Fit4Success Network has a Sponsor!

Our health and fitness network has a sponsor!!

As some of you may know, up until recently, Ning networks have been a free service. The one I created was something I was doing just for fun. I wanted somewhere people could come to encourage and support each other, as well as get more informatoin on
living a fit and healthy lifestyle.

Things changed and Ning is no longer free. Through their site I found a link to WEGO Health Portal, offering to sponsor health networks. I applied, and we've been accepted!!! Hooray! That means we can continue the network with ALL the features we're used to.

So, a huge thank you to WEGO Health, you can visit them here: http://www.wegohealth.com/

In honour of our new sponsors, I'd really like to increase content and participation, as well as the number of our members. So, please come by and check out the network, and if you like what you see, join up!! :)

Fit4Success

I Joined Goodreads

I consider myself fairly competent when it comes to social media, but just the other day I realized there are still some
great sites I'm missing out on. Thanks to Jeannie Holmes, who tweeted about her Goodreads book giveaway of her novel Blood Law I have now joined the site. The best part, I'm already listed as a Goodreads author because they have Evolve featured on the site. (tiny newbie giggle)

How did I not know about this site before? Of course, to me it's all shiny and new right now so I'm just loving it...a new world to explore. Screw facebook, this is social networking for readers and authors and it's fabulous! I only joined yesterday and have already probably spent more time there than I should. I've found authors that I now, authors I've admired for, well, forever, and I'm able to view their pages, blogs, books they're recommending, reviewing and reading. I love that!

If I've set things up right, this blog I'm doing right now that goes out to my livejournal (hey peeps!!) blogger and wordpress blogs, should also now show up on my goodreads page. Technology has this little game it plays with me though, things NEVER work the first time, as they should. Doesn't matter if it's new software, a website, uploading etc, it won't work for me the first time, I have to fidge, finagle and wrangle things till it works right. I mean, I consider myself a fairly intelligent person, but this just seems to keep happening to me. I'm not sure what kind of lesson is hidden in there, but anway, my brief point made long is I'm not sure if this blog will appear on Goodreads the first time I try it.

Are you on Goodreads? what's been your experience? Will the shiny fascination I have with it wear off or is it a lasting relationship? If you're there, add me! If you're not, I highly recommend checking it out!!

The Grouse Grind

So, have you ever climbed a mountain??

Here in BC, we have a fabulous hike UP Grouse mountain, called the Grouse Grind. (appropriate name!!)

I hadn't done it for over six years, my friend and I went today. It
says the average time is 1 1/2 hours, it took my friend and I 70 mins. Not
bad!! But WOW! It's tough!!!

Here's some stats a few pictures, we didn't take these pics, they're
from http://hapa-ning.com/2009/08/03/grouse-grind/ but it looks just
like it!!

Grouse Grind

Length:	2.9 kilometres (1.8 miles)
Elevation Gain:	853 metres (2,800 feet) - Base: 274 metres above sea level (900 feet) - Total Stairs: 2,830 - Summit: 1,127 metres (3,700 feet)
Statistics:	Annually, over 100,000 people hike the Grind™.
Average Time:	On average it takes up to an hour and a half to complete the hike. For novice hikers, up to two hours is recommended.
Participants:	Hikers range in age from 7 to 90, with an equal male/female split.

WriteOnCon

I thought some of you might be interested in a free online writers conference, called WriteOnCon. It's going on right now!!

I tuned in yesterday to a live session with an agent, it was quite informative. They have editors, agents and authors doing live blogs, regular blogs, chat and live feeds as well. Here's a blurb from the site about the conference:

WriteOnCon is a free, interactive experience, designed to give writers
many of the features of a writer’s conference, but in an online
environment. Thanks to technologies like blogging, vlogging,
livestreaming, and chats, WriteOnCon will connect writers with both
industry professionals and fellow peers from the convenience of their
own homes. Critique forums will allow writers to receive feedback and
exposure for their work, and the entire program has been designed to be
both informative and entertaining.

The conference began on Tuesday and runs until Thursday August 12th. They have a full schedule and great topics, so if you get a chance, check it out! I'll be popping in when I can. :)

The site: WriteOnCom.com
The schedule: WriteOnCom Schedule

Short Story Invitation

I have some exciting news!!

I've actually been sitting on the news because I wasn't sure if I was allowed to brag...I mean, talk about it or not, but I've been given the go ahead to shout it from the mountain tops.

I've been invited by the gorgeous and talented Philipa Ballantine to write a short story for a podcast anthology to accompany the release of her novel Geist, coming from Ace books on Oct 26th, 2010.

I'm really excited about this project (as you may have already gathered) not only because I get to be in the company of some great authors, but also because I got to read Geist before it's release!! I thoroughly enjoyed Philipa's new book. It's packed full of action, paranormal activity and great writing. It swept me away and caught me up in the intricate fantasy world where the living battle the dead. To put it simply, I loved it! Every page I read made me more and more excited to write my own story in Philipa's world.

Chronicles of the Order, the short short anthology will start in September 2010 and will "introduce you to the world of Geist and the Order of the Eye and the Fist." I will definitely keep you posted on how my story is coming along, when it's going "live" and where to find all the stories.

You can find out more about Philipa Ballantine, read the First Chapter of Geist and keep updated on all things relevant to the Books of the Order at http://www.booksoftheorder.com/

Thank you to Philipa for this fabulous opportunity.

Back in Action

I've got my laptop back! Hooray!!

Thank goodness, now my cat has a place to sleep again.

Getting my laptop up and running again with all my programs etc, and then getting caught up on work stuff has pretty much filled my time the last couple of days. So, not much to blog about.

Will share this funny tidbit though..just to maybe bring a smile..

I had to buy a new bike helmet because after 10+ years I decided to do some mountain biking again. I have a tiny noggin'. I usually have to go for kid size sunglasses and hats. I was going to buy a bright pink kid's helmet with crazy patterns all over it (because it fit!!) but my husband wouldn't let me. He said it made me look like "a special adult." I say..hey, if the helmet fits... ;)