In the Zone

Good Monday Morning! I've been in my writer's zone for quite a few days now. That's why no recent posts.  

This morning, though, I'm meeting with my friend, Tara (above) to go over a speaking engagement for a writer's workshop she is in charge of. Tara and I met in April 2009 at a Habitat for Humanity event, and later I wrote  her story about losing everything in Hurricane Katrina. It was published in an anthology "Thin Threads; More Real Stories of Life Changing Moments" in 2010. (I'm also including it in my memoir.)

Until I'm back.... 

Enjoy your week! 

Take time for yourself. 

Delight in the beauty around you.

And Laugh....often!

"Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons." -- Ruth Ann Schabacker

* Anthologies, Friends, Book Store, Food Bank *

Patchwork Path; Treasure Box has arrived! I really love this book. The patchwork design on the cover and back is so unique, and the quality of the entire book is great. It has quotes here and there all throughout the book, and y'all know how much I love quotes! I've only read a couple of stories so far, but enjoyed them very much.

    Here's one of the unique things I like. The photo below is a portion of the back of the book. I took the picture this way because I wanted everyone to see my name, plus my wonderful blog friend, Claudia McKinney Mundell's name!! Besides the fact that we're both in this book, Claudia's story is the one right before mine! I consider that one of my serenditpitous happenings!! Congrats again, Claudia! I'm happy we share yet another thing in common! (love of books, writing, doilies, tea cups, etc..)



Speaking of friends and anthologies; a lot of you may have already seen Linda's and/or Tammy's blogs where they mentioned participating in a book signing tomorrow. Well, now it's my turn to mention it, too! (Theresa doesn't have a blog.) The following part is taken directly from Main Street Books website:

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CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL Special Event

Four St. Charles/St. Louis area Chicken Soup for the Soul writers will participate in a multi-author book signing on Saturday, December 11th, 2010 from 1-3 p.m. at Main Street Books, 307 S. Main Street in St. Charles, MO.

Customers may bring in a canned good to be donated to a St. Charles food pantry and receive 20% off their entire purchase that day!

Participating authors include: T’Mara Goodsell, Linda O’Connell, Becky Povich, and Theresa Sanders.


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Although I have stories in previous editions of Chicken Soup for the Soul books, I'll be signing the Thin Threads and Patchwork Path books this time. And as I've been mentioning the past couple of weeks, I'll donate $5.00 per book to the local Habitat for Humanity office, for every Thin Threads book I sell.

Those of us who have a warm home and plenty of food to eat most likely have never had to endure a time without having these necessities of life. Please come by, bring a canned good or two and buy at least one book. You'll be helping many people! Happy Holidays!

(Also, thanks to my four newest followers! I am excited because with the 4th one: Miss C.C., I have reached an unbelievable number of 150 Followers!! Thank you everyone, so much. I truly appreciate each and every one of you! The four newest are: C.C., Pam, Stephen Tremp, and a name I just love....Bill, The Old Fart!)

*Speaking of followers, here's something really cool. I was just recently one of four winners on Lydia's "500 Followers Contest". I received a $15.00 gift card to what I commented my favorite independent book store was....and yes, you guessed it.....Main Street Books! Thanks again, Lydia! I'll most likely spend that money tomorrow! Go check out Lydia's blog: "The Word is My Oyster" and you'll see why she now has over 540 followers!!

"When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." -- Willie Nelson

"There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quite joy." -- Ralph H. Blum

** The Thin Threads Books Are Here! **

Yesterday evening that Big Brown Truck drove down my street and I mentally told it to stop at my house....and guess what? It did! UPS delivered my box of books from Kiwi Publishing! I felt like a kid at Christmas time, waiting for and then receiving that most anticipated gift.

I'll sign the books that have been ordered from me and get them mailed as soon as I can. This is the list of names I have, and if I've forgotten anyone PLEASE let me know! Lynn O. Teri S. Kathy M. Sioux R. and OJ G-C. (I feel as if I AM forgetting someone. I should've written all the names on ONE piece of paper!)

Kiwi Publishing is also offering a *special* on the Thin Threads site. Buy at least one book and receive a 10% discount, plus FREE shipping. Those books would ship directly from their warehouse, so I wouldn't be able to sign them. Their offer is good through 12/31/2010.

So, here are the two possibilities:

Order from me, pay full price of $17.95, receive free shipping, and I will autograph and donate $5.00 per book to my local Habitat for Humanity office.

*Order from Thin Threads* pay $16.15, receive free shipping, and I will still donate $5.00 per book. IF YOU DO ORDER DIRECTLY FROM THIN THREADS, CONTACT ME FIRST, SO I CAN GIVE YOU THE DISCOUNT CODE.

After meeting Tara and becoming involved in Habitat for Humanity, I can't tell you how much it means to me to be able to help, even in a small way. There are wonderful stories in this anthology and would truly make a very thoughtful gift during the holidays. And with Thanksgiving being tomorrow, I think all of us who are using a computer and blogging, have a decent place to live.

“The goal of this organization is to make sure that all families have a good place to live. To accomplish that ambitious goal, decent and good housing must become the hearts’ desire of committed and generous people. Substandard housing must become socially, religiously, morally and politically unacceptable.” — The late Millard Fuller, Habitat for Humanity Founder

* Give a Book for Christmas *

♪♫  Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!  ♪♫   

** NOTE: (added 11/19 pm) I forgot to say a little more about the Thin Threads book series. Since I've known about it and have been so close to it for over a year and a half, I think everyone must've heard of it and/or know about it! Here are some words, taken directly from their website:

Thin Threads: a moment, event, setback, crossroad, or encounter that connected you to a person, place or an opportunity that changed your life for the better.


Thin Thread stories are a collection of moments, events or decisions told in personal story form, each showing how the course of our lives can be redirected for the better. The stories encapsulate our human desire to tell our own stories and to read and relate to others through their stories.


So, you can see how it differs from other anthologies. Thin Threads is very unique!


 I am in such a happy mood right at this very moment! I was in my "usual" happy mood when I got up today at 4:00am. (Yep, went to sleep early last night and got a good night's rest.) But, now it is 3:20pm, CST, and I am ecstatic! I just spoke to Stacey Battat at Kiwi Publishing and the new Thin Threads books will be shipping to me tomorrow! This is the anthology that has my story about a woman and her family, and how Hurricane Katrina and Habititat for Humanity, St. Charles County Missouri, changed their lives. Woot!

$17.95 each

I am offering a personal promotion for this book. Whoever buys any directly from me, I will donate $5.00 per book, to Habitat in St. Charles, Mo. AND I will ship them at NO CHARGE, to anywhere in the US or Canada. (sorry, I will have to charge shipping out of the country.)

*These would make lovely Christmas gifts, PLUS you'd be helping a wonderful charity!* 

(courtesy: martha stewart.com)

Christmas again. But this year there was money for presents and lots of food in the icebox and the flat was always warm now. When Francie came in off the cold street she thought that the warmth was like a lover’s arms around her drawing her into the room. She wondered, incidentally, exactly what a lover’s arms felt like. — A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith (pen name of Elisabeth Wehner) (1943)

*A Grand, Grateful Day*

First of all, I am overwhelmed by the number of comments and new followers I've received since posting my new contest! Thank you all so much. It really means a lot to me that people enjoy visiting my blog. I am truly grateful for that. Welcome new followers: Krysten, Together We Save, Ann, Donnie, Becky, Tammy, Thmini2 and Cheri!

Today was another near perfect autumn day. Blue skies, few white clouds, light winds, very warm temperatures. Fortunately, I was able to be outside for a little while and soak up some of the bliss. For that I am also grateful.

I saw a few writer-friends today, and although it was way too brief, they still brought smiles to my face. For that I am grateful.

A very dear friend stopped by my house this evening, and again even though she could only stay a minute, we shared smiles and laughs together. For that I am grateful.

A check arrived in the mail today! It's my payment for the Thin Threads story. (the book is due out later this month.) I am sharing the money with Tara, who actually lived the story. All I did was write it, after getting together with her a few times, and taking LOTS of notes. She and I have become friends and I admire her greatly. We'll both be attending the "Habitat for Humanity, Celebration of Trees" event this Thursday evening. I am grateful for meeting her and our resulting friendship.

One more "grateful" thought. Yesterday, while walking through my neighborhood, it occurred to me how fortunate I am to live in a country, in a town, in a neighborhood, where it is safe to take a leisurely walk during the day or night. I know this. I try to always remember this. But how many others do not? Isn't there always something to gripe and complain about? Some people just cannot see the goodness right in front of them. And something else I think about SO often.....Why am I here, in this particular place...when millions of others suffer and live in such horrendous conditions? Those are some questions which I might never receive an answer, but they help me to remember to always strive to feel very fortunate and grateful.

"Grateful"

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." -- Denis Waitley

** Thursday's Tidbits **

I've decided to participate in Nanowrimo, National Novel Writing Month. If you don't know what it is, click on the link and you'll learn all about it. It runs from November 1st until November 30th. The point is to write a 50,000 word novel in those 30 days. Don't bother with grammar and editing....just write! This year is my first attempt. I haven't done it before because: A) I'm not writing a novel. I'm writing a memoir. B) It's the month of November, for Pete's sake!!... Hello?!....Thanksgiving, shopping, decorating for Christmas, etc.? BUT, I decided it's a fantastic challenge, so I'm going for it, in my own little way. I'll keep y'all posted and I'm sure I won't be posting as often, unless it's a sentence or two, describing my angst! And my comments will be left even less than they are now, which I feel really bad about. Please know that I read as many and as often as I can, but sometimes I just don't leave comments. All my blog friends mean the world to me!

Also, I've accepted the position of President of Saturday Writers for the upcoming year. It's a matter of volunteering to be on the Board, and I said I'd give the presidency a try! For some reason, I think I heard distant hysterical laughing after I said I would do it. Wish me luck!!

Hot off the presses: the cover of the newest Thin Threads anthology. More Real Stories of Life Changing Moments. (due out next month) I think it's a beautiful cover. How about you? My story about Tara Rhodes, a Hurricane Katrina survivor, and Habitat for Humanity home recipient, is included. I can't wait to see it!

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One more, hot off the presses: The cover of the newest Patchwork Path book, Treasure Box. (due out next month) I think this is a cool cover, too. My humorous story about "something" of my dad's is included. Can't wait to see that one, too!

"The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do." -- Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, 1996