My Story is in Chicken Soup For The Soul: Touched by an Angel

                                                              

Have you ever encountered an angel? You probably do almost every day, but maybe you don’t recognize them. They look just like everyone else, but they are out there. I submitted a story to Chicken Soup for the Soul almost a year ago. It was a true story that happened around twenty years ago.  My life was at stake. I was in an isolated area with two assailants closing in on me. If you want to find out who saved me, you’ll have to buy Chicken Soup for the Soul: Touched by an Angel.  My story is called Angel on the Footbridge. You can buy the book on Amazon.com

 

                                                                    

If you get the book, tell me if you liked my true story. Thank you.

 

Book Signings, Bazaars and a Soul Walk

 

                                                                        

This was a busy and exciting weekend for me, starting on Friday when I was invited to a book signing event at the Atria Living Center in Center City Philadelphia by my friend and fellow writer Harry Kyriakodis. It was a great learning experience for me and the residents of Atria who wanted to know what Steampunk was all about. Did I make any converts to the world of Steampunk? You never know J 

                                                       

  

Saturday, I had the wonderful opportunity of hosting my first “Steampunk Granny’s Bohemian Bazaar” at The Treehouse Coffee Shop in Audubon, New Jersey.  I invited a handful of very talented artists, writers and crafters, all of which are the most amazingly talented and creative people to have at any event. Thank you to all the vendors of the Bohemian Bazaar; you all Rock! And, thank you to the owners and staff of the Treehouse for allowing us to use your fine establishment for our bazaar.

                                                          

   

Dawn Byrne (close friend & fellow member of the South Jersey Writers’ Group) was there selling our group’s anthologies, Tall Tales & Short Stories from South Jersey and Reading Glasses. John Farquhar stopped by to help sell his “What to Expect When You’re Dead".  Dawn has entered into the world of Steampunk with flying colors by creating her own hat and brooch design. 

                                                             

                                                                 

Marie Reid was there selling her beautiful jewelry, Alex Sullivan was there selling his book of poems, “A Printing Madman.

                                                             

Allie Gilbert (oldest of my nine grandchildren, talented Fashion Designer, her work was featured at the Philadelphia Flower Show, and the person who introduced me to Steampunk) was there with her collection of jewelry and pop culture items.

                                                           

Kahlil Weston (Publisher/Writer/Promoter of Independent Artists) was there to sell his books, “The Wes Daddy Mack Hour”, The Young & the Westless” and the Kahlil Weston Hour”. With Kahlil was a beautiful young new talent, Zhariya Amani. This young lady is going places so keep your eye on her rising star and her book “Words in My Head.” 

 
                                                                 

                                                      

Nanci Rainey was there with her book, “Another Day in the Driver’s Seat” and Patti O’Brien (Editor, Journalist, Writer, Blogger and not only my adopted sister but one of the reasons my book “Roof Oasis” is doing so well, was there selling her “LitBits: Messages in a bottle--A little perspective when you need it.”

                             Nanci, Patti, Janet, Kahlil and Zhariya                                                  Magical Faery ArtMagical Faery Art

Cinsearae Santiago Reiniger (Publisher/ Writer/Fashion Designer/Crafter from the Dark Side) was there with her husband, Dan to showcase her stunning dolls, jewelry, etc. Everyone just loved her dolls.

 

                                                           

                                                                 

 

Loretta Lombardi /Health Coach in healthy eating, was there to sell her book for lovers “I’m Hot, You’re Hot.” Loretta offers classes on macrobiotic meals that keep you healthy and sexy. Shelley Szajner is a spiritual healer and guide and besides selling her Magical Fairy Art, Shelley did a few Tarot readings.

 

                                                           

Rosanna Martella/ Health Coach/ Artist/Sculptor, was there to see her book “Healing Epilepsy Naturally” and a large selection of her beautiful sculptures. The fine people of “Steampunk Works” kept their shop open for the Bazaar.

 

                                                            

  

                                                         

 

Ralph& Lee Cobert are collectors of anything Victorian and they design beautiful clothing for people interested in dressing Steampunk and the Victorian Era. Their clothing is featured is several films.

 

                                                      

One of our vendors, Janet Lima, who was there selling her jewelry and crafts, bought a beautiful hat from the Steampunk Works shop. Here she is modeling it. Janet, her husband and their team run the Keystone Spirit Seekers. I was part of an investigation with them. Check it out here.

                                                         

                                                             

                                                           

 

I was there promoting the Bazaar, selling my book, Roof Oasis, the first in a series; an apocalyptic tale with a twist. I’m not shy and was out in the street encouraging people to stop in and shop.  We are planning a Spring Event “Steampunk Granny’s Bohemian Bazaar Part Two” in April.  I’ll keep you all updated.

 

                                Kahlil, Janet, Dick and Cinsearae

After the bazaar, I headed to the Laurel Hill Cemetery for their Soul Crawl through the cemetery’s history with friend and fellow writer and blogger, Loretta Swearingen Sisco and her husband, Ted.

 

                                                             

 

It was a fun night walking through this beautiful and historic cemetery and learning the history of the people buried there.  Cinsearae and her husband Dan were there, too. I bet you never knew that cemeteries could be so much fun!

 

                                                              

The Cemetery is selling my book in their gift shop, and I helped to sell one of the books at last night’s event. What can I say? Steampunk Granny never stops ticking.

                                                               
                                                                      

 

Apples to Google+ and Farewell to Good Friends

                                                                
                                                                      

                                  This weekend was somewhat bittersweet for me.

                                                                                                                           
One of my close friends and a former co-worker from when I worked at the Academy of Natural Sciences is leaving the Philly area. She’s moving to Washington D.C. where she’ll be teaching Science at an elementary school. It will be a big loss for the Academy, but what a wonderful gain for the students she’ll be teaching. Michele ran the Outreach Program, bringing science and animals to the schools of the tri-state area for many years. Here's Michele with me.

                                                                   

Here is Michele with Naomi and Anita. All four of us had worked at the Academy and Anita still volunteers there.

                                                                      
                                                      Michele, Naomi and Anita

We had a going away party for Michele, but first they wanted to see our pond and our very large goldfish.

                                       Here is my husband proudly showing off the pond
                                                                      

                              

                     I have two apple trees and this is the first apple produced.

                                                                 

Anita did the honor of slicing the apple for us. The apple was very sweet and I hope to see many more on that tree. When we ordered the two apple trees from the catalogue, we were told that apples would be popping out the first year…six years later, we've only had the one.

                                                                    

I get a lot of butterflies, native honey bees and hummingbirds in my garden. Here is a butterfly. Anyone want to take a guess on what it is? Come on, take a guess.

                                                                         
                                          I also get lots of finches at my bird feeder.

                                                                    

After dinner we had cake and gifts for Michele. I’m wishing you well in your new career.

                                                                                      

                                                                    

                    Sunday, I decided to go to the Collingswood Arts and Craft fair

                                                                                      
 with my daughter and the youngest of her desperadoes, Nathan. He was not in a good mood, can you tell?

                                                                          

                     But we did get to shop at Pat Cunningham’s Busy Beads

                                                                           

                                             and get ice cream from the Pop shop
                                                                               

And we did get to hear some great music from the band known as Foster Child.

                                                                               

But I had missed the Kelli Campbell Trio which had played on Saturday. Check them out, they are awesome.

                                                                             

Now we’ll jump to my adventures with publishing and Google. In today’s publishing world, the writer has to have a following, a persona if you like, on the internet. This means a blog, a twitter account, facebook, etc. etc. before publishing companies will even take a chance on you.

                                                                             

So, I have a blog which I try to update once a week and I have my Lilith Episodes which I post every Friday, but I also keep a daily presence on facebook

                                                                 
                                                              and twitter

                                                                    
                                   I've met some interesting and amazing people,

                                                                    
I love it, but if you want publishers to see how serious you are about writing, you should also think about Google+

                                                                                   

Now remember, I can’t walk and chew gum at the same time! I have a chance to get a story published and I was advised to build up my Google+ presence. There’s a Google+? Who knew? I’m still trying to figure out regular Google and recently someone mentioned Google Chrome. Help…I’m still looking for my lost webkin, Zeppie, on the Web. Has anyone seen him?

                                                                               

Anyway, if you do go on Google+ and you’re feeling kindly towards me, please follow me. I will appreciate this very much and will treat you to some delicious apples the next time they grow on my little apple tree.