Me, Alexa and Say What?

I got an Alexa. As a matter of inquiry, I purchased two, one for my office and one for the kitchen. I don't know why I thought I needed two, but Bababbby, I am in love. I walk into my office and say Good Morning Alexa, and she responds with Good Morning Olivia, you creative genius. I giggle because I need that kind of affirmation to start writing these stories.

I actually sat down and went through my 2024 calendar, and updated my phone, which is connected to my Alexa app.

After I say Good Morning, she tells me the weather, and goes over my schedule for the day. At 10 am she tosses in a literary trivia question where I can earn points. I even went as far to have her remind me when to stretch, stand, and hydrate. Please don't judge, when you're in the middle of a scene and the work is flowing, you don't want to stop the creative juices flowing.

Here are some of the other things you can do with Alexa to make you life flow a little smoother.

Best Alexa Skills List for Productivity

For Planning and Scheduling

• Weather
• Reminders
• Alarms
• Scheduling (or rescheduling) meetings
• “Alexa, what’s on my calendar today?”
• Todoist | A To-Do List to Organize Your Work & Life

For Improving Focus

• Play music
• Pomodoro timer
• Play ambient noise (Thunderstorms, Rain, Ocean waves, Babbling brook, Fireplace)

For Learning

• TED Talks

For Mental and Physical Health

• Quick exercise sessions
• Guided meditation

For Convenience and Saving Time

• Routines
• Control lights
• Start and warm up vehicle
• Clean up

Other Alexa Skills to Download

• Spotify
• Audible Clock
• Milestone Time
• Zoom
• Phocus Space: Your Productivity Timer
• Monday Manager
• Stand Up Reminder
• Rain Sounds by Sleep Jar
• The Daily Question
• Trivia Battle

Here are other skills Alexa can do as well.

We’ve found a few really cool skills that can come in handy below:

• Spotify – Alexa’s Spotify skill is easy to enable from the Alexa app or the skills shop. It can be pretty handy for playing your favorite songs, albums, playlists, and podcasts.
• Audible Clock – The Audible Clock Alexa skill by Thomptronics essentially turns your Alexa-enabled device into various types of audible clocks, such as cuckoo clocks, grandfather clocks, talking clocks, and more. It can be a great way to track time, especially with the variety of premium clocks available for you to purchase so you can customize your clock as you please.
• Milestone Time – This Alexa skill by Hespect Softwares offers you the ability to easily track your time using voice commands (in combination with its full-featured web portal).
• Zoom – The Zoom Alexa skill was created and published by Amazon itself. This skill is meant to be used on your mobile phone, allowing you to start or join meetings and check your upcoming meetings using voice commands.
• Phocus Space: Your Productivity Timer – Phocus Space makes it easier to do all of that and more. Choose between 25-minute work – 5-minute break sessions and 50-minute work – 10-minute break sessions. This skill allows you to pause or start your timer over at your convenience.
• Monday Manager – If you use Monday.com, It allows you to sign in to your Monday.com account and take your skills with you wherever you go, provided you have an Alexa-enabled device handy.
• Stand Up Reminder – This Alexa skill does what it says on the tin — it reminds you to stand up every so often for your own health. Stand Up Reminder works in fifty-minute sessions where you work for forty-five minutes, and then Alexa will remind you to stand up and take a five-minute break.
• Rain Sounds by Sleep Jar – This Alexa skill can help you relax, sleep, meditate, relieve anxiety and stress, or even just block out other unwanted ambient noise. You can use this skill for free, but there is a Pro membership that gives you more features.
• The Daily Question – The Daily Question is easily at the top of the list of fun things to do with Alexa. Once you download or enable this skill, Alexa will ask you a question every day.
• Trivia Battle – Trivia Battle is another great way to get some trivia in every so often. This Alexa skill is another daily game where you can battle to get your state right to the top of the leaderboards. Trivia Battle offers thousands of fun questions on a variety of subjects.

Best of all, it plays you Spotify playlist, and if you have an Apple Music subscription, it plays that as well. Get yours here -> https://amzn.to/3N9izQF

The Author Diary Project

We are preparing to have out initial meeting on December 9th and I am so excited. This is not a crafting project, although many of the authors are crafters. This is a year in the life of an author, what you write, how you live, and what you wish to share for those coming behind you. Your journal will prove to be a valuable resource for authors who want to understand what our lie are actually like on a daily basis. Hopefully, we can learn from each other.

There is still time to sign up -->https://forms.gle/djw7t1upUSLuQTK97

What happens to my completed diary?

At the end of 2024, and your diary is complete, we all head to the post office on January 3, 2025 to ship the diaries to the American Diary Project.

​

"The American Diary Project offers a permanent home for diaries to ensure the stories within them are not lost." American Diary Project 

Come join the fun as we make history. Sign up here --> Click this.

What I am Reading

Brizio DeLuca: Savage Bloodline By Keta Kendric 

Get it Here ->https://amzn.to/3sYZ8Do

Controlled Desire by Darie McCoy

Get my listed free book here--> https://amzn.to/3N6ITuU

EASY WHITE BEAN TURKEY CHILI VERDE

This no-fuss recipe uses ground turkey, canned white beans and store-bought salsa verde, which means you can cook up a delicious pot of turkey chili verde easily - even on a busy weeknight.  Get it here.

Head Above Troubled Waters is Live!

Kenji Burrows, seeking refuge in her hometown of Venture Georgia, discovers that her past refuses to stay buried.

Haunted by Luther Pennington, her former client turned relentless stalker, Kenji finds herself trapped in a perilous game of obsession. Determined to shield herself from Luther's relentless pursuit, she pretends to be engaged to Christopher Flynn, her brother's lifelong best friend.

​Too bad her brother isn't really cool with the concept.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/44VKf28

UBL: https://books2read.com/u/mZXzZ2

Book Signing

Saturday, December 9th at the Morris Musuem. These are the titles I will have available, for purchase. If you have other books you want signed, please, bring them by, I look forward to seeing you there.

Olivia's Must-Have Item For Your Home Office

Marbrasse Pen Organizer with 4 Drawer

The primary means of reaching goals is simply being organized. It's time to clear the clutter from your desk to free your mind so you can create, focus, and enjoy the moment. Here is cute, space saving desk organizer. Get one here.

Meet Dr. Peter Brown

I can't wait for you to read this book. Coming February 2024

"Show Me" is a novel that delves into the beauty of faith, the power of companionship, and the transformative journey of self-acceptance. Join Kimbrae and Peter on their extraordinary adventure as they navigate the boundaries of love and faith, ultimately discovering the true essence of their identities.

Discover the irresistible charm of "Show Me" and let its pages transport you to a realm of love, desire, and self-realization as we load up the camper and point the nose of the truck towards Missouri.

Pre-Order Here: ->https://amzn.to/3s00pt4

https://books2read.com/u/mvNkWJ

Happy Reading,

(Olivia earns commissions from Amazon)