Category Archives: CO and Routt County

Community of Writers in Steamboat

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“Writers will happen in the best of families.”  ~ Rita Mae Brown

This week is the All Arts Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Art, in all kinds of mediums, will be represented. Performance artists, visual artists and culinary artists will be involved in this five day event that runs from August 14 to August 19th. For more information, please visit this link http://bit.ly/QsiJPR.

In 2012, the literary arts have been added to the annual event with A Festival of Local Authors. Stop by the Bud Werner Memorial Library on Saturday, August 18th from 10am to 2pm in Library Hall. Book signings along with panel discussions on writing history, writing the outdoors, telling stories in novel form, poetry reading and conversation is on the agenda. Book selections from the local writers will be on sale ranging from poetry, to publications of regional interest, to non-fiction to fictional stories – something for everyone.

The Steamboat Springs Art Council, Steamboat Writers Group, Off the Beaten Path Bookstore & the Bud Werner Memorial Library have teamed up to bring together 27 Yampa Valley authors and  publishers.

Indeed, there is a growing population of writers in Steamboat and the surrounding county. Some have been traditionally published while others have jumped on the Fast Track with Independent Publishing.

To learn more about how you can turn your dreams of becoming a published author into reality, there is a 18 minute webinar available through the Colorado Independent Publishers Association that will give you insight and perhaps pique your interest in going forward with your aspirations. http://bit.ly/oIkV2g.

Keep your eye on this website, All Things Fulfilling. We will continue to feature a growing number of authors who come to the Steamboat area seeking inspiration for their writing. Click here if you want to know more about Steamboat and the surrounding area.

This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Blessings Rain Down

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“A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world. “ ~ Joseph Addison

I had a busy and fun-filled weekend. I feel the pressure to fit in all of the summertime  activities that bring me personal fulfillment before the arrival of cool weather in NW Colorado.

Yesterday, my husband and I went paddle boarding on Steamboat Lake in north Routt County. It was fun and much easier than I would have expected. The board was big, wide and easy to balance. As I paddled out to the center of the lake, I purposely propelled myself around in a circle to take in the 360 degree views of the 10,000 ft. mountain peak surroundings. A small colony of artists have settled in the area of Hahn’s Peak, where the landscape is indeed inspiring, in its natural beauty. In a recent article, the Steamboat Pilot interviewed some of the artists living in the area and they spoke of what the area brings to their art. http://bit.ly/TwfrM0. 

Saturday evening, my husband and I went to a B a B y Q – a rancher’s version of a baby shower. I am so happy for the parents-to-be who are in for the gift of a lifetime in about four weeks. Parenting will change their lives in more ways than I could ever tell them.

Babies and the blessing of rain that has come, toward the end of summer, were topics  of conversation throughout the evening. As we looked out over the 200+ acres of the ranch landowner’s property, it was good to see that they are haying. Pastures, all summer, have suffered the effects of drought conditions – not good for the agricultural industry.

On Friday evening, I ushered at my last Strings Musical Festival assignment for the season. The 25th Anniversary year is almost behind us. Johnny Clegg, a musician from South Africa was terrific. The music his band played was different and multi-cultural, as was the commentary between each number. This Grammy-award nominee has spoken out against apartheid, and he considers himself a cultural ambassador which has earned him honorary degrees from Dartmouth, CUNY and the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. To read more about his accomplishments, and his music, Click here

The seasons of our lives and the seasons throughout the year come with their own pleasures. An extended fall for me would be most welcomed. I find all kinds of fulfilling things in the harvest season.

This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected andwww.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

A Fulfilling Look Back

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“Feeling a part of that community is my greatest reward.” ~ Paul Parker

As I write this final blog post for the year 2011, I am taking stock of many of the exciting things that have transpired over the past year within the independent industry and in my corner of the publishing universe.

 The independent publishing industry is gaining momentum here and everywhere. In June, I formed a networking group for independent publishers in Routt County. Six months later, I am happy to report She Writes Steamboat is an affiliate member of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. We are over 30 “independents” strong, here in Steamboat. A healthy interest group, ranging from want-to-bes to newly-published to experienced publishers who are looking for support. All wish to be successful in their writing efforts and in selling their quality books. Many have new projects in the works and are exploring e-book publishing, too. Just yesterday, at our monthly SHe Writes Steamboat meeting, a bright and ambitious 16 yr old high school girl joined us. She has already published and is selling her first e-book. 

My downloadable webinar, “On the Fast Track: The Independent Publishing Industry” is now available, thanks to the Colorado Independent Publishing Association. This 18 minute presentation is offered at the reasonable price of $10. CIPA’s mission is to provide affordable opportunity for education about the industry. I am onboard with that idea, too! tp://bit.ly/oIkV2g. 

Over the past year, I have been a contributing writer for the Steamboat Today Newspaper (The Steamboat Pilot). Interviewing and featuring the work of artists in different fields – painters, an actress/producer, independent filmmakers, writers and more on this blog site, has been fun. I am thrilled and grateful for all the opportunities I have had this year. It has been so rewarding to build relationships with blog readers, too. Thank you for visiting this site!  

Over 750 blogs have been published on All Things Fulfilling. The blogs are searchable by category and I invite you to peruse the many topics that have been covered. I will return to this post right after the New Year. In the meantime, I will be planning for the upcoming year and working on something that is very near and dear to my heart – my own book!  Merry Christmas to all. I hope you had a fulfilling year, too!

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

A Mysterious Relationship

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“The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.”

~ Ralph W. Sockman 

Don’t you just hate it when you think you are finished your holiday shopping only to remember you need just one more thing? If you have a family on your list who lives and loves the equestrian lifestyle, there is one more worthwhile item that you will want to add to your shopping cart this year. 

Executive V.P. of Marketing from the U.S. Equestrian Foundation, Kathy Knill Meyer, has called The Lost Legend of the First Christmas “the perfect “Christmas gift” for people who wish to know more about the mystical bond between humans and horses. This book, the first in The Lost Legend Trilogy by Jo Hardesty, is a gift that will be read year after year because of the appeal it has to the heart and spirit of mankind. The inspiring tale takes children and adults alike on a horseback journey that will lead the reader to a civilization that existed during the time of the birth of the Christ Child, Jesus. 

Besides being a skilled author, Jo Hardesty managed the top three Arabian horse farms in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s. As a horsewoman herself, she has known the companionship of horses her entire life. Through her fictional stories about the relationship between horses and the people who love them, she also incorporates living with faith into the storyline. 

Add this Christmas book or the entire Lost Legend Trilogy to your shopping cart. It is the perfect holiday, birthday or  “just because you’ll love it”  gift for the horse enthusiast in your life. For more information and to order, please visit http://bit.ly/vSAPTH.

Happy Holidays from Steamboat Springs,Colorado.

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

Collaboration Strengthens the Indies

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“Individually, we are one drop. Together we are an ocean. ~ Ryunosuke Satoro 

Independent publishers in Steamboat and the surrounding Routt County have good reason to celebrate this month. Our meet-up group, SHe Writes Steamboat has grown to include 29 members. We are fulfilling networking opportunity for independent publishers and fostering independent publishing success. Some members are first time publishers, others have several titles under their belt and many are working on new books. The group has been in existence since June 2011. 

Last weekend we made a collaborative appearance at Holiday in the Rockies. This event was organized by the Steamboat Art Council. http://bit.ly/uJFXs7.   SHe Writes Steamboat is also pleased to announce that our individual member’s publications are being considered by book clubs affiliated with the Bud Werner Library for reading in 2012. 

If you are an independent publisher, male or female, in Routt County or in the surrounding counties looking for a meet-up group of this type, we invite you to join us at our monthly meetings. We meet every third Tuesday of the month from 4pm to 5:30pm. For more information on the group and where we meet, go to the SHe Writes Steamboat Facebook page and send us a message you would like to be included in this group. Here is the link http://on.fb.me/oOWKWm. You can also contact me, Sue Leonard of Cornerstone Fulfillment Service, LLC, through SheWritesSteamboat@gmail.com. 

We look forward to learning more about you as an author, independent publisher and as a contributing member of this collaborative group!

Explore a Future with Positive Growth

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“What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” ~ Napoleon Hill

Today, on All Things Fulfilling, we are going to turn our attention back to the very reason some readers return to this website time and time again.

The publishing industry is increasingly changing and we use this space to keep our readers up to date about new developments in independent publishing. Now at a time where independent publishing represents more than 50% of all publishing revenue, every day someone new decides to tell their story through the written word. No longer do you have to have an agent or a letter of acceptance from a publishing house in order to move forward with publishing a book. Anyone can be an independent publisher and sell their books, films or music through e-commerce and learn to promote it through e-marketing. For best results, however, some education is needed to learn how to become visible and effectively reach potential book buyers through the internet. 

 The Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA )is a great resource, and especially for beginning independent publishers. There are valuable downloadable webinars available that will provide you with a basic introduction to the industry and help you along the way. The webinars are affordable and will help you explore and navigate your way through the independent publishing process. To start you along the journey, take an 18 minute tour of “On the Fast Track: The Independent Publishing Industry.”  http://bit.ly/oIkV2g. 

Before you jump in with your publishing project, my advice would be to learn what you can through downloadable webinars, join an independent book publishers association in your State of residence and attend independent publishing conferences.

Here in Colorado, the Colorado Independent Publishers Association is at the forefront of developing a fulfilling relationship with libraries for e-book selling. Learn about this partnership, through this article http://bit.ly/dNEX6N.  

Check back with us tomorrow, and we will bring you more independent thoughts, words and views about an industry that is fulfilling the needs of many people who want to be visible through their written words.

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

A Rising Story

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“A man is a man in every part of the world. It has nothing to do with race. It has to do with the culture and education that each man has received since he was a child, in his home. It has to do with how he was raised.” ~ Alicia Machado

I try to walk almost every day. It takes real commitment in my busy life but, I find my most important work of the day often gets accomplished while I walk. I keep my heart healthy and my spirit well-fed with the beautiful scenery that surrounds me out of doors. Snow capped mountains of 10,000 feet or more, big beautiful vistas and the feel of the winter wind or  sounds of the rushing water on the Yampa River fuels me along as I walk. I have to remind myself to look up and not down, otherwise I will miss what inspires me the most. 

As challenging as it can be in mountain country, I most often walk uphill. My best blog writing in my head, and from my heart, often occurs as I walk to the crest of the peaks. I build my story, step by step, as I move along. After a while, I forget that I am traveling by foot. It is as if I am taking a ride on that great invention of an escalator. I move forward with little effort and eventually without noticing, from whence I came, I am at the top. 

When winter sets in, leaving the warmth of a cozy shelter is hard. Before I set out, I often think – what is in this walk for me?  Never do I have to find the answers, the answers find me. It is all in the design of nature. This occurrence, time and time again, proves to me there is indeed, someone out there guiding and watching over me. I truly can not imagine living on this Earth without that fulfilling thought. Can you? 

These independent thoughts, words and views are brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Illuminate the Spirit

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“Dwelling in the light, there is no occasion at all for stumbling, for all things are discovered in the light.” –George Fox

Although the holiday season is for many of us the most beautiful time of year, for many it is the most stressful time of year. There are families who once shared happy times together but, those good ole days are gone. Some people are struggling to make ends meet. For others, a description of the holidays would be a sad time, filled with feelings of being alone. In reality, finding fulfillment during the holidays, for some, is challenging. 

One of the best ways to step out of our own misery is to acknowledge it, then move ahead and help ourselves by helping others. With a giving spirit, comes fulfilling thoughts. For those who make a living creatively, a positive spirit is especially a must. When  inspiration is at a lack, it is important to remember we are in command of our own thoughts. If we get out of our self absorbed ways, and get involved in a cause or with others, the synchronicity of these actions often gives rise to creativity. After all, people who live with positive attitudes live longer and more fulfilling lives; it is a fact. If we are thinking life affirming thoughts, it is that much harder for feelings of desperation to set in. 

Yesterday morning was blustery with gale force winds, not typical for this part of Northwest Colorado. The storms of winter made me feel as if I didn’t want to go out. My spirits began to rise as I listened to the musical cd These are Special Times by Celine Dion. Remembering it was Thursday, the day our Steamboat Writers Group meets, I was warmed even further by thoughts of joining with in others who share in reading their own written word – books in progress. 

Today, I would like to congratulate one of our members of the Steamboat Writers Group. http://steamboatwriters.com/   His “Morning in San Pedro” won honorable mention in the Gemini Magazine Flash Fiction Contest. http://www.gemini-magazine.com/. Way to go, Dee Hubbard! Good job. 

Return tomorrow on Film Friday! We will have information about an upcoming televised special about a mini-series. Join us tomorrow on www.AllThingsFulfilling.com.

Art Appearing on Boughs

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‘The place to improve the world is first in one’s own heart and head and hands.’  ~Robert M. Pirsig 

It is surely nearing Christmas time! When the Kiwanis Club of Steamboat begins selling their annual ornament at places around town, the holidays are drawing close. Beginning this weekend, the ornament will be available for buying. 

Our club’s major fundraising campaign is selling ornaments. From the proceeds we buy gifts for needy children at Christmas time, provide funding to send children to science camp, provide “Where to Worship” brochures for people visiting the area. We can be proud of our other random acts of service in our home town, too. 

This year, a talented and nationally known artist, Jean Perry helped us in fulfilling our interest in decorating the ornaments a little differently this year. Jean gave permission to Kiwanis to use an image of her painting “Fish Creek Falls” to embellish the bauble. 

It is a fair trade! Many visitors to the area purchase the ornaments in commemoration of their trip to Steamboat. They will take them as gifts to family and friends in other States, too. The ornaments will hang on boughs of Christmas trees far beyond Steamboat Springs,Colorado and people will become acquainted with the artist’s work. Good deal! 

Kiwanis of Steamboat is grateful to painter Jean Perry for her generosity in sharing her art, so that as a Club, we can “serve children of the world.” For more information on the artist, please visit www.JeanPerryStudio.com.

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

Historic Setting Filled with Jewels

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 “Art is something that has real value. It deepens each person’s respect for life.”         ~Dana Levin 

On the corner of 9th Street andLincoln Avenue, sits an historic building that has always been filled with riches. The building bequeathed to the city of Steamboat Springs,Colorado in 2006, now houses the Steamboat Art Museum. It is a gift from the estate of a long time artist and rancher, Helen Rehder.  The building no longer contains currency of the First National Bank. To fulfill the donor’s request, the building is now filled with wealth of another kind – top quality art exhibits. The community of Steamboat is so very fortunate to have this substantial acquisition. The museum attracts top-notch artists who wish to share their craft with area artists and tourists, alike. As each new exhibit is brought to town, emerging artists can learn from the master’s work through observation, painting workshops and demonstrations. 

On December 2nd, the historic setting of the Steamboat Art Museum will be installed with gemstone paintings of another of the country’s top master painters, Quang Ho. This artist, of Vietnamese heritage, immigrated to the United States in 1975. He became a U.S. Citizen and began wowing this country with his art five years later at the age of 16. Two years later, he earned a National Scholarship award at the Colorado Institute of Art, the same year his mother was tragically killed. He then began the responsibility of rebuilding his life and raising four younger brothers and a sister, too. 

Despite adversity and challenges, Quang Ho has become a well-respected top national artist who is accomplished at figurative painting, landscapes and still life. He has invested his time and energy in learning how to paint in oils and watercolor. He teaches emerging artists at the Denver Students Artist League and also through his publications of art books and DVDs on how to paint. 

Quang Ho’s paintings will be shown for a four month period, beginning December 2. An opening reception for members of the Museum will be held from 4pm to 5 pm. The general public is invited to attend during the Friday Art Walk hours from 5 to 8 pm on December 2nd. Quang Ho will be giving a painting demonstration the following day (December 3rd). Purchase tickets early! The demonstration is guaranteed to sell out. There are also tickets available to have dinner with the artist. For more details, please visit www.steamboatartmuseum.org. 

This exhibit is not to be missed, and it will hang until the closing on April 14th. Both locals and tourists will find a fulfilling range of compositions that this extraordinarily talented artist has allowed the Steamboat Art  Museum to bring to this town.

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