…All in one place!
What to Read Next: Cufflinks and Money Clips
You know how much I love to write billionaire stories. Well, I like to read them even more! And just when I was looking for a new book to read, I joined this wonderful new promotion from Bookfunnel, Cufflinks and Money Clips. Here you will find one dozen curated romances with heroes – or heroines – who are billionaires. Sumptuous settings, Jetset lifestyles, alpha males and romance. Could you wish for more?
Not convinced yet? How about these authors? Nikky Kaye, Simone Leigh, Stephanie Morris, Nikki Larson or Rene Webb, just to name a few. How can you resist? I included the first in my B&B Billionaire Series, Desire & Dessert. All free! Grab a steamy, sweet, sexy romance set in a world we can only imagine (except, of course, you billionaires out there).
Choose your romance or download them all. Available until September 30th at Cufflinks and Money Clips.
Gem of the Week: Stitchfix.Com
I have been using Stitchfix for about 5 months now, long enough to get three packages from them and to decide that they are a definite winner. Do they always get it right? No, in fact my second delivery I sent back all five items the designed selected. Still I am a fan and here’s why.
1/ Flexibility – in product, in price, in timing. Before you ever receive your first box, Stitchfix asks you what you like – in great detail – and how much you are willing to spend for it. That means someone who spends a lot on clothes can choose to spend more, while people like me who are on a budget can spend less. And not overall either – per item. Will you spend $20 on a blouse or $200? What about for a jacket, or shoes? And how often do you want to receive a shipment of five items – monthly or every other month or sooner?
Just to give you an idea, I realized I wanted clothes for my recent vacation but I was not getting anything from stitchfix for three more weeks. I changed my delivery date, wrote a comment telling them what specifically I needed and Voila! The box arrived within a week and all five pieces went straight into my suitcase (ok, after I tried them on, but you get the idea).
Oh, and they sent a pair of jeans that I adore so I asked them to send them again. Yeah, you can do that too. Best of all, keep all five pieces and the whole box is discounted an extra 20%. That’s like getting one piece free.
2/ Quality – I love the merchandise, brand names and designers that I recognize at prices I can afford. Sam Edelman sandals, Kut from the Kloth jeans and for some reason these designers have nailed my size and shape so everything seems to fit the first time. But what if it didn’t? Enter Customer Service.
3/ Customer Service – For years I worked for IBM who prided themselves on service, and I was a service manager for some of that time. I know bad service, believe me, and I know good service when I see it. Don’t like what’s in your box?
Stitchfix wants to know why – in detail. They survey every return – was it style, color, quality, fit? Have a problem with a piece? I had a blouse get a hole shortly after I bought it – disappointing to say the least. They responded immediately by refunding the charge and replacing it when they could.
I asked why they changed designers on me when I liked the first box so much and I got a letter explaining it – not a form letter either. All this for $20 a box. Keep something and the $20 is applied to the bill, but if you return everything (in their prepaid envelope) you are out $20 and they are smarter about what to send next time. It’s worth it.
I know there are other online design services but I haven’t tried them or heard from anyone who has. I just know that anyone who can send me a pair of jeans that fit after I trekked through 11 stores without success has my business. And my kudos!
Right now my alter ego, April, and I will give you $50 off your first box. Sign up here.
Just for Authors: Helping Writers Become Authors
I just started outlining a new series with 10-12 books and lots of characters. That is a huge undertaking for me and I figured I could use some help. Enter K.M. Weiland, award-winning and internationally published author of the bestselling Outlining Your Novel and Structuring Your Novel.
K.M is an successful author of historical and speculative fiction but for me her work mentoring authors was what grabbed my attention and had me rushing to subscribe to her emails and follow her blog. Her website is overflowing with great information, but if that isn’t enough, she sends you Crafting Unforgettable Characters, a 50-page ebook for free. This eBook has everything you need to create rich, three-dimensional characters in a short, easy to consume format. My favorite part is the list of questions to ask when creating your character. KM certainly doesn’t limit herself to the usual age, hair color and favorite color, teaching you how to dig deep into the psyche of the character you are creating so that you know them intimately. If this is any indication of what she can teach us as authors, bring it on!
Want to be a better author? Subscribe today at https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/