How to Write a KILLER Facebook Status for Book Sales

I belong to several Author Groups on Facebook, and most are filled with status posts intended to drive sales, but in reality they are sales killers. There's generally a line or two about the author, a blurb or book description (which sometimes is a great big, super long, fifty paragraph, single spaced, no indention excerpt), the price of the book, the cover image, and a directive to click a link to make a purchase.

This is what a KILLER post typically looks like:

My name is Kimberly and this is my daybue novel that I just released and I am so excited! I hope to be a best selling author on New York Times, and I know I can get there. Download a copy of my books and you will not be sorry! It is a page turner!

Manny felt his chest pocket to make sure his credit cards was still there. "Oh good. They still there," he said out loud. "I thought she stole them while I was sleep." he said. Then he picked up his pants. He notice that his wallet was gone. Right away he started panicking but then he got mad. "She gonna face my raft!" he growled angrily.

Will Manny kill Sheila? Or do she get away? Order your copy of "She Stole My Wallet" today at www.mywebsite.com. It's only $2.99.

Two words - NO SALE!

If you can't write a few sentences of a status post well, it's hard to believe that quality writing will magically appear in your book.  Now everyone makes mistakes; a single typo will sting a little bit but won't kill you.  But more than one? Your chance of a sale is in critical condition. Add to that poor sentence structure, and it's been moved to the the intensive care unit.  Then tag on improper word usage/choice and that sales opportunity has completely flat lined - killed by your status post.

But It Was Just A Sample . . . 
Don't fool yourself into thinking "It was just a sample." Unfortunately, I hear authors say that all the time, thinking that this will excuse errors.  Well, they are right about one thing; it is a sample, but it does not excuse poor writing. Inversely, it magnifies it.  Just think about what a sample is - a small piece of the whole, offered to show its recipient what can be expected. If you are given a sample of a food dish you've never tried, you make an assessment right then and there if you like it, if you want more of it, and if you will at that point (or later down the road) buy it.  If that sample isn't pleasing to your taste buds, you don't turn around and say - "That piece wasn't that great but I'm going to buy the whole thing anyway and hope it tastes better in its entirety." On the contrary, it's a no sale, based on your assessment of the sample size.

Why would your writing sample be any different?

Don't Kill Yourself.
Please take the time to edit and proof your posts to ensure they are error free and well written before attempting to attract potential buyers.  An error-filled post is a poor reflection on you as an author, and in most cases gives a very accurate snapshot of what can be expected in your work. If your post is poorly written, the assumption WILL be made that your work is not worth the asking price . . . or even worse, it's not worth even being free.  You don't want that.  You worked hard to produce your work; don't lose sales by writing a killer Facebook status post.


Kimberly T. Matthews

"I knew exactly how many condoms were left in his gym bag, in a little black box, wrapped in gold foil. Seven. Each time I randomly checked for no other reason besides I knew they existed, there'd always been seven. So I was taken aback that morning when I went to do his laundry, peeked in the box and only found three..."
 Lisa from - "Lisa's Dress" 
Click here to download on Kindle!


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Why Free Ebook Promotions Aren't Helping Your Sales

Although I've never had amazing results, I was thinking about running a Free Book promotion this week since I still have a few promo days left for my KDP titles. But you know what?  I've talked myself out of it. Why? Because I realize that it will have little to no impact on my overall goals. If I am going to make my work free, I need it to accomplish something. Something like:

Increased sales
Name recognition
Best selling status
Amazon Prime borrows
Increased reviews
Higher (sustained) rankings

Free promos worked a year ago when Amazon's KDP program was fresh and new. An author would do a promo, offering his/her title for free, then make enough money on the following days, weeks, and maybe even a month or two to buy a Ipad or make a full month's mortgage payment.

Unfortunately, for most authors running promotional campaigns now, the results aren't so productive or lucrative.  Why?  Because our potential readership has been completely spoiled with the overwhelming number of free book titles offered daily. Why buy books (especially from an author whom you've never even heard of) when you can have your pick from a constantly changing list of hundreds of free titles 365 days a year?

Here are some quotes from readers who suffer from Chronic FEDS (Free Ebook Download Syndrome) Give special attention to the text in bold.

"The impact of having many books on my computer or on my Kindle has little if any negative impact. On my computer, my 20,000 books take less space than one hour of recorded TV. And on the Kindle, they are always there just in case I want to read them."

"If it says free and has a semi interesting looking title and cover art I will download it.  I will probably never even look past the first page."  

"I download about 15 to 40 books per week at least. I doubt I'll ever be able to read them all, but I can't help it." 


So with that said . . . I think I'm going to try Sample Campaigning.  Yeah - I just made that up.  Like just now.  You heard it here first.  No more will I promote free titles, but I will encourage readers to download a free sample of my books instead, and here's why:

• Samples are free.  People love free, as we've learned from the comments above.
• Samples are short, therefore fitting right into the lives of busy Ereader readers. 
• Although short, samples generally give enough content to help a potential buyer decide if they like/dislike your work enough to want to read more - unless the ebook is front loaded with a lot of blah-blah-blah that readers like to skip past. 
• In my opinion, samples are more likely to be read, because more thought goes into the download. 
• Samples have a "Buy Now" link at the end, for ease of ordering. 
• Samples are typically deleted guilt-free if a reader has no interest. There's no unspoken pressure to keep the content and eventually read it.
• 
  

Maybe FREE will work for me later, but for right now, I'll give Sample Campaigning a try.
I'll keep you posted.

Kimberly T. Matthews

"I knew exactly how many condoms were left in his gym bag, in a little black box, wrapped in gold foil. Seven. Each time I randomly checked for no other reason besides I knew they existed, there'd always been seven. So I was taken aback that morning when I went to do his laundry, peeked in the box and only found three..."
 Lisa from - "Lisa's Dress" 
Click here to download on Kindle!

=======================================

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An Author's Monthly, Weekly and Daily Branding Checklist

Re-sharing for those who missed it the first time!

Here is an article by book marketing expert Pam Perry.

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Most authors will not become millionaires unless they have multiple works or multiple streams of income that can keep their income level consistent. Otherwise, they will not be able to give up their “day jobs.”

But there are ways to build momentum, expand your platform and solidify your brand so you are successful. Most authors tell me, “I don’t have time” or “I don’t know what to next” or “I hit a brick wall – and I can’t seem to get motivated to market anymore.”

You can market yourself every day just by doing these things. When I coach clients, these are the things I tell them to do on an ongoing basis:

Monthly

• Attend a writers meeting or critique group.
• Ask for reviews or endorsements from those you’ve given “comp” copies too.
• Attend a civic organization and tell the members what you do.
• Read trade publications like Writer’s Digest or The Writer.
• Take a teleclass or attend another type of live internet event.
• Look for contests you can enter or awards you can nominate yourself for.
• Create a YouTube video message or be a guest on a local cable show.
• Hold or plan a teleseminar.
• Update your media list & research for new ones to add.
• Invite a media person you’ve admired to lunch.
• Participate at an event by speaking, presenting or teaching.
• Write articles and submit to article directories.
• Post reviews of other books you’ve read on Amazon.
• Write and post press releases.
• Write and pitch feature stories to the media.
• Create and distribute an online or direct mail newsletter.
• Reach out to bloggers and see if you can do a “blog tour” with them.
• Meet with your advisors, mentors or “master mind” partners.
• Add additional information to your website or blogsite (i.e. a blog article, a link).
• Keep in touch with key bookstores that are selling your books.
• Email mini-courses to those who sign up via an Eblast that you send out.
• Manage back end tasks such as customer support, accounting, sales, etc.
• Look for easier ways to do business. Ask others what systems they use.

Weekly

• Give someone you meet one of your books and follow up in 30 days.
• Visit an online forum and participate or get some PR coaching.
• Look for new articles to read on internet marketing and joint ventures (Google).
• Listen to podcasts (look for the topic of interest online in a podcast directory).
• Send an eblast to your email list – giving them a tip or link to blog post you found helpful.
• Mail a handwritten note or postcard to someone you met in person or connect with online.
• Post to your blog & add a new feature to “amp” it up (get cues from other blogs).
• Drop postcards or bookmarks at places where you regularly go – bookstores, libraries, hair salons, cleaners, restaurants, coffee shops.
• Update your website or blogsite by adding current “media hits” and interviews.
• Send an email to someone online you would like to connect with.
• Interact with a “group” on Facebook or LinkedIn.
• Get to know the key authors / leaders in your field. Follow their blogs or Google them to see what they are up to.
• Keep track of your stats on your website, blogs and Ezine opens.
• Do at least one blog talk show or at the very least call-in to one.
• Post a bulletin on your MySpace or Facebook and add some new blogs.

Daily

• Write. Write. Write. That’s your main job. Content is king!
• Read some trade pubs or read magazines in your niche.
• Comment on someone else’s blog.
• Make a phone call to a media outlet you’d like to be featured on.
• Read the daily newspapers looking for topics you can comment on.
• Scan columns by the regular columnists and give feedback their blogs.
• Add friends to your Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn accounts.
• Follow someone new on Twitter or Shelfari.
• Add people to your database that you meet or have not been in touch with (with permission).
• Add an automatic signature to all the emails your answer.
• Twitter by sending a link to your blog, or a favorite blog, or a free report they can download.
• Participate in message boards, chat group or yahoo groups that are industry related. This helps to increase exposure and give your information to stay on the cutting-edge.

For a creative writer and author, time is managed with calendars – not with clocks. What you are doing is leaving a virtual “footprint” everywhere you go – online and offline. These elements can be implemented with little or no outside help.

If implemented correctly and consistently, these mini-marketing tactics can help revolutionize your ministry or business in no time. By continually branding yourself with the key message of your platform, people will come to you for information and expertise.

Remember to have a marketing mindset and let people know why they should buy your book (mention the benefits of what the book will do for them.) Keep the main thing “the main thing” – focus on changing lives and making an impact for the Kingdom.

Building solid relationships is critical at every stage of branding. Don’t expect instant results though. Trust is the basis of all relationships. Trust is never freely given – trust is earned. Demonstrate your solid commitment and be willing to stay the course.

Enjoy my blog?  Read it on your Kindle! Just click below.

Ministry marketing pioneer, Social media strategist and PR Coach Pam Perry helps African American Christian authors garner publicity and leverage online strategies. As a 20-year PR veteran, she is also the co-author of “Synergy Energy: How to Use the Power of Partnerships to Market Your Book, Grow Your Business and Brand Your Ministry.” For a free MP3 of “What Every Author Should Know,” go to [http://www.PamPerryPR.com]http://www.PamPerryPR.com. She’s also the creator of the ChocolatePagesNetwork, a social network for Christian authors and the Chocolate Pages Show on Blogtalkradio. She offers free help at her blogsite: http://www.MinistryMarketingSolutions.com with her podcasts, Ezines and teleclasses.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-to-Do-Daily,-Weekly-and-Monthly-to-Brand-Your-Book&id=5232314] What to Do Daily, Weekly and Monthly to Brand Your Book

A is for Author Advertising! (A-Z Challenge)

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I decided to take the A-Z blogging challenge for the month of April...except I forgot to post yesterday, so I'm starting a day late. But better late than never right? Especially if it's only for one day!

My A blog for today is about Advertising . . . particularly for  ebooks since I'm an author and all.

Here is a great way to showcase your ebook - instead of just displaying a flat cover, why not advertise your book by showing it on the screen of your favorite ereader!  Any author worth their ink knows that showing is better than telling, so instead of telling prospective readers that your book is available on the Kindle, Nook, Ipad, or smart phone, SHOW them.  Get your image showcased on the layout of your choice, then use the image as your profile picture, on your Facebook wall, tweet it out, share it! Become the envy of all your author friends!

You can upload 1 image and have it showed on the Kindle and Nook layouts . . .  or upload 2 images and have them both shown on the Kindle layout . . . or do an Iphone and Ipad layout . . . or!  Your options are endless!

OR you can order a full banner!  What a great cover image for your Facebook Profile or website!

EXAMPLE - Submit this: a simple book cover image
 

And get this in return! A full layout of your book cover shown in different ereader formats!

             Ipad                     Iphone       -          Nook       -            Hard Cover        -             Kindle Fire      -      Kindle Keyboard

EXAMPLE 2 - Submit this: a simple book cover image

And get this in return! A full layout of your book cover shown in different ereader formats!

----------------------------------------------------


Just complete the form below, upload your image(s) and your order will be securely processed via Paypal.

You Never Forget Your First . . .

I try not to toot my own horn too much, but at the same time, let people know what it is I do . . . which is write books. I'm an author . . .  with 14 published titles to date. Being an author, I always have to be on my marketing game, looking for and taking advantage of opportunities to increase my exposure and sales. That pretty much means tooting my own horn constantly but . . . (go back to the top of this post and start over).

Catch 22 right?  Even so, I strive hard not to bombard people with constant self-promotion, and balance my blog posts and social network statuses with other stuff too. Maybe a point to ponder, something to generate a laugh, a promotion of someone else's work, or a post of complete and utter silliness.  For an example - I posted yesterday:

If my name was Gretel, that witch would have been homeless (thoughts of a sugar addict).

One of the responses I got was:

[She'd be] sitting in the wood on a cardboard box holding fast to her last pack of Reese's Pieces.  

That cracked me up for about an hour!


But back to my point . . . what I found is - when I take a break from saying "look at me and buy my stuff" and then return to it - someone always pops up and asks me something like:

• Are you an author?
• When does your first book come out
• Is this your first book?
• I just bought your first book. When does the next one come out?
• I didn't know you had that many books out! I thought (book number x) was your only one!

Which always leads me back to . . . okay start reading this post from the top again!

Yesterday via Facebook, someone posted on my wall (paraphrased edition):

I saw your first book for sale in Citi Trends yesterday. I would have bought it but I already have your first book. 

My response was:
Citi Trends??? (a fashion store for the younger generation)
Which book? (since I know my "first" book is currently out of print and pending its upcoming e-release).

Her response:
Your first one. It was $3.99

Hmmm . . . Now my first book - Promise You Won't Tell Nobody - is retail priced at $11.95 - not to say that a retailer didn't find a case of them somewhere and mark them all down. But since that title was self published, there's no way they could be at a store like Citi Trends and I don't know about it.  This led me to believe that she was referencing one of my six traditionally published mass market titles, which are priced at $6.99 retail, and could very well be discounted at $3.99. That's what makes sense to me . . . except by the time my first mass market title came along - I was already published three times.

So what "first book" was she talking about?? I have no idea because she didn't respond when I asked for more information.

So today's lesson is - it doesn't matter how many books you publish, readers always think that the first one they purchase was your first. I'm not complaining though. First, last, whatever. I appreciate anyone who purchases my work and they are welcomed to chronicle them in the order of their choosing.

And I guess I will be stopping by the two Citi Trends in my area to see which one of my first books they are selling . . . I am soooo excited about that! :-)

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Click this Image!



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Borders Bookstore Romance Section - Love Found

No one could be more saddened to see the closing of the Borders Bookstore chain than Clay and I. Borders will always have a special place in my heart, because it's the place where we not only met (as I was signing copies of my novel The Perfect Shoe), but where we also married.

Yep - right in the middle of Borders Bookstore. 

Kimberly and Clay's Wedding at Borders Bookstore

I've always had fantastic book signings at Borders, using my awesome creative talent mixed with a little salesmanship to quickly sign 100 books in a two hour period without even having to advertise the signing event. Because of this, my local Borders would let me do pretty much anything I wanted in their store...including have my wedding there. The full story of how we came to have our wedding at Borders, though unique and beautifully unorthodox,  is actually quite sad and tragic.  I'll keep it short. (Click below to enhance your reading experience.)

Clay and I had planned a beautiful church wedding, with all the white bells and whistles that any bride would have dreamed of, planning to wed on a cool Sunday evening. I'd stroll down the aisle to Chrisette Michelle's Golden, in a golden gown, with a bouquet,  not of flowers, but a handmade bouquet of gold and clear beads and wire. We'd planned some pretty unique things - Clay was to put a toe ring on my toe, we'd do a sand mixing ceremony, and there was to be a six-minute portrait painting on a huge 8 x 5 canvas, while Fred Hammond sang "No Greater Love". (Yes, we had found an incredibly talented artist who had practiced dashing paint on the canvas and creating our images in just six minutes).

At the time that were planning our fabulous day, I had just completed writing my novel A Little Hurt Ain't Never Hurt Nobody, which captured every wedding detail perfectly, knowing that we'd be married before the book released, and had submitted it to the publisher. That was the closest I'd come to actually having that wedding. Tragically, with no advanced warning, and out of the clear blue sky, Clay's father suffered a heart attack and suddenly passed away on the eve of the wedding - just before the rehearsal dinner. As you can imagine, Clay, his mom, and his brothers were devastated.

Naturally, the wedding was postponed as Clay's family was consumed with shock, grief, and pain that I can't even imagine, as both my parents are still living today.

Anyway - fast forward to six months (and several thousand dollars, outdated invites, a stack of favors, a huge unpainted canvas, an unused limo, a lost reception, honeymoon cancellation fees, and so on and so on) later.  We still wanted to get married but the thought of re-doing a huge day was overwhelming for Clay. I couldn't possibly force him to try to recreate an event that would surely bring back such painful memories, so . . . 

I'd already nailed down a signing event at Borders, and as always -  I was looking for that extra creative edge to make the signing explosive, so I said . . . 

"You know what would be cool?"

"What?" Clay said.

"If we got married at the very place we met."

"At Borders?" he asked?

"Yep."

In our minds, we ran through the logistics, and gave Borders a call. They agreed to let me set up our 11 foot arch, decorate it with tulle and flowers, which I used as the backdrop for my signing event that day, then allowed me to use the manager's office as a dressing room where I got my make up done, changed into my gown, and glammed up. While I primped in the office, our friends showed up, having been invited via Evite and word-of-mouth only a few days before, gathered between rows of books and waited for my entrance.

Instead of Chrisette, Jamie Foxx serenaded my walk with When I First Saw You, (click below to enhance your reading experience).

Kimberly and Clay's Wedding at Border's Bookstore

I held my custom-made bead bouquet (which I still have by the way) and my son Drea escorted me down the aisle, with my train following. Clay, in his tuxedo, stood waiting under the decorated arch, flanked by Davion (serving as the best man I suppose), and our Pastor. No parents, no family, other than Drea and Davion - just whoever made their way out to Borders that evening. Every customer inside (and outside of Borders) watched us exchange vows, and we did get Fred to fly back out (via CD) to sing for the communion and sand mixing part of the service.  Shortly after, was the big kiss, which included a large dip on the end, for which I had to hold on to my tiara, and we were introduced for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. Clay R. Hooker Jr.  Wedding cake was then served to our guests in the cafe portion of the store, where they greeted and congratulated us. And when I least expected it, Clay got down on one knee and slid a beautiful gold toe ring on my toe...just like I'd wanted.  How's that for African American Romance?

In the whole scope of things, it was as memorable a day as any wedding could be . . . and I sold A LOT of books that day too.  *wink!*

Too bad Borders is gone now . . . but we have pictures to show that it DID exist!


Click HERE to purchase a copy of A Little Hurt Ain't Never Hurt Nobody
Click HERE to purchase a copy of Bubbling Brown Sugar 
Click HERE to purchase a copy of my latest book Spoonin'

Click HERE to like me on Facebook.

Borders Bookstore African American Romance Section - K Matthews

No one could be more saddened to see the closing of the Borders Bookstore chain than Clay and I. Borders will always have a special place in my heart, because it's the place where we not only met (as I was signing copies of my novel The Perfect Shoe), but where we also married.

Yep - right in the middle of Borders Bookstore. 

Kimberly and Clay's Wedding at Borders Bookstore

I've always had fantastic book signings at Borders, using my awesome creative talent mixed with a little salesmanship to quickly sign 100 books in a two hour period without even having to advertise the signing event. Because of this, my local Borders would let me do pretty much anything I wanted in their store...including have my wedding there. The full story of how we came to have our wedding at Borders, though unique and beautifully unorthodox,  is actually quite sad and tragic.  I'll keep it short. (Click below to enhance your reading experience.)

Clay and I had planned a beautiful church wedding, with all the white bells and whistles that any bride would have dreamed of, planning to wed on a cool Sunday evening. I'd stroll down the aisle to Chrisette Michelle's Golden, in a golden gown, with a bouquet,  not of flowers, but a handmade bouquet of gold and clear beads and wire. We'd planned some pretty unique things - Clay was to put a toe ring on my toe, we'd do a sand mixing ceremony, and there was to be a six-minute portrait painting on a huge 8 x 5 canvas, while Fred Hammond sang "No Greater Love". (Yes, we had found an incredibly talented artist who had practiced dashing paint on the canvas and creating our images in just six minutes).

At the time that were planning our fabulous day, I had just completed writing my novel A Little Hurt Ain't Never Hurt Nobody, which captured every wedding detail perfectly, knowing that we'd be married before the book released, and had submitted it to the publisher. That was the closest I'd come to actually having that wedding. Tragically, with no advanced warning, and out of the clear blue sky, Clay's father suffered a heart attack and suddenly passed away on the eve of the wedding - just before the rehearsal dinner. As you can imagine, Clay, his mom, and his brothers were devastated.

Naturally, the wedding was postponed as Clay's family was consumed with shock, grief, and pain that I can't even imagine, as both my parents are still living today.

Anyway - fast forward to six months (and several thousand dollars, outdated invites, a stack of favors, a huge unpainted canvas, an unused limo, a lost reception, honeymoon cancellation fees, and so on and so on) later.  We still wanted to get married but the thought of re-doing a huge day was overwhelming for Clay. I couldn't possibly force him to try to recreate an event that would surely bring back such painful memories, so . . . 

I'd already nailed down a signing event at Borders, and as always -  I was looking for that extra creative edge to make the signing explosive, so I said . . . 

"You know what would be cool?"

"What?" Clay said.

"If we got married at the very place we met."

"At Borders?" he asked?

"Yep."

In our minds, we ran through the logistics, and gave Borders a call. They agreed to let me set up our 11 foot arch, decorate it with tulle and flowers, which I used as the backdrop for my signing event that day, then allowed me to use the manager's office as a dressing room where I got my make up done, changed into my gown, and glammed up. While I primped in the office, our friends showed up, having been invited via Evite and word-of-mouth only a few days before, gathered between rows of books and waited for my entrance.

Instead of Chrisette, Jamie Foxx serenaded my walk with When I First Saw You, (click below to enhance your reading experience).

Kimberly and Clay's Wedding at Border's Bookstore

I held my custom-made bead bouquet (which I still have by the way) and my son Drea escorted me down the aisle, with my train following. Clay, in his tuxedo, stood waiting under the decorated arch, flanked by Davion (serving as the best man I suppose), and our Pastor. No parents, no family, other than Drea and Davion - just whoever made their way out to Borders that evening. Every customer inside (and outside of Borders) watched us exchange vows, and we did get Fred to fly back out (via CD) to sing for the communion and sand mixing part of the service.  Shortly after, was the big kiss, which included a large dip on the end, for which I had to hold on to my tiara, and we were introduced for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. Clay R. Hooker Jr.  Wedding cake was then served to our guests in the cafe portion of the store, where they greeted and congratulated us. And when I least expected it, Clay got down on one knee and slid a beautiful gold toe ring on my toe...just like I'd wanted.  How's that for African American Romance?

In the whole scope of things, it was as memorable a day as any wedding could be . . . and I sold A LOT of books that day too.  *wink!*

Too bad Borders is gone now . . . but we have pictures to show that it DID exist!

Click HERE to purchase a copy of A Little Hurt Ain't Never Hurt Nobody
Click HERE to purchase a copy of my latest book Spoonin'
Click HERE to like me on Facebook.

Enjoy my blog?  Read it on your Kindle! Just click below.

Another GREAT Book Marketing Tool! - K Matthews

Get an EReader Display for Your Book!  

Spoonin' Display for Ipad

Spoonin' Display for Kindle

What an awesome way to promote your book!  Orders yours TODAY!

What you will get:
 - a jpeg image of your book cover displayed a Kindle, Kindle Fire, Nook or IPad layout
 - Super-fast turnaround (24-72 hours)
 - Secured ordering site
 - a portion of all proceeds will be donated to http://www.kingsransomfoundation.org/


Get both images for only 2/$25 (or less!)
  Just click here to order 

Enjoy my blog?  Read it on your Kindle! Just click below.