Join us Today Only as we celebrate the release of My Father's Colors by Marian L. Thomas. We're having a party and there are some great prizes to be won. Stop into Facebook and join the event, leave a comment on the event wall for your chance to win 1 of 5 copies of this fantastic and exciting new release in Ebook format. Share the event and leave the link in the comments and be entered to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card, then stop into each blog on the tour using the linky provided at each and leave a comment to be entered to win a signed paperback copy. Mandatory is to leave a comment at each blog today for your chance to win.
So join us for this fun filled PAR-TAY - Today Only.
Marian L. Thomas, reared in Chicago but lives with her biggest-supporter—her husband and their spoiled but playful dog, Winston in Atlanta, Georgia. Received her Bachelor's degree in Business Communication, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Marian writes with a box full of colors in her head. Using the analogy of a crayon box to describe the struggles and journeys of women, has become her literary trademark. Readers have been captivated by her emotional appeal and her flare for reality that continues to be weaved within the pages of her books. Her debut title, Color Me Jazzmyne, went on to become an Amazon Best-seller. Reaching #1 in the Rhythm & Blues category, #2 in Inner-Child and #7 in Performance/Voice for the amazing melodious tones developed through the voice of her main character, Naya Monà. Color Me Jazzmyne was also ranked as one of the" Top 100 Books"-1st Qtr 2010 by the Sankofa Literary Society Review.
Win A Signed Copy of My Father's Colors by leaving a comment at each of the following blogs:
Please welcome Mystee in our Host Appreciation. Mystee has been with us for a few months now and she has been a real lifesaver many times. She does reviews, as well as guest posts. Please stop in and see what Mystee has going on at A Moment With Mystee.
1. What do you love most about blogging?
I love getting to work with so many different authors, publishers and various representatives as well as getting to know so many of those that come by to read my blog.
2. Do you have a most memorable post?
I'd have to say my posts about ADHD and ADHD/ODD. There are so many assumptions about those disorders and as a mom with 2 ADHD and 1 ADHD/ODD, I've been on all the sides of the fence as to if those even exist.
3. What is the funniest thing you have ever blogged about?
I'd say it's my day to day ramblings that pop up here and there about my kids, pets and friends.
4. What do you hope your readers will take away from your blog?
I hope they find somethng they decide they want to read, or something they can laugh about because it's not just happening to them in their lives.
5. Where do you hope to take your blog in the future?
I'd love to have more of a set schedule with more regular readers and authors. I'm working on setting up 24 hours of giveaways for January 1st with an author interview each day for January and guest post each day for February. A Twitter party is in the works as well. Anything and everything to make my blog better for my readers and the authors that contribute to it.
6. Do you ever have contests and/or giveaways on your blog?
Yes, currently I have 10 going.
7. In your opinion, how would readers, old and new, benefit from your blog?
I think of they're old readers, they'll find books and authors they've never heard of and find a good book that they may have passed up due to a not so great cover. New readers will be able to spend hours and hours there reading interviews and guest posts from authors and so many reviews.
8. Anything you would like to share, thoughts, events, etc?
2011 is going to be huge {at least that's the plan for it}. Check my blog for all the upcoming giveaways to wrap up the year and all the upcoming events for 2011
Thank you so much for stopping in Mystee and letting us get to know you better. I appreciate all you do and keep up the great work :).
Joseph J. Sivak MD is a board certified adult psychiatrist with twenty years of experience in direct patient care. He has taught and lectured in the United States and internationally in the areas of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Mood disorders, and chronic suicidal ideation. He completed medical school at Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, and Residency Training at the University of Rochester. Dr. Sivak has served on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Alzheimer's Association and the Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross and hosted a weekly mental health Radio Program for eight years on KUWS- Wisconsin Public Radio. Currently Dr. Sivak serves on the legislative committee of the Minnesota Medical Association, is a assistant professor at the University of Minnesota-Duluth College of Pharmacy and is in full time private psychiatric in Duluth.
BK: Welcome Joe. Thank you so much for chatting with me today. What inspired you to pen your first title?
JS: It was a story that was within my psyche and my soul that was just dying to burst out onto paper. We all have a story inside of us. In the end we all have our own personal hell, our own struggles, that are no more or less exceptional than anybody else's. But I wanted my future generations to understand where they came from. Most off all, Alzheimer's disease is such a lousy process, it affects 5 million, and one of the worst parts about it, is the isolation is causes in families. I thought the book might actually help somebody and cut down on that isolation. It's hard for me to really imagine any huge endeavor without maybe benefiting someone, and that pushed me to finally get it done.
BK: How long have you been writing?
JS: I started the book back in 1989 so on and off for 20 years.
BK: What was the hardest part about writing this particular book?
JS: Finding the ending. Alzheimer's disease is so life changing for the victim and the family, long after the physical death the strange poignancy of the pain does not end.
BK: Have any dreams been realized as a result of your writing?
JS: Yes, I got a book out with a real ISBN. I guess that was a dream.
BK: Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?
JS: Yes start treating the elderly with honor and respect they deserve. Start talking about Alzheimer's for real even if it does not affect your family, you can't catch it by understanding it, and for those affected you are not alone.
BK: Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?
JS: A work of fiction about psychiatric residency.
BK: What advice do you have for writer's just starting out?
JS: Write because you love to write, because you need to write. Your writing be it fiction or memoir or whatever is a deeply personal and intimate look into your heart and psyche. Don't expect anybody else to see it that way. Selling books and giving a part of yourself and your toil and effort and creativity etc are two disconnected things. Don't give up if you truly need to have a published work, there are many ways to do that now more than ever. Most importantly, keep perfecting your craft of writing.
BK: Anything else you would like to share with us today?......
Thanks for letting me stop by. Joseph J. Sivak MD
If you know of or maybe someone in your family has Alzheimer's, We can all help by giving to the research. If you would like to donate or find out more information, please visit The Alzheimer's Association.
There are so many ways to get involved for such a great cause. Thank you so much for stopping in Joe and sharing your story. I am also giving away 2 copies of Joe's book. Simply leave Joe a comment with your email address and you will be entered to win. Drawing will be December 6, using Random.org Number Generator.
It is not necessary to become a follower of my blog but would be greatly appreciated.
The true life account of a young man living with the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in a parent. The
disease was diagnosed in his mother when the author was seventeen years old in 1979, long before
Alzheimer's disease was a household term.
The book candidly traces with graphic detailed description and dialogue the course of the fatal illness.
The emotional issues of such pivotal events as the loss of autonomy of driving a car and entry into a
nursing home are experienced through the eyes of a young son. From a concurrent viewpoint
Alzheimer's is explained with the wisdom of a 21st century physician who has personally experienced
the emotional anguish, and thus the fact-based journey is a truly unique dual-perspective Alzheimer's
memoir. The story juxtaposes the active uphill battle to become a doctor set against the backdrop of
the passive helpless struggle of losing a parent to the disease
The narrative provides explicit commentary on the modern plight of the physician and the global
connection family members of an Alzheimer's victim painstakingly share. The unusual, seldom before
elicited insights of the dual-perspective vigorously address universal issues such as coping, hope,
futility, humiliation and societal bias toward the disease throughout the text.
Title: Dream Bigger: Reclaiming a Life of Joy and Ease
Publisher: iUniverse
Bio:
I believe life is meant to be enjoyed. I love to work with people, listen to their stories, and learn from their experiences.
My training is in Organizational and Relationship Systems Coaching through the Centre for Right Relationship. I am currently completing a Certificate in Conflict Management and Mediation from Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo, Ontario, and I have also completed a one-year healership mentoring program in Advanced Energy Healing and Awareness. I am a Celtic Reiki Master as well.
In addition to managing my practice as a life consultant and relationship coach, I volunteer as a mediator at Community Justice Initiatives.
When I'm not busy with clients, you might find me dancing flamenco… or wandering a beach somewhere in the world, with the wind in my face and the sun on my back!
Synopsis: When life's challenges get you down, and you feel like giving up on your heartfelt desires, it's not time to quit. It's time to dream even bigger! This book is filled with inspiring true stories, simple tools and exercises, and plenty of motivation. Learn how to re-chart your course and bring more joy and ease into your life as you pursue your dreams.
Blurb:
Most people have a dream. For some, it’s something they’ve wanted since childhood but have never told a soul. For others, it may be something they tried once, and it didn’t work out so they gave up on it. Perhaps you have a dream that you keep dismissing because it seems risky or impractical. Our dreams make difficult times more bearable. They also bring joy into our lives, and inspire those around us. However, it takes more than a good imagination to make those dreams come true. It’s also about taking action and staying motivated. First, you need a clear idea of what you want. If you’re not sure, spend some time remembering your childhood and what you imagined you’d do with your life. The seeds to your dream are often found there. Once you know what your dream is, get to know it in detail. What does it feel like to be there? Who are you with, how are you dressed, what’s happening around you? Get familiar with it so that it’s easy to connect to that feeling whenever you need motivation. What’s stopping you from having that in your life right now? Make a list of any challenges or obstacles. The list is intended to give you ideas for actions, not to discourage you from moving forward, so don’t get too bogged down by it. Now take a look at the items on your list. What skills and resources do you have to meet those challenges? Who else can you call on for additional assistance? Talk to supportive friends and family members about your dream and see what ideas they have to help you move forward.
Take all of these ideas and resources and put them together into an action plan. This is a list of the steps you can take to make your dream a reality. Every day, check your list and pick one action you can take. Each time you take a step, celebrate, knowing that you’re that much closer to the life of your dreams.
Five Steps to Your Dream
1. Identify your dream
2. Make a list of your challenges
3. Develop a list of skills and resources
to meet those challenges
4. Create an action plan
5. Take one action each day toward
the life of your dreams
Wise's goal is to help 100,000 people dream bigger. To do this, and to celebrate the release of Dream BIGGER: Reclaiming a Life of Joy and Ease, she invites the public to share their life dream in an online challenge. The 60-day "Dream BIGGER Reinvention Challenge" runs from October 1 to November 29, 2010 and offers contestants the chance to post a video about their dream, get votes and become eligible for an amazing grand prize. "By sharing our dreams, we'll inspire each other to ever greater heights," she explains. Go to http://www.dreambiggercontest.com and enter today!
Join me November 29 at 11am EST at BK Media Entertainment as I chat with Julie on Blog Talk Radio. Live chat will be open for you to ask Julie questions.
Are you hosting a contest on your blog? If so, would you be interested in doing a contest link exchange? I will post a link to your contest and giveaway in exchange for you doing the same for mine. I run several blogs and would be happy to place your link in the Contests section in my sidebar.
If you would be interested, please send email to bkwalkerbooks@comcast.net with "Link Exchange" in the subject line.
Please welcome Lori to our Host Appreciatin. Lori, as you can see runs Lori's Reading Corner. She reviews for us as well as does guest posts. Welcome Lori.
1. What do you love most about blogging?
Sharing my love of books with others.
2. Do you have a most memorable post?
Hhmm…My first one probably. I was so scared to post it. I thought no one would have any interest in what I had to say.
3. What is the funniest thing you have ever blogged about?
Probably my dissection of the great Amazon fraud Harriet Klausner (sorry)
4. What do you hope your readers will take away from your blog? I hope they find at least one book that they read that they enjoyed as much as I did.
5. Where do you hope to take your blog in the future?
World domination?? Just kidding. I’d like to see it continue growing and hopefully find at least one new follower a day. Someone I can then turn around and follow myself.
6. Do you ever have contests and/or giveaways on your blog?
ALL the time.. I love giving books away.
7. In your opinion, how would readers, old and new, benefit from your blog?
By finding books to read they may have not picked up on their own.
8. Anything you would like to share, thoughts, events, etc?
I just love to read. I am always holding contests, doing reviews and hosting authors for guest posts and virtual tours.
Thank you so much for stopping in Lori and letting us get to know you better. I appreciate all you do and keep up the great work. Stop in and see what Lori's up to today.
Please say hello to Denise. She runs Immortyl Revolution and has been a host with us since the beginning. Denise is a big fan of paranormal/fantasy and sci-fi. She is also the author of Cara Mia and Twilight of the Gods. Stop into her blog and see her latest interviews, contests and upcoming news as well.
1. What do you love most about blogging?
It’s given me the chance to meet so many fellow authors and to give them the opportunity to share information about their books.
2. Do you have a most memorable post?
My first. I really enjoyed hosting my friend, Linda Robertson, author of the Persephone Alcemedi series. We talked about her second novel Hallowed Circle. She’s a great gal and lots of fun.
3. What is the funniest thing you have ever blogged about?
A new writer in my critique group read a passage from my third novel in which the POV character is a male vampire courtesan. Without meeting me, he thought that a gay man wrote the chapter. I had to laugh that since I’m a heterosexual woman. Actually, I took the comment as high praise. When I told the anecdote to a good friend of mine he said, “Well, almost.” I just had to share all of that.
4. What do you hope your readers will take away from your blog?
The blog is evolving. I recently took some time off to get ready to launch my second book, but will be back in full swing come January. My mission is to help other authors to promote their books and share information with fans and aspiring authors.
5.Where do you hope to take your blog in the future?
I plan to start posting more about the craft of writing, more humorous stuff and offer links to helpful sites.
6. Do you ever have contests and/or giveaways on your blog?
Yes, when authors do interviews on my site, I offer them the opportunity to sponsor a giveaway. From September 28th through November 2nd, I’m holding a giveaway contest to celebrate the launch of my novel. Twilight of the Gods, Book Two of the Immortyl Revolution. I’ll be giving away copies of both of the novels in the series and other merchandise.
7. In your opinion, how would readers, old and new, benefit from your blog?
They will have a chance to hear about new authors and books.
8. Anything you would like to share, thoughts, events, etc?
I’m going to be on a Twilight of the Gods blog tour September 21st through mid December. I’ll be doing some bookstore and library signings and appearing in October at A Mystical Day of Bloodlust in Lexington, Kentucky and The World Fantasy Convention in Columbus, OH.
Thank you for stopping in Denise and letting us get to know you better :). I appreciate all you do and keep up the great work.
