Promotion – Alexie Linn, the Author, and Homespun Rebel

Posted on September 11, 2025September 10, 2025 by Alexie Linn

The Votes are in! Here’s The Results…

www.alexielinnauthor.com September 11, 2025

The Votes are in! Here’s What Happened…

It was a landslide tie for each of Rodney’s possible series title! What to do… what to do…

Here’s what I did…

I used a new main title for the series (also suggested by a reader) and added a subtitle. Voila! Something for everybody… Thank you for your input.

Here’s Rodney Mankin’s new business card:

The status of the series is:

The Prequel is chilling for its final edit.
Book 1 (*The Strange Case at Heaven’s Gate) draft is over halfway written.
Book 2 is playing hopscotch in my head. Is there a scenario you’d like to see Rodney and Sally take on? Email me here to share your ‘what if’ thoughts. And thank you!

*Here’s the tentative description of Book 1 The Strange Case at Heaven’s Gate:

What if long, deep scratches appeared on your town’s brand-new border wall. Night after night. All along the wall. They are crimson, like blood.

Along with the scratches come cries. Long, woeful cries. Eerie cries. Cries that could not be identified by any of the townspeople. Cries that could be human or animal.

At the same time, bodies appear on the outside of the wall directly behind the bloody scratches. They are all strangers to the townspeople of Heaven’s Gate. Each body has been mauled to death. Are they the marauders? Or are the marauders doing the mauling? Who or what is mangling them?

Have the townspeople successfully corralled themselves with a murderer that they now cannot escape from?

Rodney Mankin, Fur & Feather Whisperer and his assistant Sally the Loner has been called in to solve the mystery and stop the murders. Can they do it? Or will this be the one that puts the kibosh on Rodney’s gift?

The scenario seems to be changing as these characters evolve and take over the writing. Please don’t hold me to the exact storyline I’ve described above. Characters are an unruly lot.

On another note…

Joan Freed’s Ruby the Haunted eBook is due for a price increase in the next week or so.

Have you grabbed your copy for 99¢ yet? Click here to get it now.

A heads-up…

With price increases and policy changes, I, too, have to make changes to my methods. One change will be this newsletter/blog delivery service. I hope the transition goes as smooth as warm butter on a hot knife. Please let me know if things go wonky on your end. I know only what I send, which may not be the same as you receive.

Did you know?

That you can download, read, and review oodles of eBooks and audiobooks at absolutely no cost to you (including mine)?

Yep. It’s true. Story Origin has been my goto for more than a year now.

Are you ready for a quick escape from your current reality?

Great! Click here to instantly download eBooks and audiobooks in your favorite genre – for free! Or step outside your genre line to find your next favorite author without opening your wallet even once. Score!

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(A shout out to Tiny Wow for the AI assist in inspiring me to write this post. Thank you. Also…some links may be affiliate links.)

Posted on July 31, 2025July 30, 2025 by Alexie Linn

Overcoming Shiny Object Syndrome in Reading

Today’s Nifty-News Mashup

www.alexielinnauthor.com July 31, 2025

SOS in the Library!

Does this happen to you?

Ah, Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS)—the unwavering attraction to anything that glimmers with promise! For readers, it manifests as an insatiable urge to jump from one book, article, or blog post to another, often leaving incomplete plots and abandoned bookmarks in its wake. It’s the reading equivalent of that friend who can’t commit to a restaurant and ends up at five different places in one night. You know who I’m talking about!

The Origins

The term “Shiny Object Syndrome” originally sprouted in the business world, where it referred to entrepreneurs who couldn’t resist new ventures and distractions that seemed more exciting than what they were currently working on. Think of it as a raccoon wearing a business suit, distracted by anything sparkly. Over time, this concept sashayed into the reading arena, capturing those who find it hard to stick with one book long enough to see the ending.

How It Relates to Reading Habits

So how does SOS waltz into our reading habits? It’s all about that dopamine hit we get when we discover something new. With a world of information at our fingertips—thanks to the internet, e-readers, and endless book recommendations—many readers find themselves mingling with multiple texts at once. The layout of social media doesn’t aid our plight, either; a single swipe can reveal a tantalizing excerpt from yet another unread masterpiece, further pulling us down the rabbit hole of shiny distractions!

Symptoms of Shiny Object Syndrome in Readers

Frequent Changes in Reading Material

If you find yourself hopping from fiction to self-help to graphic novels quicker than a kid on a sugar rush, you might be grappling with SOS. It’s not that you’re averse to finishing books; it’s just that the next book on your list glimmers a little brighter.

Difficulty Completing Books or Articles

Another hallmark of this affliction? The infamous “I’ll finish it later” mentality. You might find books gathering dust on your nightstand, while you jump at the next highly recommended read like it’s a hot-off-the-press celebrity gossip.

Overwhelmed by Too Many Choices

Ever stare at your bookshelf or digital library and feel a sense of impending doom at having to choose your next read? Paralyzed by possibilities, you might end up scrolling endless lists of “must-reads” while neglecting that one book you’ve been meaning to tackle. Welcome to the shiny object buffet, where choices abound but decisions flee!

The Psychological Impact of Constant Distraction

Effects on Comprehension and Retention

When SOS strikes, comprehension often takes a nosedive. Jumping between texts might leave you with a pile of half-digested information, making it tough to recall what you even read a few pages ago. It’s like participating in a trivia quiz after a three-day binge of multitasking—good luck remembering any of the answers!

Emotional Toll of Fragmented Attention

The stress of juggling too many reading projects can lead to anxiety and frustration. You might start to feel like a cat chasing laser pointers, dashing in circles but never quite catching a satisfying finish. It’s a recipe for reading burnout, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself sulking over that ever-growing “to-read” list.

Impact on Critical Thinking Skills

SOS steals time for reflection, which is essential for critical thinking. Instead of delving deep into a single narrative or argument, your brain is too busy hopping around to synthesize ideas. This fragmented approach can dull your analytical skills, leaving you grasping for coherence in an ocean of information.

Strategies to Combat Shiny Object Syndrome

Set Reading Goals and Priorities

Start by crafting clear reading goals. Whether it’s to tackle five classics a year or simply to finish three books a month, having a target will ground you. Prioritize your reading list, and don’t be afraid to put that shiny new release on hold until you’ve conquered the current book on your plate.

Establish a Reading Routine

Consider establishing a daily reading routine that anchors your reading habits. Carve out dedicated time to read each day—preferably in a cozy nook where distractions are minimal. That way, you’ll be less likely to swap your book for the latest viral video.

Utilize Tools for Focused Reading

In this digital age, helpful tools abound! You might find services like reading apps or focus timers beneficial. For instance, set a timer for 25 minutes of concentrated reading, followed by a 5-minute break—often referred to as the Pomodoro Technique. It’s like training for your reading endurance, and who doesn’t want to be a marathon reader? Is there a prize for a reading marathon?

So, whether you’re a casual page-turner or an aspiring literary marathoner, keeping SOS at bay will enhance your reading experience. After all, the joys of reading lie not just in the stories we chase but in the ones we actually finish.

And, lest your To-Be-Read list become less daunting, here’s three get them now before their almost giveaway prices are gone titles…

alexielinnauthor.com — 50% off Audiobook!

Ends Today!
Now is your best chance to find my entire ebook collection for a promotional price at @Smashwords as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! Find my books and many more

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(A shout out to Tiny Wow for the AI assist in inspiring me to write this post. Thank you.)

Posted on March 20, 2025March 18, 2025 by Alexie Linn

How to Create a Reel for Social Media

Are you itching to get in on the social media Reels craze but don’t know how to create and upload a Reel?

You’re not alone. I had the same desire and problem… but not anymore.

In case you missed the memo… A Reel is a short video of fun stuff. The sky is the limit for content. Some are hilarious; others not so much. It’s easy to click to the next one if you’re not pleased with what you see.

Reels are a specific size (*1080 pixels wide x 1920 pixels tall). It’s short in length… from .03 seconds to a maximum 90 seconds. Mine are about 30 to 45 seconds long. I use them to give viewers a quick break and to introduce my books.

The majority of Reels are vertical clips from cellphones. But not all. Mine are created with help from a couple of apps I’ve invested in.

Here’s a Reel I recently uploaded:

How did I create it? I’ll give you the nutshell version…

Think of a pain point to address (Like getting unstuck…)
Imagine 3-5 pictures showing a viewer how to maneuver through and out of the pain point.
Collect the pictures (I use Night Café Studio to create the images) into your reels file and 2 or 3 words for each image.
Next, I open up Doodly to create the reel. (Doodly is a cloud-based video editing program that lets users create whiteboard animations and doodle videos. I highly recommend and love Doodly. It’s easy to use and fun.)
Set Doodly or your chosen animation program to the custom size of 1080 px wide x 1920 px tall. To keep the hand behind the images, I set the board to glass.
Upload the images into Doodly as props. Place them on the board in the order you want them to draw onto the board.
Add suitable music… remember to lower the volume on the music to about 12 on the scale so you don’t blast your viewer in the face.
After you’ve previewed and adjusted for perfection… Export your reel in webm (for YouTube) and also mp4 (for Facebook and Instagram)
Voila! Upload it to your social media platforms.

That’s it! Have fun!

I’ll leave you with this plethora of books to peruse, download and read. Until next time…

Onward!

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Note: Some links in this post may be affiliate links.

Posted on August 22, 2024August 6, 2024 by Alexie Linn

Snack Bag Marketing: Boost Book Sales with a Memorable Gesture

How to Make Your Mark and Get a Dollar Deal

Do your book sales shout that you’re invisible? Even after you spent all that money advertising, setting up at book fairs, and slipping your books into the Little Free Book kiosks?

If you’ve proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that you’re not a celebrity and need to make your handle memorable, try this:

I, being of non-celebrity status, have been making my mark by gifting snack bags to the unsung heroes I meet daily… and… it’s working. To stand out from the crowd, you have to be doing something different. I am becoming memorable with snack bags.

Who’d a thunk? Snack bags. Why snack bags, you ask?

Three reasons I give away snack bags:

Unsung heroes like delivery drivers, postal workers, nurses, and clerks need to know they are appreciated.
Grab and go snacks can be the saving grace against dehydration and exhaustion – literally.
They can be shared.

Who doesn’t remember the time a customer gave them a useful gift?

Here’s what an Alexie Linn snack bag looks like today:

A white #6 paper bag with an Alexie Linn label plastered on the front that contains:
- A lunch-size bag of a salty snack, like Cheez-its
- A few mini–Tootsie Rolls
- A cold beverage like water or Capri-Sun
- In season, I add an orange or an apple

What’s also in the snack bag?

An imprinted fridge magnet touting Alexie Linn books
A coaster with the same imprint
A sample short story (like a prequel novelette for a series) and bookmarks – also with the Alexie Linn imprint

I hand a snack bag to each delivery person that brings me something – like, but not limited to, Amazon, FedEx, and UPS delivery drivers. I tell each one that the snack bag is to show my appreciation for them. Which it is.

But what if they are getting more than one bag? They can leave extras in the break room or pass it on to anyone else.

Am I making my mark? My sales say ‘Yes!’ These are advertising dollars well spent. I let the snacks do the talking.

What else does the talking? A great deal! One you can only grab here and now. And here’s one just for you as a reader of this email.

Click the link below to snag The Personal Transformation of Queenie: A Joan Freed Life-Changing Mystery and Adventure eBook for just 99 cents with the code. It’s all about the code.

Two women lay sprawled in front of my truck. They are very dead. Queenie sits like a statue on the passenger side of my vintage Chevy pick-up looking like the circus fat lady that she thinks she is – but she’s not laughing. I am on sabbatical in the Kaibab National Forest, feeding my own free spirit with life changing time by myself, much needed and anticipated after my last exhausting coaching case.

I know none of these women, but the two dead ones seem to have known me because they have magically materialized near each of my camps for a couple of seasons now. I met Queenie last evening and was simply lending a hand – or, in this case my truck and nutritional expertise – to a woman in temporary need. Our less than 24-hour kinship was an uncomplicated ‘women helping women’ moment – I thought.

While this could be a wearisome story of murder and mayhem, it isn’t. It’s the story of how one woman’s life changing personal transformation had a ripple effect in solving a cold case and enriching personal growth.

Click here to grab The Personal Transformation of Queenie; A Joan Freed Life Changing Mystery and Adventure for just 99 cents. Use code A0NJM4OA at checkout.

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Posted on May 30, 2024May 29, 2024 by Alexie Linn

99 Cents Buys this eBook Today… Plus…

The scuttlebutt that several news sources agree on is that 99 Cent Only stores are closing up shop. But you can still find dollar deals if you pay attention.

Here’s one cozy mystery popping up to give your giggle bone and page turner finger a workout today…

Meet Katlyn, Mazy, and Helen. Sally bumped into them at the annual senior’s Ice Cream Social. The three ladies were uncommonly interested in Sally’s chosen lifestyle… that of a loner. She’s her own boss in all things. Period. And proud of it.

Pleased with herself at being independent at 87-years-old, she still can’t believe how these ladies sucked her right into the fold. Then made her the one credible witness to their widowhood. But were they wrong in their actions? Were their manipulations a figure of Sally’s imagination?

This story gives new meaning to ‘Choose your friends wisely…’

Click here to Buy ‘Whispers of Murder’ for just 99 Cents

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Posted on May 16, 2024May 14, 2024 by Alexie Linn

Audiobook Review: Save Money, Learn and Be Entertained with Your Ears!

Got Your Ears On? Here’s how to 1)Save Money! 2)Learn! 3)Be Entertained! All with your ears!

How often does your jet-speed commute turn into a ‘hurry-up-and-wait’ parking lot? Or an appointment flip-flop into cooling your jets in a waiting room? Then there’s the inevitable rehearsal that went overtime and yada, yada, yada.

What do you do to survive none the worse for wear?

Here’s a simple solution.

Read a book with your ears!

Schann Stewart, Alexie Linn, and Audible have partnered to bring you a brand-new audiobook that’s yours for the asking.

Have you met the players?

Schann Stewart is a voice magician. She sings. She plays all the parts in a story, including the horse and donkey. She entertains.

You’re already getting to know Alexie Linn, the author, quite well.

And Audible? Think Amazon! And Bounty!

How do you score this phenomenal sanity saver?

It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3…

Here’s how to keep your eyes on the prize and read a book with your ears — for free!:

Request a code and snag the book
Listen, learn, and laugh
Post a fast and easy review

What could be faster, simpler, and easier than that?

And here’s today’s featured cozy for your parking lot ‘control something in your life‘ pleasure…

In “The Secrets of the Tainted Trough”, imagine waking up from a nap to see a donkey and a horse peering through the screen door, both desperately thirsty. Would you give them a drink? And then what?

Sally, an energetic 87-year-old woman, faces this exact dilemma. Intrigued by the animals, she decides to investigate why they keep returning to her property. What she discovers shocks her to the core – their water trough is contaminated with a body. But whose body is it? And how did it end up in the water trough?

With no one else around but a goat, chickens and a pup, Sally wonders if the body could be their missing caregiver. As the mystery deepens, she must grapple with the fate of both the animals and the unknown person in the trough.

Join Sally on her thrilling and perplexing journey as she unravels the truth behind this mysterious misadventure.

Prepare to be captivated by the twists and turns in “The Secrets of the Tainted Trough”, a tale filled with suspense, intrigue, and unexpected revelations.

Grab a code here

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But wait! There’s more… more… more cozies to read with your ears!

Join Alexie Linn et al on:

Posted on April 18, 2024April 16, 2024 by Alexie Linn

Spring into the Cozies!

Here’s NEWS your wallet won’t want to miss…

There’s a new way to buy Sally the Loner eBooks in town that could knock your socks off. It will save you, at the very least, a buck a book! It’s fast. It’s easy. And you’ll love it!

It’s spring, but it’s still cold on the floor. Put your socks back on and I’ll tell you how to save a buck a book, or more.

Alexie Linn has partnered with Lemon Squeezy. Lemon Squeezy is a super quick, mobile friendly, all-in-one checkout platform. It lists a multitude of benefits, but fraud-prevention, multi-currency, fast, and mobile friendly snagged my attention right off.

I tried it. Yep, I bought my own eBooks to check it out… and it works! Just like they say. It’s Super Quick and Mobile Friendly.

Today, all 13 of the Sally the Loner series are uploaded and ready for you to buy. You can download them in Epub, Mobi, or Pdf – right on the site! A receipt flies right to your email account. It’s awesome. And here’s how to turn the key to the savings library:

Go to alexielinnauthor.com. Click through to the book you want. Click the ‘Buy direct from the author’ link. Voila! Done!

And now onto the Spring into the Cozies…

More NEWS!

Book 12 is published and available for your reading pleasure.

Get ready to embark on a whimsical and mysterious journey with Sally, a woman who has always been pet-free, as she grapples with the unexpected appearance of a black and white billy goat in her dooryard.

This goat has no intention of leaving and becomes a constant and quirky presence in Sally’s life, pushing her beyond her comfort zone and into world of goat-related antics and misadventures.

Join Sally as she navigates the challenges of this unexpected visitor and discovers the surprising connections that can be formed when we open ourselves up to the unexpected. In this captivating twelfth installment of the series, prepare to be charmed by the humorous and heartwarming tale of Sally and the goat that defies all expectations.

Click here to get right to The Goat that Wasn’t; A Baa-d Mystery author deal page.

And here’s more goodies to feed your cozy cravings …

Posted on March 7, 2024March 6, 2024 by Alexie Linn

4 Literary Launchpads: 3-2-1… Fire!

Literary Launchpads: 3-2-1… Fire!

You’ve come so very far. You’ve chosen indie as your publication platform rather than traditional printing houses. Your manuscript is cooling for its final edits before the launch. But how and where will you launch from?

FYI: The bedroom closet is not a launchpad. Neither is the desk drawer or your granddad’s old, beat-up briefcase.

There are, once again, so many cyberspace options to display and sell your baby on that it boggles the mind. Slog through them if you like, but here are the four venues I use and why:

Launch from Amazon (of course!) – For worldwide distribution of eBooks, print, and audiobooks through Amazon. I write, upload a print-ready package, and promote. Once I push ‘publish’, they do all the printing, shipping, and bookkeeping. I get royalties and a 1099 tax statement at the end of the year.
Launch from Draft to Digital – The one-stop warehouse of eBooks, Print, and Audiobooks for Barnes and Noble, Libraries, and your other favorite retailer like Walmart. They do the distributing and bookkeeping. I get royalties and a 1099 tax statement at year end.
Launch from Google Play – Another worldwide distributor of eBooks. It’s a learning curve that I’m just getting into. Stay tuned on this one.
Launch from Lemon Squeezy – The ‘Buy Direct from the Author’ payment processing platform for eBooks… through my website. They also offer a storefront… so, more uploading of covers and ready-to-read files to make it work. But for $2.50 whoosh into my pocket for a $3 book instead of $1.40 or 38 cents, I’ll do it!

Phew! I’m pooped just sharing all these publishing venues and platforms with you. But I’ll take a breath and grab some coffee to inspire the spilling of pertinent details for each platform.

Please email me here if I’m pouring too fast. It happens.

Here is the computer literate fast-track instructions for lift-off from these platforms:

Publish on Amazon

Set-up a kdp bookshelf account.
Click on the ‘Create’ button and start at the top…
To publish an eBook, you will need:
1. A fully edited, read to enthrall a reader, manuscript including:
  1. Title page
  1. Copyright page
  1. Dedication
  1. Table of Contents
  1. The story
  1. The end matter:
    1. About the author
    1. Where to find more of your books
    1. Review Call-to-Action
1. The description
1. A cover (I use Canva, but there are gazillions more)
1. Shelf categories – fiction, mystery, drama, etc.
1. Search terms for search engines and algorithms
1. Faith and courage
To publish a print book, you will need all the above with these exceptions:
1. A fully edited, ready to enthrall a reader, manuscript as above in a ready-to-print format. For a 6”x 9” book, reset the margins to 5 ½” x 8 ½” output. Scroll through to delete blank pages. Margin changes can bring surprises – like blank pages…
1. Back cover blurb
1. Patience

Amazon makes it easy to add your print book at the same time. Besides being worldwide, kdp makes large print books possible. Watch for an upcoming blogpost for print book formatting hints and tips.

Publishing your works in audiobook form is the subject for a separate blogpost to keep this post a digestible size.

Publishing on Draft to Digital (D2D or Books2Read)

Follow the same procedure beginning with create an account.

You will need the same uploading packet as with Amazon. But D2D book upload forms seem faster and simpler to me.

It’s also fast and easy to add a print book after the eBook details, however, large print is not offered.

Publish on Google Play

The same procedure and packet. But so far, Google Play is keeping me at arm’s length. It’s an ongoing learning curve. I’ll share when I figure it out.

Publish and Sell Direct from Your Website and Story Origin with Lemon Squeezy

Lemon Squeezy is a new (to me) way for me to sell my eBooks directly to you. No middleman. The opportunity makes it possible for elbow-rubbing discounts that you can’t get anywhere else.

When I get the hang of it, you’ll see discount codes appearing here and there… hither and yon, so to speak. They might be through a promotional banner from Story Origin that I’ve added to a blog… or a single link in a blog… or even right on a book page of my website. The deal could be blatant or more of a treasure hunt. Only time will tell. It’s the learning curves…

But you can get right to it with Lemon Squeezy for your own website by:

Create an account
Set-up your account for getting paid, etc. (They pay the sales tax, and more)
Upload your eBooks (Cover, Complete Content packet as above) into your own storefront on their site (required)
Share the link for each book to get the code for checkout from your website and ads you place.

What I really, really like about Lemon Squeezy rather than sites like Shopify (can I say that?) is the pricing structure. You pay a minimal fee for each sale. That’s it. No monthly subscription charges hitting my account.

I like it.

And that’s all I have to say about launching books for success. For today.

Book launch day is an event. I start with Amazon; then D2D; Google Play can wait; ending with alexielinnauthor.com and Lemon Squeezy. Story Origin for reviews and promotion is another event on its own.

Except this one more thing…

Here’s a freebie to introduce you to the Joan Freed Life-Changing Mystery/Adventure Series. Click on the cover for the download button to grab it while you can.

Cheers!

P.S. Results of the call for votes on the last blog post was a landslide ‘Mix it up!’ Thanks for participating. You got it!

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Join me and the characters on:

Posted on February 22, 2024 by Alexie Linn

It’s a Cozy Mashup

Family friendly… For young and old… Something for everybody… Including a single question poll. I need your input.

What would you do if you were visiting a cemetery and found a grave marker with your missing father’s name on it… from about a hundred years ago?

Mary Linn and Valinda are off and running again in their pursuit of helping others gain closure for their loved ones. But this time, the closure is for both Mary Linn and Valinda when the marker is discovered but the remains have been stolen. And the two girls witness it from their tent!

Because Valinda goes missing, the questions multiply and the tension heats up.

How will Mary Linn, Lonnie, and Valinda make it through the fire alive this time? Will Mary Linn find her father and get the answers she’s been seeking forever? Will Mary Linn and Lonnie finally succumb to…?

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