Friday, January 29, 2021

The Ultimate Guide To Cookies: RELEASE DAY!

 

I am excited to announce the release of my new book, The Ultimate Guide To Cookies!

It is available on Amazon for Kindle and in paperback. Today is release day!

In this book, I include tips and tricks to making the perfect cookies. I also include many of my favorite cookie recipes!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and this book will assist you in baking cookies for the ones you love. It will also make a fantastic Valentine's gift for the baker or sweet tooth in your life.

Do you find yourself spending too much money on store-bought cookies? Have you tried baking cookies to have them turn out as hard as hockey pucks or too soft and crumbly? The Ultimate Guide To Cookies offers you a way out of store-bought, chemical-laden cookies!

Learn all the best and easiest tips and tricks to make cookies from the comfort of your kitchen. Make a batch whenever you have a craving and save money too.

Deanna will share how to bake cookies, tips, and tricks to the perfect bite, and recipes to get you started.

Cookies make fantastic gifts for all occasions, or “just because.” For just a few dollars, you can put all of her tips and recipes into practice and find your sweet tooth satisfied and your bank account full.

Your family and friends will adore you even more and may start asking you to bring the cookies to all of your parties and gatherings!

The Ultimate Guide To Cookies

Picture This: Book release

 

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Family History and traditions with Author Deanna Martinez-Bey


Baking sweets has always been a big part of my life. Thinking back to when I was a child...baking with my mom and family provides happy memories for me. I do not remember most of my childhood from the age of 4 until I was 12, BUT, I do recall Christmas Eve gatherings with my family and all of the cooking and baking we did together.
I always say that baking soothes my soul and brings peace to my spirit. Since the happy memories I have as a child revolve around food, I can understand why baking makes me feel this way.

Those happy memories and family traditions are always present in my mind. Each time I bake with my daughter, who is 6 years old, and every time all 4 of us (myself, my husband, my son, and my daughter) have a cookie decorating night for each Holiday, I am reminded that I am creating happy, peaceful, and fun memories for my children.

My mom passed away when I was nineteen years old. Thankfully, mom taught me how to bake up a mean cheesecake when she was here with us. Mom made her cheesecake without a crust. It was a thick, rich, creamy, New York-style cheesecake. I was born and raised in New Jersey, and let me tell you, northern, Italian women know how to cook and bake! Mom fit right into that mold. Her teachings inspired me to write my book, The Ultimate Guide To Cheesecakes.

Because of the skills my mom and my Aunt (her sister) taught me, I entered into a Taste of Italy contest with Taste of Home Magazine several years ago, with my, Mascarpone Cheesecake recipe, and I won 2nd place! Thanks, mom and Aunt Jeannie!


The love of food has brought me where I am today. I have a food blog, home bakery, and I just wrote another cookbook, The Ultimate Guide To Cookies! 

I have been featured in several Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, Taste of Home Best Of cookbooks, Taste of Home Magazines, and online with Womansday.com.
I have written 3 novels and in the back of each one, I share recipes that were made in the book (that are all my personal recipes).
I am the administrator of several pages and groups on Facebook: all food-related!




Do you agree with me when I say that I have a passion for writing, food, and recipes?

You can also find all of my books here:

Amazon Author Page: Deanna Martinez-Bey

Friday, January 22, 2021

Book review: Point of View (Writing Lessons from the Front Book 3)

 


I have been reading books about writing and when I found this one on Amazon, it caught my eye. 

I have to say,  Point of View (Writing Lessons from the Front Book 3), was a fantastic book. It explained the different POV's in which one can write and it explained them in great detail so everyone can understand. 

I rated this book on Amazon and Goodreads and gave it 5 stars! 


Here is the Amazon link and description:

Point of View (Writing Lessons from the Front Book 3)

 Unlocking the mystery behind POINT OF VIEW: why is point of view important to a novelist, and how can we make sure we're using it correctly? Which serves the story better--first person, third person, omniscient, or the quirky second? Using thirty years of writing experience, Angela Hunt presents a brief lesson on point of view that should answer all your questions in practical, simple terms. You don't need an entire book to understand it--you only need these thirty pages. These lessons, Hunt says, "are brief for a reason—I don’t want you to spend most of your time reading how-to books. I will give you what you need so you can put what you’ve learned into practice. That’s the best way to improve." Enjoy this writing lesson for a fraction of the cost of attending one of Angela's writing classes--your writing will never be the same.

Best hashtags for authors on Twitter  

Book review: Picture This 

2021 Resolutions Vs. Goals 

Monday, January 18, 2021

Book review: How To Make A living With Your Writing

 


I purchased: How to Make a Living with Your Writing: Books, Blogging and More (Books for Writers Book 3) by Joanna Pen, in hopes of learning tips and tricks of the trade.

Unfortunately, that is not what I found. I am not saying that this was a terrible book. I am saying that the information it contained was basic and rather than delve into details as to the, "how to's" it quickly skimmed through the basic ideas with minimal explanation as to how to make them happen. 

I was looking for more in depth information.

If you are a beginning writer, it is a great book to give you ideas as to how to make money. But, be prepared to do research as to how to make them happen. 


Picture This book review

Resolutions Vs. Goals 

Author interview with GKJ Publishing

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Best hashtags for authors on Twitter

 


I have been exploring into the Twitterverse and want to share some of my favorite hashtags for authors / writers:

  • #writingcommunity
  • #amwriting
  • #writerslife
  • #WIP
  • #indieauthors
  • #romancewriter
  • #romance
  • #author
  • #writingtip
  • #getpublished
  • #selfpublishing
  • #ebooks
  • #mustread
  • #kindle
  • #bookgiveaway
  • #freebook
  • #writerslift


 I hope these hashtags help you build your Twitter community. My all-time-favorite is #writingcommunity. There you will find other writers who want to connect. 

My second favorite as far as building my community is #writerslift. By adding this one, you will meet new authors and grow your following.

I suggest you take a look at each hashtag to see what they are and which are best for you.


Author interview: GKJ Publishing 

Resolutions Vs. Goals  

Covid-19 writing 


Sunday, January 10, 2021

Author Deanna Martinez-Bey on TicTok

 


 

Having kept a photography channel on TicTok, I decided to start an author channel too! I have to say, it has been fairly successful so far.

Here is a link to my channel, I would love to have you follow me there (I will follow you back):

Author Deanna Martinez-Bey

I found a Facebook page specifically for authors on TicTok and have found a great deal of support there:

Authors of TicTok 

Between the Facebook group and the apps algorithms, it has not been difficult to find other authors to support. The writing/reading community on social media is one of the most supportive I have found! 


Picture This book review: On Janine's Cool Cats and Reviews

Author interview with GKJ Publishing  

Resolutions Vs. Goals

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Picture This book review on Janine's Cool Cats and Reviews

 

 

 I am happy to share an honest review of my latest novella, Picture This.

I have been working with Janine since my first book release in 2011! We have a string of emails over 80 long! She always takes the time to read my books and give an honest review. THANK YOU, Janine! 

Here is the direct link to my book review on her blog:

Janine's Cool Cats and Reviews

Janine also gave me an awesome review on BookBub and Amazon!

Thank you, Janine! 

 

Friday, January 1, 2021

2021 Resolutions Vs. Goals

 


At the beginning of each year, I post my "Resolutions vs. Goals" post.

Let's make 2021 the year we move forward with creating the life we truly desire.  Let's leave the past were it belongs...in the past, and create for ourselves a joyful, prosperous, healthy new year! 

Resolution: A promise we make to ourselves and declare to others that we are going to make a positive change for the new year.
Goals: A plan we put into place to move forward towards a better life.

Do you see the difference? A resolution is a promise, but a goal is a plan. Let’s set goals for ourselves this year. Make a plan, write a list of steps to get you to where you want to be: financially, physically, emotionally, relationally. Set reasonable goals. Take baby steps towards your new future, your new life.
Let’s turn our dreams into reality for 2021! 

Meditate on your goals and the changes you want to make, see yourself living the life that you desire. Talk about your dreams and goals with people who will build you up and encourage you. Make your plan and work towards it each day, little by little, taking baby steps. Don't give up!

They say, "Rome wasn't built in a day". How true that is! Let's make the changes within ourselves to become the people we want to be this year. It can be done and WE are the only ones who can make it happen; join a gym, write a book, start a business, change the things we don't like about ourselves/our lives. Let's make this our year! 

If you have access to Netflix, I HIGHLY recommend you watch, The Secret. It has helped change my life and I am confident it can do the same for you! 


Author interview with GKJ Publishing

Covid-19 writing 

Podcast: Write It!