Great New Site for Audiobook Listeners!

There's a new site aimed specifically at audiobook listeners called Audiobook Blast!  The site was created by popular audiobook narrator Jeffrey Kafer.  

Audiobook Blast is the new way to find FREE audiobooks, Whispersync deals, and promotional audiobook titles. Sign up for the newsletter and get these deals sent right to your inbox. NO obligation, NO cost. Just good listening. 

Narrators (including moi) and authors are excited about this site since it will be a great way to get our new titles out to listeners and also to highlight any giveaways, sales, contests, etc., that we may be having.  The deals in the newsletter that subscribers will receive will be from many different sources -- authors, narrators, publisher sites, etc.  Big publisher titles to indie author titles -- all will be included.  

So please sign up here if you're an audiobook listener, author or narrator!  

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An excellent Friday estate sale

Colorful dishware.

Friday morning, bright and early, Duane, Linda and I hit an estate sale in a community in town called Cheval.  This is a planned development similar to the one I live in but it's pretty close to where Linda lives.   There don't seem to be as many estate sales near where Linda lives or in my area so we decided we had to check this one out.  Apparently, the woman who lived there was an event planner so, along with furniture and decor of her own, there were lots of items she had used for her work.

Judaica items.

The company giving the sale was a good one -- we've been to their sales before and they always price items to sell.  It was a sprawling house so a couple of times I wasn't sure I had been in a particular room yet until I checked it out to be sure.  I really liked a great deal of the art work.  Most were either originals or signed prints.  I couldn't pass up a vintage signed print that looks like it might be a color block (?) of the statue of David.  I'm planning to reframe it in a smaller more modern frame -- haven't decided about matting.  I love it.  It has a kitschy sort of look but it's not over the top.

Jewelry, anyone?

I also found three light up heart pens for the three little girls in my life (my nieces) that I know they'll love.  Mint in the packages.  In addition, there were items as diverse as men and women wallets mint in the box.  I purchased a man's Claiborne for Men leather wallet that I'll probably use as a gift for someone's birthday or Christmas.

Duane found a colorful spoonrest that she scooped up for her kitchen along with a pair of mugs that are Delft.  Anyone who follows this blog knows that Duane collects Delft but these were so whimsical and colorful that she was surprised when she turned them over and saw the maker name.

Nice items for men.

The art was going fast and Linda and I had both eyed an original French watercolor.  Someone else did purchase it while we were there.  We always figure that those losses simply weren't meant to be.  Linda, though sorely tempted, was the only one who left this sale empty-handed.  

Afterwards, we headed for our usual refreshments and gabbing at the nearest coffee shop.  It was a good day to be inside since the low actually dipped into the low 30s the night before.  However, I still like my coffee iced no matter what the weather is like.  I guess that's just the way I roll!

Our purchases.

     

My recording of The Tale of Chirpy Cricket on sale on Audible!

My audio version of The Tale of Chirpy Cricket by Arthur Scott Bailey went on sale on Audible yesterday.  Here's the intro:

"Chirpy Cricket sleeps in his little hole in Farmer Green's farmyard all day but when night falls, he comes out of his hole and makes his music with other members of the cricket family. Chirpy calls the noise he makes with his legs "fiddling" and he loves to fiddle. When he isn't fiddling, he gathers grass to take back to his hole to eat. Chirpy also likes to visit other creatures on the farm such as Tommy Tree Cricket, Freddie Firefly, Mr. Cricket Frog and others. Arthur Scott Bailey wrote a number of children's books. This book is part of his Tuck-Me-In Tales series. Bailey managed to slip facts about the various creatures into his books without sounding "preachy" and incorporated science into his wonderful stories while still giving his characters distinct personalities."

This is a great chapter book for kids ages 5-7.   It should be linked to the Kindle version that I published (using over 30 of Duane's watercolor illustrations) in the Whispersync program soon.  When that happens, the audiobook will be drastically reduced in price if you purchase the Kindle version.  Great for immersion reading for beginners and children having difficulty reading.   I'll post here when the book is part of Whispersync.

In the mean time, you can check here to listen to a sample of the audiobook.

If you'd like to check out a preview of the Kindle version with Duane's drawings, go here.

 Here's a sneak preview of another of the characters from the book.  This is Timothy Turtle:

A Friday Estate Sale and A Recording Update

Friday morning Duane, Linda and I set out for the first estate sale we've hit since before the holidays.  This one was held in an older home in a part of town called Old Carrollwood.  It's a nice area that's centrally located in Tampa. 

The house was a pretty one and there was plenty of furniture and small items. 

Nice table.

We decided to all meet at the sale.  Even though we got there before it began at 9am, there were already cars lining both sides of the street.  Didn't have to wait long before we were allowed in, though.

Plenty of dinnerware and cookware.

There was some nice art but nothing that was really my taste.  I did end up buying a little barbell for my mother.  She goes to a cardiac rehab class three times a week.  In between, she's supposed to do lifts to strengthen her wrists and arms.  The cute little 2 pound green weight I found was perfect for her to use.

Plenty of silver and silver plate items

Linda was the only one who didn't buy anything.  Duane did really well.  The lady who had lived there had nice clothing that was barely worn.  Duane bought three of her blouses/jackets along with a couple of mugs that are the Delft-ware that she collects.  She also bought a tea towel and a box of unopened Christmas cards.  This person had a LOT of Christmas decorations.  One whole room of the sale was filled with boxes and boxes of them.

Of course, there are always things that kind of freak me out at some sales.  Behold the picture below.  All that's missing is that none of them are...  clowns!!!  Dolls and clowns are definitely not my thing.  Shudder. 

All those staring eyes...

After we checked out at the sale, we headed for coffee, treats and a chance to celebrate Duane's illustrations in the new edition of the children's classic The Tale of Chirpy Cricket by Arthur Scott Bailey.  Go, Duane! 

My handweight and Duane's items.

Duane's fashion finds.

On the audiobook front, my narration of The Tale of Chirpy Cricket is currently in post-production for Audible.  When it goes on sale, it will be in the Whispersync program linked to the Kindle book with Duane's illustrations.  I'll post here when that becomes available.  In the mean time, I've just begun production on a historical romance.  It's by Holly Bush and it's called Romancing Olive: Prairie Romance.  I'm really enjoying the story and hope future buyers will, too.