Sunday, March 13, 2011

Website revise, ancient challenges, and a Glee question

I have been working on my author site a lot lately, inspired in part by this post on author sites over at Penelope's.

What's more, when I made the site, I had one book coming out. It was a one-book site, there to tell the world about my soon-to-be released book. Now I have two books out, and three more coming, if you count two upcoming anthologies (and naturally, I DO)!  I realized people use the site in different ways; some may be coming to learn more about my books, whereas others may have read one or both, and are looking to see what's new. Perhaps others have read my books and are looking for strategic ways to avoid me and my future works at all costs.

The site: so different...yet so the same! 
So, I totally redid it. But, it pretty much looks the same. Except for the fact that I have spent an obscene amount more hours on it! Partly fixing mistakes and last night's book page implosion.  There are a few additions. The biggest new thing is adding my character fashion ensembles in the fun part, from a long-ago Fiction Vixen post!

Hmm. THIS challenge didn't go so well...
Mostly it's organized better. I'm sitting here thinking, why am I making this post? The site isn't that different. This is totally not a check out my site post, and definitely not a check out my site and praise it post, but here is the new revise, if you're curious. I still need to do a few more things (I want to add a links page and a books drill-down pages) but I'm out of time. Constructive criticism is of course super welcome but not expected.

Entropy elsewhere
Now I'm looking at other things that need updating here on my blog. Like my personal pull-ups challenge! OMG I started it when my husband put a pull ups bar in our kitchen doorway. My goal was 5 pull ups by the end of September...2010.

Pictured is the last installment. Note that I had lost a half a pull up. I'm probably down to one pull up at this point. Hmmm. Maybe this challenge needs to get re-upped for 2011!

my first ever challenge...late,
but successful
Then there is Orannia's Big Book challenge. I'm not really a challenge person, but I had meant to read Dune at some point during 2009. Well, I did not read it. I re-upped for 2010. Did not read it. However, the good news is that I'm about to finish The Name of the Wind, which I'm quite loving, and that will hugely count for the challenge! Luckily, Orannia is a sweet and flexible girl, and made this a fun and no-pressure challenge.

Also, my fave books thing is from 2009. Oh well!

Glee question 
Ate cheesy avocado rice and watched Glee tonight. So, is that new blond boy related to McCauley Caulkin (or however you spell his name) or not? The gym teacher once pointed out his Caulkin resemblance, and I haven't caught where he's a Caulkin, or McCauley himself. Is that possible?

 I hope everybody had a nice weekend. What did you do?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I cleaned the bathroom floor and the kitchen floor after my husband finally decided to replace the broken sink taps but forgot to turn off the water first!
Other than that, I read and ran teh children around.

Love the revised website too - looks much neater!

And woohoo re ebooks for everyone soon!

Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

Anna said...

Glee- The actor's name is Chord Overstreet. I haven't heard anything about him being related to Caulkin. Although I did read his dad is a songwriter in Nashville.

Renee said...

I'm listening to The Name of the Wind audiobook right now! And, since I also didn't follow thru on Orannia's Big Book Challenge in 2009, maybe I should claim it?

Looking forward to seeing your new author site! Isn't it shocking how much time you can spend on something, then have it still look almost the same? (But, at least you know what you've done.) Ahh, the joys of web work…

Can't wait for your new releases!

Have a great week, CJ!

Mardel said...

I remember that episode of Glee, and the Macauley look - he does look like a macauley.

My memory is horrible...oh wait - I don't think I've ever visited your author website - just your blog, which I like to read

This weekend was spend lazily looking after grandchildren. I have health issues, and they still trust me to watch the grandkids (mwhahahaha) - which means I watch them run around and be wild. It's fun - and sometimes I make the grand kids walk on my back - since they are two and four, they don't really have the concept down yet, but they try! laughing the whole time.

Penny Watson said...

Hi Carolyn! Thanks for the shout-out. I think your "new and improved" website looks great (I also thought the "old and not improved" website looked great, too...hee hee). My favorite thing on your website is the "marker" book cover for book #3....with "kickass title", etc....that is hilarious and totally captures your personality and your quirky sense of humor. Love it! You should def. include some of your home-made drawings on your website..they are the best!

Carolyn Crane said...

Shelleyrae: Oh, noooo! Not turning off the water. Yikes. Well, I hope you're enjoying your new tap. And, Yes, slowly but surely with the ebooks.

Anna: Thank you for clearing that up!!

Renee: Yes, I imagine you know how that goes with the web stuff. You should totally claim NOTW for Orannia's challenge. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on it.

Mardel: A lovely weekend. What a fun grandmother to have the kids walking on your back.

Penelope: Hey, thanks! Really, that post was inspiring - I revisited it several times. You have a good sense about these things.

Anonymous said...

I was checking out your website and saw what you have up for Book #3's cover. Hahaha, that has totally made my Monday :-)


Stephanie
Paranormal Haven

Anonymous said...

Pullups are one of those things where if you don't use it, you lose it. You have to practice them all the time, every week, to build up the strength and if you don't keep doing it, you're back to hanging on to the bar like a monkey trying to do one. I speak from experience on this. *cries*

Tracy said...

I love the revision of the site! Very nice, clean and easy to maneuver.

Chris said...

Oooh!! Shiny! The newly revised site looks spiffy!

Melissa (My World...in words and pages) said...

Oh so cool! I didn't know you where doing a few anthologies. :) I love reading anthologies, so now I'm going to HAVE to go find them and see about getting them some time here. :) I'll definitely go check out the revised site. :)

Oh, and so glad you are enjoying Name of the Wind. I really loved reading it and the flowing of his words are amazing. :) I did pick up the second book just recently but I'm not sure when I'll be able to get to it. But I will before book 3 comes out. :)

Hope your doing well. Thanks!

orannia said...

You rock on the Big Book Challenge! And it's only February. Does that mean you have another big book in mind? I'm kidding *grin*

Sarai said...

Hum.... everyone is telling me I should read The Name on the Wind I just can't get pass the size which might be why I've never read the Kushiel's Dart books... however you spell that.

Love the look of the website!