PAYING IT FORWARD: Author Terry Ambrose #MondayBlogs

 

 

When someone develops an idea that will benefit a good cause, and then spearheads the project from napkin notes to tangible product, a rousing "Thank You" is in order. In this case, the project was an idea to raise money for READ ALOUD AMERICA, an organization focused on "building families of lifetime readers."

The project involved an anthology of short stories set in Hawai'i, written by 10 authors who have close ties to Hawai'i. The person who conceived, developed, and brought to fruition the brilliant idea is Terry Ambrose. He gathered the authors, then the stories. He corralled a very willing editor, a book cover designer, and a layout artist. Terry coordinated the entire project right down to the strategic marketing.

Because of Terry's extraordinary efforts, Paradise Passion Murder became a reality, with all proceeds going directly to READ ALOUD AMERICA. The mission of this organization is:

Our Mission

Through the fun of reading and being read-to,
Read Aloud America promotes literacy, bonds families,
and builds communities of lifetime readers.

 

 (You can check it out here: http://www.readaloudamerica.org/ )

 

 

To Terry, MAHALO NUI LOA for your vision; for all your hard work to accomplish this goal;

for offering the opportunity to participate in a heartwarming and exceptionally worthwhile project to a wide-spread group of writers who then evolved into an aloha-filled group of friends.

 

For further information about author Terry Ambrose and the anthology project, please visit:

http://drusbookmusing.com/2016/01/30/tales-mystery-hawaii/

and

http://hbsauthorspotlight.blogspot.com/

 

 

The anthology is available at Amazon.com



PARADISE PASSION MURDER 10 Tales of Mystery From Hawaii



 

NO CHOICE BUT TO FOLLOW: Paying It Forward

My inspiration to write a book of poetry came from meeting four special local poets. I felt the excitement in their voices as they spoke of the steps involved in producing individual works for their published book of poetry. I enjoyed hearing them recite the poems live and listening to their complete recital of the full collection of poetry on compact disc. The following appears in my own publication:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

My book of poems, ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING, is fashioned after renshi, a Japanese form of linked poetry. Each poem’s title is suggested by the ending of the previous entry. My first introduction to this form of poetry was through Ann Inoshita, a local poet invited by author Michael Little to speak at a monthly writers group meeting in Honolulu (currently Hawaii Fiction Writers.) 

Ann read excerpts from a book of poems she and three other local poets published with Bamboo Press in 2008. Ann shared her knowledge of the Japanese poetry called renshi. Some months later, Ann’s fellow poets joined her at another meeting to give a reading from their book entitled: 

No Choice but to Follow

No Choice but to Follow

This book includes a CD featuring the authors reading their poetry, each taking their turn in the order of how they originally wrote and submitted their poems, one per month for twelve months. 

The fascinating concept that defines renshi poetry gave me the idea to write 70 poems in 70 days to recapture some of the high- and low-light experiences of my first 70 years here on God’s green Earth.

To these four talented poets, I offer a special Mahalo Nui for their exceptional presentations, amazing talents, and selfless inspiration.

 

You were indeed my true north for this project. 

Ann Inoshita

Juliet S. Kono

Jean Yamasaki Toyama

Christy Passion
 

Me ke aloha,

Gail 

***  ***  ***  ***  ***

 

Beginning October 18, 2015, and each succeeding Sunday for 70 weeks, my internet blogsite will feature a poem from ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING. A short observation, sometimes informative, other times humorous, will accompany the poem, along with a complementary photograph.
 



 

 *****     *****     *****

 

 

PAYING IT FORWARD: AUTHOR LAURIE HANAN

Everyone needs at least one fellow writer who is also willing to take on the role of first/beta reader; a person who will point out your mistakes, and then give you suggestions on how to fix them. I’ve been lucky to have more than one such person. But one in particular deserves the spotlight. The person who let me know, more than once, when my thought process needed adjusting is author and editor and friend, Laurie Hanan.

Laurie Hanan
Author of Louise Golden mysteries

Today, I am “Paying It Forward” to Laurie with a huge “MAHALO” for her tremendous support and camaraderie. Over the past five years, she has readily answered my many questions and volunteered her time often, without hesitation. In a profession that could easily become more competition than mutual encouragement, Laurie's willingness to help others stands out. 

Does she offer sympathy when I am feeling insecure in my writing? Not! Her advice is more on the order of, “Yup, we’ve all been there. Get over it.” Okay, then. 

Laurie Hanan is the author of the Louise Golden Mysteries set in Hawai‘i. She recently published STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN, the fourth novel in the series. On September 24, she will hold a gathering and “talk story” session for this novel. Here is her open invitation:  

You are invited to an evening of drinks (no alcohol!) pupus, and talking story about my latest novel, Stairway to Heaven.

 

Thursday September 24, 6:30 - 8 pm

Villages of Kapolei Recreation Center, in the conference room

 

Excerpts of reviews for STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN:

***** "This novel reads like today's headlines." Goodreads review 

***** "Laurie Hanan’s newest novel, Stairway to Heaven, is an action-packed story that takes her heroine, mail carrier Louise Golden, to new heights of adventure. Great characters make a great story. This one’s a very entertaining read, and I couldn’t put it down." A.K. Gunn, author of If Pigs Could Cry and The Honey Bee 

***** "Hanan adds subtle humor to the mix, making this a quick read, not the light beach kind but the tension-filled fast moving kind that keeps you reading to learn what happens next. Caution: When you climb the Stairway To Heaven, be sure to watch your step." Gail Baugniet, author of the Pepper Bibeau mysteries 

***** "Mild mannered Louise Golden, intrepid mail carrier, is once again pushed into the middle of a mystery almost too bizarre to believe." Greg Field, author if Red Dirt, White Bones  

***** "Laurie Hanan spins the reader forward and ends with a satisfying thump. A really fun, fast-paced, mystery that's made all the more enjoyable by Laurie's knowledge and description of the O'ahu setting." JoAnn Bassett, author of the Pali Moon mysteries

 

You can visit Laurie at:

Facebook: Laurie’s Author Page
Twitter: @LaurieHanan

 

All of Laurie's books are available at Amazon
Laurie Hanan Amazon Author Page

 

THE MYSTERY OF "PAYING IT FORWARD"

 

There should be no mystery in the concept of “Paying It Forward”! 

When someone gives us a leg-up, helping us in our writing careers, it only makes sense to pay forward the favor or compliment. As favors come full-circle, everyone benefits with plenty of satisfaction and success for everyone. 

           

The Makiki Community Library in Honolulu generously allows our Sisters in Crime/Hawaii group to hold monthly meetings at the library. As a way to show support for the library’s generosity, many of the SinC/HI members are also members of the library and donate their published books to the library for the public to enjoy. 

Sisters in Crime, Inc., the national organization, "Pays It Forward" with its “We Love Libraries” contest. They present winning libraries around the country with grants to purchase books for their library. With encouragement from SinC/Hawaii, Makiki Library entered the contest and became a lucky winner, a satisfying example of how “Paying It Forward” came full circle.
 

           

"Paying It Forward" can be as easy as offering a heartfelt “mahalo” or “thank you” to someone who offers advice or a compliment. Recently, I received all the chocolate candy I could eat in two hours (during a Sisters in Crime/Hawaii meeting!) after performing the simple task of showing interest in a fellow writer’s WIP.

             

Hawai'i-based Mystery Author Toby Neal recently demonstrated “Paying It Forward” when Amazon contacted her about participating in their new program. As the author of the Lei Crime series, she is one of only a select group of authors asked to launch a Kindle World. https://kindleworlds.amazon.com/ 

To Pay-It-Forward, Toby invited some of her author friends to share in the world of Hawaiian Islands Detective Lei Texeira by contributing stories for publication to her Lei Crime Series Kindle World. Not everyone was prepared to accept her generous offer at this time, but it was a privilege to be asked and to know the offer still stands. 

Toby describes Kindle Worlds on her web page as: “a wonderful new place on the Amazon site where any writer can develop stories within an established World of known characters.” You can visit Toby at her web site here: http://tobyneal.net/

             

I will be posting “Pay It Forward” stories here on the first and third Monday of each month beginning in September. If you want to share one of your own stories, please contact me at my email address.