August? What’a-’ya- Mean it’s August?

I’m anxious to see the cover art for my book The Frog’s Song. They say the proofs will be available for my review at the end of August—one good reason to say, “Hi August.”

And I’m excited for my publisher Regal Publishing (the house that Jaynie built).  Jaynie Royal is a force to be reckoned with. Regal has recently signed with IPG (Independent Publishing Group) a trade distributor for on-the-ground sales.

Imagine getting into Costco—don’t know if that will happen for me, but I can imagine it) plus, Regal has attracted the attention of Forward Reviews, a Purple Cow, Blue Ocean company.

If you saw a Purple cow standing in a field, wouldn’t you want to tell somebody?  (Purple Cow is the name of Seth Godin’s book.) And regarding a blue ocean, if your water is running blood-red with competition, wouldn’t you want to move to blue waters?

Long ago when I was into horse training I learned from #Pat Parelli, a horse gentler, that whatever everyone else is doing, do the opposite.  And I learned from my horse that she would go where I placed my focus, no reins required. 

Amazing.

I wonder how I can apply that to my business.

Focus—that’s good. Maybe I will go where I place my focus.

 I’m scared though.

Seth Godin wrote: "The growth of audiobooks is outpacing reading.”

We can still read though, he says, but pushing ourselves through a chapter is difficult.

And here I am writing words.

 

I like to read. I like to hold a book. I like to smell books. I like to feel their paper—and some of the covers these days feel like silk.

Don’t you sometimes wonder what happened to books, and when did bread disappear from our table?

I don’t know if thinking back is romancing the time or wanting to preserve it. Place it in a Mason jar and put it in the pantry I guess. It might be opened at a later date and found useful.     

Remember when you went to the library, and the librarian shushed you, but you cased the joint and found treasurers? Ray Bradbury educated himself by starting at one side of the library and reading around it.

Now the internet can serve that same purpose.

It’s not better or worse, just different.

Remember when you went to record stores, and comic book shops and inspiration was out in the world, rather than at your desk. It had to be sought out, in museums, in the forests, and in picking up shells from the beach.

Am I showing my age?

My hero.

 Ray Bradbury

Are You Showing God a Good Time?

“Ignorance on fire trumps experience every time.” –Insurance Salesman

Does anyone want to read a blog that isn’t about blogging?

Nope.

Well, maybe a few. Dear friends who are interested in what in the heck you do with your days. Some want motivation whether to take action or to make life changes.  Some are searching for answers to specific questions, like how in the world do we get high SEO ratings?

I haven’t a clue.

I know, though, that we’re all salespeople.

I didn’t think I was since I’m not charging for anything I write, post, or blab.

But I realized yes, I am selling. I want people to read my blogs—what in the heck am I doing here otherwise, blowing smoke?

I want people to buy my book when it eventually comes out in 2019.  (After two years with the publisher)

At a party aren’t you selling yourself when you strike up a conversation with someone?

Are we so jaded with somebody trying to sell us something that we turn a deaf ear? Some are shysters, yes, taking advantage; others are trying to make a living.  

And don’t blame the marketers, advertising is the way to get eyeballs on their merchandise.

People have to know it exists.

I want to give my gift. And I think that gift is to talk about self-realization, motivation, and spiritual growth.

Sound lofty?

Well, it is. I see how unhappy many people are. I see how they believe their self-worth is equal to dishwater. I see how they fear dying and fear living abundantly.

I see how people are carrying emotional injuries from childhood, protection that worked then, but as an adult, it isn’t working. Boy, do we need to drop that garbage.

I see how 10’s of thousands of people throng to Tony Robbins events with the intention of either healing themselves or gaining a greater understanding about how life works. Some want to rise to greater heights. I saw how when Tony speaks with a participant; most are suffering.

In conversations, people roll into fear—you know, the government, “trying to do God’s will.” Well, crap, God’s will is your will. That’s my message. Carve out your own path. Give God a break.

“Are You Showing God A Good Time?”-

- Rev. Linda Finley (Center for Spiritual Living,)

You wonder in “Giving your gift” if the receiver will like it. You question if you have matched their tastes. They might re gift it, or give it to goodwill, or stash it in the closet. “Gee thanks,” they mutter while wondering what in the world you were thinking.

It’s embarrassing.

That’s the way it is with writing. You put out some words; some will be scooped up gentle as baby birds, others will get trampled.---Not the baby birds.

It’s a crap shoot.

But let’s get smart. Write what you want to read. Yep, yep, yep, I know not all people are like me, but you aren’t writing for the world. You are writing for a special few.

Are you are giving your gift? Find what floats your boat.

Find it. Give it.