Getting Attention...

It has been an amazing week in the Friends…Lessons of Life journey.  I mailed books to UVU (Utah Valley University), Seagull Book, and a distributing company.  My reviews increased, and I did my first speaking engagement.  So my job is now to spread the word and to get my book out.  How do you get attention from someone who gets several requests (not going to say hundreds because that would overwhelm me) so I will just think they get several every day.  It’s like sending out a resume.  You have to find a way to make sure whoever is giving you their 15 seconds of time by looking at your resume, something will peak and you are put in a “MAYBE” or even “YES” pile.  So it goes with books.

One of my goals doing this, is that I wanted to do it debt free.  In my research I didn’t want to do the printing of 1,000 books and then have to try to sell them.  I decided on the POD which means Print on Demand.   People can go to Amazon and order one copy and it is sent to them.  What I love is that I can track sales from here and people can write a review and leave their thoughts.

The week started out with 13 reviews, but I set a goal of 20 by week’s end.  Here it is Saturday and I have 19 reviews, so looking for one more.  Because the people at the above companies have never heard of me, I feel the reviews will help peak their interest to want to find out more and actually read the book.

I also love the thoughts and what everyone has taken from the book.  One little 11 year old wrote she liked Chapter 1 the best because I talked about when I was a child and she was a child now. For some it has impacted their friend relationships.  Have they been kind?  Have the inspired anyone?  Or hurt anyone not knowing it?  Some it just gives them hope to keep preserving at life. I love my reviewers!!!

Next time I will go into why I have chosen UVU to try and place my books.  Thanks again for all your support and love!!  Get ready for the ride!!!

First Speaking Assignment...

This Thursday evening is my first speaking assignment.  The theme of the night is "Turning Lemons into Lemonade."  I truly hope they have Lemonade at the event. It's my favorite!!!

I thought I would share a bit of  insight on what I think I may speak on.  When I wrote my book, I simply wanted to be able to inspire people.  Don't give up and keep  pushing forward. I have learned the very hard way, that life is a journey.  There are those however, who see it as a competition and a check off list.

When I heard words like, "My life was so much harder than yours" it makes me sad, I wonder if I got my point across?

I used to think that if you had a trial or struggle it was because you were being punished.  That is what my mom taught me. So that is how I looked at my life struggles.  I didn't understand why I was being punished so long and I didn't understand what I had done that was so horrible.  Then one day a friend said to me, "Laura I don't know about you, but the God I believe in is a very loving God.  One who forgives us, loves us and teaches us."  They are words I will forever be grateful for.

I now see a trial or a struggle as a blessing of some sort.  Maybe I don't see the blessing at once, but in time I do.  When I first moved back to Utah a year ago, my housing fell through and all the apartments and rooms for rent were full.  Friends had no room for me.  I ended up staying in a hotel and it quickly was eating through my money.  Shortly after coming back, I was visiting friends one night and felt truly rejected.  Especially when I heard, "You should go back to Texas where you were happy."  I went to my car feeling as though I had been thrown out with the trash.  I felt dumb and stupid and humiliated and thought, "What did you do this time Laura?"  I said a little prayer and asked for Heavenly Father to indeed let me know this is where I needed to be now.  I felt like I had before many times in my life all alone in life.

Then my phone rang.  It was my friend Nancy in Michigan.  She told me she was just calling to tell me she loved me like a sister and reminded me we were--in the Gospel.  She has always been my biggest rooter, always believing in me.  When I got off the phone that night, I  knew everything was going to be okay.  I went to a hotel and prayed again. But this time I prayed to find the right ward for me.  The next day, I was at a health food  store, and an old friend walked in.  I had not seen her in years.  We talked and long story short, she was the instrument that guided me to where I needed to be.

So when it comes to trials in your life, how do you overcome them?  I no longer look at them as mountains to climb.  My trials and struggles are now just obstacles in my path I must continue to chip away at.  And when I look back I can only be grateful because I realize now there was a lesson learned in my life.

I believe I have figured out a small formula that I will be sharing on Thursday evening with the sisters of Relief Society.  If you want to know what it is before my next blog, check out the book in Chapter 4 -- Putting Aside the Running Shoes.  Read Tim's essay.  That little essay not only got him selected to run with the Olympic Torch, it is now a formula for turning Lemons into Lemonade!!!

Book Signing Day!!!

WOW!!!  Today was so much fun and more than I could have ever expected!!!  I figured we had close to 60 people or so there today.  There was plenty of food and chatting and fun!!  It was great to have some of the people from the book there!!  One guest even went around and got THEIR autographs!!  Too funny!!! 

The party started at 2, and I think  I finally left about 5:30.  Our last guest came about 5ish.  Here are some pictures from the shindig!!!  Thank you again to all those who came!!!

Book Signing Party 

A New Phase

It has been awhile since I have updated this site, but felt it was time to finally do so. I have some updates for you on Friends.....Lessons of Life.

As you have probably noticed, I have taken down the chapters that were on the site. Mainly because the book is getting ready to be published!!! The chapters that were up were very rough copies of what will be coming out in the book. I did the best I could with what experience I had to get them as professional as I could. Several people who have taught writing and English classes, told me the same thing. "Laura, you have a story to tell, but the technical part of the writing needs help." I took that to heart and put the book away for a while.

Last fall a patron came into the Family History Center. We became friends, and when I found out she was a writer and English minor, I snatched her up!!! I could never have gotten this far on the book without Carol.

We have worked through the first run of editing on the chapters. I am almost done with the second series of edit, then we will both work on them one more time together. It is close!!

The other cool thing is that I have a book cover. Tell me what you think? Yay or Nay?

 I just really wanted to say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all your support.  I am excited that a new phase of my life will be opening soon.