Tag Archives: order fulfillment independent filmmakers

Holiday Preparedness

As much as I hate the idea, I am afraid I will be joining the ranks this year. The ranks of last minute shoppers. The end of the year has crept up on me all too quickly, and as with any business, there are so many things that I need to take care of before I can even think of holiday shopping.

I really don’t like waiting until the last minute to holiday shop. I like to put thought into the gifts I am giving, and know that I am buying a gift that the receiver will really like. And then there is the issue of fighting the masses of last minute shoppers, standing in line at the cash register and waiting your turn to pay.

On second thought, I think I will shop-on line this year. That way, everything will be delivered right to my door. Whoever thought of the  e-commerce way of shopping, must have had the holidays in mind, as it has been a gift to all of us. I will miss the holiday spirit of stepping into decorated stores, seeing the hustle and bustle of the shoppers, and having the store clerks exclaim “Merry Christmas!”  I guess  it is not a big deal, I will create  my own holiday atmosphere right at home by putting on some Christmas music while I shop-on line. I need to always remember those words of some brilliant philosopher “blessed are the flexible, for they shall not get bent out of shape.”

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Pass it Along

“The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.” ~ Benjamin Disraeli

Today is a day of great sadness for my family. We have lost one of my son’s most valuable mentors in life. An educator and filmmaker, and all around wonderful person. He was so compassionate that he spent his final years producing a documentary about advanced cancer “Voices from the Lived World of Illness” for the Center for Communication in Medicine. This film and study guide is now being used to educate medical students and families about the importance of good communications between patient and doctor.

He fought so hard against a cruel blood cancer, and as he fought, he taught. Communication with others came so natural to him. My son and so many other students, are recipients of all the knowledge a person could possibly share about life, teen issues, about friendship and mentorship. He was committed to teaching emerging filmmakers every thing he has ever known about the business, before he left this world.

Thankfully, he had a wonderful support system throughout his illness. Those who knew him, tried in every way they could to return the same kindness and compassion that he had shared with others.

His legacy will be the education he so generously gave to his students, and the knowledge that will be communicated to others through the documentary film he produced.

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A Smile on a Face

“We can not do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.” ~  Mother Teresa

Things are beginning to look like Christmas here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The town is bedecked with lights, Mt. Werner has gotten some new fallen snow, the hustle and bustle of holiday events has begun.

It has been some time since I have bought toys for “little ones.” Last week, I had a wonderful time picking out a few special gifts for children in two families. Our club, the Yampa Valley University Women, had partnered with the United Way and committed to fulfilling Christmas Wish List needs for two “adopted” families.

As I searched for a few perfect gifts for the “adopted” children on my list, a sense of nostalgia began to set in. I began to remember how special bedtime was for my son during the Christmas holidays. On his bookshelves sat a number of seasonal books that we saved all year long for Christmas reading. We couldn’t wait to revisit them year after year. Some of his favorites included:

  • The Mitten by Jan Brett
  • The Night Before Xmas (pop-up version) by Clement Clarke Moore
  • The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett
  • The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
  • Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

The images in the Jan Brett books were so bright, clear and fun to look at. Although it made me cry year after year, no book was more special than The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. It’s message is beautiful, and it reminds us all that the simple things in life can bring out the best.  Old family friends gave this book, and many other holiday books to our son. Each Christmas, we always remembered the thoughtfulness that came from The Miller family in picking out and giving very special books to my son.

Many bookstores, such as The Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, Vermont www.northshire.com have “Christmas Book Angel” programs, to provide books for needy children. While you are doing your holiday shopping, buy a holiday book for a child you know, so they will have a book they can read Christmas after Christmas.

It’s time to make Christmas!!!

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Admiring Art

“Look at every thing as though you were seeing it either for the first time or the last time.”  ~Betty Smith

All of us have our own interpretation of what good art means. What one of us may deem to be beautiful, may have little merit for others. Some of us like representational art, others prefer abstract art presented in large installations or sculpture, some enjoy art in the form of handcrafted items. Creative expression comes in so many forms.

Art has merit in my own eyes, when it strikes me immediately. It may come in the form of a painting, an exquisite voice, a superb theatrical production, a symphony of sounds, meaningful lyrics to a song or a well executed book or film.  A  meal with beautiful garnishes or even a beautiful flower arrangement is a work of art.

There are paintings that I love to revisit day after day,  as if I am seeing the work for the first time.  Painter Timothy Thies has a way of drawing me into his gardens of color and light, time and time again.  As my eyes meander the canvas, I always see a stroke of paint, a blending of color or a ray of light I had never seen before.

Wikipedia.com defines art as “the process or product of deliberately arranging  elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions.” That is a very broad definition. What really matters when it comes to Art appreciation is that it satisfies and fulfills us.

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Comfort in Knowing

“Other things might change us, but we start and end with family.”                  ~ Anthony Brandt

I recently read some staggering statistics about hospice. According to The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization www.nhpco.org  1.45 million hospice patients were served in 2009. Out of approximately 2,500,000 deaths in 2008 – close to 963,000 were cared for by hospice workers. These numbers include patients who found comfort  and care in their final days of life in private residences, nursing homes, residential facilities, acute care hospitals and hospice inpatient facilities.

All of us have known someone who has been cared for by hospice workers in the final days of their life.  My hope is that along with my family, a compassionate and caring hospice worker will be by my side at the end of my life. This thought, I am sure, is shared by many people.

It is astounding to me that, although the need is great, the general population knows so little about hospice services. With our aging population, it would behoove all of us to be come educated and informed.

If you have a family member who is facing end of life issues, check with a  hospice facility, closest to you, to see whether they have a lending library that includes the documentary film “Pioneers of Hospice” www.pioneersofhospice.org. The film will help to educate you about an issue that, as human beings, each of us will face in a lifetime. The documentary sensitively handles a subject that so many are uncomfortable in discussing. It is insightful and educational for any family member who is faced wtih end of life decisions and end of life care.

You will find comfort in knowing you have learned something about hospice and it’s value prior to making those difficult end of life decisions for your loved one.

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Weekend Indie Publisher News

www.shewrites.com.

ATTENTION:  WOMEN WRITERS

A   website has been established, specifically  for women writers.

She Writes, has joined in on the latest social networking trends. It provides a place for women to exchange ideas and support each other in every genre of writing. Approximately four thousand women writers – poets, biographers, memoirists,novelists, fiction and non-fiction writers have joined this community.

Connect with other women writers, read member’s blogs, forums and take advantage of educational opportunities through Webinars, created through She Writes.com.

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Turning Pages

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

For those of you who are returning to this blogsite, you know we have approached the subject of electronic reading devices before. Someone sent me an article from a publishing newsletter the other day that caught my attention. I will share an interesting tidbit of information from the newsletter with you –

Did you know it takes 25% longer to read a book on a digital reading device?

Do you know what the long range consequences of this estimation means?  It means I will read approximately 25% less books in my lifetime. As an owner of a company that serves independent publishers, I am NOT okay with that! I can sum it up real quick, here and now!

I have promises to keep,

and books to read before I sleep,

and books to read before I sleep.

And from a computer, I need relief!!

Get the story?

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Weekend Indie Publisher News

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Are you an emerging writer looking to share your work with readers? Are you interested in meeting other writers and building a network of literary friends?

Share your writing by uploading your own book and download  other e-books too through www.bookrix.com.  A great way to begin to build a following as a writer, too!

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Braveheart

“When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into it’s writing.” ~ Enrique Jardiel Poncela

Someone not too long ago made the comment to me that “I am a brave woman to bare my soul through blogging.” Her remark took me by surprise and I began to think about why people write and whether putting pen to paper is an act of bravery.

I came to the conclusion that, yes for many, writing is an act of courage. Therapeutic writing often addresses wrongdoings or failings in one’s life.  Topics of therapeutic writing can be ugly and fraught with raw emotion. Feelings of victimization, being punished or bullied, thoughts of resentment, shame, grief or frustration is often addressed in therapeutic writing. Acts of contrition are often mentioned.  Writing is cathartic and a useful tool of psychological therapy for many.

Writing a memoir takes guts too! Reflecting on one’s own life is not always easy. The act of sharing one’s own life story takes courage.  Deep reflection on one’s own life and it’s purpose often digs up unpleasant moments and times that have been pushed way back, lest they be remembered.

No, I am not a brave woman. I write because it is fun. It gets my fingers goin’ and my thoughts flowin’ and if someone likes my writing, it is all that more satisfying and fulfilling.

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More Indie Publisher News

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Learn from others. Attending other author’s book tours and book release events are an ideal way to learn to promote your book.

There is a great resource for finding out what author will be coming to your area by going to www.BookTour.com.

You can search the website by date, author and place and find out where you can meet and hear about your favorite author’s newest book releases, including NY Times best selling authors.

Learning from others is a great way to educate yourself so that when you are ready to promote yourself as an author, you have the knowledge of what it takes to have a successful book tour.

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