October 27, 2015

An Introvert Comes Out of the Cave

Yesterday you might have seen a post I shared on Facebook. It was an essay I wrote on "6 Marketing Tips for Introverts" posted on the We Heart Writing site.

Well, sometimes it's good for introverts to come out of the writing cave and network with other writers, so that's what I did TWICE this weekend. (Okay, that's big for me! Twice, people. I put on makeup and everything.)

First of all, on Friday I met up with my local writing pals, Liz Fenton (of Liz & Lisa fame) and Dee DeTarsio. We always have a lot of fun when we get together.
Liz, me & Dee. Photo courtesy of the gorgeous Dee DeTarsio
AND while we chatted, this dude and his dog went by, each on their own skateboard. You can't see that kinda stuff in your writing cave!
Pretty sure you only see this sorta thing in SoCal.

On Sunday, I met up with my friend, fellow dog-blogger and children's author, Denise Gruzensky! It's especially fun to meet up with author pals when they bring their pups along!
The adorable Shasta
Of course we also had to take a selfie...
...and we took it in the perfect spot: in front of the local pet store, on this "Everybody Loves Animals" bench.

So, if you, like me, are an introvert, remember it's fun to get out of the cave now and then!


Are you an introvert, an extrovert, or somewhere on the scale between the two?

In Other News...
I have a few other quick links to share:

1. My essay about what it's like to volunteer at a dog shelter was posted on First for Women magazine's site. If you've been afraid to volunteer, check it out!

2. My post on 5 books that inspire me is up on the BookSparks site. Stop by and see 5 books I heart!

3. House Trained was included in this fun Adopt-a-Dog-Month post on "7 Books That'll Make You Want To Adopt a Pup". Yay for adoptable dogs!

4. Finally, I'll be part of a Facebook launch party next Tuesday, 11/3 from 12 - 6 EST. It's part of the Women's Fiction Writers Association's party for members who have books coming out this quarter. I'll be "on" for 30 min. at 2:30 EST (11:30 PST). We'll all be chatting about our books and you'll have a chance to win a signed paperbacks or e-books if you join in the conversation.

Thanks to BlogPaws for hosting Wordless Wednesday! Thank you for letting me be wordy! You can check out all the blogs in the hop HERE.

I'm also joining the monthly FICTION WRITERS BLOG HOP. To return to the hop on Julie Valerie’s Book Blog, click HERE.

60 comments:

  1. Good for you on coming out of your cave, Jackie! Me? I would say I've been kind of on the introverted side most of my life, but I make efforts not to be.

    Looks like you had a great time with your fellow writer pals. Love the pic of the dog on the skateboard! And congrats on the new release!

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    1. Thanks, Shelly. Hey, I saw that lip sync video of you on Facebook the other day. You don't look like an introvert to me! ;)

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    2. Ha! That's what joining theater in high school did for me. I can still be kind of introverted around people I don't know. ;)

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  2. Ohhh, Jackie, so glad to meet you. I'm a HUGE dog lover and introvert (tonight I crawled out of my cave to meet up with my writing group but alas, I didn't see any dogs on skateboards) and can't wait to read more of your work. P.S. My almost 15-year-old husky/Lab mix died earlier this year and now we're petsitting a friend's dog for three months and I swear, I don't want to return her, she is such a love. Cheers, pets to the four-leggeds and happy writing.

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    1. Hi Cinthia! Always nice to meet a fellow dog-loverr! Sorry for the loss of your husky/Lab mix. My sis lost her pup earlier this year too and she's been doing a lot of dog sitting for a golden retriever. Not only do I think she'd keep the golden, I'm pretty sure the golden would be happy to stay with her! :)

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  3. Jackie - excited for all your news. I did not think of you as an introvert because you are always so fun and full of great dog stories! You need to get that introvert moving because folks are going to want to see a lot more of you and your wonderful books.

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    1. My bloggie friends are always a little surprised when they first find out I'm an introvert. I need my alone time! :) Thank you for the nice words!

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  4. Looks like you had a lot of fun. We got our book plate Friday and I had to show my husband and Booker T pictures of Rita on the blog. I don't think there is anything wrong with being an introvert, but it is nice to force yourself out of your comfort zone from time to time. Awesome bench. I want one for my backyard garden.

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    1. Oh, hooray. Glad the book plate arrived. Hope Booker T thought Rita was cute. :) Wouldn't it be nice to have a bench like that at home?!

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  5. As a child, I was incredibly shy! I think it took until my twenties for it to start wearing off. Once you are out in the job world, it forces you to get over it if you want to stay employed ;-) But while I can now talk to strangers, I really prefer not too. I am much happier hanging with just one good friend as opposed to being in a group, even a group I know (well, except agility trials, that's always a blast!). And I can withstand an incredible amount of alone time (with dogs, of course!), so I know my true nature is introverted.

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    1. Yeah, I'm not as shy as when I was a kid. But I do still hate to be the center of attention. Most terrifying moments of my life were probably the lead up to being in the high school musical (and knowing I'd be singing a few solos) and our wedding (and knowing we'd be the ctr of attn all day!) But both those things turned out to be very fun, so that was good!

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    2. Ugh! Center of attention....I despise that! Even having people sing happy birthday to me is very painful. When I first started doing agility, I thought I would never be able to compete due to being watched. However you quickly learn no one other than the judge is really watching. LOL!

      I pretty much skipped all of life's big center of attention moments....didn't graduate from high school, skipped my college graduation, never got married or had kids. Now, if I could just avoid job interviews ;-)

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    3. I *almost* didn't go to my college graduation, but my friends talked me into it. Like I said, all those ctr of attn. moments I was dreading - they all turned out to be fun, so ... hey, maybe you should get married. :)

      But, yes, I agree that job interviews are the worst! Boo!

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  6. Reading your post, reflecting on my own shyness, and thinking about the two little loves at my feet, Chloe and Penny (both English Labs, one yellow, one chocolate), makes me wonder what the experts would say about shyness in dogs . . . So I took a look, read an article from a dog expert, and yep! Same advice applies to both dogs and humans. The trick is to get out of your cave, meet new and familiar people, and hey, you just might see or do something crazy. Like skateboard.

    Congrats on all the news - I'll check in with you on Facebook next Tuesday. Cheers!

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    1. Yes, I must say that Rita is also very shy so we are a good match - or maybe a bad one! My last dog, Abby, was a huge extrovert so she dragged me into meeting the neighbors, which was probably good for me. Rita is happy to avoid the neighbors. And that works for me. :)

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  7. Introverts Unite, Darling!! (Would be a great name for a club where no one has to show up!) Nice job, Jackie--though you're making the rest of us look like total hermits!

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    1. Yes, I like the idea of a clube where we don't have to show up. :) And, hey, you were at one of those outings so you're at least only a "partial" hermit!

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  8. Sounds like you had a super weekend! I love getting out of my cave as long as I have the entrance back in clearly marked :)

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    1. Haha, yes. I should start leaving a trail of breadcrumbs... no, wait, M&Ms!... to be certain I can find my way back!

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  9. So glad you had a wonderful time! You, Liz and Dee could almost pass for sisters, lol.

    Okay, I'm on a Wal-Mart mission to find your book. I've been to two local Wal-Marts so far but no luck. I will keep searching though this weekend. :)

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    1. Funny, my friend said the same about that pic when Dee posted it on Facebook - that we could pass for sisters. I very much take that as a compliment since they are both gorgeous gals!

      I hope you find it! Even if you don't, send me a pic of the book section so I can enter you in my giveaway!

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  10. Awesome skateboarding pup!! I think I am both :) I can go into a room of strangers and talk and laugh and have fun but I also need time to myself. I really love spending time with Cocoa and being with her!! Yay for having fun with your friends.

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    1. Oh, a room of strangers is pretty much my idea of Nightmare on Elm St. :)

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  11. I was always super shy as a young child. School was my worst nightmare, along with mixing with others my own age. I have always loved dogs... humans should could be intimidating!

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    1. Yeah, why is it no problem to go up and meet a strange dog, but so much more intimidating with a human?? Maybe if humans had waggy tails....

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  12. You have not only emerged from your cave, you have become quite the social butterfly. And thanks for the Books that Inspire. How did I ever miss A Dog's Life? It is the only one I haven't read.

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    1. And I'm going out to dinner with a friend tonight! Geez. I'm missing my cave!

      You must read A Dog's Life. Love that book!

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  13. That first pic looks like you three could be sisters!
    hugs
    Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel

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    1. In person, I don't think we really look that much alike, but you're the 3rd person to say that so there must be something to it! :)

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  14. What a great blog tour! I love the variety of posts.

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    1. Yeah, there were some great posts. It's fun to join a different hop and "meet" some different bloggers. (I don't have to worry about being shy when I meet them online.) :)

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  15. It sounds as if everything is falling into place for you! Congratulations. ☺ I love Denise! We met at BlogPaws. She and her husband are delightful and I hope to see them again next year.

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    1. She told me she met you at BlogPaws! We also talked about if I would go this year.... probably not! Too much of an introvert. I would like to meet everyone - but not all at once! :)

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  16. Ugh, I hate coming out of the cave! I am very much an introvert but I have to say, seeing your pics with your writing friends make me want to come out! Now, to just find some writer friends. Haha!

    Slobbery kisses,
    Jenny & Storm

    www.paws2smile.WordPress.com

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    1. Yeah, it's scary to come out of the cave to make the friends in the first place. :)

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  17. That looks like so much fun! I love going to meetups!

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  18. I love meeting other dog lovers! I'm an introvert extrovert. Lol. I think it all depends on the situation.

    www.tracykrimmer.com

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    1. I'm fine in small groups or one-on-one, but a big room of strangers is my nightmare.

      I wonder if an extroverted introvert is different from an introverted extrovert?? :)

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  19. I get energy from being with people, so I'm an extravert. An introvert feels drained after social interaction even fun stuff. I work alone now that I'm a working artist instead of a social worker, so I have come to enjoy my alone time. I still seek interaction on walks, when around other people. I will chat about just about anything! LeeAnna

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    1. My dad was like that - he loved to talk to strangers, while the rest of us would try to fade into the background. :)

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  20. I LOVE the skateboarding dog! It was so fun getting to hang out "in real life"! I'm so glad we were able to get together! I want one of those benches too!

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    1. It was great to see you! Glad we were able to meet up - and thanks for going out of your way to come to my 'hood!

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  21. I commend you for stepping out of your cave to do all that! And congrats on all the stuff you have going on!!

    I'm and introverted extrovert or something along those lines. I'm shy at first, but once I warm up I get better. :-)

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    1. Yeah, I'm better once I warm up too - but I don't really ever warm up if there's a big group. Unless a lot of booze is involved. :)

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  22. Congratulations, you have a lot going on in the right places! Doing what you love is great, but if you can find others in your niche, it really helps and makes it all more fun.

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  23. Wow, you have a lot of good things going on...good for you!
    I am definitely an introvert, but I like to come out of my cave, as long as I have people I am comfortable with to keep me company!

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    1. Of course you're an introvert too! Because we are twins!

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  24. I think I probably fall between intro/extro vert. As writers though, we have to get out there. SOOOO much good material just by watching the world go by. Congrats on the book launch this month.

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    1. Thank you! So true - watching the world go by is great for material.

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  25. Wow that's very impressive…getting out twice, and all the triumphs with your books and essays. I'm a pretty extreme introvert. I honestly think it's part of the reason teaching was so stressful even though I loved it.

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    1. Oh, that would be stressful. I briefly thought about trying to become a college professor - but I figured all those eyes on me would be not be my idea of fun! :) Good for you for becoming a teacher!

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  26. Yep, even introverts have fun out and about sometimes. As long as you don't have to do it every day. :)

    I'm definitely an extrovert as Honey is. But my social skills aren't as good as hers are.

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    1. That's good that both you and Honey are extroverts. Rita and I are both introverts - which is fine by me! :)

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  27. It sounds like you had two fun outings. :)

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    1. And then I went out to dinner with a friend a few days later! We are making up for it by being total homebodies THIS weekend! :)

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  28. Couple of great outings! Good for you getting out.

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    1. It is fun once you get yourself out there, I must admit.

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  29. Happy to hear you've stepped out of the cave.

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