Archive | April 2020
#FrontLines New York City @MaryLSchmidt #ASMSG #COVID19
Please read… #StaySafe
I know this nurse who wrote what I will add in quotes below. She is truly awesome and quite smart,a beautiful woman inside and out. She epitomizes professionalism. We had some nursing classes together, and we both worked at SHRC in different areas. Hers was cardiac and ICU (plus she has other experience with a surgical hospital and a lot more), mine was PICC lines, hard IV’s, chemotherapy, cardiac, trauma, blood transfusions and more – many outpatient infusion therapy plus more, peds, etc. Ultimately, she became a nurse practitioner. I know her siblings. She is from Ellsworth County. I know her children and her grands. This woman speaks volumes without saying one single word. If I needed a nurse, she is the one I would choose. She chose, along with other nurses, to go to the front lines, and help New York City. Below is her update. I’m not using her name as I don’t know if she wants this out to others and I respect her choice, whatever it is, as she is so busy I’m not going to ask her if I can use her name as that will take away precious time, and she needs her time – for her patients and for herself. Many know her. I just want you to know what ONE SINGLE NURSE is doing, what’s happening, and to please pray for her and the others fighting this pandemic. Please pray. Thank you.
“Just a quick update- transferred to working in a 12 bed ICU for Covid + patients. All on vents. Ranging in age from 20-70s. Younger patients without any underlying health issues. 3 codes in 1 hour. Constant paging for RT and anesthesia for more intubations. The hospital has converted 4 units to ICUs for Covid + patients aside from their regular ICU. Many nurses who came here to help leave after one shift- no judgement – it is a lot to take in. You see enough tragedies in one shift that normally you may see in months or a year. Aside from all the bad- there is a lot of good. A sense of community. Strangers from all over coming here to help NY, helping each other cope with this war zone. The people of New York are so appreciative we are here. We have plenty of PPE. Don’t stop believing plays overhead every time a Covid patient is successfully extubated. Every night at 7 pm shift change the firefighters and NYPD sound off their sirens and horns and people cheer and clap- all to show support for those on the frontlines. We are provided meals free of charge and given care packages. I’m certain this will be the hardest yet most rewarding experience of my career.”
#Dontstopbelieving
#stayhome
#I❤️NY
#fightingthegoodfight
#Bravo times one million and then again to my friend.
Meet Clara Andrews by Lacey London
I just finished reading this book by Lacey London – the first book in her Clara series.
From the author found on Amazon:
“The fantastic first book in the bestselling Clara series by Lacey London.
The Clara series takes us on a journey through the minefields of dating, wedding-day nerves, motherhood, Barbados, America, Mykonos and beyond.
It all starts with an unfortunate first meeting…
Being young, free and single, Clara Andrews thought she had it all.
A fabulous job in the fashion industry, a buzzing social life and the world’s greatest best friends are all that her heart desires. But when a chance meeting introduces her to Oliver, a devastatingly handsome American designer, Clara has her head turned.
Trying to keep the focus on her work, Clara finds her heart stolen by lavish restaurants and luxury hotels.
As things get flirty, Clara reminds herself that office relationships are against the rules. So, when a sudden memory of an evening out leads her to a gorgeous barman, she decides to see where it goes.
Clara soon finds out that dating two men isn’t as easy as it seems.
Will she be able to play the field without getting played herself?
Join Clara as she finds herself landing in and out of trouble, reaffirming friendships, discovering truths and uncovering secrets.
It’s time to Meet Clara Andrews… your new best friend.”
My review:
I loved this almost perfectly written book and such a rom-com it is, indeed. The book is more a novelette in length, and a pure delight to read. Romance, shenanigans, misunderstandings, and some wine or champagne tossed together in a charming locale with some of the finer things life has to offer thrown in for good measure and you will love this FIVE star read yourself! Thank you Lacey!
How To Expand Your Market To Sell Your Children’s Books – by Brian Jud… — Chris The Story Reading Ape’s Blog
on BookBaby Blog: This post lists examples of prospective buyers for children’s books. This is by no means an exhaustive list but should stimulate your thinking to find new places in which to sell your book. The market for children’s books is potentially huge, and while most authors approach this enormous opportunity by trying to […]
How to Use Colors in your Book Covers — Nicholas C. Rossis
A couple of years ago, I posted an infographic on How Color Can Boost Your Book Sales. Today, I am sharing some tips on color connotations courtesy of Dan Matthews of Avasam. They will help you create the perfect book cover. Yes, I know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover. But […]
via How to Use Colors in your Book Covers — Nicholas C. Rossis
#TIP #COVID19 #INFO
#TIP #COVID19 #INFO
1. This virus has shown how it affects the human body.
2. It has NOT shown everyone how it acts on an INDIVIDUAL in different ways.
3. I know how it affects even healthy people. It HITS HARD, wipes you out, you get better, then it HITS HARD AGAIN in SOME people. It comes in WAVES in SOME people and one in particular who I LOVE dearly. I know of three people who have/had it hit them in waves. One in their 30’s and two a little older.
#BeSafe #ThisIsReal #LoveYouAll #WeCanFightThisVirus
10 Commandments of Writing — ARHtistic License
For most writers, the path to publication is full of obstacles, detours, and potholes. Tenacity and resilience are required to reach your destination. Observe these commandments: Write every day. The quickest way to become a published writer is to exercise your writing muscles. The more you write, the better you get. Write for the joy […]
Don’t Feed the Elephant @513sherrye
Don’t Feed the Elephant by Sherry Ellis
From the author:
“Alphabetical fun with food!
Get ready for some seriously messy fun with food in this entertaining picture book…
…Best story line from A to Z and with wonderful and delightful illustrations to match.
…as entertaining as it is educational.
This charming new children’s story by award-winning author Sherry Ellis won’t just entertain kids with its hilarious descriptions and zany main character. It will also educate them about the alphabet and help them learn the order of letters. As the elephant works his way through foodstuffs, each new dish features a new letter of the alphabet. From animal crackers to zebra cakes, the elephant is enthusiastic to gobble everything up, even when it lands him in hot water!
The narrator starts off by warning the readers that you should never, ever feed the elephant, even if he says, “Pretty please with sugar on top!” Everything the elephant eats just ends up turning into a huge mess. He’ll give you gooey chocolate kisses after eating brownies, fire animal crackers out of his trunk, and juggle eggs and French fries at the same time. The elephant is more interested in throwing hamburgers like Frisbees and using noodles as jump ropes than having a proper meal. You can’t stay mad at him for too long, however. His adorable antics will entertain both you and all the little elephants you share them with!”
My review:
I absolutely loved this book by Sherry Ellis “Don’t Feed the Elephant.” Learning the alphabet using a elephant eating various food items with awesome consequences had me laughing the entire time. All ages will love this beautifully illustrated book for kids. Honestly, all parents, children, and teachers should have this book in their arsenal of books in their library. Five stars all the way!
How the Virus Stole Easter #COVID19
How the Virus Stole Easter
By Kristi Bothur
With a nod to Dr. Seuss
Twas late in ‘19 when the virus began
Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.
People were sick, hospitals full,
Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school.
As winter gave way to the promise of spring,
The virus raged on, touching peasant and king.
People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen.
They YouTubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, and cleaned.
April approached and churches were closed.
“There won’t be an Easter,” the world supposed.
“There won’t be church services, and egg hunts are out.
No reason for new dresses when we can’t go about.”
Holy Week started, as bleak as the rest.
The world was focused on masks and on tests.
“Easter can’t happen this year,” it proclaimed.
“Online and at home, it just won’t be the same.”
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days came and went.
The virus pressed on; it just would not relent.
The world woke Sunday and nothing had changed.
The virus still menaced, the people, estranged.
“Pooh pooh to the saints,” the world was grumbling.
“They’re finding out now that no Easter is coming.
“They’re just waking up! We know just what they’ll do!
Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
And then all the saints will all cry boo-hoo.
“That noise,” said the world, “will be something to hear.”
So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear.
And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies.
It started down low, then it started to rise.
But the sound wasn’t depressed.
Why, this sound was triumphant!
It couldn’t be so!
But it grew with abundance!
The world stared around, popping its eyes.
Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise!
Every saint in every nation, the tall and the small,
Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!
It hadn’t stopped Easter from coming! It came!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine
Stood puzzling and puzzling.
“Just how can it be?”
“It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies,
It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money.”
Then the world thought of something it hadn’t before.
“Maybe Easter,” it thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
And what happened then?
Well….the story’s not done.
What will YOU do?
Will you share with that one
Or two or more people needing hope in this night?
Will you share the source of your life in this fight?
The churches are empty – but so is the tomb,
And Jesus is victor over death, doom, and gloom.
So this year at Easter, let this be our prayer,
As the virus still rages all around, everywhere.
May the world see hope when it looks at God’s people.
May the world see the church is not a building or steeple.
May the world find Faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection,
May the world find Joy in a time of dejection.
May 2020 be known as the year of survival,
But not only that –
Let it start a revival.
Formatting the Final Manuscript #amwriting — Life in the Realm of Fantasy
I’m in the process of formatting a manuscript for publication, both for the paper version and the book version. While there are significant differences between the layout of the two types of documents, some fundamental things remain the same. I create three manuscripts. Before I embark on making mobi files for Kindle or designing the […]
via Formatting the Final Manuscript #amwriting — Life in the Realm of Fantasy
When Angels Fly 