You’re actually READING the About section…that is so cool…:)
LifeBytes™ Real Stories began with us (Sharon and Mariann – or Sha and Mares when we’re feeling to lazy to pronounce our full names) sharing the angst and hilarity of being single and dating men who we meet online — with each other and whomever else we managed to trap into listening to us ramble on. Actually most people are fascinated by our tales of single derring-do and if they’re not we just get them really drunk and MAKE them listen to us..:)
During one of our dating is so funny/scary/awesome/frustrating conversations while we were cracking each other up with our (drunken) wit, we conceived the LifeBytes project (and thank you to our friend Rob for coming up with the title….we’ll have to take him out to dinner sometime for that…I guess we’ll have to pay for his food too – he’s so demanding). We pretty much said “Hey, let’s get some stories from lots of singles and publish them” As if we’d have them by Thursday and be published by Saturday…HaHaHA.
Well, two years later and we’re still hearing from men and women from around the globe. NO KIDDING…we’ve gotten stories from the U.S. and overseas…and they are amazing. Love stories, scary stories (REALLY scary) of bad choices, stories of frustration, of wondering if love will EVER happen, hopeful stories of never giving up the search because “the one” is out there somewhere….WOW…we bow down in awe and admiration for our brother and sister singles!
This has just become bigger and more than we’d ever imagined…SO….we want to hear from you too. OH YES….you DO have a story or two to tell…don’t deny it…and (trust us on this) it’s fascinating and unique and worth the telling. So please hop on over to our Submissions page or to our Website for info on how to submit your story. Oh…and P.S. if your tale is chosen for publication we’ll pay a fee for it’s use…we know…that’s awesome.
Now, you’re probably thinking “nice but really who are these Sharon and Mariann (or Sha and Mares if you’re too lazy to think about our full names) creatures. Think no more:
Sharon
I’m a fifty-something divorced mother of a 25-year-old son. OH DEAR LORD, did I just say that I have a 25-year-old? I’m totally in denial about that, I try to make him walk around on his knees and pretend that he’s 10, but he’ll have none of that nonsense. He is truly the most amazing person in my life though (and an awesome semi-pro football player too…Go Hawks!) I also have a blue-eyed white cat named Angel who basically ignores me unless she wants attention or food…this keeps me, actually, very grounded and not-full-of-myself. Mostly. I’ve been dating online at various sites for quite a few years now. Actually had a lovely long relationship with someone I met on Match and, now that that’s over, am again online and looking for my last and best love (you know who you are, darling. Come and get me!). Oh, and in my day life, I’m a Graphic Designer. Lucky girl, I get to do something (design) that I truly, truly love…:). I also write here at the LifeBytes blog and also articles about dating and life for whomever is interested in publishing them, and of course I spend much time developing and editing, along with Mariann, the LifeBytes, Real Stories anthology.
Mariann
Mariann is on a plane somewhere. She travels way too much for work but will add her bio (not as interesting as mine…sorry Mare, but you know it’s true…LOL) as soon as she lands. OH and if she takes too long to do this then I’ll write it — and I assure you that I will make up the most outlandish, embarrassing crap that I can possibly imagine about her…:)
Hi!
I wanted to offer you an opportunity to be part of the network of blogs/sites where author Maryanne Comaroto (http://maryannelive.com) provides original blog posts and content. Maryanne’s most recent book “Hindsight: What you Need to Know Before you Drop your Drawers” talks about the tools you’ll need to create lasting, healthy relationships – starting with your most important relationship: the one you have with yourself! The themes of the book are funny, thought-provoking, potentially life-changing, and in some cases – life-saving.
We think these messages would be a great addition to your site and will be beneficial to your readers. In the effort to create ongoing relationships and partnerships with like-minded sites, we’re offering a few different ways to be involved with Maryanne’s message:
1). Read and review a copy of “Hindsight” – we’d be happy to send a free review/giveaway copy
2). Feature a guest post from Maryanne. To get an idea of topics she writes on, check out her blog: http://www.maryannelive.com/about-maryanne/maryannes-blog.html She’d be happy to write on these type of topics, or write on a specific topic you’d like to offer to you readers
3). Partner with Maryanne on an on-going basis, either as a regular blog contributor, advice columnist, or both!
If you have any other ideas for ways Maryanne could be beneficial to your readers, don’t hesitate to let us know!
In addition to the release of “Hindsight,” Maryanne has some other wonderful things going on – she’s host of a radio show (Maryanne Live on HealthyLife.net), she’s offering a responsible relationship certification, teleseminars, etc. She’s also looking for people/sites to sponsor her show and is offering a number of opportunities in return.
Thanks so much for your time, and hope to hear from you soon!
*Alexis James
Director, Social Media Marketing
maryannelive.com
alexis@maryannelive.com
By: alexis on September 9, 2009
at 1:30 pm
Hello, my name is Chelsea. I am a Content Manager for datingsite.org. We have some great writers who love to write on the topic of dating and relationships. Our writers don’t write promotional articles, instead we feel informative writing is something users are most interested in reading. I was wondering if you would be interested in a guest blog from one of our writers. Of course, the article would be free and we ask for a link back to our site either in the content or in the byline.
If not, I also manage the website datingonline.net which provides dating advice as well as reviews of popular dating websites. Would you be interested in adding me to your blogroll and I can do the same? Please let me know if you are interested in either partnership.
You are doing a great job with your blog and I’d love to hear back from you.
Sincerely,
Chelsea
By: chelsea on September 27, 2010
at 11:47 pm
I could tell you about the date I had who started our night of appetizers off by telling me how much I looked like his “dead girlfriend,” and how much she would have liked me. That was a doozy.
By: Vodka and Ground Beef on June 8, 2010
at 3:24 pm
I will never forget the summer of 2000. It was full of excitement and many transitions in my life. My divorce from my first husband was finalized and I was now in the position to start over and seek a husband of my dreams. I had written in my journal what type of man I was looking for and was anxious to get started dating. However, I had a huge problem!!! I was extremely shy. As, I reflect back, to say I was shy was an understatement of the decade because I was so shy, that I could never, look a man in his eyes, I always looked down and would almost have a panic attack if a man came within my “3 feet distance”. I knew this was going to be problematic, so I decided I would register online with a dating site. Many people thought the idea was a little weird but I thought it was a perfect way to meet someone especially if your were as shy as me. The first guy that I met online, sound like he was excellent husband material. For the sake of protecting his identity I will only change his name and career. Michael was what I would call eye candy deluxe. He was young, wealthy, attractive, ambitious and finally came from a two parent home just like me! I just knew I had this one in the bag. I was a size 2, God-fearing Christian woman, employed and hard-working, long hair, nice car, from a two parent household, loved my father and mother, possessed a mastered degree and owned my own home. When he arrived at my first door, he was smiling from ear to ear. I knew he was attracted to me quickly. However, the Sharon on the telephone was completely different from the Sharon in person. When Michael attempted to get within 3 feet of me, I would distance myself. I never looked him directly in the eye. I talked while my head was down refused to even sit next to him. In my mind or should I say opinion, I just knew my shyness was attractive to him and that he would want to go on a second date. I thought he would be pleased with my child like ways and behavior. However, Michael did me one of the biggest favors a friend could ever do. MICHAEL TOLD ME THE NAKED TRUTH! Michael was the first person I can remember who identified my “Pink Elephant in the Room” and made sound judgements about how I should change and move forward. Michael insisted I look him in the eye and told me “Sharon, if you do not change now, other if not all men may or will think that I was cognitively delayed. THOSE WONDERFUL WORDS OF TRUTH CURED MY SHYNESS INSTANTLY! As a result, I often tell him thanks for caring or loving me enough to set my delusional thoughts free!
By: thepinkelephantpolice on June 8, 2010
at 10:44 pm
Hi Sharon,
This sounds like a wonderful online dating story. If you’d like, you can write it up as a full story, in a Word document and email it to us. We can then consider it an official submission to LifeBytes!
bookeditors@lifebytesbook.com
By: bookeditors on June 9, 2010
at 8:42 am
I wanted to submit some articles but I wanted to make sure that my stories are the kind of stories you’re looking for. You can find a good sampling at the CafeGirl Chronicles blog here at word press.
Thank you for your consideration.
CG
By: cafegirlchronicles on June 9, 2010
at 4:09 am
I will check out your blog. Always interested in hosting a good guest post!
By: bookeditors on June 9, 2010
at 8:39 am
Hi,
I invite you to join our top with copywriting, fiction, non-fiction
and related sites at: http://www.allwritingsites.com/
We’ll be expecting you at http://www.allwritingsites.com/ to subscribe your
site. If you have any question don’t hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for your time.
By: Anna on September 1, 2010
at 5:08 am
We’ll check it out Anna…always interested in connecting with new sites and blogs.
By: bookeditors on September 2, 2010
at 4:36 pm
Hi,
My name is Chelsea and I manage the website DatingSite.org which provides dating advice as well as reviews of popular dating websites. I love how user-friendly your site is! I was wondering if you would be interested in adding me to your blogroll and I can do the same? Please let me know if you are interested in this partnership.
Sincerely,
Chelsea
By: chelsea on September 8, 2010
at 10:59 am
Hi Chelsea,
Sure, I just took a look at your site and it’s definitely something our readers would be interested in. I would love to do a link exchange. I will post your site to our blog roll later today.
Sharon
By: bookeditors on September 8, 2010
at 1:06 pm
Hello,
I was wondering if you accept guest post for your blog. If you do, I would like to submit a few. I’m a recent college graduate, with an English major, looking to build out my portfolio. I can write on a wide variety of topics and am sure you would be happy with the quality. Please email me back if you are interested. Thank you for your time.
- Kathleen Hubert
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002374243662
By: Kathleen Hubert on June 22, 2011
at 4:52 am
Hello, I am new to your site and very interested in submitting a story for your book if you are still accepting them Please let me know… If not maybe I coud send it to you as a guest blog piece… I have just starting and stopped my blogging.. starting again now….
Thanks….great stuff BTW .
Judy Wolf
By: Judy Wolf on July 28, 2011
at 4:18 pm
Hi Judy,
Yes, we are still accepting submissions. We are in the process of finalizing our agency contract and will then be working towards choosing and editing the stories to be included. We don’t have a solid time-frame on this as yet so the submission deadline is currently open. We look forward to reading your submission! (be sure to read our guidelines at http://www.lifebytesbook.com)
Sharon
By: Shar & Mare on July 29, 2011
at 8:22 am