Funds for Writers

by Catherine Giordano  

Why do you write? For personal expression and satisfaction? For money?  Who says you can’t do both. Moreover, nothing says your work is good better than someone wanting to publish it and give you money for it.

Click here to order
 Low Country Bribe

Besides writing is hard work. Maybe not the first rush of creativity, but the editing and re-editing again and again. When we work, we like to be paid for it, do we not.

“Funds for Writers” is a free online newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month. It is a great resource. Each issue includes information about publishers and contests for fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. It’s where I learned about Publishers Syndicate, and now they are publishing two of my stories, one in each of two of their anthologies.

But “Funds for Writers” is more than that. Each issue includes at least one inspirational and/or informative essay. You’ll get very good advice. Sometimes there’s a brief “success story”. You’ll be inspired by them also. There is also information about grants and agents.

It will take only about 10 minutes to read each issue and you will be glad you did.  Get more information and subscribe at www.fundsforwriters.com

The editor of “Funds for Writers” is C. Hope Clark. She is a writer herself so she understands writers. She is the author of two mystery novels—Low Country Bribe and Tidewater Murder.

You’ll like this newsletter even if you only write for personal expression and satisfaction.  You’ll like it even more if you write (or want to write) for money.

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You Ain't Nothing but a Hound Dog

by Catherine Giordano

I searched all over the internet this morning to find up-to-date news about the Time Warner/Brighthouse v. CBS/Showtime standoff. It’s personal!  Not only do I like the series shows on Showtime a lot, but I review them on my blog.  I’m working really hard to expand the reach of my blog, and I will lose all momentum if I can’t review shows like Dexter, Homeland and Web Therapy.  (And all the other Showtime series that are fortunately on hiatus during this blackout.)

Finally, I discovered that the reason it was so hard to find news about this was because there is no news about this. Nothing is happening. They are not even negotiating. They are each just showing off about how little they are hurt by this blackout and vowing not to move an inch in compromise.  (Who do they think they are—Congress?)

And who is helplss caught in the middle of this battle. The innocent viewers who collectively put billions into the coffers of these companies.

I was reminded- of the old TV ad—“I want my MTV.” Well, I want my Showtime!

Then I thought of the old Elvis Presley song-“Blue Suede Shoes.”  You can do anything you wanna do, but don’t step on my blue suede shoes. You can do anything you wanna do, but don’t take away my Showtime.

From there I went to “You to you ain’t nothing but a hound dog.”  And I mean you Time Warner!  And I mean you Showtime!  I’d use strong words, but my advertisers say I can’t have obscene content.

And how about, “Don’t be cruel.” Bring back my Showtime!

Who knew Elvis Presley had so much to say about this dispute between Time Warner and CBS?

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Feeling nostalgic for Elvis.  Click Here

For the latest info on  Time Warner Brighthouse and CBS Showtime negotiations, click here.

For info on how to contact CBS executives, click here.

Sales Tax Holiday in Florida

by Catherine Giordano

Who wants to save some money? Everyone.

Sales tax holiday in Florida starts midnight Friday, August 2nd, 2013 and ends midnight Sunday August 4th, 2013. In Orange County, Florida, we save 6.5%.  In other places in Florida it ranges from 6% to 7%.

The best news is now in addition to clothing under $75 and school supplies under $15, you can buy some electronics under $750 (laptops, tablets, e-readers) and pay no sales tax.sales tax

Who wants to make some money?  I, for one, do.

I've been faithfully blogging and people often tell me that they like my blogs. I put a lot of hours in and don't make money. The ads aren't doing it for me, so here is my last ditch attempt to earn at least a little something. Please click the amazon shopping cart picture on the left whenever you need to buy from amazon. I'll get a small commission from everything you buy on that shopping "trip", even if it is from a third party seller. 

Just make sure that you don't exit the site before you buy. I was so happy when a friend said he bought three things with my link, but he must have left the site and then returned to place his order, because I never got credit for it.

BTW, I do not get info on who is buying, but since I had only started shilling for amazon, I only had a few orders. I did not see any new orders so that is how I knew that there was a slip-up.  

So please use my link whenever you buy anything that amazon.com sells. It doesn't cost you anything extra and I earn a small commission.  amazon.com does not collect sales tax in Florida because there is no warehouse in the state, but buyers are suppose to keep track of their purchases and remit the appropriate sales tax to the state. 

This may change soon.  Online purchasers will be taxed the same as in-store purchases.