Our month of giveaways continues! Today, our guest Ellen Byron offers up a copy of her new book, Body on the Bayou the second in the Cajun Country Mystery series and some swag!
To be entered to win, leave a comment on the post. Winners for the week will be announced in a special blog post on Sunday.
When Plantation Shudders, the first in my Cajun Country Mystery series, 
was published, I figured promoting it meant some blog posts, a few Facebook updates, and the occasional tweet. Boy, was I wrong. There is so much more to do than that, and the last year has been one learning experience after another, tears followed by triumph… and then followed by tears again. But as I now hit the computer to promote Body on the Bayou, the second book in my series, I proudly share five of the skills I’ve managed to conquer.
- I always wondered what the odd button reading “Print Screen” on my keyboard was for. Who knew it actually meant, “Print Screen?” Apparently everybody but me, because when I put the question “How do I take a screenshot?” to the Sisters in Crime Guppy group, a half dozen people patiently wrote back, “Hit the print screen button and then Control-V.” Ta da! Here’s a screenshot from an early draft of this very post:
- Snipping tool. Ah, but how to turn a document or a PDF into a JPEG? That’s where a program called “Snipping Tool” comes in. (And the fact I even know what PDFs and JPEGs are is testament to what I’ve learned this year.) Some far more skilled person than yours truly guided me to the Windows menu where this computing miracle resides. I use it define an image and then save it as a JPEG. Which is exactly what I did with the example below.
- Canva. I howled to the winds when I first tried Canva. Frankly, I still barely get it. But I bumbled my way through the site enough to create this Facebook banner. So… yay, me!
- Making folders. Oh, the heady pleasure of discovering I can create folders to store my trillions of docs, emails, and photos. This may seem like Computing 101 to a lot of you, but to me it was an eye-opener. I do this so often now that I’m not including a picture because I wouldn’t know which “Folder” option to choose from. Email? Documents? Photos? The options are endless and wonderful – at least for me. Less so for my husband who has to back up all my data.
These are just a few of the skills I’ve picked up in my publishing journey. I’ve also created newsletters and sponsored contests. With some assistance from my teenager – this is where those impossible creatures come in handy – I’ve made bookmarks, business cards, and brochures. (Vistaprint and GotPrint are my new BFFs.) But perhaps the important task I’ve conquered is number five…
- Learning how to use an electric wine opener.
Two years ago, I won a basket at a school silent auction that included a fancy electric wine 
bottle opener. I’m embarrassed to admit I was too intimidated to use it. But when I discovered I’d left my manual opener at my recent book launch party, I panicked. Then I decided that if I could master the above steps 1-4, I could figure out how to use an electric wine bottle opener. Success!
And thank goodness, because nothing says “Man, do I need a glass of wine” like a battle with any of those previously mentioned skills.
Readers, what computer skill – or skills – have you mastered?
BIO: Ellen’s debut novel, Plantation Shudders, made the USA Today Bestsellers list, and was nominated for Agatha, Lefty, and Daphne awards. The second book in her Cajun Country Mystery Series, Body on the Bayou, offers “everything a cozy reader could want,” according to Publishers Weekly, while the Library Journal says, “Diane Mott Davidson and Lou Jane Temple fans will line up for this series.” A TV veteran, Ellen has written for many hit sitcoms, including Wings and Just Shoot Me.
The Wickeds 
Sounds like it will be a good story. Can’t wait to read.
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Thanks!
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Really hope you enjoy it. Is there an icon for “fingers crossed?” 😉
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SUCH important tools, Ellen! I still don’t know how to use the Snipping Tool. But I didn’t get where it is – which Windows menu? I also don’t know how to use an electric wine opener, and since I don’t own one, it’s not a problem. Congrats on the new book, my friend, and welcome to the blog.
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Edith, I’ll send a screen shot of where to find the snipping tool to your FB page.
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I read the first book and have been awaiting the 2nd. I can do snipping tool. We have automatic backup with Carbonite so no worries there. I do folders, but not canva or electric wine bottle openers.
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That’s wonderful, thanks so much! And to be honest, the electric wine opener is still a bit of a challenge.
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The Canva and Snipping Tools are new to me. I’ll look into them, thank you very much! I had many “screen shots” on my computer, esp. when someone really nice,(or famous), said something really nice to me.Unfortunately, when my PC crashed last year, I had not saved them onto flash drives,(along with many writing starts, ideas and research!), and they are gone forever. I now have a huge external hard drive which I have set to capture everything.
I have never seen an electric wine opener…but I do have a battery-powered flour sifter!
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Okay, now I want a battery-powered flour sifter! And I am SO sorry about your hard drive crash. That’s a killer.
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Wonderful blog – and it is so very empowering to learn new skills! Fortunately, the ubiquitous and relentless growth of technology means that we have to learn new skills to participate effectively (although some days, writing anything feels like I’m using a chisel and slate). Would love to read the new book.
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I know!! And it changes so fast. My friend’s son whose two years older than my daughter does FB. My daughter and her friends are over it. Everything zips by so quickly.
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You’re a credit to the Word for writers class where we struggled together.
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LOL, thank you. And Margaret, I still struggle like crazy with all that stuff. I don’t remember a thing, practically.
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You’re an inspiration, Ellen. Now, I’m going to try the snipping tool, and while Canva is still a mystery, You’ve given me hope.
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Kait — let me know if you need any help with Canva! sherryharrisauthor@gmail.com
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Kait, it’s still a mystery to me, too. I give myself props for creating ANYTHING with it.
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Thanks for sharing what you’ve mastered, Ellen! Julie taught me how to use Canva and I love it! The picture of the Wickeds in the upper left corner of your post is a Canva creation too.
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I am SO impressed. I will pay you to teach me more at the next Malice.
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Congrats on your new series!
As for computers, I still battle editable with PDFs all the time.
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Thank you!
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Ellen, you threw a great party in New Orleans–I think you’ve got this promotion thing nailed! What have I learned? Come up with something that makes people laugh–a title, a joke (doesn’t have to be good), ridiculous FB posts, a silly giveaway at a talk, a crazy decoration for your place at the signing. If people laugh, they will remember you.
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Sheila, you yourself have nailed all of the above. And GREAT advice.
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I haven’t learned half of what you have. That’s great! I can barley open wine with a manual wine opener. lol The screen shot is a good tip. I knew at one time how to do it but totally slipped my mind until now. I just use my camera phone to take a pic of the screen then upload the pic to my computer. It takes a bit of work. Thanks for the chance to win!
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I used to do exactly the same thing, Sally. Good luck!
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If A + B = C, then surely I can follow the different procedures you outlined (and which I am saving) being as computer savvy as I am … Let’s if C-A=B then would C-B=A or should I just go with B+A+C or just take the entire enchilada of D and tell A, B, and C where they can go (after using the automatic wine opener)? Was sorry not to be able to limp down to your opening at Bouchercon – looking forward, win or lose, to reading your new book in the very near future (also looking for other recommendations for the next six weeks). Continued good luck with your writing.
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LOL, I am SO lost. Thanks, Debra, and good luck to you! Looking forward to reading you as well. 🙂
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I can now (usually) share blobs on Facebook. If I win the book I will review it.
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That would be great. Good luck!
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That SHOULD have read “blogs”. sigh
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Can I tell you how much I love that you accidentally used “blobs?” It’s perfect. I think from now I’m going to calling it “blobbing!”
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Good to know about this series. My good friend as an undergrad was from the Lousiana Bayou and I’ve always found it fascinating.
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It is! You have to visit sometime.
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My most recent computer skill was to figure out how to (mostly) use OneNote. I’m writing three books using that program, and kept track of a nine-city trip to Europe using it, too.
My biggest “new” skill is riding. I’d never been on a horse in my life until nine years ago, and age 55, when I took my first lesson. I got hooked, and took both Western and English lessons, up to jumping. The biggest thrill was when my friend and I did synchronized riding in an arena together, making the horses do mirror changes and gaits on a figure eight opposite one another.
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You’re an inspiration, Karen. And now you have to tell us what OneNote is.
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OneNote is like Evernote, where you can make notes, lists, post photos, link graphs and spreadsheets, and even draw. EverNote is part of MS Office, though, and it will sync to a cloud and to every device you have with the same account.
So if, for example, I make my grocery list on my phone in OneNote it will also sync to my laptop and to my tablet. If I happen to remember I need to add something to it while I’m using another device I don’t have to break stride and go find my phone to do so. It has nearly endless capacity for folders and files, so I have one for each area of my cluttered life that needs organization. And I’ve actually added ideas into book files from my bed in the middle of the night.
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Making a “note” to check into OneNote, for sure.
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Welcome back, Ellen! I think, except for Canva, these must be PCish things. Makes me feel like I am wandering in a strange country.
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Thanks, Barbara! I guess they are PC things. But I’m like you with Macs.
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I’m not very good with my computer. I tend to use my phone a lot more. I will have to get on it and play around. I love the cover of the book.
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Thanks, Candace, so glad you like the cover!
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Wow, you’re all fast! I’m on California time and have to drive my daughter to school, but I’ll come back with some responses as soon as I can.
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Canva and the Snipping Tool are new to me. Honestly, since I’ve not been working for the past few years, I am sure there are a lot of computer skills that I’ve fallen behind with. Now, the wine opener I could probably handle just fine. 🙂 Thank you for the chance to win.
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Good luck, Daniele. And LOL re: wine opener!
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Love read g about the Deep South but way to hot for me to visit.
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It depends when you go, Candy. I was just there for the Louisiana Book Festival and the weather was spectacular. Not even humid. Late fall is a GREAT time to visit the state.
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I have mastered basic computer skills and, before I retired was proficient in the Word Office Suite. I can do most things on my iPhone and iPad–I know just enough to be dangerous! I loved Plantation Shutdders and can’t wait to read Body on the Bayou.
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Thank you so much, Christi!! And I’m guessing you were WAY more proficient than I’ll ever be if you mastered the Suite. I bow to you.
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Well I’m with you on Number 5, I think I could master that. Numbers 1-4 I’d never master so will read books instead of writing them. I come from a long line of Verbal Storytellers and thanks to my mother’s Indian Aunties and her. “when I was” stories that how we still do it
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Oh, I love that. You’ve intrigued me with your mother’s Indian aunties. I bet you have some GREAT stories.
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If it makes you feel any better, I can create folders and take screen shots (someone had to explain that last one to me), but I have no idea what the other two are or how to do them.
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Thank you, Mark, it does make me feel better! But now that you know about these skills, I bet you’ll consider trying them out…
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The electric wine opener sounds like fun! As does your mystery series, more for the TBR pile.
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My TBR pile could fill a room!
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Congratulations, Ellen, on the publication of your second book.
You are not alone trying to unravel something as seemingly simple as print screen. I just looked down at my MAC keyboard, and I don’t see a print screen key. But in looking for it I discovered that I have two keys to decrease and increase the volume. Who knew?!
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LOL, Grace! I’m sure Mac has that option somewhere. Do a search for it. And crank up that volume!
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Hi Ellen, Excellent post! I’m reticent to try new things, especially those of an electronic or mechanical nature. I’m looking forward to trying the snipping tool and electric wine opener. Thanks for sharing and best of luck with sales. 🙂
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Thanks, Joanne! Let’s face it, of all the things I’ve learned, using the wine opener really is the most valuable.
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So glad you’ve learned those things. We are supposed to “learn something new every day” right?
Me, I learned BookFunnel CANNOT intimidate me. This puppy crashed about two months back, losing about 200 Book Funnel pdfs. For a while I was saving pdfs to my hard drive because I didn’t want to lose them again. Then, one day, I decided I would try to download a .mobi and shhot it up to my kindle app….and…..there it was! TaDA!. And the gazillion freebies since have gone up there.
Don’t let tech rule you…it’s only as smart as its programmer
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Okay, Andrea, you are one step ahead of me. I don’t even know what BookFunnel is! Thank you for the new thing I learned today!
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I learned how to do a giveaway on Facebook–by copying what you did, Ellen! Being six months ahead of me in this brand new published author thing, you are my guiding light and inspiration! Can’t wait to read BODY ON THE BAYOU!
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Why, it’s Lesie Karst, author of the fabulous Sally Solari mystery series! You rock and I LOVE your new cover. Can’t wait to read the book.
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I try not to think about the fact that I’m only using about 2 percent of my computer’s capabilities. Thank goodness for the help key and being able to google your questions and to actually get answers that work. I learned just about everything I know about computers on a PC, and now I have a Macbook, and I don’t even have a print screen key! I also miss the page up and page down and home and end keys, but other than that, this Mac is pretty cool ~
We have a battery powered corkscrew that is amazing!
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Lordie, I don’t know if I’m even using a tenth of a percent of my computer. And yes, the electric corkscrew is a genius invention. Although I almost broke a cork the other night. I forgot how to use it for a minute. Crazy how that thing stumps me!
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These comments are a blast to read! I have to take a break and get to work, but I’ll be back.
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Oh Ellen, I howled with laughter and recognition! I just learned how to use the snipping tool… well learned might be a slight exaggeration but I know where to find it! I really enjoyed Plantation Shudders and a Body on the Bayou is on my TBR pile!
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I’m so glad you enjoyed PS! I wish I could post a screenshot of where to find Snipping Tool for everyone.
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What a joyful blog to read today. The skies are overcast and temps are cooler so I needed something to keep me in a good frame of mind. Thanks for posting the information and giveaway for Ellen Byron’s book, Body on the Bayou. robeader53@yahoo.com
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Thrilled that I brightened your day a little. 🙂
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I would love to read this! Sounds iinteresting joy bayou mysteries and really like this beautiful cover. Thank you for the chance to win!
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I LOOOVE my cover artist. Honestly, I just want to jump right into them.
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I love reading mystery books. I’ve managed to get much better with Excel spreadsheets. I would say one of the more challenging computer skills for me was learning how to do charts and graphs in Excel. I also love the using the Control and letters. For example, control c to copy and control p to paste.
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Actually control p is to print!
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I didn’t know either of those things, so much thanks!
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Congrats on learning so many new things! I just had a new computer (with Windows 10) installed yesterday. I have a lot to learn. Fortunately, my computer guru set things up for me to make it as easy as possible. I have learned a couple of little tricks that most folks no doubt know. As to other things, when I turned 63 (3 years ago) I needed to go back to work for 3 years. Not easy to find a job at that age. Everyone assumes you are too old to learn anything new. So… I got my CDL license with 3 additional endorsements each requiring additional study and tests. And I became a school bus driver. We are never too old to learn anything if we are determined. (I probably would have stayed with the manual corkscrew, too.)
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Wow, Ginny, you’re an inspiration. It’s VERY hard to get a job over a certain age. I bet you’re a fantastic school bus driver. Good luck!
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I love cozy mysteries. And my husband would love to have an electric wine opener!
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Well, Christmas is coming, hint hint! A gift that would make both of you happy. 🙂
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Ellen, I’m so proud of you! Fortunately I also have a tech support person at my house and I’m oh so slowly expanding my computer skills.
My corkscrew skills aren’t very good either, so I’m intrigued by the electric wine bottle opener. But what happens if there’s a power outage? Is there a back-up battery? 🙂
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Ha! You reminded me, I have a backup manual corkscrew somewhere. I need to find it in case of emergency. But I’ll be sure to keep my rechargable wine opener fully charged. Which is way more than I do for the dustbuster.
And equally proud of you, Vickie!
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Sounds like a good book. I love stories about New Orleans, we used to live in Shreveport, so it brings back happy thoughts.
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I’ve always wanted to go to Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, etc. But my Louisiana journeys never seem to stray north of I-10. But glad to bring you back some happy thoughts!
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Sounds like a interesting book. Can’t wait to read it.
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Thanks, Bertha! Hope you enjoy it. 🙂
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I love your enthusiasm for trying new things! Congrats on your new skills and on the books!
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Thanks so much, Jessie, and thanks to the Wickeds for hosting me. What a great blog.
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sounds great. Thanks for the chance.
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Good luck, Judy!
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Loved the first book & can’t wait to read this one. It is always nice to realize that everyone struggles to master all that our computers offer us in the way of tools. I learn something new every day! Guess life will never get dull between books & computers!
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Doward, you are so right. I love books because they never crash on me or confound me. It’s pure, unconditional love.
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Love to have this book
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Good luck!
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Loved the first book and can’t wait for this new one. The only one of those skills I’ve mastered is making folders. In fact, I’ve mastered it too well! I can turn on my computer and read and send emails. Is that good?
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That’s great! Honest to God, anything we achieve on a computer is a victory in my book. And so glad you loved the first book.
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I actually use my IPAD and IPHONE more than my laptop so I haven’t really mastered any new computer skills lately. I bought a MacBook Pro last year, my first MAC, and it’s quite different and I’m still learning how to use some features on it. I really love it.
Your banner looks great!! Congrats on your 2nd book in the series, and on learning how to use the electric wine bottle opener. ( :
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Thanks so much! I’m terrified of switching to Mac. I used one on one of the shows I wrote for, and hated it. But that’s because I didn’t know the system. I’ve found it’s all about taking a deep breath and plunging into the computer waters.
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Reading and loving Body on the Bayou! I’m hooked on Ellen Byron. You’ve got a fan for life! I will read anything you write. Thanks for your hard work! Good luck to everyone. You are in for a treat!
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Wow, thank you SO much. FYI, I just turned in the edits for the third book in the series, A CAJUN CHRISTMAS KILLING. It will be out sometime next year. And thank you again!
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Yipppeeee! I’m so happy you are having success with Maggie! You have created a beautiful set up for many more adventures! Great characters and a perfect little town! Here’s to many many more stories with the Crozats!
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🙂 !
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My friend recommended Greenshot to change my pictures to JPEG, and it works. Loved your first book. My mother and I were in Cajun country and New Orleans years ago.
Sally
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It’s such an interesting part of the country. And thank you for loving my first book! Greenshot? I’ll check it out.
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I had to ask the teenager next door how to do a screen shot on my phone. Any time I mess up something on my phone, I ask the kids next door. I’m really looking forward to reading “Body on the Bayou”. A Southern plantation and bayou make a great setting for a murder mystery.
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Hey I am new to this author!! I would very much loive to win one of her books!! I love reading !!!
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Wow I now have a few things I need to learn. Knew prtscn, but what is this control thingy. Will be trying that. And the others as well as soon as I figure out what they are. I would love to “learn” more about the Bayou from you book! Maybe I can win a copy to help that learning experience along. Thanks for the laugh, the information and the chance to win. Have a great weekend all
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