Stroke Recovery Update

I have been working hard and it is paying off.  I am now wwalking  without the walker or the cane .  I washed a load of clothes and folded them.  I am using both hands to type this so I may have a few typos, but the more I type the better the left hand will get.  It just shows that determination and believing that you can will go a     long waytoward reaching a goal.   It takes hard work and keep thinking  

I think I can.Ithink I can. I will!!!!”        “Being strong-willed is not enough, however. You also have to be hard on yourself. Someone who was strong-willed but self-indulgent would not be called determined. Determination implies your willfulness is balanced by discipline.”
― Paul Graham        

Armor for Survival

Let me love

       though love

             may go unrequited,

An empty heart

       is much heavier

             than a stone.

Let me have faith,

           though faith

                be often blighted,

Without it

       we are not

             strong enough

                    to walk alone.

Announcing the Birth of Traveling a Rocky Road With Love, Faith and Guts!

I just found out that my book, Traveling a Rocky Road with Love, Faith and Guts, is now available on line at Amazon.  Wow!  I have had requests from several people to let them know when and where they can buy the book.  It won't be showing up on my Author Central Page for a few days, but it is online.  Here is the link if you want to go ahead and purchase a copy. 

http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Rocky-Road-Love-Faith/dp/1463554672/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330268019&sr=1-1

I will still be updating on what happens next.  If any of you know or have a book store anywhere within 5 or 6 hours of Georgia that may want to host me for a book signing, please let me know!  Thank you all for your support.  Don't forget that I do not keep a penny of the money earned on any of my books, I give it all to the American Bladder Cancer Society. 

There are a lot of things to do, stay tuned, I will keep you updated.

Book Launch for Traveling a Rocky Road with Love, Faith and Guts in Full Preparation Mode

I have been a busy lady.  The book will be available on Amazon sometime next week, other channels later on.  I guess all of that takes time, but not the time is growing near, I am scrambling to get ready for the launch.  I have a press release ready, and will soon have another professional review. 

It is getting more difficult to find bookstores any more other than Barnes & Noble.  I saw today where one that is downtown Atlanta closed their doors today.  It is sad. 

I am going to have an author reception/presentation and book signing at the Elks Lodge here in Augusta, on March 24th.  I have been working on my invitations and poster for that event.  I have put together a power point presentation and recorded a sound file to possibly use for a video.  I have been working on a mailing list for invitations.  If you live close enough and want to come, just drop me an email, or post in the comment section so I know how many goodies to buy.

In addition to all of that, I haven't forgotten about passing it on to others in the field.  I set-up and scheduled a few interview posts for my other blog.  I still have a lot to do before the day is over.  My youngest son will be flying in tomorrow for a couple of days, and I want to spend time with him. 

Whew!  It has been a day, a week and a couple of months!  When writing, getting a book ready for publishing, promoting and finally preparation for its launch is somewhat like riding a roller coaster, but who would miss out on the experience...especially when it is all for such a good cause. 

Navigating a Few Pebbles in the Road, but Getting Some Sunshine Rays along the Way

Interesting things keep popping up as I travel this journey.  I was contacted by a very nice young woman who found my poem, "A Tired Vagabond", and asked if she could share it on her blog.  I was very flattered that she had found it and liked it enough to wish to share it with others.  Christy ask if she could put the poem on her blog, Poetic Parfait.  I felt very honored that she had found my poem which is also in this book as well as in the Pulse Points of a Woman's World book.  Christy is in British Columbia and has quite a following. 

I have had more invitations to interview on blogs.  It is nice to know that fellow authors reach out to help each other.  Sometimes one can get so caught up in their personal goals that they fail to reach out to their fellowman. 

 Sometime ago, I wrote a blog series on bladder cancer and women.  Today, I wrote to  thank the managing editor of Healthy Women, Marcia Mangum Cronin, to thank her for allowing me to blog about bladder cancer and women.  It was that blog series that re-kindled the urge to write the book, Traveling a Rocky Road with Love, Faith and Guts.  I heard back from her and could not believe that she was gracious enough to write a follow-up on my story and how it has led to writing of this book.  I will keep you posted on when the article is online.

BTW, I am enlisting my husband Tom to be my secretary to help me with all the emails coming in on the book.  :)  I am overwhelmed by all the responses.  It is wonderful, maybe my dream to create awareness of bladder cancer and inspire others will all come true.

There are more updates on the way.  Stay tuned!!!

Traveling the Road of Getting a Book in Print, and Awaiting its Birth

The Beginning

It has been a busy week.  I have had consultations with the person who is writing the press release, the cover designer and the interior designer.  Right now, I am interacting with a book trailer designer.  Cover designs may be ready for me to look at by the end of the week.  There is so much to do at this point.  Doing this, working my full-time day job and keeping my other blog rolling leaves little time for play at the moment.  However, I am not complaining, what I am feeling is much the same as the excitement of awaiting a newborn child. 

Birthing

The story has been written, edited, proofed, and now it is in the hands of others to complete its birthing process.  Even then, the verdict will be out on its success and survival.  I keep reminding myself of what Harriet Du Autermont said, "No vision and you perish; No ideal, and you're lost; your heart must ever cherish some faith at any cost. some hope, some dream to cling to, some rainbow in the sky, some melody to sing to, some service that is high."  

 Birth out of Chaos

I have held onto my vision, faith, hopes and dreams all my life.  However, when my road detoured through the battle with bladder cancer, I realized just how strong it was, and how important it was to do something for others who must traverse the same rocky road.