"That Puppy Dog Took My Boots"

Second Quarter Reports

2010-08-03T19:35:00.000-05:00

Hello to all my blogger friends out there! I received my second quarter reports today and I am feel encouraged. I have to say I have not had much time to work or promote my book in the last 8 months so I was feeling a little down about sales of the book. When I looked at my reports today I am realizing that people are still hearing about and purchasing my book That Puppy Dog Took My Boots.

Here is a recap of the reports I received: Paper back books I sold two units, Audio downloads I sold five units and lastly e-books I sold four units.

Although this doesn't compute into alot of money it does lift my spirit and reminds me just how hard I need to be working to make this book a success.

Thank you to all of you who read my blogs and support my mission, to spread God's word through the platform of this book!

The Home School Magazine

2010-06-15T17:10:00.003-05:00

Check it out!!! A review of my book....

http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/4105.php

I am beyond excited!! Today I received an email from Tate Publishing telling me that I had a review written about "That Puppy Dog Took My Boots" in the March 2010 issue of The Home School Magazine! Thank you so much to Brandi for a great review.

I have come to realize that promoting my book is hard but rewarding work! I don't just want to get this book sold in all states but I want people to know that when they purchase my book that they are helping me to follow my path God has for me. I want to spread God's word and this book (hopefully many more books as well) is just part of the way I can do that.

Please pray with me for more opportunities to sell and speak about my book. I also pray for all my fans/readers that you are listening to God's words for you. May you allow God to work in your life and the life of friends and family around you.

Thank you and God Bless

1st Qtr. Report- Tate Publishing

2010-05-05T13:56:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I received my report from Tate Publishing on the first Qtr. internet sales and Distribution sales. In my mind I was preparing myself for a low number because I have only had one event since the beginning of this year. To my surprise the report said that I had sold 22 books from January 2010-April 2010. I know that 22 doesn't sound like a whole lot but when you are expecting 1 or 2 it really is a big number! This is so exciting for me that people are buying my book and reading my fan page and blog.

I pray for this chain to continue and that the word will spread even further than it already has. My goal, although may seem out of reach is 5,000 copies sold! That is when I can submit another book and get my upfront fee back.

Thank you to all of you for all the support and for purchasing my book!! God Bless to you and your family:)

T-Ball Field or Tee Tee Field??

2010-05-01T20:19:00.000-05:00

For the ones who don't know Adam my oldest child was the inspiration for That Puppy Dog Took My Boots and now his little brother Austin is following in his footsteps. Adam just started t-ball and it is so much fun for the whole family! At the first practice I was snapping pictures of everything Adam did. Kevin, my husband, was on the field helping Adam and I was suppose to be watching Austin. As Adam gets up to the batters box, Austin says "Mommy I need to tee tee" so I said "Wait just a minute and we will go." I snapped a couple more pictures of Adam batting and turn to get Austin's hand and he is tee teeing on the t-ball field from the dugout!!! BOYS!?!?! There was a little girl sitting in the dugout with her grandmother and the grandmother had her hand over the little girls face! I was so embarrassed and I don't get embarrassed easily:)

I see a new book coming to mind....LOL

Do you have stories like this? I would love for you to share them with me. Post a comment and let me know what you think and tell me your embarrassing/funny kid stories.

Facebook Stat

2010-04-07T14:17:00.001-05:00

Facebook has started sending a weekly notification to me on the stats of my fan page. This function is new and you don't have to sign up for it. I LOVE it! Last week it informed me that I had 1 new fan, 1 comment and 162 people viewed my fan page.(Along with giving you the weeks stats that just ended they also include the prior weeks in parenthesis) This week I received my notification and was blown away:) I had 0 new fans, 0 comments and 356 people viewed my page!!! WOW that's more people just looking than actual fans.

I need to thank all of you for supporting, encouraging and praying for my success! Let's keep those big numbers coming and pass the word.

THANK YOU and God Bless all of you:)
Shawna

Barron's Bookstore in Longview

2010-03-24T12:56:00.000-05:00

This Saturday March 27, 2010 from 11-2. I am so excited about this book signing because there will be 12 other authors to sign books and to visit with. This is a great opportunity for me and all my family and friends to get to meet other local authors. There are amazing authors in our local area and I encourage you and your families to come meet and support these local authors this weekend.

Barron's Bookstore

2010-02-08T11:58:00.000-06:00

Great News.....

I just got a call last week about a book signing at Barron's bookstore in Longview Texas. This signing event is different than all the others I have been invited to because they only host group siginings. Barron's has invtied 12 or so auhors to participate in a group signing in late March, they have also asked us to invite around 30 of our friends and family so that all authors will be bringing in people to not only support them but to also check out the other authors books. What a great oppurtunity for me to meet other local authors and see what kind of books they have written.

So...on March 27, 2010 from 11-2 come out to Barron's in Longview and visit/support me and the other local authors that will be attending this event!

Update

2010-02-08T11:52:00.000-06:00

WOW....
It's been a really long time sice I have posted anything! I know that you life has probably been just as crazy as mine during the hoidays.

Well let me tell you a little about what has been going on in my life lately. After the holidays I was asked to speak to the Builders Club at Mineola ISD Middle school. That went really well and let me tell you those kids were fabulous! The students had great questions and were very interested in what I was talking about. Afterword I was asked if I would be interested in teaching an author camp this summer. It is so amazing how God works and put us in situation where we don't have to think about doing his work. I believe that God has presented these oppurtunities to me so that I can share my story with other people. What a great place to spread God's word than in a school!

My husband and I also joined a Care Group (bible study group) and we loved it! We are reading the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn and let me tell you this book really does open your eyes to the place we call Heaven.

November 4, 2009

2009-11-04T13:14:00.000-06:00

I had a MOPS meeting this morning and our speaker Patty Parker was awesome!!! I heard her speak this past summer and was really excited about hearing her again. God has truly blessed her with wonderful ways to handle our children. She spoke on how important it was for us as moms to pray for our children, pray out loud, and to set aside private time to pray. Jesus Christ and our prays is what will get us there the hard days so that we can praise him on the great days!

I pray that everyone has a blesses day!!!

The Scroll Christian Bookstore

2009-11-03T08:16:00.000-06:00

It's here my book signing at The Scroll Christian Bookstore. I can't wait for Saturday to arrive so that I meet all the great customers of The Scroll.

I have to say Praise God for all these oppurtunities that he is providing for me to sell my book!

Thanks you all my fans and family:)

Propero's Book Signing

2009-10-21T14:26:00.000-05:00

It's a done deal!!! I have booked a book signing event at Propero's Christian Book Store in Marshall Texas on December 12,2009 from 10am-12pm.
This should be great for all the people that live in or around the Marshall area. Hope to see you there.....come and get your copy of "That Puppy Dog Took My Boots" just in time for Christmas!!!

Book Signing this Saturday Oct. 24

2009-10-21T14:21:00.000-05:00

I will be at Hastings Book Store in Tyler Texas this Saturday October 24, 2009 from 1-3 pm. If you are out and about this weekend please stop in and say Hello. I would love to meet and visit with you. I am so excited about this event because I will also have coloring books for sale along with the actual books. I do want to Thank Hasting for hosting this event for me and I pray for an awesome turn out so that they will want me to come back:)

Thanks everyone for all the support and I hope to see you soon

Marshall Texas

2009-10-09T14:03:00.000-05:00

Just to keep everyone in the loop and updated. I am in the process of booking a signing event in Marshall Texas at Propero's. I am so excited to have an event where my dad lives. My dad and his family live in Marshall so if this event gets booked all of them will be able to come by. We don't get to see them very often so this is really exciting for all of us.

Exciting Times

2009-10-06T21:04:00.000-05:00

This is such an exciting time for me!! I was asked to write a testimony for a local business for their brochures. My first thought is why me?? The owner said they would love to have something written by me in their brochure. Crazy...Amazing...Excited...Worried, these are all feelings I felt when writing this insert. I also feel extremly grateful to Fun Factory for believing in me and trusting in me.

Three book signings scheduled over the next two months and I am working on a few more. I really hope that this book can be great Christmas presents for alot of little kids!!!

Lots Going On!!

2009-10-02T17:26:00.000-05:00

I am back from TN and things have been extremly crazy around my house!! I have just scheduled a signing event the The Scroll Christian Bookstore in Tyler, TX for November 7th from 1-3 pm. I am so excited and really hope to see all of you out there.

I do have another event coming up before then, it's at Hastings in Tyler TX from 1-3 pm. So very excited about this event!

Ready for MOPS Convention

2009-09-21T09:55:00.000-05:00

Ok just finished packing all I could for my trip to Tennessee. Me and 4 other ladies from my MOPS group are headed to the MOPS Convention in Nashville, TN. I have comfy clother, everyday clothes and dressy clothes, so I think I am covered. I have never been to this convention before. I am so excited about the workshops I am sceduled to attend. I can already tell God is going to be so apparent at this convention and I hope and pray that everyone listens to God and speaks and/or relays the message he has for everyone of us to give regardless of how shy or introvert we are! We leave at 5 am on Thurday morning and drive all day . It should take us about 10 hours to get there but with good company the trip should be fun!

I hope everyone has a great week and I will talk to you when I get home!!

MOPS Meeting

2009-09-16T13:24:00.000-05:00

Today's MOPS meeting went really well!! God gave me a calmness over the whole speaking part and I feel that I covered and expressed the major points of my speech. Whats most important to me is that people know the purpose behind my writing. I love my book and it's great(I know I am a little parital) but I want people to see God's message behind my book!

Thanks to all who came and Praise God for using me to spread his word.

Great Launch Party

2009-09-15T11:56:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to share a few photos with you from my launch party. The party was great and we had a really good time. Below is the speech I gave at the end of the party, I hope you enjoy!!!

"I want to Thank everyone for coming here today to support me. Over a year ago I prayed for a platform or a way to spread God’s word. This story is what he gave me. The story is great and it is also true but the purpose behind the book is the most important thing to me. I feel my purpose with this new found ability is to spread the word of God in anyway I can. I am standing in front of you today as a published author but most important a Christian wanting to make a difference in peoples lives. God has given me the platform and ability to write and speak to help spread his word. I am just one of His warriors on earth trying to make a difference.

So I Thank you again for allowing me to share this funny story about my sons boots and the neighbors dog. I pray for this book to reach and touch many lives and with that prayer I also want to pray people will know the driven purpose behind writing this story."

Hastings Book Signing Event

2009-09-15T10:27:00.000-05:00

Great news people!!!

I received an email from my publisher and they have booked me a book signing at Hastings in Tyler TX. The signing is October 24 from 1-3 pm. I am super excited about this event. I think maybe I am starting to feel like this is real. I am learning alot with this new process.

If anyone has any tips on how to promote more, please let me know:o)

Sorytime in Grand Saline, TX

2009-09-13T22:34:00.000-05:00

Just letting everyone know that I am headed to Grand Saline, TX for storytime for three Head Start classes. Thanks Crystal for helping me book these great events.

The launch paty went well and I want to thank everyone who came out to support me!!

Party TODAY!!

2009-09-12T10:05:00.000-05:00

Today at the Lindale Public Library from 2-4 pm I am hosting a party for the launch of my book. I am so excited that my book is finally avialable to the public. We have sent three press releases out so hopfully we will have great media coverage. If you live in the area please stop by to pick up a copy of "That Puppy Dog Took My Boots" and get it signed. We also are going to have a coloring station for the kids to color a coloring sheet of the cover of my book.

If you don't live in this area then you can go online to any major bookstore and order a copy of my book.(Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Borders.com, or Tatepublishing.com)

Thank you so much for all the support and prayers this journey has been God driven and I praise God for all the success he has given me.

Pajama Storytime

2009-09-09T13:28:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow I will be the guest reader at the Mineola Library for Pajama Storytime. You bring your kids dressed in their PJ's at 6:30 pm. We read the book and then the library will provided a small snack and drink for the kids. It's a great way to spend quality time with your kids and the best thing is it doesn't cost you anything....unless you want to purchase a book!!:) I would love to see you there.

Come join us for the first pajama storytime of the year!!!

Today is the Day!!

2009-09-08T09:51:00.000-05:00

Good Morning to everyone!

I am so excited to announce that today my book is available online at places like amazon.com,barnesandnoble.com,borders.com, and booksamillion.com. Also, if you want to just go to your local bookstore you can request that they order the book for you. You may also request that they host a book signing. If that is something they are interested in then they can contact my publisher and we will be the ball rolling on that for you. I am so excited that this day is finally here and that I can share my story with all of you.

Thanks for all the support and I hope you enjoy the book!!!

Pajama Story time at Mineola Library

2009-09-03T13:51:00.000-05:00

September 10, 2009 at 6:30 pm the Mineola Library is hosting pajama story time. They have asked me to come and read my book! What an honor! If you live in this area come and bring your kids it's going to be a blast. There will be refreshments after story time:)

It's on at the Lindale Library!!!

2009-09-03T13:42:00.000-05:00

WoooHooo!! The Lindale Public Library has come through again for me. I got the call yesterday that the Lindale Library was avaiable for rent on September 12 for my launch party. Thank you Kerri!! Today I have had flyers printed for my sons Playschool and I also had the invites printed today. Things are moving along fast and furious but very fun:) I will pick up the invites today and start hand writing the address this evening. I feel that by hand writing the addresses it lets that person now that it means alot to me for them to be there. I also have a friend working on a press release for me and she says we will send that out by the end of the day!YAY

Looking for a Plan B

2009-08-31T12:50:00.000-05:00

I found out on Friday that the venue we wanted may not be avaiable for use on the date we want. I am now trying to come up with a "Plan B" just in case the "Plan A" falls through. Although this launch party for my book release seems to be a little bit of a pain I am really enjoying constructing it. I have the table decorations set and the day and time set, so now I need to work on the guest list and maybe the place. This is my first book and without God it would not be possible so I want to get the word out so I can spread the Good News of Jesus Christ!!

The way the book came to play is somewhat long but to make it short I had been praying for a platform to speak Gods word. I wanted to make a bigger difference in peoples lives than I was. I had beening praying for about six months when I sat down to write this story and it just happened. I have never been a writer before and since then I have written 6 more stories and have about 4 more ideas for stories. God has blessed me more than I could have ever imagined. I have been asked to be a speaker at my local MOPS meeting on September 16 and what a great start to spreading God's word to other mothers just like me! My release date is September 8 and I am hoping to host my lauch party on Saturday September 12. I should also start to have book signings in and around the Mineola,Tyler,Longview and Marshall areas.

It's a New Day

2009-08-28T11:08:00.001-05:00

Good Morning to All!

Toady started with my boys going to Kids Day Out and me making a list of all the things I need to get done before this afternoon. I am very much involved with MOPS in Mineola, TX and we are just two weeks away from my book release. My publisher says we will do the "Media Biltz" after my release date but I am thinking that we should probably already be promoting the release! I have wonderful friends that are helping me do just that. I am checking in on the invites today to see if they are ready for print, then calling the venue to make sure everything is good on their end. Busy busy day, any suggestions on what else I need to do to promote my book?? OH, one more thing I have another friend working on a press release for me and she is doing a great job!!

Invites for Launch Party

2009-08-26T18:45:00.000-05:00

My friend Jennifer is helping me plan my launch party for the release of my book "That Puppy Dog Took My Boots." She is a HUGE help and a wonderful supporter!! I have another friend that is helping me create the invitations for the party. Crystal is doin a great job with the invite and placement of the cover of the book. I am so very blessed to have friends that want to see me succeed in this new party of my life journey that God has placed me on.

I really hope everyone can come, it's going to be at Hide-A-Way Lake Marina Lodge. This is really exciting and strange to me. I never thought that writing children's books is what I would be doing at this point in my life but it's great!

Comments, questions....anything else is welcome to help me be a better blogger. Any comments to help me promote this book is wanted!!

Welcome!!

2009-08-25T15:20:00.000-05:00

Hello to all,

Welcome to my new blog. I thought it was time that I have a blog that was only for my book information. This is going to be great second party of the year . My release date is September 8, 2009 and my launch party is tentatively set for September 12, 2009 from 2-4 pm.

I will post more information as soon as I know. I really hope that everyone can come!!!

Dance Dimensions

2009-07-29T08:28:00.000-05:00

Good Morning....

I will be at the Dazzling Diva Dance camp at Dance Dimensions today for story time. I am really nervous to read because this will only be my second time to read aloud to kids and it can be a little nerve racking. I am excited though because this is a great opportunity to get the word out about my book and to let the girls hear the story so they will tell their parents about it. We are having story time three time today first at 10:45 am , then 3:45 pm and again at 5:30 pm.

Thank you so much to Koni and Brandi at Dance Dimensions for this wonderful opportunity and privilege to read at your camp. I also want to Thank you for allowing me to have a book signing on Thursday at the camp.

Storytime!!!

2009-07-17T08:09:00.000-05:00

Hello to everyone!

Come join me for storytime at the Lindale Public Library. They have asked me to read my book at storytime today. After we read the book the kids will do a craft. It's lots of fun and the Lindale Library is awsome and very kid friendly!!!

I hope to see you there!

THANK YOU!

2009-06-28T20:20:00.000-05:00

I just want to say Thank you for all the support that you have given me at my book signing at LIL' Buckaroo's Consignment Boutique. We had a good turn out and a really great time!

Fans

2009-06-24T06:51:00.000-05:00

Good Morning!!!!

First of all, it is way too early to be up!!!! Now that is out of the way I just have to say Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to all the people who have joined my fan page on facebook. Last night I checked the page and my book had 66 fans! I am shocked and amazed at the support that I have received and I am very grateful for all of it.

Don't forget if you are in or around Mineola, TX from 10 am-12 swing by LIL' Buckaroos Consignment Shop across from Brookshires and say HI and get your signed copy of "That Puppy Dog Took My Boots"

Gotta go....talk to you soon!

My First Book Signing:)

2009-06-17T09:37:00.000-05:00

HI Again!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know that LIL' BUCKAROO'S in Mineola (across street form Brookshires) has so graciously allowed me to set up in front of her shop for a book signing and some refreshments. The event is on June 27th from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.

Come join the fun and have some food! If you already have your book just come on by to say HI and to take a look around the LIL' Buckaroo children's consignment shop!!!!:=)

We hope to see you there!

BOOKS FOR SELL!

2009-06-02T17:22:00.000-05:00

I wanted to let everyone know that my book is for sale by me or you can click on the link below and it will take you to my publishers website to order your very own copy of my book. The link is http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-60799-560-9 and if you would like to contact me you can email me at shawnab412@netzero.net.

Thank you for all your support and for purchasing my book!!!

That Puppy Dog Took My Boots!

2009-05-28T17:54:00.000-05:00

Hello to all--

I know what you are thinking.....it's been a really long time since your last post! I have been busy people:)

I do have some news to share with everyone. My book That Puppy Dog Took My Boots has now gone to print and will be ready for the public in mid-September. I do have a little secret for you. I was able to order some copies of my book in advance and should have them in about three weeks. I will have them for sale as long as they last!!! I really need your support because I would love to continue to publish books but I have to sell 5,000 copies of this first one before my publisher will consider publishing my second. My publisher should be sending me the image of the cover and a link to their website. For those of you who don't live close enough to come get one you will be able to click on my link and it will take you to my book on my publishers website. If you don't live close and you would like it signed please feel free to email me to find out if I will be at a book store near you for a book signing.

I do need and want to Thank everyone that has been involved with this process!!! Everyone who has supported and encouraged me through out this past year. All the hard work has paid off!!!!

Love ya

Shawna Blalock