Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

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The Digital Shift – Blessing or Curse?

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by Kimberly A. Cook          (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

This past week came the news of the partial demise of an old friend – The Oregonian newspaper. Part of my regular morning ritual is to get the newspaper from the front porch and read the headlines, then scan to the comics and horoscope. That will change October 1 when the daily home delivery is cut to Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

My Classic Nook. Can't tell you how hard it is to get a picture of it without my reflection in it!
My Classic Nook. Can’t tell you how hard it is to get a picture of it without my reflection in it!

While ebooks are a boon to authors and indie publishing, the same shift is catching the print newspapers in the pocketbooks. The Oregonian is starting up another “media” company and moving the bulk of their resources to support their online digital presence with oregonlive.com

As an ex-newspaper journalist who has former co-workers and editors working at The Oregonian, it rips my reporter heart out. Knew it was coming one day, but still seems too soon. Now how they decided which reporters to keep and layoff is an entirely different story and the independent Willamette Week has a bead on that story. Read “Black and White and Red All Over” at www.willametteweek.com

Which all leads me to what this post had started out to be about; the demise of the Classic Nook. An early adopter, I bought the first Nook ereader. Works like a charm and still does. A friend’s Classic Nook croaked and they recommended she turn in the beauty to 1-800-BookNow for a $50 price because they want the lithium batteries. She can then pay only $29 to get the Nook Simple Touch, the new version you can read in the sunlight.

I have a Nook Tablet too, but I’m reading my Nook Classic until it dies a digital death. Being able to read without a backlit screen is an eye saver for those of us who are plugged in all the time.

If ereaders are already being recycled, what does that say for the rest of the print magazine and newspaper business? Upgrade happens. The new buzzword is transmedia – storytelling across all platforms. So get on the change train – it’s at the station!

Get Ready For The Fourth Of July!

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

We are heading toward the Fourth of July with amazing speed. Wanted to share one of my favorite memories. Grew up watching The Capital Fourth on PBS in Oregon. In 1990 while in Washington, D.C. with the Air Force Reserve, I got to experience it in person. Amazing!

Every year without fail I watch it on tv, but being in person is a knockout. Watch the reflection on the tidal pools and the river. But of course, my favorite part is the 1812 Overture with the cannons! Makes my little Army heart flutter. In person the finale looks like they are going to launch the Washington Monument into space! Enjoy this clip from one recent Capital Fourth broadcast.

Happy Quirky Friday! Happy Birthday USA and a big thanks to those who serve to keep her free!

The Words That Launched A Nation

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by Kimberly A. Cook         (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Next week is our Nation’s birthday. I got to thinking about how this country came to be with ideals and dreams written down on paper. The Founding Fathers, and the Founding Mothers who supported them, were all rock stars and boy could they write.

USS Constitution fires a 17-gun salute during the ship's 215th launching day, Oct. 17, 2012, In Boston Harbor. U.S. Navy photo by 2nd Class Thomas Rooney
USS Constitution fires a 17-gun salute during the ship’s 215th launching day, Oct. 17, 2012, In Boston Harbor. U.S. Navy photo by 2nd Class Thomas Rooney

They fought for independence for our people, nation and a new way of life by signing their names on a document which amounted to treason against the crown. Talk about independent publishing. So what are some of the actual words they used?

The Constitution of the United States

Preamble

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.  

That is a great opening. Tight writing, clear stated purpose and a nation was born. One very important Amendment for all writers is the First, added in 1791.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.  

The Founding Fathers could not predict social media and blogs, but their words still ring true. In these day when corporations own media companies, it makes me smile to know there are hundreds of thousands of rookie reporters around the world observing and documenting with digital video, photos and words.

Another Amendment I’m pretty fond of is the 19th added in 1920.  The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

So a mere 93 years later women are in combat and getting ready to go into Special Forces and Special Operations. Citizenship confers a duty and responsibility on all to not only defend our nation but to make sure we protect the rights which so many have paid the ultimate price to protect.

Writers are the storytellers of every generation. Never underestimate the power of words and your role in that legacy. Write Free!

Wish The Big Orange Guy A Late Birthday!

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

I don’t know what I was thinking, but I missed Garfield’s birthday on Wednesday. I hope the big furry guy will forgive me. Of course, I can’t mention it to Spec Ops Cat, he gets so jealous. Thought we could all use a quick review of the great orange one’s trip to London.

Enjoy the home movies and have a Happy Quirky Friday!

Can We Stop Change And Chaos?

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by Kimberly A. Cook             (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Nope. Change is constant and chaos is its walking buddy. If we don’t change or move we can become stagnant; not a good idea for people or water with mosquito larvae. Do we have to like change all the time? Nope.

Took a webinar this past weekend about using Google+ for authors; yet another social media platform. I only deal with the top four or five social media sites and I can’t keep up. Checked it out because being a lifelong learner I’m always seduced by the next new thing, but then it requires the same old thing – work.

Even hay gets changed to stuff duvet covers. Or are those giant marshmallows? Two semis of chocolate bars and graham crackers stat!
Even hay gets changed to stuff duvet covers. Or are those giant marshmallows? Two semis of chocolate bars and graham crackers stat!

Not sure if it’s summertime, age or the call of the wild, but I don’t want to work all the time these days. Playing seems a much better way to go. Writing and publishing can drive us nuts on a good day, so how do we cope with all the challenges? We go to our experts and pick their brains.

One of my favorite authors with a killer blog is Kristen Lamb; myself and 23,000 plus other folks think so. She lives to educate authors and has a wicked keen sense of humor, which I adore. I have all her books and have taken her online blogging class which saved my sanity and at least a ten pound weight gain.

Her post on Friday, June 14, was another fabulous one. Long story short, she has a new book coming out July 4, Rise of the Machines – Human Authors in a Digital World. The title alone makes we want to buy it, especially when my eyes glazed over during the Google+ webinar. Are we all beginning to feel like C3PO with a USB port with the escalating digital deluge? My kingdom for a quill and bottle of ink! (Not really, but it sounds good.)

How do we get through change and chaos if we can’t stop it? Teamwork! I’m so glad to have Kristen Lamb as one of my go to coaches for publishing and author intell(igence.) We all need buddies in life, for work and play, so take a look at her post and see what you think. The mind you save may be your own!

Read Kristen Lamb’s post here: http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/change-resistance-is-futile/

Happy 238th Birthday to the Men and Women of the U.S. Army!

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by Kimberly A. Cook            (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

When I was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado with the 4th Supply and Transport Battalion, back in the Dark Ages, we had the best mess hall on post. Great food. So who better to make the Army’s birthday cake for today’s big celebration than veterans becoming chefs!

Take a look at this video from the “other CIA” and maybe you too can use those G. I. Bill benefits to become a cook. An Army moves on its feet, powered by its stomach, so let’s all eat birthday cake today. Happy Birthday to my fellow Army veterans, Reserve, Guard and Active Duty soldiers.

Happy Quirky Friday!