Tag Archives: Writing

All for the Sake of Learning

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“What we become depends on what we read after the professors are done with us.” ~ Thomas Carlyle

In recent years, I have become a real fan of historical art fiction. Some of my past readings have included books like the Girl with the Pearl Earring, The Painted Kiss, Girl in Hyacinth Blue – all about prominent painters of the past. The latest book I read, turned my attention to one of the finest composers that has ever lived, Vivaldi.  I just finished reading “The Four Seasons: A Novel of Vivaldi’s Venice” by Laura Corona. What a fulfilling read! 

The story is about two sisters whose lives begin together in an orphanage.   Both have talent in the arts, but one sister, has a much broader view of the world and of her destiny. This leads her to a path in life, far different than the other sister, who is consumed with thoughts of a priest and maestro and what he can offer her inside the walls of the orphanage. 

The Four Seasons: A Novel of Vivaldi’s Venice, like all the other works of historical art fiction I have read, have led me to want to know more about the artist and his life. If we could reach children and teens through books of historical art fiction we might be able to add some balance to their futures. Their futures might contain knowledge about idols from the world of art and culture, rather than idols from the world of misplaced values.

For more information on this charcoal drawing on board “The Book”  by Nancy Guzik, please visit www.WestWindFineArt.com.

That is just my thought from this day of All Things Fulfilling. Much of my time is spent writing blogs and spreading the word on the future of the independent publishing industry. As soon as I get time to squeeze it in, I look forward to “Clara and Mr. Tiffany.” I understand it too, is a worthwhile, educational read.

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Fair Trade

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Of all things,  “Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you. “  H. Jackson Brown, Jr. 

“Dulcinea, How I Love You!”  Remember that song from “The Man of La Mancha?” For almost 25 years I was fulfilling my love for musical theatre by ushering, voluntarily, at the Weston Playhouse www.westonplayhouse.org in charming Weston, Vermont. Over those years, “The Man of La Mancha” graced the stage once or twice and I was able to hear this memorable song sung live, by actors from the guild. My first introduction to “Dulcinea” was as a teen when I went to the Paper Mill Summer Theatre in Owings Mills, MD www.papermill.org  and saw the play there too.  Oh, how I adored it! 

I know you all are thinking I have lost my marbles.” How in the world did she get on this subject?” our readers must be asking.  I happened to open the Sunday paper and saw a story about the Dulcimer Shop in Mountain View, Arkansas.  For more information on this company and the history of this instrument, which produces exquisite, ethereal sounds, please visit http://www.mcspaddendulcimers.com.

It was the commonality of the root of the words, dulcinea and dulcimer, that triggered my recall of this memorable song. I’ve about worn out my favorite search engines, so I don’t dare inquire through those channels about the meaning of the root dulci. Next time I see, my friend Vesna, from Macedonia, I’ll ask her, she’ll know! She has her PhD, ABD, in linguistics and perhaps she can help me out. 

They say (whoever they is) you should write down what you want out of life, not just think about it. In this present moment, I would love someone to send me the name of an artist with beautiful rendition of “Dulcinea” being played on a dulcimer. It would be such a beautiful pairing of  instrument and song. Perhaps I could listen to a  little bit of heaven right here in my office, as I work.

Since I have been bemoaning the fact that I have neglected the independent recording artists on this website, I’d like to engage in a little fair trade.  For the first person, from anywhere in the world, to contact me through a kind blogsite comment,  with the name of a dulcimer-playing independent artist whose repertoire includes “Dulcinea,” I will write a blog on the  musician.

This could be alot of fun! I’ll let you know how it all turns out! “Dulcinea…….”

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Build it Right!

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“Anyone can give up. It is the easiest thing to do.” ~ Unknown

The first thing you need when you build a house is a toolbox. Not only do you need a toolbox, you also need to learn how to use all the contents in the box. Whether you are building a home, or a strong web-presence, it is important that you do not fall short in your understanding of how to use the all tools.

Just putting content out on the world-wide-web is no longer enough. To build a strong, effective internet presence,  you must have a grasp of “computer-consumer psychology,” as it pertains to your specific product, service or company mission.  This is a mind-set that can be taught. If you are business person or an independent publisher just beginning to utilize the latest dimension of marketing, it will be well worth your time to explore, with a professional, how to optimize the why’s, the how’s and the when’s of using the tools used for digital advertising and promotion.

Spend your advertising dollars wisely and expend your energy smartly so you can create a strong e-marketing campaign that will help you become visible to qualified leads.

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Dwell in Possibility – Move Forward in Surety

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“We all have possibilities we don’t know about. We can do things we don’t even dream we can do.” ~ Dale Carnegie

Yesterday, I had another opportunity to share with others my love and my passion for the independent (or non-traditional) publishing industry. I shared with the group that what began as my vision of providing stellar customer service for the internet sales of a single art book became a business of my own, dedicated to providing affordable e-commerce and e-marketing services for an industry of independent publishers. It has been from the beginning, my wish for independent publishers to be able to survive, as a sustainable industry, because I believe in the powers of independent thoughts, words and views that our country allows under it’s Constitution.

After the presentation, I began to think what an appropriate place to hold the event! In a library constructed with sustainable building materials and filled with the published works of writers, filmmakers and musicians who dared to step out and take a risk of telling their stories for the benefit of others. This is the basis from which many successful small businesses are formed. Successful business owners have passion, vision, belief and enduring energy that their product and service with be useful to others. And it is the customers and clients that endorse, sustain and support the dreams of the business owners that make them profitable. It truly is the American way.

Thanks to all who came, and I wish you the best in your journey of fulfilling your dreams in business and in publishing!  Thanks to the Bud Werner Library for providing a beautiful, light-filled space for those who gathered to learn more about what I see as a fascinating, fast growing, sustainable industry. www.steamboatlibrary.org.

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Crossing Over: Two Worlds Converge

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“I think the market is converging now….This is where it has all been leading.”   ~ Douglas Smith

Since my world is the non-traditional publishing industry I admittedly do not know everything there is to know about the traditional publishing world. This summer, I learned something from a person who has dealt with the traditional publishing industry for more years than she probably cares to count. She shared with me about the traditional publishing houses “the more the publishing company pays for the manuscript (or the higher the royalties), the more effort is put into marketing the book.” Well, that makes sense! The traditional publishing companies want to make sure they recapture their investment, and way more, through book sales.

Unless a writer has an established name for themselves, more and more authors in the traditional publishing world are being expected to promote themselves and their books. Many are not at all prepared for that – especially in this day and age. No longer does book publicity mean book signings and book release parties. It also means knowing how to hype your self, as an author, and your publication over the internet. Fulfilling this obligation to self-promote is more time consuming than one might think!

If writing is your primary business, do you have extra hours in your day or the knowledge of digital marketing to effectively handle this part of being in business as a writer in today’s world? If not, contact a company that handles e-marketing for independent publishers. They will help lift the burden, so you can concentrate on what you do best – writing!

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Using Stepping Stones

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“Being involved in the well-being and advancement of one’s own community is a most natural thing to do.” ~ Clarence Clemons

 Business people, non-profit organizations, companies selling products and services are not the only people who are jumping on the bandwagon to seize the opportunity to use independent publishing as a stepping stone for fulfillment and success. 

Columnist and book critic Cathy Beck was not to be stopped when dreams of having her manuscript acquired and released by a “publishing giant” were turned to dust. She focused her energies on independently publishing her manuscript “Cheap Cabernet” and marketed it inexhaustibly. The result? Success! She sprung open the doors of opportunity through entrepreneurial prowess and drove herself as an author to even greater heights than she dreamed. Please visit http://bit.ly/hE6FY4 to read her complete story of fulfillment. 

The moral of Cathy’s story:

  • Independent publishing opens doors to opportunity in unexpected ways.
  • Never give up
  • There are no problems, only solutions
  • Stepping stones often lead to bigger things

Cathy’s story is only one example of how the shifts in the publishing industry toward non-traditional publishing have brightened the outlook and led ordinary people to do extraordinary things through the power of books, films and music.

Let this be the year to begin to tell your story of success!

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From a Personal Perspective

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“Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your  heart in it, take yourself out of it.” ~ Unknown

Although I took last week off from the blogging world, make no mistake, I was still working hard. I spent my time reading and writing and ciphering, in preparation for the New Year as a business owner offering e-commerce and e-marketing services to those who have chosen a path of fulfilling their lives by combining business and the arts.

The arts is a big, broad term that in my opinion includes those persons who have made it an art to live according to what they believe to be true and right and good. There are those who practice the art of excellence in customer service, work in the healing arts, the art of design, the art of creating beautiful spaces and faces,  the art of spirituality, the art of working in a capacity for the betterment of this world, not even to mention the stereotypical artists – writers, filmmakers, musicians, photographers, visual artists and performing arts, to name a few.

As I meandered through the aisles of the library last week, I came across a book in the inspirational section called “This I Believe.”  www.thisibelieve.org.  Each essay is a proclamation from an individual who has a unique perspective on what they believe to be true in their lives. Each statement offers a personal “raison d’etre.” They are acknowledgements of what fulfills each individual with hope and makes sense of their world, no matter what their history or mission in life has been.

The end of the book challenges each reader to write their own 350-500 word narrative based on a “This I Believe” statement. For people who are driven by their passions in their work, this task should be a breeze! For me, as a business owner, it is!  My own personal statement is what makes me rise to and enjoy the challenges each and every day.

In the interest of keeping this blog short and not too laborious to read, I will state my “This I Believe” briefly. “I believe those who use their passions in their work, live the most fulfilling lives. I believe, as a business owner, that by serving others, so that our clients can focus on what they do best, this world will be a better place.”

Write your own “This I Believe” statement now! It will bring to light to your core values and it will drive you to do your best each and every day.

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A New Chapter

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“There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth…not going all the way, and not starting.”  ~ Buddha 

A New Year, a fresh start! Puts me in mind of a story I recently heard about truck driver, turned bounty hunter, turned Metropolitan Opera star. Do you know about the transformative life that Carl Tanner has created for himself by finally fulfilling his dream of becoming an opera singer? There are elements to this tale that movies are made of. It is a chronicle of coming out of the darkness and into the light. To read more about this inspiring story of fulfilling one’s aspirations in life, please visit http://nyti.ms/hc4hgc. 

Each and every one of us has a story of longings. The barriers we place upon our selves are the closed doors in our minds. In this New Year, I will be speaking with all sorts of folks who have dreams of propelling their businesses and their careers to new heights through the power of independent publishing and also through new, creative approaches to marketing themselves and their businesses through the internet. We can steer them in fulfilling  those dreams. 

A New Year is a time for new beginnings.  We can begin to fulfill our dreams as soon as we decide it is time to make the star, in us, more visible to others. What have you resolved to do this year to quench your yearnings and begin a new chapter in your life?

 

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Hear the Bells!

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“Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force.” ~ Karl Menninger

My sister and I have had a running  joke since last Christmas. I have really enjoyed the volunteer work that I have done over the past two years. Somehow, I have been recruited into more things than I ever thought I could be talked into, but all of it has been very enjoyable. Every time I mention what I have become involved with, my sister tells me “she is going to sign me up as a professional bell ringer, next.” Little does she know, more than a year ago, after recognizing the need, we began fulfilling our clients requests for assistance to become more visible  on the world wide web, by helping our clients to ring their bells.

As an independent publisher, are you aware of the benefits of bell ringing? You must, in part, ring your own bell. It is absolutely, completely necessary if you are to become a successful independent book publisher. No one can help an author sell a book better than the author themselves – at book signings, at schools, churches, in libraries and at any events where communities of people will give you their listening ear.

The gong that reaches the largest listening audience for the most affordable price, however, is through e-marketing. You will be heard loud and clear by communities all over the world, but it takes consistent effort in order to be effective! It is time consuming, there is no doubt about that and that is why independent publishers hire “professional bell ringers’ to help them with the task, so they can focus on the Art of what they do best.

Independent publishers, and businesses alike, give your selves a great New Years present. Start the year off right by letting go of some of the old ways of promoting yourself and ring bells in new, creative ways. Don’t know where to start? Go to the place that people now frequent the most – the internet – and use your favorite search engine to look for a “company that specializes in e-marketing for independent publishers.”  With a little help, people may begin to say all over the globe ” that title, that author, that company, that film, that artist or that musician rings a bell.” Think how fulfilling that would be!

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Books Inspiring Transformation

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 “The greatest thing you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to them their own.” ~ Benjamin Disraeli

In this economy, many people are searching for meaning and answers.  As suggested in the book “Spend Shift: How the Post-Crisis Values Revolution is Changing the Way we Buy, Sell and Live,” personal transformations have begun from a materialistic to a more fulfilling, values-based way of living. Focus has changed from wants vs. needs, from debt and high overhead to living within means, from excessive use of energy to thinking and living in a more sustainable way. Many are searching for answers through inspirational books, so it is a perfect time to give the gift of a book that will inspire creative, problem-solving thinking. 

The following list of books, Evvy Award winners almost all, provide valuable reading for those on your list who want to see change in themselves, their families and their world, beginning now! Consider these when putting together your holiday buying list. 

For the Children:

  • Ophelia’s Oracle
  • Sarah O’Hara: The Gift of Fairy Wings
  • Heart Light Girls: Beauty’s Secret 

For the Dog-Lover:

  • The Legacy of Beezer and Boomer 

For the Parent:

For the Career Minded:

  • Harvest the Bounty of your Career 

For the Historical Fiction Fan:

  • The Macsen Treasure Series 

For the Environmentalist:

  • Dancing on the Edge of an Endangered Planet 

For the Poetry Lover:

  • Have you Ever Held a Mountain 

For  More Inspiration:

  • Waiting for Jack
  • The Messy Buddha
  • Shiny Shoes on Dusty Paths  www.joannemahar.com
  • Let Your Innate Sing 

The economy has inspired the way we publish, buy and sell books too! For more information on these books, the independent presses that published them, and how to order, please visit http://bit.ly/foZ5nE. These books can also be found on the world wide web using your favorite search engine.

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