Anyone who says “online friendships aren’t real or true or strong” is obviously not making the right kind of friends.
Quite simply: I adore my online friends.They are some of the best people I’ve ever met, even when I don’t get to meet them live.
Everyone from the posse here at More Cowbell to my social media party buds to MyWANA pals to my ROW80 Team. I’ve met some of the most extraordinary people online, and our friendships continue into “real life.”
I know that many of you have experienced this and know it to be true. Most of us spend several hours a week online or at our blogs. The friendships we make there matter.
One of my online pals, Susie Lindau, goes under the knife today for breast cancer. She’s made some tough decisions over the last few weeks and done it with her own brand of grace and laughter. And her blog readers and online peeps are so concerned for her, we’re asking for prayers, good thoughts, healing vibes — whatever you want to call them — on our blogs today.
Please sent one up to your Big Kahuna for Susie. She needs ’em.
Quick Friday night addendum: Susie’s lymph nodes are CLEAR. Squeee!
Now on to the Pimp or Promote!!
Note: Susie does this at her place as “Use Me & Abuse Me Day.”
Here’s the rules:
I’m taking a page out of Chuck Wendig’s book once again and throwing open the doors of the comments section for the following (he makes people do one of each, just sayin….):
- Pimp out somebody else’s work – this can be a favorite author, blogger, post or book you’ve read, a wonderful teacher or just someone who had profound influence on you as a writer or a person.OR
- Promote one of your projects that you’re excited about – a hobby, a blog, a book, a new direction your writing is taking you. You decide. Just tell us all about it in the comments! The rest of us will jump in and “ooooh and coo” at you, and likely promote your project even further (because that’s just how we are).
What do YOU think about online friends? What are you excited to pimp or promote today? Let’s see those links in the comments section! Enquiring minds always want to know what’s going on with you here at More Cowbell. 🙂
Jenny
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
Thoughts and strength vibes going out to Susie today…let us know how she’s doing!
And thanks Jenny, for the opportunity!
Pimp – This is really for everyone who reads it – A great guy I just ‘met’ (cyberly) has started a blog, to showcase writer’s work, and promote a supportive community. it’s Fiction Writer’s Boast, and you can find it here: http://fictionwritersboast.com/ Do yourself a favor, and check it out!
Promote – I’m giddy from a week of being a Disney Princess for my debut release, The Sweet Spot. But today, I feel like I’ve Arrived! I’m on the Margie Lawson Pubbed Grad Blog! Squeee!
http://bit.ly/PubMargieGrads
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It is going to be a busy, busy morning, Laura. SKA-WEEE on being featured on Margie’s Pubbed Grads Blog. Look for a visit.
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I haven’t heard a peep yet, so if someone gets news before me – respond to this comment OK?? I’ve been thinking about her ALL DAY.
Fun links, Laura…I’ll check them out. 🙂
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The lymph nodes are clear y’all…Susie is resting and her prognosis is great. I put an addendum up in the post, but wanted to add one here for any of you who are following the comments. 🙂
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Hi Jenny! I wanted to encourage everyone to read Susie’s latest post. I know she plans to write more about her surgery and the reconstruction process…when the drugs wear off.
So…
Pimp: Read Susie Lindau’s recent post about how she is having a double mastectomy today: http://susielindau.com/2013/05/28/the-boob-report-laughter-is-the-best-medicine/ and leave her some warm and wonderful vibes in the comments.
Promote: I’m usually bad at this, and maybe it’s another “pimp” in disguise (but I do stand to benefit). I have a guest blogger at my place today. She’s not on Twitter. She’s a Brit living in a small town in France. Today she wrote a lovely piece for part of my #SoWrong Series called “Je Ne Comprends Pas.” She’s never been a guest blogger before, and I hope that people will visit her and leave a comment. It took a lot of courage for her to share a recent embarrassing moment. You can find her (and me) here: http://rasjacobson.com/2013/05/31/je-ne-comprends-pas/
Thanks Jenny! Have a great weekend!
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Awesome pimpin’ and promotin’, Renee! I can’t wait to go read about your British ex-pat in France. I love stuff like that. 🙂
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Thanks so much for the shout out, prayers and positive vibes girls! I can tell you with confidence that they worked! The results of my biopsies and surgery really differed. The final oncotype number came in at half the number! Amazing!!!!
There is nothing better than this online community. I am so taken aback by all the support and will never be able to express my gratitude!
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Sweet Susie! I’m so happy to hear that the news is good and the prognosis great. Love comes around, and you give tons of it away, girlie. We were all happy to send some of it back. 🙂
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Thanks Jenny! It helped in ways you will never know!
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First, my thoughts are with Susie. Thanks for reminding us of this today! I think I will do my Barbells for Boobs workout next month in her honor. That will make me work so much harder! Thanks for the idea. 🙂
Oh, I hear you about the online friends thing! I used to not get it and tell my brother his online friends (from playing video games) weren’t real friends. Now I see what he meant when he told me they were. I actually feel as if I have met my online friends in person. One of my favorite such people is Ginger Calem. She is the reason I started CrossFit, which is changing my life for the better. She is encouraging, motivating, and focuses on self-love and being healthy. I LOVED her post about big butts and so wish I had had someone like her in my life when I was a teen. http://gingercalem.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/writersbutt-wednesday-big-butts-are-awesome/
For myself, I just want to share my first two big YAY moments as a writer. This year I got into my fream MFA program and will be starting in June. And last week, I got a response to the first piece I ever submitted, and it is going to be published in an online journal! It is really amazing how much can change in a short period of time after such a long time of working. It really does seem fast after years of work with no results.
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Those are HUGE “yay” moments, Emma…congratulations!!
Also, I’ve never heard of the Barbells for Boobs program, but evidently I need to go look that up. I’d love to do something like that.
Isn’t Ginger the best? She makes exercise seem like the most natural thing in the world, even for those of us who hate it (me). 🙂
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*Waving Hi, On-line buddy who I’ve now met in real life, Jenny Jo.*
Pimp – This one is easy-peasy today because of your comment about on-line buddies. I met my best friend on-line through a Margie Lawson class. I posted assignments and questions in my usual thought-provoking, intelligent, go-to-the-head-of-the-class-and-sit-by-the-teacher-so-she-can-smack-you-with-a-ruler voice. When the class neared its end, I got an email from a like-spirited classmate, Sherry Isaac. Could we stay in touch? Short answer? Yes. Long answer? Hell, yes. She blogs over at Psychological Sizzle. Check her out. This post is about dealing with every writer’s right-of-passage — rejection. http://sherryisaac.com/2013/05/29/the-rejection-of-margaret-mitchell/ She is oh-so-worth a visit.
Promote – Me! More specifically, my blog today dedicated to Susie Lindau, that spit-fire author of Susie Lindau’s Wild Ride. She’s on a wild ride with breast cancer and posts with humor and guts about the journey. Yes, I could give you the links to her BOOB REPORTS here. But, I made breakfast! I have coffee! Come visit and watch me pan-flip your eggs without benefit of a spatula.Placemats artfully arranged on the floor for your convenience. htttp://gloriarichard.wordpress.com/
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Well.
To clarify, in the post Gloria has pimped, I pinged back to a post by regency author Leigh Michaels. Leigh isn’t an online friend, but I came across her ‘If Margaret Mitchell Submitted GWTW Today’ post through online updates. And, was coming over here, Jenny, specifically to pimp and promote Leigh’s post.
You can find Leigh’s clever post here: http://leighmichaels.blogspot.ca/2012/05/if-margaret-mitchell-submitted-gwtw.html
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Waving ‘HI!” to Sherry! Yes. I see you up there.
ERM. My fingers stuttered on the “t” key when I posted my link to SUSIE STRONG.
It’s http://gloriarichard.wordpress.com
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Great clarification, Sherry…I’m usually the one who corrects everyone’s links and I was at a graduation today, so you made my life easy. 🙂
Gloria, meeting you was such a kick in the pants. I love to meet my online pals and find out that we’re exactly as we expected one another to be (fun and naughty). LOL.
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Sorry, Jenny, but I had to return and be a promotion hog. Just read Gloria’s lovely, oh-so-genuine-Gloria Euphoria post. http://gloriarichard.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/susie-strong/
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LOVED it, Sherry! And you know, you’re always allowed to be a promo hussy on P&P Fridays!!!
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Promote: Susan Spann is having a contest for two ARCs of her debut historical mystery, CLAWS OF THE CAT. Check out her Summer Publaw (& a contest): Conference Style at http://www.susanspann.com/?p=3092
Pimp: My own debut dystopian thriller, FIRELANDS, is due out in two weeks! You’ll be able to get it on kindle on June 14 and in paperback, nook, and other venues shortly thereafter.
Big hug for Susie! I know she’ll beat this.
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Two weeks until the release date and you aren’t yet a blathering maniac, Piper?
Oh. Wait. I haven’t been privy to your conversations with Holmes.
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LOL. Holmes isn’t the type to put up with either blathering or idiots. Mostly, I’m just focusing on the next book because if I don’t, I WILL be a blathering idiot. So many things to worry about. How would I ever decide? 🙂
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Nah. Piper’ll be cool as a cucumber…cuz that’s the way she rolls. 🙂
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Promote and Pimp in one!
Diana Murdock and I both have books nominated for RONE awards. Voting to get our books in the finals ends tomorrow, so support is appreciated! http://indtale.com/rone-awards/2012/week-6
And now I’m off to leave some love over at Susie’s…
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Congrats, ladies! Eager to support. 🙂
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WOW! Congratulations, ladies. 🙂 I’m glad you’re in different categories so you can both win! *crosses fingers*
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‘Pimp or Promote’… I like that!
http://tedstrutz.com/2013/05/31/susie-strong-meet-the-wild-child/#comment-3621
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I’m so feeling the #SusieStrong vibes today, and would love to promote Kassandra Lamb’s sweet post, Here’s a Little Sunshine on a Friday: http://misteriopress.com/2013/05/heres-a-little-sunshine-on-a-friday/
And I’ll pimp my “viagra for women” post, since it went into many people’s spam folders—LOL. I swear, it’s not spammy! http://augustmclaughlin.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/viagra-for-women/
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LOL, August, that is EXACTLY where I found your post! I’m glad I rescued it from the netherlands of spam – it’s a wonderful post!
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My inbox knows me well, August. Mine did not hit the SPAM folder. It’s seen worse titles come in from Amazon on “your recent purchase of….”
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In honor of Susie (positive thoughts and prayers headed her way!), I am going to promote my real-life friend of over ten years, Dyanne, who is a one year breast cancer survivor. She writes an amazing blog chronicling her adventures – both with breast cancer and with life in general – at “I Want Backsies”. Please feel free to hop over and check out her writing – she is a HOOT! http://iwantbacksies.blogspot.com/2013/05/only-15.html
I have not been up to much in the writing sphere lately, but am headed back to my rough draft I began in the WEDS group as soon as I finish this comment 🙂 If you would like to see what is going on over at my blog today, you will be rewarded with my recipe for homemade fish tacos (how’s that for a dangling carrot?) http://www.sinceyouaskeddawn.com/2013/05/foodie-fridays-homemade-fish-tacos.html
Have a great weekend, and thanks for the opportunities to promote and pimp!
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Dawn! So nice to see you after our WEDSgroup interactions! So glad you’re getting back to it. You go, girlie!
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I have been reading Susie’s posts and am rooting for here. She is a brave and strong woman. As I guy whose family has had cancer scares I can relate.
I have met some great online friends since I started blogging. One is Kitt. She writes a blog called The Inner Wildcat – check it out as she writes about a lot of women’s subjects, thought provoking, and other fun posts. http://theinnerwildkat.wordpress.com/
As for me, I am starting my training for The Warrior Dash on August 3rd in NJ! This should be fun! http://www.warriordash.com/
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Aww! Thanks, Phil! I appreciate the shout out. 🙂 So did not see that one coming. I think you rock, too. Good luck on your Warrior Dash training. Hubs has been in training for a repeat of Tough Mudder. I know they’re both pretty hardcore.
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Promote: Cynthia Gail has recently released her second book “Spring’s Surprise” in her Music City Hearts series! She writes sexy contemporary romances. Check out her new book and her wonderful series at:
Pimp: My sweet contemporary romance, Keeper of My Heart is FREE today through Sunday on Amazon! What could be better than free? LOL Here’s the link! Enjoy!
Thanks Jenny for the opportunity!
Hugs to Susie!
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Keeping Susie in my thoughts and prayers. Fingers crossed for her speedy recovery.
My second book in the Forged series is out, Forged by Magic: Origins! I’m so excited. This is a collection of YA fantasy short stories – a fun “lunch read” (very short) and a prequel to the series. The second anthology will be out in a few weeks. And then, at the end of September, I have book two, Forged by Coalescence, scheduled for release. Phew.
Here’s the link to Forged by Magic on Amazon – only $.99: http://www.amazon.com/Forged-Magic-Origins-Series-ebook/dp/B00D3Y9ST4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1370026018&sr=1-1
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Sending good mojo to Susie for a safe and quick recovery
I totally agree on the virtual relationships thing- between friends of friends on social media and the blogosphere, I have met so many amazing people. I can’t imagine what life would be like without them! One of whom is my pimp subject- I have a friend that I met as a result of being a Star Wars fan, and she works as an editor in the porn industry. Her twitter feed includes some very interesting things seen and/or overheard at work. NSFW, but hysterical https://twitter.com/GabrielleAnex
Promote- I’m doing an awareness walk to raise money and awareness for our local suicide crisis line. The Hustle for Hope is raising money to support the Crisis Connection 24/7/365 mental health crisis line. It would be awesome to have people join Team Nagzilla and provide hope for people in their darkest hour. http://canvashealth.myevent.com/participant/46813
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I’ve been thinking about Susie all day…sending sparkly vibes and prayers for quick recovery and successful surgery. She’s one of the happiest and funniest people I *virtually* know.
Let’s see, I want to pimp out my friend Clea Simon’s new book–got to read the ARC of PARROTS PROVE DEADLY (yes, a mystery featuring an animal communicator, cats, dogs and an African Grey), It’s such fun! Here’s the amazon url: http://www.amazon.com/Parrots-Prove-Deadly-Marlowe-Mysteries/dp/1464201048/
Promote–I’m presenting a webinar tomorrow EBOOKS FOR WRITERS at WANA Intl and y’all can get 50% off the registration by using the code BLOGPAWS. Register here…and if you can’t make the class, it’s recorded so you can watch/hear at your leisure! http://wanaintl.com/event-registration/?ee=148
Thanks for the opportunity!
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Just finally catching up on all my favorite blog folks today after spending most of yesterday trying to sleep off a migraine. Prayers definitely going up for Susie, both for continued healing and thanks for her great news about her lymph nodes.
As for Pimp AND Promote, I’m going to combine them in pimping my friend Ande Lyons’ Bring Back Desire blog with a guest post she asked me to write on the joys of erotic romance from a writer’s perspective. http://www.bringbackdesire.com/reading-sexy-feeling-sexy/
Ande’s website is written primarily for women and covers a wide variety of subjects designed to enhance women’s love lives. In fact, her most recent guest post was written by Witty Woman, herself, Tammy Bleck regarding whether or not we are ever too old for sex. http://www.bringbackdesire.com/are-we-ever-too-old-for-sex/
Thanks again, Jenny, for the opportunity….and continued prayers go up for Susie. 🙂
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Kitt – I LOVE it when you share the love of LOVE with a sweet ol’ fashion pimping! It’s truly DELICIOUS, and I am one Grateful Goddess for your kind words and generosity!
Thanks Goddess Jenny for creating the space for a glorious pimping out fest – woo hoo & MUAHs!!
Ande
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Love Susie Lindau’s spirit! I’m definitely keeping her in my prayers.
PROMOTE: My best friend’s husband is a writer (and an aerospace engineer). He was at DFW Con and recently started a blog. Check him out at http://chrishilltoday.com/.
PIMP: I’ve started offering Copy Editing services (think grammar, punctuation, spelling, word usage, consistency). I’ve been called a “grammar queen,” “grammar goddess,” “grammar Nazi,” and worse. The point being, I can help writers spot their mistakes and correct them BEFORE they end up in print. But I promise that I’m nice. Check it out at http://julieglover.com/copy-editing/.
Thanks, Jenny! I’d shake my cowbell at you, but I had to send it on to Ellen.
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Julie, you will be AMAZING as a Copy Editor. I’ve already heard great things about your work through the grapevine. (In other words: HIRE HER, people!)
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Thanks, Jenny!
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This is so sweet of you, Jenny. Sorry I’m a bit late on the pimping and promoting.
Good to know on the copy editor experience, Julie! Thoughts and prayers to Susie. A close family friend just received the diagnosis of breast cancer. Really makes it hit home.
Now on to pimping and promoting…
1) I’ve stumbled upon a blog just a few weeks ago that I’ve enjoyed: http://cindyricksgers.wordpress.com. I think Cindy’s writing is a hidden gem. Her observances of life are ordinary, but that’s what makes her writing extraordinary; and 2) Have to a do a bit of self promotion of my own blog: http:///www.clearlykristal.com. I just wrapped up my fiction Irish mafia series “Danny Boy.” I also am posting a piece in the next couple days that discusses the importance of animals in my life in honor of National Pet Adoption Month.
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