Deborah Leblanc's Blog
March 29, 2018
Witch's Fury Book Trailer
The trailer for my forthcoming book, Witch's Fury is here!
https://youtu.be/S7OGTwUXyjA
https://youtu.be/S7OGTwUXyjA
July 17, 2017
Social Mating Game?
Remember back in the day when everyone had a thing going with MySpace? Seemed easy enough, and it was a great way to stay in touch with fans and friends.
Today, however, there must be one billion seven hundred million social media outlets that, if you’re committed to posting on each day takes up most of a morning. Of course there are social media plugins that allow you to post once and it shares the post with multiple sites. That’s all fine and dandy, but I’m noticing a definite change taking place on nearly every social media site I’m on. I call it the social mating game. And, to be truthful, I’m getting sick of it.
On an average day I receive at least twenty friend requests on Facebook, all men, most dressed in military uniform, most claiming to be sergeants, admirals, everything short of president of the U.S. (heaven help us that they use of picture of what they’re really doing for a living now.)
Some of these guys send note after note about how much they’d like to talk to me, meet me—how they have three kids, are divorced, and are looking for a true-hearted woman.
Well, let me give them a heads up….unless you’re really interested in what I enjoy doing and enjoy the same, we’ve got nothing in common—so find another broad interested in dating you. I’m not interested in taking any phone calls from strange men much less meeting them. And as for being a true-hearted woman, I may be able to give claim to that, but I’m more often described as a hard-headed woman, who’s extremely independent, and can definitely smell bullshit a mile away.
So, just to make sure we’re on the same page. …I’m not interested in dating anyone—especially if you’re the president of the U.S.—not interested in raising anyone else’s kids, I’ve done my call to duty where that’s concerned!
If we have things in common or you’re interested in some of the weird things I’m involved in and would like to know more, by all means, friend me, or stick me in any one of your social media spots you’ve a mind to. Who knows, we could be friends—JUST FRIENDS. 🙂
Today, however, there must be one billion seven hundred million social media outlets that, if you’re committed to posting on each day takes up most of a morning. Of course there are social media plugins that allow you to post once and it shares the post with multiple sites. That’s all fine and dandy, but I’m noticing a definite change taking place on nearly every social media site I’m on. I call it the social mating game. And, to be truthful, I’m getting sick of it.
On an average day I receive at least twenty friend requests on Facebook, all men, most dressed in military uniform, most claiming to be sergeants, admirals, everything short of president of the U.S. (heaven help us that they use of picture of what they’re really doing for a living now.)
Some of these guys send note after note about how much they’d like to talk to me, meet me—how they have three kids, are divorced, and are looking for a true-hearted woman.
Well, let me give them a heads up….unless you’re really interested in what I enjoy doing and enjoy the same, we’ve got nothing in common—so find another broad interested in dating you. I’m not interested in taking any phone calls from strange men much less meeting them. And as for being a true-hearted woman, I may be able to give claim to that, but I’m more often described as a hard-headed woman, who’s extremely independent, and can definitely smell bullshit a mile away.
So, just to make sure we’re on the same page. …I’m not interested in dating anyone—especially if you’re the president of the U.S.—not interested in raising anyone else’s kids, I’ve done my call to duty where that’s concerned!
If we have things in common or you’re interested in some of the weird things I’m involved in and would like to know more, by all means, friend me, or stick me in any one of your social media spots you’ve a mind to. Who knows, we could be friends—JUST FRIENDS. 🙂
May 12, 2011
Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
In case you haven't heard the latest, Water Witch is now out in Audio! It's a new release by Books in Motion and read by Xe Sands (She's got a cool name, doesn't she?), who did a fabulous job! You can check out the audio book here...
http://www.audible.com/search?searchA....
And if you'd like to listen to a free excerpt of the book read by Xe, go here....
http://xesands.com/
(On the right side of Xe's homepage, you'll see an audio box. Look under Fiction and you'll find Water Witch. )
And more great news--- all of my books are now available in every ebook format on the planet. Depending on your e-reader, you can download the books from--
For the Nook lovers-http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.c...
For the Kindle lovers--
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_nos...
And for all other e-reader lovers everywhere-- http://www.smashwords.com/books/searc...
Oh, for those of you who've been asking about getting my books in paperback-- The Wolven, my latest release, is available at any bookstore. My backlist, however, is having to take a different route for distribution due to some MAJOR issues going on with Dorchester Publishing.
Fortunately, I was able to get the rights to my books back and the majority of the stock they were holding hostage in a warehouse. That said, we'll be adding a shopping cart page on my website so anyone interested in getting a paperback version of the books can. In fact, my website as a whole is getting a much needed facelift and upgrade, and I'm told that all the new bells and whistles should be up and ready to go on the site in a couple of weeks. So stay tuned! :)
http://www.deborahleblanc.com
Become a fan! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Debo...
Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/#!/deborahleblanc
Help fight illiteracy in America's teens-- http://www.literacyinc.com
http://www.audible.com/search?searchA....
And if you'd like to listen to a free excerpt of the book read by Xe, go here....
http://xesands.com/
(On the right side of Xe's homepage, you'll see an audio box. Look under Fiction and you'll find Water Witch. )
And more great news--- all of my books are now available in every ebook format on the planet. Depending on your e-reader, you can download the books from--
For the Nook lovers-http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.c...
For the Kindle lovers--
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_nos...
And for all other e-reader lovers everywhere-- http://www.smashwords.com/books/searc...
Oh, for those of you who've been asking about getting my books in paperback-- The Wolven, my latest release, is available at any bookstore. My backlist, however, is having to take a different route for distribution due to some MAJOR issues going on with Dorchester Publishing.
Fortunately, I was able to get the rights to my books back and the majority of the stock they were holding hostage in a warehouse. That said, we'll be adding a shopping cart page on my website so anyone interested in getting a paperback version of the books can. In fact, my website as a whole is getting a much needed facelift and upgrade, and I'm told that all the new bells and whistles should be up and ready to go on the site in a couple of weeks. So stay tuned! :)
http://www.deborahleblanc.com
Become a fan! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Debo...
Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/#!/deborahleblanc
Help fight illiteracy in America's teens-- http://www.literacyinc.com
December 21, 2009
The Good, the Bad, the Most Memorable
I think any author will tell you that book signings are a tough gig. Unless you’re J.K. Rawlings or Nora Roberts, you usually wind up sitting at a signing table near the front of the bookstore, feeling like a Wal-Mart greeter.
I have to admit, though, my first book signing was a blast, an event I’ll never forget. It was held at one of the large chain bookstores in my hometown. Fortunately, the local newspaper caught wind of the event, called me for an interview, then ran the interview and a great book review a couple of days before the signing. Hundreds of people showed up, many of them buying two or three of my books at a time. A third of the way through the event, when the store manager realized they were about to run out of books, he called a sister-store in Baton Rouge and had them bring over their entire stock of my latest release. Even with the added books, however, we still ran out. Now the beauty of that signing was we sold well over 300 books. The ugly of it was that almost every signing afterward paled in comparison.
The worst signing I’ve had so far was in a bookstore in Indianapolis, Indiana. For some reason, the store manager placed all author events at the back of the store…in the gardening section. When I saw the set up, I asked the manager if she’d mind if I moved the table and chair to the front of the store, so I could at least say hello to incoming customers. She adamantly refused, and I had no choice but to sit back there, hidden by a half-wall, two long bookshelves that contained gardening and travel info. Oh, did I mention that the bathroom was directly behind and to the right of me? ARGG!
Needless to say, I sold two books that night, and both were to a personal friend of the store manager who happened into the store and needed the bathroom.
My most memorable signing to date happened in Alabama. I had just made it over to the signing table, which had been set up near the café, when an elderly man came over to say hello. He was stoop-shouldered, had thick, cotton-white hair, and appeared to be in his eighties. He had a noticeable limp and carried a book under his right arm that looked like a used copy of Gone With The Wind.
He walked up to me and held out a hand. “I just wanta tell ya that you’re about the cutest little thing I’ve seen in here all day,” he said.
Great, I thought, a lecher. But he didn’t look like a lecher….
“My name’s Bob, but everybody calls me Grandpa Bob.”
I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Grandpa Bob.”
He grinned and picked up one of my books. “You write this?”
“Yes, sir.”
Grandpa Bob nodded while reading the back cover. After a while, he looked up. “I think I’m gonna buy it.”
Okay, normally I would be ecstatic to hear that statement, but my conscience started bugging me. He was elderly and, based off the book he held under his arm, enjoyed classic literature. I didn’t think my book would suit his taste.
“Grandpa Bob, judging from the book you’ve got there, I don’t think mine would be to your liking. It’s a little . . . intense.”
Bob grinned again and tapped a finger on his chest, right over his heart. “This old ticker can take it.”
“Okay,” I said hesitantly. “If you’re sure.”
“Positive. Would you autograph it?”
“I’d be honored.”
With that, I took the book from him and prepared a special inscription. When I finished and handed the book back to him, Grandpa Bob began telling me about his family, all of whom had moved to other states. Brothers, sisters, (the ones still alive anyway), sons, and daughters, no one left in Alabama. His wife had died six years ago, so he was basically alone.
Bob talked for over a half hour, oblivious to the line of people standing behind him, all of them waiting for an autograph. I didn’t have the heart to stop him. Those earnest, lonely, hungry-for-attention blue eyes nearly broke my heart. A few people behind him left. Some stayed, listening to his story.
When Bob finally wrapped up the story about his family, he reached into the breast pocket of his shirt and said, “I’d like to give you something.” With that, he pulled out a yellow index card and handed it to me.
Printed on the card in bold black letters was: Some gave all, all gave some. Support our troops.
Although confused as to why he’d given me the card, I smiled. “You’re right, some sure did give all. Thank you for the card.”
“Read the other side,” he said.
I flipped the card over. It read, “Lord, help me to be a blessing in someone’s life today.”
I studied that line for a few seconds, suddenly realizing what the old gentleman needed to hear. I looked up at him. “Well, Grandpa Bob, the Lord heard your prayer because you’ve surely been a blessing in my life today.”
The warmest, biggest smile lit Grandpa Bob’s face, and tears welled up in his eyes. He nodded slowly, the look of appreciation in his eyes so vivid it was almost tangible. With a little wave, Bob left the table. I watched him walk to the front of the store, his back a little straighter, his limp barely noticeable now.
I still have that yellow card and keep it with me all the time. It’s a constant reminder for me to pay attention and never get too big for my britches. Because sometimes a book signing has nothing at all to do with the books. :)
I have to admit, though, my first book signing was a blast, an event I’ll never forget. It was held at one of the large chain bookstores in my hometown. Fortunately, the local newspaper caught wind of the event, called me for an interview, then ran the interview and a great book review a couple of days before the signing. Hundreds of people showed up, many of them buying two or three of my books at a time. A third of the way through the event, when the store manager realized they were about to run out of books, he called a sister-store in Baton Rouge and had them bring over their entire stock of my latest release. Even with the added books, however, we still ran out. Now the beauty of that signing was we sold well over 300 books. The ugly of it was that almost every signing afterward paled in comparison.
The worst signing I’ve had so far was in a bookstore in Indianapolis, Indiana. For some reason, the store manager placed all author events at the back of the store…in the gardening section. When I saw the set up, I asked the manager if she’d mind if I moved the table and chair to the front of the store, so I could at least say hello to incoming customers. She adamantly refused, and I had no choice but to sit back there, hidden by a half-wall, two long bookshelves that contained gardening and travel info. Oh, did I mention that the bathroom was directly behind and to the right of me? ARGG!
Needless to say, I sold two books that night, and both were to a personal friend of the store manager who happened into the store and needed the bathroom.
My most memorable signing to date happened in Alabama. I had just made it over to the signing table, which had been set up near the café, when an elderly man came over to say hello. He was stoop-shouldered, had thick, cotton-white hair, and appeared to be in his eighties. He had a noticeable limp and carried a book under his right arm that looked like a used copy of Gone With The Wind.
He walked up to me and held out a hand. “I just wanta tell ya that you’re about the cutest little thing I’ve seen in here all day,” he said.
Great, I thought, a lecher. But he didn’t look like a lecher….
“My name’s Bob, but everybody calls me Grandpa Bob.”
I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Grandpa Bob.”
He grinned and picked up one of my books. “You write this?”
“Yes, sir.”
Grandpa Bob nodded while reading the back cover. After a while, he looked up. “I think I’m gonna buy it.”
Okay, normally I would be ecstatic to hear that statement, but my conscience started bugging me. He was elderly and, based off the book he held under his arm, enjoyed classic literature. I didn’t think my book would suit his taste.
“Grandpa Bob, judging from the book you’ve got there, I don’t think mine would be to your liking. It’s a little . . . intense.”
Bob grinned again and tapped a finger on his chest, right over his heart. “This old ticker can take it.”
“Okay,” I said hesitantly. “If you’re sure.”
“Positive. Would you autograph it?”
“I’d be honored.”
With that, I took the book from him and prepared a special inscription. When I finished and handed the book back to him, Grandpa Bob began telling me about his family, all of whom had moved to other states. Brothers, sisters, (the ones still alive anyway), sons, and daughters, no one left in Alabama. His wife had died six years ago, so he was basically alone.
Bob talked for over a half hour, oblivious to the line of people standing behind him, all of them waiting for an autograph. I didn’t have the heart to stop him. Those earnest, lonely, hungry-for-attention blue eyes nearly broke my heart. A few people behind him left. Some stayed, listening to his story.
When Bob finally wrapped up the story about his family, he reached into the breast pocket of his shirt and said, “I’d like to give you something.” With that, he pulled out a yellow index card and handed it to me.
Printed on the card in bold black letters was: Some gave all, all gave some. Support our troops.
Although confused as to why he’d given me the card, I smiled. “You’re right, some sure did give all. Thank you for the card.”
“Read the other side,” he said.
I flipped the card over. It read, “Lord, help me to be a blessing in someone’s life today.”
I studied that line for a few seconds, suddenly realizing what the old gentleman needed to hear. I looked up at him. “Well, Grandpa Bob, the Lord heard your prayer because you’ve surely been a blessing in my life today.”
The warmest, biggest smile lit Grandpa Bob’s face, and tears welled up in his eyes. He nodded slowly, the look of appreciation in his eyes so vivid it was almost tangible. With a little wave, Bob left the table. I watched him walk to the front of the store, his back a little straighter, his limp barely noticeable now.
I still have that yellow card and keep it with me all the time. It’s a constant reminder for me to pay attention and never get too big for my britches. Because sometimes a book signing has nothing at all to do with the books. :)
