Free Audio with Purchase of "Elk's Resolve"

When I printed off the finished copy of "Elk's Resolve" to proof it one more time there was a notice on the back page. I will print it word for word here:

E LIVE

listen-imagine-view-experience

AUDIO BOOK DOWNLOAD INCLUDED WITH THIS BOOK!

In your hands you hold a complete digital entertainment package. Besides purchasing the paper version of this book, this book includes a free download of the audio version of this book. Simply use the code listed below when visiting our website. Once downloaded to your computer, you can listen to the book through your computer's speakers, burn it to an audio CD or save the file to your portable music device (such as Apple's popular iPod) and listen on the go!


This will make "Elk's Resolve" a great value to the readers.

Let me know what you think!!!

Book Launch Party Preparations

The process of publication for "Elk's Resolve" is coming close to an end. Yesterday, I looked at the font size, margin spacing, page number format and everything akin to that for approval. The next step is a mach up will be developed and sent to me for final evaluation before "Elk's Resolve" is put into print. That means that the long wait to hold my "baby" is almost over.

That being said, I want to have a book launch party. Terry and I are planning the details with a lot of input and help from friends and family. Our budget is limited, but we want to do it up right. I will get details on this site as soon as I can about the venue, date, and time. I want everyone who is even interested in "Nan's Journey" or "Elk's Resolve" to feel welcome to come to the party. It will be wonderful to see you there.

Keep on the lookout for more details.

"Elk's Resolve", Book II of the Nan's Heritage Series, will be out within the next few months. Terry and I are very excited about that. In fact, Terry was very involved in the story line and action of "Elk's Resolve'. I really needed him to especially read the fight sequences to make sure that the action was do-able. He also gave me insight to the male character's way of thinking. As a woman I like to hope there are men who think the way women wish men would think...understand? He was invaluable in helping me keep the male characters true to life. I think you will like Book II. The major theme of it deals with overcoming depression...among other things.Book III is about the youngest children of Fred and Nan. I haven't submitted it to the publisher for review yet because I put it in a contest for unpublished manuscripts. Hopefully, I will know the status of "Luke's Legacy" soon. "Luke's Legacy" is a very emotional book. It has it's share of adventure and "hold your breath" moments, but I have to say, writing it tugged at my heart more than anything I have done so far. "Luke's Legacy" burned in my mind long after I finished it. The theme of it is about creating your own legacy. Book IV is in the baby stages. The connection to Nan is: "What happened to the trunk that Mary sent to Boston?" I am not sure it should be part of the "Nan's Heritage Series" because it barely touches Nan's family...we will see as it unfolds.

"What's Age Got to Do With It?" by Robin McGraw

“What’s Age Got To Do With It?” by Robin McGraw
A quote from Robin McGraw from the book sums up the gist of this book: “To me aging gracefully isn’t accepting what aging does to you. It means taking care of your health, wanting to look your best, and knowing that it is not conceited, egotistical, or selfish to do so.”
In this book Robin gives honest and down-home advice about the subject of aging. She urges women of all ages to take good care of themselves. Many pages are devoted to health and fitness as well as finding a health professional who will answer questions and make a plan for optimum mental and physical health. She also talks frankly about skin care and makeup. Classically beautiful, she tells about her personal beauty routine and her sense of fashion.
Personally, I would love to have the funds to use the products and services she endorses. While she does give lower-cost alternatives, finding them in small town America might be a stretch. I love the idea of interviewing five or so doctors and becoming personal friends with my pharmacist, but the reality is; my husband doesn’t have a the title of “Dr.” in his name and our busy doctors and pharmacists could not spare the time if they had it. I am fortunate to have a very good doctor that I see once a year. She proposes that several tests be run every few months… She also has a personal trainer and gets spa treatments regularly and such. That is great in theory, but maybe not in the cards for middle income folks.
Honestly, there are some really good points in the book and it is a good read. What I took from it was to do the things I can do. (Afford and have time to do) Also, to realize that it is not selfish to take good care of yourself. It is, in fact, necessary.

For Those of You With Book Trailers
I was just sent a link to a Christian site that is all book trailers for readers to view to choose books to purchase. The name of the site is Christianbookvideos.com"To get a video posted, email videos@christianbookvideos.com. Be sure to include the following in order:
-title-author (and illustrator if appropriate)
-ISBN-13-Binding
-Page Count
-List price (MSRP)
-Publishing House
-Release Date
-a link to the video
-Text for the post (see below)
-book category (adult/teen/children's and fiction/nonfiction)
-Genre or subject (suspense, romance, Biblical history)
-A jpeg of the cover (exactly 240 pixels high)
-Who you are (publisher, author, publicist, fan, etc.)

Each book video needs a capsule description or sales pitch. These are generally 50 to 100 words long. Remember, brevity allows for paragraph breaks. You may test the text yourself. Use 8-point Verdana with line spacing at 1.6, and 8.25 point paragraph spacing. Set your platen with at 3.25 inches; you have about nine lines to work with. This capsule may be edited by CBV for space considerations, which may delay getting the video posted.God bless you for your interest and support-The Staff at CBVP.S.: Help us let Christian book fans know about this website! We encourage you to post a link from your website or blog to our site. Graphics available on request."

My Hair Isn't Falling Out Any More!

I started this blog to promote my books. It has changed a bit to become, I hope, to become an encouraging place for new authors, readers, and people who enjoy a little giggle once in a while. Today I want to tell you something that is amazing to me.

For about 2 years I have been almost afraid to wash my hair. It would come out my the hands full while I was shampooing it. I talked to my nieces and nephew who own hair salons and asked them what on earth was going on. They told me that sometimes hair falls out in the Fall of each year and stress and thyroid is also a factor. Although I didn't have any bald spots, my hair just didn't feel right.

I emailed a church secretary friend from Ill. and she told me that she had a friend that had the same thing happen. This friend took some kind of vitamins that helped her keep her hair from falling out and caused it to thicken back up. This friend was also on my email list...another church secretary. I emailed her and she said that she went to a health food store and bought a bottle of "Ultra Nourish-Hair Dietary Supplement". I went to GNC and bought a bottle of 60 caplets. It takes 2 per day and the bottle costs around $20. That would be enough for a month.

I have taken it for a month. Almost immediately, I noticed that the "hair catcher" thingy in the drain of my shower didn't have nearly as much hair in it as it had before. Now, there are only a few hairs in it! (gross...I know) My head felt a little funny so I ran my fingers through my hair. THERE WERE BABY HAIRS IN THERE!!!YAY!!!

I am not a health expert. I don't claim to know anything. I don't know the people who make this stuff. I have never contacted them and they obviously never talked to me, but I just wanted you to know that if you have this problem...maybe this supplement will work for you too!

More Fun on the Carnival Spirit Cruise Trip for Christianstoryteller.com

I have to say that Terry and I did have a blast on the cruise. The Carnival Spirit Ship was beautiful and the ocean, ports of call, and all things cruise related were so enjoyable. One thing that people who know me understand about me is that I love to laugh. I love to hear a good story and also jump in with two feet in telling funny stories.

Somehow, ordinary things in my life make me laugh. I see them as hilarious. Terry used to tell me that I was stretching the truth to a fault. I felt pretty bad about that observation until one day I heard a teaching tape by Florence Littauer about the 4 different personalities: Choleric (bossy/leader), Melancholy (structured perfectionist), Phlegmatic (peacemaker/doormat), and Sanguine (fun-loving/descriptive). I happen to be a Sanguine with Melancholy tendencies. I love to have fun, but I want all my "ducks in a row". I want to be on time and that is important to me, but I love to drop everything to encourage a friend.

Before we read and studied Florence Littauer's book, "Personality Plus", Terry thought I was a bold-faced liar or at the least, a woman who stretched the truth to a fault. I have to say that I see brilliant colors and hear every accent and voice inflection when people talk whereas, Terry just sees color and hears someone talking. I honestly try not to embellish my stories. I tell them like I experienced them...colorfully.

Back to the cruise and fun-- My new-found friends "In" and "Cog" joined me, "Nito" (Names have been changed to protect the silly) were in the pool on the fan tail deck. I started telling "my stories" about the events of "The Mississippi Youth Camp" and "Terry's experiences with the underground electric pet fence." We started laughing and being very silly. My friends told their stories too and we laughed to the point of hysteria...maybe a mite less. We decided that we needed to go to our staterooms and get ready for dinner. As I was climbing out of the pool an elderly couple motioned for me to come over. They said something like, "Honey, you need to really watch what you are drinking."
I was very amused and said, "Well, I don't drink alcohol, just water."
They looked at me like they didn't believe me which made my friends crack up and laugh loudly. It was so fun! Man alive, I miss them!

Just When You Think You Are All Alone by Leon Mentzer

Leon Mentzer weaves several tremendous short stories in this book. "Just When You Think You Are All Alone" has a movie contract on it and I understand why after reading it. The stories are plausible yet whimsical. The plots are not predictable, which is always a good thing in my mind. You will want a copy of this book to meditate on and discuss with your friends. It is a good book for a book group. Also, since it is a series of short stories, it is a good fit for people who are not able to put in the time for a lengthy book.

Weapons of Light by Ann Winters

From the first page of "Weapons of Light" by Ann Winters I found myself totally amazed at the quality of writing and the depth of the spiritual content. The story moved along at a good clip and held my interest. If you liked Frank Peretti's, "This Present Darkness", you will like this book. I urge you to get a copy and dive into the story of these dedicated ministers as they fight the good fight of faith. This is a book you will want on your bookshelf to stay

A Strange Thing Happened On Our Cruise Ship

First, I want to explain that my husband and I are really not well versed in the cruise experience. We went on a 4 day cruise a couple of years ago with our youngest son and his wife. This year, Leon Mentzer, part of the christianstorytellers.com group, put together a marketing cruise for authors. We signed up over a year ago and were very excited about cruising for 8 days in the Mexican Riveria on The Carnival Spirit Ship.We met some very wonderful people in our christianstoryteller group and made fast friends. As we were eating breakfast on the morning we were to arrive at Alcupulco, Mexico we heard a voice over the intercom saying, "Code Star Bright at cabin XXXX" My husband and I looked at one another in wonderment. Later we found that Star Bright was the code that meant that someone passed away on the cruise. We contemplated the complications involved in that senerio. When we entered our stateroom I looked at the daily bulleting and noticed a notation next to the 2:30 p.m. slot. It said something about a memorial for the friends of Bill W. We decided that we should attend the memorial because we felt sure that the widow didn't have many people on board for support. We proceeded to tell our new friends about our plans to attend the memorial. They began to laugh. We were confused by their reaction until they told us that the "memorial for the friends of Bill W." was code for an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting!We were all laughing by that time and people who passed us in the lounge asked what could ever be that funny. Our new friends explained and they joined in the laughter...Live and learn...We found out later that Bill W was the founder of AA.

Bitter Water by Sherri Smith

I met Sherri Smith on a cruise in January of 2009. As I opened the book I was face to face with the message of forgiveness. The main character of "Bitter Water" had to decide whether to be bitter or better. Once again I was struck with the realization that forgiveness is a choice and not an emotion. While forgiving may not remove the pain of the offense immediately, the results of forgiving is freedom. The characters were the kind of people you would meet anywhere in the world. They had challenges we all face and lived their lives much like we all do. After reading "Bitter Water" I felt that I knew them. You will enjoy meeting them too.