Monday, May 1, 2023

Reflections #AtoZChallenge 2023 Proof of Existence #UrbanFantasy #Book

Theme:
A behind-the-scenes look at and inside scoop on PROOF OF EXISTENCE, Book Two of the Existence series.
πŸ“š Proof of Existence - Published April 4, 2023


Proof of Existence - Reflection @JLenniDorner

#AtoZChallenge 2023 winner

Thank you SO MUCH for the 150 comments I received this month! πŸ’—
I hoped to visit more blogs. I had a solid plan for April. 
But you know what they say about making plans...
"If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans." — Woody Allen
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" — John Lennon
A dear family member of my spouse went from "stable" to "we're making her comfortable," and finally to passing on. Her last breath was followed by the aurora borealis appearing. (To be clear-- this does NOT happen. Pennsylvania, USA is too far south for the Northern Lights. Except they came this month.) It's the sort of awful and awe-inspiring moment that gives one great pause.

Otherwise, the challenge went fairly well. It was fun to find so many ways to work my book into the alphabet. Ronel, you especially made this challenge fun for me.

Facebook tried to mess with our initial link-up, but John quickly solved that. Jayden came up with a way to share the Master List on the blog itself. Thanks to Arlee for covering when my "N" (Never Give Up) post vanished from the A to Z blog. Zalka did an amazing job of pulling the team out of hibernation this year. A big thanks to our anonymous graphics person for stepping up.

Twitter ... 🀦🏽‍♂️ is testing everyone's patience. And some reports are that Rafflecopter was having international issues, or that the Facebook login feature has stopped working. I know some bloggers ""went rogue"" and opted to post a month of alphabet posts without joining the challenge, without becoming part of the community. They didn't wish to hop to each others' blogs, or support one another, or whatever the reason. You can invite everyone to dinner, it doesn't mean they'll opt to come. 

The A to Z Team is just a handful of volunteers giving what we can to keep people inspired and connected through blogging. We have decades of experience (plus Zalka has a doctorate degree, and a little birdie told me that Jayden will soon have one as well). Our team is diverse in age, origin, gender, country, and culture. We do the very best that we can with what resources we have, and I am proud to be part of this team. 

I hope my fellow bloggers will join us monthly, as we have posts planned for the whole year. And keep hopping with the Road Trip! (Posting next week.) Your blogging community is as strong as you make it. I'll be posting on the A to Z blog in January for the New Year, so get your blogging resolutions ready!

March 10, 2024, will be the next #AtoZChallenge Theme Reveal. πŸ“… Put it on your calendar. 


QUESTION — What did you enjoy most and least about this year's challenge?


#AtoZChallenge 2023 Reflections πŸ’»πŸ“šπŸ›’πŸ“¦πŸ˜ƒπŸ“–#AtoZChallenge 2023

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge
a-to-zchallenge.com


http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4fa90ac752 Rafflecopter
WIN Custom Proof of Existence Blanket (US only) or Name a Character (International)
(Facebook Log In might not work due to a Rafflecopter error.)


What's next for me?
Bout of Books
https://boutofbooks.blogspot.com/2023/04/bout-of-books-37-sign-up.html

15 comments:

  1. I agree. "Your blogging community is as strong as you make it." I try my best to interact with A to Z Bloggers.

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  2. Reflections by NRao - 2023 A to Z Blogging Challenge Participation - #AtoZChallenge
    #IndustrialEngineering #productivity #CostReduction
    https://nraoiekc.blogspot.com/2023/05/reflections-by-nrao-2023-to-z-blogging.html

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  3. I'll admit that I didn't visit as often as I wanted to. I really liked the year I was one of your top commenters! Appreciate all the work you do for the challenge and the time you took to stop by my blog.

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  4. Thanks, again for all you do for this challenge, J, and for your kind comment on my reflections post. Sorry for your loss, and yes the Northern Lights have been seen a long way south this year in the UK as well. I've missed them through sleeping, though!
    Looking forward to the monthly A to Z posts this year. https://suestrifles.wordpress.com/2023/05/01/a-to-z-reflections-2023-atozchallenge/

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  5. Organising the A to Z challenge is a great achievement, so thank you to you and all the team, This humble blogger would be nowhere without you all.
    My condolences on your bereavement - the aurora borealis sent a message, I think.

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  6. Many thanks to you and the team for your resilience in keeping the A to Z Challenge going. Sincere condolences on your loss, and how magical that the aurora borealis appeared in your bereavement.

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  7. I'm sorry for your family's loss, and I celebrate the perfect timing of the auroras. It seems like many of us had a wobble or two during the challenge, and yet, I found it as wonderful as always. And many thanks to you (and all the team) for your work! It delights me to report that your book is already in my pile of reads for the upcoming Bout of Books. I can't wait to get to it.

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  8. I couldn´t agree more with Woody Allen and John Lennon, what a month! I´m so sorry for your loss, I´m pondering about the synchronicity of the aurora at that moment, I hope it gave you all some solace at that hard time.
    It looks like the whole team was quite busy this month, congrats to Zalka and Jayden for the doctorade.
    My fav part is usually the interaction and learning new stuff. So, time to rock and do some visiting. :3

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  9. Thank you for all your hard work in keeping this challenge going especially when things get in the way - condolences on your loss. I didn't do as much interacting as I would have liked to in April but hoping to do some catching up now.

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  10. Thank you for helping keep the challenge going! I saw the Aurora twice when we lived in Northern Michigan. It was so amazing. I think the quietness of it contributed to the awe.

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  11. I’m sorry for your loss, and glad the aurora came south for her. It sound like it was a really difficult month. Lots of love from here ❤️
    https://jemimapett.com/blog/2023/05/05/reflections-on-the-a-to-z-challenge-23/

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  12. Sorry for your loss and thank you for everything you do to make the challenge possible each year

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  13. How comforting to see the Northern Lights under those condistions.

    Beth
    https://bethlapinsatozblog.wordpress.com/

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