Did you know you can use PowerPoint to create videos? I’m sure I’m not the only indie author with a rollicking to-do list, a list so long that a few things rattling around the bottom are gathering dust! One such item on my to-list is: “make a promotional book trailer.” Frankly, I find the idea intimidating! I don’t own fancy video editing software, and I’m nervous about the learning curve because I’m a hands on learner who absolutely hates reading directions. While soaking in the tub the other morning, it dawned on me that since I already use PowerPoint to create…
Category: Blog on Writing & Life
The Best Laid Plans for a 6 Week Summer Road Trip If things had gone as planned, I’d be writing this post while sitting in a motel room on the Big Summer Road Trip of 2015 that my hubby, Larry, and I have been looking forward to all year. We intended to leisurely snake our way along back roads from our little burg in Texas all the way up to Washington State in time to attend a big family party. If things had gone as planned, my biggest complaints right now would be feeling bloated from eating road food and…
Two Paranormal Investigations in Mineral Wells, Texas As I mentioned in yesterday’s post about Haunted Hill House, my husband and I spent last weekend with with our dear friend and talented psychic, Teal Gray, over in Mineral Wells, Texas for a writing research trip. Part of that research included participating in two different paranormal investigations. The first investigation took place at Phil Kurchoff’s Haunted Hill House. You can read all about by following the link I shared above. The second investigation was at the Crazy Water Hotel. This historic venue is not open to the public and difficult to gain entrance…
FREE Cemetery Symbols Guide: Would you like a FREE guide to historic cemetery symbolism? If so, click the image below: Writing Research Trip & Ghost Hunting Even though I wrote a chapter on Mineral Wells in my first book, Unexpected Texas, I keep learning interesting things about this historic Texas town. (So much so that I’ve got another book underway – but that’s another story for another day!) Meanwhile, there’s so much on my Mineral Wells to-do list that I recently took a writing research trip there. My husband, Larry, and my pal, Teal Gray, came along for the ride. We had…
What the Heck is Juneteenth? In this era of cell phones and social networking, it’s easy to forget news did not always travel so quickly. Case in point: even though Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22nd, 1862, slaves in Texas did not learn of their freedom until nearly two and a half years later! Can you imagine finding out that you were no longer a slave, and that you had actually been free for the past two years? Juneteenth celebrates the day Texans finally got wind of this tremendous news! Here’s the story in a nut shell:…
This week’s pick: I took this moon photo at a star gazing party in Fort Worth a couple years ago. It still amazes me to be able to get such a decent shot through a telescope with a mere iPhone. What would Galileo say? About Friday Photos Since I’m such a shutterbug, I’ve decided to share a picture (or maybe a few pictures!) on my blog each Friday. If you like what you see, feel free to follow me on Instagram. Unless you seem spammy or scammy, I will definitely follow you back! Here’s my account: @TuiSnider on Instagram. Want…