Journal Jots – Blog
Welcome to my Journal Jots blog! This is a broad mix of what’s on my mind, allowing me to feel a little bit closer to some of the most important people in my life—YOU! From news on sales, freebies, giveaways, new releases, and excerpts from works in progress … to my thoughts on my walk with God, daily devotionals, or photos of my family, this is where you’ll find the most current glimpse into my books and my life. I invite you to subscribe in the “subscribe” box on the right side of this page to automatically receive an email whenever I post a blog. Till then, God bless and HAPPY READING!
Friday, October 21, 2022
🍁 We Have LOTS of Winners! 🍁
WE HAVE WINNERS FROM: Mysti’s Book Nook, Q & A Podcast, Blog Tour!
MORE CHANCES TO WIN: New Contest and Giveaways Galore!
99-CENT SALE A WING & A PRAYER: Ends Oct. 31!
A HOPE & A PRAYER: 5-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on Amazon!
KU (Kindle Unlimited) Book Fair
We Have Winners!
WINNERS FROM MYSTI’S BOOK NOOK! We had a great time discussing subjects such as TEMPTATION. TRUST. ANGER AT GOD. REBELLION. MORALITY. ROMANTIC PASSION. AND IF OPPOSITES ATTRACT! If you weren’t able to join in, you can always check out some of the stimulating discussions at Mysti’s by heading on over to Mysti’s Book Nook and putting #JULIE in the search box. But MEGA HUGS to everyone who did chime in on our discussions and now, here are our winners:
🏆 GRAND-PRIZE WINNER of … an Amazon gift card, character named for them or a loved one in my summer 2023 book (Henry’s story, A Dare and a Prayer) and signed paperback copy, PLUS choice of 3 of my indie e-books OR 1 of my paperbacks (based on my private stash) OR choice of 1 paperback from list of top CBA authors … IS:
Jennifer Fuchikami
🏆 INDIVIDUAL POST WINNERS of … choice of 3 of my indie e-books OR 1 of my paperbacks (based on my private stash) OR choice of one paperback from a list of top CBA authors:
POST WINNER #1 ON OCTOBER 1: Teresa Smyser
POST WINNER #2 ON OCTOBER 3: Stephanie Cassandra McCall (Steph graciously gave the prize to Marilyn Rushing since she’s already read all my books)
POST WINNER #3 ON OCTOBER 5: Anne Perreault
POST WINNER #4 ON OCTOBER 7: Traci Gemelke (Traci graciously gave the prize to Nancy Jensen since she’s already won all my books)
POST WINNER #5 ON OCTOBER 9: Jody Reich
POST WINNER #6 ON OCTOBER 11: Kathryn Bochman
POST WINNER #7 ON OCTOBER 13: Lynne Feuerstein
🏆 THEN FINALLY … what can I say? I just got a wild hair to draw two random names to receive an e-copy of A Wing and a Prayer if they haven’t read it yet or their choice of another of my indie e-books. And those random names are: Janis Mosher and Brenda Morton-Gordon
SUPER CONGRATS to all the winners and I’ll need you to contact me through the CONTACT tab of my website to let me know your choice of prizes and your mailing address if you opt for a paperback.
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WINNERS FROM LITERARYSCAPE LIVE Q&A! We also had a great time chatting during the LIVE Q&A, where I got to answer some pretty impressive questions, so MEGA HUGS to everyone who attended.
All attendees automatically receive a free e-book, so if you attended, please contact me through the CONTACT tab of my website to let me know which one of my indie e-books you would like. You can see all of my indies on the BOOKS tab of my website. NOTE: My indies are any books listed EXCEPT for my Revell books—The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, and Heart of San Francisco series.
🏆 GRAND-PRIZE WINNER: Everyone who attended the Q&A were eligible to win a GRAND PRIZE of an Amazon Gift card, a signed paperback copy of A Hope and a Prayer or a signed paperback of any of my indie books or by a top CBA author, and a character named after you or a loved one in my next book! And that winner which Randomizer picked is:
Caryl Kane
SUPER CONGRATS to all the winners and again, I’ll need you to contact me through the CONTACT tab of my website to let me know your choice of e-book and in Caryl’s case, your mailing address if you opt for a paperback.
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WINNERS FROM BLOG TOUR FOR A HOPE AND A PRAYER! First of all, I want to thank each of the amazing bloggers who were on my blog tour — I SO appreciate each and every one of you!
Secondly, MEGA HUGS to all of you that took the time to visit each blog and leave a comment — you guys ROCK! Randomizer picked a winner from each of the 13 blogs to receive her choice of one of my indie e-books.
After that, Randomizer picked one of the names from ALL of the comments on the blogs to win the 🏆 GRAND-PRIZE of an Amazon gift card, a signed paperback copy of A Hope and a Prayer or a signed paperback copy of any of my indie books or a book by a top CBA author, and that winner is:
Denise Turner
🏆 INDIVIDUAL BLOG WINNERS of … choice of one of my indie e-books are:
- October 1 – Reading is my SuperPower Blog — Terri Quick
- October 2 – Favorite Pastime Blog — Emily Brewer
- October 3 – Grace Johnson Blog —
- October 4 – Novel’s Corner Blog —
- October 5 – LiteraryScape Blog — Grace Tarpey
- October 6 – Miss Pippi Reads Blog — Cassie Payne
- October 7 – Reading is My SuperPower Blog — Debra Pruss
- October 8 – LiteraryScape LIVE Q&A — Bernice Danjuma
- October 9 – Britt Reads Fiction Blog — Roxanne C
- October 10 – Saraina Whitney Blog — bn100
- October 10 — Radiant Light Blog — Artist Librarian
- October 11– Splashes of Joy Blog — Connie Saunders
- October 14 – Bliss, Books, & Jewels Blog — Kathryn Bochman
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More Chances To Win!
2ND CHANCE FOR Q&A GIVEAWAY! So … if you didn’t win in any of the giveaways above, now’s your chance to grab an e-copy of my latest release, A Hope and a Prayer. How? Easy-peasy!
Simply watch the great Q & A video replay that LiteraryScape hosted where I answered some great questions, then send me the answer to the following two questions at the CONTACT tab on my website, and you’ll automatically receive an e-copy of A Hope and a Prayer (or indie e-book of your choice).
THEN … those who answer both questions correctly will automatically be entered for a GRAND-PRIZE drawing of a character named after you in my next book, an e-copy of said book, and choice of a PAPERBACK – either mine or one from a top CBA author from my personal list. Note: If you are an e-book reader like me, you can choose three of my e-books in lieu of the paperback.
BONUS POINTS! Ten extra chances in the drawing if you subscribe to LiteraryScape (a great bookclub w/a small monthly fee where you can win prizes!), so be sure to let me know that you subscribed when you contact me.
Here are the questions, so GOOD LUCK! Note: You must answer both questions correctly to be a winner.
QUESTION #1: What is my favorite book cover?
QUESTION #2: What story did my son ask me to tell my grandkids?
Here are the links:
SUBSCRIBE TO LITERARYSCAPE BLOG
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FALL PARTY GIVEAWAY AT INSPIRATIONAL READS & AUTHORS FB PAGE, OCT. 29 & 30, 10AM – 9PM: Let me just preface this by saying, if you have never been to a Fall Party at the very lively Inspirational Reads & Authors FB page, you are in for a real treat! Tons of authors do tons of giveaways over two-days time, so you don’t want to miss this!
Especially MY time slot – SUNDAY, 10-11:00 AM EST – which is when I will be posting 4 different posts, each of which will have one winner of an e-book per post, so 4 chances to win!
THEN … those who post comments on all 4 of my posts will be entered for a GRAND-PRIZE drawing of a character named after you in my next book, an e-copy of said book, and choice of a PAPERBACK – either mine or one from a top CBA author from my personal list. Note: If you are an e-book reader like me, you can choose three of my e-books in lieu of the paperback.
AND THE GOOD NEWS? You have all day Sunday to comment on my 4 posts or any other author’s post because winners won’t be announced until Oct. 31st. To search for my posts (because it will be crazy with tons of authors posting), simply put #JULIE in the search bar, and it will take you to each of my posts. Here’s the link and hope to see you there!
INSPIRATIONAL READS & AUTHORS FALL PARTY
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99¢ Sale Wing & a Prayer Ends 10/31!
If you haven’t read Gabe’s story yet and met the man who stands up to her (other than her father, Patrick O’Connor), get ready to meet Alex Kincaid, a hubba-hubba hero who has Gabe’s number right out the gate since she clocked his younger brother in grade school. Yep, Gabe broke Victor Kincaid’s jaw in Book 3 of The Winds of Change series, A Love Surrendered, which gives our hero BIG trust issues and understandably so!
So, if you want to catch up with the O’Connors AND read a WW2 novel that Sarah Sundin called “a fun and wild ride,” this is the best time to do it because it won’t be on sale for 99¢ for long.
AND if you have read it and posted a brief review on Amazon, please let me know via my website at CONTACT JULIE so I can personally thank you, okay?
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A Hope & a Prayer 5-⭐️ on Amazon!
MEGA HUGS TO MY WONDERFUL 5-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ READERS FOR SUCH FABULOUS REVIEWS!!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all of you who have posted great reviews on Amazon, giving A Hope and a Prayer a solid 5-star rating (unless somebody drops a bad rating between now and then 😳).
I appreciate it SO much, so God bless you all! And if you have posted a good review on Goodreads, please post it on Amazon as well, okay? And if it’s not a good review … uh, never mind. 😉
Here’s just a few of the many wonderful reviews A Hope and a Prayer has received:
⭐️“Always want to work harder on my faith and Bible study after reading Julie’s books. Another wonderful story.” —Amazon reviewer, Peggy O’Keefe
⭐️“Impeccably researched and chock-full of wise, spiritual nuggets, scriptures, and lessons to be learned the hard way—Julie Lessman has written another gem not to be missed!” — Diana Flowers
⭐️“Julie is the most passionate person I know, and that feeling and her passionate love for our Lord flows through the pages of every book she writes.” —Splashes of Joy Blog
⭐️“Get ready to laugh, cry, swoon, and want to throw the book across the room … but overall, be prepared to have Jesus touch your heart through the story because He will. This is Ms. Lessman’s signature.” — Radiant Light Blog
⭐️“Wow, yet another rollercoaster ride of a romance … another epic story complete with the author’s trademark romance, a heart-tugging redemption arc, and richly developed characters, all staying true to the author’s tagline of “Passion with a Purpose.” —Saraina Whitney Blog
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Are you a Kindle Unlimited subscriber? If so, please check out the KU Bookfair I’m
participating in with a group of other authors listed in the graphic to the left. You just might find your next book to read there.
Some of the authors have more than one KU title available so be sure to browse for “extras” from the authors’ Amazon profiles. You can check it out HERE and HAPPY READING!
HUGS and HAPPY WINNING!
Julie
Thursday, September 29, 2022
GIVEAWAYS GALORE BEGIN ON OCT. 1!
99-Cent e-Sale for A Wing and a Prayer!
A Hope and a Prayer releases Oct. 1!
Oct. 1-14 Blog Tour for A Hope and a Prayer: Win e-books, Amazon gift card, paperback, and character named for you/loved one in my next book!
Oct. 1-14 Online Book Club for A Wing and a Prayer: Win e-books, Amazon gift card, paperback, and character named for you/loved one in my next book!
Oct. 8 Readers’ Q & A Podcast: Ask me questions on live podcast & win e-books, Amazon gift card, paperback, and character named for you/loved one in my next book!
KU (Kindle Unlimited) Book Fair
99¢ e-Sale for A Wing and a Prayer!
If you haven’t read Gabe’s story yet and met the man who stands up to her (other than her father, Patrick O’Connor), get ready to meet Alex Kincaid, a hubba-hubba hero who has Gabe’s number right out the gate since she clocked his younger brother in grade school. Yep, Gabe broke Victor Kincaid’s jaw in Book 3 of The Winds of Change series, A Love Surrendered, which gives our hero BIG trust issues and understandably so!
So, if you want to catch up with the O’Connors AND read a WW2 novel that Sarah Sundin called “a fun and wild ride,” this is the best time to do it because it won’t be on sale for 99¢ for long.
AND if you have read it and posted a brief review on Amazon, please let me know via my website at CONTACT JULIE so I can personally thank you, okay? AND be sure to show up at Mysti’s Book Nook Oct. 1-14 for even more giveaways and fun (see info below in this newsletter).
A Hope and a Prayer Releases Oct. 1!
TICK … TICK … TICK … only a few more days to pre-order A Hope and a Prayer at a discounted rate — it goes up on October 1, so don’t miss out!
Sweet Hope Dennehy — Gabe’s cousin, Charity’s daughter, and Henry’s twin — gets her own shot at love. But … in true Lessman CDQ style, do NOT expect it to come easy! Especially with Charity as her mother, who is in rare form in this book, giving poor Mitch a run for his money as always. Here’s the jacket blurb:
She’s in love with her best friend.
He’s in love with her cousin.
But when the war reveals a gift so rare,
will they be saved by a hope and a prayer?
Blog Tour for A Hope and a Prayer
Are you ready for MORE giveaways GALORE???
Well, I sure am, so join me OCTOBER 1-14, 2022 for my 2-week blog tour on A HOPE AND A PRAYER, where I will not only be giving away a free e-copy to one commenter on each of 14 stops (14 e-books giveaway!).
GRAND-PRIZE GIVEAWAY! Then I’ll toss all those names in a hat for an Amazon gift card, a signed paperback copy of A Hope and a Prayer or a signed paperback copy of any of my indie books or a book by a top CBA author, and a character named after you or a loved one in my next book!
Here’s the list of bloggers on the tour, so visit each one on or after their date to leave a comment, and you’re automatically in the draw, so good luck! Contest ends 10/15, and winners will be announced right here on my Journal Jot blog shortly thereafter.
BLOG TOUR DATES:
- October 1 – https://readingismysuperpower.org/2022/10/01/book-spotlight-and-a-giveaway-a-hope-and-a-prayer-by-julie-lessman/
- October 2 – https://myfavoritepastime.blogspot.com/2022/10/a-hope-and-prayer-by-julie-lessman.html
- October 3 – (New-release spotlight) https://www.graceajohnson.com/post/new-release-a-hope-and-a-prayer-by-julie-lessman
- October 4 – https://novelscorner.wordpress.com/2022/10/01/a-hope-and-a-prayer/
- October 5 – https://www.literaryscape.com/literaryscape-book-club
- October 6 – http://misspippireads.blogspot.com/
- October 7 – https://readingismysuperpower.org/2022/10/07/book-review-and-a-giveaway-a-hope-and-a-prayer-by-julie-lessman/
- October 8 – (Live-stream on CrowdCast) https://rumble.com/v1n60m2-live-q-and-a-with-author-julie-lessman-replay.html
- October 9 – https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.com/2022/10/09/blog-tour-review-giveaway-a-hope-and-a-prayer-by-julie-lessman/
- October 10 – https://sarainawhitney.wordpress.com/blog/
- October 10 — http://frommipov.blogspot.com/2022/10/a-hope-and-prayer-cousins-oconnor-2-by.html
- October 11– https://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/2022/10/11/blog-tour-and-giveaway-a-hope-and-a-prayer-by-julie-lessman/
- October 12 – https://kellybridgewater.blogspot.com/
- October 13 – https://flakymn.blogspot.com/
- October 14 – https://blissbooksandjewels.com/
Book Club Giveaways A Wing and a Prayer!
Ready for two solid weeks of book-club fun and giveaways?
Then come on over to Mysti’s Book Nook Oct. 1-14, where we will be discussing my 4.7-star WW2 novel, A Wing and a Prayer!
Whether you’ve already read it or just starting it today—IT’S ON SALE FOR ONLY 99 CENTS, YOU KNOW—we’ll have a lot of fun with provocative questions and TONS of giveaways! I will be posting every two days—seven posts and seven chances to win an e-book!
GRAND-PRIZE GIVEAWAY! Then I’ll toss all those names in a hat for an Amazon gift card, a signed paperback copy of A Hope and a Prayer or a signed paperback copy of any of my indie books or a book by a top CBA author, and a character named after you or a loved one in my next book!
So, head on over to Mysti’s Book Nook NOW to join this FREE and very cool Facebook Online Book Club, where some of your favorite authors are doing giveaways all year long!
JOIN MYSTI’S BOOK NOOK FREE HERE!
Hope to see you there!
Oct. 8th Readers’ Q & A Podcast!
NOTE! CORRECTION ON TIME: The Q & A begins at 9:00 AM EST,
10:00 AM CST, 11:00 AM MST, and 12:00 PM PST.
Hey, let’s interact! One of the things I like least about virtual relationships is that you A.) Can’t physically hug the person you love and B.) You can’t physically sit down with them and chat or ask questions.
Well, guess what? With my upcoming live-stream podcast, you can at least ask me questions and win a free e-book for doing so!
GRAND-PRIZE GIVEAWAY! Then I’ll toss all those names in a hat for an Amazon gift card, a signed paperback copy of A Hope and a Prayer or a signed paperback copy of any of my indie books or a book by a top CBA author, and a character named after you or a loved one in my next book!
So … how do you enter? Simply register at the following link, and you will receive an email from Crowdcast that will give you your personal link to the Q & A, where you can ask me any question you want on October 8th, so hope to see you there!
It should be fun and profitable, so hope to see you there!
KU (Kindle Unlimited) Book Fair
Are you a Kindle Unlimited subscriber? If so, please check out the KU Bookfair I’m
participating in with a group of other authors listed in the graphic to the left. You just might find your next book to read there.
Some of the authors have more than one KU title available so be sure to browse for “extras” from the authors’ Amazon profiles. You can check it out HERE and HAPPY READING!
HUGS and HAPPY WINNING!
Julie
Friday, September 16, 2022
BE SURE TO MARK YOUR CALENDAR
FOR THE FOLLOWING UPCOMING GIVEAWAYS!
Book 2 in The Cousins O’Connor Series releases Oct. 1!
Oct. 1-14 Blog Tour for A Hope and a Prayer: Win e-books, signed paperback or character named for you/loved one in my next book!
Calling Blogger/Reviewers—1 Spot Left on my Blog Tour!
99-Cent e-Sale for A Wing and a Prayer!
Oct. 1-14 Online Book Club for A Wing and a Prayer: Win e-books, signed paperback, character named for you/loved one in next book!
Oct. 8 Readers’ Q & A Podcast: Ask me questions on live podcast & win e-books, signed paperback or character named for you/loved one in next book!
AND … You can check out the following prior blog posts HERE:
So, What Have I Been Up To?
Family Fun!
My Writing Tips in Sky’s the Limit Press Literary Journal
Steady-On Podcast Interview!
Recommendations for Authors Who Write Like Me
Cool Trailer/Video for my latest, The Secret of Emerald Cottage
Pix of Characters from The Secret of Emerald Cottage!
1st Chapter from The Secret of Emerald Cottage!
1st Chapter from A Hope and a Prayer HERE!
Book 2 in The Cousins O’Connor Series Releases Oct. 1!
UH-OH … have you pre-ordered A HOPE AND A PRAYER at the pre-order discount rate yet? If not, you still have two weeks left to do so, so here’s the link:
She’s in love with her best friend. He’s in love with her cousin. But when the war reveals a gift so rare, will
they be saved by a hope and a prayer?
As Head Nurse at 2d Hospital in Nancy, France, Lieutenant Hope Dennehy is known for her healing touch, especially when it comes to mending the wounds and spirit of her best friend, Lieutenant Bren O’Neill. When Hope’s cousin breaks Bren’s heart, Hope is always there, helping to heal him with a friendship so anointed and deep, it threatens to break her heart too.
Flying high as a daredevil aeromedical evac pilot in the European Theatre, “Lieutenant Love” O’Neill crashes and burns when the woman he loves falls for another. Depending on the support and prayers of Nurse Hope Dennehy to save him, Bren re-evaluates his free-wheeling lifestyle when he witnesses the heinous atrocities of the Buchenwald concentration camp. Suddenly nothing in life is as important as taking care of those he loves … or is it? Battling demons from his past, Bren learns that only one thing can truly save him from himself.
SO … DON’T PAY MORE THAN YOU HAVE TO! PRE-ORDER TODAY HERE!
Oct. 1-14 Blog-Tour Giveaways for
A Hope and a Prayer!
Are you ready for giveaways GALORE???
Well, I sure am, so join me OCTOBER 1-14, 2022 for my 2-week blog tour on A HOPE AND A PRAYER, where I will not only be giving away a free e-copy to one commenter on each of 15 stops (15 e-books giveaway!), but I’ll toss all those names in a hat for a signed paperback copy of A Hope and a Prayer or a signed paperback copy of any of my indie books and even some of my Revell books! And the best part? You get a character named after you in my next book!
So … mark your calendar to come back here on October 1st to check out the list of blogs that are participating to get started on winning some books!
Blogger/Reviewers:
3 Spots Left on my Blog Tour!
Hey, guys, if you review books on your blog, I would LOVE to have you on my blog tour, so please contact me HERE if you are interested.
99-Cent e-Sale for A Wing and a Prayer!
WHAT?? You haven’t read A Wing and a Prayer yet? Well then, this is your golden opportunity, my friends, because I guarantee, this is the lowest price ever, so take advantage!
Just take a peek at the VERY COOL and very dramatic video trailer my sweet hubby made for it HERE, then head on over to Amazon right now to dive in for only 99 cents!
BUY A WING AND A PRAYER
FOR ONLY 99 CENTS HERE!
She’s dead-set on giving everything
to the war overseas …
Even if it means losing everything
in a war of the heart.
A street orphan abused and abandoned by an alcoholic father at age five, Gabriella (Gabe) O’Connor has never let a man stand in her way yet. So when a handsome flight officer thwarts her plans to become a WASP— Women Air Force Service Pilot — she’s determined to join the war effort anyway she can. Her chance comes when she “borrows” foreign correspondent credentials from the Boston Herald—where her father is the editor—to stow away on a medical ship to the front.
Lieutenant Alex Kincaid pegs Gabe O’Connor as trouble the moment she steps foot on Avenger Field as a WASP cadet. As the eldest brother of a boy whose jaw Gabe broke in grade school, Alex is familiar with her reputation as both a charismatic ringleader and a headstrong hooligan who’s challenged every male and nun from grade school to college. As her WASP flight instructor, Alex eventually expels Gabe when she pulls a dangerous stunt. But when he is an evacuation pilot in France eight months later, their lives intertwine once again, exposing them to a danger as perilous as the German tanks roaming the Reichswald Forest: a love that neither expects.
Oct. 1-14 Online Book Club Giveaways for A Wing and a Prayer!
Ready for two solid weeks of book-club fun and giveaways?
Then come on over to Mysti’s Book Nook Oct. 1-14, where we will be discussing my 4.7-star WW2 novel, A Wing and a Prayer!
Whether you’ve already read it or just starting it today—IT’S ON SALE FOR ONLY 99 CENTS, YOU KNOW—we’ll have a lot of fun with provocative questions and TONS of giveaways! I will be posting every two days—seven posts and seven chances to win—e-books, signed paperback, and/or a character named for you/loved one in next book!
So, head on over to Mysti’s Book Nook NOW to join this FREE and very cool Facebook Online Book Club, where some of your favorite authors are doing giveaways all year long!
JOIN MYSTI’S BOOK NOOK FREE HERE!
THEN … once you’ve signed up, mark your calendar to come by on Oct. 1st because I am giving away LOTS of prizes including an Amazon gift card, e-books, signed paperback, and a character named after you or a loved one in my next book!
Oct. 8th Readers’ Q & A Podcast!
NOTE! CORRECTION ON TIME: The Q & A begins at 9:00 AM EST, 10:00 AM CST, 11:00 AM MST, and 12:00 PM PST.
Hey, let’s interact! One of the things I like least about virtual relationships is that you A.) Can’t physically hug the person you love and B.) You can’t physically sit down with them and chat or ask questions.
Well, guess what? With my upcoming live-stream podcast, you can at least ask me questions and win a free e-book for doing so! And then I will toss all the questions asked in a bucket and pick a top winner for a signed paperback of one of my books and an Amazon gift card!
So … how do enter? Simply register at the following link, and you will receive an email from Crowdcast that will give you your personal link to the Q & A, where you can ask me any question you want on October 8th, so hope to see you there!
It should be fun and profitable, so hope to see you there!
HUGS!
Julie
Meet Julie
