Fun Stuff to Do Archives - Page 19 of 24

Pick up some steamy LGBT romance books. At least 1 romantic lead is an LGBTQ+ person #gayromance #LGBT #MM #books

This tip is one I doubt I'd ever have discovered on my own. How to upload to Instagram from my PC. What a timesaver. My thanks to author LA Sartor for this one!

Sometimes I'm on my pc and have things I want to share on Instagram. Sometimes I save images from my phone to the cloud and then want to download and use them. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a way to upload to Instagram from my PC?

Guess what? You can.

There might be other ways to upload to Instagram but this one, using Chrome, is one of the easiest, and for me the best.

Upload to Instagram

My friend, author LA Sartor, shared her tip with my writer marketing group, Marketing for Romance Writers. It was so helpful that I asked LA if I could share it on my blog as well. Happily for us, she agreed. So I'm also sharing her book, Prince Of Granola. Wait till you see how that title came about!

A picture is worth 1000 words, they say. In this case I agree.

Here's the infographic on how to upload to Instagram that made the rounds on MFRW.

Prince Of Granola by LA Sartor

Cacao. Long a symbol of wealth, love, and power – now the center of a powerful rivalry.

The fabled Costa Rican Plantation of White Treasure, source of the rarest form of the cacao bean, is up for sale. Though two fierce competitors have been invited to bid on it, only one can win.

For Drew Hopkins, purchasing the plantation is the perfect solution to escape a life she never wanted.

For Robert Prince, it's the perfect route to revenge.

Drew, the founder's daughter and now CEO of HH Chocolate, heads a company whose sales are waning. Robert, CEO of Prince Organics, a man driven by excellence, despises everything and everyone labeled Hopkins.

But it wasn't always that way.

Will their forced proximity at the lush and exotic plantation rekindle old flames or will it fan the fires of antagonism?

Free on Kindle Unlimited https://amzn.to/2RcSEum

LA Sartor

LA Sartor is a bestselling, award-winning author. She began telling stories around the age of 4 when her mother, at LA's insistence, wrote them down and LA illustrated them. As an adult, she writes suspense and action-adventure novels with a dash of romance, and screenplays--she's had a contracted adaptation! She lives in Colorado with her husband whom she met on a blind date. LA loves to travel and thinks life is an adventure and we should embrace the journey.
Website https://lesliesartor.com/

Please stop by and check out my Instagram. I follow cosplay and some seriously awesome cosplayers. My favorite is Nik Nitsvetov, who cosplays my character Pietas. That totally focused and intense blond on the right is Nik as Pietas, from my Bringer of Chaos series.

My interests in archaeology, geology, and astronomy are reflected in stories I share on Instagram. I also follow many of the national parks in the US and share their images. Right now, I need a reminder of the majesty and beauty of our amazing world. Don't you?

I rarely post anything about my books, but if you want to know more about me as a person, Instagram is a good place to start.

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Meet Kayelle + get your game on at @OutlantaCon March 19-22 #SciFi #MFRWhooks #MFRWauthor

Kayelle Allen 03/10/2020 Conventions for Sci Fi Lovers 14 Comments

OutlantaCon

UPDATE (Mar 16, 2020)

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Atlanta mayor has banned all meetings with over 250 people. OutlantaCon has been canceled until 2021. The con will refund all attendees and provide everyone with a full ticket for next year, no matter if they bought a one-day pass or a full weekend.

Hope to see you next year!

OutlantaCon is now an Atlanta tradition in the Spring. Come meet me and hang out!

The Science Fiction convention will celebrate its 12th anniversary in 2020. For the last decade, the convention has been offering a fun welcoming place for queer geeks to gather in Atlanta, Georgia, where they can show their love for everything from anime to horror. At Outlantacon, geeks can take advantage of a range of great programming including: writers and comics track, fandom track, activism track, world wide short film festival, a constantly full game room, and live entertainment with game shows including the nation wide convention favorite: Project Cosplay.

The convention has grown over the years to create an inclusive and inviting environment for our LGBTQ+ folks and their allies to play and thrive.

Join us at the Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel and Conference Center. It's a 30k square foot conference space with innovative spaces and personalized service. Book your hotel room . Convention cost for the weekend is $50 for the entire 4 days of OutlantaCon. You know you want to meet me and hang out!

Hope to see you March 19-22, 2020.

Visit the site to check out the cool cosplays and events from previous years.

OutlantaCon 2020

Two events not to miss: The Match Game. This hilarious take on the old favorite never fails to get laughs. // OutlantaCon Squares. Remember Hollywood Squares? This is our version and it's guaranteed to crack you up! I'm in one of the boxes on this, so come see it!

I'll be teaching panels too. We can meet afterward and talk.

From Book to Cosplay: Live Action Cosplay for your book.

In 2018 and 2019, I worked with Russian cosplayer Nik Nitsvetov to recreate pivotal scenes from my Bringer of Chaos science fiction series. I'll discuss planning and presentation, plus offers tips on how to record the action.

Save Your Own Cat - Plotting in Fiction

Save the Cat is a plotting concept used by Hollywood and writers everywhere. Some say it's the new Plotting Bible. But what is it and why should writers care?

Get Naked: Stripping Down Your Story

Witness a live critique group in action and discover the value of editing and beta readers. Members of my local critique group (Canton Writers Circle) will present with me. I have published five books during my time with CWC. I consider these fellow writers not only my posse but also my very closest friends. Come meet everyone!

OutlantaCon is coming. Are you?

<--- Pietas Cosplay from 2018

Life-sized banners of Pietas.

He is 7' tall! (I'm 5'4")
Model is Nik Nitsvetov

Pietas Cosplay from 2019 --->

I'll have a booth in the Vendor's Room this year and will be showing off the gorgeous new banners of Pietas.

Come get your picture taken next to one of them! Where would you reach compared to me?

Your picture will help me as I write future stories. I'll be able to picture people of various heights next to the hero.

(Pictures taken at AnachroCon 2020 in Atlanta)

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Are you going to @OutlantaCon? March 19-22 #ATL #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 02/19/2020 Conventions for Sci Fi Lovers 2 Comments

OutlantaCon is coming. Are you?

<--- Pietas Cosplay from 2018

Life-sized banners of Pietas.

He is 7' tall! (I'm 5'4")
Model is Nik Nitsvetov

Pietas Cosplay from 2019 --->

I'll have a booth in the Vendor's Room this year and will be showing off the gorgeous new banners of Pietas.

Come get your picture taken next to one of them! Where would you reach compared to me?

Your picture will help me as I write future stories. I'll be able to picture people of various heights next to the hero.

(Pictures taken at AnachroCon 2020 in Atlanta)

OutlantaCon

OutlantaCon is now an Atlanta tradition in the Spring.

The Science Fiction convention will celebrate its 12th anniversary in 2020. For the last decade, the convention has been offering a fun welcoming place for queer geeks to gather in Atlanta, Georgia, where they can show their love for everything from anime to horror. At Outlantacon, geeks can take advantage of a range of great programming including: writers and comics track, fandom track, activism track, world wide short film festival, a constantly full game room, and live entertainment with game shows including the nation wide convention favorite: Project Cosplay.

The convention has grown over the years to create an inclusive and inviting environment for our LGBTQ+ folks and their allies to play and thrive.

Join us at the Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel and Conference Center. It's a 30k square foot conference space with innovative spaces and personalized service. Last day to book your relaxing hotel room at the group rate of $129 per night is 2/26/20. Convention cost for the weekend is $50 for the entire 4 days of OutlantaCon.

Hope to see you March 19-22, 2020.

Visit the site to check out the cool cosplays and events from previous years.

OutlantaCon 2020

Two events not to miss: The Match Game. This hilarious take on the old favorite never fails to get laughs. // OutlantaCon Squares. Remember Hollywood Squares? This is our version and it's guaranteed to crack you up! I'm in one of the boxes on this, so come see it!

I'll be teaching panels too.

From Book to Cosplay: Live Action Cosplay for your book.

In 2018 and 2019, I worked with Russian cosplayer Nik Nitsvetov to recreate pivotal scenes from my Bringer of Chaos science fiction series. I'll discuss planning and presentation, plus offers tips on how to record the action.

Save Your Own Cat - Plotting in Fiction

Save the Cat is a plotting concept used by Hollywood and writers everywhere. Some say it's the new Plotting Bible. But what is it and why should writers care?

Get Naked: Stripping Down Your Story

Witness a live critique group in action and discover the value of editing and beta readers. Members of my local critique group (Canton Writers Circle) will present with me. I have published five books during my time with CWC. I consider these fellow writers not only my posse but also my very closest friends. Come meet everyone!

Read more →

Featured Book: Do you pick Sci Fi, Fantasy, or Christmas? #SpaceOpera #ChristmasRomance

Kayelle Allen 12/08/2019 Colonies of Man

Featured Book: Blast Off with Sci Fi

Pick up new reads in Sci Fi, Space Opera, Cyberpunk and more FREE till Dec 31, 2019.

Featured Book: Lights Out!

He can save mankind. All he has to do is die.

Join the Ghost Corps, they said. You'll live forever, they said. You'll save mankind, they said. They didn't say that to do it, first he had to die.

When Tornahdo signs on the dotted line, he puts his life into the steady hands of the mighty Ghost Corps. Three grisly deaths and three agonizing resurrections later, he's assigned duty on the space station Enderium Six.

He's facing his most dangerous mission yet, the very reason the corps exists.

Do they expect him to win? Fat chance. Tornahdo and his team are already dead and this mission is codenamed "Lights Out." No, there's more to this than he can see.

To discover the truth, he must face an unbeatable, unkillable enemy, and this time--somehow--find a way to keep himself alive...

Featured Book

Featured Book: CL Cannon's SF & Fantasy Holiday Sale

Pick up new reads in Sci Fi, Space Opera, and Fantasy on sale until Dec 26, 2019.

Featuring The Last Vhalgenn

Duty. Honor. Ritual.

One of these things may kill her.

The Vhalgenn is the last of her kind, a companion bred to serve the king. Duty and honor burn in her blood. When the queen begs for a secret blessing to save the newborn prince, the Vhalgenn answers.

But when she takes the babe to the queen's homeland for the ritual, what she discovers could topple the king and overthrow the kingdom. If she saves them--she must abandon every last thing she holds sacred, and do the one thing that will destroy her own heart...

Featured Book

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Live Stream the Kings of Chaos and Cosplay with @nitsvetov Nov 23 #PietasFans #Cosplay #SpaceOpera

Kayelle Allen 11/21/2019 Cosplay

Creating Armor

Last year, Nik Nitsvetov performed as Pietas from the Bringer of Chaos series for the Ritual of Strength. Last year was a live stream also. But before Pietas was king, he was a rookie a plebe in the Discord. Even the mightiest river has a beginning. Playing the immortal king as a rookie teenager in training ought to be fun to watch.

I've enjoyed seeing Nik create the armor Nano-Core designed for this cosplay. The final style is somewhat different because taking a brand-new design and transforming it into wearable armor is a lot of work. Nik had free reign to alter as needed to suit the cosplay. Join us and see the difference during the live stream of his newest cosplay on Saturday, November 23rd at 8:00 am Eastern.

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Chaos is Coming – a Sci Fi Cosplay @nitsvetov #cosplay #SciFi #MFRWauthor

Kayelle Allen 10/30/2019 Cosplay 16 Comments

Chaos is Coming - Sci Fi Cosplay

Pietas, from the Bringer of Chaos series - as close to live as a character can get - at a cosplay live on Instagram the weekend of Nov 22/23. I'm calling it the Chaos is Coming Sci Fi Cosplay.

Nik Nitsvetov has finished the costume and weapons. His work with foam, glue, and paint is nothing short of magic. Wait till you see the final costume! I'll be sharing pictures over the weeks leading up to the cosplay.

Nik lives in Russia, 7 hours ahead of us, so when it's 4pm here, it's 11pm there. Best way to know the time? Try Time.is I've linked this to show Moscow time, which where Nik will do the new Chaos cosplay.

A word about the uniform -- that banner showing the combat uniform was the prototype for Nik to use as a launchpad. I commissioned the uniform from Nano-Core, who also designed the weapons. Everything about this cosplay will be one of a kind, including the character.

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Colonize the Galaxy 1 book at a time #Astronomy #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Kayelle Allen 07/17/2019 Research for Sci Fi Writers 6 Comments

Colonize the Galaxy

When I decided to write Science Fiction, I first did some serious, long-term worldbuilding. I created a future history, designed a language, set up a dating system to show how the various colonies interpreted time, and laid out a plan whereby mankind would inhabit and colonize the stars. I started doing this when I was 27, about 40 years ago.

My initial sketch was on sheets of paper taped together, because it kept getting bigger as I added details. If you're going to colonize the galaxy on paper, you need a lot of room!

Then about 14 years ago, when my son was taking graphic design in college, I asked him to create a galaxy for me to work with in Photoshop. He designed the background, and I then added the details.

To be honest, I always thought scientists and astronomers would have a giggle when they saw it. I'd populated the entire thing in huge sweeps, like an outreaching arm. I figured there were probably far too many worlds in my version, but it was my story, so I decided to go with it.

This year, a press release from the European Space Agency (ESA) announced they had entered the GTOC X competition, using data about reaching 100k star systems in an efficient way. The team provided a video online.

Imagine my surprise when I looked at it next to my own galaxy drawing.

In my story universe, in the upper right corner of the map, I have the Dark Star Realm. On the far right (unmapped on mine), it says Worlds of Wings. Humans aren't allowed there, so no one knows how many inhabited worlds exist in that area. The Tarthian Empire exists in a small area to the center left near the bottom. The ESA team closely matched my fictional conjectures.

Stop the video at the :57 mark to see the image captured at the top of the page.

To download my galaxy map in full resolution, visit the Tarthian Tour Company home page. The map is shown at the bottom and when you click it, it opens full size. You can then download or click again to zoom. Warning: large document -- you might have a wait time.

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Bro by Kayelle Allen #PMInc Cover Hunt Author

Kayelle Allen 03/31/2019 Thieves' Guild Academy

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Tag: Fun Stuff to Do

How to Upload to Instagram from your PC

Share Your Tips

Upload to Instagram

Prince Of Granola by LA Sartor

LA Sartor

Please come check out my Instagram

OutlantaCon

From Book to Cosplay: Live Action Cosplay for your book.

Save Your Own Cat - Plotting in Fiction

Get Naked: Stripping Down Your Story

Special Price

OutlantaCon

From Book to Cosplay: Live Action Cosplay for your book.

Save Your Own Cat - Plotting in Fiction

Get Naked: Stripping Down Your Story

Special Price

Featured Book

Featured Book: Blast Off with Sci Fi

Featured Book: CL Cannon's SF & Fantasy Holiday Sale

Featured Book: Viviana MacKade Christmas Book Fair

Origin of Pietas

Forged in Fire

Lights Out

Watch the Live Stream

Live Stream

Live Stream Cosplay Reservation

Creating Armor

Nik Nitsvetov

Origin of Pietas

Forged in Fire

Lights Out

Chaos is Coming - Sci Fi Cosplay

Chaos is Coming Cosplay Reservation

Pietas Cosplay Reservation Request

Thank you!

Nik Nitsvetov

Origin of Pietas

Forged in Fire

Colonize the Galaxy

Participating Authors

Contest Entry