Voices from the Heart

Don't forget to drop by Voices From the Heart on the 27th to read my latest post.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!!!

Christmas' Journey!

It's here!  Please drop by Red Rose Publishing's Twelve Days of Christmas, and purchase your copy of my first holiday release.

Blurb:  Christmas Davis wanted to give something back to the community she loved.  But, that opportunity was lost to her.  Although won by another, would his ambitions allow him to help those in need? 

Presley Marino knew she might say no, but she was the only person he wanted.  Together, they could change things in the hometown they both loved.  That part would be easy, but convincing her and his brother wouldn’t.

Would they allow an uneasy history to silence a need for change, or would they force a new beginning?

One day I will...

Take my very own hand-made gondola ride.

Red Rose Publishing's Twelve Days of Christmas Releases

I know I've been buzzing about it for awhile now, but it's almost here!  My very first holiday release!!!

This short story touches my heart because it deals with a lot of what's happening today in America.  Everywhere we turn, there continues to be reports of foreclosures, abandoned homes, their impact on their communities.  Without the people living in those communities continuing to believe in the "American Dream," the values of the homes still standing in these affected communities would continue to fall.

In Christmas' Journey, I take a look at one woman's attempt to make a difference.

Blurb:  Christmas Davis wanted to give something back to the community she loved.  But, that opportunity was lost to her.  Although won by another, would his ambitions allow him to help those in need? 

Presley Marino knew she might say no, but she was the only person he wanted.  Together, they could change things in the hometown they both loved.  That part would be easy, but convincing her and his brother wouldn’t.

Would they allow an uneasy history to silence a need for change, or would they force a new beginning?

And don't forget to drop by Red Rose Publishing to take a look at these new releases for the Twelve Days of Christmas...

December 19

Under the Mistletoe by Vanessa Alexander Johnson
A Medieval Yule by Kay Manro

December 20

A Very Kinky Christmas by Michelle Cummings
Love Lifted Me by Jen a Galifany

December 21

A Master for Christmas by Aline de Chevigny 
The Figgy Pudding Disaster by Jennie Andrus

December 22

Secret Santa by Destiny Wallace
Christmas' Journey by Angela Kay Austin 
Kids and Christmas by K. D. Manasco

December 23

A Devil for Christmas by Jennifer Mueller
Sweet Surrender by Marilyn Lee
Christmas Blus by K. T. Bishop 

Character Inspiration

Timothy Olyphant, movie and television actor

Rules for writing fiction

As written for The Guardian by PD James, novelist.


1 Increase your word power. Words are the raw material of our craft. The greater your vocabulary the more ­effective your writing. We who write in English are fortunate to have the richest and most versatile language in the world. Respect it.

2 Read widely and with discrimination. Bad writing is contagious.

3 Don't just plan to write – write. It is only by writing, not dreaming about it, that we develop our own style.

4 Write what you need to write, not what is currently popular or what you think will sell.

5 Open your mind to new experiences, particularly to the study of other ­people. Nothing that happens to a writer – however happy, however tragic – is ever wasted.

Truly, Madly, Deeply Romance Authors

Don't forget to drop by Truly, Madly, Deeply Romance Authors for the chance to read FREE romance stories by some of your favorite authors! Every Saturday!

And of course, for the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes!!!

Voices from the Heart

Don't forget to drop by Voices From the Heart on the 27th to read my latest post.

One day I will...

Sip a glass of wine at an outdoor neighborhood cafe...right next door.

Character Inspiration

Gary Dourdan of "CSI Las Vegas"

Rules for writing fiction

As written for The Guardian by David Hare, playwright.


1 Write only when you have something to say.

2 Never take advice from anyone with no investment in the outcome.

3 Style is the art of getting yourself out of the way, not putting yourself in it.

4 If nobody will put your play on, put it on yourself.

5 Jokes are like hands and feet for a painter. They may not be what you want to end up doing but you have to master them in the meanwhile.

6 Theatre primarily belongs to the young.

7 No one has ever achieved consistency as a screenwriter.

8 Never go to a TV personality festival masquerading as a literary festival.

9 Never complain of being misunderstood. You can choose to be understood, or you can choose not to.

10 The two most depressing words in the English language are "literary fiction".

Truly, Madly, Deeply Romance Authors

Don't forget to drop by Truly, Madly, Deeply Romance Authors for the chance to read FREE romance stories by some of your favorite authors! Every Saturday!

And of course, for the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes!!!

Feel For Lumps, Check Your Bumps

In honor of my grandmothers, my mother and I walked with thousands of others in the annual Memphis installment of the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure!

Find a race near you!

or

Donate!

Voices from the Heart

Don't forget to drop by Voices From the Heart on the 27th to read my latest post.

One day I will...

Watch other people walk on it :-)

Blogging at Coffee Time Romance

I'm blogging all day over at Coffee Time Romance's Coffee Thoughts.

I've chatted several times at CTR, and loved it!  This time, I'm doing something a little different, and I hope that you guys will pop by and join me for a few hours.

Character Inspiration

Morris Chestnut, movie and television actor

Rules for writing fiction

As written for The Guardian by Neil Gaiman, short story writer and novelist.


1 Write.

2 Put one word after another. Find the right word, put it down.

3 Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.

4 Put it aside. Read it pretending you've never read it before. Show it to friends whose opinion you respect and who like the kind of thing that this is.

5 Remember: when people tell you something's wrong or doesn't work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.

6 Fix it. Remember that, sooner or later, before it ever reaches perfection, you will have to let it go and move on and start to write the next thing. Perfection is like chasing the horizon. Keep moving.

7 Laugh at your own jokes.

8 The main rule of writing is that if you do it with enough assurance and confidence, you're allowed to do whatever you like. (That may be a rule for life as well as for writing. But it's definitely true for writing.) So write your story as it needs to be written. Write it ­honestly, and tell it as best you can. I'm not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter.

Truly, Madly, Deeply Romance Authors

Don't forget to drop by Truly, Madly, Deeply Romance Authors for the chance to read FREE romance stories by some of your favorite authors! Every Saturday!

And of course, for the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes!!!

Voices from the Heart

Don't forget to drop by Voices From the Heart on the 27th to read my latest post.

A Talk With Author, Writing Coach, and Editor Smoky Trudeau Zeidel

When it comes to writing, is it better to study it, try it, dream of doing it...what?

I think you feel it, dream of it, want it, study it, and try it. I've always loved all things creative. There are many days, as a child, I sat mesmerized by music, TV, theatre, or just stared into a painting trying to find every subtle nuance I could.

I read everything put in front of me as a child. I wrote poetry, and entered contests. I never won anything, and I think it dissuaded me a little. Somewhere along the line, I made the decision to jump back into it again, and entered college with a strong desire to study theatre. That led me to a few bit parts (non-credited) on television shows. Quickly, I decided that maybe I was more the radio/TV person, and I pursued and obtained a degree in communications.

I loved every moment I spent in radio and television, but my desires changes and so my direction changed, and again I pursued another degree...this time in marketing. After accomplishing that goal, I worked in the business world for years.

Only after being laid-off did I really begin to take a look at all the twists and turns in my life, and wonder...why I never went after a degree in writing. Why had I stopped writing? -- my first love.

Join me at Romancing the Pen, as I discuss writing with Smoky Trudeau Zeidel.

Here's more about Smoky...

Smoky Trudeau Zeidel is the author of two novels:On the Choptank Shores and The Cabin; short stories, and two nonfiction books especially for writers: Front-Word, Back-Word, Insight Out and Left Brain, Write Brain, 366 Writing Prompts and Exercises; and a photo/essay collection about the beauty of the natural world, Observations of an Earth Mage, all from Vanilla Heart Publishing. She has published short stories and poetry in literary journals such as CALYX and online e-zines such as The Foundling Review, and was a 2003 Pushcart Prize nominee. She was the lead editor for Vanilla Heart Publishing’s 2010 Nature’s Gifts anthology.

Finally succumbing to her bohemian spirit and need to live near the mountains and the ocean, Smoky moved to Southern California in 2008, where she lives with her husband and daughter in a ramshackle cottage in the woods overlooking the San Gabriel Valley and the San Gabriel Mountains beyond. An ardent outdoorswoman with a deep reverence for nature, when she isn’t writing, she spendsher time hiking in the mountains, camping in the Sierras, splashing in tidepools, and fighting the urge to speak in haiku.

Character Inspiration

Idris Elba, movie and television actor

From Volunteer to Author

Over the past week, more and more, the news has shown us the images and sounds of 9/11.  Sights and sounds that created fear, anger, and sadness in me 10 years ago.  But, now, those images have begun to dim in my mind.

Old movies started my love affair with New York, I attended college in DC, and I lived in Pennsylvania.  So, 9/11 touched my life on many many sides.

As I sit here, in a local coffee shop in TN, and count the number of police cars passing by my window, I can not begin to imagine the levels of heightened security elsewhere in the country.  And the sights and sounds that had dimmed are fresh and vivid.  The paranoia that consumed so many of us feels almost as strangling, now.

What would we do without the men and women who walk invisibly beside us every day protecting our ability to let the images we don't want to remember fade?

This week, my guest at Romancing the Pen, Nancy Lennea discusses a little bit about volunteering and how she worked as a 9-1-1 operator on 9/11 (maybe I can get her to visit again, and tell us more.)

Visit Romancing the Pen to read more about how Nancy's experiences as a volunteer shaped her new release from Red Rose Publishing - Love to the Rescue.

Here's more about Love to the Rescue:

The clashing relationship between tomboy Josie Miller and fellow paramedic-firefighter, Pete Thayer, escalates after he realizes Joe is not just one-of-the-boys. Pete has a sketchy history and has earned a reputation for one-night stands in the small town of Parmenter, New Hampshire nestled between the Mercy River, the mountains, and the state college. Since he arrived a year ago, Josie suspects he is hiding something. Something too horrible to share, even with her. Working side by side, Joe loves her job, and Pete.

They respond to accident calls, medical emergencies, and fast-moving forest fires amid sparks of another kind. Joe’s clumsiness and baggy uniform work against her when she yearns to be the kind of woman Pete wants like the pretty blonde they must rescue after her car hits a moose.

Outside influences come to play when the sister of Pete’s alleged victim shows up and accuses him of something even worse…her sister’s recent death. Once on track to be a doctor, the sister’s betrayal and lies caused Pete to run far away and keep women at a distance unless they agreed to share his bed…and nothing more.

Pete plans to skip town while Josie worries she has given her heart to a monster. His boss and the local police back off and he professes his innocence to Joe. After kissing her senseless, she lets him into her bed until her bothers intervene. Both keep an eye on Pete. A suicide note, some well-landed fists, stolen moments of love, and a desire to listen to their hearts lead these two heroes toward a climax filled with tension, pain, bloodshed, and atonement.

Rules for writing fiction

As written for The Guardian by Esther Freud, novelist.


1 Cut out the metaphors and similes. In my first book I promised myself I wouldn't use any and I slipped up ­during a sunset in chapter 11. I still blush when I come across it.

2 A story needs rhythm. Read it aloud to yourself. If it doesn't spin a bit of magic, it's missing something.

3 Editing is everything. Cut until you can cut no more. What is left often springs into life.

4 Find your best time of the day for writing and write. Don't let anything else interfere. Afterwards it won't matter to you that the kitchen is a mess.

5 Don't wait for inspiration. Discipline is the key.

6 Trust your reader. Not everything needs to be explained. If you really know something, and breathe life into it, they'll know it too.

7 Never forget, even your own rules are there to be broken.

I miss this type of story being told in Hollywood

Okay, I know I'm late, but OMG The Help. This movie reminded me of why I first fell in love with story telling.

The ability to evoke emotion. To bring someone into your world. To have someone care about the characters in your story.

There aren't many stories that have moved me like this one: Imitation of Life, Children of Men, Rosewood, Passion of Christ are a few.

I was born and raised in Tennessee. As I watched the story, I remembered all of the reasons why I left Tennessee. As a child, although not to the degree captured in The Help, Tennessee was divided. What as white was white, and what was black was black. And everyone else had to pick.

I remember my mother pointing out walled up doors or fountains in the back of stores as she told me of how there was a time when blacks had to use them.

When I left Tennessee, I wasn't sure if I'd ever come back, but for all it's faults, I have to admit, I love the south. The majority of the people I've met in the south are kind and generous.

But, like anything, there are still a few small minded folks out there who strongly hold onto old world thoughts. This story: Mississippi hate killing is an extremely sad example.

Movies like The Help remind us of our past, and hopefully will stop us from making the same mistakes again. People, in so many small ways, can be quietly strong. And their strength can help power change.

I absolutely loved this movie, and the song "The Living Proof" was a beautiful way to end the movie.

Truly, Madly, Deeply Romance Authors

Don't forget to drop by Truly, Madly, Deeply Romance Authors for the chance to read FREE romance stories by some of your favorite authors! Every Saturday!

And of course, for the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes!!!

Voices from the Heart

Don't forget to drop by Voices From the Heart on the 27th to read my latest post.

One day I will...

Touch one. Will it bite?

Best and worst bestselling authors?

Thursday, Aug 18th: Who, in your opinion are the best and worst bestselling authors out there in the market and why? Question provided by affiliate author Amy Romine.

Wow. Never expected this one. But, honestly, for me, there probably isn't a worst bestselling author. There are authors whose voice, writing style, or genres don't interest me. But, that just means the stories don't work for me.

Recently, there have been a string of YA novels turned into movies and television series. With one, the movies proved to be more interesting than I originally believed they would be, but with another...I believe there was one book too many. With yet another, neither the books nor the movies captured my attention, fully.

I absolutely loved the Sookie Stackhouse series of novels. Virtually gobbled them up. You would think I wouldn't like the cable series, but I loved it, too. Although it has it's own identity, which continues to pull away from the book series.

So, I guess, I don't believe there is a such thing as worst bestselling, but some of my favorite best bestselling authors are: Jeaniene Frost, Charlaine Harris, Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, Terry McMillan, and so so many others.

Why?

The answer to that one is simple enough...they tell stories I want to read.

Character Inspiration

Hill Harper of "CSI NY"

OMG!-The value of sitting a manuscript down and walking away

How do you feel when you finish a manuscript? Excited? Empty? Relieved? What?

Me? Well, I think I feel a little of all of these, plus some. But, one thing for certain...after I finish a manuscript, I usually ship it off to my critique partners, and rest until I have their critiques.

Then, I sift through crit after crit, use some and throw some away.

At the moment, I'm editing two pieces. One of those pieces is a novella, which I let sit for quite a while.

Wow! I can't believe the things that both my critique partners and I missed.

When I first began to use critique partners, I'd write a few chapters, ship it off to them, get those pages back, review and incorporate their suggestion (well, some of them,) and ship those pages off again. The process, for me, did not work. Unfortunately, this poor ms fell into that pool of mss.

The better process for me is to finish the piece, do a basic round of edits while the characters are still fresh, then send it to my critique partners. Then, when I receive their feedback it's on the whole ms vs. pieces of it. Also, I don't bog them down with numerous re-reads of the same pages, and I get the complete crit I need to make the story better.

Forgetting the character and story, and becoming reacquainted with them has allowed me to find ways to deepen the characters and story.

What is your process for editing?

Truly, Madly, Deeply Romance Authors

Don't forget to drop by Truly, Madly, Deeply Romance Authors for the chance to read FREE romance stories by some of your favorite authors! Every Saturday!

And of course, for the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes!!!

Rules for writing fiction

As written for The Guardian by Johnathan Franzen, novelist.

1 The reader is a friend, not an adversary, not a spectator.

2 Fiction that isn't an author's personal adventure into the frightening or the unknown isn't worth writing for anything but money.

3 Never use the word "then" as a ­conjunction – we have "and" for this purpose. Substituting "then" is the lazy or tone-deaf writer's non-solution to the problem of too many "ands" on the page.

4 Write in the third person unless a ­really distinctive first-person voice ­offers itself irresistibly.

5 When information becomes free and universally accessible, voluminous research for a novel is devalued along with it.

6 The most purely autobiographical ­fiction requires pure invention. Nobody ever wrote a more auto­biographical story than "The Meta­morphosis".

7 You see more sitting still than chasing after.

8 It's doubtful that anyone with an internet connection at his workplace is writing good fiction.

9 Interesting verbs are seldom very interesting.

10 You have to love before you can be relentless.

Voices from the Heart

Don't forget to drop by Voices From the Heart on the 27th to read my latest post. This month, I'm discussing the remake of the classic fairy tale.

This is an interesting topic for me because I don't really know how I feel about it. On one hand, I'm a part of the camp that asks "Why can't we write something new?" On another, I question turning something for children into something very adult. And then on yet another, I like removing some of the old stereotypes of the damsel in distress waiting on her "hero." Too many hands, I know :-)

So, where do I stand on this issue? You'll have to visit Voices From the Heart to find out. And while you're there, tell me what you think.

Free Read @ Truly Madly Deeply Romance Authors

Twenty-six writers of various genres have all joined together. Truly Madly Deeply Romance Authors allows us to have a little fun with our writing through contests, giveaways, and free reads.

Every Saturday, you'll be treated with a new never before seen piece from one of the member authors!

My first FREE READ, based on Monica's beautiful song "Love All Over Me", is posted. Today would be a great day to sit back with a glass of sweet tea or lemonade, and read my post, as well as, any of the other wonderful posts the authors have waiting for you!

Here's the blurb for my "Love All Over Me".

Tamara Blanden lost the love of her life in an accident. An accident she couldn't control or change. She made a promise that she didn't keep. Jerome Blanden knows he is the reason she won't keep it. But, he will correct his mistake. And Michael Armstrong will help him. Even if he doesn't know it, yet.

If you had to write yourself as a character what would you be like?

QUESTION: If you had to write yourself as a character what would you be like, what kind of book would you be in (go nutz.) Question provided by affiliate author Amy Romine.

I have thought about this before; I've even had people ask me point blank if any of my characters are based on me or my life (of course, the answer is no.) Well, not exactly. They are based on things I've heard, seen, care about, would love to do, etc. And physically, I normally base my characters on: actors/actresses, musicians, etc.

But, if I absolutely had to :-) I guess my character would be a woman who definitely was strong minded, which would help to make her successful in business, or whatever she pursued, but also creative. A woman who had found a magical way to balance career and family. Able to lunch with girlfriends, and travel the world with her man and children. Her stories would be filled with passion for family, travel, and food. With perhaps a little hint of the magical. Why magic? Because why not :-) What would her superpowers be? Part Storm (X-Men), Wonderwoman, and maybe a little Catwoman. That's right...Catwoman!

One day I will...

Go to the place Bogie made famous!

Have you ever fallen in love with one of your own characters?

My guest this week on Romancing the Pen, Brien Michaels, discusses his love affair with his heroes.

I have to admit...I have taken a slight fancy to one or two of mine. Also, one of my favorite authors, has a male vampire hero that simply makes my knees melt. Love him!

I would love to cast a magic spell that would make him float off of the pages of one of her books. Yea, baby!

Check out what Brien has to say at Romancing the Pen this week.

Blurb (and cover art unofficial):

The Mayans had it right. The apocalypse began on December 21, 2012, but the world slipped into darkness in a way even the most pessimistic of doomsdayers could never have foreseen. The Earth’s population had been flourishing as usual, but in the blink of an eye, it was cut by more than half. By the morning of December 22, every female on the planet was dead.

In a world with no women, what are the men to do? Some swear off sex forever. Some take their own lives. But some turn to the remaining men, desperate for sexual contact. Eduardo Harvelle is one of those men, but when he meets Lincoln James on board The Miracle, a cruise ship promising to take the two of them as well as dozens of other men to meet the last woman in existence, his entire perspective changes.

Character Inspiration

Benjamin Bratt, movie and television actor

IMRR Bookclub

When I made the decision to throw my heart into my writing, and jump off the sidelines,one of the first groups I was introduced to was IMRR Bookclub by a friend and author. At that time, our home was on multiply.com.

The authors there shared information, techniques, war and success stories, and more. It was an introduction to writing that I truly treasured, and never forgot. I carry the comradery I received there with me, and try to give back to others I meet in the same manner.

Here are a few more of the specifics for you directly from IMRRBookclub.com.

In February 2001, IMRR Bookclub (originally Interracial Multicultural Romance Readers) was formed as a gathering place for readers of interracial and multicultural romance in response to the increasing number of romance books featuring Black, Latin and Asian heroines in relationships that crossed racial and cultural boundaries, much like the readers purchasing those books.

A short time later, RICH Writers, IMRR’s sister group for aspiring authors of interracial and multicultural romance was created to foster and support those interested in pursuing a career in romance.

IMRR Bookclub and RICH Writers celebrates the authors of Interracial and Multicultural romance whether their genre is contemporary romance, Christian fiction, erotica, paranormal romance or everything in between and the readers who love and support them.

Visit IMRR Bookclub for more details.

What good are blogs for brand name building?

QUESTION: Do blogs or serializing your novel on line really help build your brand name? Question provided by Alternative-Read Affiliate author Wendy Woods.


Okay, I'm going to answer this question from a few angles: reader, writer, and marketer.

Reader: I love the connection I get when I stumble upon any information about authors, actors, musicians I love. And when it comes from "them," I treasure it even more. When I can interact with it, OMG!, I am in heaven. I feel like part of their entourage!

Writer: Because I know how it affects me as a reader, I attempt to provide my readers with the same connection I love and crave. I want them to know what spurred story ideas, to know when a new piece will be available, to let them know what else is going on--in general, beyond my writing.

Marketer: Social media, series, free reads, contests, etc. are great tools for developing new inventive ways to connect with and maintain relationships with readers, other authors, and potential publishers.

It is a way to strengthen readers knowledge of you and creating a bond, but there's also the chance that they won't like you. There is a delicate balance.

How do you really feel about e-publishing?

Join me July 11th, as I guest blog at Chick Lit Writers of the World about a subject that always gets me going.

e-Publishing and eBooks.

Before I was e-published, I don't think I really thought once about buying a book electronically. When I made the decision to submit to an e-publisher, I read everything I could about it.

But, it wasn't until after my books were released that I truly understood what it meant, and how people felt about it. Authors, readers, friends, and family.

Drop by Chick Lit Writers of the World's blog, and let me know what you think about it.

Rules for writing fiction

As written for The Guardian by Richard Ford, novelist and short story writer.


1 Marry somebody you love and who thinks you being a writer's a good idea.

2 Don't have children.

3 Don't read your reviews.

4 Don't write reviews. (Your judgment's always tainted.)

5 Don't have arguments with your wife in the morning, or late at night.

6 Don't drink and write at the same time.

7 Don't write letters to the editor. (No one cares.)

8 Don't wish ill on your colleagues.

9 Try to think of others' good luck as encouragement to yourself.

10 Don't take any shit if you can ­possibly help it.

Stop aspiring and just be

This July 5th, author Amanda Arista drops by Romancing the Pen to talk about her love for writing, and her journey to becoming a published author.

Blurb: Violet Jordan thought the fairy tales her mother wove were just a way to get Violet to sleep, not a way to prepare her for the apocalypse she is the key to preventing. When she becomes a midnight snack for werepanther Spencer Haverty, his infectious bite invokes the first element of her destiny. When Violet’s budding instincts allow her to save a boy’s life, she realizes this new gig may come with perks: a slimmer figure, the attention of a handsome Guardian, and insights into her future embedded in her mother’s stories. But as push comes to claws, can Violet make the fatal strike against the men threatening her new family, her new home and her first boyfriend in ages?

Amanda is giving away a $25 Amazon or B&N gift certificate! Visit Romancing the Pen on July 5th for more information about how you can win.

Truly, Madly, Deeply Romance Authors

Don't forget to drop by Truly, Madly, Deeply Romance Authors for the chance to read FREE romance stories by some of your favorite authors! Every Saturday!

And of course, for the opportunity to win some fabulous prizes!!!

Voices from the Heart

Don't forget to drop by Voices From the Heart on the 27th to read my latest post.

For Leslie Esdaile...

The romance community has come together to help support the fundraising efforts of the family of Leslie Esdaile. You may know her as LA Banks.

One of the reasons, I love writing for Red Rose Publishing is because it has authors like LA Banks. In my mind, I thought...hey, I could have a career like hers. She's written for everyone: Dafina, Arabesque, Genesis Press, Pocket Books etc. She's even penned a graphic novel.

With so much respect in the writing community, she's even had the opportunity to introduce the President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Please visit Leslie Banks' Auction site for more details on how you can contribute to this effort, and the Leslie Esdaile Fund. You could also visit her website, or Red Rose Publishing for more opportunities to donate.

The disappearing pieces of my childhood

Recently, I saw a brief story on CNN about the ten brands that will disappear in 2012. The list included: Sears, Sony Pictures, American Apparel, Nokia, Saab, A&W All-American Foods Restaurants, Soap Opera Digest, Sony Ericsson, MySpace, and Kellogg’s Corn Pops.

As a child, I think my parents took my brother and me to Sears for something or another every weekend. And if we needed an electronic appliance for anything, it was definitely purchased from Sears. They had the best guarantees and warranties around.

Do you remember when everyone had to have a Nokia phone?

Corn Pops. Wow, my brother and I would eat one box in a couple of days because we loved them so much. It was delicious and sweet. And our parents would let us eat it! We didn't have to beg for it.

MySpace. How did they lose so much ground so quickly to their competition? But, I have to admit, I don't even use my MySpace page any longer.

What does all of this mean?

When I have children, will anything from my childhood exist? Will I need to take my children to a museum to show them the things I grew up with?

Will they look at me in total amazement, and say "Huh. You actually had to hold your phone it, wasn't combined with your televisions?"