Saturday, May 4, 2013

Our First Blog!

Greetings, and welcome to Romancing The Era’s first blog!

...and my first blog on my first website as an author. Wow. Not fancy, maybe, but still, there's something a little magical about it, a sense of having achieved a milestone that only a few months ago seemed impossible. So, good morning, dear readers! If you have a blog, do you remember how you felt, blogging the first time? Can you see my smile? Can you hear the delight in my virtual voice, a joy that makes me feel like dancing?

This blog allows me to announce that I am only weeks away from publishing my first novel, 'To Dream of Langston', a serialized book that in its own way, feels like a first child. All these 'firsts'! I feel elated. Protective. Fearful. Hopeful. Energized.

What a trip it has been getting to this point. Long hours. Grueling effort (really!). Phone calls. Countless emails. Hours searching the net. Early mornings. Late meals. DH sighing. Kitties irritated. Frustration. Fun. Lots of "eeks". Fun! And now, worth it all.

Today, I raise my cup of smoky lapsang souchong to my dear author friends Beppie Harrison and Lane McFarland (and our talented, knowledgeable, patient web designer, Rae Monet), who share this wonderful first with me. Pat yourselves on the back, Beppie and Lane. We're almost there, girls!

Màiri Norris

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So now we begin.

I am a great fan of the beginnings of things – a fresh start, new territory ahead of me, no inconvenient bumps in the road.  No stupid mistakes, although since I’ve spent a lifetime with myself I can guarantee some will come along.  I just ask that people focus on the “stupid” rather than the “mistakes.”  Most of what I do is well-intentioned!

What will I be blogging about?  Well, primarily whatever is on my mind at the moment I start to think about writing it down.  Today is a beautiful sunny spring day in the southeastern corner of Michigan, where I live.  I gather spring has finally found us.  It seemed to have taken a detour somewhere – maybe down in the Caribbean?  So another beginning, and a good one.  Trees are remembering they have leaves, the magnolia trees are on the point of popping into ivory-colored splendor, and the bulbs the deer haven’t eaten are bursting into bloom.

So, dear readers – and I hope your numbers will increase! – I blow a wish to you that this will be a new beginning in some ways to you, too.  Let us know what you’re starting on, or starting to finish. That’s nearly as good.

Beppie Harrison

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When Beppie, Shirley and I embarked on our journey together, we packed our bags with tidbits of information. Slowly, but surely those bags have filled with tips and tricks of website design, a newsletter, Twitter, Circles on Google…whew! My head is spinning, and my heart’s thumping with excitement as readers join us.

I look forward to posting topics from gardening, to places I long to visit, articles I run across in my research, and whatever happens to pop into my world. As I write from my quiet country home in the mountains surrounded by abundant wildlife, you never know what will wander up.

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you will leave us comments, let us know if something is of interest. We would love to hear from you…

Lane McFarland

57 comments:

  1. Well done, ladies! And here's to the exciting achievement of many more milestones and dreams-come-true. :-)

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    1. Thank you, Maeve! -- and now we have arrived at the hard part: sticking with it, LOL.
      Màiri

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    2. Thank you for stopping by, Maeve! We are so excited and appreciate your support. :0)
      Lane

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  2. Good morning, and lovely post! Good luck with your writing. You all have wonderful futures ahead!

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    1. Our thanks, Cathy -- Our eyes are full of dreams for that future you mention.
      Màiri

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  3. Beginnings are so special. Congratulations on this one for you three. A lovely, lush website and sparkling 'beginning' writers...can't wait to see more. Good luck for all the tomorrows.

    Barb Bettis

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    1. Thank you, Barbara! We are still 'dancing', LOL.

      Màiri

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    2. Thank you so much, Barb! We appreciate you stopping by... :0)

      Lane

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  4. Congratulations to all of you. The site is lovely.
    I look forward to your musings.
    May your sales climb, your joy be full, and you gain friends in the process.

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    1. Many thanks, Sandy. We'll keep you updated... and we've found many friends along the way, already, including you. I'm still grinning over your good news from yesterday.
      Màiri

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    2. Oh Sandy, I have met some incredible writers and wonderful friends! Thank you for the lovely wish.

      Lane

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  5. Such a hopeful, happy beginning for all of you. It reminds of the excitement and expectation I felt when I first began my writing career (a long, long time ago). Best wishes to you all and may you keep that outlook of enthusiasm and joy!

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    1. I'm glad we triggered a happy memory for you, Mary. Thank you.
      Màiri

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    2. Thank you, Mary! We are so excited. Things are finally coming together. Really appreciate you stopping by...

      Lane

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  6. Beautiful blog, ladies! It's always fun to launch a group venture. Best of luck!

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    1. Thanks for the kind words, Susan... and yes, it has been fun!
      Màiri

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    2. We are having such fun, Susan! I'm really fortunate to have wonderful author buddies. :0)

      Lane

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  7. Congratulations on your first blog post! Well done, ladies!

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    1. Thank you, Vonda! We're having a ball with all this.
      Màiri

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    2. Thank you, Vonda! We're learning and totally enjoying the process. :0)

      Lane

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  8. It's a wonderful beginning, ladies--rather like a blank sheet of paper on which you can write anything you wish--the most beautiful word picture anyone ever composed. Best wishes for a fabulous future!
    ~Cate

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    1. Thank you so much for stopping by, Cate! We appreciate your support and best wishes.

      Lane

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  9. Wow, this is great. Congrats and best of luck to you.

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    1. Thanks CAM... you're my 'bestest', and you know it.
      Màiri

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    2. Thanks, Cam! We are really thrilled with our new website and our first blog. Sure appreciate you stopping by and commenting.

      Lane

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  10. Well done,ladies. Beautiful site. I'm sure of your success.
    Dory

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    1. Dory, thank you! Glad you like the site.
      Màiri

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    2. Hey Dory! So nice to hear from you... Thank you for your sweet words of encouragement!

      Lane

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    3. Dory -- how nice of you to have come by! I'm most impressed by how many people have looked in on us, and of course thrilled that you said the site was beautiful. {Preen!)

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  11. I'm so excited for you!! Congratulations on your first blog. Tweeted.

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    1. Hey Ella! Thank you for stopping by! Hopefully, the first of many visits from you. ;0)

      Lane

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  12. Replies
    1. THANK YOU for everything, Rae!!! We love our website and your patience. LOL! I know it's been tried a time or two. :0)

      Lane

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    2. not at all you guys are very gracious ladies!

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    3. We could not have done it without you, Rae. You are a peach, and the best. This is as much a success for you as for us, and I second Lane's 'THANK YOU', especially re that patience thing, LOL. It's a good thing you have plenty, and to spare!
      Màiri

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    4. Coming in later but no less enthusiastically. Working with you was a pleasure, and we're all so proud of what you've come up with! Now comes the fun part -- keeping it up!

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  13. Congrats on this gorgeous site, ladies. Rae always does a fantabulous job on everything she does. :) I will definitely be back.

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    1. Thanks, Paisley. Rae is doing the e-book covers for the serialized version of the book I'm about to start publishing (To Dream of Langston). They are are so beautiful and elegant. I love her work.
      Màiri

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  14. Rae not only does a wonderful job, she's marvelous to work with. Thank you for your thoughts and hope to see you again soon!

    Lane

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  15. Beautiful site! I look forward to reading your individual posts. What an awesome start!

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    1. Our thanks, Tara! Lane has the next blog. Look for it on or around May 10. I can't wait to see what she says, either, LOL!
      Màiri

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  16. Thank you so much! We'll be posting again soon and hope you will stop back by...

    Lane

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  17. Very nice! I love the banner. Look forward to seeing more blogs.

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    1. Thank you, Sharla! When I first saw that banner, it was one of those 'speechless' moments. I was totally overwhelmed with how romantic and beautiful it was. -- Check back around May 10 for the next blog.
      Màire

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  18. Good luck to the three of you! Nice colors for the site---easily readable. You're an inspiration for me to start my own. I've been putting it off for a few years.

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    1. Many thanks, Julie! The first colors we thought of were quite different, but these 'warm' colors were so gorgeous we were just blown away.
      Wishing you lots of luck in getting your own website going. It's a wild journey getting there, but worth it.
      Màiri

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  19. A great first post, ladies! I look forward to many, many more.

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    2. Thank you, Jena - We are on our way! Check back around May 10 for Lane's first 'solo' blog.
      Màiri

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  20. I love the feel of this blog - and your first (collective) post was a huge success!!! Well done ladies! Keep up the fantastic work!

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    1. What a nice thing to say, Renee! We're all rank beginners at this sort of thing, and as you say, now we get into the "keeping it up" business. But having such a beautiful site makes it all worth fussing with.

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  21. Thanks so much, Renee! That means a lot, coming from you, hon.
    Màiri

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  22. Congratulations Ladies! Looking forward to your future posts.

    Happy Blogging!

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    1. Thank you, Violet! Glad to have you with us. Next blog is scheduled for around May 10. Lane will be going 'solo' on it.
      Màiri

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  23. What a lovely blog! Best of the best to you, ladies. I'll be watching for your posts!

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    1. Pat, thank you for visiting! Next blog will be somewhere around May 10.
      Màiri

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