This is my first book by Charis Michaels, but it will not be my last.
Her writing is one that will make other writers weep because it is so good. Each sentence constructed in a way that pulls you so deep into the story and into these character’s hearts and minds. Every writing that I know wants to be able to write this good. Whether it’s your type of story or not, something you would enjoy or not, the writing is superb.
And talk about a mystery of love! These two characters are full of chemistry from the beginning of the page until the end.
Declan and Helena’s chemistry was off the charts! But they each had way too much to lose, especially each other. Declan reluctantly agrees to help her find the perfect wife for her husband-to-be, a duke she desperately does not want to marry. Not just because she’s a woman who longs to marry for love, but because she wants to save her home, her apple farm, and everyone who lives there. And Declan has so many reasons to avoid her and do the job he was hired to do, including the threat of going back to prison, but it’s a good thing he didn’t! It was fun to read about their quest.
The description and emotion of these characters had me holding my breath. Along with many other things they did that could get them into trouble.
I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately! I fell in love with the written word when I was 4 years old, and many years later I haven’t stopped enjoying the art. To me, the written word represents art so unlike many other art forms, and yet so creative. Instead of looking at a beautiful painting, you get lost in the sculpture of how words and sentences are strung together to form a story.
And wow, does Christmas Charms get you lost in the talent of story, but more on that later.
I have to admit I slowed down a lot. 2020 has been a year of introspection and rediscovery for me, and now is my time to admit I haven’t written in … gasp … a year? I lost count.
I have been under contract with my own Christmas story for 2 years now, and I’m still worried the publication date will be sprung on me last minute. That’s the way of some publishers, and I still haven’t quite decided what to do yet. To be even more honest, anything to do too much with writing (other than enjoying reading) has been too much for me to worry about right now.
But in all my extra free time (not writing, too hot to do too much outside, and still social distancing), I have been reading. What came first, the chicken or the egg? The love of reading, or the love of writing? For me, definitely the love of reading! I fell in love with writing because of reading. And (another confession … I’ve got a lot of those today!) I stopped doing and even enjoying both for awhile.
I signed up with Netgalley, which is something I’ve thought about doing for awhile and just never did. But man, I am glad I did! I have discovered so many new authors and books!
Teri Wilson is not new to me. I had the pleasure of knowing her years ago, we are friends on Facebook (although she likely doesn’t remember me) and we had a book signing at Barnes and Noble together years ago. We used to be in the same romance author’s group, until the long distance got too much for me and I had to bow out of the membership. She’s interesting, talented, and almost as adorable as the puppies she loves so much. A truly kind person, who loves what she does. And living many author’s dream life by having her books into movies! I’ll never forget the day I met her, flouncing into the bookstore with her flowing pink dress, heels, and tiara! Such a great personality.
So I was thrilled when this book became available!
I read this in one day, if that tells you anything at all. I couldn’t put it down. Ashley is a career-minded woman with big Christmas plans and dreams for the perfect Christmas, which includes a trip to Paris with the man she hopes will soon be her fiance. She’s so career-minded that she left her high-school sweetheart and has been living what she thought was her dream life in New York City working for a dream company. But then things don’t go as she planned, she ends up with a Christmas charm, and rediscovers the magic of hope, and love. A second-chance romance, poignant and sweet, full of everything that makes Christmas special. Great writing that gave me chills, even in the heat of summer. Highly recommended.
She broke Aidan’s heart when she chose her dreams over their relationship. Isn’t that part of the mystery of love? Why do people do the things they do when they are in love? SPOILER ALERT: It tore me up inside when he ate her very terrible Christmas cookies and stared right at her. How could she not remember her love for him? Well, maybe she did. You’ll just have to read it to find out everything else.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and to Teri Wilson for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book. It goes on sale October 6, but you can pre-order it now! You can click the picture to be taken to the Amazon sales page!
I don’t know where to start with my review of this book. Not only is it a book I will come back to again and again, but it is a book I needed right now.
The description says for young artists, and although I can see where it can help artists just starting out in their art, and I definitely wish I had had this when I first began my journey, there is no way I could have fathomed the jewels in this book if I didn’t have the experience with my work now. This is for anyone thinking about artistic expression, or struggling with their art. And art is many things, including but not limited to painting, drawing, signing, acting, writing, cooking, applying makeup, raising children, or everyday life.
The book is beautiful, insightful, inspiring, well-written, but it also touches upon rejection and even walking away. Many people would call that quitting, or failing, but this book is so deep I can tell the author truly knows his work and what it means to be creative in any form of artistic expression. The beauty and challenges of art, as well as sometimes saying goodbye. I love how he speaks on the differences of success and accomplishment, as well as realizations of creative dimension. He speaks of balancing your artistry with having to make a living with a job that, for many of us, take us away from our art.
I love how this book doesn’t push you or make you feel like you have to keep going, no matter the cost. Quite the opposite, actually. I have been struggling in my own as a writer for some time now, and have had a few aha moments, but this book hit the nail on the head.
The best I’ve read. Highly recommended whether you are an artist who is just starting out, burned out, struggling, or thriving.
A book review about an upcoming book by Kara Goldin, the creator of Hint water and other products I didn’t really know much about until now.
I didn’t read this book because I want to launch a business or product, and I didn’t read it because I love Hint water. Until today, when I decided I needed to rush to the store and try this, I’ve never even tried Hint water. I live in a small town and it has been hard to come by, and I hated all the other water brands I tried (too sweet or tasted sour and rotten). Wow, was I pleasantly surprised! Now I’m a fan.
But this review is for the book, not the water. I read the story because I love reading people’s stories, their successes and setbacks and what made them successful, and I love the idea of being undaunted. This was a great story. She explains where she came from, how she launched a business out of her kitchen, and great tips that could help anyone in any situation whether it’s working for someone else, starting a business, or even your personal life. It’s a cross between memoir, self-help, inspirational, and business. The story was engaging. I couldn’t stop reading and had it finished within a day. It’s hard not to know something about the water, but to know about the creator was inspiring to read. It doesn’t push the water or the company, but I’m grateful to know more about a product I have now fallen in love with. She’s a great writer, and it was interesting to learn so much about product creation and distribution.
She also talks about courage, facing doubters, and overcoming setbacks and fears. Inspiring and encouraging to see all the things we can accomplish if we just do so. Also great examples in how we should treat people. An interesting, all-around read that I highly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley, the auhor and publisher for allowing me to review this book.
I was thrilled to be able to review The First to Lie, by Hank Phillippi Ryan. A USA Today Bestselling Author and an Investigative Journalist who knows her stuff and has many awards and Emmy’s to prove it.
But just what does an Investigative Journalist do?
You can certainly find out in The First to Lie! Ellie, the main character, takes on a story that she believes will be huge.
But does she have other reasons, or is she just trying to help other women and expose a company that could possibly be responsible for murder?
Her character was very realistic as she journeyed to places and spoke with people who could help her break the story for her new job at Channel 11. A great glimpse of the day in the life of an Investigative Journalist, a job I’m sure this author knows well. Ellie wanted to unravel the story of a company that tore apart a woman’s dreams, but she discovered she wasn’t the only one.
The story is a great mix of characters with a setting that made me feel I was there, experiencing it with Ellie. The cold, slushy streets of Boston and the intertwining of how each character played their field kept me turning pages to figure out who was what and where.
Then there’s Gabe. Who is he? Bad guy? Good guy? Should she trust him? And seemingly innocent Meg, just trying to help. A nice blend of showing us past lives and how it could be affecting the present. And…a nice twist at the end even after I thought I’d reached the end of my guesses. A book that, while trying to sleep, I woke up thinking I knew the answer finally! It will keep you up turning pages to figure it out. Ellie was so realistic I felt like I knew her. Frustrating at times, but life’s true whirlwinds of solving mysteries were well written.
And isn’t that every author’s dreams? To have you unable to sleep while thinking of the story you’re reading?
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to review the book.
It releases August 4 but is available for PREORDER now!
The ever-evolving world of publishing can sometimes seem like sailing on a glassy lake, all gentle waves and forward motion. At other times, it can seem like you’ve been hit by a rogue wave that knocks you off your feet. leaving you gasping for air. How can you regroup when a line you love, one you’ve given heart and soul to for years, not to mention all of your creativity, suddenly shuts their doors?
I was faced with this set of circumstances a couple years ago, and I have to admit, it knocked me flat. In some houses, the rights will automatically revert to the author when such an event occurs, but some will hold you to the terms of the original contract. They’ll continue to offer your books for sale until the terms are met but will not spend any of their marketing money to promote you. Such was my case. I didn’t want to spend any of my money promoting my books, since the terms of the contract stated the book needed to fall below a certain threshold of sales for a given period, so any sales I generated would prolong the amount of time the publisher could retain the rights. I was in a canoe without a paddle, so to speak.
I spoke to my fellow author friends, some of whom had been in similar circumstances, and they encouraged me not to do anything rash. Even though my mind was racing in all directions, I came to the conclusion they were right. Until the rational part of my mind caught up with the panicked part, I needed to find my inner calm.
Once I achieved some semblance of stability, I took stock of my career. Until I could regain the rights to my stories, I had some time away from the relentless media promotion and marketing wheel I’d been on for the past couple of years. It was time to consider my next moves. So far, I’d made somewhat of a name for myself as an author of historical romances, but I also dabbled in contemporary works, gave a passing nod to Regency romances and thought about cozy mysteries. I also dipped into the self-publishing world, since its praises were being touted on a regular basis. It was time to truly figure out what I was passionate about and pursue that goal. And for that, I needed help.
I hired an author coach who assessed my publishing history, studied my website along with my other social media content, and came up with a game plan. I revised my website, dropped the idea of writing Regencies, and devoted myself to what I loved the best. American history has never been taught correctly in school, in my opinion. Instead of memorizing dates, I have always been more interested in the ordinary people who lived through the times. I wanted to explore how a regular citizen handled being in the midst of the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the suffragette movement, the westward expansion of America, and so on. I could memorize the dates and facts surrounding the sinking of the Titanic, but I never grasped the intensity of the moment until I met Jack and Rose, who were two ordinary passengers who put the event into perspective and brought it to life. That was what I wanted to do with all the facets of America’s rich history.
That was the dawn of my inspiration for my new series, called Revolutionary Women, being released by Prairie Rose Publications. The first book in the series, A British Heiress in America, releases June 25, 2020, with a second one releasing in November, and the final one in January, 2021.
I haven’t yet given up entirely on self-publishing, but right now I’d rather be writing than operating a business, which is what self-publishing is. I’d rather have someone else get my book ready for Amazon, create a cover, edit my work, and promote it, as long as I can have a say in the cover and release schedule. I also realize publishing houses don’t do a ton of promotion, regardless of how big or small they are, so most of it is still up to the author.
What I’ve realized from the past few years is having my publishing house close its doors has been a blessing in disguise. Now that all my rights have been returned and republished, it’s breathed new life into my body of work and is reaching a new audience. I’ve been afforded the time to figure out what I want to do and the direction in which I want to steer my career. I appreciate my friends who kept up the encouragement along the way. My abandoned Regency series provided me with two secondary characters whose story arcs I liked better than the Regency debs, and they are now the heroines in the first two books of my Revolutionary War series, so that whole experience was not a total failure. Something good can come out of something bad, after all. I appreciated my old publisher for giving me the opportunity to start my career. And now, I’m hoping my new Revolutionary Women series will continue my trajectory. I always enjoy hearing from my readers, so please reach out to me at any of the following social media sites:
Here’s an excerpt from the book. I hope you enjoy:
Off the Coast of England, 1775
The minute the ship began to move out of the docks, Pippa’s courage faltered, as if it took a swan dive over the railing and began dog paddling toward the pilings. The shores of her home country faded in the distance, along with her ability to change her course. She desperately wanted a cheroot but couldn’t light up and give herself away even if she had one. Instead, she curled up between the water barrels and closed her eyes, hoping her stomach would settle if she didn’t witness the rocking of the ship. She let the up and down motion lull her into a stupor.
“Blimey! What ‘ave we here?” One of the crew of the Gladys Maria jostled a barrel away, exposing Pippa’s hiding place. She fell backward, hitting her head on the deck, the sun blinding her. She winced, at both the crack to her head, and at the harsh sunlight. One hand shielded her eyes, the other cradled the back of her head, leaving her body exposed.
A swift kick in Pippa’s ribs made her yelp in pain. She curled into a ball, but meaty hands grabbed at her and forced her to her feet. She doubled over and grabbed her midsection, retching.
“Well, iffen it ain’t a little stowaway.” The deckhand laughed as he grabbed the back of Pippa’s shirt and tugged her upright. “Cap’n will not be pleased to see the likes of you.”
Pippa swallowed her bile and struggled as the man grabbed her trousers as well as the nape of her shirt and half-carried her below deck. “I can walk by meself, guv’ner.” She intentionally lowered her voice, but still it sounded more like a socialite than a boy to her ears. Could she pull this off? Her limbs were shaking so badly she wasn’t at all certain she could walk by herself.
He dropped her to the floor once they got below deck but still kept a hand at the nape of her shirt, bunching the fabric in his large hand. “So, walk then, laddie.” He shoved her forward, and she stumbled, but kept her balance.
He’d called her a lad. She blew out a breath. At least one man bought her disguise.
“Where to?” As if she had a say in the matter.
He grabbed her arm and hurried their pace. “To the captain’s quarters. That’s where we take all the stowaways.”
She trembled but wrenched her arm away from his grasp. “How many of us are there?”
“Yer the first one I’ve come across this trip, but there’ve been others.” She glanced at the deckhand. His grizzly face was bearded, his sneer revealed a shiny gold tooth, and his matted hair fell to his shoulders. He made her insides quake. Definitely, he was the most fearful person she’d ever come into contact with. “’Tis a pity we’re so far out to sea already. We coulda just tossed you back into the harbor a couple hours ago.”
Pippa couldn’t stop the full body tremor that pulsed through her. She didn’t know how to swim. Young ladies of the Ton didn’t partake in such foolishness. She took a deep breath and faced forward. Not being able to swim was the least of her concerns right now. She had an appointment with the captain, and her fate awaited.
The gnarly deckhand stopped in front of a door and knocked once.
“Enter.”
He opened the door and shoved Pippa inside before he followed.
“I was just about to crack open one of them water barrels when I found this mongrel, hiding in the middle.” He clutched her arm again.
As if she could have escaped this small room, with the deckhand standing in front of the door and the captain staring at her as if she were a bug he wished to squash. She held her breath.
“Nice work, Ben. Leave the boy here. I’ll decide what to do with him.” The captain rounded his desk and continued to stare at her. She stared back. English society had thus far limited her to dancing in ballrooms and charming various titled gentlemen, and she was ill-equipped to deal with the likes of the rugged-looking captain. His face was tanned, his body muscled, and altogether, he was the most handsome man she’d ever met. His jawline could slice paper, his blue eyes matched the sea.
Pippa expelled a breath, feeling the walls of the cabin close in. She’d never been alone in a room with a man before. Of course, her first experience would have to be with the most handsome man ever, and she in disguise as a boy. A disguise she needed to keep up for the duration of the voyage. In the ballroom, members of the Ton applauded her using her feminine wiles on a man, but in this case, those tools would not work. She couldn’t charm her way out of her situation.
Today, I am so excited to share J. Arlene Culiner (or Jill Culiner) with you! She has had an amazing, adventurous life! And she’s gorgeous to boot! But, like many writers, she doesn’t like to “toot her own horn” even though she has every right to. Thank you so much for joining us today, J. Arlene Culiner!
By J. Arlene Culiner, and Being the Great Procrastinator
Ancient green lane, France
So here I am, a writer as well as being “The Great Procrastinator”. Before actually sitting down to work on a story or article, I’ll cook something, fool around, brush the dogs, wander here and there, think about tackling the heaps of papers everywhere. Eventually, I’ll force myself to get started, but writing this article for you, Angela, has meant weeks of procrastination. Why? Perhaps because the title is so daunting: Real Stories by Real People? How much easier it is to invent characters (even if they are often disguised self-portraits), and drum up plots. But write openly about myself? Sheesh… I had no idea it would be so difficult.
Perhaps because the title is so daunting: Real Stories by Real People? How much easier it is to invent characters (even if they are often disguised self-portraits), and drum up plots. But write openly about myself? Sheesh… I had no idea it would be so difficult.
Why? I suppose because it will sound like bragging, it will be tooting my own horn, and I’m not fond of doing that in public.
Well, here goes: I was one of those kids who ran away from home at seventeen. I craved a big life. I wanted city lights, country lanes, endless romance, and adventure. No ideas of a big comfy home and security could lure me. I wanted to see the inside of a coal mine, to walk (alone) across much of Europe on dirt lanes and paths, to sleep in fields, spend time in the Sahara desert, trudge through Ukrainian snowstorms, be a belly dancer in Turkey, an artist, a writer, a musician, an actress, a photographer, and, of course, be an international femme fatale.
So I did all of those things.
“My House”
Okay, I’m not saying I’m brilliant at everything. I’m not. But I’ve done/am doing exactly what I set out to do. These days, I play oboe, English horn, flute, tuba, and baroque oboe in four different (amateur) orchestras, I am a contemporary social critical artist which has meant I have traveled all across Europe with my shows, I live in a mini-museum (http://www.jill-culiner.com) in a small French village. I very occasionally work as an actress (https://vimeo.com/188556966), I narrate audiobooks, and I’m a writer of romances, mysteries, and non-fiction (http://www.j-arleneculiner.com). I also tell stories on Sound Cloud ( https://soundcloud.com/j-arlene-culiner). My photography exhibition about the vanished Jewish community, La Mémoire Oubliée, traveled through Europe and went to Canada under the auspices of UNESCO and the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and these days, I often go do research in very strange, forgotten places where I can’t speak a word of the language.
“My kitchen”“My writing space”
I’ve lived on the English moors, in a Bavarian castle, in an adobe house in Hungary, in a Turkish cave, on a Greek island, in London, Paris, New York, Toronto, San Francisco, Amsterdam, and in many small villages all over the place. Yes, I’ve taken silly risks, I’ve been in grave danger far too often, I’ve been a complete failure at many things, I’ve never had enough money to do anything the easy way, or to stay in flashy places, or to own a car that is worth more than five hundred dollars, but I sure do have fun. And, by the way, I’ve never owned a television: why would I want to sit passively in front of one?
Like Agnieszka Szumska, another one of your guests, I’m a vegetarian because the idea of being responsible for animal suffering is terrible. I also eat organic food, and I love and rescue dogs and cats. I protect as many animal, plant, insect, and reptile species as I can, and live very simply. I make my own bread, sauerkraut, pickles, and fruit juices; I bottle food for the winter; and I avoid air travel and use public transportation. For us, going on a holiday means walking out of the house and taking an ancient pathway to another village — something that is possible all over Europe. I try to be nice to everyone, and I smile at the people I pass on the street. If anyone wants to chat, I’ll lend an ear.
I suppose it will be no surprise that, although I also write romance books (it’s a rather conventional branch), I do create unconventional heroines. Yes, they are real people, but they are always older — in their 40s, 50s, and 60s — and they take chances, dare to follow dreams. Of course, my heroes aren’t slouches either. I also try to make my romance books as rich as possible, in vocabulary, plot, information, and with sentences that flow and are beautiful.
You, Angela, say you write romance in order to solve love’s mystery. What a lovely goal. I write romance simply because falling in love (despite its complications) is truly delightful.
Today, I welcome Julia McKenna, who is the founder and CEO of Managerine LLC.
Managerine LLC is a company that helps inspire new and aspiring leaders, especially by helping women gain the confidence and skills they need. In this day and age I think that is so important! Be sure to check out her website as well, because it is amazing! And I love the creativity she brings to her business, including the title! Isn’t it great!
Tell me about yourself. Who are you as a person? What are you likes, dislikes? What is your career?
First and foremost, I come from an amazing family. As the oldest of 6 kids, I helped my mom, who worked part-time, with all the kids while my dad commuted across state lines. My parents are incredible- they both earned masters degrees and raised 6 children while launching successful careers. From a young age, they told us we were capable of anything as long as you work hard enough.
I took this to heart and jumped into college right after high school. To make it all happen, I worked 50 hours a week in addition to full-time school to get my degree. This drive carried over into my career and I was promoted to my first management role at 17. I was terrified and had no idea what I was doing. However, I had a boss who saw something in me and knew I could do it.
As a young leader, I struggled for years with earning the respect of my colleagues and employees. It’s hard to feel confident and capable when your average employee is a decade or more older than you! However, I worked my butt off, took every class I came across, and read every book on leadership I could find. It was hard work, but it was also exciting and rewarding!
In 2019, I vowed that this would be the year I took my career to the next level. I published my first academic article, enrolled in a leadership institute, started two masters degrees, and joined several committees and organizations in the library world. To my surprise, these activities all lead me to the same conclusion- my true passion and calling was in the world of leadership development!
To pursue this calling, I founded Managerine LLC. Managerine is my passion project. Our mission? To provide support for new and aspiring leaders. I think back to what I would have loved to have as a scared 17-year-old and that’s what I provide through my company. We offer cheat sheets on management topics, a subscription box with leadership books and products from woman-owned businesses, and are in the process of developing a new manager academy! I love seeing all of the amazing female leaders out there and it’s my greatest joy in life to give back to them.
A little about me personally- I live with my boyfriend and his son, who are the loves on my life. I’m obsessed with garden gnomes and have tiny ceramic men all over my house, much to my boyfriend’s chagrin. I’ve solidified my place in the librarian hall of fame with two cats named after female authors, Jane Pawsten and Zora Neale Purrston. My deepest, darkest secret is that I religiously keep up with the Kardashians. I can be found most days drinking copious amounts of tea and listening to “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me” on NPR
Walk me through a typical day in your business/career/life?
I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, so for me a schedule and a routine is a necessity to stay on track! (Side note, if you or a loved one has this or any other mental health concerns, I cannot stress enough to get help! My diagnosis of ADHD, depression, and anxiety and the subsequent treatment I received seriously changed my life). I’m a morning person, so typically I wake up at 6am. Then comes some yoga, stationary bike if I’m feeling motivated, a shower, and getting dressed. I try to always put on pants and makeup, even when working from home, to help stay productive. Next comes a hot mug of tea and checking my email. Then, I make a list of what I want to accomplish that day. I’ve found that by writing down everything I need to do in order of deadline/priority, I find myself not pushing off those little tasks I hate as much (I’m looking at you QuickBooks!).
After my work, I typically knock out some schoolwork- I’m on track to finish up two master’s degrees this fall, because why not! My boyfriend works most nights, so I try to cook a healthy dinner for me to eat and him to bring as dinner the next day. I’m dairy free and his son is newly gluten free, so I’ve been experimenting with a lot of new recipes lately! Finally, I try to let myself relax a bit. I’m a doer, so I try to schedule me time so I don’t forget and burn myself out. That could mean reading, hanging with my cats, going for a walk, or binging Netflix- anything to just chill a bit and decompress! Then bed by 10 and back at it the next day!
What is your biggest pet peeve about that day/business/career/life? Biggest frustration? Biggest source of joy?
My biggest pet peeve and frustration is not being taken seriously. As young women, we have to work twice as hard to have our accomplishments recognized. I have to be careful of how I dress, how I talk, how I act to avoid being written off as a silly young girl. You’ll see me in heels and a blazer instead of my preferred twirly skirt in a dino print because I don’t want anyone to doubt my confidence and capability. And yet it’s this struggle that has make me confident. I know that I’m capable because I’ve worked incredibly hard to become the person I am. I know that my work will pay off because it has in the past.
My greatest source of joy is hearing how I’ve helped others. I keep notes and emails from former employees that I’ve helped and when I have a bad day, I pull them out. Transitioning into management is one of the toughest career moves many people make! I love to see others succeed and feel less stressed through my support.
Do you have any relationship advice?
In December of 2016, I moved across the country to follow a boyfriend who I should have not been dating, never mind leaving behind my family and friends and moving across the country for. However, I felt like it was my obligation to help fix him. I’ve always been a fixer, whether that meant supergluing together my shoes or trying to help my siblings find jobs. It took me three years of this relationship to realize that I couldn’t fix someone who didn’t want to be fixed. Any when I broke up with him, it was painful and hard, but one of the best decisions I made in my entire life.
After a year of dating casually, I met Connor. He was a divorced army dad, most certainly not my type, and lived 2 hours away. Yet for some reason, whether just being tired of playing the field or the kind, intelligent way he talked to me, we started dating. This isn’t to say it hasn’t been hard. We would alternate driving 2 hours to visit each other each weekend. I had to learn to love his amazing son, but not get to be his mom. That was hard- that little boy is the love of my life and I want to make his life perfect, but with a child of divorce, you can’t always do that. We’re going through a custody battle and I helped Connor transition as he left the military, moved in with me, I started grad school, and he went back to finish his undergrad. It’s been hard!
But you know what? Neither of us are fixing each other. No one is putting I more work on the other. I help him with his homework. He has encouraged me and supported me in building my business. We both do chores and split the bills and love each other more than I knew was possible. Given this, my greatest piece of relationship advice is finding a partner. Connor and I are above all a team. Find someone who loves and supports and believes in you. Connor will text me through the day with ideas for my business that he can’t wait until I get home to tell me. It’s that passion and support that has kept me going and allowed me to make my dream a reality.
Do you have any favorite quotes?
“The art of leadership is saying no, not yes. It is very easy to say yes” -Tony Blair. I find that my tendency is to say yes to everything instead of setting boundaries. And when I do this, I burn out! It’s important to remember to say no sometimes.
I’m super excited today to introduce you to Billie Breeden. She’s a retired nurse, now following her dream as a business owner with Color Street, and she’s here to offer tips for success in business and relationships. Not only relationships with your spouse, partner, or family, but relationships with yourself!
Let’s give a shout out to Billie Breeden. Thank you for joining us today!
by Billie Breeden, Color Street Team Leader
Hello! I am Billie Breeden. Thank you, Angela, for asking me to interview on your page. I am a retired nurse and a business owner. I am a wife and mother and grandmother. My husband Jack and I have been married 40 years this July. We have had some wonderful years together, lots of adventure, and love each other as much or more as we did 40 years ago. Angela asked me if I had any relationship advice since I have been married so long. The best advice I can give is to pick your battles, don’t sweat the small stuff, give more than you receive, and support one another.
The best advice I can give is to pick your battles, don’t sweat the small stuff, give more than you receive, and support one another.
Here’s the thing—we all have faults and weaknesses. If we dwell on the faults of one another, however small or insignificant they might be, they can turn into big things. Is it that big of a deal if your husband throws his dirty socks in the bottom of the closet and leaves them there? It is aggravating, but in the grand scheme of things is it worth fighting about?
My husband has always been my greatest fan and supporter and I his as well. We both have an entrepreneurial spirit and have tried and failed at many things. But we are always there for each other, encouraging one another to try again. It takes commitment and dedication to make a relationship work. I don’t believe you should expect more out of your spouse than you are willing to give. If you are keeping score on who has done the most, then failure is certain. Love one another deeply and give more than you receive.
I started my nursing career at the age of 22. I was a licensed vocational nurse for 17 years and I have been a registered nurse for 29 years. I went to RN school when I had 3 kids at home and worked full-time. I had to be very disciplined about studying, getting up at 5 in the morning while the kids were still sleeping, it was difficult at times, but well worth the sacrifice. Nursing was very good to me. It supported us many times over the years when my husband pastored small bi-vocational churches that could not afford to pay a full-time salary. The thing I loved the most about nursing is that you are there to support others at some of the happiest and some of the most difficult times of their lives. Seeing new life welcomed into the world was always a blessing. My last few years of nursing have been as a Director of Nursing in nursing homes. It is a very thankless job at times especially for the staff, but one thing I tried to instill in them was what a privilege and blessing we had to be able to help someone have hope and joy in the last days of their life.
I will be 68 this year. I hate saying that because it sounds really old. I don’t believe we are ever too old or too young to dream or accomplish our dreams. I do believe age is what we make it out to be. Last year, I did my first half marathon at 67, and I did a second one in February this year. I gave up a successful career in nursing to start a business in direct sales because I saw the potential to achieve my dream of being a business owner. We are never too old to succeed at something if we are willing to do the hard things. When I started training for the half marathon, I could barely walk a mile without getting out of breath. When I started my business in direct sales, I could barely talk to a stranger, much less sell them something. Unless we are willing to step outside of our comfort zone, we will never be successful. And we have to realize that success does not come without failure. I have failed many times, but I am not willing to give up my dreams because I have failed in the past. Our future is what we make of it.
We are never too old to succeed at something if we are willing to do the hard things.
Are You Madriding Me
Long Time No Sea
Tokyo Lights
Wanna Peace Of Me
My business is called Nail Spice. It is a direct sales business with Color Street. I always said I would never sell anything because I am not a salesperson. I happened on Color Street at a craft show. At the time I was selling organic soaps and skin care products that I had made myself. It was very difficult to sell, and I was not making money at all. The lady across from me was selling Color Street. I watched her all day. She had tons of people coming to her booth and trying and buying her products. I eventually made my way to her booth and tried a sample of Color Street and I was absolutely hooked! I always loved having pretty nails, but I hated regular polish because it was so much trouble and I despised going to the nail salon. I couldn’t stand the way fake nails felt and sitting in a noisy nail salon and paying that much money was just not my thing! To make a long story short, I was so obsessed with the fact that Color Street was 100% nail polish in a strip that went on dry with no tools or drying time and stayed on for 10-14 days, I signed up a few days later to become a stylist. I am now a Team Leader and have a team of 18 ladies under me! It is the most exciting thing I have done in a very long time and I am so passionate about it I think everyone should do it!! The great thing about Color Street as a business is you can go as far as you are wanting to go. Some people do it for a hobby and a little extra cash. Some, like me are making it their full-time business. It is just like any other business. It does take work and time and effort for it to grow. I am still learning, but here are a few things I have learned about being successful in life and business.
I am still learning, but here are a few things I have learned about being successful in life and business.
Have a daily routine. I get up early every morning before my husband does. I have a devotional and prayer time and I journal my thoughts. After that, I spend at least 30 minutes reading or watching videos on personal development. I believe this is so important no matter what you do. Never stop learning and growing. After that, I usually cook breakfast. I have been doing this for my husband from the beginning. We always had breakfast when I was growing up and it is how I start my day off right.
I spend several hours a day on my business. I work on social media posts, I do customer follow up, I mail out samples and stock orders, and look for ways to improve. I did this when I was still working full-time as a nurse. Again, you must be willing to do the hard things if you really want to be successful.
Know your why. Why do I want to be successful I business? Why do you want to be a writer? Knowing your why is what will keep you going when times are difficult.
Set goals. Short term and long term goals. And do something every day that moves you toward achieving those goals.
Take care of yourself. Eat as healthy as you can, exercise several times a week, even if it is a leisurely walk, and enjoy your life and your family. Have some fun!
I would love for you to check the beautiful nail strips out at https://nailspice.com and if you would like to try a sample you can go to https://billiebreeden.com and click the sample link.
I am in the process of developing my personal website: billiebreeden.com. (My husband is doing this for me, he is a multi-talented man!) My plan is to post business tips and motivational posts in addition to tips and tricks for my Color Street business. Check out billiebreeden.com for links to my business and social media accounts, and to request a sample. I would love to connect with you! My goal has always been to encourage others. I believe my purpose in life is to help others live their best life.
Thank you so much for joining us today, Billie!
I have to say, I have tried NailSpice and love them! I’m super hard on my hands as a writer, a gardener, and just housework and caring for animals, etc. NailSpice has been amazing to keep my nails looking great without hefty prices. And I absolutely love the creativity with Color Street names. Long Time no Sea and Are yo Madrid-ing me. How awesome is that? And a caveat: I do not make any type of commission on this or any other posts. Just trying to share real stories real people.
Thanks for stopping by. Next month we have Julia McKeena, CEO and founder of Managerine LLC. She’s got an amazing story, so be sure to check her out!
Today let’s welcome Alicia Hunter Pace and their new release SWEET GONE SOUTH! USA Today Bestselling Author Alicia Hunter Pace is the pen name of Stephanie Jones and Jean Hovey, who write together.
I’m going off the normal schedule I have planned (the first and second Tuesday of the month) because I am sharing authors at any time and always leave my calendar open for new releases. With SWEET GONE SOUTH, what better time than now? Especially because this includes an excerpt of a scene from Easter Sunday. I’m excited to share this with you!
Thank you so much to Angela for inviting us to visit with you on her blog. We are excited to be here and look forward to visiting with you all.
Yesterday, my god daughter, who is now thirty-five years old, the mother of two, and teaches sixth grade, texted me a picture of herself wearing her high school cheerleader uniform in the “Ready? Okay!” stance.
Weird stuff. It’s a sign of the times—social distancing times. I didn’t sit down to write about what’s going on with all of us these days, but then how could I not? It’s the life we’re living right now. We’re bored, we’re anxious, and we’ve got cabin fever, so we’re doing weird stuff.
At least my god daughter and I are.
Though it’s out of character for me, I have taken to watching Billy Dean Facebook concerts that he broadcasts from the deck of his house. If you don’t know who that is, he had some hits in the 90’s. I liked him at the time, but I don’t even know how I came to know about this. It’s not like I have been stalking him all these years. Maybe there is a little elf who comes to me in the night and whispers in my ear. But I’m glad he did, because it’s fun.
I also ordered eight salad plates with bunny rabbits on them, though I won’t have eight people to serve salad to on Easter.
I found myself looking at some ads for some really cute clothes, and thinking, “So what if they’re from one of those companies that have great pictures and awful clothes? How bad could it be?” I did not carry through. Maybe it was the elf who stopped me.
This might be the worst thing I’ve done: I incited my friend to order a pack of thirty-six rolls of wrapping paper (in six designs) to split with me—because that’s exactly what we need: eighteen rolls of wrapping paper each to add to what we already have. (We both have a wrapping paper problem, but that’s another blog.)
I guess we’re all getting through the best way we know how. Someone asked me what I was going to do when all this is over. I thought a minute and said, “I’ll probably go back to tearing around all over town going to this unimportant event or that, worrying about my husband on his commute to work, and making plans for one meal at a time and going to the grocery store every day.”
Don’t get me wrong. I want this to be over as much as anyone—mostly for those of you who are on the frontlines while my husband is able to work from the dining room table, the teenager goes to school online, and I get to be home ordering grocery delivery and doing weird stuff.
But, when better times come, I’m going to try to save some of the shiny parts of the slow down: better meal planning, being more frugal with what I’ve got on hand, and taking to time to watch a concert just because it makes me smile.
I wish you all safety and good health—mental, physical, and spiritual.
As Easter approaches, I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into the holiday from Sweet Gone South.
What have you done different from your normal routine?
Excerpt
Easter Sunday.
There were lilies on the altar, the music was soothing, and the bells rang sweet. Behind her, Lanie heard a quiet chuckle go through the crowd. Highly unusual. Episcopalians were taught at an early age not to talk, laugh, or fidget after entering the sanctuary. This was a time to prepare to worship. Lanie resisted turning around, which was also against the rules—until she felt an insistent little finger tapping her shoulder.
She gave her head a quarter turn, and there sat Emma Avery—in a bee costume, complete with antennae, yellow and black tights, and little black shoes. Lanie bit her lip and met Emma’s bright smile. Then she slid her eyes to the left. Pressed and perfect Luke Avery didn’t look so pressed and perfect this morning. He looked like a man who had fought a war—a bad one. His hair lay in messy curls all over his head, his tie was crooked, and his face was damp with perspiration. He met her eyes and shook his head helplessly.
During the children’s moment, when all the preschoolers went to the altar to gather around Father Gregory, there were more chuckles throughout the congregation. As Emma sat among the other children wearing their smocked and embroidered finery, Father Gregory smiled broadly and said something about all God’s creatures gathering on Easter Sunday. When Emma passed Lanie on the way back to Luke, she leaned in and whispered, “Buzz.” Throughout the rest of the service—hymns, sermon, prayers, communion—Lanie fought her laughter. By golly, Emma had said she was “’posed to be honeybee,” and she was.
Luke and Emma were just stepping onto the sidewalk when Lanie descended the steps.
Emma jumped up and down and waved to Lanie. Luke looked like a man who wanted to leave the country. Town matriarch, genteel Caroline Brantley stopped and laid her hand on Emma’s cheek. Emma turned her bottom toward Miss Caroline and pretended to sting her. Miss Caroline threw back her head and laughed with delight. She patted Luke’s arm before moving on.
“Lanie! Here I am!” Emma called.
“I see you.” Lanie bent to accept her hug.
“Buzzz!” She bumped Lanie’s leg with her little soft sculpture stinger.
“Ouch! You stung me,” Lanie said.
“I stinged Father Greg too!”
“Yes,” Luke said wearily. “You’ve done a fine job of stinging today.” Emma stung Luke, probably not for the first time, before turning her attention back to Lanie.
“I’m going to Beau’s house. I’ll see the Easter bunny and find eggs.”
“No kidding? Guess what? I’m going to Beau’s house too.” She’d known they were going to Missy’s Easter brunch. She’d made Emma’s chocolate place card. But lots of people were going.
“Yay!” Emma turned to Luke. “Lanie’s going to Beau’s!”
“I heard. Do you think she’s going to have her picture taken with the Easter bunny?”
Just then, Miley Sanders and her little girl, Teresa, walked by in their matching floral mother/daughter dresses. Emma studied them for a second.
“Lanie, can you to be the same as me?”
“Hmm. That might be fun. But I don’t have a honeybee suit.”
“My daddy will buy you one.”
Lanie looked at Luke, who rolled his eyes and looked heavenward.
“That might be nice,” Lanie said. “But all the stores are closed and there’s no place to buy a honeybee suit today.”
“Oh.” Emma looked disappointed.
“I might have another idea. We wouldn’t be exactly the same, but I have a blue dress and you have your beautiful new blue dress. We could go home and put them on before we go to Beau’s.”
“I’m ’posed to be honeybee.”
“And you already have been. You’ve done a wonderful job of being honeybee. Now you can be the girl who wears her new blue dress.”
She considered for a moment. “Okay.”
Luke’s eyes met Lanie’s. “Okay? Just like that? Do you have any idea what I’ve been through this morning?”
“I might,” Lanie said.
Thank you to USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Alicia Hunter Pace for being with us today! Be sure to click the book above to be taken to their Amazon page! Or find other links here:
Welcome to my first addition of Real Stories by Real People!
My goal is to feature two stories a month, the first and second Tuesday of the month. And one day a month, the last Thursday, I plan to feature a geographical location. Because stories are all about settings and people!
As an office manager, one of my favorite parts of the job is to interview people. Crazy, right? I don’t like hiring people (because that usually means someone left and then you have to go through the process of finding the right person, etc. etc), but I enjoy the interview process because as a writer, I have always been curious about people and what makes them them. You can say psychology was one of my favorite subjects in school. That and Geography, because I love learning about new places I will likely never go. Including the French Alps, which is where today’s guest works!
And my favorite part of writing stories is to create characters. This is why I’ve decided it would be fun to feature stories about real people I have met during my writing career! And maybe elsewhere. Especially in this day and age, with the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic and our world constantly changing, people are more important than ever, so I want to celebrate them and their stories!
And you never know, I might throw in a fictional character story/interview in as well.
So today, I welcome my first guest. Agnieszka Szumska loves DIY, organic food, and the idea we can all become better versions of ourselves.
If you are interested in being featured, please go HERE. You do not have to be a writer or business owner. You simply just be you.
Who are you as a person? What are you likes, dislikes?
I am very easy going person. I love to learn new things everyday. DIY is my thing. I love to make my own cosmetics and I eat only organic food. I love animals and I have a very special bond with dogs. I am vegetarian. I speak few languages – Polish, English and French. in the past I was fluent in German but without practice it all went away.
I love good food. I love long walks. I am a book worm as well. I love the idea that we can all become a better version of ourselves. That is why I watch Impact Theory and Marie TV. My goal is to be my own hero.
I hate liars. I try always to surround my self with good people. I am a person who somehow always have an advice for someone who is asking for it. I try not to criticize people. I always try to see their problem from their point of view.
I like to relax with a good music. Sometimes it is Vivaldi and sometimes it is coco jambo.. heheh.
I always try to find a movie that will bring me something. A good real life drama is good but a silly comedy is often very welcome as well.
I love tea. When I was living in UK the afternoon tea was my thing. With the whole corona situation I have decided to take care more about my health. I started yoga and meditation. It was not easy because my brain is always busy busy busy. I have huge imagination. When I was little girl I was talking to the moon and trees.
I find nearly everything interesting.
What is your career?
I am a receptionist in a small hotel in the French Alps.
Walk me through a typical day in your business/career/life?
Since I work only in the winter and summer season, days at work are very intense. After the season it is totally different.
What is your biggest pet peeve about that day/business/career/life? Biggest frustration? Biggest source of joy?
When I am at work I love to have that high quality contact with the customers. Many of them became my good friends.
What I do not like about my job is that sometimes people are very aggressive for no reason at all.
Do you have any relationship advice?
Yes. Be kind and full of respect. Give as much as you are receiving.
Do you have any favorite quotes?
Mostly quotes of Paulo Coelho.
Where can we find you online?
I have an Instagram account agnieszka 11_31
Thank you so much to Agnieszka for being the first person to jump into my Real Stories by Real People!
Be sure to check back next week, as I have a retired nurse turned Color Street Team Leader on the blog.
My garden did okay last year. Just okay. We didn’t get a lot of good, soaking spring rains that a garden loves and it got way too hot too fast. My soaker hose couldn’t keep up. But in the spring before it got too hot, my basil and dill flourished.
I love dill. I have a great hummus recipe and it’s fantastic. I also love dill on top of salads or added to homemade ranch.
I also love mint. If you’ve read Burn on the Western Slope about Reagan’s love for mint, that was a character trait based on me and my love for this luscious herb.
But I missed my opportunity to cut and freeze it or dehydrate my dill for later use, because it dried too quickly. It also dried so fast I wasn’t able to harvest it for seeds. And I admit I’m still a newbie when it comes to harvesting my own seeds.
I saw the signs that it was about to go to see, but I ignored it, figuring I had a few more days. I’ll get to it on the weekend when I’ve got more time.
That missed opportunity had me thinking about other missed opportunities in my life, and believe me I’ve had plenty. I wonder if we ever get those opportunities again. Part of me thinks no, although we might get similar ones. Maybe we’ll growing and learning and changing and those opportunities will be even better.
Or maybe not.
More dill can be planted. More seed can be sewn, and more garden can flourish this year. If I plant one, that is. This year’s dill will likely be just as good as last year’s. But that is no reason to wait on pursuing your dreams.
I’ve always wanted to write romance fiction, but I’ve always wanted to help inspire others to find their calling. I often wondered how I could do both. How in the world could I find time? How could I separate the two when I could barely keep up with one?
Then I asked myself, why separate them? Why not use my blog to help inspire others to reach for their dreams? Sometimes that might mean reaching for the moon and falling flat on out backs. Sometimes it might hurt, a lot. And likely we will cry at the pain (even if you’re like me and don’t cry often). But if we can’t dream, what’s the point, right?
Every day offers a new opportunity!
And speaking of missed opportunities, please SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER to read Burn on the Western Slope for free and read an announcement about some things I have coming up in the future! You can be part of this dream that I am slowly but surely building!
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