Category Archives: Careers

Oh, To Have Faith

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I have to laugh at my sister. I think she is more excited than I am about my book. Just revealing the front and back cover last week has given the entire family a thrill because I have been very secretive about what’s between the covers.

The other day my twin sent me a link to an article saying “You’ll appreciate this story.  In addition to having common roots in Baltimore along with this featured author, you two share the experience of having been  factory workers. (The link to the story Factory Worker turns Poet wins $100,000 is below.) Yes, it’s true I am now  a published author and I was a factory worker but my prize money has yet to come through!

One summer, when my sister and I were in high school in the late 1960’s we worked in a factory in the middle of BaltimoreCity. The facility handled medical records via micro-film (micro-fiche). My job was to cut and splice the film and stuff the film into plastic sleeves for historical recordkeeping. I worked all alone in a dark room, so that I could see what I was doing.

I was so envious of my sister! She worked in a big bright room next door with six or eight other women. They jived all day long to the sounds of Motown as they labored. So many times I was tempted to ask the boss if I could trade places and jobs with my sister. At the end of the day, my sister kept recounting how the women she worked with got up and danced around the room when a song from the Temptations or Supremes or Four Tops hit their fancy. The women really had heart and soul, evidently.

decision to tryI share this article about the factory worker turned poet who wins $100,000 with anyone out there who has dreams of becoming published:

http://on-msn.com/1cUH8MB.

No matter what you are doing now, it’s possible to add “writer” to your resume. Only you can make it happen! For me, it all started with writing a blog. In today’s world of independent publishing, there is nothing in this world that should stop you.  Dream, take action and find your own personal fulfillment in writing!

Oh, my sister has so much faith in my writing. She says she knows she will love my upcoming publication “Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected. ” Let me tell you a secret. She will! There are parts of the tale that are uniquely mine but part of the story is hers also!

Look forward to your return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

The Glory in the Challenge

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On Thursday, a very important package was delivered to my mailbox. It was a “proof copy,” the first printed and bound copy of my memoir “Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.”

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As I opened the package, this is what I was feeling – HAZY!

IMAG0997 In the same blur that has existed for several years now, while the book has been in the making. Writing and publishing a book independently, if I must be candid, takes commitment, persistence, a “can do/will do/nothing is going to stop me attitude. I had determined from the start that I would take on the words of Robert Schuller as a challenge when he asked “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?” I was out to answer that and prove it to myself!

Sure, there have been challenges along the way (some big and some small) but I never lost heart in what I was doing because I believed so strongly in the story that I knew one day I’d tell. Every time I got a little disillusioned with my progress, I’d remember the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, who once said “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but rising up every time we fail.”

Here it is – the proof copy. I’m excited but not done yet. Another go round of proofreading faces me.

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You’ll learn more about why I felt it was so important to tell my story when you read it. It has to do with the beautiful traits of a character in it. Although categorized as a memoir, it’s far more than a family tale. There is meaningful value in the universal messages tucked between the covers.

Today, I present to you all my glory……………and by Mothers’ Day, you can share it with me, when you read my story! You can even have it any way you like it – in print from www.Bookcrafters.com and other major on-line booksellers, in an e-book or audio book format. For those who decide on the audio book format – you are in for a very special treat!

See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.com. I’m so excited! This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Validating Quality Writers

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The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential…these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence. ~ Confucious

CIPA is one of the most active and top independent publishing associations in the country, and they have worked hard to gain their admired reputation. The Colorado Independent Publisher’s Association’s educational programs afforded me the opportunity to learn so much about the parts of the publishing process that I wasn’t well-versed in while writing my memoir, Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfillment in the Unexpected. It is soon to be released.

Writers write for all kinds of reasons – to inspire, influence and educate others. Aside from strong book sales, book awards validate that an authors work is worthy of respect and notice.

I encourage my clients to seek book awards whenever possible. A prestigious EVVY award from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association goes along way in recognizing an author for their excellence.

It is a very special year for the Colorado Independent Publishers. The EVVY book award contest is in it’s 20th year. It’s grown to include submissions from authors in countries that are far removed from the United  States. Last year contestants came from Dubai and Russia!

2014 CIPA awards    You need not be a CIPA member anymore to enter the contest, the submission guidelines have    changed. Here is what just one award winner, Teresa Funke, has to say about the contest. “I’ve been the lucky recipient of five CIPA EVVY awards over the last eleven years for my novel, my short story collection, and two of my children’s books. Why do I continue to enter the contest? Because CIPA is doing something very important with these awards . . . they are recognizing and honoring high-qualify self-published books of all genres and bringing credibility to the efforts we make as independent authors. CIPA was providing positive attention to our books long before many credible sources would even consider looking at self-published authors. Each year, my competition in the contest has grown stronger and more impressive, proof that we, as an industry, are moving forward. I’m proud to be a CIPA EVVY winner not just because it means that my books are good, but also because it puts quality indie books on a par with those that are traditionally published.  And, frankly, it’s fun once in a while to get dressed up and go celebrate our achievements with fellow authors who have worked just as hard as we have!” 

Here is a link to the website so you can read about the submission guidelines, the fees and the various deadlines. http://www.cipacatalog.com/pages/CIPA-EVVY-Awards.

Heads up! The submission deadline is May 17! Join in and don’t miss out!

See you on Monday on All Things Fulfilling. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com,

Holy Experiment Day

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So live that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip. ~ Will Smith

Today is Holy Experiment Day. You don’t believe me? Look it up! http://www.giftypedia.com/Holy_Experiment_Day

As a follow-up to yesterday’s blog about family secrets and in honor of this special day, send in your family secret by posting a comment to this blog on All Things Fulfilling.

Two%20ParrotsWe really like to laugh here at www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. – it’s good for the heart and soul. So if you have a family secret that you have kept hush-hush, now is the time to reveal it. Please do tell why revealing the secret is so personally fulfilling.  The funniest tale will win the contest.

The winner will be announced on Easter Sunday and if the author of the story agrees, it will be published on this site with full credit given to the guest blogger. The contest prize will be given out in May – a  free, personally autographed copy of my upcoming publication “Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.  Tell everyone you know to join in!

Family Secrets can be hurtful, so please read this article from Psychology Today. http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200909/the-power-secrets. It will help you to reveal in good taste what you’ve kept under wraps and not damage anyone’s ego! 

No monkey business, the tale must be true, clean fun and not hurtful to others in order to win the prize. Make my day! I want to hear from you!

See you tomorrow on the space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business.

Revelations for My Mother

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“…human beings are not born once and for all on the day their mothers give birth to them, but that life obliges them over and over again to give birth to themselves.”
― Gabriel Garcí¬a Márquez, Love in the Time of Cholera

Today is another special day in my personal and family life. Today’s blog will be very brief. It’s February 28th, the birthday of the woman who gave me life – my mother. Since thousands of miles separate us on this day, I wanted to give my mom something to celebrate on her very special birthday – something she will never forget.

So, here you go Mom, here is an image of my book cover that I have been waiting to reveal to you as a birthday gift. The official release of my book will be in May on Mothers Day but today I’m giving you a glimpse of what I have been promising is coming.

Low res front cover final

Happy Birthday, Mom. With gratitude for all you have given me through out my life.

Love you lots ~ Your eldest twin daughter, Sue

See you back here on Monday on All Things Fulfilling. Today I send out a huge thanks to Karen McLane, my cover designer from http://www.postnet.com/steamboat-springs-co105. She worked so diligently to craft a cover that exceeds my expectations for my first publication as an author from www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

What will Tomorrow’s Picture Bring?

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“Progress is impossible without change, and those who can not change their minds can not change anything.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

On Saturday evening I went to the movies and saw Philomena. Judy Dench was outstanding in her role, and I hope she is awarded an Oscar for her performance. The movie had a lot of important and controversial issues to reflect upon. As I watched the movie I thought about how integral dialogue has become to telling a story brought to cinema. “Talkies” gave way to a whole new generation of movies for the theatre. Now we are in the digital age of filmmaking which brings more changes to the industry.

I used to think that those behind the scenes of making a movie were inconsequential, that the only thing that really mattered was the actors’ performance. I’ve gained a new respect for the entire process of filmmaking since my son is in the business. In deference to all, I now feel  it’s necessary to pay attention to the long list of credits at the end of the film. The cast and crew is no longer a half dozen people like during the days of silent movies. With each passing decade the list of technicians who make movies come to life seems to get longer and more impressive as skills of the filmmaking artists become more specialized.

view master If you are a baby boomer you will remember the excitement of looking at film images through the Viewmaster. How far we have come from looking at film from one of these devices!

In retrospect, the idea of getting a thrill by looking at images through one of these devices is now laughable. Techniques of creating visual images sure have changed since the days of the Viewmaster. Now we can even stream film videos from our computers and from mobile telephones! Who would have thunk it fifty or sixty years ago?

Throughout this week on All Things Fulfilling, I will be posting other images that will arouse memories for baby boomers. Stay tuned!

This blog is brought to you from the space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. wwww.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.

A Piece of Humble Pie

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Gratefulness is the gallantry of a heart ready to rise to the opportunity a given moment offers.

~ David Stendl Rast

sweetheart_cherry_pieDo you know what today is? It is February 22nd – National Humble Day. Perhaps at first glance you may have thought I meant National Hubble Day -celebrating “the man who was first to show that the universe is expanding and is considered by many to be the father of observational cosmology.” 

Well, I suppose I am celebrating National Hubble Day in my own kind of way because today I am celebrating all who have expanded my world by introducing me to the world of independent publishing. It all started back in 1998 when I was hired by West Wind Fine Art, LLC  to handle the internet sales of the publication which became a smash hit for painters “Everything I Know about Painting” by Richard Schmid, published by Stove Prairie Press, LLC. (an independent press). At the time, hardly a soul was selling books over the world-wide-web.

Oh…how things have evolved. Never would I have dreamed that the position at West Wind Fine Art, LLC would have launched me into an entirely new cosmos. And an even more far-fetched idea of penning my own book! It’s  due to be released this spring.

Well, things have changed in my world and in the publishing world – dramatically! Ordinary people with extraordinary stories are now writing, publishing and selling books through the power of e-commerce and e-marketing. To read a report on the industry with some of the latest statistics, please visit this link. http://bit.ly/1dt6xv9.

Today, I’ll eat a piece of humble pie and look back at the changes in technology that have made independent  publishing possible for people who  have great stories to tell but would not have had a prayer of having a their stories told and sold traditionally.

This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Look forward to your return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow.

Swinging Life Apart

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“One must learn to love oneself with a wholesome and healthy love so that one can bear to be with oneself ...” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

girls standing up on swing set

Last night I had a wonderful dream that I was back on the elementary school playground with my twin sister. So today in my blogging we are going to travel down nostalgia lane.

Remember those days? Pumping on the swing trying to reach the clouds high in the sky? My sister and I often competed with one another to see who could push the limits. She usually won the race because her stamina was much greater than mine.

We were both pretty fearless when it came to heights, but I may have been the greater daredevil. As soon as we crested the top, we’d let go, become air bound and jump to the ground, nearly giving my mother a double heart attack.

An advantage of being a twin is that you have a “built-in” playmate.The challenge of being a twin is that people often treat twins as if they are one unit rather than two autonomous people with individual strengths, likes and needs.

Years ago, child psychologists theorized it was best to keep twins together in the same classroom, but they have since learned not so! http://bit.ly/1lWgEdY. When seventh grade rolled around my twin and I began to learn what life was like with separate groups of friends. We were put into different classes and weaned away from one another, having to adjust to not being together constantly.

Even to this day, we have lots of mutual friends. It wasn’t until I married that we really were completely separated and life has never been the same for us since. In fact for four decades we have lived in different cultural and geographical climates.  One lives in the heat and humidity surrounded by a huge population of people, the other in artic temperatures in remote and intimate surroundings.

What we share are similar values that were instilled in both of us when we were little. You’ll learn more about my twin double troubles in my memoir, Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected. Click for info & ordering

Do come back tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Tracking Consumer Book Buying Trends

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In October 2011, Bowker (the storehouse of all publishing statistics) announced they would be doing a major study on book buying trends, specifically on e-books.  The objective of the study is to obtain information about publishing industry growth patterns as well as for tracking quantities (traditional vs non-traditional/ independent book sales). The study takes into consideration the quantity of books in print vs. digital publications (e-books).  To read the August 6, 2013 report, please follow this link. http://www.bowker.com/en-S/aboutus/press_room/2013/pr_08062013.shtml.

Technology-quote-Northrop-FryeIn my opinion, this data is much needed since the publishing industry is so rapidly changing and growing.  The study will be useful to more than just the publishing industry. The technology industry, libraries, and bookstore owners will benefit from this data. Many brick and mortar stores are trying to evaluate out how they can best serve communities with the changes that are underway in publishing.

Knowing the latest book buying trends is also helpful to independent publishers like myself. It helps us to know what platform readers are using most frequently and whether to publish a paper version, digital (e-book) or audio book and how to price them.

Have your book buying habits changed or are they likely to?  Has your reading platform changed from paper to electronic? Are you observing any trends in the kinds of books that are available for sale over the internet? We would like to hear from you.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

EVVY Book Awards: A Big Year

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“I feel that the greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.” ~ Jonas Salk

2014 CIPA awardsThis is a big year for the EVVY Book Awards presented by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. It is a special event because it is the 20th year of the contest, and it has grown more prestigious than ever. After all, CIPA is one of the largest and most active independent publishing associations in the country.

The word of the contest is spreading and last year submissions came from all over the country, and for that matter as far away as Dubai! You no longer have to be a CIPA member to enter and win! However, there are great benefits to being a CIPA member including their educational opportunities to learn more about what it takes to becoming an award-winning author! Their monthly educational presentations cover all facets of the publishing process including selling in the marketplace.

Here is a link that will provide you with all you need to know about submitting your publication to the 20th annual CIPA EVVY book awards!  http://www.cipacatalog.com/pages/CIPA-EVVY-Awards.

Some key deadline dates to mark on your calendar:

  • February  1, 2014 submissions begin
  • May 17, 2014 Last day to receive entries
  • July 26, 2014 Finalists announced
  • August 23, 2014 Awards Ceremony – The big night!

You can’t win if you don’t submit! Here’s your chance to become an award-winning author of an award-winning book!

Hope to see YOU at the EVVY awards in August. Good luck to all who submit.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.