Why E-Book Week?

Please check out the Echelon Press blog for the reasons WHY you should read an e-book this week -- along with some darn fine e-books to read!

Just click here!

Why Can't I Have A Barbie?

Me. Fifty years ago. Telling myself the doll in my hands, the one Santa brought INSTEAD of Barbie, was, in fact, Barbie.

Yeah, I'm just making that up...But, oh, how I longed to have that doll with the Miss America figure and eye shadow the color of a Southern Indiana summer sky.

But day after day Mother said, "No..." followed by some other stuff. I don't know her reasoning. My ears always shut down after hearing that two-letter word... (Sigh)

Not my mouth though. "But, why?"

"Because..."

Again, I never listened beyond the rejection.

That's really too bad, because Mother probably had some very good reasons.

But maybe the real reasons weren't even the ones she attempted to share with me. After all, what does a little kid understand about RBI (realistic body image)?

Regardless, I wish Barbie a happy 50th today...She's grown and matured over the years, just like the little girls who've adored her.

Even the ones who never actually had a Barbie, and will never know WHY...

For a beautiful story about Barbie and friendship, go to WoofersClub.Blogspot.com

One of Many Reasons Why...

Okay, so I won't go into the OTHER reasons I adore this woman, my friend Carol. (The majority would have you questioning our sanity. (rightfully so!) Others are too close to my heart.)

But this one reason, this ONE reason is worth sharing with the world!

Carol's son and his wife just returned from Africa where they finally had the joy of meeting Aberash, their now youngest of three daughters.

And all indications are (proof's in the pictures!) Aberash is very happy and comfortable in her new home.

A retired elementary educator, Carol is a perfect mentor--on so many levels-- for this delightful, young girl. She volunteers several times a week both at a school and a local hospital, and still pays weekly visits to a colleague who suffered a stroke many years back. She's one of funniest women you could ever hope to meet, and Aberash will learn first-hand from "Gram" that she can succeed at anything she sets her mind to.

So, there you have it...Aberash will come up with her own list of reasons WHY. This is just one of mine...

Why Annie Leibovitz I'm Not...

I try. Really I do...

Alas this is the best group shot I managed to salvage of the Echelon Press booth at the South Carolina Book Fest. (Sorry, Marc, you were probably making a sale just to my right.)

Anyhoo, pictured here are (l to r): Sam Morton, Marc Vun Kannon's daughter Julia, Regan Black, , Karen Syed, Regan's daughter Jordan, Marlis Day (in red), Jaquelyn Sylvan, Austin Camacho, and Mary Cunningham.

Though blueprints were hastily drawn up resembling an ark, spirits of those attending or hawking their books were not dampened. Authors are nothing if not resilient!

So...please check out these witty, talented writers...and see WHY their books are read the world over.

Why You Won't Be Hearing From Me...

No, not forever...Just till Monday.

Heading out tomorrow for the South Carolina Book Fest to stake my claim in the Echelon booth.

Mary Cunningham and I will be talking up WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty.

I'll also be introducing Wendel Wordsworth: No Words for Wendel.

These types of venues are fantastic opportunities to connect with readers... Well, people in general. People are themselves pretty fantastic when you get right down to it, aren't they?

That's one reason WHY I'm looking forward to this trip...That and the piece of Dove Dark Chocolate I award myself for every book sold!

Why, You Shouldn't Have!

Flowers are a given for some people. Fresh-cut blossoms are as much a fixture in their home as the kitchen sink.

For others of us, they are a luxury, an indulgence.

I fall in the that latter category. (Though I keep saying I'm going to start buying fresh flowers every week.)

But if I did, would a gift bouquet like this one from my daughter and her family still seem as special?

Oh, I can't imagine anything detracting from the beauty and the love that went into sending this elegant arrangement.

And of course, my second thought (after the initial "Oh, how lovely!") was, "Why, you shouldn't have..."

My third thought? Oh, but I'm so glad you did...

At the end of the day, when someone does something special for a woman like me, WHY is it a given she'll respond with..."Why, you shouldn't have?"

happY birthdaY, marY!

For one day...And for one day only, she's two years older than me. But I hardly EVER mention it.

Today's that daY.

Lucky for us, we're doing a TV taping today, discussing our co-authored book WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty. Gee, isn't THAT great timing?!??!

That's Mary (in red), yours truly, Mary's son, John, and granddaughter, Brittany.

Anyhoo, HappY BirthdaY to my bestest bud...

Now, why don't I just drop this silly thing about you being TWO years older than me today.... :>)