Greetings, friends. Happy Monday!
Thank you for joining me as I look back over the past week and forward to the week ahead.
My grandson, who was home from college, spent the night with me last week and one of the things he wanted to do was watch The Wizard of Oz. It had been many years since I’d seen it and it was a joy to share that with him. He left yesterday to go back to Michigan to finish out the year at Calvin College. We’ve certainly enjoyed having him home for a few weeks.
I had an odd thing happen to me regarding my newsletter last week. First of all, I sent out a newsletter sharing my top book picks of 2024 and a new giveaway. Then all of a sudden, my subscribers jumped by over 600 throwing me into a higher paying category with my provider. Puzzling, right? I struggle to just get one new subscriber, so to have this happen was mind blowing. I contacted Brevo, and they informed me the subscribers came from WordPress. I’m still scratching my head over this occurrence. Are they real people? Bots? How can this happen? So, I’m still trying to figure it out. Of course, I hope they are legitimate subscribers, but I have my doubts. Has anything like this ever happened to you? I’d love to hear the outcome.
Coming up this Wednesday, I will be a guest on the Voice of Indie Podcast! I’m excited about joining Beem Weeks and Stephen Geez for some fun and lively conversation. Also, their new podcast format is now live video, so you’ll see our smiling faces. I do hope you can join in and support the effort!
You can join the live broadcast at 7 pm CST HERE!
On the writing front, I’m now at around 20,000 words on the new Bargainer story. So, it’s starting to come together. I’m certainly feeling positive about the progress. I still don’t have a target date for publishing.
In case you missed it, I participated in D.L. Finn’s Creative Writing Challenge. It had been a very long time since I attempted any flash fiction. You can see my story HERE. The challenge is still going if you want to join in.
I cringed when I pulled this Tarot card for the week, but there is always something positive to be found in each card.
The Ten of Swords invites us to greet the approaching dawn while honoring lessons learned from the past. The is a new beginning within an ending. I’m not sure how that applies to an overall theme for the week, but just know the darkest hour is before the dawn. And with every ending, there is a new beginning. It’s a Universal cyclical law. What goes around must come around. I think the main thing is to keep your eye on the positive aspect of endings and beginnings. In America, it’s inauguration day for the newly elected president. I’m having hard time seeing a new dawn in that. All I see is more of the same lies and corruption we’ve come come to expect and accept from these politicians. My approach to that is to stay focused on the tiny part of the world I have control over…my attitude, my work, creativity, family and LOVE. I refuse to get sucked into the negativity.
That’s about it for today. I’ll leave you with this thought.
Have a great week ahead!
I had a fitful night of sleep last night. These are challenging times.
I’m watching the dog and pony show right now. Doubt any of it will affect me either way, but I’m trying to be optimistic. (Hard for me.) Interesting card to draw today.
“The darkest hour is before the dawn.” I claim that is the best way to describe it. Then I thought about my current life and I can see this Ten of Swords finalizing its mission too. Everything is coming to an upswing now. Fantastic!
I hope the 600 subscribers are real. You would deserve them, Jan!
I love your attitude!! “My approach to that is to stay focused on the tiny part of the world I have control over…my attitude, my work, creativity, family and LOVE. I refuse to get sucked into the negativity.” That is the only way to live. Glad your WIP is coming along. I am finally back into my Ireland story.
I thought the swords sticking into that man’s back on the card was appropriate, Sister! As for old movies, I’d rather watch something old than these newer ones. I watch a lot of those and have been into The Walton’s series. It’s a wholesomeness that we’ve been missing. Love you, Sister. Your new subscribers is certainly weird.
I love you bonded with The Wizard of Oz! What a great memory. I hope you figure out the sudden subscribers, too. What a card to pick right now, but I love that quote. Yes, refillable!!!! Xo
Thank you so much for stopping by, Denise. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Have a great week ahead.
Husby and I are getting into old movies–like Wizard of Oz. There is something about the way stories were told decades ago that is appealing, so I see your enjoyment of this movie with your grandson. The subscribers–no never happened to me. On request, WP will transfer subscribers, but that’s not what happened. Very suspicious!
I completely agree about the suspiciousness of the subscribers, Jacqui. I’m going to go with it and see how it all pans out. The old movies were presented so differently than the ones today. There were no special digital effects. They had to create them all. I loved sharing that movie with my grandson. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Have a great week, Jan
Thanks, John!
I commend you for not getting sucked into the negativity. It feels like we’ve taken ten steps backward as a nation, but I just focus on doing what I can in my own community.
I haven’t experienced anything like you describe about new subscribers to that magnitude, but I have heard others describing the same thing. I’m pretty sure it’s bots. I have clicked on the sites of some of new “subscribers” and they’re sometimes non-existent.
Thank you for your comment, Pete. Yes. We have to focus on things we can control and stay positive, no matter what. I sent out an experimental newsletter to the supposed new subscribers and I am surprised to see the there has been many opens and even one click through. It is so puzzling, but if they are indeed legitimate, I am grateful.
It’s great progress on your book, Jan, and wonderful that you’ll be on the podcast.
Thank you, Tim. I appreciate you stopping by!
I too am having trouble seeing any light with the inauguration so I will be doing the same as you and trying to focus on what I can have some control over.
That is truly all we have control over, Jeanne. Focus on what we can fix and let the rest go. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Fantastic that you’re feeling positive about how your book is shaping. And it’s fantastic that you’ll be on the podcast. Congratulations! 🌞
Thanks so much, Dave! I appreciate you stopping by!
It’s always fun to connect with family around a favorite movie. I’m glad you had that opportunity. I hope the new subscribers all have a pulse. Have a good week, Jan.
Thanks, Dan. Yes, I am hoping the new subscribers are real, but I have my doubts. We shall see. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week ahead!