Life Perspective: Reviews & More

I had a pleasant time at Mayberry Days this year in spite of the rain. Hurricane Kyle brought drizzles most of the day on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, but by Saturday evening the rains appeared to have ended, and Sunday was beautiful for our drive out of Mount Airy. For those who don't know, Mount Airy, North Carolina, is the childhood home of Andy Griffith, and one of the primary inspirations for the fictitious town of Mayberry. Every year the town hosts Mayberry Days during the last full weekend of September. Book sales to Mayberry Days visitors were low this year, but I did well selling to local stores, so I only brought six books home with me. I am supposed to have another 20 books on their way. My friend Chevy did her superb Daphne impression and I was her sidekick, Skippy, this year. I got to wear my mother's vintage mink stole for the Mayberry Days parade, which made the occasion all the more special for me. We had delicious meals at local Mount Airy restaurants like...

It is so nice to have my nights off! I am still working the day job, but not as hard, not as many hours. After all, I am on vacation! Even with gas prices like they are, not to mention that fact you can't find gas in Nashville, I have had a lovely time already. I was able to take the dogs to the park yesterday, and we just ambled down side trails and paths we don't usually cover, finding new vistas to admire, and new rocks to sniff. I have discovered I am a park-aholic. I love these long walks; they are so restful and soothing. Looking at countless shades of green, the tapestry of overhanging branches, twisting vines, colorful flowers, even the variations in the color and texture of tree bark is breathtaking. The first day of autumn also brought with it the heady aroma of fall leaves on the breeze, and the first scattering of fall leaves on the paths. Even the dogs crunched leaves as they walked. The dogs love our walks, too, and it is fun to watch their reactions to squirrels,...

Latest: After much discussion, NovelMaker now says they will ship to a Mount Airy business to arrive on Wednesday, and I will only be charged the regular shipping price of $52. That sure beats $350! l Thanks to those who offered advice on this situation. If the books truly do arrive on Wednesday and I only have to pay $52, I will be satisfied.

Now NovelMaker has CHANGED the delivery fee to over $350 and say they will charge me $100 if I cancel the order. Highway robbery!!!

Brother! I just got an email from NovelMaker, and they want $140 to overnight the books to me to arrive on Tuesday. Uh... I don't THINK so. 1. It took several days for them to get the first pdf proofs to me - they had trouble transmitting. They sent several apologies, said there was some kind of computer virus that had networks blocking transmission, then they said the problem must be on my end (it wasn't), but the pdfs were several days late getting to me. 2. They didn't follow my instructions about photos and had to do the pdfs over. Also had dropped lines, dropped by-lines, and other typos to correct 3. The photos were still not done correctly in the next batch of pdfs and quite a few of the typos weren't corrected. Also, when they corrected some, other things got dropped. The pages also did not allow enough space for margins and the binding edge/gutter. 4. The next set of pdfs had the same problems and I noticed the size of the text varied from poem to poem 5. The n...

NovelMaker and Darden & Associate are pleased to announce the September release of two books by author, poet, and Nashville resident, Kathryn E. Darden. The first book, How to Promote Your Book on a Shoestring Budget, released the first of September, and the second book, The Mayberry Poem - A Tribute to Mayberry is due out on September 23, just in time for Mayberry Days. Darden will be autographing copies of the 2008 edition of The Mayberry Poem - A Tribute to Mayberry and How to Promote Your Book on a Shoestring Budget during this year's Mayberry Days in Mt. Airy, NC. Darden will be the special guest of Mayberry on Main, located at 126 N. Main Street (across from Snappy Lunch) on Thursday night, and again on both Friday and Saturday for morning and evening book signings. Call 336-719-0405 for details. About The Mayberry Poem - A Tribute to Mayberry: The Mayberry Poem - A Tribute to Mayberry is a compilation of poetry about "The Andy Griffith Show" that celebrat...

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How to Promote Your Book on a Shoestring Budget is now available on Amazon.com Check it out!

Visit Christian Activities Network At Christian Activities, we have been busy creating Christian social networks where our friends can network and share information about Christian music and family-friendly entertainment. If you belong to any of these networks, please join us! Networks don't work without people! Most networks are wide open to anyone and everyone. As Christians, we are often exposed to things we really don't want to see. That's why our on Ning is being set up for Christian entertainers, authors, musicians, and other personalities who believe in the statements in the Nicene Creed (found on each page of the network). I think Ning has the potential to be the best, most interactive network so far. However, other networks offer other opportunities, and Christian Activities is taking advantage of several. If we are to be both light and salt to the world, we have to have a presence where seekers can find us. We are now "broadcasting" on Blip.fm . If you w...

Author, poet, and publisher Kathryn E. Darden, will be autographing copies of the 2008 edition of The Mayberry Poem - A Tribute to Mayberry and her new book How to Promote Your Book on a Shoestring Budget during this year's Mayberry Days in Mt. Airy, NC. Darden will be the special guest of Mayberry on Main on Thursday night, and again on both Friday and Saturday for morning and evening book signings. The book signings will take place on Thursday, September 25 from 7 to 8 PM. Book signings will also take place on Friday, September 26 from 11 to noon and from 6 PM to 7 PM; and Saturday, September 27 after the parade to noon and from 5:30 to 7 PM at Mayberry on Main, 126 N. Main Street (across from Snappy Lunch), Mount Airy, NC 27030. Phone: 336-719-0405 The Mayberry Poem - A Tribute to Mayberry is a compilation of poetry about "The Andy Griffith Show" that celebrates the characters and the show that made millions of viewers laugh during the turbulent 60s as they watche...

I just set up a Blip.fm account for Christian Activities to "broadcast" some of my favorite gospel music at http://blip.fm/ChristianActivities I already have a playlist of 17 songs and will be adding to it over time. Come check out my music!

Koinonia Family Reunion & Concert I just found a group shot from last year's Koinonia Family Reunion on a fellow Blooger's blog. Gary Pigg has this up on his blog . Ah, what memories that brings back! In case you are wondering, I am the 2nd from the right, in red and black, between Amy Grant and Marty McCall. To read my review of the concert which took place November of 2007 and featured Amy Grant, Michael W, Smith, Dogwood, Homecoming, Fireworks, Alan "Root" Robertson, Jim Weber, and Billy Sprague , go to Koinonia Family Reunion. Christmas in Iraq Then I found where another Blooger had found a Christmas poem I wrote for our military men and women, and he shared "Christmas in Iraq " on his blog! There's nothing like tripping over yourself on Blogger! Shop Amazon.com and support Christian Activities