Interview With Writer Craig Smith

Greetings Bloggers and Readers.

Today we are doing something a bit different today.  It's time for a guest blog.

We are going to interview fantasy writer Craig Smith.  

He is based in Paarl, South Africa and I threw 10 questions at him.
Let's see how he did.

1.  How did you become a writer?


I've always had a very active imagination and made things up in my head from ever since I could
remember. Often bugging friends and family with the weird things I came up with. Around 19 years old I walked past my bookshelf and realized if all these people can make it so can I!

2.  Any tips for would be authors? 


Write about what interests you.   Start off with short stories. It's a good way to learn the craft. Try
join a writing group. A more active one the better. Take their feedback to heart, but like with all advice take things with a pinch of salt.

3.  Tell us about your latest book? 


Zoolin Vale and the Chalice of Ringtar is my latest book. It was released in December 2010. It's a
quite a mouthful isn't it? It's a follow on from my first book The Red Stone


It's a fantasy adventure novel suitable for all ages, but
younger readers do seem to enjoy it the most. It has everything from
wizards, trolls, ogres to dragons in it. It's a good place for people
new to fantasy to start. And it should have a few new things to keep a
more experienced fantasy reader's attention.

4.  I see you are also a avid blogger, what's the secret to blogging?

Engaging your audience. Give them something that will keep them coming

back for more. And if you can post samples of your work to help people
get a better idea of who you are. And try post regularly, something
I'm still working on myself.

5.  Can you give us 3 of your favourite websites and why? 


I'm sure you won't be surprised when I say Twitter. A great place to meet like
minded people. Secondly I've started using some writing groups on
Linkedin. Every one there seems to be very friendly. And of course
Facebook. I used to be junkie, but now days mostly for networking with
other writers etc.

6.  What do you do for fun? 


I guess not the most exciting stuff to do,
but I like to watch movies, series and read. In addition enjoy quad
biking, roller coasters and having fun with friends. I'm also always
up for trying something new.

7.  The beach or the countryside? 


Mmm tough question. I like a good splash at the beach, but not a big fan of sand getting in everywhere!
Countryside is great for walks and spending some time away from the buzz of city life.

8.  Favourite book and author and why? 


The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien, because it captured my imagination and I've been an avid reader ever
since. If you're an LOTR fan and you haven't read the books or The Hobbit. I highly recommend that you do!

9.  Favourite coffee shop? 


Locally I would say Mugg and Bean. Great coffee and milkshakes, but I also love a Starbucks.

10.  What's the secret to marketing your book? 


That I'm still figuring out. It's a very tough market to crack. There are tons of other
writers out there and it can be hard to stand out from the crowd, FB,
Twitter, Blogs, and Youtube are great ways to get your work out there and
connect with potential readers.


Well that was extremely interesting getting into the mind of a writer.  


Links to Craig's sites, books and pages:

The Red Stone


For Sale On Amazon Also

Zoolin


Find Craig Smith on Twitter:  Craig on Twitter


Find Craig Smith on Facebook:  Craig Smith Author Page

Visit Craig's Blog:  Craig's Blog


Thanks again Craig.

5 Tips On How To Run A Coffee Shop

Greetings bloggers and readers.

Welcome to another entry in my blog.

Today I am focusing on some tips on how to run a coffee shop.   This weekend I was up the
North Coast and was having breakfast at a fairly popular coffee shop.   It was pretty busy and I couldn't help noticing the management and how they looked after their customers.

Here are the tips I noticed.

1.  Always be watching your staff.
Keep an eye on your staff and see that they are constantly serving customers and helping customers out.
Make sure they are kept busy clearing tables and getting bills for customers.

2.  Always be watching your customers.
Make sure they are always enjoying their experience.  Check that they get their meals.  If necessary lend a hand and clear tables if your staff are busy.   Clean the tables if need be.

3.  Have a chat with your customers.
It always pays to go up to each table and chat to your customers.  Ask if everything is satisfactory.  Find out if they are on holiday.   Make sure they enjoy their experience at your coffee shop.

4.  Make sure the customer leaves happy.
If you feel that the customer has waited too long for their meal give them something free on the house such as a free slice of cake.   Make sure they leave with a smile.

5.  Check the bills.
Make sure each table gets the right bill.  Always ensure the correct amounts are billed.
Ensure your staff are kept motivated and happy.

The most important thing is that your customer leaves happy.  If they leave happy they will be telling their friends and you will be getting more and more customers.

Fly High, Fly Free


Fred Felton
Motivational Speaker & IT Consultant & Biz Consultant
email: falconscove@gmail.com

email to book Fred for a talk or seminar.

What are you willing to do?

Welcome readers and bloggers to another entry in my blog.

Today we discuss 'What are you willing to do?'

Well dear reader what are you willing to do to succeed?
I get asked this all the time, what is the secret to success?
Well it takes long hours of working and networking.  It requires the discipline to do that extra work
or study for that other course while other people are out having a party or going for drinks.
It requires networking every week at least for 6 hours a week.

It also requires following up and setting up databases for your clients.
Then you have to make sure you send them newsletters and remind them of your specials.
Sometimes you even have to work weekends to succeed.

You have to be ready so that when somebody asks for your services you can help them instead of
going out and watching a movie.

You have to be in tune with the world so that you can see the opportunity and use it to succeed.
Surround yourself with positive people and the success will come.

It's only a matter of time.

Fly high, Fly free


Fred Felton
MC & Voice Over Artist & Motivational Speaker
Biz Analyst
IT Consultant

email: falconscove@gmail.com

email to book Fred Felton for a seminar or talk.
now also taking bookings for talks on Twitter for your business.

10 Websites Worth Checking Out

Good day bloggers and readers.

Today I thought I would introduce you to 10 Websites that are worth checking out.
I have included links to them so you can click on the link from my blog.

Okay, let's get started.

1.  Crowdbooster

A wonderful site if you use social networking sites like Twitter.  It gives you fantastic stats on your
tweets and tells you when it is best to send them out.  It even sends you emails on what is working and what is not with your tweets.  Fantastic.

2.  Mediafire

A superb site for file hosting or uploading files onto the internet.   Wonderful if you can't send huge files as email attachements.  You just upload to this site and send the link in a email.  You can also share the link with social network sites.   Also a wonderful site if you want to back up important documents.  They are saved forever in your account on the site.  No more backing up every day or week or month.

3.  Garfield

Need a laugh.  It's always good to read Garfield's comic strip.  Loads of fun stuff on here and even
e-cards to send to friends and family.   a great site.

4.  Polldaddy

A good site if you need a poll or need to take a survey.  The wonderful part about it is it integrates
with your wordpress site if you are running a blog.  

5.  Fiverr

An interesting site.  People offering work and offering to do work for $5.   Lots of different work as well.
Integrates with Facebook as well.

6.  Twittervision

A wondeful site.  Someday this might replace television.  If you have nothing to do take a look at this site.  It shows you all the tweets from around the world and integrates the world map first.  Fantastic site.  It's amazing what different people from around the world tweet about and tweetpic about.

7.  Author Central From Amazon

A excellent site brought to you by Amazon.  This site is perfect for author's who have books for sale on amazon.  It helps with sales, stats and keeping in touch with fans.  A wonderful site to promote your work and upload your bio and useful info for readers.  You can also tell your fans where next you will be for book launces, events, readings etc.   A great service from Amazon.  Every writer should integrate this into their site.

8.  A word a day

A good site for you to increase your vocabulary.  Sign up for the email and you get a new word everyday and it also shows you where the word originated and interesting facts on it.  Marvellous.

9.  Poets Pages

An interesting site if you like publishing your own poetry and networking with some other poets from around the world.   Sign up and upload your poems.

10.  Tumblr

I think this site might be the next big thing.  Part blog, part messaging site, part writing site, part photo site.
A very simple site and so easy to use.  Lots of people use it as a blog, some for messages, some to show their artworks.  So what are you waiting for.  Jump right in.

Well that's 10 websites that should keep you busy.  Hope you enjoy them.

Fly high, Fly free



Fred Felton
Motivational Speaker & IT Consultant & Biz Analyst
email: falconscove@gmail.com

email to book Fred for a talk or seminar.

Is your inbox overflowing?

Good day Bloggers and readers.  Welcome to another entry.

Today  I was going through my inbox and discovered that it had become so cluttered that some of

the things I desire have become hidden.

Do you do the same?  Do your desires, goals, and ambitions get hidden by things such as

bills, receipts, to do lists, tax forms, post, junk?

Make sure your goals can be clearly seen and you can find them in an instant.

Otherwise 50 years from now they will just be a dream.

Get clear and concise and make sure you have them everywhere you can see them.

In your home, bedroom, car, wallet, on your cellphone.

Look at them at least 3 times a day.  When you wake up, in the day and when you go to sleep.

Have a wonderful week ahead.

Fly high, Fly Free

Fred Felton

Mr Motivator 

email: falconscove@gmail.com

email to book Fred Felton for a talk or seminar anywhere on the planet.

What Are You Up To This Weekend?

Welcome Bloggers.

The weekend is upon us and what are you up to?

Are you simply going to lie in bed all weekend and catch up on sleep?

Here are some things you can try.

1.  Take your family for a picnic to a place like the Botanic Gardens.
2.  Go to the beach for the day.
3.  Go inland for a drive to greener pastures.
4.  Work on that book you want to publish.
5.  Go out for a wonderful lunch.
6.  Catch some new music.
7.  Go watch that movie you wanted to see.
8.  Take in some artworks at the gallery.
9.  Visit a new town for the day.
10.  Read a new book.

Fly high, Fly free

Fred Felton
Author & Motivational Speaker.
email: falconscove@gmail.com

call or email to book Fred Felton for a talk or seminar anywhere on the planet.