It’s my turn over on Romancing the Genres this month and we’re celebrating Children’s Book Month.
If you know me, you know my favorite kid’s book of all time, hee hee. Stop by and find out if you’re correct, here: RomancingtheGenres
Tag Archives: self actualization
When I’m not writing I’m….
So today’s prompt is “creative outlets I enjoy.” You already know I lovelovelove to cook. But did you know I also like to paint and restore old steamer trunks?
I’ve done 5 trunks over the past 3 years using a decoupage method. When they are complete, I give them away as gifts to people around me who ask. My daughter has 2, my BFF has one, and I’ve got the other 2. This one is sitting in my office behind the couch I use to take naps in when the words aren’t flowing as fast as I want them to.
I also like to paint – crafty paint. I hand paint canvas bags and give them away at my book signings to readers. Since I write a romance series about cooking, the bags are all food themed:
Now, it’s always been my DREAM to have a hard-back book contract. Because I’m one of those people who believe in putting actions behind dreams to propel them into reality, I also handpaint wooden “books” and then insert my own POD ( print of demand) paperbacks into them, also for readers at book signings as a gift from me;
The readers I’ve given them to have been thrilled because the “book” is a nice way to keep the actual book fresh and new-looking.
So…crafting and painting is my superpower, er…creative outlet. What’s yours?
Let’s see what other creative outlets the writers in this hop have: MFRWauthors
And, of course, when I’m not writing, painting, cooking, or restoring stuff, you can always find me here: Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me// Triber// Book Me
Filed under #Mfrwauthors, Author Branding, author promotion, branding, Strong Women, The Laine Women
It all begins with #MorningMotivation
SO, about 6 weeks ago I started using my Instagram account to post daily pictures and quotes about 3 concepts I strive for on a daily basis: self-motivation, believing in myself, and personal growth. Since I started that, my account has doubled in people who follow me. I didn’t start doing this, though, to garner new followers–although that’s a wonderful side benefit–but to keep me focused on those three concepts. Posting my daily motivational quote is the first thing I do in the morning, social media-wise, and it sets the tone for my day.
First, I find motivational quote. Pinterest is great for this.
I swear Pinterest was invented by a writer! Self-motivation has never been one of my strong points. Since I’ve been such a people pleaser throughout my life, I’ve tended to put myself second, or even third, when it came to encouraging myself and pushing myself toward a goal. I’m a great cheerleader – ask any of my friends – and I will push anyone towards the finish line of their choice. Myself? Not so much. Recognizing that, I started the daily motivations to help me focus on myself and what I want, for once. Some may see this as selfish, perhaps, but it really isn’t.
What did we ever do before the thought to use a hashtag for promotional reasons became a thing? After the motivational quote is uploaded to my account, I then promote it in an attempt to help others. The hashtag #PersonalGrowth is a great one for this.
I truly try to grow every single day: as a writer, as a wife and mother, as a human being trying to navigate through the quagmire our society has become. Uplifting my thoughts is a good way for me to start my day and do this.
You can’t expect to accomplish anything if you don’t accept and aspire to my third daily tenant, #BelieveInYourSelf.
No one is going to magically make you a success in life. You have to work for it and you have to believe that you can succeed. And you really need to believe it. Just saying the words mean nothing. Deep down in your very soul, you must feel as if you can do anything you set your mind to. Anything. Believing you can do something is the most important tool you have for achieving personal success.
Having a positive outlook in and on life can go a great way in making your days better. There’s a mindset that believes what you speak out into the universe is what you’ll get sent back to you. Negative thoughts, morose mindsets, and critical thinking, if put out there, will become a major factor in what is given back to you from other people and the world in general. Having a positive outlook, not believing everything you do is going to wind up bad or not to your liking, goes a great way in making your days happy and productive ones.
Everyone knows my favorite book of all time is The Little Engine who Could. I truly believe this is the best book about self-motivation and self-actualization ever written, and it’s a children’s book! But, adults can get the takeaway message — he thought he could, so he did — as a mantra for their lives. That little engine let nothing stand in his way to prevent him from getting up and over that hill. Again, this book was written for children to help them accept, see, and know that they can do anything they set their minds to. Why, as adults, do we forget that?
SO, that’s how I start my day. Every morning of every day. Thinking positively, believing in myself, and recognizing I must grow to survive. It all beings with #MorningMotivation
Other places you can find me being positive are: Tweet Me//Read Me// Visit Me//Picture Me//Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me// Triber// Book Me
Filed under Author, Contemporary Romance, Life challenges
A New Year, a New Attitude
I haven’t been able to post this piece this week because of the beginning round of Candy Hearts releases that have hit like a giant wave. Reviews are coming in all over the place and it seems everyone loves the series, so yea!
Late December I had a kind of epiphany. Since my retirement, I’ve basically been a hermit in my own home, writing 8-10 hrs most days and seeing no one for days at a time except for my husband. I’ve said “No” to lunches with friends, dinner dates with my husband, and shopping trips. I told two boards of directors “No” when they asked me to join their organizations, and I canceled two writing conference trips because I just didn’t want to leave home. I didn’t even decorate for Christmas this year because we were going to be out of town for the holiday.
Hermit, much?
In December, I realized I was isolating myself and although this may be good for me the writer, it wasn’t good for me the person.
So.
I made myself a promise. Instead of knee-jerking “no” to everything when asked, I would make 2016 the year of “yes.” Yes I can, Yes I will, Yes I do.
Now, I’ve had a few people tell me this is dangerous because you need to know where to draw the line at saying yes. Don’t worry. I’m not saying yes to anything harmful, dangerous, illegal or immoral! I am saying yes to opportunities, friendships, and to helping others.
By saying “Yes” I’ve become my New Hampshire’s RWA chapter secretary this year.
By saying “Yes” I’ve volunteered to be a judge at this year’s Dancing with the Keene Stars in April. ( I was a contestant last year)
By saying “Yes” I joined a gym and am now working out and talking to actual, live people instead of my characters, 5 days per week.
By saying “Yes” I feel as if a giant weight has been lifted from my body. I’m smiling more, and I genuinely feel happier.
It’s amazing what a three letter word can do for, and to, a person.
Happy New Year, and here’s to 2016, the year of “YES…I do, I can, I will.”
And I hope you say “YES” to my new release, 3 WISHES ( A Candy Hearts Romance) when it is released on 2/8/16. It’s up for preorder now, and here’s the link.
Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday. Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family. But this year for her big 3-0 birthday, she just might get her three wishes.
Filed under 3 Wishes, Author, Candy Hearts, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, love, NHRWA, Romance, Romance Books, RWA, Strong Women, WIld Rose Press AUthor
The things I love about my favorite book(s)…
I have 3 favorite books. They are all different genres, cater to different age groups, and I’ve read each one at least 5 times ( one waaaaaaay more than that- you’ll see why in a minute.) I tend to reread them because they are such central, integral parts of the themes of my life and of what I write about.
As a child, I read The Little Engine That Could probably close to 500 times. When my daughter was born I read it to her an equal number. This is truly -in my humble opinion- the best book EVER about self actualization. Whenever I think I can’t do something in life, whether it be get a book published, or learn a new tech savvy maneuver, I remember that little train, the mountainside, and the end result of his journey, and I KNOW I can do whatever I put my mind to.
The Wizard of Oz was quite simply the perfect book for me to read as a child because I had the same wanderlust and wishes to find my heart’s desire Dorothy had. I never appreciated what I had, and I was frequently on the look out for something better. It was only when I was married with a child of my own did I realize the truth of this statement: there’s no place like home.
So, Gone With The Wind was the first complete romance novel I ever read – and I don’t think it was marketed as such when it was published. But it has everything a true romance reader loves: an amazingly strong, conflicted, beautiful heroine; a rakish, devilish and debonair hero who truly loves the girl; a sweeping cast of characters who live to show the H/H why they should be together, and a plot that continually pulls our main characters apart. Couple that with the heightened emotions of war, poverty and death and you have an historic epic of love and loss. Now, the H/H don’t end with their HEA, but like the last line says, while putting hope in the mind of the reader that they will, “Tomorrow is another day.”
So, each book has the same facets and themes that I love: a strong, central character; an internal need coupled with a struggle for acceptance; a journey or task that needs to be accomplished; a lesson ( or many) learned about self; and an ending where the main character is a better person(or in one case, a better engine!)
Why are your book YOUR favorites? Let’s discuss….
Peggy Jaeger, Author 