Separation: Club and Program

 So, if you've been keeping up, you've been waiting for the next blog about what's going on with Shiver and Fears. Well, here is the story, Shiver and Fears was on a vacation trip to Washington DC! Me and a youth group went there to meet and help a children's program called Little Lights. 

To me, they are somewhat like Boys and Girls Club. It was an interesting adventure. I mean to think of the moment MLK made his speech... Ok wait, I'm off track - I'll tell that in another blog...

This one is about how we have a few new #1 fans. I had started a discussion about the club and the program. They were planned to be a part of the same thing. But now we have a few new members now. Does that mean they get to become authors? 

Right now, the Young Author Program is set as a test. We want to check for any flaws in the idea. Right now, we have 5/7 fans working on an idea. Recently, we added another kid, he's not a club member, at least not yet.

About club members, we have two new members, one we met on social media and another who we know personally. (However, he's not official). So, what are the rules of the fan club? What limits does the program have? What makes a member so special? We're still trying to figure this all out. We never had a club, let alone a program. But here is what we know for sure.

CLUB MEMBERS

A club member get discovered when someone shows interest in Shiver and Fears. It's something noticable. We hear from multiple people they've read a book or watched a video, maybe even subscribed, but it takes more than that. Stuff like, sharing with your friends, tagging on your own media, comments and likes, even purchases and ownership of Shiver and Fears things. Something that shows you like Shiver and Fears, not that you've discovered it. 

When this happens, I will send this person a decoding video, along with a message to decode. Once the message has been decoded, that person is a member of the #1 fan club. This means, any contests or giveaways we provide club members get the first word and choose whether or not to enter. Members are also invited to co-host in videos. (We haven't gotten that far yet).

AUTHOR PROGRAM

We don't really have an age limit for the Author Program, just that we call it the YOUNG author program. So, as of now we keep this program in the limit of those who can write and read. (That's about 1-5 grade) By 6th grade, a kid is writing reports and story prompts. Meaning they already are set to be an author. This would mean the project would have to run differently. (We haven't prepared that yet) So right now, we are in the testing stage of the program with only 7 entries. 

So yes, we're helping young writers to become authors. Now, can any child enter in the program? Yes. Right this minute we have one spot open. Once again, we're testing this. We only want to work with 7 kids, whether or not they are club members. The club members were just the first invited.

That's all we have for now. I don't know how much this helps, but that's the story we have for today. Stay tuned, because we have a story to tell about Washington DC.

Birthday Ecard of 2025

I bet you have a friend with a birthday coming up. We always provide a card for these occasions. 

   Last year, we tried making it special by using cards from Greetingisland, but I discovered that those cards expire at some point. I wonder if you need an account to access them; I might look into that. 

   This experience reminds me of a situation I had with a fan, whom I'll refer to as Barry. He mentioned that he sent the ecard to his friend, but the friend never received it. Naturally, I looked into the issue.

   Unfortunately, I couldn't resolve the problem. If the card can't be saved for keeps, what's the point of making another one? That’s a solution that will have to wait for another day. 

   This year, we created an e-card, but I recorded it as well. It turns out that not only do you need an account, but you also have to pay monthly! This isn't related to Greetingisland; we haven't checked that option yet. We are already purchasing business cards, stickers, and materials for more buttons. The answer is no—we are non-profit. 

   As of now, we don't have the new link ready. So if you have a friend with a birthday coming up, please send them this link: HERE.

Only a True Fan Can Get This

 So folks, most of you have been reading my blog for a while now, but question, how many of you are really fans of my work?

Well let put it to the test. Here below is a secret code that only fans can solve. Some people have given it a try and can't get it. Can you?

Edocs i htdevlo se vah uoyf itnemm ocae vael. 

There are two videos which teach you how to solve codes. You can find them on YouTube today. But just to see if you can become a #1 fan, I'll add instructions here:

1. Write the whole message in reverse order.

2. Space the words out the same way they are placed in the coded message.

3. Follow the instructions.

That easy, see? Now, if you want, you can write me a coded message back and I'll enlist you as a number one fan. What is so special about #1 fans? Well ... Only they get to know that!

Happy Hallows-week

Next Event of the Year

 So as of now we are doing the monster voting portion of the contest. So I have about 11 entries to place in the voting category. But people are wondering what does Shiver and Fears have going on next? Well let me tell you because you might want to get involved! 

Once we have announced the winner of the Boo's Beastly Buddy Contest, we will start the Share your Scare contest. The Share Your Scare contest is a chance to find scary, spooky, and creepy images around the neighborhood. How it works is, you take a video or picture of something you see for the Halloween season. This can be a decoration you find at a store, A prop around the neighborhood, or a scary prank you pull at home. You can even present a craft or Halloween treat you saw online! You ever heard of mummy hotdogs? Or eyeball cake pops? We just want a chance to share your spirit of Halloween season. 

Here's a good example: One day I was in a store and found a Halloween prop that lights up with a push of a button. I filmed myself saying a small poem to make it come on. It was as if I had casted a spell to make it work! 

Not a fan of that idea? Try this one:

 The rules are very simple. 

1.  Each person can send 1-5 videos and/or pictures of their scares.
2. Each entry turned in will recieve an audiobook for each entry.
3. We request not to send them all at once, gives us time to set up.
4. Pictures and videos will be posted on our Tiktok page, so be sure anyone IN the photo/video is ok with being presented.
5. Editing is fine with entries but NO FILTERS. (Example: walking ghost video above is an edit with no special effects.)
6. to send video/ photo is best sent by email shiverandfears@gmail.com

Now, what happens when you share your scare?  By Halloween night, we will check which is the most popular image and post it on other social media platforms! Everyone is a winner in this contest! 

Now, some of you might have been informed about a calendar. We are working on that now. If you are a contestant from the Boo's Beastly Buddy Contest, (even if you didn't win) you get one.

I want to also inform you about the Scary Creepsmas Give-a-way. All true fans will be given a gift to give to someone special. But this will be explained later in the fall. 

If you have any questions on ANY events. (Past, present, or future) you know how to contact me. If you don't, read the blog again!

The Last of 2022

 December is about to come to an end. All the gifts were handed out, all the birthdays have been celebrated and books have been sold.

So what is Shiver and Fears planning to do in 2023?

Well, the first event of course is the Martin Luther King parade. Shiver and Fears 4th parade to attend. as of right now, I am printing banners and fliers to pass around. Next in line will be the 3rd grade writers contest. Last year, 3rd grader just created titles, now I am challenging them to write it themselves. Nothing big, just a short story. This story will not make it to online stores, but it will be given a chance for reading once it's put together.

Another event I am working on is Shiver and Fears valentine card and, new to the list, birthday cards.

What is special about this card is the special little message. It's Shiver and Fears new code! How to solve it, you'll have to wait and find out. But when these fans do solve this code, they will receive a Shiver and Fears prize.

And guess what? I'm planning on coming back from break. 

After taking the whole year off from writing, it's time for me to get back into writing. But what series do I continue with? Shiver and Fears or Magical Times?

If you want a say so, then go to Shiver and Fears YouTube channel. It's not hard to find, just go a vote on the polls. we'll see which book get more interest.

As of now, Hapy New Fears!!

Happy Shiver and Fears Day!

 Today is a special day. No, it's not Shiver and Fears Bookaversary, that's over the summer. No, the hliday I'm talkling about is Shiver and Fears author's birthday is today!

 Sorry, you don't get a day off work because of it, but you do get to celebrate with a thriller collection of Goosebumps! That's right, today I'm enjoying my birthday with a marathon of Goosebumps.

But that's not all that's happening on this day. I will be passing around Shiver and Fears ebook stickers to my new fans at work! They are already enjoying Shiver and Fears books placed in their classroom, now it's time they enjoy a gift from the author. That's what makes this day super special!

Now you as a blog reader, might want in on this. If you're there, here's what you can do to join in the excitment. Leave a comment! I know I've told you this many times before, but no, seriously, leave a comment. a little kindness goes a long way, even if you don't know the author that well. 

We may not know each other well, but everyone deserves a happy birthday. Washington gets one, Amelia Airhart surely gets one! Gosh, I know for a fact R.L. Stines gets one. As a published author for 10 years, i deserve one too! 

Just leave a birthday comment, and watch what good it does for you!

Is the code working?

 

QR codes are complicated. Right now, I had to create and send a new QR Code invitation to everyone. The other one was expired. Now I've sent this code to dozens of people, and only a few answered and were able to see the invitation.

The Bookaversary! Oh snap, I almost forget to mention the most important thing! We will have gift bags, but we'll only have a total of 40. So our first 40 guests will recieve a giftbag, while guest number 41 (whoever that will be) will sign the card, and enter in the drawing contest- no, not like art drawing!

Each guest who wish to enter in the give-a-way with write down their name and email. then on Bookaversary day, I'll announce the winners on Youtube, and email them to send an address to give the gift to.

Each winner (only 2 winners) will get a hand print of a Shiver and Fears book and a shirt. Woo! I'm tired just from thinking about all that. Another thing I'm working on is getting the two Monsterfied winners to show up.

With our unmasked creature be present? We'll see.

Until then, scan that code and comment if it works.

Happy Birthday AJ

Wonder where this author spent his birthday this year? He spent it at the one place he's always wanted to go, and never could! 

Every year the state fair happens on the week of my birthday, butas always happening a week after my birthday. And even though it's stillpecialtrip, it's not special enough going ON the day you were born. This year was different.

I took a few of my old friends, who brought friends of their own,togetherwe made this trip a party! Now what did we do there? Well one thing is for sure, we had to check out all these random foods. I mean they had fried gummy bears, who wouldn't want to try that?

We were checking out a few rides. We for sure had to go on the ferris wheel. I even got to see the Disney on Ice show., but being there I learned how they are able to keep everything in order, I mean 12.99 for a soda?! They are also selling cars and hottubs.

As an author there were a few fans who loved seeing me there. Hope they enjoy their picture. Meanwhile it's good to have a birthday celebration on your birthday, it just makes it more special!

Contest Rules on Social Media

So here's what happening this week. I'm setting up a give-a-way and hoping this will get Shiver and Fears more attention. This is different than what I've ever done before. Some of you might know about the amazon give-a-way I hosted on Amazon.com. It was good, but not as good as I wanted. Long story short, here's my contest:
As some of you might know after 8 years Shiver and Fears is having it's anniversary, it's bookaversary! So since there is no party this year we're doing something different. We'll be at the Village Library doing a live feed talking with young readers and others about Shiver and Fears and hopfully we can get your attention too on facebook. (let's see how that turns out.)
Sorry, lets stay on track here and talk about this give-a-way. It's time Shiver and Fears gets some attention. Now, on instagram there's a ton of likes, on twitter it get's passed to a few people, on a good day, and facebook... it's a little quiet... Let's change that! I will give a fan a prize if they can gain 25 points in a week on Twitter or Instagram:
Like a post= 5 points
Leave a comment 10 words= 10 points
Comment an answer= 12 points (I'll post a puzzle)
Follow #shiverandfears= 15 points (instagram)
Comment 10+ words = 20 points
Post with #shiverandfears = 25 points

Now question is, who is going to get those 25 points? What post of mine will you put a heart on, or will you leave a comment? Think you can solve a rebus puzzle? Or follow #shiverandfears on instagram. You know you get more points if your comment has more than 10 words, right? But why struggle collecting points when posting with #shiverandfears gets you all the points at once!

Shiver and Fears bookaversary party went well

The ever first Bookaversary in history has been set! Shiver and Fears had 23 guests and almost all of them left with an autographed book, a t-shirt, a water blaster, or candy. Shiver and Fears has raised $88 signing their books.

  Although 55 guests said they'd make it, we still hope they'll still post a hashtag message for Shiver and Fears this Wednesday.

Now you might be asking what did you miss, if you weren't there. Our photo man Jeremiah Childs was taking pictures for his partner Charlie O'Hara to edit and post on YouTube this Wednesday.

Our other helper Victoria was face painting, and she was happy when winning her new t-shirt.

Everyone is a winner at Shiver and Fears Bookaversary parties. Hope you can join us next year... I'm pretty sure there won't be any peaches in our cake! But it seems it didn't really matter to some people.

Why you should RSVP

   Now a days rsvp doesn't really matter. When you're giving an invitation you just show up to the party and have fun, or not show up and do your own thing. Shiver and Fears will NOT accept this! YOU HAVE TO RSVP!!
   Here is why: well our friend who is head of food, also known as h.o.f, wants a head count to bring enough food for everyone. But you see, I'd added to that!
   So here's the deal you don't want to rsvp, that's fine, but that just means your name won't be in the drawing for a water blaster. That means so RSVP no chances of taking home a water blaster. But lucky for you Shiver and Fears is giving away t-shirts... for $7 and there's only 4... and it's at random.
   Ok, ok so here's the deal you can win a water blaster IF you RSVP, you can win a shirt IF you buy a book, but if you don't RSVP and don't win a shirt, still be happy, you have an autographed Shiver and Fears book. But you probably want it free right? Well, you can. All you have to do is buy your own Shiver and Fears book... but you won't win a t-shirt...
   So you can win a water blaster If you RSVP, you can win a shirt IF you buy an autographed book, and you can get your autograph free IF you buy your own copy, but your chances of winning a t-shirt is out.
   Here's what I think you should do, RSVP by email or facebook or in person, spend $7 and get an autograph Shiver and Fears book (or buy your own to get it free) and have a splashing good time with the water balloons. You may get a t-shirt, you may not, you may get a water blaster, you may not, but with $7 you can get an autographed book for sure, even if you buy < your own copy!

From Birthday Aniversary to Bookaversary

   So finding the name to this party was a little difficult. We started with birthday. I mean it was the weekend before the actual date Shiver and Fears was created, but do you know how annoying it is to tell everyone "No, it's not my birthday it's my book's birthday." Not only is it strange to give a book a BIRTHday it's hard to get everyone to understand Shiver and Fears was born.
   So we thought of it as a birthday anniversary. That is a thing right? I mean it's a birthday party with anniversary purposes... We kept that title for about a year or two, but it still didn't seem right. I mean I was still calling it a birthday but maybe it was more of an anniversary. And it was more to focus on the book and not me.
   So here's where we come to a new name: not a birthday not an anniversary but a BIRTHAVERSARY! That is what we decided to go with. I mean it works. A celebration for Shiver and Fears on the day it was created. It's like a birthday, but with an anniversary twist! Perfect, right? WRONG!!
   Here's the deal, it works, but no one understands the reason. I mean, It's a party for Shiver and Fears, but most people don't know what Shiver and Fears is or why the party is happening. I guess you don't either.
   This party is to collect new fans and have them be more aware of Shiver and Fears books. So next time I say, "Do you like Shiver and Fears?" I don't have to hear back, "What is that?" "Where can I find them?" "What's the book called" and if you told a friend about Shiver and Fears you can answer their questions and not go, "I don't know, I'll ask AJ"
   So here's where the name comes in. I'm making invitations and about to purchase them when one of my teammates say "Be sure to tell them who's hosting the party," Then it came to me, I typed it 'hosted by the author AJ Hard' then I figured there has to be a way to inform them right away about what the party is about without saying, 'The party is about Shiver and Fears books and the day I created them' That's where bookaversary came from. And bookaversary will stay!

Party Supplies go over the limit

So I head to Walmart to buy some supplies to make shirts for the Shiver and Fears party. So I need ink for the printer, iron on paper, and tie dye for color. I need shirts as well, but those are bought already. So I got the ink and the tie dye, all I need is the paper. The only paper they have is 3 sheets and it's $7, well I'm distracted by this nice guy who's trying to sell Cox and want to have a chat. Now I'm always in for a good chat, So I get three boxes, chat and go.
Now not realizing 7+7+7 is over the limit. Turns out being rushed and distracted is not handy when your goal is focused on one thing. Why do people push others? It's hard enough to focus when someone wants to talk to you. Which me, I like to chat with a fan about a book or music, but I'm unsure what it was that got me $77 in the end with products I didn't even mean to get. Good thing I didn't walk in with $100, otherwise I'd be stuck with supplies I don't need.
Being an author is hard.

Invites, get your invites here!

Now you might be saying, "Isn't it too early to send an invite to a summer party?" And you might be right! That's why we didn't send in invitations we sent PRE-invitation. Yes, the first thing we want to do is inform all our fans that Shiver and Fears is having a party, once they know about it they can get the full 411. Or you know, read this blog!
So one thing most people don't know is about the book signing. We're costing signed books $7, however it's free if you bring your own Shiver and Fears book to sign. Another thing is the party will start at 12:30 pm and we will host a contest where 3 winners will own a custom made Shiver and Fears shirt.
Will there be food and drinks? OF COURSE! And this year we're even adding a cake. This cake is special because we plan on make a replica of Shiver and Fears first book The Unlucky Charm. And no need to worry we will have tons of water balloons and even ice water for those water squirters!
We have a bunch more ideas for this party that we haven't settled yet, but don't worry, we'll keep you updated.

Working on it

  So here's the update for Shiver and Fears: Facebook fans had risen to 104 likes as we celebrate the October birthdays. Some have asked us what's so special about the birthday song to only play it in October? The answer is that they're in October, the month of Halloween, the perfect holiday to theme Shiver and Fears books.
   Instead of a Happy Birthday, they should have a horror birthday (Not to confuse it with Horrible birthday. We're not monsters, just scary artists) Meanwhile as we wrap up the October month we work on another project.
  We are selling shirt, just to see how it goes. No special reason, just want to get something of ours to sell. It'll only be for the fall season, and it's not world wide. Just for friends and family.
  Now if you are interested in Shiver and Fears stuff you know we have a store > at zazzle. But if your interested in free stuff we do have that give-a-way, It'll last until December, that will be the time when we start ordering the gifts and sending them to the fans.
  Hope our work makes a dent in our actions, you know it's not always easy making your work a success!