Category: Personal Posts

It Takes a Village …

M.K. Tod1 Comment

Today’s post is a ‘shout out’ to all those who helped launch Paris In Ruins. These days, it takes a village to launch a new novel and with Paris In Ruins planned for release at the end of March, I began the marketing process last November with a request for endorsements from a small group of author friends. I felt particularly blessed when many agreed to read the manuscript.

In early February, I assembled a long list of authors, book bloggers, bookstagrammers, and others to ask for their support. These were people I’d connected with over the years in different ways: guest posts and interviews on A Writer of History, Facebook friendships, historical fiction groups and conferences, reader surveys, beta reading support, virtual book tours, and so on. Each had offered insights on historical fiction and the craft of writing. I had willingly learned from them and hoped that the feeling was mutual.

To my astonishment and great joy, more than 70 individuals gave their time and effort for tweets, FaceBook posts, guest posts and interviews, giveaways, Instagram posts and other ways to amplify the news. Several took the time to read Paris In Ruins and post their reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and other sites.

This incredibly generous village has launched Paris In Ruins with great style. My heart is full of gratitude.

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M.K. Tod writes historical fiction. Her latest novel, PARIS IN RUINS, is available for pre-order on Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Kobo, and Barnes&Noble. An earlier novel, TIME AND REGRET was published by Lake Union. Mary’s other novels, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE and UNRAVELLED are available from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and iTunes. She can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads or on her website www.mktod.com.

Attention Deficit

M.K. Tod3 Comments

Do you ever wonder if you’re paying attention to the right things? Do you have times of absolute distraction, flipping from emails, to Facebook and text messages, to household chores and work tasks with alarmingly close deadlines? Yup, me too.

In this attention seeking economy, I find myself labouring under a severe attention deficit. As a result, I’m like a spinning top beginning to wobble, with an imminent threat of crashing. I lose track of emails, send belated birthday cards, skip out on exercise in the hope of salvaging another precious thirty minutes. It wasn’t always like this.

Ask yourself, “Wasn’t it easier before the pressure of social media?” Before the pressure of likes and followers and having something fascinating to say or a compelling image to share every day.

I remember the days before social media took over our lives. I had time then to ponder critical work issues, really think about them in the quiet of my office. I had time to think strategically. I had time to chat with my staff and colleagues about their lives and families and personal pursuits. I had time for weekends with my husband and children without the intrusion of emails and text messages and the glow of my laptop.

The reality, as Michael Goldhaber, an Internet prophet, concluded is that social media has enticed us into “taking whatever precious little attention we have and diverting it toward something.” Goldhaber called this a “zero-sum proposition. When you pay attention to one thing, you ignore something else.”

But … social media is like a drug and most of us are addicted. I’ve been thinking of walking away from at least some of it. But maybe I’ll just wait a little while until Paris In Ruins is published. Maybe then I can stage a retreat.

As writer Howard Rheingold said: “Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where you pay attention.”

DON’T MISS OTHER POSTS ON READING & WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION.  FOLLOW A WRITER OF HISTORY

M.K. Tod writes historical fiction. Her latest novel, TIME AND REGRET was published by Lake Union. Mary’s other novels, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE and UNRAVELLED are available from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and iTunes. She can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads or on her website www.mktod.com.

Words to live by

M.K. TodLeave a comment

Last week, I asked Facebook friends to suggest one word that would guide them for 2021.

Mine is positivity – I’ve told myself to look at each day through a positive lens, finding the possibilities rather than the problems. Looking for something upbeat or something to celebrate rather than dwelling on government restrictions, Covid-19 doldrums, and things that I can’t do. Here’s what others said:

  • Hope
  • Unity
  • Harmony
  • Make space
  • Happy heart
  • Hopeful
  • Kindness
  • Commitment
  • Boundaries
  • Happiness
  • Intentional
  • Survival
  • Strength
  • Prayerful
  • Uncertainty
  • #NeverAgain
  • #Calm
  • Let-go
  • Health
  • Gratitude
  • Healing
  • Kindness
  • Infinite possibilities
  • Mercy
  • Optimism
  • Enthusiasm
  • Passion
  • Acceptance
  • Persistence
  • Coffee
  • Inebriation
  • Resilience
  • Preparedness
  • Determination
  • NEXT

What an inspiring list! May these words inspire you too.

DON’T MISS OTHER POSTS ON READING & WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION.  FOLLOW A WRITER OF HISTORY

M.K. Tod writes historical fiction. Her latest novel, TIME AND REGRET was published by Lake Union. Mary’s other novels, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE and UNRAVELLED are available from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and iTunes. She can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads or on her website www.mktod.com.