Sonia Marsh's Blog, page 15

September 29, 2014

My Road to Becoming an Author by Jonathan Yanez

“My Gutsy Story®” by Jonathan Yanez

Everyone told me I was happy. I was young making more money than I thought possible just a few years out of college. It wasn’t what I had gone to school for, my English degree was lost somewhere in my closet, forgotten between the paychecks and promotions.

Even then I never stopped writing. Sure it was nothing big but I would still write a short story here, work on a novel there. Months would go by where I wouldn’t read or write anything but the love for the craft of story telling never left.

Life flew by, taking the shape of suites, business meetings and alcohol, lot’s of alcohol. Anyone that’s been heavily immersed in the business world, especially right after college will know what I mean.

In the course of five years I had a life that from the outside, looked as though I had everything together; a beautiful wife, a stable job and even a promotion on the horizon. Still I wasn’t happy. I knew that I would eventually reach a breaking point where I just wouldn’t be able to do the long hours, the work on the weekends or the political tap dance required in the corporate world.

Then in it happened. In June of 2012, after five years with my company I just couldn’t do it anymore and I quit. In retrospect it’s actually scarier than it was then. In the moment I was determined to follow my passion and write. “Life is too short and tomorrow is promised to no one,” I would tell myself.

With no back up plan and the full support of my wife I jumped head first into the struggle of becoming an author. Working ten-hour days I immersed myself in everything a writer should be doing; social media, reading other successful authors in my genre, sending out query letters and of course writing.

In a few months I had written the first draft of my debut novel, The Beast Within, a young adult urban fantasy. Then the hard part came, the rejections. I pitched my book to everyone. No one was spared both agents and publishing house felt my determination. Everybody had the same polite rejection note with alternating phrases like, “unfortunately we have to pass” or “this just doesn’t seem right for us.”

As these rejections piled up I refused to give into defeat. I told myself I would take one hundred rejections on this book and if I still didn’t have a contract by then I would write another book and take another one hundred rejections, repeating the process until something gave.

Well my rejection pile almost did hit the triple digits. Finally after eighty rejection letters… yes you read that right, EIGHTY, number eighty-one offered me a contract. What’s more they offered me a contract for not only The Beast Within, but for an entire series.

In January 2013 after eight months and eighty rejections I was a signed author. Since then I’ve been hard at work adding a total of seven titles under my belt; five traditionally published and two self-published books. I’ve signed contracts for my books to be made into audio format, ebook format as well as having two of my books considered for film adaptations.

Looking back I know I have been blessed. But I also know that without that single gutsy leap of faith none of this would be possible.

JONATHAN YANEZ spent five years after graduating from college in sales and management before he realized life is too short to be doing anything but what you love. He lives in Southern California with his wife where he writes everyday, grateful for the opportunity.

If you would like to know more about his upcoming series including release dates and insider information you can visit him at www.jonathan-yanez.com and subscribe to his newsletter.

Please join Jonathan on social media and click on the cover to go to Amazon.

Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/JonathanAYanez

Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/JonathanYanezAuthor

Click on cover to go to Amazon

SONIA MARSH SAYS: You show us how perseverance pays off and that you believed in your passion with such dtermination, that you made your dream come true. Thanks for sharing your story which will inspire other writers to not give up. I look forward to having you share your story on November 1st, at the kick-off of our next:

My Gutsy Story® Anthology: Taking Chances and Changing Your Life

My Gutsy Story® Anthology: Taking Chances and Changing Your Life

What: Author Sonia Marsh launches the second publication in her My Gutsy Story® Anthology book series by hosting an evening of inspirational stories moderated by former PBS SoCal anchor Ann Pulice. Marsh, the award winning author and founder of My Gutsy Story® series, will also announce her next gutsy adventure, signing up for the Peace Corps. The event is open to the public and all attendees will receive a copy of the newest My Gutsy Story® Anthology.

When: Saturday, November 1

4:00 to 6:30 p.m.

Where: Zovs Restaurant in Tustin

17440 E. 17th St., Tustin, CA 92780, (MAP)

ph (714) 838.8855

Who: Moderator Ann Pulice is an award-winning journalists and was co-host on PBS SoCal’s Real Orange for 17 years.

Ann Pulice Emcee for the Book Launch Event

Panelists include:

Sonia Marsh: Award-winning author of Freeways to Flip-flops and founder of the My Gutsy Story®
Julia Capizzi : Orange County Peace Corps representative and Bilingual Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who has lived abroad in El Salvador & Bolivia.
Colleen Hannegan: Author and professional speaker, certified business advisor, personal life coach for women in transition.
Mariana Williams : Author and founder of the “Long Beach Searches for Greatest Storyteller,” married to Oscar-winning singer/songwriter Paul Williams.
Jonathan Yanez: Went from renting cars, to following his dream of becoming an author. His three-book series publishing contract has now been optioned for film.

Cost: $40 (includes book, wine and appetizers) before October 20th and $45 after that date.

More: Marsh hopes the My Gutsy Story® Anthology series and events will create a global community to help one another take risks in life. Her first publication, Freeways to Flip Flops, a chronology of her family’s one-year adventure in Belize, recently won the Reader’s Favorite, 2014 Gold Medal book award.

RSVP: For more information call (949) 309-0030 or e-mail: Sonia@soniamarsh.com
EventBrite: To sign up for the event

View more on Sonia Marsh's website »

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Published on September 29, 2014 09:07

September 25, 2014

My Gutsy Story® Anthology Book Launch #2 with Ann Pulice

My Gutsy Story® Anthology: Taking Chances and Changing Your Life

When: Saturday, November 1

4:00 to 6:30 p.m.

Where: Zovs Restaurant in Tustin

17440 E. 17th St., Tustin, CA 92780, (MAP)

ph (714) 838.8855

Who: Moderator Ann Pulice is an award-winning journalists and was co-host on PBS SoCal’s Real Orange for 17 years.

Ann Pulice Emcee for the Book Launch Event

Panelists include:

Sonia Marsh: Award-winning author of Freeways to Flip-flops and founder of the My Gutsy Story®
Julia Capizzi : Orange County Peace Corps representative and world-wide volunteer.
Colleen Hannegan: Author and professional speaker, certified business advisor, personal life coach for women in transition.
Mariana Williams : Author and founder of the “Long Beach Searches for Greatest Storyteller,” married to Oscar-winning singer/songwriter Paul Williams.
Jonathan Yanez: Went from renting cars, to following his dream of becoming an author. His three-book series publishing contract has now been optioned for film.

Cost: $40 (includes book, wine and appetizers) before October 20th and $45 after that date.

RSVP: For more information call (949) 309-0030 or e-mail: Sonia@soniamarsh.com
EventBrite: To sign up for the event

View more on Sonia Marsh's website »

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Published on September 25, 2014 15:14

September 22, 2014

When President Jimmy Carter’s Wife Stopped By

Charlie on my Shoulder

“My Gutsy Story®” by Nancy McBride

Roslyn Carter, President Jimmy Carter’s wife, would be visiting the small, two-year college where I was the Director of Public Relations and Alumni. My office was chosen for her to rest in because it had an outer office for her security, and a bathroom. A few days earlier, the Secret Service, and their bomb-sniffing dogs, preparing for her brief visit, searched and sniffed the entire campus to clear the way for her. Satisfied we posed no threat, they settled in my office to hang out with Charlie and me.

I suppose it would help you to know, sooner, rather than later, that Charlie is a plant stand. He was made for me by my kids’ babysitter and seriously resembles the bottom half of a gentleman, made with Charlie’s old jeans and his old hiking boots. I always kid that I saved the “best parts”.

Charlie and Cat

Appropriately fleshed out with poly-fill, stabilized with a skeleton of a wooden frame, and a set-in painted plywood top, he stands life-size, well half-life size, waist height, and at a very slight slant, not too dramatic a slant, though, because he sprouted a healthy philodendron plant in a pot, on top. He was a plant stand, after all. Charlie—well what I had left of Charlie—had been a beloved beau, but that’s another story.

While the Secret Service men were on their lunch break, I was working at my desk, and for the first time ever, the president of the college, a nun, in full floating garb and starched white wimple, came flying in my room unannounced, all a flutter screaming at me like a crazy woman! “What are your children’s paintings doing on your wall? And THAT, that, that MAN thing! Get it out of here! The President’s WIFE is coming! Get rid of all of that junk, now! What were you thinking?”

Dumbstruck, I couldn’t think for the shock of her vile reprimand! The bile was sourly working its way up from my gut and I wanted desperately to blast her, but I reined it in, and kept my mouth shut. I needed a job. Period. Charlie and the kids’ artwork were banished to the closet, my perky personality pierced by the humiliating slap.

That afternoon, the Secret Service came back, and stopped in their tracks. “Where is Charlie? Where are Amy and Iona’s paintings?” (They even knew about my family by now.)

“What can I say?” I said. “I need a job.”

“That happens everywhere we go, ” they said. “People paint, repair, scrub and spend money they don’t have to impress her, and she doesn’t care about or notice those efforts. She’s totally down to earth. In fact we told her all about Charlie, and she can’t wait to meet him! She loves stuff like that!” I shrugged, miserable. I’d made my choice.

When Mrs. Carter arrived the next day with her entourage, of course I was banned from my office, and I stood about three rows back in the hall filled with the colleges’ mucky-mucks as she was shuttled from her car to my inner sanctum. Then, the door opens a crack, and a Secret Service agent caught my eye and motioned for me, not the college’s president, to come in! Now, I’m doomed, here, and I know it! I was ushered in, and Mrs. Carter stood up, to not just shake my hand, but to give me a hug, and a heartfelt apology. “This happens all the time, and I am so sorry! May I please see Charlie?”

Grinning, I showed her Charlie in the closet, and she adored him! Then she asked to see Amy and Iona’s artwork! How endearing was that?

I returned to my place in the hall, eyes avoiding contact with anyone, lips zipped. Then our college president was asked to come in and meet her before she escorted her to the stage. I had to take care of the press, so missed her speech.

A few months later, I’d accepted another job, thanks to an award-winning ad series design (toot-toot), and as I was packing to leave my job, I received a call from the president’s office requesting an “exit interview”. Cringing, I quickly finished packing my last box, and put it and Charlie’s plant in the car. He would be last, but not least. Then I impulsively perched Charlie’s crotch on my shoulder, and walking at a slight slant, myself, to balance him, went straight past her secretary into the president’s office, and announced, “This is my exit interview. Charlie and I have nothing to say to you.” Then I turned around, left the campus, and never looked back. No one has ever messed with me again about my choices of décor.

(I might have given her a gesture, but I’d never mastered that. I tried it once in a ridiculous traffic jam, exacerbated by a pedestrian who caused the breaking up gridlock to re-grid. I went to flip her “the bird” only to give her a well-timed thumbs-up!)

NANCY McBRIDE: Why write?

I am an innate storyteller. I love the joy of crafting my interpretation of a concept, be it through art or writing. I’ve been called a “whimsical realist”. Once expressed, I am relieved of some niggling, often non-defined, concept that has finally escaped through my fingers into some observable medium! Mine are simple stories, often skewed by my amusing take on life—stories colored with a twist of lime, line, texture and color, or words—all with teased-out detail—all means of storytelling, as is stopping before an idea is overdone, such as now, with this “writer’s statement”.

SONIA MARSH SAYS: You are one “Gutsy” and funny lady. I love your exit interview strategy. Also your artwork is so unique and whimsical.

“This is my exit interview. Charlie and I have nothing to say to you.”

Check out Nancy’s paintings below and on her website.

Boxed in

Teacup on a Toe

NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
Get Published in our 3rd
“My Gutsy Story®”Anthology in 2015

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES HERE

Click on cover to go to Amazon

2013 Benjamin Franklin Honoree Winner

2014 International Book Awards FINALIST

2014 WINNER of the PARIS BOOK FESTIVAL

We just won our 4th Award for the Anthology.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT ABOUT OUR AWARDS.

View more on Sonia Marsh's website »

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Published on September 22, 2014 05:11

September 18, 2014

Why It’s Important to Enter Book Award Contests

Some authors claim it’s a waste of money to enter book contests, but I don’t agree with them.

Whether you like it or not, readers look up to authors who have been nominated for Awards, and I think it’s important to try as many ways as possible to become “visible” in this competitive ocean of indie authors.

Why it’s important to enter Book Award Contests

To stand out from the competition
To get recognition
To have a Press Release sent out to the media
To land an interview or a newspaper article
To get further media attention while attending the Awards Ceremony
To get your photo taken and use it for promotion
To add it to your Amazon Author Page
To try and get a photo taken standing next to a celebrity at the Awards Ceremony
The organization also promotes the winners (SEE BELOW)

My goal is to help you enter a few contests and I am very proud to announce that my memoir, Freeways to Flip-Flops: A Family’s Year of Gutsy Living on a Tropical Island received the Gold Medal at the Readers’ Favorite Awards. I look forward to attending the Awards Ceremony at the Regency Hotel, Miami, Florida, on November 22nd, 2014. Photos will of course be posted on my site.

Click on photo to see the 5-Star Review

Readers’ Favorites state the following:

“We have posted your review on Barnes & Noble and Google Books. Your book must be currently listed on these sites for us to post your review there.

We have also posted your review on our Facebook, Twitter,Google Plus and Pinterest pages. You will notice we created a special sentence with #hashtags for each of your social posts to help them get noticed. You may want to include the hashtag we created for your book title in future social posts to link them to your review and help build a trend for your book.

Amazon does not allow professional review companies to post in their Customer Reviews section. Instead, they have created an Editorial Reviews section where they want you to post excerpts from your professional reviews, which you can do through your Amazon Author Central Account.”

So why not enter the Readers’ Favorites, 2015 Award Contest. You have 195 days left.

Click here to enter

I know many of you have read my memoir, and I am getting ready to write another one. I have applied to join the PEACE CORPS and shall keep you posted when I get my interview and find out which country they are sending me to for 27-months of my life.

Here are the list of Awards I’ve received to help you contact these organizations and submit your own books to them. BEST OF LUCK to you. Keep being GUTSY!

(CLICK HERE FOR TO SEE MY AWARDS LIST

Next Thursday, September 25th, COME BACK TO READ ABOUT THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT “MY GUTSY STORY” BOOK LAUNCH PARTY ON NOVEMBER 1st, 2014.

NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
Get Published in our 3rd
“My Gutsy Story®”Anthology in 2015

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES HERE

Click on cover to go to Amazon

2013 Benjamin Franklin Honoree Winner

2014 International Book Awards FINALIST

2014 WINNER of the PARIS BOOK FESTIVAL

We just won our 4th Award for the Anthology.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT ABOUT OUR AWARDS.

View more on Sonia Marsh's website »

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Published on September 18, 2014 14:48

September 15, 2014

My Gutsy Love Story

“My Gutsy Story®” by Savannah Grace

For me, travel started at a young age. As a kid, I was often subjected to long-haulcamping trips across the US. Early on, I learned how to adjust to living on the road, sleeping in a new place each night and making new friends, living out of a suitcase and in a tent. Despite this background of basic living, in 2005 when I was told at age 14 that the family was about to uproot, sell everything and backpack around the world for a year my whole life crashed before my eyes. This transformation in my life was significant, and perhaps what got me prepared for my own gutsy story.

Instead of one year, our vast and remarkable adventure turned into an 80-country, four- year long trip. I had transformed from a spoiled, naive girl, into someone who could put myself in other people’s shoes, use a squatty toilet under any condition, share my food with strangers and push myself to conquer things I once considered impossible. Despite the many life changing adventures I encountered, there was always a part of me that longed to go home. To return to the life I remembered as “normal”.

Lovers in Cape Verde celebrating our birthdays and my 100th country!

The longing for home was quickly diminished when I was 17 years old and fell in love with a much older Dutch man who was on a year-long overland trip around Africa. Because of our 21 year age difference (not to mention cultural difference and slight language barrier) he insisted it could NEVER work between us. We travelled together in his overland truck with my family for 8 months in Africa. We were falling more and more in love each day, yet everyday he reminded me “it can never work”.

In late December of 2008, I parted with him and my family and flew back to Vancouver from Cairo, Egypt and I didn’t look back. I was headed home! Home to the place I’d dreamed of for nearly four long years, or at least, this was how I got myself to step on that plane, walking away from a man who’d eased my pains and changed my life in Africa. It seemed, the impossible dream I’d managed to coax up would cease to exist, fading into nothing more than dizzy memories. I hoped that I could walk away and life would go on as it should. That I could indeed begin my “normal” life….finally! Of course, being alone for the first time, separated from the family, I felt empty and slightly lost. I didn’t know what Vancouver would have in store for me after so long away. The place that was anything but unordinary to me, was now culturally and visually shocking to my many heightened senses. After years living in less developed countries, I had a strong appreciation for the most minuscule things. Ice cubes were treasured in the freezer, running hot water felt glorious on my skin but all the things I’d missed so much like sushi or Grandma’s home-cooked meals didn’t seem satisfying…like I had expected. It was as though all that time I had created a perfect world in my mind, that wasn’t really there. And now that I’d found a man who made me laugh there was nothing that could replace it….and yet I had lost that only thing.

As each day went by I could see the deep creases of dirt, engraved in the bottom of my feet begin to fade but my love could not. A continual ache lingered in my chest and I knew there had to be a way. “If there’s a will there IS a way” and that may have been my biggest lesson that kept me pushing on. This realization was not one that suddenly appeared but something I’d known all along but tried to ignore. He had tried to rationalize with me throughout our entire journey together that I should try for the chance of a “better”, more logical path in life. After all my struggles and “drawing it to me”, to simply let it slip away? Where was the sense in that?! The only rational thing I could see…WAS him!

I quickly took up a job at a bakery and as soon as I had enough money I bought my plane ticket to Holland! With only 40 euros left in my scared, little 18 year old hand, I stepped onto a plane headed to a country I’d never been to before to be with the man I loved.

I understood the warnings from loved ones and from him and the consequences of taking such a risk, but if people could not accept and let me be who I needed to be then I could only wish for that acceptance, not be expected to change my life for other people. Trying to change who I am to please others would not bring me happiness…so I had no choice but to follow my heart.

Although the journey with my family had ended, I hadn’t doubted another would begin. Once again, I was caught off guard and thrown across the world in a whirlwind, but this time, every action was my own and I would be held accountable for every move I made along the way.

Today, 6.5 years later, we are more in love than ever and continue to travel the globe, having visited a total of 38 countries together. We’ve bought property in Guinea, Spain and our first house in Holland. Sometimes all the odds seem to be against you, but when you want something badly enough, you truly can make the impossible come true.

Walking lions in Mauritius

SAVANNAH GRACE was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. Age 24, she has traveled to 100 countries and is the author of award winning series “Sihpromatum” which includes “I Grew My Boobs in China” and “Backpacks and Bra Straps”. Currently living with her Dutch partner in The Netherlands, Savannah continues to write her family travel memoir series. Website: www.sihpromatum.com

Twitter: @Sihpromatum

FaceBook page

Goodreads

BOOKS:

Click on cover to purchase on Amazon

Special 99 cent price today

“Backpacks and Bra Straps” View and purchase on Amazon

SONIA MARSH SAYS: I admire your courage to go with your gut, and not be swayed by others. What a meaningful statement to help those who are unsure of what to do.

“If people could not accept and let me be who I needed to be then I could only wish for that acceptance, not be expected to change my life for other people. Trying to change who I am to please others would not bring me happiness…so I had no choice but to follow my heart.”

NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
Get Published in our 3rd
“My Gutsy Story®”Anthology in 2015

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES HERE

Click on cover to go to Amazon

2013 Benjamin Franklin Honoree Winner

2014 International Book Awards FINALIST

2014 WINNER of the PARIS BOOK FESTIVAL

We just won our 4th Award for the Anthology.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT ABOUT OUR AWARDS.

View more on Sonia Marsh's website »

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Published on September 15, 2014 05:41

September 11, 2014

“My Gutsy Story®” Writing Contest Winner-August 2014

Leslie Johansen Nack

This August we had FOUR OUTSTANDING “My Gutsy Story®” authors. Some of these stories will be included in our 3rd “My Gutsy Story®” Anthology, published in 2015. Thank you to all four authors. Your stories are all WINNERS.

1st Place, with 45% of the votes, goes to Leslie Johansen Nack, with, “I Wished Him Dead.”

SONIA MARSH SAYS:

Thank you for sharing your personal story and helping others who have been abused by their fathers. You made us wait to discover who you were talking about, which I found intriguing. I cannot wait to read your memoir and wish you all the best Leslie.

2nd Place goes to Barbara Charlene Barker

Barbara Charlene Barker

Barbara Charlene Barker, “A “Gutsy” 79-year-old drives a FV432 Armoured Personnel Carrier”

SONIA MARSH SAYS: Barbara, you look too young to be 79, and being active seems to be what makes you stay young. You are an inspiration to all of us. keep doing what you love. Perhaps you should join the Peace Corps next.

3rd Place goes to Gisela Hausmann, “My “Gutsy” Journey to the Dalai Lama’s Potala Palace-Lhasa Tibet”

Gisela Hausmann

SONIA MARSH SAYS: Thank you for taking us on a spiritual and historical journey through your Gutsy adventure to Tibet.

4th Place, goes to Maralys Wills, “Hang Gliding With My Son.”

SONIA MARSH SAYS: I know Maralys Wills from a writers’ group I attend, and can attest that she fits the “Gutsy” woman award in every way.

NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
Get Published in our 3rd
“My Gutsy Story®”Anthology in 2015

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES HERE

Click on cover to go to Amazon

2013 Benjamin Franklin Honoree Winner

2014 International Book Awards FINALIST

2014 WINNER of the PARIS BOOK FESTIVAL

We just won our 4th Award for the Anthology.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT ABOUT OUR AWARDS.

View more on Sonia Marsh's website »

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Published on September 11, 2014 07:40

September 8, 2014

My journey, My search to Re-Discover Myself

“GIRL ON BIKE, A mountain bike, A mid-life adventure and men in shorts.”

“My Gutsy Story®” by Colleen Hannegan

Standing in the kitchen, my hands in fists at my side, I thought, “Surely it won’t end like this?” But there was no stopping the stream of hurtful words, screamed at me until the blue veins in his neck bulged and his spittle hit my face. I was almost hoping he would strike me so I would have visible signs of his abuse. It would make it so easy to file the report, pack my bags and leave. I would be able to look in the mirror and see the color of pain; red and purple and bruised brown, instead of how it had coursed through me unseen, a strong, invisible current that had pulled me along this river of false hope and fear for too many years. I had been slowly drowning, quietly, like a small child unattended in a pool of water, making no sound, surrounded and surrendering to a sinister power I did not know how to overcome. Until this moment.

Masters and mystics tell us the only way to solve a problem is not to go around it, but to go through it. Deepak Chopra says, “All great change is preceded by chaos.”

When the day came for me to re-discover my inner tough girl, I ran away from home at 50, bought a mountain bike and learned how to ride the dirt trails into the wilderness park.

This is a story about my journey, my search to re-discover myself, despite the fear I had to do so at mid-life. But it’s a journey many of you have also taken — whether you have chosen a bike, or running shoes, a paintbrush, a computer or a set of drums.

In learning to ride my mountain bike with a group of tough guys who were kind enough to include me in their group, I discovered how a frightened and fragile woman (me!) can recover her inner power of strength, embrace her outer beauty and uncover the magic of healing and grace that exists in the outdoors. I learned the secrets of redemption that being in nature teaches me each time I return to play out there; about forgiveness, freedom and fun. Along the dusty bike trails, accompanied by the kindness and kinship of new friends and companions, I revel in dirt, sweat, tears while a few bike mishaps have taught me that bruises and bumps will always be a part of life. And as long as you choose your friends wisely, and keep your heart open, you can make it through anything. True freedom belongs to everyone who braves the chaos that precedes great change.

When I was 16-years-old, I traveled as a foreign exchange student to Paris, France. I was thrilled with the idea of such adventure and experience. I felt so brave and alive! My daily diary was filled with detailed descriptions of the beautiful places and people I met. I imagined a life as a magazine writer on my flight home. But my rosy ideas of life as a traveling journalist lay locked away in my diary as life showed up with other ideas and challenges. I married young and had my daughter Leah when I was 20 years old. After being a single mother for six years, I married again at 28. I opened a business when I turned 35 and worked six to seven days a week for the next twenty-two years. Along the road of my life, I’d let go of adventure, I’d forgotten how to play and working hard seemed to be what I did best. I became a very successful business-woman, but a very unhappy girl. Until the day I found, again, the courage I once owned. And the bike and the wilderness trails that led me back to her.

In the midst of this mid-life adventure; on the trails with the dirt, the wildlife, new boyfriends and wild scenery, she came back to me. The girl inside showed up and I knew this was the time and place to tell her story. At 16, she was alive and well and full of promise. But at 50 she was ready to kick ass and set herself free.

Our instincts push us toward the very chaos that is our only ticket to freedom. It’s a far more wonderful world—filled with great adventure and fabulous people—than we can imagine, when we’re stuck in a place of discontent. So I encourage you to leave the job that doesn’t appreciate you or the relationship that sucks you dry. Get on your own “bike” and ride through the fear and uncertainty. The girl inside you is the one to trust. She is waiting for you to say “yes.”

COLLEEN HANNEGAN is a writer, professional speaker, certified business advisor, personal life coach for women in transition and a life long entrepreneur. She writes about change, about business and a variety of topics pertaining to the nature of things. Her articles and essays have been featured in SheWrites.com, betterafter50.com, Golf Extra and Eyecare Business.

For more than thirty years, she has enjoyed a career in optical retail management which included owning her own successful optical shop for twenty two years in southern California. She sold her business in 2012 and continues consulting other small business owners as an efficiency expert.

Of her many studies in the healing modalities of spirit, mind and body, Colleen enjoyed her two years study program in Shamanism and became a Certified Corporate Shaman.

Her memoir the Girl On Bike, A Mountain bike, a Mid-life adventure and Men in Shorts is due out in September, 2014.

She can be reached at www.colleenhannegan.com

SONIA MARSH SAYS: Your story will resonate with so many who “accept” their situation, rather than take the steps to become free.

“True freedom belongs to everyone who braves the chaos that precedes great change.” –Colleen Hannegan.

What a powerful statement, Colleen. Thanks for sharing your “Gutsy” story.

Please join Colleen on Facebook, and Twitter:@ColleenSBA.

You have from now until September 10th to vote on the sidebar, (only one vote per person) and the winner will be announced on September 11th, and will select a prize from our generous sponsors.

NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
Get Published in our 3rd
“My Gutsy Story®”Anthology in 2015
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES HERE

Click on cover to go to Amazon

2013 Benjamin Franklin Honoree Winner

2014 International Book Awards FINALIST

2014 WINNER of the PARIS BOOK FESTIVAL

We just won our 4th Award for the Anthology.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT ABOUT OUR AWARDS.

View more on Sonia Marsh's website »

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Published on September 08, 2014 06:51

September 4, 2014

Authors: Beware of This Scam

BEWARE OF THIS SCAM.
BE CAREFUL MY AUTHOR FRIENDS.

A few weeks ago, I received a request from a man in Fiji who wanted to order 40 copies of my memoir: Freeways to Flip-Flops: A Family’s Year of gutsy Living on a Tropical Island.
I was so excited, but part of me thought, “Is this a scam?”
At first I told him that shipping to Fiji would be very expensive, and he said, not to worry as he had a logistics guy to pick it up from my work address.
I sent him an invoice, and even offered him a discount, and was waiting for payment before I had the books available for pick-up.

Here is the first e-mail he sent me:

Dear Sales,I write to inform you that we are interested in your books, and we

would like to inquire about the following:Do you ship to Fiji Island?

Do you do Mail Order?

Do you accept credit card as for Payment (My US Master and Visa card

to be precise)? NOT PAYPAL
Thanks,

Wesley

My response to him:

Hi Wesley,

Thanks for your interest in ordering.

I can ship to Fiji, however I need to check on shipping rates.

How many books and which ones?

I’ve included the book link to my page, and you can let me know if it’s:

Freeways to Flip-Flops: A Family’s Year of gutsy Living on a Tropical Island

My Gutsy Story® Anthology: True Stories of Love, Courage and Adventure From Around the World

Thanks

His response to me:

Hi Sonia,

Apologies for my delays in getting back to you.

Below are the title needed:

Freeways to Flip-Flops
Qty – 40

Meanwhile, I want you to calculate the total cost of my order only and don’t worry about the shipping because I just got a response from my personal logistic agent that they will come for the pick up of the goods at your address and it will only take 1-2 days express shipping to my shipping address and I have inform them about these but they told me the best way to come for the pick up at your store is for you to email me with your store address and the time the order will be ready for pick up with your convenience time and date.

Please kindly get back to me if these title are in stock.

Shipping Address:
5 Nadi Back Road,
Main Town, Nadi.
P.O. Box: 1070, Nadi, Fiji.

Waiting to read from you soon.

Warmly Regards

Wesley

My response to him:

Hi Wesley,

Thanks for your order of 40 copies of Freeways to Flip-Flops: A Family’s Year of gutsy Living on a Tropical Island.
It just won the GOLD medal for Memoir at the Readers’ Favorite Awards.

I am curious if this is for a library or a book club?
I visited Fiji in 2007, and love your beautiful country and culture. I have asked to join the Peace Corps and would love to be stationed in Fiji.
I have attached an invoice with a 15% discount and as soon as I receive payment with a credit card, I shall let you know when the boxes will be available for pick-up.
Thank you for your order, and please keep in touch.

Sonia

His response to me:

Hi Sonia,

Thank you for making these order possible for me and I really appreciate the discount.

The total cost of my order is quite correct and OK by me but I just got a response from my logistic agent that he cannot receive payment via credit or debit card from me at the moment. So I want you to help me charge another $998 to my logistic agent who is going to pick up my order from you.

The $998 that will be sent to my logistic agent is for the shipping of my order in your store plus some other goods I have ordered from other stores around your locality which will be deduct from my credit card. Also, I’m compensating you with the sum of $100 for the transfer fee and for your efforts. Please note that I should have given the shipping agency my credit card for him to deduct the shipping fees but he told me that he doesn’t have the facilities to charge or debit credit card at the moment, so that’s why I bring my vote of confidence in you. So I want you to transfer the shipping fees to my logistics agent after you have make the charges on my credit card and the money is in your account. You can transfer the funds to my logistic agent via bank transfer or western union. So the charges you will make on my credit card will be:

Order fee: ($508.30)
Agent fee with shipping fare: ($998)
Transfer fee plus your compensation: ($100)
Total: ($1,606.30)

Note that my credit card will be charged for the amounts above. Please do get back to me if you are in the office right now so that I can forward my credit card details to you, then you can charge full amount and transfer the agent funds to them via bank transfer or western union but make sure you email me after charging my card details so that I can give you my agent details to send the money to.

Waiting to read from you soon.

Regards

Wesley

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Published on September 04, 2014 20:42

September 1, 2014

Interracial Couple: An Immoral Proposal

An Immoral Proposal

“My Gutsy Story®” by Jennifer B. Graham

The main road flanked by small businesses and industry teemed with dark-skinned people getting ready for their weekend activities. Convenience stores displayed attractive arrangements of tropical fruit and produce on the sidewalk.

A barefooted paper boy waved copies of The Argus artfully dodging between densely moving traffic chanting, “Argie…Argie.” This was the brown people’s area, designated for them by the apartheid government. Even though Voortrekker Road was bustling, Michael and I were still conspicuous in his old Chrysler Valiant on our clandestine date. I noticed he kept switching his eyes from the road ahead to the rear-view mirror.

“I think someone’s tailing us,” he said calmly. He was not given to panic. I instinctively looked back and there he was, the hard-faced Gestapo-like policeman in his dark glasses and black leather jacket. We crawled along in the heavy traffic till I saw our chance to shake off our pursuer.

“Quick, turn down here to the right,” I directed, pointing my finger, being more familiar with the area than Michael. My voice was steady but my heart was beating wildly. He sped up and with tires screeching swung the car abruptly. Our stalker followed suit. Michael steered the car down a side road to the right, then left. The “Gestapo” man was still there, a few cars behind us. As we approached the railway crossing, the signal began to flash red and the booms to descend.

“Keep going! You can make it!” It was all I could do from keeping my heart jumping right out of my mouth, but externally I still remained calm. That’s the way I’ve always dealt with crises and when over, I’d fall apart. Michael’s next manoeuvre was worthy of the best Hollywood movie stuntman as we flew across the tracks. I turned around to see the barriers down and our pursuer blocked.

“Whew,” Michael blew out the air from his cheeks. That was his way – very low key.

We made our way along the back roads to our favourite secluded beach spot. The sun was just dipping below the horizon as we pulled into the deserted beachfront parking area. Table Mountain silhouetted in the distance struck its classic postcard pose across the shimmering Atlantic. But we were too shaken to appreciate the breath-taking vista before us. We sat in silence. We both knew that we were playing with fire. He was my first true love, but I knew that our “love affair” was doomed right from the beginning. I had wanted to call it off some months back, but when he begged me not to, I knew his feelings for me were genuine.

Several weeks later, we were parked again. This time under the dank, concrete underbelly of the spaghetti junction overpass. I had resigned myself to our relationship going nowhere. I saw no way out for our predicament.

“We can’t go on this way,” I said softly, my seemingly calm disposition belying the weight of anxiety pressing down on my chest. Michael had always treated me with utmost respect and dignity and I would handle the situation as such. After all, Mama had always taught me to conduct myself with poise, “like a lady.”

“What do you mean?” he replied, gazing sideways at me from behind the steering wheel. Concern was written all over his gentle round face just like the last time I had wanted to end our relationship.

“We have to face the inevitable, Michael. Things are just getting too dangerous. That man who followed us – I’m frightened. I can’t go on like this.

Let’s face the facts, we have no future together.” It seemed like an eternity before he spoke.

“You’re right, my darling. I know the strain you’ve been under and you’re right, we can’t continue this way. I’ve given the matter a lot of thought, and this is what I propose. I know I’ve procrastinated on a decision about our future which was remiss of me.” Michael took a deep breath.

“Jennifer,” he began, sounding exceedingly serious. He rarely called me Jennifer, always, Jen.

“I love you and want to spend the rest my life with you. Would you come away with me to England, where we can give ourselves a chance – in freedom? I know this is asking an enormous sacrifice of you, sweetheart, to give up your country, loved ones and friends.”

I couldn’t believe what he had just said, and not being one to think on my feet too swiftly, I was dumbstruck but my expression remained deadpan. What I really wanted to proclaim to the whole world was,

“Going to England? Yes! Oh yes!”

I couldn’t wait to get out of South Africa with its oppressive laws. I couldn’t wait to see the back of my dysfunctional family life. So at that moment, what I really wanted to do was to throw my arms around Michael’s neck and smother him with kisses. But even in my euphoric state, I was conscious that embracing him in broad daylight was far too risky.

“I love you too, and I too want to be with you for the rest of my life,” I said shyly.

“I can’t promise you a bed of roses, my darling. You don’t have to give a reply right away, but would you give what I’m putting forth some thought?”

Under normal circumstances anywhere else in the world, two people in love would pick out the best romantic settings Cape Town’s stunning scenery could afford.

The man would go on bended knee, produce an engagement ring and the air would be filled with jubilation. But these weren’t normal circumstances. In the eyes of the law, this was unequivocally an immoral proposal for which we could be imprisoned.

We had one of two choices: break off our relationship or leave the country. We chose the latter and have never looked back. Our journey took us all over the globe and we’re still trucking along as strongly as ever.

JENNIFER B. GRAHAM is a self-proclaimed global nomad who began life in South Africa, left when she was 19 and since then hasn’t looked back. She’s also lived in England, Canada, USA and New Zealand.

After earning her degree in communication/print journalism from the University of Mobile, Alabama, USA in 2001, she wrote freelance feature articles on topics such as food, health, travel and profiles for miscellaneous publications that include Destinations, Connections, The Press, The Citizen, The Fairhope Courier as well as Triond.com.

Jennifer is a member of the Writers’ Community of Durham Region. An Immoral Proposal is her first book. She lives with her husband near Toronto, Canada. Her five grandchildren split between New York and Regina keep her wandering.

SONIA MARSH SAYS: What a beautiful love story that truly portrays the emotions you felt at the time. I love the ending and am glad we connected online.

Please visit Jennifer’s website: http://www.jenniferbgraham.com/

Purchase her memoir on Amazon.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jbgmemoir