I should have posted this last Friday - my husband did on his social media sites - but I forgot. This will be brief.
Due to a working schedule, an appearance schedule, and busy research for the WDW history we're creating, both R.J. and I need a couple of weeks to just focus on those elements. That means I will not have a blog for the next two Fridays (and obviously didn't have one last Friday!)
My next blog will appear on Friday, Dec. 15th, and I should have a fun one that day. Stay tuned!
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Friday, November 17, 2017
A Brief Post to "Advertise"
Tonight, at 8 p.m., R.J. and I will be interviewed, by phone, for a podcast. It isn't the first time we've done this; we've done quite a few in the last couple of years. I bring this to your attention because, in this new age of authorship (what a fun word!), we are learning many new ways of promoting our books.
I think back to when I began writing for publications. Computers were new - I actually attended a working seminar at Walt Disney World to learn how to use one - and the internet wasn't even dreamed of then. Publishers and agents decided how a writer's work would be announced to the public.
Today, the writing field is filled with thousands who believe themselves to be writers, and the avenues to make their work known to the public are just as diverse. Inevitably, these facts result in having some writers whose work is not worthy of promotion, and some promoters who should think twice about doing podcasts.
R.J. and I have been lucky enough to be interviewed by people who have done their homework; reading our books, checking out our website, etc., and they are a joy to interact with. Their results on Facebook or You Tube have been a delight, and really do result in increased interest in our writing. Only once or twice have we been disappointed by someone who was ill-prepared.
I can say with confidence, because we've done this host's podcast before, that our time on-air tonight will be well spent. We list our podcasts on our website, so please check them out. We so enjoy interacting with the host or hostess and talking about our experiences. We hope you enjoy listening and will let us know (through comments here, or through email) what questions you might like answered on future broadcasts.
I think back to when I began writing for publications. Computers were new - I actually attended a working seminar at Walt Disney World to learn how to use one - and the internet wasn't even dreamed of then. Publishers and agents decided how a writer's work would be announced to the public.
Today, the writing field is filled with thousands who believe themselves to be writers, and the avenues to make their work known to the public are just as diverse. Inevitably, these facts result in having some writers whose work is not worthy of promotion, and some promoters who should think twice about doing podcasts.
R.J. and I have been lucky enough to be interviewed by people who have done their homework; reading our books, checking out our website, etc., and they are a joy to interact with. Their results on Facebook or You Tube have been a delight, and really do result in increased interest in our writing. Only once or twice have we been disappointed by someone who was ill-prepared.
I can say with confidence, because we've done this host's podcast before, that our time on-air tonight will be well spent. We list our podcasts on our website, so please check them out. We so enjoy interacting with the host or hostess and talking about our experiences. We hope you enjoy listening and will let us know (through comments here, or through email) what questions you might like answered on future broadcasts.
Friday, November 10, 2017
Older Maybe, But Never "Old"
My husband, R.J., and I have a mantra for our lives: we may have to advance in age by calendar years, but we don't believe we have to get "old." We both want to live healthy, continue to be self-sufficient, and conquering new challenges when we are 100-plus in our measured lifetimes.
Being lucky enough already to have creative careers with no retirement limits, we also enjoy a life where one day is never the same as the previous one, and each tireless effort has its own unique reward. This is true whether we're writing, working on an art project, acting and directing in theatre, meeting new people, travelling, or simply spending time with family and friends. We don't over schedule ourselves, and we are optimists who enjoy whatever's around the next bend, and meet it head-on.
In a global world totally alien from what we knew in our younger years, we are constantly in a learning state. That keeps our heads and our hearts young. We will never be senior citizens who only associate with peers, and deride what's new in favor of "the way it was". We believe we learn and experience by engaging with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Two of my favorite quotes are constant reminders of our resolve. The first is by the actress, Helen Hayes: "You rest, you rust." The second is by C.S. Lewis: You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
There is a third quote I laughingly use sometimes when asked my age, (I believe it was the actress Billie Burke who said it): "Age is only important if you are a cheese."
It's flattering to have people say to R.J. and me, "You don't look your age" or "I don't know how you do it all", but we don't persist in our lifestyle to elicit such remarks. We happily persevere because it keeps us feeling good, both physically and mentally, and we wake each morning eager to see what the day will bring. It's just the best kind of ride!
Being lucky enough already to have creative careers with no retirement limits, we also enjoy a life where one day is never the same as the previous one, and each tireless effort has its own unique reward. This is true whether we're writing, working on an art project, acting and directing in theatre, meeting new people, travelling, or simply spending time with family and friends. We don't over schedule ourselves, and we are optimists who enjoy whatever's around the next bend, and meet it head-on.
In a global world totally alien from what we knew in our younger years, we are constantly in a learning state. That keeps our heads and our hearts young. We will never be senior citizens who only associate with peers, and deride what's new in favor of "the way it was". We believe we learn and experience by engaging with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Two of my favorite quotes are constant reminders of our resolve. The first is by the actress, Helen Hayes: "You rest, you rust." The second is by C.S. Lewis: You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
There is a third quote I laughingly use sometimes when asked my age, (I believe it was the actress Billie Burke who said it): "Age is only important if you are a cheese."
It's flattering to have people say to R.J. and me, "You don't look your age" or "I don't know how you do it all", but we don't persist in our lifestyle to elicit such remarks. We happily persevere because it keeps us feeling good, both physically and mentally, and we wake each morning eager to see what the day will bring. It's just the best kind of ride!
Friday, November 3, 2017
Walt Disney Continues To Inspire
An important part of my research for our upcoming book, It Will Always Be WALT Disney World, involves gathering quotes by Walt Disney that will introduce our chapters. His words have inspired R.J. and I for many years, and we're hoping, by including some of them in our new effort, we can pass that inspiration on to others.
Some of his more well-known remarks are framed or otherwise displayed in our home, giving us a constant reminder of this extraordinary man, and what he believed. Two of our favorites are "I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing - that it all started with a mouse", and "All our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them."
Recently, as we were preparing to move into our new residence, my husband and I were discussing what to "name" this house. It's been a tradition of ours, borrowed from British friends, to give each place we've owned a unique designation. Previously, we've chosen special geographic locations that spurred creativity in one way or another.
Our feeling, this time was that the name should reflect how this new personal space includes our creative spaces too, our workplaces if you will. We know that we will never stop pursuing new, artistic challenges, and we wanted to express that belief about what we hope will be our forever home. After quite a few attempts to come up with something that echoed our sentiments, we decided upon "Imagination Manor",
A couple of days later, R.J. was perusing a display of greeting cards at the post office, and one with a silhouette of Mickey Mouse caught his eye He picked it up and read it, then showed it to me, saying, "Read the inside." There was a quote from Walt that neither of us had ever seen before: "Imagination has no age and dreams are forever." I looked up at him and we both said the same thing at the same time: "It's a sign!"
R.J. has beautifully framed that card, complete with its Mickey image and quotation, and it hangs in our entryway. Walt Disney's words now have a truly new inspiration for us, and we hope to generate that to our readers with our next published effort.
Some of his more well-known remarks are framed or otherwise displayed in our home, giving us a constant reminder of this extraordinary man, and what he believed. Two of our favorites are "I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing - that it all started with a mouse", and "All our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them."
Recently, as we were preparing to move into our new residence, my husband and I were discussing what to "name" this house. It's been a tradition of ours, borrowed from British friends, to give each place we've owned a unique designation. Previously, we've chosen special geographic locations that spurred creativity in one way or another.
Our feeling, this time was that the name should reflect how this new personal space includes our creative spaces too, our workplaces if you will. We know that we will never stop pursuing new, artistic challenges, and we wanted to express that belief about what we hope will be our forever home. After quite a few attempts to come up with something that echoed our sentiments, we decided upon "Imagination Manor",
A couple of days later, R.J. was perusing a display of greeting cards at the post office, and one with a silhouette of Mickey Mouse caught his eye He picked it up and read it, then showed it to me, saying, "Read the inside." There was a quote from Walt that neither of us had ever seen before: "Imagination has no age and dreams are forever." I looked up at him and we both said the same thing at the same time: "It's a sign!"
R.J. has beautifully framed that card, complete with its Mickey image and quotation, and it hangs in our entryway. Walt Disney's words now have a truly new inspiration for us, and we hope to generate that to our readers with our next published effort.
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