Category Archives: order fulfillment for independent publishers

Feeding the Mind, Again!

Leave a comment

“The most important thing to remember is this: to be ready at any moment to give up what you are for what you might become.”  ~ W.E.B.  Dubois

Things will be a little quiet on this blogsite All Things Fulfilling for the next few days. I will be at the Colorado Independent Publishers Association “College.” An event I greatly look forward to. I will be busy networking, cavorting, educating, indulging and engaging in a subject that has captured my interest and my passion for the past ten years – independent publishing! It is an industry that has gained enormous popularity and has evolved greatly. There is never a dull moment, and there is always something new to be learned, gained, profited from educationally and professionally, with each new publishing event I attend.

As a blogger, I am on the job 24/7!  Well, maybe not 24/7, I do sleep! I am grateful that I never remember my dreams. If I felt pressured to blog about events that occurred in my sleep too, it would be cause for total burnout! Since I am a person who struggles with quieting my mind, as it is, it would be the worse case scenerio of stimulus overload I could ever encounter! But, during my awakening hours, I am always on the lookout for my next story.

When I return on Monday, I will have plenty of blogging material I will want to share with my loyal readers. I have decided that until the general population catches up with the blogging world, you could just call me a reporter. The power of e-marketing and social media marketing is awesome but few understand it. Not quite yet, anyway!

While I am away, enjoy a little bit of spring unfolding before your eyes.

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

Counting Down

1 Comment

“The only thing that will stop you from fulfilling your dreams is you.” ~Tom Bradley

Isn’t it fun when you get together with others that speak the same language as you do? Networking with communities of people who like to converse about the same things as you do is fulfilling and definitely has it’s rewards. For an independent publisher, attending workshops and publishing conferences is especially valuable. All the tricks of the trade can be learned in this ever evolving, fascinating world of independent publishing.

Only two days left until the Colorado Independent Publishers Association “College” begins in Denver, CO. Each spring, the Board members of this publishing trade association of 450 members brings together vendors that are “the best of the best” in the business. Book printers, editors, copywrite/trademark experts, book marketing companies, producers of book trailers, leaders in creative writing workshops and other freelance professionals who support authors and independent publishing, through their services, will be present. Folks who can give  you advice on partnering with order fulfillment companies for independent publishing success will be there. Outstanding keynote speakers will even rev up and wow the crowd!

The “College” will culminate with a dazzling event! The best independently published books of the year, by Colorado residents, will be recognized with an EVVY award! For more information, please visit www.cipabooks.com.

When you come, look  me up! See you there!

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

Shedding Some Light

Leave a comment

“One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can’t utter.” ~ James Earl Jones

A week or two ago, I blogged about men. I wanted to know what things men like to write about.  My point that men, I suspect, like to write about entirely different subjects than women, could very well be proven if only I could open wide the doors of communication on this issue.

One of my loyal blog followers wrote to me to say that her husband likes to blog all about his skiing adventures, he also writes about the rules of Australian football and is tinkering around with the possibility of delving into science fiction writing. Ok – that is a start! And then there is my acquaintance , Jon! Jon Katz is the best communicator I know who writes about his relationships with four footed creatures (canines!). Now he has decided to try his hand at writing children’s books. For more information, see www.Bedlamfarm.com.

I have been taking particular note of the men folk in our writers group- we’ve got a poet among them, a writer focused on young adult (teen) literature using a very creative approach, and a few other interesting subjects that I can forsee the target markets as being male readers.

Don’t for once think that women can’t write about men’s issues! Jon’s daughter, Emma, has decided to jump into the publishing world, and she has written a book about baseball, of all things!

Come on, guys, don’t be shy – let’s hear about your writing endeavors. How are you going to sell your books if you won’t talk about them? It just does not work that way – bookstores don’t sell books, people do! If you aren’t hyped up about your publications, how do you expect others to be? Get out there, sell yourself as an author and perhaps with a little help from your friends, we can get the job done!

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

Spirit of Adventure

Leave a comment

“A work of art is above all an adventure of the mind.”                                   ~ Eugene Ionesco

There is a commonality that I have found among all independent publishers. It is the spirit of adventure. This should not be a surprise to anyone! The creative mind knows not where it is going or what the end result will be. It is the sense of the unknown that keeps the creative process going.

Daydreaming, engaging in fantasy, reliving old memories and creating new, are all part of the creative process. The artist does not exist to support the mind, the mind exists to support the artist. Paying attention to the little nuances of life creates the experience that an artist draws from. To the artist, mindfulness is not judging, rather it is simply observing and then letting the creative process take  hold, meander, carry and go with the flow of energy.

Are you a person who is considering joining the ranks of  independent publishers? Don’t let fear and uncertainty hold you back. Take action, jump aboard and embrace the opportunity! Your creativity,  your knowledge, your inspiration and your tales of entertainment will take your readers to places they have never been before. Enjoy the creative travel and welcome to the wonderful world of independent publishing!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Weekend Indie Publisher News

Leave a comment

Happy Saturday! Did all of you know March is Youth Art Month? Well it is! Invite a child and his or her parents into your studio this month, and share your passion for your craft. Maybe they will even want to go home with a souvenir – a piece of your work!

Art education teaches children about shape, color and form.  Children are able to articulate their feelings, their dreams and their expressions of perception through drawing, painting, writing, dance, film, pottery and every other medium of art.

Art education is often misunderstood and underestimated. Take a few minutes, watch this video and learn more about the important  part Art plays in the development of a child.

This  blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Rx for Independent Publishers

Leave a comment

” By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination.” ~ Christopher Columbus

Have you ever tried concentrating on and keeping track of 10 or 12 book manuscripts at a time? Wow – it is a trip! All I know is that some people can do it. And for those that can, I am truly impressed. But I am not one of them.

I had been attending the Steamboat Writers Group on a regular basis. I had been listening to and following 10 or 12 works in progress. Too many things had been begging for my attention and it had been far too many weeks since I had attended. Yesterday, I took a little time out of my day to sit in on the group. It was as if I had started reading 10 or 12 books, put them down and I am now trying to pick them back up again. I am paying for my absence and neglect now! Trying to re-enter the stories was nearly impossible!  The narratives have moved forward, character traits have morphed, I’ve missed critical junctures in the storyline, the settings have changed and the plots have developed in ways that I never expected. Some manuscripts are even drawing to a conclusion. I can no longer remember who is doing what!

Whether you are a writer or a reader, when you are distracted, it is hard to get back on track. Being able to work on a publishing project, without diversions can make all the difference in the quality of the end result.

If being able to concentrate is a challenge, seek first to understand what it is that is distracting you and preventing you from moving forward with your project in an efficient manner. Research what right options will help you clear the way. Order fulfillment for independent publishers may be the perfect prescription for what ails you. As an independent publisher, what would it mean to be able to focus on your primary business at hand?

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

Pay it Forward

Leave a comment

“Many men have been capable of doing a wise thing, more a cunning thing, but very few a generous thing.” ~ Alexander Pope

The other night I went back to school! I am exaggerating just a bit. It wasn’t really  night school, but being a supporter of life long learning, how could I turn down the opportunity to learn some new things? Two of my friends invited me to attend a dinner meeting to learn all about the purpose of a hospital auxiliary. All I could think of when I heard the words “hospital auxiliary” were my high school friends who were signed on by their mothers, against their wishes and much to their dismay, to be “candy stripers” at the local hospital for the summer.

I found out that my perceptions of a hospital auxiliary were misconstrued. Hospital auxiliaries serve to bring involvement opportunities to the whole community, not just to idle teens. They help raise funds for approved projects. They set up programs so that community members can volunteer their services at the hospital.  I learned of the multitude of volunteer opportunities available at our local hospital, the Yampa Valley Medical  Center.  To name just a few – if you are a person who loves pets, you can volunteer with their pet therapy program. If you wish to spend time with little ones, there is a volunteer program in the hospital employee’s daycare.  If you are a “people person” and enjoy talking with patients and their families, you can spend time visiting and spreading good cheer with the cookie cart, rolling it through the hospital halls. It is not just about candy stripers anymore!

The conversation of the evening turned to the amount of supplies such as crutches, knee braces, splints, arm slings that go home with orthopedic patients in this very athletic town. The supplies are used and then discarded when no longer needed. Often, they are still in like-new condition. Is there not some way they can be reused by patients in other countries such as Macedonia, who  are lacking in current and  up to date equipment? Wouldn’t recycling them be a better alternative then having them end up in landfills and dumps? How about it America?

Many hospital volunteers are retirees who are in good health and have good hearts, who wish to help others. No one likes  being in the hospital, but with folks who so generously give of their time and fulfill themselves through community involvement, it can make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. You never know when you may be on the other side of the coin and in need of help from others. How would it feel to be able to pay it forward?

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

Top of the Morn’ – My Beloved!

12 Comments

May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside a fire. Laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all your heart might desire ~ Irish prayer

How could I ever forget and make a statement to all of you, a few months ago, in my blog writing that my Uncle  John was the only known published author that I knew of in my family? That is so not right!!

From the time I was a little girl, my Dad would sing to us four kids in his oh so awful voice, the words of a song called Kathleen Mavourneen. And now, his eight grandchildren have to suffer through it! It has gotten to the point that we roll our eyes, we grin, we outright laugh when he starts in. He sings the song to remind us of his and our family roots. You see, Frederick Crouch is his namesake and his great-great-great Grandfather. Professor Crouch composed the song Kathleen Mavourneen in 1837. “Mavoureen” is a term of endearment derived from  the Irish Gaelic mo mhuirnin meaning “my beloved.”

Irish soprano Catherine Hayes (1818-1861) was the first Irish woman to sing at La Scala in Milan. She learned the song Kathleen Mavourneen and it became her signature tune during concerts. She, in fact, sang it for Queen Victoria and over 500 royal guests at Buckingham Palace in June 1849. The song, gained popularity with American audiences as a result of the extensive touring of Catherine Hayes.

The song became a popular camp-fire song during the Civil War period and in fact, it plays a prominent role in Michael Shaara’s historical novel the Killer Angels and it’s film adaptation Gettysburg. 

I have never heard the song sung in it’s entirety, only a  few verses in my Dad’s less than outstanding rendition. Perhaps, some day, I will hear the song in a more memorable voice that can do it justice but until then, it is just a family joke, every time my Dad starts in.

Top of the morning to my beloved family! Wish we could all  be together, share a dinner of corned beef and cabbage. Who would bring the green beer? Erin? Kyle? Kara? Devon? Marc Ryan? Holly? Taylor? Maggie – no definitely not Maggie!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Come on Out from Hiding!

4 Comments

“We look at each other wondering what the other is thinking but we never say a thing.” ~ Dave Matthews Band

I decided to do a little research over the weekend. I wanted to know what things men most frequently write about. Guess what – my research fell flat! I searched all over the internet with terms such as – subjects men like to write about, most frequently published subjects by men, most popular genres of books published by men.  I could not find one thing that gave me insight into my inquiry.

Being of the other gender, I am truly interested in this subject. What do men like to write about? I have my suspicions but, don’t go there! Men and women are on two different planets when it comes to communication, thus the subjects male independent publishers like to write about is almost guaranteed to be different than the subjects women like to write about. After all, due to our differences in genetic make-up, the way each gender is raised and the chemistry of our brains, we go through life with completely different points of view.

I want to be an equal opportunity blogsite! My slant has been far too focused on women and women’s issues. Having grown up with two brothers, I can converse on a number of subjects, you would be surprised. But, please of all things, do not ask me to blog about car mechanics, football or nuclear particle accelerators!!  Ask me about fishing! I have done alot of that in my lifetime, and I even know how to clean them!

Help me out here, what do men most frequently like to write about?

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Spring Forth

2 Comments

“From heav’nly  thoughts all true delights doth spring.”                                  ~ Thomas Cameron

By the end of winter, I’ve looked long enough at all the shades of gray, brown and white. I have grown weary of seeing the natural landscape wearing the same colors for five months or more. By the end of winter, I am color deprived and am ready for the earth to deck itself out in an assortment of pastels and greens, once again.

Floral paintings have a special place in my heart and my art collection includes many. In the dead of winter, I find botanical paintings especially comforting and meaningful. During the cold, gray days of winter, I find myself studying the floral compositions. They help me to remember that Mother Nature never fails to burst forth with a whole new landscape every spring.

Today, I am going to indulge myself and buy a bunch of daffodils from the Visiting Nurse Association. Every March, the VNA sells bouquets of spring to those in need of a splash of color in their lives. Nurses know alot about healing the body, but they also know how to heal the spirit. Their fundraiser of selling daffodils comes just when it is most needed. In my previous place of residence, one of my friends reliably showed up at my door, impromptu, bouquet in hand every March. She instinctively knew when I needed a lift of color and spirit after a long, long winter.

It was then, that we knew it was time to talk and plan for our upcoming season of perennial flower gardening.  Vermont has the best climate for perennial flowers – the days are not too hot; cool and dewy nights. I find fulfillment, like no other, out puttering in my garden from May til October.  There is something rejuvenating and life affirming about working the soil and the earth. To me, it is not toiling, it is pure pleasure! Any shreds of artistic talents I have, are best put to use in the garden.

The season of darkness has begun to diminish. Daylight Savings Time allows us to witness, for an extended period each day, the pastel hues that slowly paint the natural canvas, called earth. Watch in awe and wonder as Mother Nature does her thing this spring!

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