I'm a planner...parties, holidays, book events/signings...you name it, I've planned it. I hosted two successful events for authors at our local winery.
BUT...
It wasn't without issues, drama, questions...which brings me to my question...
Book signings or not?
I've attended many events in my four short years as an author...events hosted in malls, private residences, wineries, and outdoor faires...all with little to no sales.
I spend 30 minutes setting up my 8 ft. table with a copy of every book, swag, decorations, and anything I can think of that will draw readers. I engage in conversation, and do all but push/pull them to my table. The fact remains, if they don't know who you are, they are likely not spending money finding out.
The one success I've found is authenticity. Being my authentic self, truly engaging with the people who stop by to "check out" my table, has been crucial to book sales. If I am sincerely interested in those who stop by and visit, they begin asking questions about my books and usually leave with at least one book, if not more.
Do I want to be a best selling author? Do I want to make money doing what I love? The answer to both questions is yes! However, I'm also realistic...wealth and recognition doesn't happen overnight, unless you are Oprah or Martha. I'm not into buying reviews or giving my books away with the hopes the recipient will review it, driving up my algorhythms on Amazon.
Two truths remain...I love writing and I love telling stories. So, as long as I can type, my stories will continue!
A little girl teaches her family and her friends how to relate to someone who is hearing impaired.
When Grandma Rosa lost her hearing, Sandra and her parents became frustrated and sad. They didn’t know what to do and how to learn to communicate better with Grandma Rosa.
They tried shouting, changing the tone of their voices or leaning closer to her ear when they talked, to no avail. Rosa could hear some sounds clearly, but certain sounds she couldn’t hear well.
It became an everyday struggle for the family, and they missed the comforting family conversations at dinner time.
Sandra finds a website for hearing impaired people that explains how deaf people communicate. They start learning sign language and to “talk” with their fingers. Sandra and Grandma Rosa find realize that with compassion, love, and hard work, they can overcome the obstacles of disability.
This fun picture book carries an important message to children, how to learn not to judge or make fun of anyone just because they’re different. The life of any disabled person is no fun and living with a disability has many challenges, but we can help to make their life easier and not harder.
Sandra enseña a su familia y amigos a comunicarse con personas con discapacidad auditiva.
Este divertido libro ilustrado lleva un importante mensaje para los niños, como aprender a no juzgar o burlarse de alguien sólo porque es diferente. La vida de algunas personas con discapacidad no es divertida y vivir con una discapacidad conlleva muchos retos, pero nosotros podemos hacer sus vidas más fáciles en vez de más difíciles.
Cuando la abuela Rosa perdió la audición, Los padres de Sandra se sintieron frustrados y tristes. No sabían qué hacer y cómo aprender a comunicarse mejor con ella. Ellos intentaban gritar, cambiar el tono de voz o acercarse a su oído cuando se dirigían a ella, pero no servía de nada. Rosa podía oír algunos sonidos claramente, pero otros no podía escucharlos bien. Para ellos se convirtió en una lucha diaria poder comunicarse y empezaron a echar de menos las reconfortantes conversaciones de sobremesa.
—Mira, abuela —le dijo entusiasmada—, puedo mostrarte las letras con mis dedos cuando no puedas escuchar lo que te digo.
—¿Qué quieres decir con “mostrar las letras con tus
dedos”? —la abuela Rosa preguntó.
—He encontrado una página web para personas con discapacidad auditiva y explica cómo pueden comunicarse entre ellos sin hablar. Hay un signo para cada letra y cada número, que ellos pueden hacer con sus manos. Podemos aprender los signos juntas, y cuando no puedas escuchar el sonido, yo puedo mostrártelo —Sandra sonrió feliz.
—Oh, creo que es una idea maravillosa, Sandra. —Los ojos de la abuela Rosa brillaron con entusiasmo— Pero parece un poco difícil, ¿tú crees que yo podría aprender los signos?
—Por supuesto que puedes, abuela; y podemos aprender juntas.
Y lo hicieron. Ellas demostraron que con amor, compasión y trabajando duro se pueden superar los obstáculos que conlleva la discapacidad auditiva.
This is lovely, Erika! So glad you've translated it to Spanish. It is a most needed concept in our children today...to not judge on differences, but to embrace them.
Sunday's blog on A Small Gang of Authors is a fine excerpt in both English and Spanish from Erika M. Szabo's wonderful and education children's book, Look, I Can Talk with My Fingers. Check it out, please. Thank you!
Twenty-five years ago, invaders captured Andropolis, the capital of Thalacia, and ended the rule of King Leonard. According to prophecy, the invaders can be ousted and the royal line restored only by wielding the Aglaril, seven elven gems of unprecedented power.
However, the circlet in which the gems were set was destroyed millennia ago and the gems lost. At least, that was the common belief. Evan Pierce, a priest of St. Michael, discovers one of the gems belongs to the town jeweler. He also uncovers a plot to steal the gem and does what he can to keep it safe. But it is not enough.
Now, Evan must recover the gem by relying on a motley group of adventurers for help. Together, they must overcome a series of obstacles or humanity's one hope for restoring the royal line will be lost forever.
From amazon.com: Five stars. Possibly one of the best books I have read so far this year and the best fantasy I have read in a while. This book read surprisingly quick, it is easily appropriated for younger readers even early teens but it still very much so appeals to adults. There wasn't a lot of detailed world building that you normally expect, it just naturally flows and you learn as you read but don't feel lost at any point. There are a wide variety of characters, each with their own clear back story. There are several storylines going on at once but they mesh so well you don't feel you need to keep track of them. This was a very well written fantasy novel and now I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!
So said William Shakespeare, and if you think about his words, the truism is still alive today.
Why would that be?
Well, don’t we all have a favourite song, a song with meaning, perhaps evoking strong personal feelings? Or perhaps our favourite, is one that binds us to another, bringing either happy thoughts or sad memories?
Music is everywhere. People all over the world listen to tunes on vinyl, cd, radio, television, and in digitised format, not forgetting live music from concerts, festivals and street artists. We are bombarded with the sound of music on a daily basis, and we feed off the fare on offer, sometimes unknowingly.
Each one of us has our preferences, and our dislikes. And that’s another pointer as to why humans are similar, yet individually are so different to one another.
Shakespeare introduced many words into the English language, for if one didn’t exist for his purpose, he invented it. And his sayings are used in our everyday lives. ‘Love is blind,’ and ‘Heart of Gold,’ come to mind. Songs with the same titles were sang by, Alicia Keys and Neil Young.
Here’s my story.
In the 60’s we had Rhythm & Blues and Tamla Motown, followed quickly by rock. The first band I followed, The Muleskinners had a great sound with a cracking guitarist - they had one hit with - Back Door Man. Supporting them was a band so poor that I had to stand outside the hall until they finished. 18 months later that band had a number one hit in the UK with, Go Now, and The Moody Blues story took off like a rocket.
My mate and I visited our local record shop once a week to check out the latest soul imports from America. It was great being the only ones to have them, as so few arrived in our local store, or anywhere else. I built up a collection, but one record would forever be my favourite. The parody of James Bond by Rex Garvin and the Mighty Cravers, entitled, ‘Sock it to em JB’, is even now played at my parties.
Next up was a trip to the famous Marquee Club in Wardour Street, London. I lied about my age to get in to see The Yardbirds. Standing transfixed in front of the stage as Eric Clapton played a solo, I looked a right plonker, but I didn’t care, even though I got chucked out soon afterwards. My love with the electric guitar would soon turn into the best habit of my life, but unfortunately my playing would be akin to a cat wailing in agony.
Later in the sixties I saw The Who. I didn’t have to guess where their energy came from, but the amazing sound from just 3 performers was mind blowing. Roger Daltrey sang, and Pete Townsend and John Entwistle played their guitars as if there were five guitarists on stage. Keith – Moon the Loon – was just that, but he’s the best drummer I’ve ever had the privilege to watch.
I saw Cream, live, not long before they split in 1968, and soon after the original line up of, Wishbone Ash - one of the most fan friendly bands ever.
Come the 70’s I danced in the clubs to the sound of the disco beat, yet collected music from an array of fantastic rock bands. Barclay James Harvest and ELO were firm favourites. I managed to see The Electric Light Orchestra at Wembley and I’ll never forget their spaceship emerging from beneath the stage covered in mist.
The music in the 80’s started the decline into mediocrity. Sugar pop was not for me, so I ignored the charts and looked elsewhere. Dire Straits, Asia, Wishbone Ash, The Eagles, I collected them all.
A night with Genesis was the best concert I’ve ever seen. Everyone thought the gig had ended but Genesis returned to play a second encore. 20 minutes of Tamla Motown brought the house down.
‘Run to You,’ by Bryan Adams has a special meaning, as does, ‘Django,’ by Joe Bonamassa. The former is personal, the latter mind-blowing. When Joe played the first notes of that instrumental, all the hairs on my arm stood up, and spellbound, I was. It’s the finest opening track I’ve ever witnessed. And if you haven’t heard it, then rectify that double quick. Buy the track, sit in a quiet room, turn the volume up, and close your eyes.
In the 90’s, I lost interest in the charts, yet continued to seek out new melodic rock bands from all over the globe. And by the most unusual of circumstances, I found a new sound, a sound that brought back memories of my youth, and dancing in the discos.
Sitting around a pool on the Greek island of Kefalonia, I heard a new track over the speaker system. It was soft, catchy and my interest was piqued. I listened as the same four notes repeated, then followed by a rising six - da da da da - da da da da - da da da da da da - which appeared to be from someone playing a piano, but it was different. I asked Aris, the barman, the name of the artist and the title of the track. As the beat intensified my love affair with the music of Robert Miles, and especially this track, Children, took off. Aris, even brought me in a copy before I left for home. Thanks matey.
My love affair with trance music had just begun, but you’ll have to wait for part 2 to read what happened next.
So the long ‘Droughtlander’ is official over, and it is back on our screens. Thank goodness! This series promises to be as amazing as the last. Check out the trailer...
Outlander | Season 3 Official Trailer |STARZ
Last September I found myself in Scotland and I could not but help checking out some of the fabulous Historical sites where Outlander was filmed, and I thought I would share some photographs with you today!!
Doune
Castle Stirling
I
was in heaven. I had Sam Heughan chatting away in my ear (the audio guide),
explaining how Doune Castle was turned into Castle Leoch. What more could a
girl want?!
If
you have limited time in Scotland and want to go to just one Outlander
location, then go here. Castle Doune, not only has the most
incredible history, but there is something special about this place ~ although
that might have been down to Jamie Fraser ~ I mean Sam Heughan ~ giving me my
very own personal guided tour...hey, a girl can dream can't she?
Preston
Mill –Edinburgh
Jamie
found his way home to Lallybroch, and he had to make repairs to the watermill.
I
loved this mill. You have to take the guided tour when you look around the
mill, as it is an actual working mill, which I think is incredible.I learnt so much about watermills, and the
tour guide was fabulous.
Blackness
Castle – Edinburgh
I
can see why Blackness Castle was used on location as Fort William Prison. It is
incredibly atmospheric.
Hopetoun
House – Edinburgh
Outlander
fans will recognise Hopetoun House as the home of the Duke of Sandringham's, and boy, was it impressive. The tour guide brought the history of the
house to life, and it is beautiful. Well worth a visit, and the views from the
roof are amazing.
If you fancy going back
even further in time then why not check out
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