How to ensure other bloggers can follow you back

Hi everyone, hope the new week has started well?

Today, I'm sharing a blogging tip. This it is something I had come across quite a number of times and never knew how to get in touch with those involved to let them know. You see, new people join my blog regularly and most times, I want to check out their own blogs and see if I want to follow back. What I usually do is to click on their profile picture in my followers box and follow their linked blog back to them. While the curious part of me wonders why some people have locked profiles, I just assume they do not have a blog most likely.

But I'm really frustrated when the follower is not linked to any blog at all. If it so happens that they've allowed to receive mail from blogger, I'll send them a welcome and thank you message. Depending on how much time I have then, I might also check out the recent blogs the person has joined to try to track them. One thing that makes it easier is when they leave a comment, either on my blog, or on one of the other ones. Unfortunately, I don't have that luxury of time, or the follower just doesn't leave any crumbs for me to follow.

NaijaSistas Christmas Book Reading Fiesta

I was in Nigeria last Christmas and had loads of fun meeting so many lovely people. I attended a lot of book events, and this will be a one of those events that will make me rue not being able to travel this time. The 1st NSBS Book Reading held in September and everyone agreed it was great. The organizers say this one will usher all who attend into a Christmas brimming over with plenty of fresh hope for the new year.

Date - Saturday, December 17, 2011
Time - 2:00pm until 7:00pm
Venue - Radisson Blu - Lekki Room, Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos

Please visit the Facebook Event Page for more details. Some things to note;

1. NaijaSistas runs a book stop for member authors and many of them are running Christmas discounts and giveaways. You'll also find my books there, visit NSBS at 26 Festival Road, VI or call Ms. Goodness on 0806 427 5401 to order your books!

All Thing Fab - FabXchange Forum and Fabulosity Galore!

Before I introduce the two new fabulous places you should definitely check out on the web, allow me to cry a little. Yesterday, I wanted to crow that I have 1000 subscribers, now they're back to Zero. *Wiping tears* is no one reading my blog anymore? If you're still there, please come over and leave a comment, or reply to this email, I'm so sad :(

Anyways, I've previouly told you about the FabXchange swap events in London. The fab duo are now moving their success online in order to reach more people. Fashionistas can now swap and giveaway fashion items such as clothes, shoes, bags, accessories including books to other fashionistas on the FabXchange Online Swap forum from the comfort of their homes. The FabXchange Online swap forum kicked off on the 21st of November 2011 and already boasts a growing customer base. The online forum gives its members a wider base of fashionistas to swap with and can take part from anywhere and anytime. It allows swaps between members across their country of residence with swappers exchanging fashion items by mail or pick up.

Kiru Taye's His Treasure and RWoWA Bumper Giveaway

Don't you just love that cover? It gives me ideas, lol. Well, Kiru Taye's book is out now and you find out what lies between the covers.

Amazon - $2.99
Breathless Press - $1.99

FYI: rating is steamy *wink*

You also stand to win a copy of His Treasure through the RWoWA - Romance Writers of West Africa's bumper Christmas Giveaway this December. There will be 12 books by five authors and 7 winners! And you can be one of the lucky just by subscribing to our newsletter. The books on offer are:

Book Lovers Holiday Giveaway - USA

UPDATE - CHANGE OF RULES

Welcome to December everyone, I'm so excited for Christmas. Hope you are too. To celebrate,  I'll be running giveaways in addition to regular posts throughout the month, so stay tuned.

Today's giveaway is a blog hop hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer. Several blogs are taking part, with lots of chances to win book prizes and maybe gift cards. Check the full list of participants. If you’re new to my site, welcome. You can subscribe to the right, and also check out my books.

I'm giving this giveaway a Nigerian spin and 3 lucky people will win any of the books below by Nigerian writers. Winners must live in the USA. Don't worry, I'll be having giveaways for those in the UK, Nigeria, and international before the month is out. Continue reading for entry rules for today's giveaway.

Humor in Nollywood - PHONE SWAP BY KUNLE AFOLAYAN

I'm not usually a big fan of what passes for humor in Nollywood movies, it sometimes gets too manic for me with people screaming or shouting. It's either pint sized Aki and Pawpaw are spoofing as children or adults, or other comedians are speaking strangely or grabbing crotches and breasts. Osuofia (Nkem Owoh) has been lucky with some good scripts but I don't know how that is going. These days, I just opt for the dramas and stay away from the so-called comedy. Even in Hollywood movies, I don't go for movies with crude toilet humor, or unwarranted slapstick, they just come off as cheap laughs.

In the trailer below, Kunle Afolayan presents Phone Swap.

Synopsis - An arrogant business executive and a warm hearted fashion designer exchange lives after accidentally swapping their mobile phones at a busy airport...

Bringing out your inner extrovert

I used to be very introverted. Still am, sometimes. But only when I want to be. Most people who meet me in company these days would be surprised to hear Myne and introvert in one sentence. I can laugh and make conversation like the next person, even dance and get some PDA going where it is possible. Starting this blog wasn't such a big deal, and I only thought about it for a few days before I opened up my Facebook page and my Twitter account to the public. Now I tell my readers what I put in my meatpie, and chat with complete strangers on Facebook on a daily basis. On twitter, someone even caught me whispering about Atala's beard. So what happened? The following are some of the ways I have learnt to bring out my inner extrovert;

Do bad girls really get all the guys?

"Why do millions of smart, savvy, successful men fall helplessly in love with women who are destined to break their hearts? Who are these Bad Girls, poised to pounce on the next nice guy just waiting to become their prey? While Bad Girls have different strategies for manipulating nice guys, they share certain alluring traits. Irresistibly exciting, clever, flirtatious, and seductive, they make their man feel like the sexiest, most invincible stud on the planet! They take what they want---money, sex, drugs, or other objects of desire---and leave these unsuspecting men in the dust."

Above is from the description of one of the books below by Dr Carole Lieberman on lessons other women can learn from Bad girls. There are even more books saying the same thing. But before we go into all that, is it true that they really get all the guys?

Weekend Pictures - US Space and Rocket Center, Alabama

Some of you might know that I have some family in Alabama, we visited them last a couple of years ago and last month we went down south again to catch up. My older nephew wanted to see the space center and we decided to take him and it was also an opportunity for us to see the place. We were planning to go to the Seattle Flight Museum after one of the decommissioned shuttles from NASA got there but that did not happen. So seeing the hefty machines in Huntsville was quite a treat.

Enjoy the pictures and have a great weekend. Mwah!

Happy Thanksgiving and my Meat Pie Recipe

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone, especially those in America. I made some Meat Pie yesterday for Dinner and I want to share the recipe with you this thanksgiving.

Ingredients

*Dough - Plain Flour – 1 Kg, Margarine – 500g, Salt – 2 pinches, Dry spices - 2 pinches, Cold Water - a quarter cup

*Filling - 500g of minced meat, 1 medium-sized onion, 2 medium-sized tomatoes, Seasoning - 2 Maggi / Knorr cubes and 1 teaspoon of mixed spices, Cold water – 1 cup

*1 egg yolk