Rx for Independent Publishers

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” 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?

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Pay it Forward

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“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?

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Top of the Morn’ – My Beloved!

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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!

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Come on Out from Hiding!

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“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?

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Spring Forth

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“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!

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