Tag Archives: Holiday Island

Jeep Festival Fun

Our first big spring event this year was the Jeep Festival on Holiday Island on Saturday, April 27th. It was the Holiday Island Chamber of Commerce’s first time to host this event–and a rainstorm came through for the beginning hour or so that may have kept some visitors and vendors away–but we were not dissuaded. Once the skies cleared, some every day and some amazing jeeps showed up, and we had a delightful time meeting new friends from the island area.

We spent the day under a giant helicopter. Can you see Kimba & Hiro?

We spent the day under a giant helicopter. Can you see Kimba & Hiro?

There they are!

There they are!

That helicopter and all of the Veterans statues and memorials around us made me think of my grandfather (WWI) and my father (WWII) and both of my nephews who are on active duty right now. Pat & Andy argue over who is crazier. Andy jumps out of airplanes, and Pat repels out of helicopters. Since you couldn’t pay me to do either thing, I think they should call it a tie. I’m grateful that someone is willing to do it and serve our country, so they both win.

It started out rainy and very chilly. The kitties and I wrapped up in the tablecloth, but the sun came out soon.

It started out rainy and very chilly. The kitties and I wrapped up in the tablecloth, but the sun came out soon.

There were fun activities going on all around us. Even an old-style fire truck was available for kids (and cats) to play on.

There were fun activities going on all around us. Even an old-style fire truck was available for kids (and cats) to play on.

One of the jeeps there looked like an old army jeep, but the owner said not a single part on it probably ever saw action. Ah well.

One of the jeeps there looked like an old army jeep, but the owner said not a single part on it probably ever saw action. Ah well.

The owner thought we should all get inside for a photo too.

The owner thought we should all get inside for a photo too.

These jeeps were crazy and did all sorts of tilting and had wheels going every which direction. We kept expecting them to transform into a dinosaur.  Kimba was glad it held still during her photo moment.

These jeeps were crazy and did all sorts of tilting and had wheels going every which direction. We kept expecting them to transform into a dinosaur. Kimba was glad it held still during her photo moment.

Lynn from Eureka Springs KESA 100.9 did a quick radio interview with me.

Lynn Worley from Eureka Springs KESA 100.9 fm did a quick radio interview with me.

Kimba thought she should get a few words in too, though she doesn't know much about jeeps.

Kimba thought she should get a few words in too, though she doesn’t know much about jeeps.

Kimba tried for a selfie with the helicopter. It was pretty impressive.

Kimba tried for a selfie with the helicopter. It was pretty impressive.

Overall, it was a fun day with beautiful weather. We even had the honor of sending off two copies of “Why Kimba Saved The World” with the Elk’s Club ladies for a part of their annual distribution to 700 first graders in the area. Happy to help!

It was also great training for our busy upcoming weekend at the War Eagle Spring Craft Fair on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (2nd-4th) from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. This will be our first time participating there, so come out and say hi.

In totally unrelated news, I’m thrilled to have been featured by The Fussy Librarian on Monday of this week. She requires very tight standards for the books that are featured, and we love that “Why Kimba Saved The World” was considered up to snuff. “Vacation Hiro” will be featured separately on another date in the near future.

I’m also very excited that I have nearly mastered the InDesign program, and print formatting of “Miss Fatty Cat’s Revenge” is well underway! Once that is complete, Book 3 still needs another pass by my editor, and probably another pass or two by me and my tech writer mother, and then advanced reader copies (ARCs) will start to go out to reviewers who have already taken on the first two books and been so supportive. The plan is to have ARCs out in June! Then we start formatting for the kindle version, but that’s a whole ‘nother pile of fur for another day.

Hope you enjoyed our Jeep Festival photos, and be sure to check out The Fussy Librarian and sign up for her email recommendations!

 

Lots of Updates & Binky the Space Cat

Last weekend’s free KDP days for both Cats in the Mirror books was a HUGE success. Over the five days amazon allows for this cycle, there were 14,002 copies of “Why Kimba Saved The World” downloaded and 1,642 copies of “Vacation Hiro” downloaded. Just amazing! The big difference in numbers between the two books is based on the Bookbub promotion ad that ran only for “Kimba.” I didn’t really care for the blurb that the ran with the ad (something about Kimba wanting to live free in the wilderness??), but I still give the ad credit for a huge chunk of those downloads. I also tweeted about the freebie days until my fingers were about to pop off–and apologized to Kimba and my followers several times along the way. Both of our sets of twitter friends were very generous in their sharing and re-tweeting, and we really appreciate it!  In the afterglow of the freebie days, “Kimba” is sitting in the top 50 cat books for kids on amazon.com. Those Warrior books take up nearly all of the positions above her (there are so many of them!!), but it’s good company to keep.

Only time will tell what the long term results are from offering the books for free. Will some of those 14,000 people go and buy a copy of “Vacation Hiro” now? Will any of them ever actually read the books or post nice reviews? I’m already seeing one of the downsides to freebies. Someone posted a one-star review at Goodreads for “Hiro.” She didn’t leave any comments, didn’t review “Kimba,” and has never posted a rating for any other book (yes, you can see lots about readers on their profile pages). Very odd. Comes with the territory. We will see if she responds to my message politely wondering why she disliked it so. A huge part of me wonders if she even read it. That’s life for any author, and you just have to roll with it.

On the brighter side, both books were just featured at Because Reading is Better Than Life’s web site, along with an author spotlight for me. Sandra Bornstein also did a nice review of both books at her web site. I’m not seeking out a lot of reviews right now, but it’s nice when a blogger and I run into each other in cyber-world and he/she is willing to tell readers about my series.

In that same spirit, I want to share a book series that I just ran across and have fallen in love with: Binky the Space Cat. Ashley Spires does a delightful job of both the art and story in the graphic novels, and I was genuinely laughing out loud several times with each book. It cracks me up that Binky “poots” all the time. Kimba would rather fall off the back of the sofa than be caught tooting, vain girl that she is. The idea of cats in space drew me to check out Ashley’s books, but they are totally different from my take on alien cats. Binky books are great for middle grade kids, but I loved them as well. Highly recommend. You can find out more about Ashley and Binky at her website.

Adorable book series Meg recommends.

Adorable book series Meg recommends.

Weather permitting, I will be at the Holiday Island Jeep Festival this Saturday (26th) with books and toys to sell. We now have official stuffed Kimba and Hiro mascots and will be looking for photo ops to share with you later. I imagine a jeep or two will be involved. Have a great weekend!