Category Archives: global order fulfillment

Speaking the Same Language

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“Finding out what a community will enjoy, support and get behind takes expertise.” ~Larry Smith

world book night 2013It’s April and you know what that means. World Book Night is just around the corner. This year, our independent publishing meet-up group, We Write Steamboat, will be distributing  The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbach. We have selected a group of people to give these books to who speak the same language and who will really appreciate the publication. More about that later , as World Book Night approaches.

Part of the business of being an independent publisher is to sell books and locate communities of people, all over the world, who have a common interest in the genre of writing or the subject that you write about. Non-fiction is generally easier to market, but fiction writers who approach their writing with goals of appealing to certain demographic groups, find the marketing part easier and even pleasurable. If you are selling your publication over the internet, through e-commerce, e-marketing (on-line promotion) using social media, is a critical part of it. It is very important to learn how to use social media effectively because without some knowledge of what you are trying to accomplish, your efforts could be for naught.

If you are a person who is new to independent publishing through e-commerce and e-marketing, its wise to put a little investment into hiring a professional to help you identify your markets and learn how to reach out to effectively to find people on-line with common interests. Look for a company that specializes in e-commerce and e-marketing for independent publishers.

Return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Growing from the Inside Out

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“And the time came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anaïs Nin.

living your best lifeWhen I  look at the geranium blooming in my office, there is no doubt the days have gotten longer, and the light stronger. No longer starved of what it needs to thrive, the plant looks enriched with more energy. Now the geranium is beginning to stand at attention, rather look wilted and stilted. Even humans, in springtime, have a renewed sense of spirit. We’re ready to spend more time being rejuvenated, creating, celebrating and growing from the inside out.

I’ve been reflecting that a little more than a year ago, I started writing my first full length piece. The writing has gone through about six revisions, and with it, so have I. Each time I have changed the text, there has been a thought process to evaluate whether the words match the message I had in mind. Alone, the exercise in writing has been valuable. But, it has also been an investment in learning more about my own self and what I have to say.

Like the geranium that sits inside in my office, waiting to be put outdoors when the conditions are right, there will come a time when I will need to release the book. Then a whole new dimension will be added to the self-discovery process. If I I have adequately blossomed and grown,  I’ll be able to spread my message through the spoken word also, about all the things I’ve been writing about. I am looking forward to the next step in independent publishing.

Living Your Best Life, by Laura Berman Fortgang, is a wonderful book that can help you to begin your journey toward feeding and nurturing yourself with what it takes to live a healthy, happy life. It is a good springtime read for those who want to invest in changing or rebuild their lives during this season of new life.

Return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of  Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected

Faith in the Path Less Traveled

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Weave in faith and God will find the thread. ~Author Unknown

I was without my computer for awhile yesterday; it was in the “shop.” I took advantage of the freedom away from digital technology. Since so much of what I do is on-line based, a close relationship with all things paper has nearly been trashed. I often read the news and magazines, and sometimes books, via the computer these days, subscribing to fewer print publications.

Yesterday, for a few blissful hours, I sat in the Bud Memorial Library and read the April 2013 edition of Southwest Magazine from cover to cover. How I enjoyed myself!

The first great article I encountered was about artist Michelle Dunaway. It was superbly written by Gussie Fauntleroy. Dunaway, an artist who lives and studied at the MastersAcademy in Albuquerque, NM mentioned the importance of finding the joy in unexpected things by getting off the beaten path. She told of her childhood hikes with her father, and whenever there was a choice to make about what direction to travel, he taught her to take the path least followed which, more times than not, led to discovering things she didn’t anticipate.

art faithAs a painter, each time Dunaway faces a blank canvas it presents her with opportunities to make choices of color, lines, shape and other design elements that make a good painting. She has been taught to make right choices in art through workshops with the most influential and impressive painters of our time, such asRichard Schmid  and Jeremy Lipking http://www.lipking.com. And by studying the book Alla Prima: Everything I Know About Painting.

Dunaway says she “has always had an  interest in capturing  human expressions in paintings.” Her image “Faithfulness,” shown in the 2013 issue of Southwest Art, is an exquisite example of her portrait painting talents. It can also been seen on Dunaway’s website. http://www.dunawayfineart.com.

Next time I am in Santa Fe, NM, I look forward to visiting Sage Creek Gallery where Dunaway’s work is represented. Legacy Gallery, M Gallery of Fine Art and Insight Gallery also exhibits and sells her work.

Return  tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Stimulating the Palette with Food Art

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Good food is wise medicine. ~Alison Levitt M.D., Doctor in the Kitchen®

flower kidsSpring has arrived in southern parts of the country. Gardens are sprouting new crops of fruits and veggies. Today on All Things Fulfilling, we will share images of food art that have been circulating over the internet. Mouth-watering ideas and all elements of art – color, shape, form, texture and values have been used to create these food compositions, as well as use of line and space. The visual effects are enough to make even the pickiest child want to eat the daily recommended servings of produce.

Some food art is basic, and any Mom or Dad can make it to impress their families, and stimulate palettes. While other compositions are very time consuming and are best left to highly skilled caterers. With practice and the help of proper kitchen utensils, books and DVDs anyone can now become a culinary artist in their own kitchen, and promote better nutrition.

John Gargone, a chef from Pennsylvania, teaches others his craft of food carving and sculpting in his popular book Food Art: Garnishing Made Easy and through his independently published DVD series.

You are invited to take this tour with me, through the fulfilling world of food and art. Perhaps we will both be inspired to include a little more creativity in our food preparation and diets.

apple with fruit

gold fish

goldfish adult

owl adult

motorcyle adul1imagesCA0MLBNUrose advancedbrocolli poodle kidsjpg

bird advancedface kids

Return on tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Stories of Faith on Film

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 “Faith goes up the stairs that love has built and  looks out the window which hope has opened” ~ Charles Spurgeon

Easter lily

To many people around the world, preparing for Easter  means more than shopping for Peeps™ candy, jelly beans, chocolate eggs and other confections. Spring is the season of renewal of spirit. For people of faith, that means remembering the Easter story of biblical times – a tale of crucifiction, death, resurrection and life.

On this Film Friday, I have resurrected a list of the top ten Easter movies of all times. Although Easter is several weeks away, perhaps your family would enjoy receiving one of these films in their Easter basket. I am posting this list early so you can add one of these DVDs to your shopping cart. Many of them are considered to be epic productions and can be located, and your order can be fulfilled through the Internet Movie Database www.imdb.com :

    • Passion of Christ (2004)

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    • The Robe (1953)

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    • Ben Hur (1959)

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    • Holiday Inn (1942)

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    • Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

The Last Temptation of Christ

    • King of Kings (1961)

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    • The Easter Parade (1948)

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    • Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

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    • Jesus of Nazareth (1977)

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    • The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)

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It’s interesting, as I was doing research for this blog I noticed that most of these films were produced decades ago. Is it true that the American people have fallen out of favor with the one of the cornerstone principles that our country was founded upon, faith? Is that why contemporary filmmakers are not approaching religious subjects? I’d like to think not, and Reelz is offering outstanding programming over the Easter Season.

Barabbas: Where the Bible Left off…His Story of Redemption BeganClick for info & ordering, a Reelz Easter Event,  premiers Monday, March 25 and Tuesday, March 26. Part I  of the mini-series, featuring Billy Zane, will be broadcast on the night of March 30 and Part II on March 31. To find out the times and the channel for Reelz in your viewing area, please visit this link . There is also a trailer on the Reelz website .http://www.reelz.com/barabbas/.

I’d like to end this blog with an audio Chapter from my memoir Gift of a Lifetime – Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected. It is a short Easter story that the entire family can enjoy listening to together. Have a great weekend!

Growth of Audio Book Industry

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“The reason why the universe is eternal is that it does not live for itself; it gives life to others as it transforms.” ~ Lao Tzu

On Tuesday afternoon we had our monthly We Write Steamboat meeting – a local networking group for independent publishers. It was reported that one of our members, author D.A. Hill, now has an audio book version of his novel. It’s selling well and we discussed the growth of the audio book industry.

We are fortunate to be living in an age when we have so many reading choices. Publishing  has gotten more complicated because of the new options. Learning what readers desire can be very useful for authors who are considering venturing beyond publishing books-in-print. The Independent Publisher, an on-line publication, has posted an interesting article about the growth of the audio book industry. Here is the link.http://bit.ly/11hlMyJ.

The surge of the industry does not surprise me, for the following reasons:

  • The ability to multi-task and listen at same time
  • Portability
  • You can listen while driving or on a personal computer
  • Storage space not needed on a bookshelf
  • Audio books are environmentally wise – no paper/printing involved.

So many reading options are now available. Hopefully youth, who love all things digital, will find a more fulfilling reading experience on their electronic  and audio devices and their interest in the literary world will not wane during the teen years. Audio books are also excellent for seniors whose eyesight has been diminished with age.

All Things Fulfilling is interested in hearing from our readers and subscribers through a poll. What is your favorite method of having books delivered to you ? Do you enjoy digital, audio or books- in-print? The insight we gain through the poll will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Return on tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Lift Up Friends

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 “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ~ Marcel Proust 

Friday’s blog on All Things Fulfilling was a tribute to friendship and the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. 

I’ve had have further thoughts about the value of friends  since that blog writing. Coming together in friendship is the result of finding community with like-minded people – individuals who have joint interests, passions and beliefs in life.  In recent years I’ve made friends in service, through Kiwanis, and by volunteering once a week at an interfaith, community-run thrift store called “Lift-Up.” Being involved with arts organizations such as We Write Steamboat(a meet-up group for independent publishers), the Steamboat Writers Group , the Colorado Independent Publishers Association and  Strings Music Festival has brought me pleasure. Community involvement, with the Yampa Valley University Women has also been part of my life here in Routt County, Colorado.

It’s interesting, in a time when the news is reporting  church membership is declining, there seems to be very active participation in churches, in this town. Perhaps the remote location and natural beauty of the region make spiritual exploration important to folks. Yesterday, Reverend Tim at the UnitedMethodistChurch in Steamboat, elevated our spirits through his lenten season storytelling. Our new Director of Youth Ministry and independent musician, Taylor Anderson charmed us with  his musical skills playing the modern remix of  “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on his ukulele. Very uplifting for a day of Irish celebration. A song appropriate for so many who are grateful they can be here to retire, run location-neutral businesses or for recreational reasons.

After the service, our appetites were fulfilled with  tasty goodies baked by women with whom I volunteer at the thrift store donation center. Thank you, Jeanette, Shirley and Louise and to all the other generous people who bring in provisions for fellowship moments after the service each week. The special St. Patty’s Day confections were decorated artistically. The women poured heart and soul into their efforts, it was evident.  It is a pleasure to volunteer with these women at the donation center for the thrift store.

St Pattys Day UMCSt Pattys Day UMC3

Jeanette, Louise, Shirley and Sue (top image). We are only a few the 100+ volunteers that make Lift-Up so successful in this community.

Seasonal Sprouting, Roots of Fulfillment

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“Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.” ~ Dalai Lama

Our blogs this week have been devoted to the power of the mind. Today we are focusing on seasonal attitudes.

I believe God gave us four seasons so we can appreciate each of them for their own reasons and pleasures! What a treat to have Day Light Savings time arrive on Sunday to give us more hours of light. Warmer temps are around the corner, even here in northwestern Colorado. Easter, the holiday named after the Germanic Goddess of the Dawn “Ostern” arrives early this year. I’m grateful for that.

Spring brings beautiful images to my mind, and by just envisioning some the things that I associate with the season brings a smile to my face, and an uplifting of the spirit. It is a good time of year to do some housecleaning because our physical environments, our homes, have been closed up all winter.  

garden sproutsJust as importantly, however, is that we remember that the season of the dawn is for the renewal of the spirit, too. By sweeping away old beliefs, from our minds, that have held us back ,we prepare for new growth of self and allow seeds of fulfilling, new ways of living to take root and sprout.  It has been found that there is a correlation between wellness and spirituality. For more information, see this article. http://bit.ly/15MmRkt.

In this season of Lent, what old attitudes will you lift up and do away with in order to make way for improvements in your life?

Return on Monday to All Things Fulfilling, where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Brains at the Center of the Story

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  The Seventh Journey book cover

Robert J R Graham’s newly released fictional story, The Seventh Journey, is fascinating because of it’s insight into human behavior. The experiment that is at the center of the narrative warrants deep consideration. It addresses how brainwaves control our human emotions and potentially, by rearranging frequencies in the brain, the ramifications on a society could be stunning. 

We, as human beings, it must be pointed out, already have the capacity to change our own mindsets and outcomes of our lives through our subconscious thinking. However, the premise of The Seventh Journey introduced me to concepts that go beyond just individual behavior, and begged me take a more serious look at researchers speculation that media, through music and film, has the capacity to change large populations of people. If fiction became reality, the ramifications of this tale could positively overhaul the medical field, military engagement and the energy of the Universe, as we know it. Or conversely, it could be used to create a path of destruction and despair. 

I have not read a large selection of books in the new genre of writing, paranormal fiction, however, Graham’s publication was fascinating to me. I have always been a student of human behavior, and resolve to live a life that is personally fulfilling. I deeply believe my life experience will be the result of my own choices, intentions, thoughts and reactions to relationships. The Seventh Journey addresses the theoretical power of our own brain frequencies and energy we put out into the world. 

Robert J R GrahamThe Seventh Journey has been honored with the Editor’s Choice and the Rising Star awards from the publisher, iUniverse, a division of Penguin Books. It is the first book in a series. For more information on this Canadian author or to order this creatively written story in hardcover or paperback, please follow this link www.robertjrgraham.com.  The book is also available in e-book format through Smashwords http://bit.ly/ViAiFt  and at select bookstores in Canada. 

Anyone who has an interest in quantum physics, self-development and mastery will be stimulated by the concepts Graham brings to this invented story that could have astounding real life consequences.

reviews The Seventh Journey

Please return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, a space where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Mind Power Returning

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 “To think is to practice brain chemistry.” ~ Deepak Chopra 

On March 4th, I posted a blog called Stirring the Mind. If you missed it, please scroll back or follow this link.   http://bit.ly/12onO4D . The blog was essentially about some fascinating thoughts that were presented at a Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) conference in Long Beach, California by “The Young, The Wise and the Undiscovered” minds of innovative, creative and brilliant people. 

brain chemistryTomorrow on this site, Brains at the Center of the Story will be featured. Ideas about the power of technology, the brain and research on the sixth sense (our emotive powers) will be entertained through a review of a fictional book by a Canadian author who has “dedicated his life to uncovering the deeper truths within us all.”

Note: This book was briefly mentioned in a blog I wrote several weeks ago, called Transported to Another Realm http://bit.ly/ZxQMJd  where I told of removing myself from external stimuli so I could become fully engaged in this author’s story. He is a leader and life-long student in the field of self-discovery and mastery. and writes about some very fascinating and thought-provoking stuff!

Please return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, a space where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business. This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.