Mary Russel's Children's Stories & Novels

My Book Review of Sisters of the Quilt by Cindy Woodsmall

2012-01-16T10:50:00.000-06:00

Sisters of the Quilt contains the complete trilogy of the Sisters of the Quilt series. The following book summaries are taken from the author, Cindy Woodsmall’s website.

When the Heart Cries

Hannah Lapp was born and raised in an Old Order Amish home, without electricity, a telephone, or the right to follow her heart. Without her parents’ knowledge, she’s been in love with Mennonite Paul Waddell for years. When he asks her to marry him, she accepts, even though to do so will cause her family to avoid her for the rest of her life.

Before Hannah and Paul reveal their relationship, tragedy strikes. In one unwelcome encounter, all that Hannah has known and believed is destroyed and she faces losing everything: her family, her fiancé, and even her faith in God.

When the Morning Comes

When the Morning Comes is the sequel and continuation of the best-selling novel When the Heart Cries. Her relationship with fiance Paul Waddell in tatters, Hannah Lapp has fled her secluded Old Order Amish community in hopes of finding a new home in Ohio with her shunned aunt. Hampered by limited education and hiding her true identity, Hannah struggles to navigate the confusing world of the Englischers.

Will the countless opportunities in her new life persuade Hannah that her place is amongst the Englischers or will she give in to her heart’s call to return home and face the past?

When the Soul Mends

Rumors and lies left Hannah’s life in tatters; can the truth possibly stitch it back together?

Having fled in disgrace more than two years earlier, Hannah finally has found happiness in the Englischer world, as well as love with Martin Palmer, a man with whom she can safely entrust her heart. But almost immediately after her arrival in Owl’s Perch, the disapproval of those who ostracized her reopens old wounds.

As Hannah encounters former fiancë Paul Waddell, truths unknown to her surface about the events during her absence and she faces an agonizing decision. Will she choose the Englischer world and the man who restored her hope, or will she return to the Plain Life-and perhaps her first love?

MY REVIEW

I was delighted to be able to read these riveting books as a complete series all at once. I received Sisters of the Quilt on a Friday afternoon and finished reading the 1,000 page book the next Monday evening.

I was struck by how hurtful wrong assumptions can be. When adults assume children are too young to understand difficult concepts, children are left to fill in their own assumptions, usually inaccurate and often more hurtful than the truth.

I especially related to Hannah and when I had finished reading, I felt like I was saying goodbye to a dear friend and wishing her well.

Although these books can be purchased separately, I recommend getting Sisters of the Quilt so you can read all three at once.

I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.

My Book Review of Finding Our Way Home by Charlene Ann Baumbich

2011-12-19T11:32:00.000-06:00

From the back cover:

The road home can be daunting—and sometimes it takes a very capable girl on a bicycle to help find the way.

When principal ballerina Sasha Davis suffers a career-ending injury at age thirty-eight, she leaves her Boston-based dance company and retreats to the home of her youth in Minnesota. But Sasha’s injuries restrict her movement and her recently deceased mother’s absence haunts her. Since she can’t recover alone, she is forced to hire a temporary live-in aide.

Enter the übercapable Evelyn Burt. As large-boned as Sasha is tiny, Evelyn is her employer’s opposite in every way. Small town to Sasha’s urban chic, outgoing warmth to Sasha’s aloof iciness, and idealistic where Sasha is hopeless, nineteen-year-old Evelyn is newly engaged and sees the world as one big, shiny opportunity.

My Review:

Divine Appointments was the first book I read by Charlene Baumbich which also featured a snow globe serving as a fortune teller. While it is a creative element in telling a story, I did find the use of the snow globe a bit disconcerting in both of these otherwise realistic portrayals of characters and plot.

However, I still enjoyed the novel.

Sasha is mired in self pity and on the verge of depression when Evelyn fortuitously enters her life and turns it upside right again. Don’t get the idea that Evelyn is Polyanna, though. She has plenty of her own problems and struggles to deal with.

It was fascinating to read how two very strong women in their own ways interacted and reached out to each other.

It reinforced my belief that God places the right people at the right time and the right place in our lives.

The release date for this book is March, 2012.

I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

REVIEW OF CHARLES OF COLSHIRE CASTLE THE PURPLE DRAGON BY DOUGLAS QUINN

2011-12-17T12:15:00.000-06:00

I received this book free, in exchange for my honest review.

When it arrived, I sat down and read it in one sitting. I didn’t want to
put it down.

The characters are well developed. I either loved them or hated them.

The king and his spoiled son are not pleased by the birth of a purple
dragon. Prince Barth wants it killed because of it color so Charles ties to
save it by kidnapping it and taking it somewhere safe where he can train
it. As a result, the King arrests Charles’ father and throws him in the
dungeon. Charles must hatch a plan to save his father before he is
executed. Will Hero, the dragon live up to his name and will Charles be
able to execute his plan to save his father before he is executed but still
keep himself and Hero alive?

THE PURPLE DRAGON is fast paced, with plenty of suspense and action.
Readers will find themselves routing for Charles and Hero to succeed in
saving Lothar, Charles’ father.

It was probably unintentional on the author’s part but I found myself
comparing and contrasting the king to various modern day dictators.

A fun read for children and adults who are young at heart.

Book trailer & Chapter 1 excerpt for The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

2011-12-10T09:00:00.000-06:00

Do you enjoy Amish romance and heartwarming Christmas stories? If so this book is for you.

Book trailer for The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

The Christmas Singing Chapter 1 excerpt http://www.scribd.com/doc/69473983/The-Christmas-Singing-Chapter-1-Excerpt

Floyd the Dog's FREE Story of the Month Club

2011-12-03T10:34:00.001-06:00

If you sign up for Floyd the Dog's story of the month club in Dec 2011 you will be sent my Christmas story.
http://www.floydthedog.com/SOM.html

INVITATION TO JOIN (from Floyd the Dog's site.)

Each month (and on Special Occasions) a story is e-mailed to every member of the Story Club.

The author of the story, usually the Competition Winner, gets to choose the Charity of the Month. Floyd sends a donation to that Charity. The size of the donation is directly linked to the number of Members in the Club. More Members mean a bigger Donation.

Please join the Story Club. You get an immediate story to read, and at least one other story every month. It costs nothing and it does help animals.

THERE IS NOTHING TO PAY - NO 'APPEALS' - NO 'COMMERCIALS'
I JUST MAIL YOU AT LEAST ONE ANIMAL SHORT STORY A MONTH
ONLY HAPPY ENDINGS
I DO NOT TELL ANYONE YOUR DETAILS
TRY IT - IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND JUST MAIL ME - NO PROBLEM

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Flickertail & Paint, Private Investigators: A Christmas Caper

2011-12-03T09:32:00.000-06:00

(Inspired by an old skit from the Johnny Carson Show)

"The clapper from our copper Christmas bell has been copped," cried the cleric when he called.

"Please don't cry." Flickertail and Paint tried to comfort him.

"We'll need your name," said Paint.

"Father Claude."

"What is the name of your church?"

"St. Clementine’s Cathedral in Cleveland."

"Have you called your local constabulary?"

The cops have all been called away on a clock crime.

"A clock crime!"

"Yes, the courthouse clock was clipped causing concern among the citizens."

"So a courthouse clock and the clapper from a copper Christmas bell have both been copped from Cleveland."

"Yes, in the courtyard," confirmed the inconsolable clergyman.

Could they have been clipped by the same crook or a couple of kleptomaniacs? Flickertail and Paint considered the caper and caught a cab to Cleveland to conduct the investigation.

Upon arriving at the Cleveland Courthouse and St. Clementine’s Cathedral they questioned a coach, a consultant, a columnist, a counselor, and a concierge. Concluding their questioning, they left the confined, colonnaded cloister when they were clobbered by a cloak clad clown carrying a cumbersome container, covered with a crimson cloth.

Quickly recovering consciousness, Paint clip clopped after the clown with Flickertail in close pursuit. The couple caught up to the clown just as he attempted to enter a concealed closet. Confiscating the container, they disclosed the copper clapper.

"I'm colorblind," complained the clown. "I thought it was a clarinet."

Although Flickertail and Paint concluded his story sounded concocted they agreed they would have to leave the conclusion of the case to the courts.

My Christmas Stories published in an ezine and a animal charity support website

2011-11-28T12:29:00.000-06:00

I've recently been informed that one of my short stories starring Flickertail the llama & Paint the horse has been accepted for publication on http://thebrowsingcorner.com/ , a literary e-zine and another short story, also starring Flickertail & Paint will be published on http://www.floydthedog.com/, a supporter of animal charities.

Floyd the Dog authors are allowed to name an animal charity of their choice and Floyd the Dog sends them a generous donation. I have chosen the Fond du Lac Humane Society for my charity. We have adopted three dogs from them since 1987.

My short stories will appear in December's editions of these publications.

An Exercise in Character Development

2011-11-23T11:43:00.000-06:00

I wrote this while trying to get into the mind of one of my characters for my novel in progress.

While driving through a neighborhood, I noticed an empty soup can in a window. I smiled wryly, remembering our all-clear signal from a lifetime ago. I wondered if the tenant was placing herself in the same untenable situation.

After I moved away, you called once but I had grown up and learned how to say no. I never heard from you, afterward.

Recently, a mutual friend and confidante informed me I would never again get the chance to tell you yes or no.

Hazy memories can be lovely.

Our reality wasn’t.

Book Review of Kindred Spirits (First Generation) by Clifford Neal

2011-11-15T11:29:00.000-06:00

Kindred Spirits: First Generation (Paperback) I love writing, reading, and researching American history and obviously the author, Clifford Neal does too.

This novel is historical fiction inspired by Clifford Neal's ancestral research.

I found the main characters to be well developed and fun to read about. The descriptions of place and time made me feel like I was there, experiencing the adventure with each character.

Rich with romance and intrigue, the author's vivid writing makes history come alive.

BOOK DESCRIPTION (from Amazon)
With his feet on the American continent in Colonial Virginia during the early 1700's, William Neal, an Irish immigrant, struggles to establish himself in a society moving toward its destiny as a new nation. An aspiring farmer, settling in the Shenandoah Valley where neighbors are miles apart, William loses his wife in childbirth, and faces life alone. Exploring the wilderness around him, he becomes involved in fur trading with the Indian tribes across the mountains and along the Ohio River. Forming a partnership with a trading company based on the Potomac River, he develops a close relationship with a white family there. Among the Indians, Will is befriended by a chieftain of the Fox tribe and falls in love with a talented, intelligent and beautiful native woman. Unscrupulous and competing English traders create chaos, resulting in violence between the tribes of the Ohio Valley and the Virginians, which threatens open warfare. Virginia's governor calls upon the experience and proven talents of William and assigns him the task of convincing the tribal governments to send delegates to a peace conference in Williamsburg. Negotiating with the tribes, while in danger of being killed by his own countrymen, William and his partners explore uncharted methods of diplomacy and ambassadorship. Months spent in an unknown and magnificent wilderness challenge his every fiber and hone his character. Finding himself the unwilling owner of seven black African slaves and torn between the values of conflicting societies, William longs for love and a return to his simple and peaceful life as a farmer. This is a gripping tale of romance, adventure, greed and intrigue that will find its readers on the edge of their seat and staying up late at night. Kindred Spirits is Book One of a generational series.

Flickertail & Paint Hide William the Turkey

2011-11-09T08:43:00.000-06:00

“Paint, I need your help.” Flickertail, the llama emailed Paint, the horse. “It’s less than two weeks until Thanksgiving and we need to find a good place to hide William, the turkey. The meteorologist on the Weather Channel is predicting snow by the end of the week and I want to get him hidden before then. It’ll be too easy to track him in the snow.”

“Is it cold in the barn? You know how I hate the cold. I always get a hoarse throat when it’s cold and damp.”

“Well, I’m sure a Texas Rose like you will feel the cold a lot more than I do.”

“I’ll ask Norma if I can borrow a space heater.”

“Better make it two. The barn’s a big space.”

Paint arrived with only one space heater. “Norma said she might need one for herself.”

“Maybe I can borrow another one from Mary for you.”

“Better not tell her I’m here to hide William or she’ll let me freeze.”

“Do you have any good ideas for hiding William?”

“Maybe we could disguise him.”

“As what?”

“How about a hamster?”

“His tail’s too big for that.”

“The AFLAC duck?”

“You quack me up. Seriously, I don’t think he could fake a waddle.”

“The Geiko Gecko?”

“Well, he does believe in being green but even he isn’t green enough for that.”

“I guess we’d better forget about disguising him.”

Flickertail wiggled his long, banana shaped ears in thought. “Last year, we hid him in the tunnel between the barn and the basement of the house. The year before, we hid him in the concealed room in the house. We can’t use those again now that Mary and Tom know about them.”

“Does Alice's cat, G.G. eat turkey?”

“Alice feeds her cat food with turkey in it, why?”

“That won’t work then. I was thinking he could hide there.”

“If G.G. didn’t eat him, Alice probably would.”

“I know. We can hide him in the hen house. He can pretend to be a rooster.”

“He doesn’t crow. He gobbles, but that does give me an idea.” Flickertail opened a bag filled with llama wool and dyed it a brilliant shade of blue. “Help me knit this so it will fit over William’s head and body. We need to hide his wattle.”

Paint was perplexed but Flickertail seemed to know what he was doing so she went along with his plan.

“Now, we need about five or six matching pompoms and white pipe cleaners for a crest.”

“Oh, I get it, now.”

“It’s the only fowl I could think of that has a tail bigger than William’s.”

They worked on the tail all through the night. When they had finished, William tried on his new disguise.

“I love it.” William strutted around proud as a peacock. “Thank you both. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your keeping me safe every Thanksgiving. At least this year I can hide in plain sight.”

Thanksgiving came. Mary and Tom’s family arrived. About a half hour later everyone left. “Where’d everyone go?” Flickertail asked the house dogs, Cookie and Coco.

“They decided to go out to eat this year. No leftovers for us,” Cookie said sadly.

Flickertail and Paint in the Case of the Mysterious Trapdoor

2011-11-08T15:01:00.000-06:00

“Is that a trapdoor, Flickertail?”

Using his padded foot, Flickertail pushed the remaining straw away from the barn floor. “It certainly is, Paint.”

Flickertail maneuvered the handle with his split upper lip while Paint pounded at the door with his hooves to free it. Once opened, they both approached the opening cautiously. “The steps look large enough for us to grip safely, Paint.”

“Let’s see where they lead, then.”

“Better take a flashlight.” With his teeth, Flickertail pulled the magnetic flashlight off the metal cabinet and turned it on with his tongue.

At the bottom of the steps they discovered a long straight tunnel. They walked for about fifty feet before discovering another door.

“Where do you think we are, Flickertail?”

“Based on the direction we took, I’m guessing the house.”

When they opened the door they were in the basement of the house.

Flickertail stepped beyond the door. “I wonder if Tom and Mary know about the tunnel.”

Paint walked around to the other side of the opened door. “I’ll bet they don’t. Look.” Paint closed the door and Flickertail saw that the door was covered with faux fieldstone that effectively camouflaged the door making it look like part of the basement’s fieldstone foundation. “We should tell them, don’t you think?”

“Yes, but not yet.”

“Why not?”

“I’ll tell them after Thanksgiving. William, the turkey is getting worried and the tunnel will be a good place for him to hide until then.”

Later, William, the turkey confided in Flickertail and Paint. “I didn’t go to the tunnel looking for redemption but somehow I found it. I was saving my hide by hiding out in the tunnel over Thanksgiving but solitary confinement has made me contemplate my wild life of telling bad turkey jokes.”

“Oh? Like what?”

“Why was the turkey arrested?
He was suspected of fowl play.

Why did the turkey join the band?
Because he had the drumsticks.

Why did the turkey cross the road?
It was the chicken’s day off.”

Flickertail & Paint gave thanks for not being turkeys on Thanksgiving.

A Book Review of The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

2011-11-07T13:38:00.001-06:00

Things are not as they seem in this story of an Amish romance gone wrong. Mattie and Gideon are childhood friends whose relationship becomes romantic and then stormy when Mattie catches Gideon with another woman. Gideon and Mattie break up and Mattie moves to Ohio after Gideon ends their engagement on Christmas Eve with a lie.

Mattie, a resourceful woman, starts a cake decorating business and finds a new romance. A tragic accident forces her to return to Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania where she runs into Gideon again. When she finally learns the secret behind his lie, will it draw them together again or tear them further apart?

I loved Mattie and her story. I admired her creativity and strength and found her charming even with her flaws. She is a bit scatterbrained, jealous, and very angry at Gideon. But Gideon could have saved himself from her sharp tongue by being honest with her. He failed to understand and appreciate her strengths. The book is a great reminder of how lies can destroy happiness and how we should never underestimate the ability of people who love us to understand and forgive when given a fair chance.

I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.

The Missing Turkey

2011-11-07T09:52:00.000-06:00

While Flickertail was visiting Paint, the Feldstein Inn down the road from Paint’s barn was overflowing with guests on Thanksgiving. Usually the inn only served breakfast but these guests were chefs and they chose the Feldstein Inn for their annual Thanksgiving cookoff. Each chef’s dish or dessert would be judged and awarded a possible ribbon. The ribbons represented a great deal of prestige which translated into extra business for the winning chefs.

With so many cooks in the kitchen things got a bit chaotic and the turkey was somehow misplaced.

The chefs looked in all the obvious places like the freeezer, the refrigerator, the kitchen counter, the dining room table, the microwave, and the oven with no success.

“Our friends and the judges will be arriving in less than six hours. How can we possibly have Thanksgiving without the turkey?”

“There’s a famous horse and llama detective team on the neighbors’ farm,” said the inn keeper. “I’ll go get them.”

“Do you think one of the chefs hid the turkey on purpose to sabatoge another chef from winning the ribbon?” Flickertail asked Paint on the way to the Feldstein Inn.

“Well, let’s find out.”

When the detectives entered the kitchen Paint asked, “Which of you is responsible for preparing the turkey?”

“We all are but Three Feathers, who also dances with turkeys, oversees the turkey preparations.”

“Is there a head chef?”

One of the chefs stepped forward. “I am.”

“What’s your name?”

“Bill.”

“OK Bill. Have you finished preparing your dish yet?”

“Yes.”

“Fine, then let’s talk out here on the porch.”

As Bill, Flickertail, and Paint prepared to be seated, Paint noticed an odd odor. “There’s a fowl odor in here.”

“You mean it smells bad?” asked Bill.

“No, I mean it smells like fowl.”

The three of them sniffed every nook and cranny trying to determine where the odor originated.

Flickertail found some bones including the wish bone. “Maybe we should wish for the rest of the turkey to suddenly appear.”

Robin Williams appeared as a genie. “I was just sleeping off the tryptophan and I’m in a foul mood. What do you want?”

“Since when do wishbones conjure up genies?”

“Things are tough all over. The genie union can’t afford magic lamps anymore. You only get one wish and you cannot wish for more wishes.”

“What happened to the other two?”

“As I said, blame it on the economy.”

“Someone or something ate the turkey. We need a 20 pounder.”

“Do you want the bird in hand or in the bush?”

“Well, a bird in hand is worth two in the bush so the bird in hand.”

“Say abracadbra!”

“Why?”

“Were you expecting hocus pocus? No particular reason. I just like the way it sounds. Besides I’m in charge of this llama and pony show.”

“Abracadabra.”

The turkey appeared and Robin disappeared.

2011-11-02T15:32:00.000-05:00

Children's Book Author, Mary Russel
‎"Rudolph, A Child's Love Story" http://ow.ly/7gXfM Get my books while they are still on sale @ $9.95. They will be increasing to $19.95 in a few days.

"Rudolph, A Child's Love Story"

When 10 year old Becky learns her family isn’t her birth family, she has a difficult time accepting it. She feels betrayed by her birth mother and she wonders what she did to cause her mother to give her up. An adopted friend tells her that the difference between being adopted and foster is that he has a forever home while her birth mother can take her away from her foster family at any time.
Feeling insecure and frightened, Becky asks her foster mother why they haven’t adopted her.

Flickertail & Paint Barnyard Sleuths

Flickertail the llama & Paint the horse are peace keepers and peace lovers. They understand the value of teamwork, love, and friendship. They believe in helping others. Join them in the fun and antics as they solve various barnyard mysteries and help their friends find solutions to a variety of problems in this anthology of heartwarming and sometimes funny tales.

Sleuth & Scribe Book 1: The Cold Case

Product Description:
Containing no graphic violence or sex, no profanity, and likeable main characters, the Sleuth & Scribe series is safe for children and fun to read for adults who enjoy cozy mysteries.

In 1969, the body of a young woman was found at the bottom of a fire escape. It was Mike Holden’s first case. The police, eventually, decided it was an accident but Mike was never convinced it wasn’t murder.

Forty years later, an old memory causes Mike to reopen the case. Follow Mike as the Sleuth, Alice as the Scribe, and Mike’s dog, Deke as they chase down old leads and historic memories of the Weather Underground, the Vietnam War, and the Peace Corps in Thailand.

The Car Lot: Sleuth & Scribe Book 2

Product Description:

When Jane finds her father's crumpled body on the carpet in his office at the used car dealership, she is convinced he was murdered, although the police believe it was a heart attack.

Jane hires a private detective; Mike; Deke, his dog; and Alice, a mystery writer, to prove her theory. All of the employees at the car lot, including Jane, have a motive and it's up to the sleuth and scribe to uncover which of them had a strong enough reason to kill the boss, if indeed he was killed.

Name Origins of Months

2011-10-24T13:36:00.001-05:00

I was looking through some of my old short stories and I came across one about an octagon house. It made me think, if octo is Latin for eight, why is October the 10th month. December should be the tenth month. Was there originally only 10 months?

I researched it and sure enough, the earliest Latin calendar was 10 months, beginning with March. September (septem=7) was the 7th month, October was the eighth, November (novem=9) was the 9th month and December was the tenth and last month. July was called Quintilis, meaning 5th and August was Sextilis, meaning 6th.

So now I have some more questions. Why and when was it decided 12 months would be better? How many days were in the 10 month year and how many days were in each month?

Interview with Angela from Sheila Deeth's Flower Child

2011-10-22T20:04:00.002-05:00

Today I'm interviewing Angela from Sheila Deeth's Flower Child while she interviews Flickertail the Llama from my book, Flickertail & Paint, Barnyard Sleuths on her blog. Click the link.

About Flower Child:

When Megan miscarries her first pregnancy it feels like the end of everything; instead it’s the start of a curious relationship between the grieving mother and an unborn child who hovers somewhere between ghost and angel. Angela, Megan’s “little angel,” has character and dreams all her own, friends who may or may not be real angels, and a little brother who brings hope to her mother’s world. But Angela’s dream-world has a secret and one day Angela might learn how to be real.

What in your past had the most profound effect on you?

I think… maybe the birth of my brother. It kind of brought me and my mother together for a while. Just for a while, but I guess it made me realize she might be there for me later.

What in your past would you like to forget?

I dunno. Eric maybe. I mean, it just felt wrong… felt weird…

What in your past would you like others to forget?

I’d like my Mom to forget what happened and treat me like I’m real.

Have you ever had an adventure?

Maybe life’s an adventure. You tell me. You’re alive.

What is the most important thing that ever happened to you? Why?

The most important… would kissing a boy count?

Was there a major turning point in your life?

Okay, kissing a boy definitely counts. That’s when I started to grow up.

Was there ever a defining moment of your life?

Besides meeting boys? There was that time when Mom really talked to me, when we got my brother’s books out on the bed…

Is there anything else about your background you’d like to discuss?

You’re asking about me not being alive aren’t you?

What is your most closely guarded secret?

The fact that I think I am alive.

What is your most prized possession? Why?

Ouch. I’m never sure which things are possessions and which are dreams. I’d say shoes, but just ’cause people wear them, does that make them real? Do they make me real?

Any additional questions you would like to answer?

Not really. Can I go hang out with Elisha now before the angels come to get us?

About the author:

Sheila Deeth grew up in the UK and has a Bachelors and Masters in mathematics from Cambridge University, England. Now living in the States with her husband and sons, she enjoys reading, writing, drawing, telling stories, running a local writers' group, and meeting her neighbors’ dogs on the green.

Sheila describes herself as a Mongrel Christian Mathematician. Her short stories, book reviews and articles can be found in VoiceCatcher 4, Murder on the Wind, Poetic Monthly, Nights and Weekends, the Shine Journal and Joyful Online. Besides her Gypsy Shadow ebooks, Sheila has several self-published works available from Amazon and Lulu, and a full-length novel under contract to come out next year.

Find her on her website: http://www.sheiladeeth.com

or find her books at: http://sheiladeeth.weebly.com

Thank you so much for allowing me to interview Angela, Sheila. I'm sure my readers will enjoy getting to know her as much as I did.

Where to find Flower Child:

On Gypsy Shadow: http://gypsyshadow.com/SheilaDeeth.html#Flower

On Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Flower-Child-ebook/dp/B005PGMT4O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317398482&sr=8-1

on Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/91467

Interview with Sheila Deeth, Author of Flower Child

2011-10-22T09:01:00.006-05:00

Sheila is interviewing Elizabeth, a character from my book Rudolph, a Child's Love Story on her blog today.So please stop by her blog to meet Elizabeth.

Meet the Girl Who Loved Rudolph.

Today I am interviewing author, Sheila Deeth.

Sheila, I am so excited about your new book FLOWER CHILD. I was wondering what genre you write in.

When people ask “What genre do you write in?” there’s kind of an expectation you’ll give one answer. Authors who explore several different genres often use pen names. But somehow I never got around to that, so now I’m published, or soon to be published, in children’s, speculative, Christian and contemporary genres, all under one name.

Do I worry about people reading my three-minute Sunday-school stories and finding the same author’s written about Queen Boudicca’s sister and the Holy Grail (in Black Widow)? Do I mind if the readers of Refracted’s time-travel mystery find I’ve written a set of illustrated Bible tales for Easter? What if someone reads my picture book to her grandchild then learns I’ve written a tale of contemporary torment when my novel’s released?

But I’m me and I’m kind of attached to my name. I wouldn’t put the same events in Refracted and Black Widow, or create a character tortured by the same questions as Megan in Flower Child, if I weren’t also a reader of the Bible, student of history and science, and dreamer of dreams.

I’m a Catholic Protestant, so my faith has always involved knowing there’s much more that I don’t know—hence speculative fiction. I’m a mathematician writer, so my stories always include a search for logic and pattern and meaning. I’m an English American, so I realize how much the rulesI take for granted of are just what my culture believes. And I’m me.

What genres do I write in? Whatever comes to mind. The characters dictate their tales in my head and I drip them on the page. Then I attach my name to them because my characters, my beliefs, my dreams, my hopes and my fears are all part of me.

Maybe a Sunday school teacher will read Flower Child one day and find some comfort there. I know I did.

Thank you for inviting me to your blog Mary. I’m delighted to have shared this journey to publication with you and I’m grateful for all I’ve learned from you on the way.

About Flower Child:When Megan miscarries her first pregnancy it feels like the end of everything; instead it’s the start of a curious relationship between the grieving mother and an unborn child who hovers somewhere between ghost and angel. Angela, Megan’s “little angel,” has character and dreams all her own, friends who may or may not be real angels, and a little brother who brings hope to her mother’s world. But Angela’s dream-world has a secret and one day Angela might learn how to be real.

Where to find Flower Child:

On Gypsy Shadow: http://gypsyshadow.com/SheilaDeeth.html#Flower

On Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Flower-Child-ebook/dp/B005PGMT4O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317398482&sr=8-1

on Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/91467

About the author:Sheila Deeth grew up in the UK and has a Bachelors and Masters in mathematics from Cambridge University, England. Now living in the States with her husband and sons, she enjoys reading, writing, drawing, telling stories, running a local writers' group, and meeting her neighbors’ dogs on the green.

Sheila describes herself as a Mongrel Christian Mathematician. Her short stories, book reviews and articles can be found in VoiceCatcher 4, Murder on the Wind, Poetic Monthly, Nights and Weekends, the Shine Journal and Joyful Online. Besides her Gypsy Shadow ebooks, Sheila has several self-published works available from Amazon and Lulu, and a full-length novel under contract to come out next year.

Find her on her website: http://www.sheiladeeth.com

or find her books at: http://sheiladeeth.weebly.com

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today, Sheila and for taking the time to answer my question with such a great answer.

I hope my readers will stop by again tomorrow when I will be interviewing Angela, one of your characters from FLOWER CHILD.

My Book Review of The Crossing by Serita Jakes

2011-10-20T15:40:00.000-05:00

From the Back Cover:

Imprisoned by memories, Claudia Campbell lives each day in the shadow of a ten-year-old murder. Who can set her free?

On the way home from a football game, a decade earlier, a masked gunman opened fire on a Texas school bus. Cheerleading coach B.J. Remington was killed, but her murderer was never found. Claudia, who had a close friendship with the young, spirited teacher, constantly relives the anguish of that day, caught in one moment in time. When her husband, the assistant district attorney, becomes determined to uncover the mystery of that tragedy, the secrets buried over the years threaten to tear their family apart.

Officer Casio Hightower will never forget the day his dreams were destroyed. A star quarterback with a promising future, Casio was on top of the world--until one bullet changed everything. He is eager to help Victor Campbell find B.J.'s killer, the man who shot him. Maybe solving the case will help silence the demons driving Casio to hurt the woman he loves.

As the Campbells and Casio teeter on the brink of losing everything, will they be able to discover that what begins at the crossing ends at the cross?

My Review

Seeing a crime through the eyes, words, and thoughts, of a dying victim is an unusual way of telling a story. At first, I found it a bit confusing until I figured out what Serita Jakes, the author was doing and then I found myself looking forward to learning what B.J. was thinking as the story unfolded.

Ten years later we meet the characters who are still alive and they each have their own stories to tell about what happened then and how it is still affecting their lives now. Ms. Jakes builds their characters so well that I felt like I was inside their minds and emotions. Although I strongly liked and disliked several of the characters, I felt myself routing for them all to find happiness or at least salvation. Unfortunately, life isn’t always so tidy and neither is the ending to this story. Many of the characters surprised me, some pleasantly, some not. The ending certainly came as a surprise and, like the characters, it was both good and bad.

This is one of those books that you want to read in one sitting or it will haunt you until you have reached the end. I recommend this intense and often dark book unless you are looking for a light read.

I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.

Ruthi Reads!: Rudolph, A Child's Love Story is a Magical Gift

2011-10-20T09:28:00.000-05:00

Ruthi Reads!: Rudolph, A Child's Love Story is a Magical Gift

Thank you Ruthi for your great review of Rudolph, a Child's Love Story

Is Self Publishing for you?

2011-10-08T13:45:00.000-05:00

Before you spend any money or sign any contracts, be sure to research any publishing company you are considering. There are many scam artists taking advantage of wannabe authors.

Although companies like Lulu.com and Createspace.com aren’t technically self publishing publishers, they refer to themselves that way so they will be included in this article.

Advantages of Self Publishing

You set your own price and release date.

You keep 100 per cent of the royalties and rights. Most traditional publishers only pay around 6 per cent. My publisher doesn’t send a royalty check until the royalties reach $50. I optimistically believed it wouldn’t take long to get a check. So far, I have sold more books myself than my publisher has, but that requires an inventory investment.

Disadvantages

You have to do all of your own marketing, promotion, and distribution. Be very careful how much money you spend. It can take a lot of book sales before you start making a profit.

You will need to do your own book binding, illustrations (if needed), proofreading, editing, layout, typesetting, and cover design or get someone else to help you. Legitimate subsidy publishers exist for the purpose of helping you with those services.

Some Self Publishing/Subsidy Companies I am personally familiar with

Lulu.com and Createspace.com (CS owned by Amazon) are print on demand (POD) subsidy publishers. Books are printed only when someone orders a copy. Both createspace and lulu are subsidy publishers. Since subsidy publishers are the ‘publisher of record’ and they provide you with an ISBN number, they aren’t technically self publishers, although they usually refer to themselves as self publishers. The name of the subsidy publisher appears on your back cover. If you want your own publishing company’s name, you need to buy your ISBN number. I think that usually costs around $90. Subsidy publishers often offer templates to help you with binding, layout and cover design. You pay them per book printed and price your book accordingly. If you want to purchase books to have on hand for book signings, autographed books to sell directly, or books to give as gifts, you can usually get a break in price if you buy a certain amount of books at once. Lulu also offers an ebook option and will provide a page for you to sell your books on their site.

Caveat: Do NOT do business with any subsidy press that requires you to give up your publishing rights.

True Self Publishing

If you want to be truly self published you will need to set up your own publishing company. You will also need to be good at book binding, editing, proofreading, typesetting, layout and design, or know someone who is. You can use a POD printer like Lightning Source, owned by Lulu.com for professional quality printing services. Lightening Source is used by many small independent publishing houses.

Some people will tell you that if you want a really good quality looking book that few people will be able to tell from a professionally published book, you shouldn’t use Word for typesetting your book. Adobe InDesign is one of the most recommended tools for designing and typesetting quality looking books. However, it is pricey. I found it on line for anywhere from $670 to $1500. There is also a steep learning curve.

Summary

If you are like me and need help with cover art, book binding, page layout, etc. the subsidy presses will probably work better for you. You can get into print quickly without having to learn anything about the printing business. If you can follow directions, your book will be a good quality book through Lulu or Createspace. You can spend as much or as little as you like depending on what additional services you choose to purchase beyond the free setup for Lulu and Createspace.

My live author chat is tonight

2011-10-07T12:06:00.001-05:00

You are invited to a live chat with Author... | Gather

www.gather.com

Gather is the place where millions of people come for fresh perspective on what's happening now. Gather Members can join in the conversation.

My Live Author chat is tonight October 7 at 8 pm Central.
Mary Russel via Connie Lake Cowger
Here is a link to tonight's chat Hope to see everybody there at 8 CT. We always have a lot of fun and Connie is a wonderful host. http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980508249

A Book Review of A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner

2011-10-06T16:59:00.000-05:00

History fascinates me and the history in A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner, regarding the Civil War is intriguingly developed through the plot and several letters. The characters are believable and the dialogue realistic in this haunting tale of a new wife who moves into Holly Oak, an antebellum mansion that seems to “bear a grudge toward its tragic past,” as described on the back cover. A cannonball embedded into the side of Holly Oak seems to want to tell its own story.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the letters written by Susannah between 1860 and 1863. They revealed many answers to the behavior of the current generation of ladies involved with Holly Oak.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading the rich history of the South, with a hint of ghosts, haunted houses, and the study of human behavior.

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for my honest review.

Burt's Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream

2011-10-06T10:45:00.000-05:00

I received Burt's Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream free as part of a BzzAgent campaign in exchange for my honest review.

After only two days I am already loving how smooth and soft it makes my 63 year old skin feel. Most facial products make my skin break out. This doesn't.

I appreciate that it is fragrance free. Many times, I have had to wash off moisturizers because I can't stand the scent.

The container dispenses just the right amount of product. When I saw the small amount dispensed the first time I used it, I thought, this is never going to be enough, but I was wrong. A little goes a long way, and with this economy, that's a good thing for the budget and the face.

2011-09-29T17:40:00.000-05:00

Children's Book Author, Mary Russel
Children's Author Mary Russel's Books for Kids http://ow.ly/6IXOR Wow! A Squidoo Lens featuring ME!!! Written by CruiseReady. Great job, Sheila! Thank you.

Children's Author Mary Russel's Books for Kids

When I first met Mary on line, she was writing about a horse and a llama, the first of her published books for kids.I can still remember the...

- Children's Book Author, Mary Russel I love, love, love it. A huge thank you and a hug to Sheila! And I didn't even have to bribe her to say all of those nice things. Go say hi to Sheila at her lens. Just click on the link by the larger pic of me with all 4 of my books. Tell her I sent you. She's fabulous!!!

OXO Candelas and Dogs

2011-09-28T15:10:00.000-05:00

A friend stopped by the other night. She knows I'm a BzzAgent so she is always curious about my campaigns and looks forward to getting coupons and samples. I had to tell her there are none with this campaign but I did show her the OXO Candelas. She loved the way they look when lit and since she has a rambunctious dog with a long waggly tail, she also appreciates the safety factor. It sounded like she was considering buying some.

Afternoon Excursion: Random Musings

2011-09-25T15:53:00.000-05:00

RESTAURANT
Brown and white striped fish vertically struggling in plastic aquarium plant, slowly dying. Seafood restaurant stinking of dead fish.

LAKESIDE PARK
Hammock shaped tree branch reaching for the water. Ducks, geese, and seagulls lining roadway and shoreline. Weather fit for only them.

CEMETERY
Decrepit stone caretaker's cottage with uncurtained windows. Skies crying on Cookie and Coco's graves.

Flickertail, Paint, and the Owl

2011-09-24T13:28:00.000-05:00

Flickertail the llama and Paint the horse met an owl who was highly respected for his wisdom.

“I have written many best selling books,” he bragged. “Several have been made into movies and I am very wealthy as a result. What have you done with your lives?”

“We help our friends however they need us to help them. Sometimes we find treasured items they have lost. Sometimes we help to rebuild their confidence. Sometimes we are just good companions.”

“Do you give them money?”

“We have no money and no need for it but we share whatever we have.”

The owl nodded. “That is good, but you need to do more. You need to work even harder so that you have more to give.”

“Do you share everything you have?”

“I share all of my wisdom, through my books and my movies.”

“But do you share all your money that you earned from your successful books and movies?”

“It is enough that I share my talent.”

“Let me see if I have this right,” said Flickertail. “You expect us to share everything we have and then to work harder so that we have even more to share. You, however, get to keep most of the fruits of your labor. Does that sound fair to you?”

“You don’t seem to understand. My books and movies tell people how they should live so that life is better for everyone.”

“But those standards don’t seem to apply to you. With all due respect, I think that makes you a hypocrite,” Flickertail argued.

“The capitalistic system we live under is not good for the people. It encourages greed,” countered the owl.

“How very odd that you want to tear down the system that has made you what you are,” said Paint.

A weird use of the OXO Candela

2011-09-12T15:18:00.000-05:00

A BzzAgent Campaign

A weird use of the OXO Candela

Well, maybe not so weird. Candles used to be used as illumination before electricity and the Candela is similar to a candle without the fire hazard or dripping wax. I picture romantic images of a beautiful woman in a long silken gown as she ascends the stairs to her sleeping quarters while carrying a lit candle to light the way. Not very safe though, if she trips.

Anyway, back to my modern day story. My husband had fallen asleep on the couch while watching TV. We often watch TV in the dark which probably contributes to his falling asleep so easily. I was working on my laptop, when I realized the delete key wasn't in the same place as my desktop keyboard and for the life of me, I just couldn't find it in the dark Not wanting to risk awakening him by turning on the light, I simply reached over to the coffee table and used one of the candelas as a flashlight.

Werther's BzzAgent Campaign

2011-09-10T14:00:00.001-05:00

Image by Degilbo on flickr via Flickr

Are you familiar with Werther's Original Caramels? I remember the hard candies from when I was a kid. Now they have a wide variety of scrumptious flavors that I am anxious to try, thanks to a BzzAgent Campaign. Check out the Werther's website for caramel recipes perfect for fall. Click on the link that says kitchen to find recipes for caramel apples, bars, and treats.

I'll be watching my mailbox closely for the next several days until they arrive.

Would you like a coupon for $10 off on Bil-Jac dog food

2011-09-09T17:49:00.001-05:00

I just received my Bil-Jac BzzKit from BzzAgent. Included in the BzzKit are five coupons for $10 each. If you aren't familiar with their dog food, check out their website. I will send a coupon to the first five people who get back to me with their mailing address. All I ask is that you let me know how your dog responds to the food, after you have had a chance to give it a try and allow me to share your honest feedback whether good or bad with BzzAgent.

http://www.bil-jac.com

Bil-Jac dog food provides the nutrition to support your dog's overall health. Our healthy dog food is great for professional dogs and your everyday companion including sensitive dogs and puppies. Compare our premium dog food to Blue Buffalo, Iams and Purina.

OXO Candela

2011-09-09T15:27:00.000-05:00

I've been enjoying these rechargeable candles that I received through BzzAgent in exchange for my honest review. We recently redecorated our living room with more relaxing colors and the candelas add to the ambiance. We've also used them on our deck on some of these pleasant evenings. We won't be getting too many more evenings outside on the deck this year. Might as well enjoy them while we can. Even when it gets a bit breezy there are no worries about having to relight the candles. If a wind gust tips them over there is no safety hazard or melted wax.

Thank you to everyone who has voted so far

2011-08-30T13:55:00.000-05:00

I really appreciate all of the support you have shown me by taking the time to look at my aboutdotme page and voting for me. The contest runs until Sept. 20th so for those of you who haven't yet voted there is still plenty of time. You can also add your about.me page. If you do, be sure to let me know and I will vote for you too.

Here is an exchange I had with another person on FaceBook you may find informative.

"Nice page layout. Thinking about profiling our business there. Do you get a lot of traffic from there?'

Mary Russel "I signed up for it last year around Christmas but hadn't really done much to promote it. Then BzzAgent reminded me of it again with a new campaign. This contest should go a long way toward generating traffic and enticing new members. I like how you can add all of your social networking links, blog, and website in one place."

OXO Candela Review (BzzAgent Campaign)

2011-08-30T11:25:00.000-05:00

Most of my regular readers already know that I'm a Bzz Agent but anytime I review a product I get through a Bzz Agent campaign I am obligated to report that it came from Bzz Agent. So with that out of the way, here is my review of the OXO Candela.

I received my package in the mail yesterday afternoon. I can always tell when it comes from BzzAgent because the tape has cute BzzAgent Bees on it. My husband was home when it arrived so he opened the package while I was making supper. I got to watch him playing with the contents of my package and trying to figure out how everything works. I don't know if the product came with any instructions but it wouldn't have mattered. He wouldn't have read them anyway. Funny how different we are that way. I prefer to read everything over carefully so I don't risk breaking it by doing something wrong. He just plows ahead. Watching him made me nervous but it doesn't appear that he wrecked anything.

By trial and error, he figured out how to make the two candelas light up. They come with a plug-in charging base. He plugged in the base, put the candelas in it for less than a minute and they lit up, so he took them off the base and put them in the living room where we ate our supper. After about an hour, he decided there should be a way to turn them off and he figured out that he could do that by pressing on the bottom. He pronounced them weird looking but I like them.

I like the safety aspects. You get the soft, relaxing, romantic glow of a candle without the danger of a fire no matter where they are placed and how long they are on. If you have rambunctious pets or children, you don't need to worry about them getting tipped over and starting a fire.

I would like to see them offered in other colors and maybe some scented options. For those who don't like scents, this unscented version should also remain as a choice.

I plan to use them the next time I take an evening bath to add to a relaxing atmosphere.

aboutdotme and Times Square

2011-08-29T18:27:00.005-05:00

Be the face of about.me and star on our Times Square billboard!

I'm a BzzAgent and this is one of the BzzCampaigns I have entered.

About.me has launched a month-long contest to find new faces for our fall promotion.
Selected winners will see their about.me page featured across our campaign, including on a GIANT billboard in Times Square. Plus, the top three winners will win a trip to the Big Apple to see their page in lights and attend an exclusive about.me party.
How can you win? All you have to do is create a profile (or visit your profile) and click “Opt-in Now” on your edit page. Then start sharing your about.me page with all of your friends to get votes. The contest closes on September 20th, so enter your page now!

Then please, vote for me to be the face of @aboutdotme on a Times Square billboard: http://about.me/maryrussel

If you add your profile, let me know you voted for me and I'll vote for you. Thank you.

Mary Russel (maryrussel) on about.me

about.me

Mary Russel started writing in grade school, when she had a poem . . .

My Book Signing & Other Great News

2011-08-23T11:39:00.000-05:00

My Book Signing & Other Great News

Many of you already know that I was excited to have been invited to display and sign my books on the 20th and 21st at the Galloway House, a historical village, in Fond du Lac, WI. Although I only sold 8 books, I am pleased with the local exposure and I had a great time. I met many wonderful people. The staff and volunteers at the Galloway House were outgoing, friendly, and helpful. The ladies in the Reception Building made me feel welcome and went out of their way to make sure I was comfortable. The weather cooperated and there was a great turnout of visitors to the village of 30 historic buildings.

There was something to enjoy for every family member with crafts, demonstrations, a car show, a petting zoo, a museum featuring war memorabilia, and an old fashioned ice cream social.
My husband was drawn to the old cars and took more photos of them than he did of me and my book display.
I now have all four of my books at the Galloway House on consignment.

In addition, I just learned that my publisher is now offering my books at less than $10. In my opinion, that is a much more realistic price than the $16.95 they had them priced at.

NEW LOWER Price on all of my books on my publisher's site

2011-08-22T16:53:00.000-05:00

http://www.publishamerica.net/sc/productsearch.cgi?search_field=mary+russel&storeid=*1c4d4df481f8ce630156477a1b1c6361

"Flickertail & Paint, Barnyard Sleuths" by
Mary Russel
ISBN: 978-1-4489-7248-7, 96 Pages, 6 x 9

Buy $9.95

"Rudolph, A Child's Love Story" by
Mary Russel
ISBN: 978-1-4512-9285-5, 66 Pages, 6 x 9

Buy $9.95

The Car Lot: Sleuth & Scribe Book 2 by
Mary Russel
ISBN: 978-1-4512-7572-8, 60 pages, 5.5 x 8.5

Buy $9.95

Sleuth & Scribe Book 1: The Cold Case by
ISBN: 978-1-4512-3598-2, 86 pages, 6x9

Buy $9.95

Just a reminder

2011-08-17T17:14:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder for any of my readers, friends, and family who may be in the Fond du Lac, WI area this weekend:
On August 20 & 21, 2011, the Galloway House and Village will be hosting a two day Event, (an old fashioned Ice Cream Social). Like the socials in the past, there will be numerous activities throughout the grounds. There will be cars lined up to show the history of the automobile from horse and buggy to modern day and beyond! Ice cream, popcorn, snacks, and baked goods will be on sale.

I will be there both days, offering all four of my books for sale and autographing them. Please stop by to say hi if you are able.

The Wisdom of Frankiln D. Roosevelt

2011-08-05T11:54:00.001-05:00

I was doing some research for the book I am currently writing and I was fascinated by many of the quotes by FDR. So many of them could apply as easily to oppressive government.

It turns out that one quote that has been attributed to him may have been falsely attributed. Although, he may not have said it, I believe it to be true. “In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.” Author Unknown

The following timely quotes were his. Words in italics are my thoughts.

· They, (who) seek to establish systems of government based on the regimentation of all human beings by a handful of individual rulers . . . call this a new order. It is not new and it is not order.

· We must scrupulously guard the civil rights and civil liberties of all our citizens, whatever their background. We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, any hatred, is a wedge designed to attack our civilization.

· Are you laboring under the impression that I read these memoranda of yours? I can't even lift them. (I just threw this in because I found in funny in light of the size of our bills today.)

· The lessons of history, confirmed by the evidence immediately before me, show conclusively that continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual and moral disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fibre. To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit. It is inimical to the dictates of sound policy. It is in violation of the traditions of America. Work must be found for able-bodied but destitute workers. The Federal Government must and shall quit this business of relief.

· The hours men and women worked, the wages they received, the conditions of their labor — these had passed beyond the control of the people, and were imposed by this new industrial dictatorship. The savings of the average family, the capital of the small-businessmen, the investments set aside for old age — other people's money — these were tools which the new economic royalty used to dig itself in. Those who tilled the soil no longer reaped the rewards which were their right. The small measure of their gains was decreed by men in distant cities. Throughout the nation, opportunity was limited by monopoly. Individual initiative was crushed in the cogs of a great machine. The field open for free business was more and more restricted. Private enterprise, indeed, became too private. It became privileged enterprise, not free enterprise. (He was referring to the greed and corruption of monopolies. Today, this could also apply to the effects of a government grown too big and too controlling. Both situations are detrimental to individual initiative and freedom.)

· For too many of us the political equality we once had won was meaningless in the face of economic inequality. A small group had concentrated into their own hands an almost complete control over other people's property, other people's money, other people's labor — other people's lives. For too many of us life was no longer free; liberty no longer real; men could no longer follow the pursuit of happiness. (Once again, he was referring to what he called industrial dictatorships. And once again, we can substitute governmental dictatorships which are just as oppressive.)

· We do not see faith, hope, and charity as unattainable ideals, but we use them as stout supports of a nation fighting the fight for freedom in a modern civilization.
Faith — in the soundness of democracy in the midst of dictatorships.
Hope — renewed because we know so well the progress we have made.
Charity — in the true spirit of that grand old word. For charity literally translated from the original means love, the love that understands, that does not merely share the wealth of the giver, but in true sympathy and wisdom helps men to help themselves.

A hand up is not the same thing as a hand out. Almost all of us find ourselves in need of a hand up from time to time. Perpetual reliance on hand outs, however, crushes individual initiative, destroys our freedoms, and will, eventually bring our country down.

Now you can get "Read This Before Our Next Meeting" free

2011-08-04T15:25:00.000-05:00

Last week, I told you about this book that I received free as part of a BzzAgent campaign and how much I enjoyed reading it. Thanks to the folks at Citrix (the home of GoToMeeting) you can get a Kindle edition of Read This Before Our Next Meeting for free for seven days starting today. The Kindle edition runs on Kindles or the Kindle reader app,

Read This Before Our Next Meeting by Al Pittampalli Another book from The Domino Project (received through BzzAgent for my honest review)

2011-07-28T16:41:00.006-05:00

Traditional meetings

All of us have attended meetings where we wondered what was accomplished. Most of us have attended several of these (perhaps even weekly or daily). You probably resented having your time wasted and disrespected.

But unproductive meetings are even more insidious than just a waste of everyone’s time.

As the author, Al Pittampalli points out, “Once we're exposed to the callous indifference of a false-urgent meeting, we begin to question everything the organization does. If management is willing to regularly tolerate such an affront on our productivity, why bother?”

Meetings should never be called when a memo would suffice.

We can't work and meet at the same time. It’s time organizations decide what’s more important to them.

The author suggests, “The Modern Meeting convenes to support a decision that has already been made. If we still have serious objections or better alternatives, or we want to propose changes to the details of the decision, the Modern Meeting is the forum for debating them. In the end, though, you (the leader) make the decision; you own the outcome.

“The Modern Meeting focuses on the only two activities worth convening for: conflict and coordination. The Modern Meeting meets only for the purpose of dissent. (Unlike the traditional meeting,) conflict is expected, so participants feel safe to let their ideas fly indiscriminately.”

I can see where this would keep people from feeling that their time was being wasted by unproductive meetings. I agree with many of his ideas about how to conduct the Modern Meeting and why it should replace the Traditional Meeting. However, I think if you followed it to the letter it would be a bit too cold and sterilized for my tastes. I’m not sure how a bit of warmth and caring could be added but most business professionals may prefer his style to mine, anyway.

Excerpt from The Steamer Trunk

2011-07-28T11:27:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to share a sneak peek at an excerpt from my rough draft of THE STEAMER TRUNK. It's still a work in progress and has a long way to go with lots of research still needed.

Chapter 1:-

A knock on the cabin door startled Heather out of her nap. “Who is it?”

“Cabin Steward; we dock in five minutes.”

“Thank you.”

As she threw cold water on her face from the sink in the tiny bathroom, she remembered the jokes she had heard about ship’s cramped cabins and lavatory facilities. She wouldn’t miss the lack of stretching room in both.

The large, awkward trunk she was struggling to maneuver out the door had only helped to make the space more confining. The villagers would be surprised by what was inside it.

Almost one hundred years before, her great great grandfather had traveled these same waters to bring it to the newly founded village but he had had dysentery. He, his wife, and infant son had been dropped off at one of the ports along the way to seek treatment for him. He had died of the dysentery at the age of 25.

She smiled as she thought about how astonished the people would be to see her and the contents of the trunk when she presented it at their centennial celebration.

When Heather and her trunk touched shore, she assessed her immediate surroundings. Directly ahead of her were a restaurant and a gift shop. To the left was a car rental place and to the right was her hotel. She decided to go to the hotel first so she could unpack the trunk and make arrangements to secure the carefully wrapped item.

Twists, Turns, and Intrique

2011-07-26T13:23:00.000-05:00

My Book Review of The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer

When I was offered a chance to review this book, I was excited because the publisher's site noted that it was about a child in foster care. Having grown up in that system, I was anxious to compare Jaimie's experiences with mine. It turned out that we had very little in common but I empathized with her unique situation just the same.

12-year-old Jaimie can sense evil and to escape it, one night she seeks the help of the one person in her life that she trusts, her teacher, Mr. G. That decision triggers a series of calamities for him and uncovers secrets about Jaimie's past and the Catholic Church.

This is an easy to read, fast paced Christian thriller. I couldn't put it down and read it in one day. The ending was totally unexpected to me and raised additional questions.

I would recommend it, if you don't mind endings that don't tie everything neatly together.

I received this book free from Waterbrook Press in exchange for my honest review.

Book Signing at the Galloway House in Fond du Lac next month

2011-07-26T09:54:00.001-05:00

If any of you are planning to be in the Fond du Lac, WI area August 20 and 21,2011, I will be at the Galloway House Reception Building for a book signing between 10 am and 4 pm both days.

According to Fond du Lac Historic Society's website, visitors to the Galloway House & Village will

"See what life was like in the late 1800s. Tour this authentic village and 30-room mid-Victorian mansion boasting 4 fireplaces, Italianate details, and many pieces of original furniture. Surrounded by 25 historic buildings such as a church, photographers' shop, townhall, newspaper print shop, and one-room school. The Blakely Museum contains historical collections from Native American to present day.

The Galloway House and Village is located at 336 Old Pioneer Road, midway between Wisconsin 175 and U.S. 45. Our season runs from Memorial Weekend through Labor Day plus weekends in September. Hours: Seven days a week, 10 AM through 4 PM."

The weekend of August 20 and 21 offers fun for every family member with an

Ice Cream Social, Vintage Car & Craft Show
"Celebrate Historic Hero's, men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces through the years with our new displays in the Blakely Museum. Special prices for service people in uniform, with dogtags, or proof of service."

Adults $6, Children (4-12) $3, 3 & under free. LOCATION: 336 Old Pioneer Rd
TIME: Sat 10-5pm Sun 10-4pm

Click here for a few photos of the Galloway House and Village

Hope to see you there.

Timely political quotes

2011-07-19T11:26:00.000-05:00

“There is only one way to kill capitalism—by taxes, taxes, and more taxes.” – Karl Marx

“It also gives us a very special, secret pleasure to see how unaware the people around us are of what is really happening to them.” – Adolf Hitler

“It is the absolute right of the state to supervise the formation of public opinion.” Joseph Goebbels

“Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything.” – Josef Stalin

“If ever time should come when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.” – Samuel Adams

“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” – Thomas Jefferson

“The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in times of moral crisis.” – Dante

“During times of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” – George Orwell ’1984′

I Have Been Converted

2011-07-18T09:59:00.000-05:00

DragonSpell (Dragon Keepers Chronicles, Book 1)
by Donita K. Paul Edition: Paperback
Price: $10.28
Availability: In Stock

172 used & new from $0.43

I have been converted, July 18, 2011

This review is from: DragonSpell (Dragon Keepers Chronicles, Book 1) (Paperback)

This is the second book I have read by Ms. Paul and I will read more of her books. I never used to be a fan of fantasy or dragons but she has made me one.

Several of the reviews I have read on this book refer to the story as a spiritual allegory, which it certainly is. If you define allegory as "anything used as a symbol", you might also find, as I did, that it could be an allegory for government too.

The characters were well developed and their flaws were believable. Paul made me care about all of the "Good Guys" and to wish them well, as she placed some of them in jeopardy. To my surprise, some parts of the story actually made me cry. Who would have thought I would relate to dragon characters?

Dragonspell is an excellent read for all ages and fans of Christian fantasy. Or, if you have an open mind, you may be converted to Christian fantasy by Donita K. Paul's skill with weaving a magical world and plot.

I received this book free from Waterbrook Press in exchange for my honest review.

Mary Russel's Children's Stories & Novels

My Book Review of Sisters of the Quilt by Cindy Woodsmall

My Book Review of Finding Our Way Home by Charlene Ann Baumbich

REVIEW OF CHARLES OF COLSHIRE CASTLE THE PURPLE DRAGON BY DOUGLAS QUINN

Book trailer & Chapter 1 excerpt for The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

Floyd the Dog's FREE Story of the Month Club

Flickertail & Paint, Private Investigators: A Christmas Caper

My Christmas Stories published in an ezine and a animal charity support website

An Exercise in Character Development

Book Review of Kindred Spirits (First Generation) by Clifford Neal

Flickertail & Paint Hide William the Turkey

Flickertail and Paint in the Case of the Mysterious Trapdoor

A Book Review of The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

The Missing Turkey

Children's Book Author, Mary Russel‎"Rudolph, A Child's Love Story" http://ow.ly/7gXfM Get my books while they are still on sale @ $9.95. They will be increasing to $19.95 in a few days.

Flickertail & Paint Barnyard Sleuths

Sleuth & Scribe Book 1: The Cold Case

The Car Lot: Sleuth & Scribe Book 2

Name Origins of Months

Interview with Angela from Sheila Deeth's Flower Child

Interview with Sheila Deeth, Author of Flower Child

My Book Review of The Crossing by Serita Jakes

Ruthi Reads!: Rudolph, A Child's Love Story is a Magical Gift

Is Self Publishing for you?

My live author chat is tonight

My Live Author chat is tonight October 7 at 8 pm Central. Mary Russel via Connie Lake CowgerHere is a link to tonight's chat Hope to see everybody there at 8 CT. We always have a lot of fun and Connie is a wonderful host. http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980508249

A Book Review of A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner

Burt's Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream

Children's Book Author, Mary RusselChildren's Author Mary Russel's Books for Kids http://ow.ly/6IXOR Wow! A Squidoo Lens featuring ME!!! Written by CruiseReady. Great job, Sheila! Thank you.

OXO Candelas and Dogs

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A weird use of the OXO Candela

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Werther's BzzAgent Campaign

Would you like a coupon for $10 off on Bil-Jac dog food

OXO Candela

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Thank you to everyone who has voted so far

OXO Candela Review (BzzAgent Campaign)

aboutdotme and Times Square

Be the face of about.me and star on our Times Square billboard!

I'm a BzzAgent and this is one of the BzzCampaigns I have entered.

Then please, vote for me to be the face of @aboutdotme on a Times Square billboard: http://about.me/maryrussel

If you add your profile, let me know you voted for me and I'll vote for you. Thank you.

My Book Signing & Other Great News

My Book Signing & Other Great News

NEW LOWER Price on all of my books on my publisher's site

Just a reminder

The Wisdom of Frankiln D. Roosevelt

Now you can get "Read This Before Our Next Meeting" free

Read This Before Our Next Meeting by Al Pittampalli Another book from The Domino Project (received through BzzAgent for my honest review)

Excerpt from The Steamer Trunk

Twists, Turns, and Intrique

Book Signing at the Galloway House in Fond du Lac next month

Timely political quotes

I Have Been Converted

Related articles

Children's Book Author, Mary Russel
‎"Rudolph, A Child's Love Story" http://ow.ly/7gXfM Get my books while they are still on sale @ $9.95. They will be increasing to $19.95 in a few days.

My Live Author chat is tonight October 7 at 8 pm Central.
Mary Russel via Connie Lake Cowger
Here is a link to tonight's chat Hope to see everybody there at 8 CT. We always have a lot of fun and Connie is a wonderful host. http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980508249

Children's Book Author, Mary Russel
Children's Author Mary Russel's Books for Kids http://ow.ly/6IXOR Wow! A Squidoo Lens featuring ME!!! Written by CruiseReady. Great job, Sheila! Thank you.