Wishing You a
Merry Christmas
and Blessings for
A New Year Full of Joy
From All Things Fulfilling!
This blog brought to you by
www.cornerstonefulfillmentservice.com.
A Company Specializing in e-commerce & e-marketing for Independent Publishers.
Category Archives: Businesses supporting independent filmmaking
Phased by the Moon
Leave a comment“Aim for the moon. If you miss, you might hit a star.” ~ W. Clement Stone
I’ve been tossing and turning for the past few nights, thinking it was anticipation of the holiday season and my preparations for it. I don’t suffer from sleep disorders except when there is a full moon. My circadian rhythm gets thrown off. This is the last full moon of the year 2013, called The Long Night’s Moon and it leads to the coming of the Winter Solstice (on Saturday, December 21).
Appropriate to the lunar cycle, let’s take a look at movies about the moon on this Film Friday. If you follow this link, there’s a list of 25 films that have celestial themes. http://bit.ly/JSRr6E.
I look forward to the coming of the Winter Soltice on Saturday! My husband will be on his way back from his travels. He’s been coaching ski racing at the World University Games in Italy.
Our son will be arriving along with his gal, a delightful guest to have over Christmas. It’s seems like it’s been a moon’s age since I’ve seen him but it’s actually been 7 full moon cycles. They’ll find fresh perspectives by taking a break from their work. http://bit.ly/QiidY4. There are all kinds of fulfilling things to do in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. They’ll be over the moon, skiing their hearts out.
Next week my blogging will be little less frequent so I can enjoy this precious time with my family. We’ll be all tucked in under one roof for the holidays. How sweet that will be.
Do return on Monday, to the blog of www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. A space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business.
New Found Treasures
3 Comments“Treasure your relationships, not your possessions.” ~ Anthony J D’Angelo
Family photos are some of the greatest treasures we could ever own. Last summer, my parents gave an unexpected gift to our family by revealing some never before seen photos they had gotten out of storage. The image that really stole my heart more than any other is this image of my father writing a letter to my mother (as he did almost daily) when he was in the army. On the crude wooden desk, made with 2” X 4”s was a framed picture of the love of his life, my mother, looking right at him as he wrote the letter.
My parents were childhood friends beginning at 10 or 11 years of age. They grew up one street apart from one another. That childhood friendship developed into a love relationship that has lasted, in a marriage, for 65 years. But what transpired throughout the course of their lives and some of the things they coped with as very young adults and newly-married is part of the treasure in my own personal narrative that will be published in spring 2014.
As I look at this image of my parents, it fulfills me to know that from the union of my father (who was an only child) and my mother (who had one brother), our family has become very large. Each person added by birth or marriage is like newly found treasure – each contributing to the whole with individual interests and passions that make for beautiful gatherings. The conversations when we are all together range from custom home building and architecture, to fitness, food and fashion design, to homeopathics and neonatal nursing, to boats, marine logistics and shipping, to writing, publishing and filmmaking. (How is that for a run on sentence?) And lest I forget – we now have a student of equine medicine in training! Diverse and widespread interests all in one family. But what binds us all together, besides the caring, is the love of books and reading, first nurtured by my parents.
If you are wondering how to instill a love of reading in your children, here is an article with 11 great tips.http://bit.ly/19RMGTO
And all these years later, despite every life challenge and obstacle, my parents are still each other’s best friends. Isn’t that an ultimate love story?
This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling.
Minds, Metaphor and Imagination
Leave a commentHave you ever wondered why we use metaphors in writing and speaking and the influence the imagination has on clearly understanding concepts?
In James Geary’s book, I is An Other: The Secret Life of Metaphor and How it Shapes the Way we See the World, Geary explores how children think differently than adults and thus their perceptions of the world are different. Intuition and pattern recognition also may play a part in children’s comprehension of concepts that are too big for them because they have not yet experienced certain ideas in life. Geary’s book is an interesting read for anyone who wants to know more about how children learn and think.
Metaphors are interesting. If you want to know more about the use of them in communication, http://www.brainpickings.org/ is a site that will stretch your mind and imagination. A summary of Geary’s book is posted on the site www.brainpickings.org, as well as other things for your brain to digest and to conjure about.
The beautiful child was the center of attention, with his golden curls and tuna fish complexion. – Author Unknown
See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling, the blog of www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com
Logo Redesign for CFS
4 CommentsHide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade? ~Benjamin Franklin
Ta da! How do you like our new logo? We’ve had a few trial and errors, as is the case with most artistic projects, but we finally have it right and we love the new look! Persistence pays off.
I’d like to thank my team of two creatives who helped bring the globe out of the box. The logo has been redesigned to keep up with the new generation of publishing. Books are now being instantly delivered to readers all over the world, thanks to digital (electronic) publishing.
My son, Marc, came up with the revised logo concept and designed it. The demands of his main line of business, working in the filmmaking industry http://marcrleonard.com/ drew him away, so Margy Ziegler of MZ Graphics put it all together in a banner that could be used for this website.
A few things about Marge – she is rather modest when she states she designs tee shirts. Her capabilities are much greater than that. She has been in the field of graphic design since she graduated from the prestigious Maryland Institute of Art http://www.mica.edu/ about three decades ago when she began working with LifeLike Products. Since then, she has worked with other companies on many different projects. For instance, if you are looking for a sell sheet for a product or service, Margy can help you with the graphic design of that!
Authors and publishers – Marge has the skills to design and print unique, custom-made tee shirts with your book title and book cover image on them. They will fulfill two purposes – promote your book and keep you artfully dressed on the streets all at the same time! Although MZ Graphics offers a no minimum order policy, remember to order enough custom tee shirts for your family and friends, so they can wear them and help advertise your book, film or music.
Visit the Facebook page of MZ Graphics by following this link.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/MZ-Graphics/526509920722129
See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling. This blog brought to you by http://www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.
Escaping Political Landscape with Humor
Leave a comment“Happiness is like manna; it is to be gathered…and enjoyed every day. We have to go out of ourselves…to gather it, since it has rained down from a Heaven at our very door.” ~ Tryon Edwards (American theologian 1809-1894).
Yesterday’s blog about fickle Mother Nature made me think of a film that is currently playing in theatres across the country. The title of it, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, sounds like a description of our country’s political and economic landscape at this moment, but I assure you, the storyline is quite different.
The book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is manna for the soul. I must have read it to my son a hundred times or more, over the course of his growing up. It was a favorite and we returned to it time and time again, especially when we wanted to end the day on a positive note. I could probably recite the text by heart.
The illustrations in the book made us laugh – images of Mother Nature releasing storms of mashed potatoes, meatballs and spaghetti. There were memorable pictures of torrential downpours of salt and pepper, people being flattened by flying hamburgers.
Despite the chaos, the governing body in the town of Chew and Swallow didn’t shut down. The plow trucks were out removing piles of peas and carrots blocking the streets and making order out of mess. They were working hard to solve the problems and change the landscape from rotten eggs clogging progress to a more sunny side up environment.
Now that I have been involved in writing and publishing, I see the book as a great example of how an author, Judi Barrett, used her imagination to create a wonderfully entertaining story for both children and adults.
Ahh… the days of reading bed time stories. My son, Marc, is now twenty-five years old, and a filmmaker specializing in visual effects. He also works as a film colorist. A perfect way to spend a holiday evening would be to watch this film and escape to the fictional town of Chew and Swallow together where we can look in on his world, and he will have fun providing feedback about the movie.
I think I’ll put the DVD on my shopping list for Christmas…..sshhhhh…don’t tell Marc.
Here is where to purchase the movie if you can’t catch it at the theatre. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1985966/ .
This blog brought to you by www.cornerstonefulfillmentservice.com. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.
Harvesting Fall Films
Leave a comment“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
With fall upon us, we are entering into a season where nights are getting longer and colder, so we spend more reading and film viewing.
Harvest, a 2010 movie release, is about relationships, and coming to terms with the past, the immediate and the future as changes in family dynamics affect everyone involved. Issues of both aging and coming of age will be relatable to many viewers. The challenges, with both, put focus on the meaning of family making the story “undeniably heartfelt,” according to Newsday. The lovely seaside setting adds to the overall beauty of the movie.
Harvest has gathered many awards in it’s basket from some very prestigious film festivals. To read the full summary of the movie , go to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1302001/. The film can be ordered from the Internet Movie Database also.
Want an educational alternative with an adult subject? Check out this award-winning, independent documentary about harvesting grapes and winemaking in the Sonoma Valley. Harvest: The Blood, Sweat and Tears that Go into Every Bottle might better satisfy your tastes in movies. http://www.harvestmovie.com/
This weekend may be a good time to visit a local orchard to harvest the fruit of the season. Come home and heat up some mulled cider, bake a fresh apple pie, then relax and enjoy one of these movies with your family or your friends – because they are family also!
No matter how you decide to spend your weekend, make it fulfilling! And do return on Monday. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.
Important First Steps to Publishing
2 Comments“It is not in the pursuit of happiness that we find fulfillment, it is in happiness of pursuit.” ~ Denis Waitley
The e-Book Extravaganza on Saturday sponsored by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) was well-worth attending. During one of the breaks, the President of CIPA, Dr. Patricia Ross came over to me and said “Sue, I’d like you to meet one of our new members.” Of course, the usual niceties followed.
I asked the new member if she was enjoying the morning, and she said “Yes, but I feel so uninformed! There is so little I know about independent publishing.” Dr. Ross told her not to be discouraged, and off the President went doing her job of hob-knobbing about the room.
As the new member and I stood talking, I said to her, “You know, each and every person in this room started where you began today, knowing nothing. That is the reason you have joined this group -to get help, to learn, to network and become informed about your options.” There is a lot to learn and you have taken a very important first step. You have joined this group!”
“Yes,” the new member replied. “There seems to be plenty of knowledge to learn from in this group.”
Before the break was over and we went to sit in our respective seats, across the room from one another, I had one more thing I had to say. “In your free time, read anything you can get your hands on about the industry, and keep coming to this group. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself.”
To learn more about the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, please visit this link. http://www.cipacatalog.com/join-cipa/. Please note the organization also offers downloadable webinars if you are too far to travel to their meetings.
http://www.cipacatalog.com/categories/CIPA-College-Downloads/
As I drove home, I began to ponder how many first steps I have taken since 1998, when the independent industry was in its infancy. They’ve all been in a quest to learn all I could about the industry and it led to becoming a business. And the wonders and development of the independent publishing universe never cease to amaze me. I find it fascinating.
This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.
e-Book Extravaganza
Leave a commentKnowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. ~ Kofi Annan
On Saturday I made the very worthwhile three hour trek into Denver from Steamboat Springs, Colorado to attend Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) monthly meeting. The September agenda was an e-Book Extravaganza. Here are just a few things that were discussed throughout the day:
- The e-book industry now represents 33% of book sales. How about that?
- People like having a choice of formats, so offering books in print, as well as an e-book version is wise marketing.
- There is still a viable market for books-in-print but there is a certain part of the reading population who are clamoring for e-books due to their convenience.
- Surprisingly, people who are 55 years of age and over ARE BUYING e-books, contrary to what was expected. It is not just the young generation that are interested in the digital format.
- We discussed pricing of e-books and how you can leverage your intellectual property.
- E-books make it easy to offer samples, providing potential book buyers the opportunity to see if they like an author they’ve never read before.
- A big advantage to e-books – there is no printing involved, thus it removes the need for physical space of inventory.
If you are a writer who wants to get on The Fast Track to Independent Publishing, here is a short webinar that will introduce you to the basics. http://bit.ly/10cCp1Y.
Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, we will be discussing the next best step if you are a person who is considering independent publishing and you are in need of knowledge. I will tell you a quick but valuable story from this weekend.
This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com .
Timely Messages
5 CommentsChallenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine
On September 6th, National Read a Book Day I mentioned that reading one spark of an idea from a book can change us for a lifetime. I recently saw a sentence that motivated me big time! I took seriously the words: “the person whose life is full of faith is on the offense; he or she is taking charge of life, making decisions and making things happen.”
How’s that for a call to action? For weeks I had been indecisive about whether or not to sign up for a public speaking class. I knew it was something that I needed to do for myself if I am to pursue my dreams for my publication. As soon as I read the inspirational thought, I acted immediately and enrolled in the course, before I could “chicken out.”
The course is in the early weeks but it is going well. When it’s time, I will be better prepared to “strut my stuff,” and I will be one more step closer to what I dream of doing.
As I have said before on All Things Fulfilling, I try at all costs to hold myself accountable to any ideas that I broadcast on this website. Otherwise, I am full of phony-baloney. That is not one of my lifetime aspirations I can assure you of that!
The inspiring thought came from THE book I’ve hinted about previously that I will be revealing in due course. Before it appears on this site, I will give you the heads up!
This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Please return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow.
All Things Fulfilling 