Megan Cyrulewski's Blog, page 14

"Mobility Matters, Stepping out in Faith," by Amy Bovaird

Greetings, friends! I’m guest posting for Megan today and would like to share an excerpt from my upcoming book, Mobility Matters, Stepping Out in Faith.  This book chronicles my journey in coming to terms with my progressive vision (and hearing) loss caused by a hereditary eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and Usher’s Syndrome, which may accompany RP This excerpt illustrates how a vision-impaired individual orients and crosses crowded city streets. I was going through Orientation and Mobility training.

Learning to navigate a busy street with a long white cane is very challenging, as you will see, especially if you have a dual disability. But, for me, it was incredibly rewarding in my journey in regaining my independence.

***



Learning to be Street Savvy

Completely blind, I stepped out into the city traffic. Just a few minutes earlier I had heard the sputtering of a diesel engine, or so I thought. I also caught the sound of squeaky bicycle parts followed by some young boys’ chatter as they passed by. Since all my hearing antennae were fine-tuned, I noticed when several vehicles slowed down, and eventually came to a halt at the traffic light. I could tell by the thrum of engine noise without tire movement—all this coming from the street beside me. When these vehicles moved, I made sure that I moved, too. 

I grasped my cane and rapidly made my way across the busy intersection, careful to sweep my cane in wide even arcs in the event I came across the raised bumps, which told me I had safely reached the opposite side of the road. On that occasion, I didn’t sweep across any bumps for the blind. So I continued moving forward until my cane touched cement indicating the opposite curb. There, I held it straight up and down and tapped with the side of my cane until I found the top of the curb. Taking a big step, I found the grass, the sidewalk and finally, the section of raised bumps. That’s when I stopped and waited.

My breath came quickly as if I’d been running, but really my body simply responded to the fight or flight syndrome of crossing the busiest intersection in the heart of downtown Erie while wearing my sleep shades. Laughter spilled out of me. I couldn’t believe I had crossed State Street and not only that, but I led the way. “How’d I do, Bob?”

“Not bad, not bad at all. However, I would caution you to always pause a few seconds until you know for certain there aren’t any vehicles in the turn lane. In the situation just now, there was a vehicle waiting to make a right-hand turn. Luckily, the driver was paying attention and waited patiently for you to cross before proceeding,” Bob explained.

“Oh. Sorry!”

He continued the stern lecture. “Keep in mind, though, that not every driver will behave in such a kindly fashion. A lot of idiots will take these single-lane turns without even looking to see who could be in their path.”

I hung my head. My actions could have hurt both Bob and me. “I remember you warned me earlier. All I could think about just now was that I didn’t want to get caught in the cross traffic so I moved as fast as I could with the parallel traffic.”

“Quite all right. I wouldn’t have let you harm yourself. I knew the driver was waiting.”

My mouth dropped open. “How did you know that, Bob?”

“A couple of ways. First, since I take my clients here often, I’m extremely familiar with these intersections. I know the traffic flow and patterns of all these streets. Second, I could hear the engine idling while the driver of that car waited beside the crossing. And mind you, I could also hear you take off and judge how far ahead of the car you walked. If I’d had any doubt for your safety, I’d have stopped you. Guaranteed.”

I took a deep breath. “Okay, got it. I’ll definitely remember to wait a few seconds, especially in downtown Erie.”

Wow! There is so much to listen for and remember when crossing busy city streets. Thank you, God for not taking all my hearing away at once.

I couldn’t begin to know the pressure Bob faced to ensure the safety of his “clients,” as he called the people he trained. I knew that he was one of the few completely blind orientation and mobility instructors in the entire United States–and I had the privilege of being one of his clients.  

Now that Bob had made me aware of the danger, he relented. “But you moved confidently and found your way safely to the other side of the road, so I commend you. Ready to try again?”

“Yes, of course.”

***

About Amy:
Amy Bovaird is a vision-impaired Christian author and an experienced world traveler. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP, a degenerative eye-disease) and at 28, declared legally blind, Amy worked as a specialist in Teaching English as a Second Lanugage for nearly thirty years. Her career took her to Latin America, South East Asia and the Middle East. After losing more vision, Amy now views life as a personal adventure, and has traded her overseas experiences for an everyday adventure into blindness.

You can read more of Amy’s humorous and insightful stories at http://amybovaird.com

Or find her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/amybovairdauthor

Brand New Excerpt From My Book - And This Excerpt Might Save Someone's Life!

When I wrote my memoir, I didn't just want to tell you my story and walk away.  I wanted you, the reader, to learn something as well.  I've had a lot of people tell me that even though my story is raw and sometimes hard to read, it's also relatable.  It's relatable in the sense that I write exactly how I talk - a little humor, a little sarcasm, but most of all, honest.  I want you to read my book and if you realize you are in the same situation as I was, DON'T follow my lead and get out NOW.  If you know someone who is in this type of relationship, talk to them.  Give them my book.  Contact me and I will send them a free copy of my book.  One of my missions in life, after writing my book, is to help those of you not only realize they are in an emotionally abusive marriage, but to help you get out of it!

I devote a chapter in my book to NPD.  What is NPD?  Narcissistic Personality Disorder.  Huh?  You've never heard of that either?  Don't be surprised.  I had no clue it existed until my therapist clued me in.  Below is an excerpt from that chapter.  Read the signs.  If they sound familiar or if you feel in your gut that the person you are with has NPD, contact me, contact a friend, contact a therapist, contact someone!  A person with NPD can not be changed unless they want to be changed.  However, the catch-22 is that a person with NPD doesn't think there is anything wrong with them in the first place, so why change?  See where I'm going with this?  It's one big circle that leads to nowhere.  Don't let yourself go to that place.  I got out and so can you.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
EXCERPT
Everything I did, I thought everyone looked at me as if I was worthless because that’s how Tyler had made me feel for six years. Then, right before my birthday (September), my mom asked me what I wanted. I started crying and said, “I just want to be me again.”

When I told Kate at my next session that I was ready to talk about the marriage, she pulled a book entitled Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition, DSM-IV, 1997, American Psychiatric Association off her shelf. “I want you to listen to this list and at the end, let me know if anything sounds familiar:

“1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g. exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

“2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty or ideal love

“3. Requires excessive admiration

“4. Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations

“5. Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e. takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

“6. Lacks empathy; is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

“7. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her

“8. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors, or attitudes.”

I was floored after she read the list. Every single item on that list described Tyler perfectly. When Kate told me that she had just read the symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) everything made sense. For the longest time, I used to joke with Tyler that the world didn’t revolve around him—a classic sign of a narcissist. I knew Tyler was self-centered but I had no idea that there was an actual disorder that fit him so perfectly.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

BUY LINK:  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_seeall_1?rh=k%3Amegan+cyrulewski%2Ci%3Astripbooks&keywords=megan+cyrulewski&ie=UTF8&qid=1408548177

Memories of Summer by C.L. Hoang

What comes to mind when you think of summer?

Surf, sun and fun at the beaches? Hiking and camping in the mountains? Lazy days and balmy nights—and spontaneous road trips to unknown destinations?

For me, though, summer evokes a particular image imprinted on my mind since my early childhood in Saigon, Vietnam. But isn’t it always summer weather over there, you might ask. Well, you are partially correct in that it’s hot all year around in Saigon, but believe it or not, there is a distinct summer season there, too: From April to October, the southwest monsoon sweeps in from the Indian Ocean, bringing warm rain and high temperatures so propitious to the native vegetation. Bathed in that soggy, steamy climate, every living plant naturally blooms its head off.

One tree in particular stands out among that explosion of growth and colors: the royal poinciana tree. It’s called Phượng Vỹ in Vietnamese, which means “phoenix tail,” I’m not sure because of its fern-like leaves that weave a dense foliage or because of its clusters of glorious red flowers. This beautiful, stately tree grows effortlessly on all the streets of Saigon and everywhere else in South Vietnam, so much so that it has often been suggested that it be named the official tree of the country.

Such popularity springs not only from the tree’s physical attractiveness, as evidenced in the accompanying picture, but also from the deep affection that schoolchildren of all ages feel toward it. For you see, every year in May or June when the royal poinciana trees are covered in scarlet blooms and the cicadas begin their wailing concert, it is the official sign that summer has arrived and school is letting out. With those seasonal changes, much earnest poetry has flowed from innocent young hearts agonizing over the impending separation from their schoolmates and friends. Especially if those friends are leaving school for good, as some of mine were during the war years to be drafted into the armed forces.

It is why, after all those years, the image of flaming poinciana trees still remains the symbol of summer for me. While writing my book  Once Upon a Mulberry Field , a novel of love during the Vietnam War, that image came back to me more vivid and brilliant than ever. It even inspired a scene at the Saigon Botanical Garden where Liên (Lee Anne) and her American friend Roger strolled together to the lotus pond along stands of century-old poinciana trees raining down red flowers over them . . . A rare interlude of happiness between the horrors of war.

To read more about  Liên’s and Roger’s story, please visit my website at: www.mulberryfieldsforever.com

You can also read what Amazon readers are saying about Once Upon a Mulberry Field (thirty-two 5-star reviews so far) on my Amazon book page at: http://www.amazon.com/Once-upon-Mulberry-Field-Hoang/dp/0989975673/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

May your summer be bright with poinciana Phượng Vỹ flowers!

Kisha Johnson McRaie, Lifestyle Coach, Author, Inspirational Speaker

 Life after Diagnosis….

 What does that mean? Well I’m about to share with you my struggle, my battle, my fight and how I won? I am a 23 year long LUPUS survivor. For those who are not clear on what lupus is please google it but I will sum it up briefly. It’s an auto immune disease causing the body to attack itself. It’s literally an invisible monster you never know from day to day what your physical being will be like. A chronic illness because the world indicates there is no cure. However being the spiritual person I am I know GOD Has the last say so and is my healer.

This disease will attack your kidneys, skin, liver, heart, and any organ part internal if it’s not controlled. I was diagnosed at age 19 1990 was the year. When at this time it wasn’t that much support and doctors still indicated that lupus had about a 10 year life span. Just imagine at 19 years old thinking you were going to die in 10 years. Just think about that. I had a one year daughter when I was diagnosed so I was horrified. Well with the treatment I had and the doctors who took care me I am now 43 years old so you do the math. I have my days but I’m happy. Lupus hurts extremely bad. Going back after the birth of my 1st born I was the walking dead for over a year before being diagnosed. My grandmother and aunt died with this illness.  I am the only living family member living with this disease and I plan on being here a long time. I even had a son who was born in 1999. Doctors weren’t too happy with this pregnancy because lupus was kind of calm and doctors wanted it to stay that way however they were afraid of me flaring while being pregnant. Throughout pregnancy when flaring you aren’t allowed to take certain medications and if you were too, you can put your baby in jeopardy of harm so for me I was monitored closely. I was high risk but guess what I had a healthy bouncing baby boy. My miracle baby is what I call him because he was born through a struggle that he and I won.

I say all this to say to you even though you go through, in that pain you will grow through it. After a near death experience in 1998 and as I was giving up GOD whispered I’m here. That was it I fought and I’m here today to tell you if you are fighting a chronic illness, Lupus, Crisis or struggle lean not on your own understanding trust GOD. I was spared for a reason and that was to encourage you to get up go get what you want and that there is life after diagnosis. Your life still has purpose through all your triumphs.

If you are sick don’t allow the sickness to have you, speak life into yourself. Speak on things that you know and want as if it is already done because with faith it will be. I’m not a pastor, preacher or deacon I just have a high quality of faith and I must share it. I don’t apologize for it either because if my words of wisdom can touch someone I’m fine with that. I tell my story to spot light you not me.

My mission here on earth is breathing life back into those with chronic illness/Lupus 1ST. While promoting a higher heeled esteem life style. You deserve to love your life, you deserve to live your life, when diagnosed with an illness doesn’t mean that life is over. It’s a beginning of a battle to fight for your life and no one can do that but you. Get your mindset shifted. If you lying in the bed sick meditate, pray don’t give up. If I had given up I wouldn’t be here today pouring into you.

I am a living testimony that there is life after diagnosis. I may have lupus but it doesn’t have me. Lupus may live in my body but homeless in my soul. I have a family and children who need me you do too. You didn’t create your life! So who are you to decide when it ends? There is life even after diagnosis. In closing I just want to share that I am a life style coach helping women with illness, sickness, stressed out, overwhelmed. I help you to find your purpose and create an action plan to help you obtain your goals. When you are finished coaching with me you will have a higher heeled self-esteem and live. You will began to walk a higher heeled esteem lifestyle. Many people ask why I use that I say because my nick name is stiletto Queen NY because I love stilettos. However I flipped this to give it more justice and the name wisdom, because stilettos are very high. So I wouldn’t mind the self-esteem, the height of the highest stiletto. LOL. I must add that my coaching services include various coaching programs that fit every life style and Budget. I also have a rapid transformation session that we can have to see if coaching, or my coaching style is a fit for you. I’m a real talk coach, with empathy because I been their but I also hold you accountable.

 I have one on one coaching services that has been designed and created with those who struggle with low self-esteem and the inability to move forward in life and overcome obstacles because of illness or crisis. Again I am a 23-year long Lupus survivor so I am living proof there is Life after Diagnosis I am an author an inspirational speaker with the signature talk message of Life after diagnosis.

 My talks can also be customized to fit any audience that are in need of inspiration and motivation.

I have a new self-help book that is called Life After Diagnosis and it’s basically my blue print of how I was able to overcome the obstacles of living with an illness and how the things I discovered that raised my own self esteem causing me to love my life, love and appreciate the skin I’m in and most of all live life after diagnosis. My book is available on amazon kindle so if you cannot await the paper back feel free to download for .99-$2.99
http://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Diagnosis-Kisha-Johnson-McRae-ebook/dp/B00MBPCE24/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1406915827&sr=8-3&keywords=life+after+diagnosis

 

 Kisha Johnson-McRae
Life Style Coach, Author, Speaker
Promoting a higher heeled self -esteem while
Breathing Life Back Into People with Lupus/Chronic Illness 1st
Office: 347-541-7748

 

Website:  http://about.me/coachkishajohnsonmcrae
Email: http://ifecoachkishajohnsonmcrae@gmail.com
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/coachkishaj
Face Book:  https://www.facebook.com/coachkisha1?ref=hl


 

 

Authors Supporting Authors: Amy McGuire

Thank you Megan for having me as a guest on your blog today.  It’s always exciting to be part of a fellow author’s blog and meet new people. My name is Amy McGuire and I am the author of The Hope Valley Saga and my current work in progress, Collateral Damage.


I’d like to talk to you all a bit about my saga and then talk about my upcoming book. The Hope Valley Saga is a young adult romantic series. In the first three books, the main characters are Anjaline Rodriguez, a beautiful Latina from Quito Ecuador, and Gabriel Walker, the oldest son of the Camp Director in Hope Valley, British Columbia. Book One, The Heart’s Discovery, follows our hero and heroine as they experience first love, cope with a tragedy and struggle to overcome obstacles to their relationship. These obstacles come in many forms, from a jealous sister, to a bad boy visiting for the summer, to their own securities. 
Book Two, Worlds Apart, follows our hero and heroine as they live their lives separately, she in Ontario where he stepfather’s job has taken them, and he remaining back in Hope Valley. This book shows their lives as they make new friends and begin new relationships. At first they stay in fairly constant contact through letters, but soon they start to develop feelings for other people and their separate lives are just too far apart. It’s not all sad though. As they learn how to be who they were meant to be, they each follow their dreams. Gabriel becomes a talented carpenter with plans to one day open a school of his own. He gets to practice being a teacher by teaching a woodcarving class during summer camp. Anjaline comes to terms with her new life and begins to pursue her dream of becoming a famous reporter. This book is a lot about the journey. 

Book Three, Dreams Come True, is the story that kind of ties everything together. In a twist of fate, or destiny, Anjaline, who has become Charity Sutherland, top reporter for The National Herald in Toronto, Ontario, is called to Coquina Cove, British Columbia. There she is supposed to interview rising artist, CR Tanbrook but the hitch is, her living quarters for the duration of her job are in Hope Valley. And Gabriel is still living there. After so many years of not speaking, it could be very awkward, but what makes it even more awkward is that CR Tanbrook is Gabriel’s girlfriend. Since this is a romance, you know there will be a happy ending, but there are twists and bumps along the way that make this an interesting and not always predictable read.

Books Four and Five are about Gabriel’s younger sisters and their journeys to a happily ever after. Book Four, Love’s Point of View, is about Evelyn Walker, the adopted member of the Walker family and her struggles with believing she’s worthy of love while dealing with two possible suitors. Book Five (which I don’t have a title for as yet), is about Leah Walker, the youngest of the Walker crew and by far the most sensitive and compassionate. She will grow up (she is nine or ten in The Heart’s Discovery) in a time of war and her overflowing, caring heart will be what helps her friends and family deal with the loss. She of course has a love of her own, but I don’t want to give away details. Books Four and Five are set to come out sometime after Collateral Damage is released.

Collateral Damage is a book that is coming about, exclusively due to input from my amazing, loyal readers. This book is about Damian Vega, a character who appears in The Heart’s Discovery as the typical bad boy with a complicated past. After wreaking as much havoc as he possibly can in a short period of time, he vanishes from the saga. Originally, that was my plan. Have him swoop in, cause all kinds of problems and be a general pain in the butt, then disappear. Well, my fans had other ideas. The reviews and comments I got, saying they wished they knew what happened to Damian got me thinking. So, in Dreams Come True he makes a brief reappearance (two or three chapters I believe) but he’s not the bad boy we all knew and either loved or hated. He’s changed. He’s slower to anger and now he seems a bit more responsible because he has young boy that he must care for. I tried to tie up some loose ends on his life, but later found I just wasn’t satisfied. I had to tell his whole story, not just the bits and pieces I got to weave through The Heart’s Discovery and Dreams Come True. You see, over four years of writing the first three books in the saga, Damian Vega grew on me. In Collateral Damage, we get to learn about his past, what makes him tick, how he got into the lifestyle he’s part of by the time we catch up with him in Dreams Come True. There are twists and turns, losses and sorrows but ultimately, he gets the redemption all my characters deserve.

 It’s a story I hope will be well liked, not only by my female readers, but also by the few male readers I’ve manage to interest in my writing. I’ve never ventured into the adult crime genre, but moment I did, I got excited. Not only do I have a whole different audience (and some of the current audience who are loyal to my writing), but I’m branching out in ways I didn’t even know were possible.

So, that’s it from me. Thank you again, Megan, for letting me be a guest on your blog.

About The Author:
The third child of missionary parents who worked mostly in Africa, Amy McGuire was born in the little town of Campbell River, British Columbia. She now lives in Toronto with her husband, their young daughter, a Beta fish named Sunflower and a completely spoiled cat named Murdock. Both British Columbia and Ontario are near and dear to her heart. Having spent a large portion of her childhood overseas, then moving ‘back home’ to Canada at the age of ten, she can relate to Anjaline’s story. Amy works part time as a dental receptionist, full time as a wife and mother, and writes in her spare moments. Collateral Damage is her fourth novel.

Kindle and paperback at: http://tinyurl.com/AmyAuthorPage
Sony eReader, Kobo, iPad and all other ereaders here:  http://tinyurl.com/SmashwordsAuthorPage
Website: http://www.shesanauthor.com
Blog: http://www.shesanauthor.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmyMcGuire
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShesAnAuthor

"The Misadventures of Me and My Uterus" by Laurie WJN

Hello, my name is Laurie and I am thrilled to be writing a guest post for Megan. 

Have you ever woken up and thought – I need to do something different?  I think we have all felt that way at one point or another – but one day this year I woke up and decided to change my life.  I became a full time author and this past April I released my book entitled “The Misadventures of Me and My Uterus”. 

Many years ago I co-authored a book about therapy techniques for women with eating disorders, based on my work as a recreational therapist.  That book was published in 2001.  I wanted to get back into writing/publishing ever since then.

I like to describe myself as a writer, dreamer and child at heart.  I have worked as a recreational therapist and a middle school teacher, so I understand and value the need to include fun and humor in your life.  My book is a comical look at the unique health challenges that women face as they get older.  Based on some health issues I went through, this book looks at many of the issues of menopause and the awkward moments that can happen in life, and does so in a humorous way.  Even the title, “The Misadventures of Me and My Uterus” defines the style of writing.  For “The Misadventures of Me and My Uterus” I really just wanted to share my personal experiences, in the hopes that I could provide some support and laughs to those who are facing similar struggles. 

As a later in life writer, I decided to take advantage of all of the publishing opportunities available today and not simply wait and hope for a publishing house to pick me up.  I know it’s a gamble, but even if I am not on the NY times best seller list right away (which of course I should be – my book is fabulous), at least my book is out there and I know people are getting the chance to read it.  I have been thrilled with the positive response to my book, one reviewer actually compared me to Erma Bombeck. 

Now that things with my uterus have settled down, I’m ready for my next misadventure!

Laurie WJN is a self-described writer, dreamer and child at heart.  Her unique insights on emotions and behavior come from her many roles as a wife, mother, sister and former recreational therapist and middle school teacher.  Laurie wrote her first book in 2001.  Laurie lives in Arizona with her incomparable husband and three unruly dogs. 

You can read her comical book about health challenges during menopause, available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J6TLXRU
Laurie’s Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LaurieWJN
Laurie’s Twitter https://twitter.com/justLaurieinAZ
Laurie’s Amazon Author page
http://www.amazon.com/Laurie-WJN/e/B00J6ZANPW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Laurie’s Goodreads Author page https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4178884.Laurie_Jake
Laurie’s Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/LaurieWJN/
Laurie’s blog http://lookingonthesunnyside.blogspot.com/

"It Takes More Than Writing to Succeed as an Author" by Kathleen Gage

In the past becoming a self-published author was a very different experience from what it is today. There were many obstacles that are no longer limitations for today’s self-published authors. 

Not only was the process much more cumbersome than it is today, there was no such thing as Kindle, Nook or Apple iBooks.

An author was limited to publishing physical books. Add to that minimum purchase requirements with offset printing of thousands of books, and often it was a recipe for disaster for many aspiring authors.

It usually meant the author’s spare room or garage was filled with boxes of books that were destined to remain there for years because most authors had no plan for marketing and sales.

One of the greatest opportunities happened when digital printing came on the horizon.

Digital printing initially meant professional printing where an author could do small runs of their books. There was a higher cost per page compared to offset printing, but for authors on a limited budget, it was a great way to go. This still required an author to store the books.

In the late nineties, we didn’t have the resources we do today such as POD—print on demand. Amazon.com released the first Kindle reader on November 19, 2007.

One of the most revolutionary changes happened when print-on-demand options, such as Lulu and CreateSpace came on the horizon.

There is no storage whatsoever required if an author sells his or her books through online bookstores like Amazon.

With these new technologies came lots of opportunities for authors from every genre. Yet, one huge challenge still existed—selling books.

Countless authors have not understood nor have they been willing to take responsibility for sales of their books. Many still believe all they need to do is get a book to market and somehow readers will find it. Nothing could be further from the truth.

As with physical books, it is necessary for authors to take control of marketing their books, regardless of the chosen format.

In the past few years, online book launches have become very popular. In the late nineties a few progressive marketers gathered together dozens (even hundreds) of joint-venture partners, who would help spread the word about the author’s book.

In trade for promoting the book, the partners would offer an ethical bribe in hopes of getting lots of opt-in subscribers. Launches came and went in one day. There was a big hurrah for 24 hours but then things fizzled out.

Although an author could feasibly sell hundreds, even thousands, of books with a one-day launch, most had no plan for what came next.

Additionally, most book buyers are no longer interested in a bunch of useless bonus gifts they will never use. Today’s reader would much rather get a quality book. Bonuses can still work, but fewer are better, and they absolutely need to be a high complement to the topic of the book.

Today, more than ever, an author needs a more sophisticated approach to a book launch. Not only does the author need to plan for what I refer to as a rolling launch, but to get the greatest result, the launch needs to begin as much as 6-12 months before the book-release date.

A rolling launch simply means it is ongoing and has more benefit than simply being able to say the book hit bestseller on Amazon.com and BN.com for a day.

Fortunately, many authors are finally realizing that in order to have a successful book launch they need a long- term view for the success of their book. Below are a few considerations for your own book launch.

To get the most out of your book promotions it is best to have a three-pronged approach.

·      Prelaunch

·      Launch

·      Post Launch

Your prelaunch efforts should be to build a community of potential buyers. You can do this by being highly visible on social networks, building your opt-in subscriber list, submitting articles to various online article directories, guest blogging and interviews.

Your launch will include many of the same aspects as a prelaunch but now you are driving traffic to either an online book store or your own website.

Post launch is where you create other opportunities for readers to invest in other products and services you offer.

To get the most out of your efforts you need to identify your ideal readers.

·      Who are they?

·      Where do they hang out?

·    Forums

·    Social networks

·    Blogs

·    Magazines

·    Radio programs

You should also prepare as much of the following as possible:

·      Media releases

·      Interviews opportunities

·      Blog posts for your blog and guest blogging opportunities

·      Articles for your ezine

·      Book video trailer

·      Affiliate partners who will promote your book with an up sell opportunity on the back end.

·      Optimize your profile on all your social-media platforms

·   Facebook

·   Twitter

·   Slideshare

·   Goodreads

·   Pinterest

·   YouTube

·   Pinternet



·      Images, videos, presentations to be dripped out during launch

·   Prepare images for Pinterest

·   YouTube videos

·   Develop a series of videos with tips that tie into your book.

·   Slideshare can be huge for a book launch.  

If your goal is to simply write a book and get it listed on Amazon then you need not do much else other than write and publish the book. However, if your goal is to make money from your writing and generate multiple streams of revenue then you absolutely must have an extremely strategic approach to all you do.

About the Author
Kathleen Gage is the “no-nonsense, common sense” online marketing strategist, speaker, author, product creation specialist, and owner of Power Up For Profits. She helps entrepreneurs make money online. Her clients are driven by making a difference through their own unique voice.

Kathleen is the host of Power Up for Profits Podcast and the author of Power Up for Profits! The Smart Woman’s Guide to Online Marketing is a favorite of authors around the globe.
http://www.PowerUpForProfits.com

I Am Finally Coming Clean

When I decided to write my memoir, it took an enormous amount of courage.  I wrote things in my book that I had never told anyone.  I opened up about things I was ashamed to let other people know.  So hard my ex beat me down, that by the time I managed to extricate myself from the marriage, I was a shell of what I had once been.  I was nothing.  I was worthless.  I was disgusting.

I don’t remember the first year of my daughter’s life.  I was drugged up on meds just trying to get through one hour of one day.  I would wake up in the morning wishing that it were night so I could go to bed again because in sleep, everything disappears. 

I don’t condone what Robin Williams did, but I understand it.  I understand what it is like to live in a world with such pain that death seems more inviting than life.  I understand what it feels like to find solace in a haze of drugs and alcohol because they fill the void of emptiness.  I understand because I could have been Robin Williams.

There is a period of time in my life that I didn’t cover in my memoir.  I guess I felt like I opened myself up enough so I deserved some privacy.  That was wrong of me and I’m sorry.  I didn’t pull a “James Frey.”  Everything in my book is true.  Every e-mail, text message, thought, feeling, pain, misery, bravery, courage and finally love is all true.  But in between the words in my book, all I can see is a glaring omission.  On September 12, 2011, I tried to commit suicide.

I remember the day so clearly.  My mom took Madelyne out to the store.  I was in my bed, again, wanting to escape in sleep, when I thought to myself, why not just escape?  I swallowed an entire bottle of Ambien.  And waited.  Waited to finally go to sleep and never to wake up.

Because of the drugs in my system, I don’t really remember what happened next.  I vaguely remember being in an ambulance, getting to the hospital and having to drink some gross drink so they wouldn’t have to pump my stomach.  I remember screaming at my dad because he left me there, which of course, he had no choice.  I was admitted to the psych ward that day.

That was three years ago but it’s something I will never forget.  It sickens me to see the news pundits call Robin Williams selfish.  Suicide is not selfish.  In fact, I felt it was a selfless act when I tried.  It was a way to end the pain I was causing everyone else.  Without me, life would be much easier, right?  No more worrying about me.  No more of an inconvenience to everyone. 

Obviously I am happy my mom found me and called 911.  The doctors said if she had found me 30 minutes later, I would have died.  My parents would have lost their daughter and my daughter would have lost her mother. 

I’ve come a long way since then.  I’ve battled my demons and I won; not many people are as lucky.  It took a lot of strength to claw my way out of my black existence but I did it.  I did it for my family.  I did it for my friends.  But most of all, I did it for my daughter.  That’s why even though the title of my book is, Who Am I?”  I had to add the subtitle:  How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again.” 

So – there you have it.  My last secret is out.  For those of you read my book, you understand how I could have gotten to that point.    Why did I take so long to admit it?  Because I felt like my friends, new and old, would be disappointed in me for swallowing that bottle of Ambien.  But my goal when I wrote my book was to be open, honest and inspiring. 

My book can help someone understand post-partum depression, emotional abuse, domestic violence, and depression to the point of suicide.

Book sales are great.  Inspiring people is better.  Saving a life is priceless. 


Author Bio:
Megan Cyrulewski is an ordinary person who has faced extraordinary challenges and now wants to inspire people and show them that hope gives them the power to survive anything. Who Am I? is about her journey into post-partum depression, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, visits to the psych ward, divorce, domestic violence, law school, and her courageous struggle to survive with her sanity intact—and how a beautiful little girl emerged from all this chaos.

Amazon Buy Link:  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_seeall_1?rh=k%3Amegan+cyrulewski%2Ci%3Astripbooks&keywords=megan+cyrulewski&ie=UTF8&qid=1408114100

"Anna's Journey: How many lives does one person get?" By Anna Renault

“Anna’s Journey: How many lives does one person get?” is an autobiographical book that chronicles the journey I have traveled. I am a survivor of some tough times. 

As a young teen, I was on a beach when a thunderstorm arrived and two of my friends were killed by a lightning strike. Just a few years later, a fatal car crash claimed the life of my boyfriend who was sitting next to me. And again, I survived. Eventually marrying the love of my life, I found myself embroiled in a domestic violence situation that last several years.

As a single parent of a seven year old, I was again facing difficulty. This time, its name was cancer. Doctors’ appointments, surgeries and hospitalizations including a hemorrhaging situation, but fortunately I am a survivor! Over the next 35 years, I faced multiple diagnoses of cancer. I have also had a few other situations including an unstable heart and a diagnosis of Lupus. 

Family, friends and even medical personnel often encouraged me to write my story. A story of hope and survival… A story of inspiration and faith… a story that reads like a ‘Ripley’s Believe it or Not!’

In February 2011, the book was published by ‘Perfect Publishing.’ It has gone into reprint twice and is still available by contacting me and paying through PayPal. Plans are being made to release the book on Amazon this summer (2014). 

While, “Anna’s Journey: How many lives does one person get?” tells the tales of some near death or should-have-died stories, my next autobiographical book: “Anna’s Journey: Am I Accident Prone” lists some strange accidents that occurred in my childhood – some that would be difficult or near-impossible to duplicate. Of course, putting my arm through an old fashioned washing machine wringer or having my brother hit her in the head with a claw hammer are two that could easily be repeated but who would want to do that. That book is going to final edit this month and should be out before holiday shopping begins.

I have also written many books of ‘fiction’ – primarily for children. The “Mitzy, the Butterfly Series” focuses various stories on the environment. “Why did my dad get cancer?” hopes to open discussions between adults and children when a parent becomes seriously ill. “Annie Goes to Catholic School” and “Ozzie Goes to Catholic School” are fun books about six year olds going to first grade! “Mothers” is a collection of poetry about mothers and grandmothers that makes great gifts for mothers-to-be, mothers, grandmothers and godmothers or anyone filling the role of a mother or for anyone who likes to read fun poems.

My newest venture is a series of anthologies with authors around the world contributing stories that interpret the photo on the book’s cover. 
These books are helping to promote new authors as well as published authors while also raising a few dollars for the Cancer Support Foundation. 

Please feel free to visit Amazon to check out all the books I’m publishing.

Anna Renault Bio:
Anna Renault is a daughter, sister, mother and grandmother. She likes to read and write. Anna is a published author and also writes for the local newspaper, The Avenue News. Anna has published more than a dozen books. Each has a message to share. Please check her website: www.annarenault.com for more details.  She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

"Sometimes a Cookbook is More than a Cookbook" by Kristina Barron

When the opportunity to be a guest blogger presented itself, I spent a lot of time contemplating subjects on which to write.  For my first "official" blog, I chose a  piece I placed on a FB page called Small Farm, Sustainability and Homestead Living.  I present it here, both for its specific content for that site but also, and probably more importantly, as a testament to my mother-in-law who turned 85 two days ago.  

As we gain the wisdom gleaned from years of living life, I believe that we also begin to understand the subtle actions of others.  As I age, I feel more in tune with the verbal and non-verbal cues of  my family and long-time friends.  My husbands mother, whom I call mom, is one of those rare individuals that knows when it is best to listen and when she should talk.  She also knows just what to say, sometimes without me having to tell her what is on my mind.  I cherish her advice and all the help she has given me over the years. She has also reignited in me a way of living, a thought process for conducting my life and a calming influence on the "talk first, think later" impulsive streak I tend to exhibit at the most inappropriate of times. She has also put me back in touch with my organic, light, fresh, and local approach to food. 

**Alert** This is where I talk about one of my small businesses that fits into my "throwback" way of life. I became a Wildtree Rep a while ago.  It's a company that markets/sells a line of food, sauces, rubs, oils, mixes and blends that is all non-GMO, free of preservatives, MSG, pesticides, insecticides, food dyes or irradiation. Most items are certified organic. Some are gluten-free.  The difference between Wildtree and other companies is that with your order comes a wealth of resources that will help you use what you ordered.  (Who hasn't bought something and once you get it home, it sits on a countertop or in a cupboard because you have NO idea how to incorporate it into your lifestyle?  Yep....been there.)  

There is a great website on which to find tasty, and FAST recipes for meals using Wildtree products and what you already have in your fridge and cupboard. No crazy shopping lists, no ingredients that you cannot pronounce.  It really is a great way to eat.  The recipes are light and well-balanced, not overloaded with fat and salt and free from that sawdust taste of many "natural" foods. If you are interested in learning more about Wildtree, I invite you to visit my website: www.mywildtree.com/livebetter.  

You can see the history and philosophy of the company, how it has evolved, look at the catalog, order, or learn about how to host a tasting party and get free goodies.  **Alert**. 

I return you now to the piece I wrote for the Small Farm FB page.  I hope you enjoy it and that it gives you pause as you think about the people who have impacted your life, sometimes without you even realizing it.  Also, look forward to my new blog, tentatively scheduled for my birthday on August 26th and very appropriately titled " A Michigan Hippie Chick turns 50".

"Sometimes, a Cookbook is More than a Cookbook"
For those new to this way of living or are just looking for a little guidance....I have a suggestion. When my husband and I got married, the only thing my mother-in-law gave me was a very tattered cookbook. I mean, beat to crap. Stained and falling apart. I was terribly insulted at this and put it to the back of my shelf of cookbooks without even looking at it. About a year later, I was looking for one of my expensive, beautiful, new cookbooks and the tattered one fell on the floor. As I bent to pick it up (it had fallen open) I noticed some little pieces of old newspaper taped to the page. This got my attention and I put down the pretty cookbook and began to flip through the tattered one. 

I sat down with my coffee and looked at every page. Only then did I realize what she had given me. HER grandmothers cookbook (the only one her grandmother owned, I found out later). It had been lovingly passed down from mother to daughter for almost 120 years and had been thoughtfully passed to me. I have probably never been so embarrassed and humbled. 

When my husbands great grandmother was married, her parents bought the new couple a Home Comfort Wood Stove. With it came the cookbook. But...not just a cookbook but a resource for everything to be sustainable. From advice on how to butcher a hog to what fruits do best canned to how to keep vegetables all winter in a root cellar. Just about everything a new bride needed to know on how to "set up shop". I later found out that the wood stove was from the Wrought Iron Range Company of St. Louis Missouri. And, lovingly tucked into almost every page were more recipes that had been carefully clipped from magazines and newspapers. 

What a rare treasure this book was. I would consider it the second greatest book about how to conduct your life that I have ever read. I have had to convert some of the recipes as they do not have a numerical cooking temperature but have either cool, medium or hot oven temperatures. Based, of course, on how much wood you had stoked. All this to say....you can find these little gems at garage and tag sales, especially estate sales where the last individual of a couple has passed on. I have also found some at thrift stores where they are wasting away in the back of the shelf as mine was. 

I highly recommend that you keep an eye out for these indispensable nuggets of knowledge. I have referred to it more than once to answer questions posed by someone in the group. And....if you ever want to get some great recipes from a century ago when life was quite a bit simpler...I have those too. I hope everyone has the opportunity that I was given, to enjoy the past and admire some exceptional women. 

Peace,
Kristina