Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Marketing Your Novel--101

by Molly Noble Bull
www.mollynoblebull.com

Do you spend a lot of time marketing your books to fellow writers? If so, maybe you should consider another strategy and another group of readers. Writers are interested in selling their novels, not buying new books. Besides, they can get plenty of free books by visiting various blogs and entering contests.
So, to whom should you pitch your books?
I think the list should include Christian women of all ages and moms who home school. I suggest creating a blog that would be of interest to these Christian women and be as different as possible from other blogs out there. In other words, find a unique niche.
I would start with your hobbies. What do you like to do when you are not reading or writing? Let's say you like to knit and are really good at it. You might create a blog for knitters.
Maybe you could call your blog
Knitting R Us.
(Below is an example of what you might post as the first lines of that blog.)
Can you knit one, pearl two and read a book at the same time? If so, this is the blog for you.
See what I mean?
Some writers might actually like to knit—either that or have a grandmother who does. So you would use this same pitch when promoting your blog to them as to readers and get Google or other search engines to promote your blog so that knitters from everywhere will read your info on knitting and perhaps buy you book.
Yep. You should also promote your book at your knitting blog but over to one side. The primary focus of your blog should be knitting. But your books should be plainly displayed as well.
Perhaps your blog readers will think that since they like your ideas on knitting, they might also like your books.
Happy writing and knitting—or whatever it is that you do.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Avatar--a Movie Review

by Molly Noble Bull

www.mollynoblebull.com


The dictionary as well as Hindu mythology states that an Avatar is an incarnation of a god, and like most Christians, I call any God but the Lord a false god. I also pray in the name of God's only begotten son, Jesus.
Nevertheless, I saw Avatar in a movie theater recently but don’t have a lot of good things to say about it. Exotic settings, an interesting storyline and exciting special effects might cause some Christians to allow their children and teens to see the movie.
Regardless, Avatar is very much a film about what Bible believers would call “lying spirits” and false gods—with a hint of demonic possession thrown in for good measure. Cursing and bad language only make matters worse. The movie also has an anti-military message, and its “tree hugging green” theme is so clear even Albert Gore would be proud.
In the film, Jake Sully—a paralyzed ex marine, goes to the planet Pandora to help obtain certain minerals for Planet Earth. Once there, Jake is given a new body in a dark shade of science fiction blue in order to look like the natives, and he soon falls in love with a young native girl and finally switches sides.
According to the Bible, in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. To me, the Lord is the only God there is, making the Hindu-like god of Pandora a false one. It bothered me that in the movie characters cursed my God while praying to Pandora’s false god.
So, should Christian parents allow their children to see this movie?
No.
However, if a Christian parent is willing to see the movie with the child, cursing and all, and then sit down and discuss the movie from a Christian perspective, perhaps it could be a good thing.
It is hard to explain Idolatry even to some adults. Avatar provides a perfect opportunity for adults and teens to discuss God’s Word, learn why cursing is a sin and what the worship of false gods really means.
I give Avatar three and a half stars for the special effects and cinematography. Zero for inspiration and content.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Blind Side--A Movie Review

by Molly Noble Bull

With all the poorly conceived and downright filthy movies out there, it’s hard to find a film worth seeing anymore. But so far in her career, Sandra Bullock has made two what I call outstanding and family friendly “feel good” movies. The first was While You Were Sleeping and now, Blind Side.
Blind Side would be a good movie in any case with an excellent script and characters that seem so real you think you know them personally, and I wanted to shout for joy when I realized these characters were Christians. I won’t tell the plot because I don’t want to spoil the movie for you, but what makes this story so special is the fact that it actually happened. At the end of the movie while they were showing the credits, moviegoers got to see the real people these actors played on the screen.
With a possible score of five stars, I give Blind Side a five—and then some.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Honey and Cinnamon are good for what ails you.
by Molly Noble Bull

As writers, we are always looking for bits of interesting information we can include in our books and articles. Well, the informtion found in this article was forwarded to me from a veterinarian’s wife, and I can't say where she got it. But just because her hubby treats animals instead of humans doesn’t mean the amazing facts aren’t true. Still, I’ll bet drug companies would like to hide this one in a corner somewhere.

Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:
It is found that a mixture of honey and cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases.

Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases.

Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada , in its issue dated 17 January,1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES:
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder,
apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack.
Regular use of the above process relieves loss
of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In
America and Canada, various nursing20homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins.

ARTHRITIS:
Arthritis patients may take daily, morning, and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University , it was found that when the doctors Treated their patients with a
mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were
totally relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

BLADDER INFECTIONS:
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and
one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

CHOLESTEROL:
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of cinnamon powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours.
As Mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS:
Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon Lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.

UPSET STOMACH:
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomachache and also clears Stomach ulcers from the root.

GAS:
According to the studies done in India and Japan , it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM:
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron=2 0in large amounts.. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION:
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFLUENZA:
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ' Ingredient' which kills the Influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY:
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder and three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans also increases and even a 100 year old, starts performing the Chores of a 20-year-old.

PIMPLES:
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS:
Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

WEIGHT LOSS:
Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER:
Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.
FATIGUE:
Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half Tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.

BAD BREATH:
First thing in the morning, people of South America gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.
&nb sp;
HEARING LOSS:
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restore hearing. Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!

You might want to share this information with a friend, kinfolks and love ones

~ everyone needs healthy help information