I've written before about being on many podcasts as a guest presenter. I always want to be prepared, and I also want new topics to write/talk about. With all of this in mind, I decided to have my ChatGPT - I call him Quill, interview me in the spirit of the old Johnny Carson/Merv Griffen style - and I used the Voice option so that it would resemble an actual interview. I set up some ground rules, including how I want Quill to perform the interview, and left the questions and style pretty much up to the AI. Then we proceeded. I have to tell you it was like sitting with a friend around a campfire (a bit scary too) and just chatting. What I hope to do with this is to audit it for personal style - where I might need improvement for my quest appearance, how to better present my thoughts, and maybe there just might be some book ideas generated. Anyway - it was a lot of fun - but as I said - a bit scary that it can have a flowing conversation without much hesitation at all. Might be a fun exercise to try! Just FYI...

Hello all - I am for the first time, thinking of using an offset printer for my new book. I know I will have to order perhaps a few hundred or more in order to generate a price point I am looking for. Can anyone recommend one that they have used - and do they have an online calculator for knowing qty/options/price? Thanks much. Kevin

Hello Wordsmith Family: Truly tickled to share that I just published my nonfiction audiobook I TRIED TO BE NORMAL BUT IT WAS TAKEN on Audible and I could not have paid for a better review! Am I showing off? Apparently yes. I believe in celebrating our successes. We all know where we can improve. If anyone wants a freebie and does not have an audible acct you can access mine for free for 30 days by clickling: https://www.audible.com/pd/I-Tried-to-Be-Normal-but-It-Was-Taken-Audiobook/B0HKT1G1G1?qid=1790619636&intent=discovery&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=F1HFKBXBQ3QRV1BXJK2X&plink=IEUEiFPbjBDOohjT&pageLoadId=cXg2IrNfw8HJPHU6&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&fbclid=IwY2xjawUuJjFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mBWJyaWQRMThvbG4ySnBBeDhLQzdvSndzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEevb-He4hssa33QY8xAx7Rn9LYvTPa1DPd_PrnycJPP4mGxqM1LNmkrvz_Pzk_aem_n6edAM0LNKAco6gwI8n9zQ

I've come across another scam. This one involves Goodreads groups. You'll get a lengthy email (a sure sign that it was written by an AI app). The sender will identify themselves as a member of a group with a large membership and the sender promises to get the members to rave about your book and write many, many reviews. I checked on the group mentioned in the latest email to me and there was a thread about members getting a scammer email using the group to entice authors to spend money. Be vigilant!

Happy first of the month. Here's what I keep noticing. Someone asks a question at 2pm and three of you answer before I even see it. THANK YOU!! Special thanks to Joe Tyndall, Rob Cole, and KJ. They top the 30-day leaderboard, and it shows up in the way they work. First to post, first to cheer, first to help someone who is stuck. Jane Howard wrote, "Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." That's what this is. Writing a book is lonely work, and you have made it less lonely for each other. This month's leaderboard winner is Bruce Wayne. Your prize ... well you get to pick from the swag closet. Connect with @Angela Jones at [email protected], and she'll tell you what she has and you can choose. There's almost certainly books, journals, mugs, and pens. Sometimes she has shirts or bags. Thank you for making this group special!! Julie