Speaking Engagements as Marketing Avenues
Or...The Dragon applauds Denver Bronco Karl Mecklenburg's author effort

I went to Colorado for the day job late last week to attend the Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association's big annual event. Former All-Pro captain of the Denver Broncos, Karl Mecklenburg, gave the keynote address to the crowd. As a smart marketer, he stuck around to sell copies of his sports-motivational book Heart of a Student Athlete.

Now, folks who have visited this site before know that I go around speaking on marketing, blogging, and writing; giving workshops and offering all the tips and advice I can. But I'd like to reiterate how important public speaking is for getting your name out there as an expert. It's the way to build your platform. Etc. I'll be talking about online marketing specifically at the NPC Writers' Conference April 10 through 11 in Naples, Fla., and encourage folks in Florida to check out the conference offerings and sign up early.

"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: author, Karl Mecklenburg, Denver, platform, online marketing, NPC Writers Conference

Introductions All Around

Or...The Dragon welcomes everyone

Fantasy Author Sandy Lender participated in the SWFL Women's Expo yesterday, Feb. 20, and met an astounding number of friendly faces. What a delight to be among so many kind people and to speak with so many who love to read. Quite a lot of my literature about my novels Choices Meant for Gods and Choices Meant for Kings includes my blog address, which brings you here. But my Web site address is so new that it's hidden on stickers and added at the end of flyers and bookmarks. So if you'd like to visit a site with my bio (entertaining, I have to say) and free excerpts to read from my novels and short story compilation book, do check out http://www.authorsandylender.com/ when you have just a moment. It's gorgeous. The woman who designed it for me is phenomenal at such things. I give her all the credit!

Come on back to this blog (or sign in to Blogger and list this blog--Today the Dragon Wins--as one you want to follow) later this week because I have a nice little rant I'd like to go on and on about. And I have some writing advice spurred by a few questions visitors to the booth had for me during the expo Saturday.

Welcome to the fold!

Coming Up: Book Signing at Ft. Myers Barnes & Noble, Saturday, Feb. 27 from noon to 2 p.m. Hope to see you there!

"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: women's expo, dragon, novel

Home and Makin' Plans
Or...The Dragon invites you to a sunny location

I'm home from the frigid tundra that is Cincinnati. Had to go there for the day job...
In good news, it was a fruitful endeavor. In obnoxious news, 8+ inches of snow had landed on the city the day before my arrival so getting around was "hindered" and 90% of the restaurants and shops were closed the first night. (And don't ask about getting a taxi to get anywhere.)

So it's good to be home where it's a little warmer and I'm gathering my giveaways for tomorrow's SWFL Women's Expo. Yes, what better place to sell a fantasy novel about a strong heroine with integrity, grit, good humor and power? There's a fabulous message for chicks of all ages in Choices Meant for Gods and Choices Meant for Kings, and I plan to tell all the ladies at the Expo that very thing tomorrow. I hope all the folks in Florida make the Expo part of their plans. (I'm in an indoor exhibit space with the Arc-Angels so you don't have to tread the outdoor booths in the chilly temperatures to find me.)

Get all kinds of info and directions to North Port here: http://tinyurl.com/FLwexpo
Next weekend, I'll see you at the Barnes & Noble in Ft. Myers from noon to 2 p.m.


"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: fantasy, strong heroine, SWFL, women's expo

Stuff is on Sale
Or...The Dragon's just lookin' out for your pocketbook

Lulu.com is having a President's Day Weekend Sale.

Anyone who would like to purchase a copy of the first issue of Winter's Night Magazine, this is a great time to do it. Lulu.com is offering 15 percent off everything through Monday if you enter the coupon code WASHINGTON during checkout. This means you can pick up a fantasy magazine with great short stories, including Sandy Lender's "A Legacy Protected" in either downloadable format or print version with a nice little discount.

Check out http://www.lulu.com/wintersnight or other titles on the Lulu site.

"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: dragon, Sandy Lender, A Legacy Protected

Top 10 Reasons Why Lizard Poop is Better than Bugs
Or...The Dragon needs to explain this one...

Many of you know of my current "rent problem" and the insane infestation that's taking place. I've been here for 19 months now and for the past four or five months, I've been in a battle for dominance in the apartment. The battle is with a few trillion roaches that the apartment management can't seem to get rid of. (Yes, I'm seeking other living arrangements at this point.) I let a lizard in during a recent cold spell. I bought another. Those guys are doing their job of reducing the bug population, but my sister asked an interesting question: is the lizard poop problem worse than the bug problem? My answer is no. No, the lizard poop is NOTHING. So there are a few little piles once in a while. Stress on the word "little." These are small lizards. It is NOTHING compared to the bug problem. But this got me to thinking...

Top Ten Reasons Why Lizard Poop is Better than Bugs


10. Lizard poop doesn't move.
9. Lizard poop doesn't try to get in opened boxes of cereal or pasta, thus forcing you to tape things closed all the time.
8. Lizard poop is surprisingly cute.
7. Lizard poop is surprisingly non-fragrant when mooshed in a tissue. (BONUS: it leaves no sticky residue after you spray the spot with 409.)
6. Lizard poop can be disguised as a raisin when visitors stop in, whereas a roach running across the floor is always going to be a disgusting, filthy roach running across the floor.
5. Lizard poop can be contained to a lizard terrarium when you're concerned about the lizard's pre-shed health.
4. Lizard poop doesn't try to get on your plate or glass if you set your plate or glass down on the kitchen counter, thus forcing you to throw out your food/water.
3. Lizard poop doesn't startle you when you turn on the kitchen light.
2. Lizard poop doesn't attract other bugs to its poop.
1. Lizard poop only happens once a day (on average).

"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: lizard, poop, bugs, dragon, Top 10

Friendship...True Friendship
Or...The Dragon got a kick out of this

My friend Laura sent me an e-mail with some snarky (yet lovely) truths today. I could swear I've seen a few of them before, so I tossed those aside. Even a couple of the ones I've got left here "feel" familiar. But they're so good I had to share them.

With my friends.

1. When you’re sad, I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew.
2. When you smile, I will know you’re plotting something that I must be involved in.
3. When you’re scared, we will high tail it out of here.
4. When you’re confused, I will use little words.
5. When you’re blue, I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: friendship, friends, truth, dragon

Donkeys and Dragons (and kitties) on Groundhog Day!
Or...hear The Dragon live on the radio Feb. 2

It's a "Crazy" Groundhog Day "Tuesday" at an all new time of 2 p.m. Eastern. Romance authors Robin D. Owens and Jacquie Rogers and fantasy author Sandy Lender join host Rowena Cherry to talk about their passions, the wild and stray animals that inspire the animal characters in their novels, and about the animal charities they support, including Every Creature Counts and Turtle Time.


Meet Robin D. Owens, author of Amazon's Best of 2008 Heart Fate; Jacquie Rogers, author of Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues and Faery Special Romances; Host Rowena Cherry, author of Forced Mate, Mating Net, Insufficient Mating Material, and Knight's Fork; and catch up with our own Sandy Lender, author of Choices Meant for Gods, Choices Meant for Kings, and What Choices We Made.


To listen live, visit Internet Voices Radio right around 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. http://internetvoicesradio.com
The word ENTER gets you into the site.
To Listen Live (2.05 pm Tuesday, until 4.pm Eastern Time)
In the Black Box, click on "Listen Live"
Sign in (there's a box for that)
Listen and Enjoy
(If you like to multi-task, the site will have a streaming video presentation of the authors' charity-of-choice and book information for you to peruse while listening.)

We'll talk about dragons, donkeys, cats, saving sea turtles, how to rescue retiring rodeo horses, and some other cool things. We'll read snippets from our published or upcoming works and we'll entertain you with crazy talk. Because, you know, why else would we be on a show called Crazy Tuesdays? Woo-hoo!

"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: Crazy Tuesday, Groundhog Day, PIVTR, Sandy Lender, Robin D. Owens, Jacquie Rogers, Rowena Cherry