Five Stars for Archidamus from Readers Favorite.
        https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/archidamus

         Official release date May 2nd! 

Archidamus has won its first ribbon in Chanticleer Book Awards. The honor was in Paranormal, Category mystery thriller. Archidamus also placed as a finalist in Clue and Somerset. 

 You have been asked to talk at a book club, women's group, history class at a high school. What might assist you in bringing your book to life? A living person from that book. But how is that possible? You as the author have the ability to bring those characters to life. How you ask? With costumes!

Costumes can be a wonderful tool to help your audience get in the mood for a great evening or afternoon.
Costumes bring your characters to life and the closer you can get to that era the better for you audience.

Don't forget props from your books and era too. When you have something tangible for readers to touch it further brings your story to life. 

Sara Dahmen and her family. Award winning author of Doctor Kinney's Housekeeper. Historical fiction set in the 1881.

Costumes like novels all tell a story. As an author you can only enhance your story by adding something to your conversations with readers. 
Just like setting a nice table at your signings a costume can bring someone that hadn't thought about buying or reading your novel to a purchase and invite you to her book club. 

Enjoy the story you have written and spent so much time on. Dress the part and engage that person who has stopped by to see what you are all about.

When you enter Readers Favorite Book contest you will notice something different on the entry form. ​

Each year Readers’ Favorite donates books and income to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Check the box below if you would like to help bring aid to kids in need.
"On behalf of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and especially on behalf of the children and their families, we want to thank Readers' Favorite and its authors for your kindness and generosity."

Then there is a place for you to make a donation if you so desire. I have been a supporter of St Jude and will continue. It was an honor to have my book for sale and to know the money will go to a worthy cause to help children.

It was a beautiful day for the Miami International Book fair. Thousands of people were walking the streets checking out the hundreds of booths with books, art work, comics, t shirts, posters, and some great food. The area for chidlren was outstanding and included all types of programs for them to be involved in that day.

I found a book on traditional Chinese Medicine, research information needed for my next historical fiction.  If you could imagine it you could find it there at the fair.

​Find  me again displayed for sale at the Miami Book Fair!


Eddie Price volunteered to man the booth on that Saturday! He took a moment to have his picture taken with me. (below)

As an author you write, edit, worry, rewrite and send to our publishers. Once the book goes from your computer to theirs you are now at their mercy. The January 1st release date of Archidamus has been delayed by my publisher again. My sincerest apologies to you my readers, But hang in there with me!! Archidamus will be out in 2017 and I will have an event. 

Just remember the words of Aaron Reece Caydon...If you are a patient man, all things will come to you.

Demand for travel nurses will continue to increase!

• There will be a shortage of 1 million nurses by 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
• More than 50% of nurses are approaching retirement age. (I’m a ways off from that)
• Over 32 million Americans will have access to health care for the first time with the passage of the Affordable Care Act. (Obama Care)
• As nursing shortages increase, the need for a travel nurse will be in higher demand.

Maybe you are a nature person, or you like the beach, travel assignements can be almost anywhere. Texas, Florida, California, Idaho, Wyoming, Alaska, Hawaii all have the need for nurses.

                         You might even find that person who loves an adventure as much as you do!!

I was recently interviewed by Linda Thompson from The Author Show. The pod cast will be aired December 22nd 2016 and January 3rd 2017 all day. Just go to http://www.theauthorsshow.com/ and click on Find me again to hear the interview.

I was happy to talk with Linda who has a way of making you feel immediately at ease with her warmth and interest in you as an author and person.

​Please take time to check out The Author Show and my interview.

Have you ever thought about the Nurses that work the holidays? Have you questioned why anyone would choose a profession that keeps you away from your family on such important days? Who would put their self in harms way and be thousands of miles away from a home that is safe?
The answer is Nurses. Nurses spend holidays away from loved ones and go where they are needed most. Travel Nurses take contracts from coast to coast to fill in where there is a need, many join the military.

When the call came during war, women answered. They left and traveled away from family and friends. Women have been in the field helping through all wars. ( The photo below is from WWI.)

​In the air, on land or sea, men and women will go. Holidays turn into a regular day when emergencies come. They see to those in pain, help to calm the frightened and assist to bring new life into the world.

It doesnt mean that we dont take the time to celebrate. That we are grateful for a life that helps others. We decorate the halls, nurses stations and some times tents, the places we call home.
​This holiday take time to wish those who are in the service of others a Merry Christmas.

                                              We'll be there waiting, helping, caring for you.

Starting December 1st thru 31st you can buy Look for me, Wait for me and Find me again for $10.00 per book. For any book purchased I will give an extra copy of Look for me. If you buy all three you get an extra copy of Look for me and a tote bag. As always I will have swag too! Please contact me at janetshawgo@gmail.com  for purchase.

  Congratulations!
It is our great pleasure to inform you that you are a Winner in the 5th Annual Beverly Hills International Book Awards.  Your book truly embodies the excellence that this award was created to celebrate, and we salute you and your fine work.

Find me again Winner Romance category 2016!

Please check out all the winners and finalist!!

It's an honor to be acknowledged for the work we do. It was wonderful to share the night with so many gifted authors and artists. 

November 13th in Dallas Texas at Half Price Books flagship store I shared an afternoon with these New authors Max Krochmal, Judy Warren and Fabiana Martinez.

'I recently had a wonderful opportunity to talk, actually text, with an enthusiastic reader while she read my Look For Me series.  This was a special insight to what a reader feels, thinks and has questions about while they are reading. I was able to answer questions, explain my thought process on certain characters and enjoy the feelings and response to certain scenes in each book.  

We talked about each book as she read them. I enjoyed discussing the research I did for the books. In Look for me, I had walked the battlegrounds of Gettysburg and knew the town and area I included in my story. I felt the ghosts that walked the fields, heard the cannons and smelled the smoke. You cannot go there and not be touched by those who died.  For book two I interviewed veterans of WWII. I have to admit I shed some tears and had to compose myself a few times when hearing what these brave men and women went through during that time. There is a history in Wait for me, about the women that went to war. Nurses healing under enemy fire, marching across Europe, prisoners in the Pacific, some wounded,some died, many forgotten. Book three Find me again touches a personal note as I was working in the D.C. area on 911. As a nurse, we waited for wounded that never came. A personal friend was in New York during the attack. 

   I  was able to enjoy the viewpoint of a fresh pair of eyes. Her comments and suggestions only helped to sharpen my writing as I love giving the best story I can to my readers. My series was not one that she usually reads and once finished her review of my books was positive and heartfelt.  Please remember your opinion counts to an author. Reviews mean everything to us. It only takes a few moments to leave a review. If you don't have a lot of time for a wordy review then a star rating is available. 

​If you have never had the opportunity to talk with an author about a book you loved then I suggest a book club or discussion group.  Take the time to approach authors at book signings. We love to talk and usually have goodies at our table to giveaway. Remember there can be numerous opinions to the meaning of the book and how it is perceived by other readers. Sometimes other readers see something you didn't or it touched them in a way you hadn't thought about in that chapter.

The indie authors I have met are very approachable. You might be surprised if you ask an author to come to your book club or group. She or he might just say yes.

New authors are always inquiring how I manage to have such a great turn out and experience at my events and book signings. This is a little  tidbit on how that happens. 

​Book signings are an awesome time for authors. It allows us the opportunity to present our work and to meet readers. It can be a scary time for you, too.

I love to talk to people and enjoy explaining how and why I wrote my series. The more knowledge you have about your books the easier it is to present them to a reader.

First, you will need a welcoming table. You want a reader to feel at ease to approach you. Some places provide a table and colored table cloth. I have a lace cover I put over them which changes the environment.  

​In the past, I have had flowers in a teapot, an old suitcase filled with goodies, a lantern with a battery operated candle. If you have something unusual or different people will stop.  You will also want to have items to give away, pens, magnets, book markers. I have recently had small heart sachet soaps to give out.

If you are nervous with your first signing bring a friend or family member to sit with you. You will find that they can help engage readers and it's nice to have someone who can say, “Yes, I’ve read the book, series, etc.”

Remember to smile. Dress appropriately for the signing. If you are at a bookstore be professional, at a winery in the country, jeans would be nice. If you have a  costume that has something to do with your book wear it!  You will be approached and people want to know why.  Awards are another draw to your table, bring them, display them. Be proud you have worked hard and won an honor.
​
The main thing about Books signings is no matter where they are , bookstore, winery, gift shop, book fairs,  just have fun. People remember the person who smiled, laughed, provided a memento, and was passionate about what they had written. 

It was a cold, gloomy afternoon in Dallas Texas this past February. The perfect setting in Vitruvian park for a photo shoot for my new book Archidamus. I hired, photographer, Sarah Monroe to do the shoot and asked Eric Acklin to be my model.

Eric met us there with the clothing I had asked him to bring.  The four hour shoot with several wardrobe changes kept everyone busy and some onlookers asking questions. I am always happy to talk about my books past, present and future.
 
I needed a setting that was bleak with different areas to choose from for the cover of my upcoming book.  This is the first of my books I have had a live model. I knew at least one of the over one hundred photos taken that day would be the cover for my next book.

​Eric had read my series and the character he was portraying.  Aaron Caydon was introduced in Find me again. Eric’s wife, Liz, a theater art major, assisted him in his expressions and presentation of this character.

​When the shoot was over I gave Sarah license to choose the top fifty pictures.  When the package came I was more than pleased with every picture. Now this caused a huge issue picking the best ones to send to my publisher. I called upon several individuals to pick their top five favorites.

The picture with the most votes was sent with two others to the publisher. I always felt the top pick would be the one on the cover. I was correct. Sarah Monroe  captured  the look I wanted and Eric Acklin became the cover for Archidamus!

Stop over to Chanticleer and check out these Award Winning Romance Books!

Come ONE! Come ALL! To the book cover reveal for ARCHIDAMUS (A.R.C.)
August 11th
Thursday
Located on FACEBOOK!!!
2 Hour Give Away Event...
Time: 7pm - 9pm Central/Standard Time