the insurance agent (who was very friendly and knowledgeable) went through a list of questions to see if he could match the new offer.

At some point in the process, he asked “So what’s your job title?”

I replied, “Author.”

And he followed up with: “Oh, what do you write?”

“Romance novels.”

There was one of those long pauses… you know the type. The ones that could go in so many directions and thousands of answers flashed in my mind. 

Sometimes, let’s just say, romance novels are seen as “lesser-than.”

And his response caught me off guard.

He said…. are you ready for this?

“Oh wow, you’re spreading happiness around the world. That’s awesome.”

His words were just the pick-me-up I needed. And who knows, maybe his words will have the same effect on someone else. After all, a little bit of happiness can go a long way…

And whatever you’re doing, you might be spreading a bit of happiness around you, too. 

And if you’re looking for your next romance novel: one-click #TheLeftoverBride (A Hallmark-worthy romance with a little extra steam) and start reading now…

Or pre-order #SweetsForLove and make this romance author even happier. :-)

Check out my other books and audiobooks, too… 🙂

Thank you so much for reading!

Follow me on Instagram – Bookbub – Facebook – Twitter – Goodreads – TikTok

PS: If you’re interested in self-publishing, I have a podcast. 🙂 Listen to the latest episodes of A Self-Published Author’s Diary…

Amazon Royalties Down, Kobo Royalties Up & a Spotify Wrapped Surprise – The Raccoon Author's Self-Publishing Diary

Well, I did a very raccoon thing this morning. 🦝Instead of recording the episode I'd planned, I created an entirely new Patreon for The Raccoon Author Diary. Because apparently, I needed another project. So, we're pivoting!This week, I'm sharing the ups and downs of my self-publishing week: an invitation to record a Spotify Wrapped video, September royalties that are down overall but UP on several retailers, a Kickstarter pre-launch page with four followers (including me and my husband), and the absolute joy of discovering that someone borrowed my Sweets For Love audiobook from a library!Plus, some writing updates, social media adventures, and a reminder to actually breathe while working. Apparently, I sometimes forget.What about you? What's one up or one down from your writing week?Happy writing and happy, happy reading!🦝 LINKS MENTIONEDNew Raccoon Author Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/cw/theraccoonauthorCancer Is Not My Brand Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1903722368/cancer-is-not-my-brand-and-yet?ref=aoo2q1Vanessa Vale's Box Method class: Thrifty Tips For Authors | Facebook# Sweets For Love audiobook: https://books2read.com/sweetsforlove/Contact me: hello AT TheRaccoonAuthor.com or Elodie@elodienow.comWebsite: https://www.elodienowodazkij.com
  1. Amazon Royalties Down, Kobo Royalties Up & a Spotify Wrapped Surprise
  2. Numbers episode: My first month with Instagram Trial Reels (not posting consistently)
  3. Raccoon Author Snack: But what if it works?
  4. Writing and Why and Working Through Things
  5. Dear Raccoon Author Diary: The Venice Edition or an author on holidays…
Happy Friday

Happy Friday – The “I finished my manuscript” edition…

Elodie

Happy Friday

I am back for Happy Friday. It’s been quite a long time since my last “Happy Friday” post but I thought it was time to bring it back to my blog.

Here are five reasons why I smiled this past week:

I finished revising Always Second Best. And sent it off.

I did. And I’m super nervous about it but also oh so happy that this little manuscript is now in the capable hands of Riley Edgewood.

Oh and I’m revealing the cover of Always Second Best on Tuesday. You can sign up here:

***

I got a bad review.

Why is that making me smile? Because of the awesome support I receive when I do. I don’t always check but sometimes I can’t help it. And no I do not engage but…I do reach out to my support system And I had to smile because my husband quoted Taylor Swift. (which is the same reaction I got from a lovely friend). Being in any business is tough. And having people understanding you and cheering you on really is priceless. And a reason to smile.

***

The enthusiasm from my FB group about Always Second Best

Knowing readers are excited to read this novel is an amazing feeling. Thank you! Crossing my fingers I don’t disappoint anyone.

***

Seeing the pictures of our nieces and nephew going back to school

Living far from home isn’t always easy so I’m definitely grateful to technology on that one. Getting to see them go off to school on their first day back was great!

  ***

Going back to jog with the hubby.

Goig back to run

It had been more than a month. And it was hard but definitely felt pretty good. Plus, even though, I sometimes complain, I do love jogging with my husband. (yes, husband of mine, if you’re reading this, I will admit to it now, but don’t use that against me when you’re pushing me to do intervals and I’m not a happy camper).

***

Tell me, what made you smile this week? 🙂

Happy Friday

Happy Friday – Can’t stop smiling

Elodie

Yay, it´s time for Happy Friday 😀 I know, I know, it’s been FOREVER…

Looking forward to know what made you smile this week!

What made me smile this week?

…I finished incorporating the comments and changes from my wonderful copy editors (Double Vision Editorial). And I re-read the entire book again to make sure it was e-ARC and paperback ARC ready. And it is!

…so I sent my book to my formatter (Catilin Greer) today. I should have the e-ARC ready on Tuesday…can you believe it?

….and I shared my ENTIRE first chapter on my blog (you can still read it here).

…and last week my hubby ran his first half-marathon. So proud of him.

10256958_10102667737040438_4107902395949527927_n

…and I got to spend time with my parents, my hubby and my MIL.

….and YA Highway featured little me on their website in their Field Trip Friday last week.  Still cannot believe it. That’s what they wrote: “Love a book but don’t know how to promote it? Elodie Nowodazkij has a guide to helping your favorite authors.”

…and I’m going to put up ONE TWO THREE on NetGalley for a month in June (if everything works out)

…and I did an exclusive giveaway for my newsletter subscribers, sharing an avant-première of Chapter 2 (see below and don’t hesitate to share it :-))

…and…and…I’m just happy.

So, tell me what made you smile this week?

Happy Friday, personal, writing

Happy Friday #38 – The return of Happy Friday…

Elodie

I know I know it´s been FOREVER since my last Happy Friday post. My last Happy Friday post was on January 18th. WOW! But Happy Friday is back 😀 My goal is to have one Happy Friday per month at least because let´s face it, there´s always plenty to smile about on a Friday and it´s always nice to look for the good things that happened during a week.  Looking forward to know what made you smile this week! 

Over on YA Confidential: The Teen Spies of YA Confidential critique my first page of GUILTY and I´m very very grateful for their feedback! Not only are their comments SUPER helpful, it´s simply great to have the views of my target audience 🙂  (even though it´s also super duper nerve-wracking).

Vacation: I´m on on holidays since Wednesday evening and we landed safely in Washington DC yesterday. We´re now back in our Maryland home. It´s funny how being back feels normal. We have our marks, our spots, our friends and the ones we consider as close as family. We´re looking forward to catch up and just hang out. (and going to Target, yes I confess, I am a Target addict)

Reading: I finished beta reading a wonderful YA contemporary this week (by the lovely Katy Upperman). You guys, this is another manuscript that really touched me and got me by the heart. Plus, the male main character is a mix of Etienne St Clair and Jonah Griggs…and adds his own layers to the batter making him really a great character to know. The entire cast reminded me a bit of MY LIFE NEXT DOOR. Crossing my fingers it gets picked up soon so you get to read it too!

Movies: A long plane ride overseas means I get to watch plenty of movies. And I finally got to see LES MISERABLES! I´m officially in love with that movie. I don´t know how many times I had to wipe my tears…or how many times I was simply in awe of the way the emotions really came through both the acting and the singing. Loved it! And while watching, I couldn´t stop thinking about another MS I had the honor to beta read (the Star Wars/Les Miserables mashup by Alex Brown) 🙂

So, tell me what made you smile this week?

Happy Friday, writing

Happy Friday #31 – Cupid´s Literary Connection BSD, the journey and YOU <3

Elodie


Yay, it´s time for Happy Friday 😀 Looking forward to know what made you smile this week!

One of my words for 2013 is “appreciate”  and looking back at what happened this week, I want to sit back and truly appreciate the journey. You all made me feel so happy and cheered on and simply just wonderful about my writing and my dreams!

At the beginning of the week, I talked about contests and entering Cupid’s Literary Connection Blind Speed Dating Contest and….I made it into the agents’ round! I’m so grateful also to those organizing these contests because it must eat up so much of their time!

Getting the words “you’re in” on my entry  in itself is AMAZING and definitely made me grin so much my face hurt! But…the journey to get there, both the writing of ONE TWO THREE and the input it received over the months by some truly wonderful people and the journey into the contest are things I need to sit back and appreciate. I know it’s not the end of the journey, it’s actually still the beginning…And maybe no agents will fall in love enough with this story to offer rep. But…I WILL enjoy the journey, I WILL pause and smile and think how lucky I am to have you all in my corner…(including my dear husband who gets used of waking up to me checking my emails, turning to him and saying “OMG, I can’t believe!)

Writing this post is making me smile …Anyways….let me tell you a story in Twitter format.

Before the contest

CLCBSD The before story

While I was sleeping

CLCBSD - the sleeping story

And when I woke up

CLCBSD

And then…. 

CLCBSD After

(I probably missed some but know that all of your messages, comments and tweets really touched me!)

And Kip even wrote a blog post about it…. 

Thank you! Thank you so much for your encouraging words and your support and simply for understanding what it means to have this crazy dream!

Something else that made me smile is seeing Rebecca’s book “When Audrey met Alice” on Goodreads.com…it sounds amazing and I’m so happy for her!!!!

So, tell me, what made YOU smile this week?

Happy Friday, revising, writing

Happy Friday #30 – Getting lost in good books and revising…

Elodie

Yay, it´s time for Happy Friday 😀 Looking forward to know what made you smile this week!

So I’ve been quite the bad blogger lately. I still need to put up my list of Debuts I’m going to read this year for the Debut Author Challenge. I haven’t done any Road Trip Wednesday and I haven’t been responding to recent comments. Though I read them and love them and am very thankful for them! So what have I been doing? Well first work started again which means less time.

But really, I have been doing this *little* think called REVISING…waking up early on weekends to work on ONE TWO THREE, making my characters even more fleshed out, giving them more meaning and also more to struggle with.  I think it’s going in the right direction even though I did have a moment last week where I wondered, where I doubt myself (but that’s for another post :-)). Right now, I am simply excited to get in the train this evening and turn on my laptop, to put my alarm clock early Saturday to revise before my husband gets up.

And I’m also very grateful for Dahlia. She really takes the time to help us, going far beyond to answer our questions and help us make our manuscripts shine for PitchWars. And I cannot wait to read my team’s manuscripts!

And when it comes to reading? This week I got lost into two wonderful books! Both YA contemporary. Both amazing. Both giving me all the feelings. I will review them properly closer to their publication date but just know they both made me SMILE 😀

IF YOU FIND ME

IF YOU FIND ME, by Emily Murdoch

Publication date: March 26th, 2013

THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN’T LEAVE BEHIND …

A broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen-year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and the girls are found by their father, a stranger, and taken to re-enter the “normal” life of school, clothes and boys.

Now, Carey must come to terms with the truth of why their mother spirited them away ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go … a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down.

DARE YOU TO

DARE YOU TO by Katie McGarry

Publication date: June 7th 2013

“I dare you…”

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk’s home life, they’d send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom’s freedom and her own happiness. That’s how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn’t want her and going to a school that doesn’t understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn’t get her, but does….

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can’t tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn’t be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won’t let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all….

So tell me what made you SMILE this week?

Happy Friday, personal, writing

Happy Friday #35: Sometimes words don´t seem to be enough…and reasons to smile.

Elodie

Writing my happy friday posts is always a way to remind myself that even if I thought the week sucked, there were still moments to make me smile. Last week, I scheduled my post and it went up before the tragedy in Connecticut.

On that day, I came home and cried my eyes out. I also teared up every time the story came on TV. Thinking about the lives lost, the little children, the teachers, the families, the community broke my heart.

Jess explained in her reading wrap-up of the week: I’ll be enjoying the holiday season, but I have a hunch the children and teachers of Sandy Hook won’t be far from my mind during any of it.

And I think that´s what´s important: remembering, keeping them in our mind and heart, and thinking of all the ways to prevent such a tragedy to happen yet again.

My dad told me once, after an event that still brings tears to my eyes. “Life goes on, we don´t think it will but it does.”   That accompanied  me for a long time. It doesn´t prevent the pain,  or the tears. It doesn´t prevent any of this, but the memories stay, and what we do with them is important. Everybody grieves in different manners, there are no right or wrong ways to do this.

And despite the overwhelming sadness I still feel for a lot of different things, including Newtown, I did smile, and laughed this week.

Life did go on.

That doesn´t mean I forget. Hug your loved one a bit closer, tell them you love them. Every moment counts.

Here´s my round-up of what made me smile this week.

Going to the Christmas Market with the hubby

Christmas Market with Hubby

Warm spicy wine, waffle, walking around the little houses…and simply spending time with my husband.

My new tree ornament

New Tree Ornament

Do you see how cute this ornament is? Well it´s not only beautiful, it´s perfect to represent my novel ONE TWO THREE. Thanks again, Jess for this wonderful gift! It´s really so thoughtful, and brings a smile to my face every single time I look at it. I´m very lucky, indeed!

Writing

I passed 5k on my new WiP! And I love my characters, and the story is unfolding in my mind quite nicely…Exciting. Plus getting back to writing is definitely fun!

A friend receiving good news!

Alex announces winning award

In case you missed it, she is one of the winners of the On-The-Verge Emerging voices award!!!! Her story is awesome…and I was lucky enough to read it. And Alex is made of wins! She´s really sweet and talented and fun. So, if you´re going to the SCBWI NY conference, and if you see her, make sure you go and congratulate her 😀 Oh, and on her blog, she reminds us of something important, take chances! I love the quote she uses from Eleanor Roosevelt  “Do one thing every day that scares you.“

A new blog to follow and enjoy…

Another of my lovely Litreactor classmate just started her blog. Come on, you know you want to check it out 😀

A wonderful blogfest organized by these amazing ladies: Katy, Tracey, Alison and Jessica

Class of 2012 Banner

It was lots of fun! Thanks again….oh and my TBR now has more than 230 books in it 😛

Now, please tell me what made you smile or laugh this week?

Happy Friday, reading

Happy Friday #34 – My hubby, my writer friends, PitchWars and other stories…

Elodie

Yay, it´s time for Happy Friday 😀 Looking forward to know what made you smile this week!

A lot of things to make me smile this week….So excuse this SUPER DUPER long post!

My husband is back!

Dear Hubby had to travel to Brazil (I know poor poor him) for 3 weeks for business. And he came back yesterday. Three weeks is long! I think I pretty much danced around for a few minutes and was totally like a kid on Christmas day…

My writer friends

 Really <3 them! Several of them received an email full of confusing thoughts and questions from me on Wednesday, and as always, I´m amazed at their support, their encouragement and just the fact that they “get” me. I really wish we could all hang out one day.

PitchWars!…

Alternate - PitchWars

See? See? I know, right!!! Being chosen as an alternate is amazing, and I met a lot of wonderful people through this contest. Plus I received interesting feedback, which I now need to reflect on before deciding on my next move. On top of that…the alternates will also get some exposure. Our pitches will be online as well, and even though the agents don´t have to check them out, it´s still exciting. And? Have you seen who´s teamed up with the wonderful Dahlia? The lovely GHENET 😀 😀 😀 Again, congrats!!! So happy for you!

Reading

GILT

GILT…Kip reviewed that book not too long ago, and I´ve been wanting to read a historical YA for awhile now. I picked it up and WOW, I loved it! I might even do a proper review at some point soon.Really, I fell for the characters, the setting was vivid, and the story itself breathtaking!

Happy for Juliana: Have you seen that Juliana´s novella  Her Heart´s Secret Wish was released on Wednesday? No?  Do you want to read something cute and steamy and perfect for the holidays? You should check out Juliana´s post about her first book here.

So, tell me, what made YOU smile this week?

Happy Friday, reading

Happy Friday #33 – I love other people’s good news :D

Elodie

Yay, it´s time for Happy Friday 😀 Looking forward to know what made you smile this week!

Another Friday, another super duper busy week…Can’t wait to go home today and to curl up with a good story. Here are a few things that made me smile this week….

Katy’s awesome news: Katy is wonderful. She’s a wonderful person, and a wonderful writer. If you love contemporary YA, or just lovely writing, you should check out the snippets she has on her blog. Her book recommendations are also very thoughtful and her taste is impeccable. Oh and Katy is also a great mom, great cook (you can salivate just looking at her food pictures), great runner,  a great friend.

And Katy just landed an agent. Her story is also so inspiring because she has just recently parted ways amicably with her former agent. She had to start querying again (while doing NaNo). She’s an example that talent, heart and dedication pay off. We all know it also takes a bit of luck. But without talent (and talent is a very complicated word but for me it’s the spark that one has and works on…with every book we write we get better), love for what you’re doing, and dedication, it’s much harder to get there!

If you haven’t done so yet, go congratulate her 🙂 (and I promise I’m not sounding bossy when I write this, I’m smiling :D)

Christa revealed the cover for Fault Line:  You know the type of woman Christa is? She’s super woman and she doesn’t know it. She’s simply kind, generous, funny, endearing, smart, witty. She sometimes says that what she does is nothing compared to what others do. But you know what Christa? As I already told you, you’re still a hero for all of those you touch!

And look at the cover of her book? Don’t you get the chills looking at it? That logline? Every single time I look at it, I have ALL THE FEELINGS! Can’t wait for it to come out, and trust me I’ll be buying a few copies to hand out to the teenagers in my life.

FAULTLINE

The blurb: Ben could date anyone he wants, but he only has eyes for the new girl — sarcastic free-spirit, Ani. Luckily for Ben, Ani wants him too. She’s everything Ben could ever imagine. Everything he could ever want. But that all changes after the party. The one Ben misses. The one Ani goes to alone. Now Ani isn’t the girl she used to be, and Ben can’t sort out the truth from the lies. What really happened, and who is to blame? Ben wants to help her, but she refuses to be helped. The more she pushes Ben away, the more he wonders if there’s anything he can do to save the girl he loves.

You can add the book to your TBR on Goodreads here…and you can also go tell Christa how amazing she is or just laugh out loud at her blog posts here.

Reading: I beta read a wonderful manuscript – again, I feel so lucky that others entrust me with their manuscripts (plus the talent in all the novels I read amazes me). I also just finished FLAT-OUT LOVE and started LOSING IT…And I stayed up way too late to read last night…which made me happy cause getting lost in a book is an amazing feeling.

And….I decorated my Christmas Tree….:D

Christmas Tree

So, tell me, what made you smile this week?

Happy Friday

Happy Friday #32 – Reading and purring…

Elodie

Yay, it´s time for Happy Friday 😀 Looking forward to know what made you smile this week!

So…November has been tough. And on top of everything going on, my husband is away. Luckily, when I come home I have a little (okay big) furry ball who makes me smile.

My cutie patoutie
My cutie patoutie

Plus, I get to read the manuscript of one of my classmates from Mandy’s online class. And it’s exciting 😀

Oh and this weekend, I’m totally decorating the apartment for Christmas…

So, tell me, what made YOU smile this week?