Yes, I know it will be Labor Day, but when it is a labor of love, then does it count as work? We are very excited to be hosting David Fuller on Coffee with an Author for Labor Day. He is the author of Sweetsmoke, due out 08-27-2008. We have the honor of talking to the author of an upcoming best seller. What a thrill! Sweetsmoke’s review was just posted here on ijustfinished.com this morning. Read it here.

…from the Sweetsmoke website:

The year is 1862, and the Civil War is in full flame. Cassius Howard, a slave and carpenter on a tobacco plantation, risks everything – extreme punishment, sale to a cotton plantation, even his life – to learn the truth concerning the murder of a freed black woman, a woman who secretly taught him to read and once saved his life. No one gives a damn about her small, rude, unimportant death in the midst of a brutal and hellish war. No one but Cassius, who braves unimaginable dangers to escape the plantation and avenge her death.

Sweetsmoke is Cassius’s journey into knowledge, knowledge that tests him and very nearly destroys him, ultimately guiding him toward freedom.

The website for the book is stunning, and gives tons of useful information.

http://www.sweetsmokedavidfuller.com.

So, check their website out, then order the book here from Amazon, and make sure to tune to us and listen this exciting author have a conversation with Naomi on “Coffee with an Author” Monday at 10am (CST) on ijustfinished.com!

Jen Blackert is a yogi, a mother,a wife, a former highly paid, highly stressed corporate computer type, turned entrepreneur, marketing expert, professional coach, author, and all around happy woman.   She is going to drop by on Monday to talk with Naomi on “Coffee with an Author”  and share with us, her journey.  She found journaling to be a useful tool for herself and clients, and put together her first book Seven Dragons:  A Guide to a Limitless Mind.  She is also talking about her new book Simple Marketing.  It was written for entrepreneurs using Law of Attraction, and many other tried and true methods for effectively marketing their business.  She is a compelling speaker, who generally sells out her speaking engagements, so it is our pleasure to host Jen Blackert.  Visit her site for more information http://www.jenblackert.com/. So, tune in, Monday August 25th at 10am (CST) or subscribe to “Coffee with an Author” and listen to any or all of our author interviews!

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You may have noticed that our “new look” has been officially launched.  Yes, without fanfare, or confetti.  We have been trying to get EVERYTHING working, and tested prior to releasing the redesign, but decided that it was a process, and took time to evolve, and use to find the bugs.  In the meantime the old site was getting stagnant waiting around for the new one to be “ready”. We made the risky decision to go ahead and put the new look up, with a few ‘coming soon’ features, and allow you all to see what the heck we have been so distracted with, all this time.

So, here is what all the fuss is about….Oh wait you just saw it in order to get here. LOL.  Well, we hope you all like the new look and features.  I will be PMing all the existing reviewers to let you know how to get your log in and profile onto the site, and if you are interesting in becoming a reviewer for Ijustfinished.com then head back to the homepage and go to the “sign up” area of the reviewer corner.  That will get you a snazzy form to sign up!

In other news, I hope you were all able to tune in to the radio show, if not, it is right there on the homepage, (top left, blogtalkradio box, just click it, and it will play, or subscribe, either though the blogtalkradio website  or from iTunes.  Although the Ijustfinished.com team is not nearly as interesting as an author, at least you can hear just how “Texan” we sound!

We also have new ARC/galleys from publishers everyday, and are getting books out for our awesome reviewers as quickly as possible.  If you are interested, or know some who would be interesting in doing reviews for Ijustfinished.com, now is a great time to get involved, and keep in mind we have books for every reader.  All genres are represented, so don;t be shy, speak up and sign up, we’d love to hear from you!

Stay tuned, there will be news often now that we have jumped this hurdle, and the site is growing by leaps and bounds!

July 28th at 10AM ijustfinished’s Coffee with an Author will go live on it’s own radio show! Is that cool or what?

The website site is www.blogtalkradio.com/i-just-finished and the show is Coffee with an Author. Plus we will have a set time that one of us will be in the Chat Room, right now I’ll be in the Chat Room on Tuesdays at 9 PM. The chat room is open all the time so all of you can just get together and talk.

So as we begin this new adventure we need two things from you - to listen and comment on the shows (as well as visit the website) but also to tell us what authors you want to hear from.

I’ll be talking to you Monday the 28th at 10AM. (See me dancing around!)

The Little Engine That Could

Originally uploaded by Roadsidepictures

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…
This little idea that started out in the middle of the night with a “What are you passionate about” question (See the first post of booklover’s blog for that whole back story, is about to become a full contender for the major book websites in the webverse.

After a grueling nine hour session of programming, and web development with SilverFox and Silver Back, we have a new look and feel, but more importantly, great new functionality. There are a few tiny details left for the am, before we actually open the site, but then I hope to see everyone one getting excited. We are also implementing a new marking plan, so expect to tons more book lovers joining in the conversation of books!

We have a time line now.  The minds behind the scenes are scheduled to get the “NEW” design launched.  I know that I have not been that forthcoming lately, but there has been one set back after another, so I hated to give false hope.  So Saturday is the day, there is a place and a day scheduled.  It will happen.  I am very sure!

At the same time I am working with the publishers to get the best ARCs for review…  My goal is that our readers enjoy coming back for new content everyday, to have awesome conversations on the forum, and read reviews of the books they want to read!  Follow along with the podcasts, and request authors and interviews!  This site is for you too, so let me know what you want, and any changes you like to see!

I look forward to hearing what you all think of the redesign!

Hi everyone!  I am still here, just coming up for air.  We (myself, Silver Fox, & Silver Back) have been working nonstop on the redesign all week.  You can see from the background change of this blog a tiny preview.  That is the new background.  I hope you all like it.  I think everyone will like the changes.  Other things to watch for are:

• Reviewers corner: where you can sign up to become one of our reviewers, create a profile and log in to enter your reviews.
• Reviewers page: that is where all the reviews will be posted, and they will be search able by title, author, and reviewer.
• The weekly podcast for Coffee with an Author, that you can subscribe to through this site, or iTunes.
• The weekly video Conversation of Books, with Micah, talking to people about what they are reading.
• Author of the week profiling a new author every week.
• Staff Picks…see what we are reading here at I just finished.com
• Amazons Hot New Releases, the latest  hot items.
• Review of the week!

I hope that is tempting enough to keep you checking back.  We also have a second phase coming that adds a social media aspect where you will be able to make you own Ijustfinished page.  But that is further down the road.
So…stick around, things are getting exciting(BTW:  those of you waiting for your review books, they are on the way in the am sorry for the delay.)

be like water, my friend..

Originally uploaded by M3R

Sorry for the informative but not so funny post. This is one of a business nature.

1. The first batch of books for reviewers has been sent out. If you signed up to be a reviewer, then your book should be arriving as I am typing. I hope you enjoy it, but if you don’t then say so. Honest reviews are the way we like it! I tried to match the books up with your genre preference, but if it was not a book genre that you enjoyed, please email or PM me, so I can get it right the next time. Reviewers are a huge part of what will make this site a success.

2. Since BEA, we have networked quite a bit, and have some clout now. So.. we have the ability to get many more books that are “in the works”. We will still get lots of books from authors that you or I have never heard of before, cause all authors are unknown to start with, but if you have a “wish list” I will do my best to grant it for you.. again, either email your requests or PM from the forum..

3. And the big news for last….drum roll please…..

The site is getting a new look and feel. I know, why another redesign. I have finally accepted the reality that function is going to have to dictate form. So, in the words of Bruce Lee: I will “be like water” and go with the flow of things. I have the design almost done. My team and I are going to finish up the code, and special features next week. I know you will all be happier with the changes. That is all I am going to say for now, other than it will be a more user friendly and competitive site.

Enjoy your books, and let me know what input you have. If you get a chance check out my other (personal) blog.. note link on right colum….if you’d like more insight.

“When it rains it pours,” is the old expression and here its not rain but books and website problems all at once. The forum got corrupted or just messed up some how. I sure hope it wasn’t when I added a n author or two. Any way as you can tell by the previous post the mess got worse before it got remade.

All of this happening as the three heavy boxes of books arrived and needed cataloged so they can sent out for reviews. By pressing kids into work the books have been moved sorted and the basic cataloging completed. This weekend the first review books are headed out the door.

I have been doing my part adding to forums now they are reposted and the hardest part (LOL) reading, so I can post more.

I need to work on my manuscripts as well, so hope all of you will be willing to do reviews and talk on the forum. We hope to have ijustfinished.com be “The Place To Be” for readers, authors, publishers and agents, with your help it can be.

See you all on the Forums!

Naomi (Musesacres)