A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE QUOTES

These are some of my favourite quotes, some of which have inspired different aspects of my life and giving me hope when things seem to go wrong.

“If you're working to make the playing field fair and level, you're working for the wrong reasons. Work to take the opportunities that arise and use your individual talents to excel at those opportunities.”

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

"Those who are open-minded are unconquered by the logic of reality." Author (Jonathon Woehler)

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." Helen Keller

"Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within. It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is that which we think and feel and do, first for the other fellow and then for ourselves." Helen Keller

"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intellingent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded." Ralph Waldo Emerson

BOOK MARKETING MADE SIMPLE

Book marketing does not have to be difficult. Many writers feel that marketing their work is the most difficult part of completing a book, there for; they hire expensive companies and marketing representatives to market their work.

Marketing however does not need to costly, or difficult if you put your mind to it. Marketing your own work, gives you the freedom to decide, how your book is presented, how you are presented and the way your books are distributed.

Taking the time to set up your own marketing plan, can be the best and most profitable way of getting your work out there.

Think about groups in your area, groups you are a part of or friends and family are apart of, word of mouth can be one of your biggest assets.

Think about the options now available to you on the web. There are dozens of groups and networking web sites, you can join and give information about yourself and your work.

Presenting yourself, how you want to be seen and not how a large companies wish to present you.
Giving yourself the chance to express the “real” you and not the fictional you, a lot of companies create to sell books.

You can get business cards or bookmarks and distribute them to book stores in your area, promoting you, your books and your website for information. You can design posters and have them put in libraries and book stores in your area and set up meet and greets and book signings in libraries, schools, book stores and even at Church events.

Attend as many book events as possible. Set up your area with promotional banners and posters. Have promotional giveaways and set up a nice book display, drawing people to your booth. You will be surprised at the amount of sales that are made, when you and your work are presented well.

Submit your information to as much online media as possible and send out information packages to magazines and newspapers in your area. Even high school and university papers, are willing, to set up interviews and publish articles helping to promote you.

Getting your name known can be the biggest step and managing your own marketing plan. Yes the title or your work is also important, but getting your name out there, creates a fan base, where people will willingly look for your work and keep their eyes peeled for new pieces as they become available. The more “you” are known, the faster your work will become known and sought after.

So perhaps, before spending thousands of dollars on marketing reps and publicists, writers should take the time to think “out of the box” and create as many of their own marketing ideas as possible. Taking a look at the big picture and noticing that marketing their own work can be a more rewarding and feasible way of getting their work out to the world.

FAST PACED WORLD, CHANGING THE FACE OF COMMUNICATION

In the fast paced world we live in today, with computers and even cell phones readily available. The concept of writing a hand written note to family and friends has become a thing of the past. In today’s world, people rely on e-mail, instant messaging, and text messaging and online forums for contacting those closest to them.

Why not take the time to write something to a relative, something they can hold in their hand and keep through time to always cherish. A hand drawn picture sent to Grandma to hang on the refrigerator and show off to her friends. Is something much more precious then an electronic message to be read and deleted.

Time has changed the way we communicate with our loved ones. It has banished some of the things cherished most by many and replaced it with lightening speed electronic devices.

Every now and then, people should choose to forego the electronic form and sit down and write a letter to a close relative or friend. Give them something to hold dear, something real giving them a sense of the feelings behind it. Anyone can send an e-mail but is it truly direct? Why not send something in your own handwriting giving them a true sense of the feelings shared.

Sending an online e-mail or text message is just typing and clicking a button to send. Where as writing and mailing a letter is something thought out and real. People live in a physical world, not an invisible one. Sometimes touching the ink or pencil on the paper as they read a letter helps them to touch the writer and gain a true sense of the emotion behind it.

Once in a while, take the time to send a cherished memory rather then something that will be quickly glanced at and deleted forever.

WHAT MATTERS MOST TO ME.

So many people send me emails and text me little messages, always wanting to know all about me, but there are very few who through those emails and messages have actually taken the time to “get to know me” for me. Instead they want to know me for what I do, what I have or how I look and that is the least important thing to me. Knowing me for me is what really matters most.

I am the kind of person, who “status” means nothing to. I don’t care if you’re the richest person in the world, the most beautiful person in the world or the most famous. All of that means nothing to me, what matters to me, is what is deep inside of a person. “Who they truly are” as a person. Looks, money, celebrity status, all of that isn’t what is important in life. Love, respect, truth, friendship and compassion mean a whole lot more.

You could be living in some rat infested house with purple hair and it wouldn’t make a difference to me as long as you were a kind, respectful and decent person. Every one of us in this world, all get up in the morning and get started on our jobs. Whether it is caring for our children, running to office, the studio or where ever. We all have a job to do. None of us wake up looking perfect and we all have the same “real life” issues to deal with.

Those who believe that Status is the most important thing in the world, are those that honestly for me would not even get the time of day. No matter what your status is, we’re all just people. People who need love and need friendship and deserve respect and at the end of everyday, we’re still just “people”I have met so many people online who are all “Oh you know her or you know him. OMG that is so freakin cool!!!!! I just have to to know you now!!!” And then suddenly they’re your best friends or so they believe and why? Not for you, not for who you are as a person, but simply for who you know.

That is just wrong and not how life should be.Get to know people for who they are as a person and for what they hold deep in their hearts, not for what you see on the outside, watch or hear. Know a person for who they truly are, as there is nothing more important. True friendships are found, when you take the time really know.

SECOND INTERVIEW ON WHOHUB

Interview with:
Elizabeth J Van Amelsvoort [ejvanam]

CULTURE

What do you currently have in your MP3 player?

Mainly country and classic rock. I prefer music that you can relate to, songs with some kind of meaning to them and are more "real" Music that "makes you think"

What books are you currently reading?

I just finished reading Twilight by Stephanie Meyer and getting ready to read New Moon.

What is that special film you never tire of watching?

I actually have two favorite movies, Grease and The Postman, I can watch those two over and Over and still enjoy them everytime.

Do you believe there is excessive sex and violence in the media?

Definitely and I personally believe the amount of sex and violence in our media is creating a Society for our young people, where they believe they can get away with anything.

What were your favourite subjects when you were in primary/secondary school?

I would have to say English, Art and music. I always enjoyed writing short stories and poetry which made english fun for me. Drawing was something else I enjoyed doing in my spare time and music is another on of my great loves

Do you think video games, chat rooms, etc. have a dangerous addictive effect on teenagers?

Most definitely, teens these days spend more time playing video games and talking in chat rooms then anything else. Most don’t even spend as much time on their school work. The video games Of today consist of guns, knives, gangs and other sources of violence and quite honestly it is giving Teens ideas, that they are unbreakable. There is more street violence in our society today then Ever before and most of the ideas these kids have, they’re getting from the amount of Violence in video games and seen on television and in the media. These violent games, seem to consume our young people and it is creating a society filled with violence and crime.

© Elizabeth J Van AmelsvoortWeb address for this interview: http://www.whohub.com/ejvanam

NETWORKING THE WAY OF THE 21ST CENTURY

In today’s changing world, where technology has become the key, networking has become an essential component in any career. Whether you are looking for a job, or simply wanting to make connections with those in the same or similar fields of work. Networking has become a successful element.

In the past, networking may have involved luncheons, dinner meetings or even office gatherings. Where everyone in the field met, handed out business cards and shared stories. However in our new world of today, networking has become a cyberspace based forum with a greater number of contacts readily available. Through online networking, you are able to make contacts and connections, with individuals in your field from all across the world. You are no longer limited to your city or areas surrounding you, when making connections.

Networking has taken many new forms in today’s world. No longer is it just for business. Social networks and friend networks have come into play. Connecting people all over the world and making the world a more connected place. People on opposite sides of the world are able to connect, making our world a much closer nit place, then days past.

Networking has completely changed the way our world once worked. Now through simple online networking, people are able to gain access to absolutely anything they want. Anything of interest can now be found, by typing a few simple words into a search bar. Most of those searches, leading to some kind of social or business network or forum.

Networking has allowed people from all over to connect and meet, who otherwise likely never would have been given a chance. It has brought people in business, friends and even family members together socially and professionally. It has brought families back together and has even reconnected people with long lost relatives.

The networking of today is much different from the networking of the past and in my opinion a much more successful way, of making connections across the world. Business relationships have become stronger and people are given new ideas from others in their field of work, to help better themselves in their own careers and bring new ideas into business.