blog « Stacy Juba

Purchase ‘Play It Again’ Today and Receive Bonuses

Published on February 21, 2012 in General News. 0 Comments Tags: Amazon bestsellers, And the Beat Goes On, Play it again, rock and roll, Tracy Krauss.

Tracy Krauss, author of ‘edgy inspirational fiction’, is launching her book Play it Again on Feb. 21. You can help her achieve ‘best seller’ status by purchasing the book at amazon.com TODAY – and receive all kinds of cool free gifts while you’re at it!

Here’s how:
1. Go to the Landing Page on Tracy’s Website
2. Buy the book at Amazon.
3. Go back to the Landing Page and fill in the form with your name, email and purchase number
It’s that easy! You’ll be directed to your free gifts and all you have to do is choose which ones you want. Please note that the Amazon bestseller campaign is on Feb. 21 so that is the best day to purchase the book, and help Tracy increase her visibility on Amazon. However, since my blog is often distributed through Triberr up until a few days after a post’s publication date, Tracy will honor this offer for a limited time after the 21st.

About the book:
An unlikely duo meet in Play It Again, a story of love, life and faith. Sparks fly when an ex-rock and roll junkie and a stuffy accountant rendezvous at a local resort, but neither are prepared for the emotional entanglements, family complications, and threat from the past that unexpectedly resurfaces. Set in the 1980s, this story brings two opposing forces together in a clash of romance and danger, while its musical undertones highlight the theme that God can turn anything into beautiful music. Play It Again is the much anticipated prequel to Tracy’s debut novel And the Beat Goes On. Find out where Mark Graham’s journey began in this, the story of his parents.

What others are saying about Play It Again:
“This is one of the best contemporary novels I’ve read all year. . . Not only was it well-written, but it was edgy in that the story dared to be honest. . . I can see this touching a lot of people who have thought about God but have been afraid to move forward.”
- Michelle Sutton, author of more than a dozen inspirational novels
“This book is hot property, and grabs your interest from page one.”
- Yvonne Pat Wright, author of From Spice to Eternity

Author bio:
Tracy Krauss is a high school teacher by profession, and a prolific author, artist, playwright and director by choice. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Saskatchewan and has gone on to teach Art, Drama and English – all the things she is passionate about. After raising four children, she and her husband now reside in beautiful Tumbler Ridge, BC where she continues to pursue all of her creative interests. Her first two books were both nominated for the ‘Indie Excellence Book Awards’ for religious fiction in 2011.

FREE STUFF:
Here’s just a sampling of the FREE e-gifts from generous supporters:
- An e-copy of Lisa Lickel’s award winning novel Meander Scar
- Sample chapters from The Promise of Deer Run by Elaine Cooper, Warring Spirits by April Gardner, and The Right Person by Stacy Padula
- Beautiful downloadable art cards by author and artist Brenda Hendricks
- A free subscription to ‘PixApple’
- You copy of Frazzled No More by Shelley Hitz
- A cool ‘Daily Scheduler’ developed by author Janalyn Voigt
- And much more!
All if you buy your copy of Play It Again at Amazon.com on Feb. 21! All links will be operational on the ‘Landing Page’ at www.tracykrauss.com/

DISCLAIMER: This ‘Best Seller book launch’ has been coordinated with the help of the ‘John 3:16 Marketing Network’ and many other generous supporters. The free gifts are deliverable electronically over the internet or by email by individual authors and supporters. They are not in any way associated with, nor deliverable by, amazon.com

Disney’s Radio Rebel Teaches Teens & Tweens To Be Themselves

Published on February 18, 2012 in General News. 2 Comments Tags: Danielle Joseph, Dark Before Dawn, Debby Ryan, Disney Channel, Disney Channel movies, Radio Rebel, Shrinking Violet.

Last night, we watched a family movie on the Disney Channel called Radio Rebel. Can I just say that if I was still a tween or teen, this would have been one of my favorite movies? I would have watched it over and over again, the way I always did with my favorites back then. Starring Disney sweetheart Debby Ryan, the movie follows high school senior Tara, so shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class. But secretly, she has another identity as confident host of the Radio Rebel show — and to her own surprise, she’s a hit.

I loved how this movie encouraged kids to be themselves and take a chance, even if it means standing apart from their friends or going outside their comfort zone. I could even relate to it as an adult, as I’m soft-spoken and introverted when around others in my every-day life, however, confident and a risk-taker in my other role as an author. Since I write young adult books myself, I was interested to know that this movie was based on the book Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph, which I hope kids will check out.

I’m a sucker for underdog stories, and included similar themes in my YA novel Dark Before Dawn, appropriate for ages 12 and up. When teen psychic Dawn Christian gets involved with a fortuneteller mentor and two girls who share her mysterious talents, she finally belongs after years of being a misfit. When she learns her new friends may be tied to freak “accidents” in town, Dawn has an important choice to make – continue developing the talent that makes her special or challenge the only people who have ever accepted her. Like Tara in Radio Rebel, Dawn must learn to accept who she is, stand up for her beliefs and take some chances, as well as deal with bullies in the cool crowd.

If you have a tween or teen in the house, tell them to check out a re-run of Radio Rebel or to read Shrinking Violet. And if you think of it, also tell them about Dark Before Dawn. It can be hard not giving into peer pressure and finding your own inner power, and sometimes it’s inspiring to identify with a fictional character undergoing the same struggles.

12 Career Development Tips for 2012

Published on February 17, 2012 in General News. 0 Comments Tags: career development tips, job success, resume tips, setting career goals.

I’ve been setting a lot of career goals this year with regard to my writing and publishing career, and as a result, was interested in publishing this guest post highlighting 12 career development tips. Hope you find it helpful!

Perhaps you are thinking to yourself that 2012 will be the year that your career takes off and you plant your feet firmly into what will become your future. While this certainly may sound good to some, for others it is an idea that will not easily be obtained. If you are looking for a fresh career start, the following information may be helpful for you. Below are 12 career development tips for 2012 that will help you establish your career.

• Determine exactly what your career goals are and make a plan. Do you have a plan for meeting your career goals? You can’t expect to develop your career if you don’t have a plan for getting where you want to be. Begin by establishing a career plan or reviewing your excising career plan.
• Put your feet into action and carry out the plan. Once you know what your career goals are, hit the ground running to carry out the plan. You have to be willing to put in hard work to reach your goals. Are you willing to do what it takes to meet the plan?
• What does your resume say about you? Many times, your resume can make or break you when it comes to getting a job. Consider having a professional take a look at your resume. You want to “sell” yourself as the best possible applicant for the job.
• If you want a job, you have to apply. If you want to develop your career in 2012, you will have to apply for job. Don’t think that the career is going to land in your lap. Get out on the job field and search for the job that you want.
• Do you have enough experience? Employers will be looking for experience. Be sure that you can prove that you have experience in whatever job you are trying to get. The more experience you have, the more likely you are to get the job.
• Get rid of external barriers that may be hindering the development of your career. Developing your career may involve giving up a few things in your life for a short while. Perhaps there is a hobby you enjoy. Consider giving up your hobby in an effort to focus on career development.
• Establish a good working relationship with your employer. Once you get hired, be sure to develop the best possible relationship with your employer as you possibly can. This will definitely help in developing your career as he or she can be your mentor.
• Do your job! How well you do your job will make all the difference in whether or not you succeed in your chosen career. Do your job and do it well!
• Don’t call in sick or take off of work too much in the beginning. When developing your career, call in sick as little as possible. This will make your work ethic look good. It’s okay to have an emergency every now and then. Too many emergencies can make you look bad!
• Don’t bring your family life to work. It is crucial that you focus only on work in the beginning.
• Be willing to go over and beyond the call of duty when you first start out. To prove yourself, be willing to go the extra mile. This will speak highly of your work ethic and able fast track the development of your career.
• Don’t give up. It can seem like it takes forever to become established in your career. Give it some time. Don’t give up. If you fail, get back up and do it again. Eventually, you will wake up one day and realize that you have a great career and future ahead of you.
If you want your career to finally develop in 2012, using the tips above is a great place to start. Perhaps you need to make some changes so that you can be successful during the upcoming year. Consider reworking your resume or analyzing your career goals as a beginning. What changes will you be making to ensure that 2012 is the year your career finally takes off?

This article is contributed by 1001Shops, an online store of retail specialty products like nesting doll, contemporary wall clocks, etageres and lot more.

Join the Twitter Blast for $100 Amazon Gift Code

Published on February 14, 2012 in General News. 0 Comments Tags: Amazon giveaways, Twitter event.

Welcome to the next segment of the $100 Amazon Twitter Blast where you can win a $100 Amazon card provided by us to you. Take your time to fill out the form following the Twitter accounts as you go. As long as you have your Twitter name on one of the entry forms, you do not have to put it in all to make it easier for you to enter. Come back do them all, and you get a bonus entry! Are you a blogger that wants in on the fun? You can join in late here to this event, or you can sign up for the other ones combined in with this one at the same rate.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

$2.99 on #Kindle – Teddy Bear Town Children’s E-Book Bundle (3 Picture Books)

Published on February 11, 2012 in General News. Closed

I’m pleased to announce the release of The Teddy Bear Town Children’s E-Book Bundle (Three Complete Picture Books.) This is a fun $2.99 download for parents or grandparents who would like to share some books on their Kindle Fire or IPad with children 3-8.

It can also be viewed on non-color e-readers, but I’m the first to admit that it’s much more engaging to children when viewed in color. Here is the product description. Please share with anyone who might be interested!

Immerse your child in the sweet and gentle world of teddy bears with three complete picture books. Each of these bedtime stories is fully illustrated with simple and cheerful colored pencil illustrations of teddy bear families, giving the whimsical effect of a completed coloring book. Illustrations are geared toward color e-readers such as the Kindle Fire.

The following titles are featured in the bundle:

The Flag Keeper – Elizabeth may be a little bear, but she treats the American flag with big respect. After Dad leaves for a trip, Elizabeth pledges to raise the flag all by herself and follow all of the flag etiquette rules that her father has taught her. However, her dad never told her what to do if the flag gets dirty or the police show up. Teaches children about U.S. flag etiquette through a fiction story, flag facts, activity idea, and discussion questions. For ages 4-9. Due to the large illustrations in this book, there is an extra page before some pictures on the Kindle Keyboard. This book is also available in paperback.

Victoria Rose and the Big Bad Noise – Victoria loves her home and family, but boy does she hate the noises that invade her daily life. Her imagination transforms the blender into a growling bear, the vacuum cleaner into a lion and the lawnmower into a spaceship filled with monsters. With the help of a CD player, she decides that maybe a nasty noise like the blender is just music that doesn’t know how to sing. This sweet bedtime story can help young children learn that household noises aren’t so scary after all. For ages 3 and up.

Sticker Shoes – (Bonus book – only available in this bundle.) When Jenny gets a sticker stuck to her shoe, she has a new invention – Sticker Shoes! She covers her sneakers with shiny sparkling stickers and runs outside to try out her beautiful shoes. Unfortunately, Sticker Shoes aren’t meant for rough and tumble play in the dirt and her invention doesn’t last. Jenny makes her way through her closet, trying on old boots, dress-up shoes and slippers in her hunt for the perfect Sticker Shoe. Teaches young children about problem-solving and taking the first early “steps” toward independence. For ages 3 and up.

Free on Kindle! Download Sink or Swim Free Through Fri. Night

Published on February 8, 2012 in General News. Closed Tags: free ebooks, free Kindle books, Kindle bestsellers, Sink or swim.

If you haven’t read my mystery/romantic suspense novel Sink or Swim yet, now’s your chance! The book is free on Kindle until 11:59 p.m. on Fri., February 10. I was actually going to end the promotion on Thursday night, however the book has cracked the Top 100 Free List and I’m playing a hunch that I should let it go longer. It is literally time to sink or swim! Every download gives the book increased visibility on Amazon and brings it closer to surfacing on the Top 100 Paid list when it returns to its $2.99 price tag.

Personal trainer Cassidy Novak has gained fame for starring on a hit reality show, but not only does she lose, she discovers she is being stalked. She’s also being shadowed by Zach Gallagher, a hunky photographer assigned to capture her personal moments for the local newspaper.

As her former competitors get killed off one by one, Cassidy refuses to play by the stalker’s bizarre rules. When the stalker forces a showdown, Cassidy must play to win.

Here are a few ways you can help spread the word.

Download the book – that will help it to pop up more often before new customers on Amazon.

Share this post on Facebook.

Tweet this post: RT@stacyjuba #freeKindlebooks Amazon Bestseller Sink or Swim free through Friday. http://ow.ly/8XCo2 #mystery #Kindle

If you download, a few lines of review after you finish are always appreciated.

Hope you enjoy the book!

Everything You Need to Know About the Amazon Kindle Fire

Published on February 5, 2012 in General News. Closed Tags: Amazon, e-readers, iPad, Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire features, tablets.

Amazon clearly wants to go head-to-head with Apple and they aren’t being stingy about it. A few months ago, Amazon introduced the Kindle Fire, which hopes to throw the Apple iPad off of the computer tablet market. In a nutshell, the Kindle Fire is a tablet that has the exact same features of the iPad, but which is being offered at a much cheaper price. While iPad prices begin at $499, the Kindle Fire only sells for $199, making a huge impact on people who are getting ready to shop for the holidays. The Kindle Fire is now available worldwide.

The display of the Amazon Kindle Fire stands at seven inches, which is a bit shorter than that of the iPad. However, it is still very functional and won’t even bother you if you aren’t too picky about your viewing space. The Fire also uses a top-notch dual-core processor, which works at the exact same processing speed as the Apple’s dual-core processor. The storage of the Fire currently stands at 8GB, though, and doesn’t have any options for a bigger memory like the iPad does. On the other hand, though, Amazon does provide free online storage with Amazon Cloud, which can take care of all of your digital content on Amazon. How great is that?

Then there is the Amazon Silk, which is a creative Cloud-accelerated browser. This browser splits the overall work of loading webpages between two different interfaces, thus making it easier to load webpages while conserving battery life at the same time. Another unique feature that this tablet has and that other tablet manufacturers do not have is that you can access a lot of media content from Amazon through it. In fact, Fire users can get access to hundreds of thousands of TV programs and movies, reading material and games, as well as colored magazines, with it. The Kindle Fire weighs 14.6 ounces or 413 gams, and its battery life can last up to 8 hours if you read books on it. Naturally, it will last up to a little less than that if you continually watch videos on it, though.

The Kindle Fire Table is also Wi-Fi capable, so you can do practically anything on the Internet on it. It accesses Wi-Fi networks and hotspots and runs on an Android operating system, too, which means that you can access Google’s Apps Market with it, as well. So, although Apple may have more to offer than Amazon when it comes to the Apps department, Fire users will not be left in the dark since they will be taken care of by the Android apps, as well. So, what are you waiting for? Buy an Amazon Kindle Fire now!

About the author: Ray Sean is a computer savvy, a game addict and loves latest gadgets. He currently works at KPN Company, an international long distance carrier that provides prepaid calling cards and calling cards to India from Germany for international travelers. When he isn’t busy, he is reading and occasionally writes on gadget reviews.

Fri. & Sat. Only – Face-Off Young Adult Book Free on Kindle

Published on February 3, 2012 in General News. 2 Comments Tags: best Books for Young Readers, Face-Off, free Amazon books, free Kindle books, hockey, juvenile hockey books, Kindle books for kids, young adult novels.

My young adult family hockey novel is FREE on Kindle for 2 days only – Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday Feb. 4. If your child ages 9-16 has access to Kindle, or if you enjoy reading young adult novels yourself, I hope you’ll snatch the book up. Every download gives the book more exposure on Amazon. (The book is also available in paperback on Amazon (eligible for the 4-for-3 promotion) and Barnes & Noble if your child doesn’t have access to a Kindle.) It’s a great read for both reluctant and proficient readers, especially for sports fans.

What might have been a dream come true has turned into a nightmare. Brad’s twin brother T.J. has gotten himself out of the fancy prep school his father picked for him and into the public high school Brad attends. Now T.J., the bright light in his father’s eyes, is a shining new star on the hockey team where Brad once held the spotlight. And he’s testing his popularity with Brad’s friends, eyeing Brad’s girl and competing to be captain of the team. The whole school is rooting for a big double-strength win…not knowing that their twin hockey stars are heating up the ice for a winner takes all face-off.

The book also examines a parent separation and its effect on children. One unusual thing about this book is that I wrote it when I was 16 years old. It was originally published when I was 18 – this is the second edition. Here is some praise for the first edition:

- The Hockey Hall of Fame’s Junior Education Program included Face-Off on its recommended reading list for the junior and intermediate levels.

- Best Books for Young Teen Readers: Grades 7-10 by John T. Gillespie – Recommended in the sports category.

You can read some fan mail from kids on the Face-Off page of my web site. I hope you and/or your children enjoy the book as much as I loved writing it!

Twenty-Five Years Ago Today Up for iBookBuzz Romance Book of the Month

Published on February 2, 2012 in General News. 2 Comments Tags: ibookbuzz.com, online book clubs, romantic suspense novels, Twenty-five years ago today.

I’m thrilled that Twenty-Five Years Ago Today is one of the five choices under consideration for the iBookBuzz Romantic Suspense Book of the Month. This monthly online book club for romance readers and writers has over 650 members from six continents and is always seeking new members. If you love to read or write in the romance genre, then stop by the web site and join by clicking the Join Here button on the right.

Members can help Twenty-Five Years Ago Today get selected for the Romantic Suspense choice by voting between February 1st and 14th, with the book accumulating the most votes being announced on February 15th. You can vote at this link after becoming a member. The books are listed on the website in the order they were selected from the many submissions received. Reading begins on March 1st, with a kick-off message from the author whose title was selected. Even if you will not be able to participate in the actual reading each and every month, members may stay in touch by voting.

Here is the blurb about Twenty-Five Years Ago Today: For twenty-five years, Diana Ferguson’s killer has gotten away with murder. When rookie obit writer and newsroom editorial assistant Kris Langley investigates the cold case of the artistic young cocktail waitress who was obsessed with Greek and Roman mythology, not only does she fall in love with Diana’s sexy nephew, but she must also fight to stay off the obituary page herself.

There are also other wonderful books nominated in the Romantic Suspense category. Stop by iBookBuzz to discover some great titles in all categories of romance, and to potentially meet some other readers and writers.