#atozchallenge -- Stormy the Weather Gnome introduces Heather M. Gardner

This is Stormy the Weather Gnome coming to you from the wild snowy tundra, otherwise known as Heather's front yard.

Heather is annoyingly shy so when the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge hosts mentioned she should write an 'About Me' post she got all flummoxed. Maybe even a little Hasenpfeffered.

So, I thought I would help her out cause, I ROCK, and that's just the kind of Gnome I am!

Heather is old and kind of wrinkly. She lives in a small town in New York with her family and a bunch of really frightening cats (they tried to eat the gorilla glue holding my feet together!)

Heather always wanted to be a rock star, and although she doesn't sound bad singing in the shower, she can't pull it off in front of real people.

Heather works part-time for the local volunteer fire department where she also joined the Auxiliary. She makes a general nuisance of herself around town as much as possible. You know the kind, always organizing events and begging for blood and money from the community. Literally. 

Heather has published her first contemporary romantic suspense book, Maguire's Corner. She is currently editing her second book in the series and hopes to have it published soon (or so she keeps telling me).

You can find Heather all over the inter-web.

Blog: The Waiting is the Hardest Part

Facebook: Heather M. Gardner, Author

Twitter: @hmgardner

Email: hgardner28@gmail.com

So, that's Heather in a nutshell, although what she's doing hanging out in a nutshell I have no idea.

She's a pretty cool chick but if you want to laugh your little resin butt off then come to her blog during the A to Z Challenge to check ME out!

I'll be taking over for the whole month of April.

I guarantee, you won't ever be the same after I get done with you.

Do You leverage #Socialmedia for #blogging? 20 #atozchallenge Tips

 Today, one of #TeamDamyanti , Vidya Sury , tells you how to spread your blog far and wide via social media.

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A blog hop is all about interaction, making friends and getting to know new bloggers. The #AtoZChallenge is a readymade opportunity to connect, interact, and take your blogging motivation to new highs.

So you've signed up for the A to Z Challenge (do it now if you haven't), and perhaps even the  A to Z Theme Reveal Blogfest where you join a huge group of AtoZers to post your theme reveal post. You're also busy outlining your posts and scheduling them for April, so you can be free to party.

Yes, it is a month-long blogging party that will change your life forever!

So, besides visiting other bloggers, how can you amplify your blogging presence?

Use social media!

Social media is a great way to attract new readers and engage with your existing ones. As bloggers we cannot afford to ignore social media.

If you’re still wondering why you should use social media…it helps you

·      increase your reach on social media

·      build a loyal fan base

·      invite collaboration opportunities

·     get a book written (yes!)

·      create community

·      make new friends

·      get gigs 

and so much more!

How to get started?

1. Clean up your sidebars

2. Place your "follow/subscribe" buttons prominently so your visitors can find them easily and follow or subscribe to your awesome blog updates. 

3. Display Social Media Connect buttons for the networks you frequent. The most common are: Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest and of course, email. You can get combinations of the set. Don't forget to customize the buttons with your own profile links.

4. Add Social Mediasharing buttons - so your visitors can share your posts on their social network of choice.

5. Have a Facebookfan page? Add the widget in your sidebar so you can build your audience right from your blog. All your visitor has to do is hit "Like."

6. Create readymade tweets so your readers can copy and tweet. Like this:

#atozchallenge tip: Visit AZ bloggers before Challenge begins, follow their blogs-build your network! www.a-to-zchallenge.com @AprilA2Z

Try clicktotweet so your readers can directly click to tweet.

7. Use a dashboard like Hootsuite to manage and schedule your social media posts. Install the Hootsuite “hootlet” for your browser to tweet/schedule a tweet for any page you are on. If you follow the blogger, don’t forget to tag them when you tweet. The Hootsuite dashboard lets you see your tweet stream, sent tweets, mentions and scheduled posts.

8. If you use Feedburner, use the “socialize” feature to autoshare your own post on social media as soon you publish.

9.  Use the #atozchallenge tag across all media to make them easily discoverable. Tag +April Hosteam on G+ (run by Pam), tag @AprilA2Z on Twitter (run by Nicole) and Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (run by Heather) on FB to get RTs and Shares of your posts.

10. Big on images? Add a Pin it button so your readers can share your gorgeous images on Pinterest.

11. Use LinkedIn? Import your RSS feed to your LinkedIn profile using the blog link application on LinkedIn to show off your posts on your profile.

12. Go to your Twitter settings - and set it up to share automatically to your Facebook profile.

13. Autopublish your Facebook Fan page posts to Twitter.

14. Spend some time every day acknowledging shares and engaging in social media. Thank people publicly, give them a shoutout!

15. And while you are at it, give your "About Me" page the once-over! Now is a good time to tweak that, too!

16. Don’t forget to TELL your readers to share your posts! For more tips: See this post by M J Joachim's Aztech, C. Lee McKenzie.

17. The A to Z Challenge is not just about you. Consider using Twitterfeed to auto-tweet your favorite blogs’ posts and you'll have a bunch of RTers for your own posts soon!

18. If you have a twitter account, consider joining Triberr.com. This will ensure a lot of bloggers RT your posts.

19. Use Roundteam.co to automatically RT tweets on the #atozchallenge tag, or from bloggers you like.

20. Finally, check that all your links work.

To summarize, sidebar must-haves:

• Subscribe / Follow button
• Social media connect buttons
• G+ button for your blog (different from the add to circles)
• Facebook Fan page Like Widget
• AtoZChallenge badge

Go forth and connect! Questions, problems? Ask away in the comments and Vidya will do her best to solve them for you!

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Have you signed up for the #AtoZChallenge Theme Reveal Blogfest?  Do it now!

Getting to Know Your Co-Hosts – Special Tribute to Jeremy Hawkins

Every year, we introduce the co-hosts so you know the people behind this massive endeavor. Unfortunately, co-host Jeremy Hawkins is unable to put together a post due to an injury. The other co-hosts decided to pull together and share some things about the amazing individual behind the A to Z Challenge graphics and website.

Condensed from his blog, this is what happened to Jeremy:

I fell on ice last Saturday and broke my ankle where the short of it is I have 8 screws and a new holding plate. I am heavy medicated and loopy, typing this I hope it makes sense. Now this is not the world's worst injury, I have never broke anything. I want to thank all my friends and family for all the support.
It's bed rest for two solid weeks and then back to the other doctor for more... I have an iPad once in a while so I am on Facebook.
I will try to catch up soon, thank you for your friendship and "I will be back"
-Jeremy [Retro]

Jeremy is the genius behind the A to Z Challenge graphics and the website design, taking time out of his busy design schedule to help the team. He is the author of several books featuring graphics, short stories, or both. He also designs badges, banners, and websites for others, and he has a complete line of t-shirts for sale at Neat-O-Rama.

In addition to helping with this site, Jeremy maintains his own blog at Being Retro, Howling Wolf Records’ site, the Horror Blogger Alliance, and Hate the Captcha, a blog dedicated to The Walking Dead.

He’s also interviewed many movie stars, artists, musicians over the years. Jeremy travels to horror and anime conventions and posts pictures of attendees and stars. He works with Howling Wolf Records and maintains their site.

What you really need to know about Jeremy is he has a heart of gold. He will do anything and everything for his friends, taking time away from his business and wife to do what is necessary. You can’t ask for a better friend.

You the man, Jeremy. And we think you rock! - Alex

Jeremy is more than a co-worker in this crazy train of the A-Z Challenge, he’s my friend. Please leave a comment. We want to cheer him up with a lot of them! Jeremy is one of THE most generous and self-less people I’ve met. He’s always there to lend a helping hand and a willing ear, and he’s truly a great listener. Always ready with a good quip, he cheers you up by just being himself.  True.

He’s also quite the artist. I’m not just talking all the badges and bling and banners and art he does for the A-Z and his friends. He’s a published artist.  Talented.

I’ve had the honor of beta reading several of his books which are now available at Amazon. Here’s a link to his author page. I’d say his specialty is photopainting – that’s what I call it anyway because honestly, what he does is so out of my realm of knowledge. I can’t even size a picture correctly, so it’s a good thing that he’s an admin on my blog, which he built from scratch, just as a favor. That’s another example of Jeremy just being himself.  Giving.

But wait! That’s not all! He’s also a t-shirt designer! He has his own section at Neatorama with his designs. These aren’t just great because of his art (and the great snark in a lot of the captions) but the t-shirts themselves are really great quality. I have two of them. I recommend a long browse so you can get what suits you best, but if you’re stuck for an idea, the Ninja Army shirt he made in honor of Alex is a good place to start!  Loyal.

I can’t say enough about this wonderful friend of mine, but since other co-hosts will be chiming in, I’ll have to leave you with this brief picture. Checking out his many blogs and websites will give you a bigger one.
~Tina

From Arlee -
Jeremy has been my go to guy for not only the A to Z Challenge, but for my own blogs when it comes to bringing things to life with his brilliant images. The man is like a mind-reader when it comes to creating his custom artwork. I just have vaguely say what I'm looking for and he'll quickly shoot me back something that looks like what I was thinking but even better. His creative artistry has been responsible for many of my badges, headers, and my iconic BlogMan logo.
You're a good friend to have, Jeremy. Sorry you've had the recent setback, but at least you've been keeping your sense of humor about it. And I'm sure your mind is cranking away some great new ideas.

From Heather -
Dear Jeremy,
My Facebook newsfeed is so incredibly boring without you. You make me laugh almost every day and I will be sad until you return. I hope you heal quickly and I will expect regular weather reports from your ankle from now on. Hugs & chocolate kisses!

From Nicole -
Whether navigating the horrors of the apocalypse or gathering human souls around to hear some good tunes, Jeremy is the elixir that saves us from the craziness of our universe. He makes all things pretty; glowing in wonder, sprinkled with funnies and covered in cool!

From MJ -
Jeremy is one of those people you’re glad you have the chance to meet in Blog Land. He’s a true friend, and an honest to goodness, kind and real person, the type of guy who makes the world a better place, for having known him. I got to know Jeremy better since co-hosting with him in the A - Z Challenge. I can say without reservation that I’m really glad I did. Best to you, Jeremy. Get well soon!

From Damyanti -
Jeremy is one of those guys who would do a lot without asking for anything in return, and then offer to do more. He does a great job with the graphics, and helps customize badges and a thousand other things-- always kind, unobtrusive and cheerful. He is a good friend, and a huge asset to our team.
Take care of you, Jeremy, and get well soon.