From her blog:
We all leave our “footprint” on the world, in one way or another. We each, individually, do something or are someone that makes the world a little better just by being here. I created this weekly meme to get to know the blogging community I love just a bit better. To know what makes them tick, outside of books, that is. Each week I will post a question to be answered in the following week’s “A Bit of Me(Me)”. Check back each Saturday to get the info for next week’s post and link up with your current post right here.
Today’s Topic:
This Weeks Question: Your absolute greatest phobia.
A Bit Of Me:
I have 2….snakes and heights.    I can’t even look at snakes on the tv.  While on vacation many years ago, we went to an exhibit, not knowing what was to come.  And then there was a warning to stay seated.  And out comes an Anaconda that was 18 ft long.  I was surprised I didn’t faint.  But my eyes were shut tight and my heart was pounding.  The other phobia is heights.  I have trouble getting on tall ladders lol.  While on a cruise, I never got close to the rail on the top deck because of my fear.
Now you know a little bit more about me.  What is your absolute phobia?

Another month has flown by.  Can’t believe we are heading into August.  Won’t be long now for the retail stores will be decorating for Christmas (it seems to me that it gets done earlier each year).  I am pleased with my progress this month and my goal for August is to do the same or better.  As for challenges, not so good.  Back in Nov/Dec 2009, I signed up for many challenges being that this would be my first year participating.  I really thought I could get the majority completed, thinking that review requests would be far and few between.  I was mistaken but in a good way.  I have quite a few books in my “TBR Review Schedule” as you can see on my right sidebar and plan on cutting back a bit for the rest of the year until I get caught up.  I am amazed and never thought my blog would reach the level it has in 8 months, but enjoying every minute of it.  So on to the numbers:
READ:
Returning Injury by Becky Due  (Rating: 2)
Through Hazel Eyes by Heather Hummel  (Rating: 3)
Muffins & Mayhem by Suzanne Beecher (Rating: 5)
Living In The Hope Of My Imagination by William D. Simpson  (Rating: 2)
Finding Marco by Kenneth C. Cancellara  (Rating: 1)
Damaged by Pamela Callow  (Rating: 4)
Sidney Sheldon’s Mistress Of The Game by Tilly Bagshawe  (Rating: 4)
Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy  (Rating: 4)
Revenge Served Cold by Jackie Fullerton  (Rating: 2)
Sweet Dreams, Miss England by Iris Blobel  (Rating:  4)
CHALLENGES:
Lisa Jackson  5/5
Awesome Author  0/3
RYOB  1/10
Romance  3/3
EBook  1/6
Reading from my Shelves 20/20
Thrillers/Suspense  12/12
Books Won  1/6
100+  39/100
FOMA 37/?
Buck A Book  39/100
Reagan Arthur 2/ongoing
50+  27/50
Summer Reading  11/12

Thoughts/Question for 2011: 
The 50+ Challenge was created by Reading By Sea blog.  However, last month she announced that she was leaving the book blogging community.  I was excited when I originally saw this challenge because even though I signed up for the 100+ Challenge, I knew that it would be out of my range.  So I am wondering if I should offer it for 2011 but not sure how to go about it…setting up a challenge, place for postings, place for reviews, challenge button, etc etc. 

What do you think?  Would you be interested?  Anyone want to assist me to become a host and get me started?  Or have you heard that another blog will be hosting?  I will be discussing this again for Slapdash Sunday but thought I would throw it out there today.

I found out about the Read-A-Thon late this afternoon via ExLibris’ Blog and signed up.  I need an incentive to do nothing but read.  So am telling family that I am unavailable (they will probably be happy lol) and will be starting as soon as I publish this post.  And am hoping that the weather is nice this weekend because my plan is to sit by the pool and/or get on my float, with my book and an iced coffee and read.  I want to finish my current read and on to the next, and maybe even finishing that one.  So the books I will be working on are:

And if I am lucky and “real life” doesn’t interfere, my next book will be:

I found out about the Read-A-Thon late this afternoon via ExLibris’ Blog and signed up.  I need an incentive to do nothing but read.  So am telling family that I am unavailable (they will probably be happy lol) and will be starting as soon as I publish this post.  And am hoping that the weather is nice this weekend because my plan is to sit by the pool and/or get on my float, with my book and an iced coffee and read.  I want to finish my current read and on to the next, and maybe even finishing that one.  So the books I will be working on are:

And if I am lucky and “real life” doesn’t interfere, my next book will be:

The new digital publishing model has changed all that. It’s allowed writers who have been constantly rejected from New York as being “unmarketable” to now earn an audience. A global audience. It’s also helped writers like me who have previously been published by major New York publishers but who didn’t earn our a mid-six-figure advance, to once again enter into the game, but this time with books that will remain in print and in electronic form, forever and ever.

But the digital age has also offered us something more. Something very mighty, yet at the same time, very small in length. I’m talking about the Digital Short. Known to most of us as the plain old short story, the Digital Short is more than that. Written to read like a short novel or novelette, the DS is published by your traditional book publisher with its own striking cover, and alluring product description. When you go to Amazon.com to checkout a new DS for the first time, you feel like you’re looking at brand new, novel- length book. But in reality, the story might comprise 5000 words or even less.

Unlike traditional short stories, the Digital Short, as it’s name implies, will never see print. It will however be made available to legions of fans who either already by that author’s books or who are curious about that author and want to get a taste of his or her work without spending too much money. Speaking of money, the beauty of the DS is that it costs less than a buck. For less than a small, rancid cup of coffee at your average roadside gas station you can enjoy a lifetime of reading and viewing pleasure from a Digital Short. All you get from the pricier cup of coffee is heartburn.

My new Digital Short, Pathological, published by Stone House Ink, is actually adopted from a crime short that was previously published it two literary journals. It’s not only mean to keep my faithful readers happy but it’s also used as a marketing tool to lure more readers to my full-length fiction. And the story seems to be popular. After only one day on Amazon and Smashwords, Pathological, is already approaching bestselling numbers. It is solidly propping up my brand new bestselling thriller, The Remains, and will continue to do so for months, up until and including the novel’s Trade Paperback publication and audio publication come this November.

So, what are the four main ingredients to a successful Digital Short?
Just like a full-length novel it requires:
  -A striking cover
  -A great price
  -A catchy but brief product description
  -A great, great, great story

Both me and my publisher plan on digitizing more of my short fiction and creating a series of Digital Shorts. When we have published ten of them, we’ll put them together in a full-length publication that will be as striking as the original, individual stories themselves.

The price will be right, the cover will rock, and the product description will make you want to die before not buying the book.

And of course, the stories will be great!

Pathological:
http://www.amazon.com/Pathological-ebook/dp/B003XIJ5CA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1280432244&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.com/The-Remains-ebook/dp/B003TSEN0I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1280432286&sr=1-1

If you like heart pounding, page turning, can’t put down, read late into the night thrillers, mysteries and suspense, then check out these 3 reads, I promise, you won’t be disappointed!!!!!

***I just got the word……the very busy, Vin Zandri, has generously offered to stop by all weekend to answer any questions you may have or reply to any comments.  So grab a seat, get comfy and ask away !!!!!!!!!!!!!! ***

From An Island Life:
    In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
   If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life answer the question and then post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

   In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below!!
   The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don’t have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun! This is a weekly event! And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added! We get over 200 links every week!!
   Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.
   If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know! Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added! And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!
This week’s twist:
To answer the weekly question, my favorite new-to-me author is actually a debut author whose first novel I couldn’t put down.  It was phenomenal!!!  And ironically, today I am hosting him as a “Guest Author” (see post 1 of 3) and the above post is an early exclusive!!!  The author is, Vincent Zandri, and if you like thrillers, than you are in for a treat when you read his books!!  I was introduced to him in May when I read and reviewed Moonlight Falls. (all links in Post #1) and have been a fan since.