A rainy Saturday, the perfect day to get caught up on a few things!

I’m looking for a ‘hot topic’ for my blog today and not coming up with one, I’m afraid.  What is it about rainy days that make you melancholy?

I could whine and complain about the fact that my books aren’t selling very well.  Mind you, I didn’t put them out there to make money, although I was hoping that the Christian market would see them for what they are:  a way to teach the work of God and the stories of Jesus to three to eight year olds.

I could whine and complain about my MS.  Now there’s a good topic!  But then I have to admit that after 21 years, I am still working full time, only using a cane and managing quite nicely thank you, despite the myriad of funky symptoms that I have that are an annoyance, but still allow me to do many of the things I like to do.

I could whine and complain about the fact that I am still working, although I could have retired earlier this year.  That one folks have heard before and if you have, you know that I continue to work because my youngest daughter isn’t finished university yet and I am happy to contribute to her education so that she has no debt, when she is done.

I could whine and complain that I never seem to get entirely out of debt for one reason or another.  Well, this one is pretty much entirely my fault because I choose to spend my money where I do.  I chose to support my daughter at university, I chose to invest in self publishing my books and I chose to put money into finishing off my house.  Of course there were a few things along the way that I had to spend money on like my car, that I would rather not have to do, but it was a necessity.

So, I could do all that whining and complaining but I chose to consider the blessings that I have and know that the good Lord will get me through all of the challenges that I could whine and complain about!  Having said that, I am well aware that my challenges are very minor compared to probably most folks in the world.

Finally, the first four books are all out!  The covers can be seen and the descriptions are correct!  The full set of four!

I have so many ideas for some more in this series, but I need to see if these sell first, before I even dare to invest in another book or two.  I’m thinking of ‘Even More Animals of the Old Testament’ and, of course ‘Even More Animals of the New Testament.’  Then, of course, I could do ‘Still More Animals of the Old Testament’ and ‘Still More Animals of the New Testament.’

I have to say, though, that I will probably have to start duplicating some animals.  So far, in all 24 animals I have used over the 24 stories, I have not had to repeat an animal, although there are two birds, a dove and a crow.  Does that count?

Writing has been an interesting journey for me.  As any author knows, the actual writing part is only a small part of the whole process.  The marketing part is huge! And, I have to say that I’m not great at marketing.  I believe in my heart that these books are great for children to learn the stories of God and Jesus and the many other people in the Bible, but how best to get them to the people who will read them to the children?  That’s the challenge.

I am plugging away at it.  I even have over 1600 followers on Twitter!  Who knew that an old technology person like me could do that?  Even my kids are impressed!  Of course, with Christmas only five months away, I’m hoping that things will ramp up at the right time.  These will be a perfect Christmas gift, especially ‘Animals of the New Testament’ which includes the story of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds, the wise men, etc.

So, those of you who know that the word of God needs to get out there and start especially with the young folks, please get the word out!  The books can all be purchased from Amazon and Barnes & Noble!  You can be directed to the Amazon page for each book from the book website:  AnimalsoftheBible.com.

Today is my birthday!  Strangely enough, I am not unhappy because I am getting older.  Getting older does not bother me, although perhaps it should!

Every year on my birthday, it is my annual day to think of all the things I have not accomplished.  I don’t expect to bring about world peace (although that would be nice!), but I would like to do something really worthwhile.  Oops, there is that feeling unworthy again!

I have no-one to blame but myself, of course. I could, and should, get myself moving and do something useful. Like many, the excuses for not finding the time come too easy:  I work fulltime, I have multiple sclerosis, I’m a single mom (truthfully, my kids are grown and on their own, so this one doesn’t even count!), I’m too tired, I don’t know where to start, and on and on.

Perhaps, I just need to be more persistent.  I have written four lovely books in a series that tell Bible stories from an animal’s point of view.  I think that those are useful, but of course, they are not useful if they are not being read to the children they will be useful to!

So, my challenge to myself for between now and my next birthday is to work on getting those books out there!  My second book, ‘Animals of the New Testament’ will be featured in Toronto’s Word on the Street in September, but I need to work harder.  I need to come out with some online marketing ideas that are not annoying to the online world—there is the challenge!

So, wish me well and perhaps next year won’t be and UNhappy birthday!

And I promise that the next blog will be more cheerful!  I have written two downers in a row!  That perhaps, is another challenge to me, work on some more inspiring blogs!

Tomorrow (Sunday, June 29th), St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Cobourg is trying something new.  They are having a social media service at 10:30 am (GMT -5).  All in attendance will be encouraged to share the service online!

Everyone there will be tweeting and Facebooking, posting to Pinterest and Instagram and getting the information out however they interact with everyone on the World Wide Web.  What an amazing idea!  It will be interesting to see how it goes.  I will be watching Twitter and Facebook, because that is as much as I can handle!

It is nice to know that even a church that is over 100 years old is keeping current and doing their best to reach as many people as they can.  Times they are a changin’ and even old fogies like me need to try to keep up.

Just this year, because my Christian children’s books are only sold online, I have gotten into internet stuff I never dreamed I would.  I am blogging and if you are reading this, you can see my work here.  I was on Facebook already, to keep up with my kids, but I now have a ‘fan page.’ Imagine that.  I am also on Twitter (@JanetKWarren) and already have almost 1,000 followers.  Who knew that could happen.  I am even on Pinterest and people send me pins!

What’s next?  Who knows?  What I have discovered is that although I never spent much time on the internet because I don’t play games, I can sure spend a lot of time on the social networks!  I am particularly fond of retweeting inspirational tweets I see.  Anyone who follows me will know that.  I am hoping that at least occasionally, I send something that hits home with someone and make a difference.

So, everyone give @StPetersCobourg a quick tweet and follow #stpeterscobourg tomorrow to see just who we can reach!

Well, yesterday I returned from a fabulous cruise in the Bahamas and to Key West.  I have decided that this isn’t the best time to cruise because it is really too hot for the multiple sclerosis down there at this time of year, but it was a great time none-the-less.

My good friend Viv was the belle of the ball.  They all loved her there!  We met some of the most wonderful people and just to tell you how much fun it was, Richard Paul Evans put his arm around Viv as she entered the dining room on the last day and his brother Barry ran up to them and said “That’s my girl!” 

Everyone was great, the wait staff, the folks that looked after our room, the rest of the Richard Paul Evans cruisers and his family and staff that were there to help out.  There was a great time had by all.  I should also point out that the food was fabulous.  Royal Caribbean were great hosts.

It isn’t often that I do many trips in a year, but this is a year for them.  I was in New York City for a few days earlier this year and even had a week in Calgary on business.  Then I had this cruise and now, Cavan and I are planning a trip to the Isle of Man with his family for August.

Cavan’s mother is from the Isle of Man and since she is now over 80, this will likely be her last trip home.  This will be the first trip to the Isle of Man for Cavan and I and we will also spend some time in Dublin.

Of course I shall also have to take a few copies of the books I have written with me!  I gave copies to Jenna, Richard Paul Evans’ daughter, for Sam her son, who is the right age to read the books to.  I hope Sam enjoys the stories!  Of course I also hope they like them enough to have their publisher work with me, but we shall see.  I didn’t ask that of them, of course, I’m afraid that I am not a very good salesman!

A few years ago, though a lovely lady by the name of Jean, I was formally introduced to my guardian angel.  Jean, along with her long time partner Deb, are the Angel Ladies in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

My guardian angel’s name is Trudy and we have been working directly together since Jean formally introduced us.  It was through Trudy and my literary angel (whose name I do not know), and the other angels that God has been kind enough to have watching over me, that I wrote my books.

I hadn’t been planning to write until I actually retired, but the angels prompted me to get moving and gave me the idea of writing these stories as six stories to one book.  I believe that the writing Bible stories from the point of view of animals, was my idea, but they could very well have planted that idea too!

Now anyone who writes, who actually would like to make money knows that if you want literary income, you need to write something that will appeal to the masses.  My books fit into a fairly small niche market.  They are Christian, children’s books written for four to six year-olds. Rather a small market indeed, however, this is what I was guided to write.

I believe that these stories will bring both the Old and New Testaments back to the children and allow them to learn and remember the stories, and God willing, grow into great kind and giving Christian adults.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I had a small hand in that happening?

So, please spread the word.  There are three books out there now and one more to come in the next month or so.  You will find them here.

Okay, I am over my little funk.  I am so glad, because it just wasn’t me.  Spring is in the air and it was a beautiful day yesterday and again today.  I have always been counting my blessings and I finding more every day.

I have three books published, although I really need to get moving on marketing.  I know that I have chosen a really small audience, but I really feel that the books will touch children, the way traditional Bible stories haven’t quite been able to do.

Book four, I have promised myself to get to the publisher by the end of this weekend and then there will be a full set of four, when it comes out.

Those of you who have seen snippets on Twitter and Facebook probably know, but to summarize:  Each book has six stories.  Books one and three are from the Old Testament and books two and four are from the New Testament.  So, all in all (if you are counting), there are 24 stories (12 Old Testament and 12 New Testament). 

So far, I have not needed to repeat an animal!  Mind you, there are a couple of different birds (a dove and a raven) and kind of two goats (one referred to as just goat and one a ram), but the rest are all totally unique.

I have decided to leave it at four books, although I will plan out two more and just see what the demand is.  I would like to see children enjoy them and understand the Bible stories they represent, better than children have in the past.  I know several mothers personally, who read them to their kids and the kids just love them.

Here is my little pitch.  The first three are available on the Amazon sites, notably amazon.com and amazon.ca, but also .co.uk, .fr, .de, .jp and several other non-Amazon sites.  Please purchase the books and read them to your little ones.  You and the little ones will enjoy the stories, I promise!

I have read that 90% of authors do not write full time.  I am one of that 90%, although, if you have read previous blogs, you will know that I could actually retire any day now, but with the financial obligation to keep my youngest daughter in school, I’ll be hanging in at the day job for nearly two years yet.

That having been said, I do have the luxury of having adult children who live on their own, so I have no mommy duties, except for paying the bills.

I have to admit, though, that there are still not enough hours in the day!  I don’t know how you writers who are the parents of small children do it!  Do you not sleep at all?  Wow, I bow down to you, that’s for sure.

Well, I am just finishing up my fourth Christian children’s book and that will be it for a while, because as all authors know, the big job is marketing.  If I do a good job at it, and there is enough interest, I will write some more in that series.  If not, well, I’ll have to think about what comes next.

That doesn’t mean that I will stop writing.  I think that most, if not all, authors are driven to write and if God believes that this is what our gift is, then things will work out and we will write and the sales will happen.

This falls under the category of ‘do what you love, love what you do’ which is what I taught my daughters and every Junior Achievement student I ever had. If you align yourself with that, I believe that it is God’s purpose for you, while you are here in this life.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone was happy to get out of bed in the morning because they loved what they did?  We all would be so much more relaxed and happy.

I did love the IT world, and it allowed me, even as a single parent, to give my kids the necessities.  But now, I grow weary of it and since I am involved with computer software and device vulnerabilities, I worry that the bad guys are winning.

It’s time for someone else to do that stuff and let me just write.  At least, it’s almost time...