Blatant Self-Promotion Today

For those of you who saw R.J.'s Facebook vlog last Friday, you know that I was on it with him, and that's why I didn't do a blog. The Friday before that, R.J. explained that we were busy setting up a display at the local library, advertising our upcoming live presentation this coming Sunday - so neither of us posted on social media and no blog from me. But, I'm back!

The live presentation at the Santini Library in Aurora, IL, is taking place on January 28th from 1:30 to 3 p.m.  RJ and I will talk about our careers at Walt Disney World, in conjunction with photos projected on a big screen. We've done these types of appearances several times, and really enjoy them. We answer questions from the audience after the presentation, and then personally sign any of our books that guests purchase. Great fun!

In today's publishing world, it is definitely incumbent on authors to constantly use any viable method possible to promote their work. Indie publishers often don't have the staff or the budget for such things, and, besides, readers like to hear from the writers themselves. We are happy to oblige.

If you're in the area this weekend, please come join us. It's free, and the venue is beautiful - even the mid-winter weather is cooperating, with sunny skies.

Thanks for enduring this shameless "ad", and come back next week for something of substance.

Back To Work - With Time Off for Renewal

My husband and I reveled in the non-working days we spent between Christmas and New Years. Even though we did have some much needed time off the first week of December, we had come back to face a stressful two weeks of work and obligations.

We love what we do, but even so, we have learned that it's really crucial to reward ourselves with renewal time on a regular basis. Whether that means taking a trip, as we did a month ago, or just spending a week with no agenda, no commitments (other than a relaxing evening with a friend or two), and just enjoying doing fun things together.

This past Tuesday, we returned to our respective work spaces; R.J. to his sunlit studio, his easel and laptop, and me to my cozy little study upstairs, surrounded by so many visual reminders of friends and family, my accomplishments, and my goals - all of it never fails to rekindle my positive spirit, and make me smile. Being self-employed requires one to be self-motivated as well, and being in my study always achieves that.

So, even though we have a full agenda for 2018, R.J. and I have a strong resolve to "give ourselves a break" on a regular timetable. That can mean not working weekends, for example, but it can be as simple as spending a day together doing something just for us.

Tomorrow will be one of those days: it is my birthday, and I can't think of a better time to be with my best friend - my husband.  My suggestions for the day are not scheduled; we'll just enjoy being together, wherever we happen to be.

I guess what I'm try to say is that I highly recommend giving yourself permission to "escape". Whether that involves a planned trip, a relaxing way to celebrate, or just a spur of the moment thing, you won't regret it - and I guarantee you'll be better for it - truly.



 

Getting Into The Holiday Spirit

As regular readers know, R.J. and I took the last two Fridays off from vlogging and blogging (sounds like some kind of winter sporting event when written like that!), and we both needed the rest after an extremely busy, creative year.

We weren't idle, though. We drove to Florida, visiting dear friends overnight, both heading south and returning home. They live in Louisville, Kentucky.  Arriving near Orlando, we were able to spend two relaxing days with another couple we've counted among our group of treasured friends for many years, but hadn't seen in a long time. That was time well spent, for sure.

The next four days were our personal time together, just the two of us. And where did we choose to spend it? In a place that has never failed to put us into the Holiday Spirit: Walt Disney World. When I worked there, I would always marvel at how the Parks, hotels, and public spaces could all become - literally overnight - places of Christmas enchantment!

R.J. took numerous pictures of the many Christmas trees (my favorite was the one in the lobby of the Grand Floridian hotel), as well as the touches of the Season everywhere, from garlands to illuminations to trimmings on light posts. The Magic Kingdom's castle was covered in white LED lights on all its spires and roof lines, given the nightly impression of magical snow. How could one not be looking forward to Christmas with all that inspiration, coupled with the attractions and sights that always help me forget the real world for a bit.

We did do a bit of work, making notes every now and then about things we plan to include in our new book, but we intended - and succeeded - in renewing with each other. It's one of the reasons our marriage has lasted so long. We make a point of indulging ourselves periodically with fun times and/or travel that serve to give us new energy and creative resolve.

We've been back home for a few days, and we are busily decorating our home for Christmas, I've sent off my Christmas cards today, R.J. is completing some paintings that will be Christmas gifts, and next will come my cookie baking and prep for Christmas dinner. As an added addition to our favorite time of year, the day we got home we had our first snowfall of this winter!

I hope all of you get to enjoy some restful moments like ours. They truly help, I feel, to better appreciate the joy, peace, and gifts of the Season.

My next blog will be on January 5th, 2018.

Working Sabbatical Notice

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!

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. 

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!

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.