Category Archives: Authors and independent publishers

Celebrate Life on Independence Day

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Happy Birthday U.S.A!

 Every 4th of July my faith in our country is restored when I see all the American flags and banners of red, white and blue and hear the patriotic tunes. It leads me to believe there are many in our country who have the same American spirit of faith our forebearers had when they built this new country. 

So, tomorrow on America’s birthday, celebrate the independence we have as a nation and all it stands for. As President Herbert Hoover once said, “Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.”

On both sides of the aisles and 

our patriots serving near and wide.

Insightful Storytelling

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Today marks the very near conclusion of a writing project I have been working with a client on for about two years. The manuscript has just gone to the printer for a proof copy. It is a publication which you will not be able to find through internet searches because it was written to not to gain fame or draw attention, rather to share a retrospective look at one’s life with a select group of people – family, friends and personal connections.

The advantages of independent publishing led my client to chose this option because she has come to understand after a long life, the words of Robert T. Kiyosak who once said, “You and only you are responsible for your life choices and decisions.” These wise words are reflected throughout many of my client’s personal recollections.

Independent publishing allows for a book to be published and sold (or not) perhaps more uniquely and creatively without regard to certain traditional publishing standards. I am an advocate for it’s flexibility and I thoroughly enjoyed working with my client on this independent publishing project. I am most grateful for the time spent together.

My client and I look forward to holding the book in our hands and celebrating together when we receive it.

 

 

The Spring Outing

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Today, I’d like to share a piece of my writing, which has never been published, titled The Spring Outing! May you feel refreshed, renewed and encouraged by every new dawn during the Eastertide Season.

The Spring Outing

©Sue Batton Leonard 2004

*************

Winter’s chill has passed

I shall no longer shiver

Today, I am off to the river.

I’ll scamper

along with my hamper.

Go to the weeping willow

where there will be a soft pillow.

A mound of moss,

for my clean linen cloth.

 

Before me I’ve strewn,

A canteen of steeped tea

a silver fork, knife and spoon.

A spring onion tart

with ‘shrooms and cheese,

and a tasty salad of caprese.

A square of dark chocolate

is in the pocket.

I’ll save one cup

for after I’ve supped,

while watching spring erupt.

 

With the yellow forsythia branches

I’ll weave in tender pussy willows

dotted with long stemmed violets.

A crown to place on my head

before I lay on my makeshift bed.

 

Amidst snowdrops, 

little bunny hops,

and silly daffodillies,

I’ll  nap and dream

of summer’s August.

When aside the garden

I’ll sit in the long grass

Among the wildflowers mass

drinking chilled sassafras.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte was Right!

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March is here. I can already feel a wellspring of creativity bubbling up. Before every next leap I’ve taken in this creative life of mine, I’ve known it because I awaken around 4 am every morning. My mind becomes active and I may as well settle into whatever it is that is brewing, write it down and complete the dialogue I am having with myself. Or occasionally I’ll dabble with paint. Trying to go back to sleep before daybreak is a lost cause.

I am grateful for even earlier than usual awakenings because to me that means spring is in the air and creative energy is stirring.

Charlotte Brontë was right when she said, “A ruffled mind makes a sleepless pillow.”

 

 

Artful Titles

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“It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines who you will be when you can’t help it.”

~ Oscar Wilde

Last night, many artists whom I’ve directly or indirectly made connection with in the art community were in my thoughts when I attended Bruce E Mowday’s book signing for his publication Stealing Wyeth. The book signing was held at the Harford County Public Library in Bel Air.

The veteran reporter, investigative journalist and public speaker knows how to tantalize an audience! Bruce E. Mowday gave us just enough information about the theft of fifteen Wyeth paintings for us to want to learn more and read on! All you art enthusiasts and crime book fans will want to know more about the characters, the art thieves and the author behind the story. Go to the author’s website. He has published about twenty books in various genres and he says his range of subjects can be contributed to his avid interest in people, both from the past and in today’s world.

Soon, more revelations will be made about more books artists world-wide will be interested in.  Keep your eye on this website.

 

She’s Got the Whole World in Her Hands

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Independent publishing has turned the whole publishing world nearly upside down because if you have the will, now there is a way! There is no longer the need to get the “green light” from a mainstream publisher to move forward with getting a book into the market place. Every tool is now available to anyone of any age to write, publish and sell through e-commerce or through any portal an author is willing to pursue. What is needed is a mature level of stick-to-it-ive-ness to accomplish such a goal.

Today, I’d like to share a story about a young girl from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. At thirteen years of age, she recently independently published her first book. I can well remember the fulfilling feelings when I birthed my debut publication which became an award-winning memoir. But, I was decades older than the girl featured in today’s story. Read more about this story of outstanding accomplishment here because it may inspire you to step up and write the story you’ve had inside of you.

God Blessed you, Mackenzie Ostrowski, with a creative spirit filled with powerful motivation and dogged perseverance to inspire others. At your youthful age, you’ve got the whole world in your hands and you’re going for it already in your young life! Good for you! Make the most of all your interests.

I can’t wait to read Mackenzie Ostrowski’s debut novel and it sounds like her success has encouraged her to write more.

Thank you to Laurie at the Heart of Steamboat United Methodist Church for sending me this story!

“Be open to God’s novelty.”

Stimulating-Creative-Energy

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Sue Batton Leonard's avatarAll Things Fulfilling

If we look for it, there is good news every day of the week, not just on Thirsty Thursday. So the good news for today is – “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” ~ Maya Angelou

Back on December 29, 2014 I posted an article on All Things Fulfilling about Jonathan Lehrer’s book called Imagination. If you missed the blog, you can go back and read Spinning Yarns.

The blog was about my decision to take a creative writing course because I had read so much evidence including Jonathan Lehrers book, called Imagination on the importance of seeking out opportunities to use our creativity.

Everyone-Has-A-Creative-GiftIf you are a person who has never explored the creative aspect of your brain, it’s never too late to discover your creative gifts. It’s been said that creativity builds more creativity. To use some popular buzz words, our imagination is a…

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Motivated Independent Publishers

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Sue Batton Leonard's avatarAll Things Fulfilling

Thinking of writing your story?

find-your-truth-copy

“Like anything in life when the right time comes along, and when you are fully and completely committed to the project you will find the personal resources like commitment, determination, enthusiasm, confidence and energy within to carry it out. The will to make it happen becomes much greater than your desires to let your dreams go by the wayside.” ~Independent publisher, Sue Batton Leonard

~Sue Batton Leonard, award-winning author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and Short Stories: Lessons of Heart & Soul.

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Sharing Content

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If you would not be forgotten …either write things worth reading or do things worth the writing.”  Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)

There is interesting reading material on the world-wide-web these days. Besides the arrival of electronic publications (e-books) there are lots of folks around the globe with creative ideas who like to share them – in the form of a blog (web log). Blogs allow us the opportunity to zero-in and read news we are really interested in.

How do you find blogs on the internet? Use your favorite search engine to discover articles about your topic of interest. For instance, say you are interested in what is going on in the art world. Search for art blogs. 

 

Join in with all the other subscribers who find All Things Fulfilling interesting for various different reasons. Along with articles about personal fulfillment, helpful information is available about an  industry that is making news daily – independent publishing of books, films and music.

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Interested? See the fourth box, E-Mail Subscription, on the right hand side of this page. Click on Sign Me Up!

This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard.