Category Archives: marketing and promotion

Connected Through a Gesture

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Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end. ~Scott Adams

It’s hard to find good news on TV. The other day, I was getting more disturbed by the moment, as I flipped through the TV news channels. Everything I heard was negative and upsetting. I subject myself to that, as little as possible.

Finally, I flipped to Fox News and just happened to catch the story of Laura Schroff & Maurice Mazyck. Have you heard their beautiful story? It is about the power of one person to change the life of another. Although, if you listen to interviews of these two people, whose lives came together many years ago, this is, by no means, a one-sided story.

The tale is about trust, family, hunger, need, rebuilding lives, compassion. One person’s stepping out to help another is now helping to drive the fulfillment of other’s needs throughout the country, through the publishing of this inspirational true to life story. Click here for info and ordering An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny.

Proceeds from this book are being donated to No Kid Hungry, a non-profit organization. http://bit.ly/Wmsej9.

an invisible threadThe story, The Invisible Thread, has become a NY Times Best Selling book. It would make for an outstanding book to film adaptation. I hope it is in the works!

Rather than tell you more, please take the time to visit this website. Be prepared! It will deeply move you, but in a way that is very different than most news stories. http://www.aninvisiblethread.com/

Look forward to visiting with you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling –  where sharing independent thoughts, words and views is all part of the business; I hope you’ll join us. This blog brought to you from www.cornerstonefulfillmentservice.com.

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Individual Expression

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“Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.”
Emory Austin 

In the January/February issue of Art of the West Magazine, there is an article by artist, Logan Maxwell Hagege, called My Voice is Coming Through. Hagege’s interests in art began in animation, but they eventually turned to fine art. Yet, the influence and his previous experience with animation can be seen to a certain extent, in his paintings. Many of his paintings reflect a southwest environment, but there is also a collection of paintings depicting the northeastern part of the country that truly reflect everyday life on the water. To see Hagege’s website, follow this link. http://bit.ly/Rv5ukg. 

We pick up cultural and societal influences throughout our lives –  in our travels, and through our encounters with people.  Reading the title of Hagege’s article My Voice is Coming Through made me think of how our own voices are reflected in everything we create. Whether we are practicing the art of living through our relationships, writing, painting, making films, composing music, making jewelry or any other kind of art. In the end, our creations are a picture of our imaginations, thoughts and emotions. 

self-reflection-in-mirrorOur voices even come through in the children we raise, steer and mold. We hope some of our words of wisdom to our kids will be remembered and thought about. Sometimes our attitudes come echoing back to us through our offspring, and we regret some of the things we ever said! I don’t think there has ever been a parent who hasn’t experienced that. 

In this digital age, we create profiles of ourselves through the images and words we post on the internet. Be aware of that, and post appropriate content. Believe it or not, potential employers now look at the internet to see what they can find out about someone they might hire. 

Individual expression is one reason why people find using social media fulfilling, but make sure it truly reflects who you are and what you are all about. 

More independent thoughts, words and views from www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com   tomorrow!

Anticipated Cinema Releases for 2013

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“What counts for me today are: making movies, creating and giving dreams.” ~ Claude Van Damme

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Last year, I went to the movies more frequently than usual. I’m hoping that the film industry will bring many fulfilling films to theatres in 2013. Here is a short list of anticipated movie releases for next six months; just a sampling from many from different genres.

To read the long list, please visit this link. http://www.movieinsider.com/movies/-/2013/   Many of these films are independent, while others are produced by the big film studios. Note: If you click on the title of each, when you go to the link, you can read a short summary of the film. If you click on the dates, there are even more titles.

Movie tickets can now be ordered over the internet, in advance, from www.fandango.com. Happy Movie Watching in 2013!

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

Spreading the Joy in Indie Publishing

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“Joy isn’t in things, money or positions. It is IN us. And we need to bring it with us and SHARE it!” ~ Unknown 

Day Two of 2013!  My resolution this year is to do something a little different each month, to promote our growing population of independent publishers here in Routt County, Colorado. 

snowboarding tricksWhy? Because I believe greatly in each one of our We Write Steamboat, independent publishers. They are a creative and well-educated group of people, male and female. Many of them are award-winning authors with award-winning books! Each of them is a healer of mind, body and spirit! They have career knowledge in all sorts of fields. Our members include teachers, physicians, life consultants,a chef, holistic health consultants, experts on our natural environment,  just to name a few. All with valuable experience in life to write about. Our group also includes young people and retirees who like to spin yarns just for the fun of it! (Of course, they don’t object to selling their books, also!) 

In my opinion, all writers are helpers and healers of mind, body and spirit! After all, we publish books to educate, inspire others, entertain,and inform readers. Could there be better reasons? I don’t think so. In fact, writing is as therapeutic for the author as well as the reader. It gives us a way to share our thoughts, emotions, experiences and our imaginations. http://bit.ly/ZSk0Yc.

A networking group of independent publishers, She Writes Steamboat, that I began almost two years ago, has grown, and as of January 1, 2013 we have changed our name to We Write Steamboat. From the very first meeting, we have had male writers attend, and we don’t want them to feel slighted! We’ve welcomed them and have been delighted to have them part of the group from our inception.

We, independent publishers here in Ski Town, USA and Routt County, Colorado, come together and meet monthly. In a nutshell, because producing independent books, films and music is a win-win for the artist creating the work as well as for the audience who so enjoys it! Our mission is to provide networking opportunity and to promote success of independent publishing. Our affiliation with the Colorado Independent Publishers Association www.cipabooks.com , also fosters our growth as award-winning writers and publishers.  

If you wish to learn more about starting up an independent publishing networking group in your area, contact me through this blog.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com, a company specializing in e-commerce and e-marketing for independent publishers!

Reaching Readers Worldwide

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HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! Today we will look back on All Things Fulfilling, over the past year and look ahead to the future.

FAQ: Does blogging work to promote books and business? My answer is YES! It provides promotion and advertising that would be, for most independent publishers, prohibitive if you used direct mailing or ads in print publications. Because we wholeheartedly believe in the power of e-marketing, I am opening up our year end report to our readers, so you can see our blogs effectiveness in reaching interested people all over the world. 

Our company’s blog All Things Fulfilling reached an astonishing 140 countries last year! Can you imagine the cost to reach people in those countries with direct mailing?

If you have never used social media to promote your business before, start in 2013, and www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com can educate and work with you to help you understand the marketing landscape in this digital age. A small investment reaps big rewards in exposure and visibility for your independent publication or independent business (publishing or other) through social media marketing (e-marketing).

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 18,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 4 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

Thank you to our readers in 2012. We look forward to sharing more with you about the independent publishing industry and all kinds of fulfilling things in 2013.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. A company specializing in e-commerce and e-marketing for independent publishers.

Unique Christmas Gift for Writers

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Christmas Gifts 1“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” ~ Albert Einstein 

Know someone who is loathe to the idea of giving up their typewriter for a computer? There are still rare individuals who write books using a pen and paper  or with manual typewriters. I personally can not fathom it. Seems painfully slow and unforgiving to me.

Using a typewriter was my ultimate source of frustration in writing term papers in high school. I took a course in personal typing and I was the worst kid in the class. It was so embarrassing. Our teacher charted, throughout the year, our  typing speed progress. The chart hung on the bulletin board at the front of the class and my speed stayed steady. It never improved. I knew right then and there, my career goals did not include becoming an executive secretary at a Fortune 500 company. I’d have to find something else fulfilling to do.

 The problem was my mind and fingers raced faster than the typewriter would go, thus the keys always got stuck and locked up together. And then there was the problem of correcting mistakes. There was no delete or backspace button. Every time I made a typing error, (which was about every other word) I wanted to stand up and scream. Long gone are those days, and I am much better with a computer. The keyboard can keep up with my thoughts and my “quick on the draw” digits. 

usb-typewriterThere are companies that are taking manual typewriters and retrofitting them to USB typewriters. Imagine that!  They sell conversion kits whereby you can do it yourself,  in relatively short order, if you like to tinker. Or the company will sell you an upcycled antique model. 

If you are still hunting and pecking to find a last minute Christmas present for a writer, visit this link. http://bit.ly/TzLtXW. It may just be the solution to a creative gift.

Return tomorrow, so I can share some special Christmas words and images. Come  on back!

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

Sign of the Times

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spread the loveI wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. ~Harlan Miller

I love getting Christmas cards in the mail, even those once a year letters telling me about the lives of friends I seldom see. You know, the letters that say Johnny is on the honor roll, the smartest kid in the school. Mary plays the violin, at age three, with an adult symphony. Jane was the star in the school play and was contacted by Hollywood to do a bit part in the movie that will probably win an Oscar this year. We are often inspired by those around us. Learning about other’s goals and accomplishments helps us to think about our own ambitions and dreams for the coming year.

Over the past decade fewer Christmas cards have arrived in my mailbox. I miss that. People are watching their pocketbooks and practicing time management skills by eliminating some Christmas rituals. I’m no different.

The other day I sent my first batch of Christmas cards – digitally. It was so easy! And my address book is kept in one place, so I can send anniversary, birthday, graduation cards with ease. Sad that I’m included on the list of people who are less frequently sending cards in the mail, I am buoyed by the thought that I can stay in contact with my friends by sending e-cards for every occasion, economically and easily. I like sending cards as much as I enjoy receiving them.

Even Hallmark and American Greeting cards are offering e-cards, their sales have been diversified, and business revenue is now made in  e-commerce. Both companies have been long known for wonderful sentiments on their cards, and I am sure the digital artists they work with have great ideas. E-cards even come with audio sound!  http://www.hallmark.com/.

this emotional lifeIt is important to stay in touch with people who have meant much to us in life, even if we don’t often see them. Friends enrich our lives enormously. There is a DVD called, This Emotional Life, available through Amazon, brought to you by PBS. It addresses just how important friendship is to our happiness. Check it out, and share this link with your pals.Click for info & ordering

Return tomorrow, and we will see what else we can stir up on the subject of personal fulfillment.

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

Film Friday: Ted

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“Teddy bears don’t need hearts, they are already stuffed with love.” ~ Anonymous 

Ted_posterWho didn’t have a favorite teddy bear as a child? For some kids, giving up a favorite stuffed animal is more difficult than others. Letting go means growing up, and sometimes that is hard to do. 

Ted, which is a movie that is all about a boy’s fulfilling relationship with his treasured friend, and how his unwillingness to let go of it affects others in his life. 

This comedy, from the creators of FamilyMan, staring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Seth McFarland has gotten good reviews. To read more about the movie and watch a trailer, please visit this link. http://imdb.to/WJwMkr. 

Please note this movie is NOT FOR CHILDREN, IT IS “R” RATED. While the storyline sounds “cute”, it has a spoiler to some people’s way of thinking. Unfortunately,  “Ted” a lovable, cuddly little creature long associated with childhood, good feelings and innocence has beenTED pared with a film with swear language, scenes with drugs and booze. “Ted” learns some realistic but not so nice things about life from it’s owner. But, as we all know, far too often filmmakers feel the need to include “bad boy” behavior to draw in the audience, create conflict or make movies appeal to adults. Never the less, their is some good humor to be found in this movie.

Click here for info & ordering Ted

 Come on back next week for more independent thoughts, words and views from www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com .

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

End of the Year Reflections

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“We are the creative force of our life, and through our own decisions rather than through our conditions, if we carefully learn to do certain things, we accomplish goals.” ~ Stephen Covey

It is getting toward the end of year and we all know what that means – reflecting on the past year and setting goals for the coming.

Over the past year, it has been so very gratifying to have worked with a variety of authors consulting on selling publications through e-commerce and steering them with internet marketing strategies and direction. I’ve had the opportunity to learn of unique independent publishing projects, and meet authors who have creative minds and stories. It is extremely fulfilling work.

What I love about independent publishing is the vision people have for their projects and their ability to carry out those visions because the only “gatekeeper” is their own power of motivation, creativity and inspiration. “Independent publishing types” understand Napoleon Hill’s philosophy that “what the mind can conceive, it can achieve!”

My involvement with the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, http://www.cipabooks.com also grants me a chance to work with associate service providers who are so knowledgeable about what they do – from editors, to e-book formatters, cover designers, indexers, to copyright experts, traditional book promotion companies, proofreaders, legal experts in publishing issues and so much more.

decisionLast week, when I was walking about Steamboat celebrating my landmark day of 1,000 blogs that I had written on All Things Fulfilling, I made a decision for myself about this coming year. I am rather excited about it. Come on back tomorrow and I will tell you more about it.

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More Fulfilling Signs of the Season

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“Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.” ~ Washington Irving

On Friday I posted photos of my walking tour in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I had given myself permission to enjoy the day doing something different, in celebration of my 1,000th blog on All Things Fulfilling. 

Today I continue with more photographic images of Ski Town U.S.A., and over the weekend Mother Nature left us with a fresh coat of white, which was greatly appreciated by this tourist town that relies on winter recreation of all kinds. 

My husband and I are grateful to live in such a beautiful and inspiring place, with gorgeous landscapes. Join me on this tour of historic Lincoln Avenue. The town has been bedecked, bedazzled and looks forward to welcoming all. It’s a very friendly place. Thanks for those who let me photograph their spaces.

IMAG0037Steamboat Art Company, offering wonderful coffee table art books and  unique hand hooked wool pillows from Chandler 4 Corners ,  designed by Laura Megroz.

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Center for Visual Arts, the CVA is a (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization and community art center. Their mission is to support emerging artists , provide exhibition space,  educate through guest artist series and work with youth.

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Homesteader Kitchen Shop, specialty food items and wonderful kitchen gadgets and accessories.

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Nutcrackers Stand at Attention in the Windows, Handsome Fellows!

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Oh, look! The winter exhibition at the Steamboat Art Museum begins December 21st – a Retrospective of painter Jean Perry and sculptor Curtis Zabel. Can’t wait to check it out.

Photo Below: Lyon’s Drugs and alot more! Great gifts also.

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Photos above and below, more gift suggestions from Off the Beaten Path, the Indie Bound Bookstore in town.

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Branches – home decor and accessories. Pictured above and below.

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This town in filled with businesses of all kinds, including a host of location neutral businesses and people with lots of entrepreneurial spirit. Makes living here, very interesting.

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