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The Cross’s Key
The Kindle/eBook version and all formats of my new novel are now live on Amazon.
Five Activities I Do for Fun
Having fun encompasses many areas of one’s life. So much in this world brings joy and creates fun for so many. But what brings fun for one is different from what brings fun for someone else. For me, there are a number of activities I do for fun. Here is a list of five.
- Write fiction
- Make jewelry
- Read
- Put jigsaw puzzles together
- Go for walks
Of course, there are other activities connected with these items that create fun, but these are the main ones.
Living a Long Life
I wouldn’t want to live a hugely long life in an imperfect world such as this one. I instead look forward to a very long life living forever with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in heaven.
Capture Attention: Billboard Designs for Creative Expression
I am not sure what my billboard would say. That would take much careful consideration. I do know the content I would put in it. Since I am an award winning author, and I design and make beaded jewelry, I would figure out a way to create a billboard that included both modes of creativity.
Balancing Past Reflections and Future Aspirations
It’s difficult to say which I put more thought into regarding the past or future, but thinking about each is equally important. Learning from one’s past allows us to grow and mature inside. Having aspirations for the future is equally important because in this way we are giving ourselves goals to work toward.
My Journey Through Higher Education: Two Colleges, Three Degrees
I attended just two colleges. For my undergrad degree I went to Saginaw Valley State University for a degree in Secondary Education with a Major in English. Later, I went to the University of Phoenix Online twice. Both times were for Master Degrees. One was in Adult Education and Distance Learning, and the second one was in Education Administration and Supervision.
Mindful Relaxation: Embracing Adult Playtime
I do play in my daily life. To me, as an adult, playtime means mindful relaxation and exercising fun time. We should all have time to ourselves or with others when we are having fun outside of our work life. Yes, some say work can be fun, but I’m not talking about work.
Now, what is playtime according to me? Outside of work playtime is putting a jigsaw puzzle together, playing a game on my phone, taking a walk, game night with friends, and taking a trip somewhere. For example, on December 8, 2025 we took a long drive through and over the mountains to see Crater Lake. The beauty was out of this world gorgeous. Also, every so often we invite friends over to play board games or card games. Putting a jigsaw puzzle together and going for walks helps clear my mind.
Cross-Promotion Techniques Every Seller Should Know
When there is something we as individuals are trying like mad to sell, it is easy to get caught up in advertising and marketing by doing what everybody else is doing. As a result, nothing sells. Why not? The strategies used worked for others but not for you. What did you do wrong? Sound familiar? Yep. Sounds familiar to me, too. That’s when its time to take a step back. Relax. Take a deep breath and look at what you have. Look at ‘what’ you are doing. Do you ‘sound’ like everybody else who was able to make sales? You don’t want to sound like someone else. You want to sound like you. You can do what others do, but do it your way. You could even add something only you can.
The key is to stand out. So, how do you do that? Well, it depends on ‘who’ you are. What are your likes? What are your hobbies? How can you incorporate them into your marketing strategies? Here’s an example. Sally Seller makes jewelry, and she writes books. In her books she features certain gemstones, such as sapphires, emeralds, jade, and lapis lazuli. The typical marketing strategies she had been using for her books were not working, so she ‘took a step back’ and thought about what she had been implementing in way of marketing. When she did this, an idea hit. She could cross promote her jewelry with her books. Here is her idea.
- Make beaded bracelets using Preciosa crystals in the colors of the high end gemstones featured in her books and give a free bracelet to anyone who purchases a book in her book series.
- Purchase some actual sapphires, emeralds, lapis lazuli, and jade beads in the colors of the gemstones featured in her books, make bracelets out of them and sell them at her book signing table.
- By implementing both strategies 1 and 2, readers will be drawn not only to the books but also to Sally’s handmade jewelry and vice versa.
What happened when ‘Sally’ implemented these strategies in real life (on two occasions now)? Her book and her jewelry sales went way up and more than tripled.
Contact Me: Author Email for Fans Only
In the photo below is my author email address. I welcome email from my fans, and I do read them. However, many emails I receive are from marketers and those sending scams my way. If you would like to send me an email at the address below that is fine. I will read it and answer you. If you are a marketer or scam artist wanting money from me, do not bother to send me an email. This email address is for fans only.
Fame, Humility, and Our Shared Humanity
I can honestly say I have never met anyone famous or infamous. As human beings we are all the same. No one person is any more important as another. It is what we do in life and what we become that makes us famous, and it’s God’s Will behind it. It’s important to note that, once we are granted the status of being famous, we remain humble throughout.
Mistakes and Memories: A Journey Through My Youth
I would relive my teenage years. There are mistakes I made I would like to set right. At the same time, if I had not made those mistakes, I would not have learned all that I had. It’s when we don’t learn from them that keeps us down.
Great moments I would relive are all the times we played baseball with the neighborhood kids and parents. Sometimes we would turn it into a hot dog roast.
Family vacations I would also like to relive. I am from Michigan, USA by the thumb region. Many of our instate vacations were in the northern parts. Those places are Sue St. Marie, Mackinaw Island, Mackinaw City, Boyne City, Lake Charlevoix, Tahquamenon Falls (just to name a few). In 1971 we took a trip out to Oregon, USA (west coast). There, we visited my Aunt Hope and Uncle Jim for a week. At the time I was homesick, but I still remember having a great time.
WRITE TIME AND AGAIN 