Ruth S.   (TpT Seller) 
Hi Connie! I love your blog! Tommy and Charlie are soo cute! I have two dachshunds, Jeffrey and Frederick, who are brothers and who are my biggest fans. Animals are truly our best friends! I should put a picture of them on my blog. Thank you so much for putting my blog button on your site!

I see your button but there's no code. I'm new to blogging, so maybe you can tell me how to do it. If you don't have a code I can enter on my site, I'll take a picture of your button and then put the link to it, below the button. Let me know what's best, okay?

I really related to your post about teaching young people in trouble and reform schools. I've always taught in public schools but one summer I was asked to teach juvenile felons ages 14 -22. My job was to teach them proper English and the proper way to interview for a job. It was run by our state's prison- to- work program. I feel the same way you do. Posting "This is a Zero Tolerance Zone" makes me shiver every time I see it. My experience that summer was tough at first (long story) but it was the most memorable and wonderful experience I've ever had.

I was amazed when I read about your book "A Fine Line". I have two historical fiction novels for kids ages 10 -15 that are just about finished. I'm part of an author group that is "by invitation only". One must be published in order to be a member. I was retained as an author by NASA in 2009, thus the reason I was asked to participate. Many authors in the group have many, many books published, so I'm feeling like a kindergartener, just learning my ABC's.

Also, there are many TpT middle and high school teachers who are networking to promote their TpT products. Have you posted your blog URL in the Sellers' Forum under "Selling Tips"?
Most of us start a new topic that says something like "New High School Blog" then write a note asking people if they'd post your blog on their sites. Maybe you've done that already. We put our blog address in the posting. If you haven't done this, you'll be amazed when you see the responses you'll have. Everyone will "grab your blog button" or link and post it on their sites.

My sales have increased dramatically since I started networking. At first, high school teachers weren't networked and then I started seeing them post their blogs in the Sellers' Forum. We elementary and middle school teachers all cheered when they started to get together. One friend of mine at TpT is Tracee Orman who is listed as a top 100 seller every week. She's famous for her Hunger Games novel activities and if you do a Google search you'll find her products everywhere! She and I have communicated via email to talk about networking and about computer technical issues. Last year, I was in the top 100 category for "The most products sold" but because I sell my products rather cheaply, I didn't make into the category "The Top Sellers".
Sorry this is so long. Writers like me, tend to write too much at times!
Let me know about your blog button and then I'll post it!
Ruth S.
November 7, 2011