Megan Cyrulewski's Blog, page 13

Authors Supporting Authors: April Boyer

Before I get into today's introduction, I just want to thank the authors who have been waiting since July for their interview on my blog.  Someone told me that the first 30 days of a book release are crazy - and now I am a true believer!  I promise I will get to all of the author interviews by the end of the month.  Thank you for your patience!

Now - onto April.  Her first book, "In His Shadow: How Small Our Lives Are" was inspired by her recovery from breast cancer and how God helped her through the process.  October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so hope that not only will April celebrate her survival, but the gift she has given others by telling her story.  I hope you enjoy meeting April as much as I did!





What is your name?  
April Boyer

Where are you from?   
Ohio

What genre are you in? 
non fiction

Please list your books and the year of publication. 
“In His Shadow” 2013

Why are you an Author?  
Because it is in me, and God leads me to it and through it.

What inspires you? 
God, family, creation, beauty, events, people

Where and what times during the day do you work best?  
Late morning, early evening.

Who is your target audience? 
Breast cancer survivors or warriors, and women who need hope and strength.

How do you want your readers to feel as they read your book?  
Encouraged and inspired.

What is one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? 
Don’t give up!

Share one thing about yourself that you would like readers to know.  
I am not strong because I survived breast cancer and other crisis in the same year. I am only strong because Christ is in me. He is my strength.

Congratulations on your recovery and becoming a breast cancer survivor!  What advice or encouraging words would you tell a woman who has just been recently diagnosed with breast cancer?   
Find support, encouragement and commonality; first in your family and friends, in your medical team, in your church, and in your community. It’s there, and they are willing and able to help. 

Are you currently working on another book? 
Yes, a follow up book, called “New Mornings”. The title comes from the scripture: “God’s mercy is new every morning.” Recovery from a health crisis is not over after the treatments are done.  It continues for as long as it needs to. It’s about learning to live.

Many authors have to learn how to market when they release their first book.   Do you have some advice? 
Learn all you can- before you publish!  Find out what you can handle. (health, family and jobs sometimes interfere!) and choose only those methods that make sense to you, and that you can manage. You do not have to do it all!

 
Find me at http://facebook.com/ABbookShadow
And http://hisxshadow.wordpress.com
And at http://godinterest.com   
Buy direct at http://www.createspace.com/4430764  
Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/His-Shadow-Mrs-April-Boyer/dp/1492705020/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1409928364&sr=8-4&keywords=april+boyer
Available on Kindle soon -
Contact me iampril@yahoo.com

Authors Supporting Authors: Noor De Olinad

Authors Supporting Authors is back!  After a month-long hiatus while I was busy promoting my book, my authors series is back with a bang.  My featured author today, Noor De Olinad, helped with my book blast on my release day.  So I am super excited to return the favor today.  Noor just published her first book, a memoir, "Not A Typical Tourist in Israel and Jordan - Travel memoirs of an amateur anthropologist."  Please keep reading to find out why Noor chose to write her memoir.  I hope you enjoy meeting Noor as much as I did!


What is your name?  
Noor De Olinad

 Where are you from?  
 Australia but it is the third country I have lived in. I spent part of my childhood in Lebanon and Northern Italy in a small mountain village near the French/Swiss border

What genre are you in?
I love to write fiction stories but my first published book is actually a travel memoir.

This is what happened: I was bored with my job, desperate for a change. I decided, on a whim, that I needed to go somewhere 'exotic' to have a great adventure. I went to a travel expo and before I knew it, I had booked and paid for a trip to Israel and Jordan. My friends thought I was insane considering the constant unflattering headlines on the news about the Middle East.

I came back to my job and my life but I couldn't stop thinking about my trip. Well, to be more specific I kept thinking about the people I met during my trip.

I had booked a holiday but what I ended up with was an eye opening experience. I felt compelled to write down my memories and so I ended up writing a travel memoir J

Please list your books and the year of publication.
"Not A Typical Tourist in Israel and Jordan - Travel memoirs of an amateur anthropologist"
July 2014


Where and what times during the day do you work best?  
I am definitely a night owl. For me, the best time to write is late at night when everything is still and quiet and my dog is asleep leaning on my feet. If it is raining outside that is even better!

Who is your target audience?
This book is for people who want to know what life is really like behind the headlines, brave souls who aren’t afraid to challenge prejudice, stereotypes and myths that have been so propagated they have sadly become accepted as common knowledge.

How do you want your readers to feel as they read your book? 
I want them to be able to close their eyes and see what I saw, feel the heat and smell the spices. When they finish the book I want them to be filled with a sense of hope for the human race, because kindness still exists and peace is very possible.

What is one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
Write about something that excites you or you are passionate about. Writing a book is hard work and a lengthy process so if you are not passionate about what you are writing about, chances are you won’t finish the book

Share one thing about yourself that you would like readers to know.
I am an idealist and a dreamer. I always have been and always will be.

Why did you start a blog?
My goal is to promote global harmony through my writing by showing that we have far more similarities in common than differences. I like to do this through ethnographic narratives, an enjoyable learning experience. By sharing my observations, I hope to increase understanding and goodwill in the world. This is my dream for humanity - a world of peaceful coexistence where future children only learn about war from history books.

How do you write for you blog?  What are some topics that you are passionate about?
I am fascinated by people’s stories and experiences. Sometimes, what we think are ordinary boring experiences are actually quite extraordinary. There is magic even in the most mundane moments.

How do you balance marketing and writing? 
I absolutely hate marketing and have to force myself to do it. In my opinion, it takes time away from my writing and I’m rubbish at promoting myself.  :)

"Outshining Ovarian Cancer," by Karen Ingalls

I had gained a few pounds and developed a protruding stomach, both of which were unusual for me since I had always bordered on being underweight. When my weight continued to increase, I began an aggressive exercise and weight-loss program. I never considered these changes to be anything more than normal postmenopausal aging.

I saw my gynecologist for my routine PAP smear, which only determines the presence of cancer cells in the cervix. She could not get the speculum into my vagina. I was rushed to get a CT scan, which revealed a very large tumor in my left lower abdomen. Two days later I had an appointment with a gynecologic-oncologist surgeon for an evaluation.

The symptoms of ovarian cancer are subtle and common to many women so they are often ignored or attributed to something more benign:

            *Abdominal bloating

            *Pain in abdomen

            *Low back pain

            *Frequency of urination

            *Changes in bowel habits

            *Increased indigestion or change in appetite.

            *Pain with intercourse

If a woman experiences any of these symptoms for two weeks, it is recommended that she see her gynecologist and insist on an abdominal ultrasound.

Typically the woman undergoes a debulking surgery, which is a complete hysterectomy and removal of any lymph nodes or any surrounding tissue or organs. The only way to accurately determine if cancer is present is through specimen testing of the tissue.

The only screening test currently available is a CA125 blood test, which unfortunately has a high incidence of false positives.

I was given a 50% chance of surviving 5 years. I had no family history of ovarian cancer and only one relative who had had breast cancer. I did not fit the typical criteria, and the BRCA1 and BRCA2 markers were negative for mutation. So the question, “Why did I get ovarian cancer?” remains unanswered and it is actually not an important one any longer.

The word cancer creates fear in everyone either mildly or extremely. Yet so often the things we fear are never as great as the fear itself. As a young person I had learned from my grandmother and adopted aunt that attitude, acceptance, and determination are the keys to facing a fear and to healing the body, mind, and spirit. Those women were, and still are today, wonderful role models for me. They taught me about living a healthy lifestyle, which included a belief in God, exercise, good nutrition, positive thinking, healthy touch and meditation. These lifestyle choices had helped me face childhood abuse, divorce, alcoholic parents, and untimely deaths, and now they helped me live with cancer.

I prefer to use the word challenge instead of problem, test, or trial. I like the word challenge because I envision positivity, learning, growing, and putting my best efforts forward. I did not think about being cured of the cancer, but more about how can I live my life with dignity, and what am I to learn from this new role as a woman with cancer. A family friend, Dr. LaJune Foster once said, “Look about for each bright ray of sunshine: cherish them, for in the days ahead they will light your path.”

I write about my journey with ovarian cancer to educate, support, and inspire women and their families. It is my own unique experience, but there are some common emotions, events, and experiences that we all share. Like many others traveling this road, I have experienced valleys and mountaintops, darkness and rays of sunshine. I do not know what the future holds for me, but I have learned a lot about myself and met some incredibly courageous women.

The challenge of ovarian cancer was an opportunity for me to become a better person. My life is far richer and has the greater mission, which is to spread the word about this lesser known disease. I truly see each moment as a gift that is not to be taken for granted, but lived to its fullest with love. An important lesson I learned early in life, and was reinforced with the challenge of ovarian cancer is that the beauty of the soul, the real me, and the real you, outshines the effects of cancer, chemotherapy, and radiation .  It outshines any negative experience.

           

Karen Ingalls is the author of the award-winning book, Outshine: An Ovarian Cancer Memoir; a volunteer with the Women & Girls’ Cancer Alliance and Women for Hospice; a public speaker; and an advocate for ovarian cancer awareness. Once a week she posts a blog about health/wellness, relationships, spirituality, and cancer. She resides in Central Florida with her husband. ALL PROCEEDS GO TO GYNECOLOGIC CANCER RESEARCH.

www.outshineovariancancer.com

www.outshineovariancancer.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/KarenIngalls1

www.facebook.com/pages/Outshine-An-Ovarian-Cancer-Memoir

www.facebook.com/pages/Karen-Ingalls/1473379352893458?sk=timeline

www.goodreads.com/kareningalls

www.linkedin.com/pub/karen-ingalls/37/509/ba8

www.amazon.com/Outshine-An-Ovarian-Cancer-Memoir

New Books by Some Great Authors: Anne Lawson, S.A. Ledlie and P.D. Workman

Blurb for Sea of Passion

He admires her bravery and desires her for her beauty and charisma…

Forced into marrying a complete stranger is far from Georgia’s idea of the fairy tale life that she had envisioned for herself. Dressed as a boy she flees Savannah and seeks refuge on a ship bound for England. Her impulsive plan goes awry and she is discovered hiding in the ship's cargo by its Captain. Georgia makes up a story to conceal her true identity, unbeknown to her that the Captain already knows exactly who she is.

Captain Gabriel Trent is just the kind of man Georgia has always dreamt of, he is kind, insanely handsome and a true romantic. Unaware that she has run straight into the arms of her future husband only complicates matters between the two of them as passion flares.

Gabriel's plan had been to seduce Georgia into falling in love with him before they reached England...but what developed between them was beyond his wildest imagination. Can their love survive the secrets and the lies they have been keeping?

Anne Lawson
Sea of Passion is Anne Lawson’s debut Historical Romance novel. She came up with the idea for it when she was twenty one years old but didn’t write it until her late twenties. 

Anne is a high school History and Health teacher in Michigan. Her love of history has taken her to 39 of the 50 states and three countries. She hopes to see as much of the world as she can. 

When she isn’t teaching she loves to spend as much time as possible with her young son.  She is happy that he shares her love of books and make believe. 

When Anne isn’t teaching, playing with her son, traveling the country, or writing, she can be found cooking, reading, or cheering on her favorite Michigan Sports teams.

Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Passion-Anne-Lawson-ebook/dp/B00MNTXWD8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1407932765&sr=8-6&keywords=anne+lawson


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A seven year journey that starts AFTER my cancer treatment ends. There are no needles, biopsies or anti-sickness drugs. This memoir is about the lies, betrayal and the dirty little secret I had unwillingly become part of. Not just me but hundreds of women all over the world - and it still goes on today. There are one or two oncologists fighting our corner and Dr Bourgeois has kindly made a contribution to my book. Whistle blowers, irrational behaviour and some madness- it is all here. Humorous and hopefully inspiring, in parts, and desperate in others.

BUY LINK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Naked-Wind-Chemo-Hairloss-Deceit/dp/1500136549/ref=la_B00MQYBNUY_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408276739&sr=1-1
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SYNOPSIS
“I don’t plan on getting in any trouble.”

Tamara had thought that when she got out of juvie, things would be easier. But before long, it seems like her life is spiraling into chaos.

If she can’t prove to her probation officer that she is innocent of the allegations against her, she’s going back to prison, and Tamara just can’t let that happen.

—For me, a sign of a good book is that it is a quick read, holds my interest front to back and I like the characters. This book met the mark on all three of those characteristics.

—A slimy villain, an eager-to-please side-kick and a heroine who simply wants to move on from her past make for an intriguing tale, indeed! A realistic and beautiful story filled with suspense, heart-breaking friendship and loyalty that will keep you reading until the very end.

AUTHOR BIO
P.D. Workman writes riveting young adult/suspense fiction about mental illness, addiction, and abuse.

For as long as P.D. Workman can remember, the blank page has held an incredible allure. After a number of false starts, she finally wrote her first complete novel at the age of twelve. It was full of fantastic ideas. It was the spring board for many stories over the next few years.  Then, forty-some novels later, P.D. Workman finally decided to start publishing. Several books are now out, and lots more on the way!

P.D. Workman is a devout wife and a mother of one, born and raised in Alberta, Canada. She is a homeschooler and an Executive Assistant. She has a passion for art and nature, creative cooking for special diets, and running. She loves to read, to listen to audio books, and to share books out loud with her family. She is a technology geek with a love for all kinds of gadgets and tools to make her writing and work easier and more fun. In person, she is far less well-spoken than on the written page and tends to be shy and reserved with all but those closest to her. 

You can reach the author at:
pdworkman.com
pdworkman.author@gmail.com
pdworkmanauthor on Facebook and Twitter
Other social networks are listed on her website!

BUY LINKS
Available in Kindle and in soft cover through Amazon

"I Still Want a Perfect Body," by Abby Kelly

A brief intro to the author:  Abby was one of the first people I "met" on social media and I am so thankful I did.  Her book was the very first book review I put on my blog.  I kind of told myself not to get caught up in book reviews because I honestly don't have enough time in the world to read all the books I want and review them.  But Abby's book was (and is) special.  I never knew much about Anorexia before I read her book and I can say I still don't completely understand it.  Just like Abby read my book and she doesn't really understand postpartum depression.  I've never been anorexic.  Abby has never had PPD.  But we understand each other and I think that's more important sometimes than understanding the disease itself.  


I know it took an enormous amount of courage for Abby to open up about her Anorexia.  I know because I can feel it in every word in her book.  As I've said before and I will keep saying it, this book is a must-read not just for those with Anorexia, but for those that want to understand mental illness.  I hope Abby and I can meet face-to-face sometime but for now, I know I will love this woman until the day I die.  :)
____________________________________________________________________________________
I’m not ready to give up on absolute, perfect beauty. I’m not ready to part with my dream of an ideal body. I’m not ready to relegate my hope for unique beauty to a figment of imagination or the realm of special lighting and secret camera angles.

Now, if you’ve read my book, don’t worry. I’m not headed off the deep end, tumbling back into the abysmal nightmare called anorexia. I’m not about to scrap all the things I’ve said over the past years about the importance of a healthy body and being a healthy weight, or my indignation over the media’s objectification of women and insidious, cloaked messages of inferiority if one is not 115 lbs, blond, blue eyed and 5-foot 9-inches tall.

So hear me out.

On a recent walk around Liberty Park, (God does His most significant work in my heart when I’m engulfed in the splendor of His creation) I was praying about beauty, American ideals, excess, poverty and screwed up priorities. I didn’t really expect to come to any conclusion or receive new revelation about how I relate to my own physical body. More, I was praying about how to make a difference in my world, finding an awareness of need all around me and aligning my priorities with those of the Father, basing my observation of the world on the perspective of my Father.

But suddenly, I heard myself pray, “Lord, give me your perspective of beauty.”

I mean it’s not so far fetched is it—to surrender my ideal body to the hands of the Creator? I’m talking about changing my prayer from, “Lord, help me to see myself as beautiful in your eyes and to accept the body you gave me," to, “Lord, help me to redefine beauty so I see it in all the places you see it, so that what you consider beautiful is exquisite to me, too.”

It’s not so far fetched. I mean, I have to hand it to Him, for the most part I think God’s imagination of beauty is spot on. Think of it—How perfectly beautiful are marshy, tall grasses and red-winged black birds? Who on earth came up with such a lovely idea of prickly, green grass melting into blue skies on the edge of the horizon? Who thought that black clouds stacked high in the atmosphere were marvelous? Even the precision of stripes on a snake’s back are a wonder all their own. Mostly, I agree with God’s standard of beauty, so why do I throw my vote in with the media’s opinion of human female perfection instead of the Creator’s?

Let me explain this one more way. Imagine I built my dream house. It has tall ceilings, a wrap around porch, dozens of windows, sparse decorations and it’s really small. (Who wants a big house to clean?) What if I invited you over--sure that you must agree, my dream house is the ideal house. But you don’t like big porches because there are too many bugs. The house is way too tiny and you think it needs Martha Stewart’s touch? You wouldn’t find my ideal home perfect at all.

So how did we get to the place that we feel we have a right to define an ideal body when God has built each one precisely the way He wants it?

One more try: If I asked a three-year-old to draw the perfect house, there’s a good chance she’ll forget to add windows or some other necessity. Instead of telling her she’s wrong, we assume that with maturity and experience she’ll change her perspective eventually and agree that perfect houses need windows.

Perhaps that’s what it takes—growing up. God has been waiting for me to mature and experience His wisdom so that I can admit, agree with Him that His design, even of me, is perfect.

"Dissolving the Circle" by Marty Baker

I'm going to give a brief intro to this piece and the author.  I have never seen Marty in person having only met and chatted with him on social media.  I don't need to see him to know that he is someone special.  Marty is that person who once you have him in your life, you will never let him go.  He is kind, thoughtful, caring, funny and as you will read below, an extremely talented author.  I don't think I've ever been so excited about a book that hasn't even been written yet - but I feel that way about Marty and Fran's.  So thank you Marty for being my guest today.  I love you very much.  
____________________________________________________________________________________________


Many thanks Megan for inviting me to guest on your blog today. My name is Martin Baker — Marty, please — and I'm co-author with Fran Houston of Gum on My Shoe: One Step at a Time with My Bipolar Best Friend (currently seeking an agent).

Since Megan invited me I've been pondering a suitable topic for this blog. Several suggested themselves but none felt quite right. Then, a few days ago, I found myself sitting in a coffee bar with a new friend, discussing the nature of friendship and how my relationship to people has changed over the years. My friend seemed to find it of interest (perhaps she was being kind — she seems kind) and I thought others might find it interesting too. Fingers crossed!

Years ago, my model of people and relationships looked something like this:



My world comprised an Inner Circle of "Special People" (immediate family and close friends, most of whom I'd known for years) and "everybody else". The model had served me for many years. My special people — the relationships I had with them — appeared to satisfy all my needs, so I felt no need to engage meaningfully with anyone else. The model, and my life, was stable — and stale, although I couldn't see that at the time.

And then, one of my Special People died.

I'd imagined myself supported by the relationships I had with my Special People. One of those relationships had come to an end but the others would surely readjust to keep me — to keep each other — supported. Except they didn't. That's not to criticise my friends: good people, all. But the relationships had faded over the years. I take my share of responsibility for that. Relationships need tending and caring for and I'd become lazy. I just hadn't seen what was happening until it was too late. About that time, my world looked something like this:

I had my immediate family — and pretty much no one else. I had never felt more alone.

I needed more people in my life but I had no idea how to go about it, how to "do the people thing". In particular, I'd never understood the day-to-day conversations that others seemed to handle effortlessly: holidays, family stuff, sports, music. I'd never seen the point of that kind of conversation, or of investing energy in people I scarcely knew. But something had to change, and I set about learning. I began passing the time of day with people. Colleagues. Shop assistants. Neighbours. Anyone and everyone.

For the longest time it felt completely unnatural to me, but I persevered ("fake it until you make it," as they say). And to my surprise I discovered there was pleasure to be found in such exchanges. More importantly, I began to "get it". I got that the "point" of talking about holidays and sports and each other's kids and the other things people talk about at bus stops or at the water cooler isn't those things at all, but the simple human connection that such conversation recognises and honours.

I still struggled, because I remained commited to my old model. For a time I found myself trying to repopulate my collection of "Special People", but that placed a terrible strain on myself and others, as I tried to decide whether my new (or newly developing) relationship with this person or that person was "special" enough to be promoted to the Inner Circle. I confused several people in the process and deeply hurt at least one. It's not something I am proud of.

But, finally I got it. I dissolved the model and replaced it with another.

Pretty, isn't it?! In my world now there is no Inner Circle: just me and — everybody else! Of course, some people are closer to me than others, some relationships are stronger than others, but there is no circle, no event horizon. It's been a revelation. Everything is dynamic, rich, colourful. And I feel free. I am free.

I'm free to strike up a conversation one day with someone at the next table to me in a cafe, who seems to be having a rough time. I'm free to chat holiday plans with a couple I bump into most weekends. I'm free to sign up for a course without stressing that I won't know anyone or whether I will be able to engage. I'm free to meet a new friend for coffee, to enjoy her company and the conversation, and for us to part without needing to know when we will next get together.

I am free to enjoy each friend for who they are, and each relationship for what it is.

I am free to be myself.

Contact MartyEmail: martin.baker@hotmail.comWeb / blog: www.gumonmyshoe.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/Marty.Baker.Author  (personal page)Facebook: www.facebook.com/GumOnMyShoe  (book page)Twitter: http://twitter.com/GumOnMyShoeBookLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/martinbakerauthorGoodreads: www.goodreads.com/Marty_BakerInterview with Megan Cyrulewski

Great News and Marketing Tips!

Hi everyone!  It's been a while since I updated you on what's been happening my little corner of the world.  

Radio Shows
I had the honor of being a guest on a couple of different blog talk radio shows:

Journey of Hope with Rodney Matters:  http://rodneymathers.podbean.com/
The Rec Room Show:  http://www.recroomshow.com/
Living Large Live:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/livinglarge2013/2014/08/23/overcoming-post-partum-depression-wauthor-megan-cyrulewski
Bite Me Radio with Robert Sharpe:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/biteradiome/2014/08/19/who-am-i-how-my-daughter-taught-me-to-let-go-and-live-again

Women's Voices Magazine
Brenda Krueger Huffman contacted me via Linkedin after she read one of my posts about my book.  She is the editor of Women's Voices Magazine.  Even though she created this online magazine in April 2013, it had grown exponentially and has over 500,000 subscribers.  Brenda offered me the chance to have my own column and of course I jumped on the opportunity!  So beginning next month, you can read my column in the Family Section in Women's Voices Magazine:  http://www.womensvoicesmagazine.com/

Marketing Tips
Now, you're probably all wondering what marketing tips has to do with this interview.  After I did my book blast on August 2 (my release day), I've had numerous requests regarding marketing.  I started answering people individually but as you can probably guess, I quickly ran out of time to answer everybody.  I have visited many other websites who have marketing plans that you can buy from $19.99 to over $1,000.  Let's face it, we are not all millionaires.  (It's a shame, I know.)  

I'm the first to admit I'm not a marketing guru.  I am, however, a research guru with a type A personality so when I delved into research on how to market my book, I did (and am still doing) a very thorough job.  I want to succeed in my writing career.  I want you to succeed in your writing career.  That's why I've decided to take a week and blog about a different marketing plan every day of that week.  You can read it, use the tools that I offer or you can ignore it.  Either way, it's free information.  The topics I will cover are:

-Release Day Book Blast
-Blog Tours and why you don't have to pay money to have one
-How to save money so you don't go broke trying to market/Where you should budget for marketing
-Radio shows
-Author Website
-Blogs 
-Social Media

Like I said, I'm not a guru but my memoir was on Amazon's Best Seller List of Top 100 Releases for a full week after the release.  Since then, it fluctuates depending on the marketing I've done that day or week.

I'm not sure which week I'm going to post these articles (probably middle of September) so if you want to make sure you receive my blog posts, just subscribe to my blog!  

Also, I am going to refer to my book to make a couple of points in my articles.  It's 10% off right now on Amazon and since I'm not charging anything for the info that I spent a multitude of hours conducting, purchasing the kindle version of my book for $2.51 is worth the info.  Even if you don't like my book, at least you know what parts I'm referring to in my posts.

If you're still not convinced, let me break down some numbers for you:

-I started my website on November 29, 2013.  As of right now, I've had over 153,000 visitors.  That's in less than a year's time.  

-I was able to "take over" 41 author's blogs and social media sites on my release day.

-I have been on 18 radio shows and have 5 more coming up in the next two months.

-I created my own 4-week blog tour (in September) without spending a dime.

So I hope that you will join me during my week of marketing blog posts so that you can learn tricks and tips too!  Here is the buy link for my book:  http://www.amazon.com/Who-Am-Daughter-Taught-Again-ebook/dp/B00MBKZD9K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1409247624&sr=8-2&keywords=megan+cyrulewski

Buy it, read it, share it, and I will "see" you in a couple of weeks!

Meg xo

"A Michigan Hippie Chick Turns 50" By Kristina Barron

I have to apologize to Kristina.  This post was meant to be posted on August 26, which was Kristina's 50th birthday.  I was on vacation and meant to set-up the post so it went live on the 26th.  Obviously, that didn't happen.  I hope Kristina can accept my sincere apologies.  Please enjoy her guest post!
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Today is my 50th birthday. When I say it out loud, I think to myself, 'that just isn't possible'. And yet, the calendar does not lie. I am 50. I was born a half-century ago. I am old. And....that's alright. As I do a inner retrospective of my life I am reliving all the things that have happened to me and the lasting impact they have made on the person I am now. And, I am enjoying it immensely.

I had a great childhood and I have come to appreciate it more and more as I get older. I also have come to acknowledge that the older I get....the smarter my parents get. And the farther away the ground gets. And that more stuff gets stuck in your teeth.

I grew up on ten acres in Brighton, MI with a large organic garden and parents who were into recycling and self-sustainability long before it was cool. I remember driving with my mother and siblings to Ann Arbor (30 miles one way) to recycle all our cans and glass. It was the closest place and even through the oil embargo in the early 70's and the lines at the gas pumps....it was important enough to make the drive.

I remember squishing potato bugs and shucking corn each summer and then swimming in the pond. Catching turtles, frogs, and snakes and then letting them go again until the next day. My Great Uncle Norm, who had a pig farm in Iowa bought me a Zebco fishing reel and rod and we spent long hours as he taught me the finer points of bluegill fishing one summer when he came for a visit.

I remember my father, preparing for a New Years Day get-together, plowing the pond with his Ford 9N. And then, coming back up to the house with very wet boots and some language I had never heard before. Seems the ice was not quite as thick as in past years and on his second pass around on the ice it had given way and the tractor had gone down with my father quickly leaping to the bank. A commercial tow truck bill later, and a very smelly tractor sat in the garage with only the lights still working.

I remember moving to college, the space shuttle Challenger blowing up, heartaches too numerous to count, the Wall coming down, the Yugo going over the side of the Mackinaw Bridge, Mt St Helens erupting, having a heart attack, beating cnacer, being a good friend, being a lousy friend, working at Zingermans Delicatessen in Ann Arbor, getting a HE washer and dryer as a wedding present from my husband (and being thrilled). Getting a riding lawn mower for my first anniversary present from that same great guy. Owning our own ice cream parlors. Selling the businesses and getting a job that paid. Being laid off. Going back to school. Working at great jobs and working at crappy jobs. Watching U2 at the stadium at Michigan State University and singing along with Billy Alberts and his electronic organ in a tiny bar in the Upper Peninsula.

I could go on and on but these are some lessons I have learned from my first 50 years.

Eat well and eat simply. If it has more than one word you can't pronounce, don't put it in your mouth.

Go to the dentist. Your teeth are the real windows to your body's health.

Recycle. You only have one mother earth.

Minimize your footprint on your surroundings.

Laugh.

Appreciate a job well done.

Forgive.

Tell people what you think. The bad AND the good.

Understand that sometimes....a little is enough.

Clean out a closet now and then.

Say Thank You and really mean it.

Take a good hot bath and talk to God. You really can't hide much in the tub.

Be open to new ideas.

Let the people closet to you know that you love and appreciate them.

When you go out to a really good restaurant......get dessert.

Turn off the TV and talk.

Read.

Walk in the mud in your bare feet.

Let people older than you tell you their stories.

Forgive (sometimes it needs to be said twice).

People watch or animal watch (whichever is more entertaining).

Work hard at keeping your friends.

Open all the windows in the middle of the winter and clear out the stuffiness.

Close all the windows.

Send a handwritten letter in the mail.

Thank your great teachers. (shout out to Diana Rose).

Go out of your way to help a stranger in need.

I am sure there are many more but those are the highlights.

Last week my mother asked me if I was doing something big to celebrate my milestone birthday. I answered that I had decided I was not going to color my hair anymore and let myself become naturally gray. There was a long pause on the other end of the phone and my mother finally said, 'hmmm...maybe you ARE really growing up'. My response back....'nah, that just isn't possible'.

Enjoy your life at whatever age you feel, and if it's not the age you are, celebrate.

Peace my friends, peace.
Kristina Rosenberger Barron-the 50 year old Hippie Chick

It's All About Me - at least for the next 3 days...

Bathing suit?  Check.  Yoga pants?  Check.  Munchies?  Check.  WINE?  TRIPLE CHECK!  Yep - that's right folks - it's vacation time!  For the next three days, my friend Natalie and I are leaving for our annual spa retreat.  Four hours of driving to a beautiful resort on the waters of Lake Michigan.  Ahhhhhh...

This year, however, we are doing something a little different.  We are unplugging ourselves and we couldn't be happier.  No e-mails, no Facebook, no social media whatsoever.  If you want to contact me?  Too bad.  You have to wait until Thursday.  That kind of sounded snobby - sorry about that.  I'm just really excited.

I don't remember the last time I went a day without social media.  In fact, I don't remember the last time I used my laptop for anything other than social media.  I haven't touched my next book since February, or was it March?  I am bringing my laptop but absolutely no internet!  Only inspiration for writing my next book.

When did we get this way?  When did we get so dependent on social media?  Is the world going to keep turning if we don't check out Facebook every day?  Is someone going to hate me because I didn't get back to an e-mail within 24 hours?  I'm actually behind on stuff.  I promised 2 book reviews and the authors have been extremely nice in not bugging me - but they're probably frustrated and I don't blame them.  

Here's the thing - I'm tired.  I stressed myself out this week to the point where I was in bed all day yesterday with a migraine.  If it's not marketing, it's the fundraiser I'm working on.  When is it my time to do something relaxing?  Why do I only give myself once a year for three days a time to relax?  My ex-husband and I used to take vacations every year - and we're talking about Mexico, Bahamas, etc. for at least a week.  Those were great getaways.  

Do you remember what life was like before social media and cell phones?  I do.  I remember when the phone rang and caller ID didn't exist.  It was actually exciting when the phone rang!  Who was it?  Was it for me?  YAY!  It's my high school sweetheart calling!  And so a two-hour conversation began even though I just saw him an hour ago.  Then of course, my Dad would get on the phone and start dialing even though I was already on the phone.  Then he would say, "hello?"  And I would say, "hello!"  Then he would ask, "Megan what are you doing at so-and-so's house?"  And I would say, "I'm on the phone."  Then he would say, "Well, this is your Dad and I have to make a phone call."  And I would say, "Dad, I know who you are."  Then he would start talking to whoever I was on the phone with.  Good times.

When did social media get in the way of talking to people?  Don't get me wrong - I love Facebook as much as the next person.  It feels weird, however, when I get a friend request from someone I knew in high school.  It brings back these teenage drama thoughts - "why does she want to be friends with me?  She was such a bitch to me."  Or "She wants to be friends with me!  She was in the most popular group in school!  OMG!"  Of course I friend everyone because I'm too nosy not to.  Then I go to town picture-stalking them.  Come on - we've all done it.  

You know what's really fantastically awesome this year?  That on Tuesday, August 26, Natalie and I will be at the spa from 9:30 - 5:30 being pampered.  The 26th was my wedding anniversary.  My ex is also getting sentenced that day for his latest domestic violence offense.  It's called sweet ole karma.  

So my e-mail automatic out-of-town message is set-up.  My bag is packed and ready to go.  It's time to blow this popsicle stand.  (Can you see why I wasn't in the cool group in high school?) 

I love all of you and I will "see" you on Thursday.  

To purchase a copy of my memoir, "Who Am I? How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again," please visit:  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_seeall_1?rh=k%3Amegan+cyrulewski%2Ci%3Astripbooks&keywords=megan+cyrulewski&ie=UTF8&qid=1408902929






  

"My Colorado Adventures" by Joe Thissen

Colorado is a great place to visit but I have the fortune to live here! Colorado is 380 miles from East to West and 280 miles from North to South. I have traveled across Colorado; in fact I’ve been to 3 quarters of the state. The only place I haven’t been to yet is the 4 corners area where 4 states meet at a perfect spot, which is in Southwestern CO. 

My favorite spot in CO are the mountains; they have so much to offer; camping, fishing, hiking, skiing, old mining towns, and the 14ers which are the 14,000ft peaks across the region. Colorado is broken down into many regions; we offer the Eastern plains where farming is the main way of life. The Front Range is the area along Interstate 25 which runs the 280 miles North to South. The Front Range is nestled at the base of the foothills which are the gateway to the mountains. The Great Rocky Mountains run through our state like a river. 

Then there is the Western Slope where the elevation goes down slightly. Denver is the mile high city as it sits 1 mile above sea level; and Leadville is the 2 mile high city sitting at 10,560ft above sea level! We also offer the beautiful Northern Colorado area and Southern Colorado area. Our other main interstates are I-70 which runs the 380 mile span East to West across Colorado; I-76 which is a tribute highway to Colorado as we became a state in 1876. I-76 runs from Denver through Northeastern Colorado to Nebraska where it turns into I-80. 

Ok now about my adventures across this great state! I have visited many cities and town in my travels and I have fished, camped, and hiked in the mountains. I grew up in Denver and been to the mountains many times; and I currently live in Northern Colorado. One of my favorite adventures was driving across a mountain pass known as Independence pass; it runs from Leadville to Aspen. It’s the 4th highest paved road in the state and the scenery is just breathtaking. When you reach the end there is a valley as you enter Aspen just amazing! 

My all-time favorite adventure takes me from Estes Park to Grand Lake along Highway 34 which is Trail Ridge Road the highest paved road in America towering at 12,183ft at the peak! But the view as you turn the corner into my all-time favorite Colorado city Grand Lake is just beautiful! Words can’t describe it! Grand Lake offers a spectacular view of Rocky Mountain Nation Park from the west side of the park. Estes Park sits on the east side of the park and is my second favorite CO city. 

One other adventure I really liked was a trip to Northwestern CO and into Dinosaur National Park; I was able to explore the Yampa Valley. I drove to the top of the valley and even through it taking many pictures of the beautiful valley! I recommend if you ever find yourself in CO to look me up! Well this is my short article about some of my adventures throughout CO hope you enjoyed it!

Joe Thissen

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