A" Sparkling" Holiday Collection

November 5, 2007

Sheryl Roush keynote presented at Westcor‘s Arrowhead Towne Center mall on Wed., November 8, sharing tips for boosting attitudes for higher holidays sales to 200 store managers. In the audience were two staff and Donna Caudle, Studio Manager of The Picture People. At the end of the invigorating session, Donna and her team offered Sheryl a complimentary photo shoot. WHAT FUN — and check out the great QUALITY of their photos! Thank you Donna and your talented team!

Mornings with Lorri & Friends. It’s Christian talk and more. “Mornings” features breaking, national, international and business news, as well as interviews with political, cultural and religious leaders. Listeners also hear in-depth analysis of issues that are important to families, believers and seekers. Hosted by popular FamilyNet News personality Lorri Allen, the program is like a chat around the Christian water cooler. It’s informational and inspirational. It’s relationship radio at its best. “Mornings with Lorri & Friends” airs live from 6:00-7:00 am Central on Sirius Radio 161.

Lorri Allen interviews Sheryl Roush LIVE on Monday, November 12 at 4:45AM Pacific. Not an early riser? It’s okay — the broadcast will be available after the program for download as an MP3 file. The conversation is scheduled to discuss the new release, and how Sheryl’s faith helped with last month’s Firestorm in San Diego, Sheryl’s native home town.

Lorri is a proud 4-story contributor to the Heart of the Holidays book, as well as The Princess Principle: Women Helping Women Discover Their Royal Spirit, which is how they met, and are colleagues in the National Speakers Association.

Wonderful Holiday Gift

This is one of the best holiday books I have seen (even if I did contribute a few poems to it – LOL). It should warm every heart this Holiday Season, regardless of one’s faith or inclination. A wonderful holiday gift which will last for years … it will never go out of style … and can be shared with every generation. The editor/author, Sheryl Roush, has done a marvelous job in compiling everything in this book.

Trilogy Contributors Autograph Dec. 4 at Borders Chula Vista/Eastlake

UNIQUE MULTI-AUTHOR EVENT!

All contributors to the Heart of a Woman, Heart of a Mother and Heart of the Holidays are invited to AUTOGRAPH their books at BORDERS bookstore in Eastlake (in San Diego County, CA) on Tuesday, December 4 at 7:00pm. More than a book signing, contributors will be able to READ THEIR original STORY or POEM to the holiday shoppers! Contributors to be present include: Maria Carter (Mother), Jane Cohen (Woman and Mother), Darlene Fahl-Brittian (Mother, Holidays), Terri Hall  flying out with her daughter from Iowa (Mother and Holidays), Shenay Kloss age 14 (Mother, Holidays), Debbi McGill  (Mother),  Teresa Kuffel (Holidays), Adria Manary (Woman, Mother), Debra Simpson (Mother, Woman), James Tucker (Mother, Holidays), Rev. Uki MacIsaac (Holidays),  Michelle Weisser (Holidays), Carlee Westbrook (Holidays), and series originator native Chula Vista resident Sheryl Roush (Holidays, Woman, Mother). Making a guest appearance is Beverly Roush, resident of the area and mother of Sheryl Roush.

Deb Simpson, Magic in Words, is podcast recording the authors reading the contributions in their own voice!

Borders, 878 Eastlake Parkway, Suite 210, Chula Vista, CA 91914, Store Phone: 619.482.9883
Located east of I-125 and I-805, off Otay Lakes Road.

Helice Bridges, the "Who I Am Makes a Difference" blue ribbon acknowledgment lady, made famous by her original story in the very first Chicken Soup for the Soul book, hosted "A Salute to Our Blue Ribbon Champions" last night at University San Diego’s Joan Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice. Operation for Hope honored San Diego Fire-Rescue Dept. Deputy Chief Perry Peake and Fire Engine 25 firefighters for their heroics in our devastating Firestorm 2007.

Others acknowledged on the evening’s program included Heart Book Series authors Adria Manary (author of More Mommy Magic) and Sheryl Roush (Heart of a Woman, Heart of a Mother, Heart of the Holidays, Sparkle-Tudes!), who autographed books, donating 50% of the proceeds to Difference Makers International.

In addition to Chicken Soup for the Soul, Helice is published in both Sparkle-Tudes! and Heart of a Woman.

In 1983, Helice “Sparky” Bridges quit her successful real estate business and founded Difference Makers International non-profit so that every child would grow up in a safe, supportive, nurturing environment in which they would know that who they are makes a difference. Today the “Who I Am Makes A Difference” Blue Ribbon Programs have impacted the lives of over 26 million people throughout the world. The self-esteem building Blue Ribbons are printed in 10 languages.

Norma Chew, Director of Communications for the South Florida Writers Association, is featured in the Heart of the Holidays book, and making a celebrity appearance at this weekend’s Book Fair. Well published in her own rights, Norma’s poem, "Balloons" in featured on page 172 in the new release.

Thank you for your support and abundant purchases of the Heart of the Holidays book on Sunday, November 4th, the special promotion day of the new release. At midnight on the fourth, the beginning of the promotion, Holidays started in the book rankings (all books on Amazon) at a low ranking of #114,294. At the end of the day, the book rose to #1,690 of all books on Amazon, and an amazing #4 ranking in the category of Mind, Body, Spirit (Self-Help), to the #3 book of South Beach Holiday Diet Guide (maybe we should have included eating tips, soups and recipes in our book? 🙂 )

Speaking of SOUP DE JUR: Our book sales company Cadence Marketing Group, stated on Tuesday, "Heart of the Holidays is outranking every CHICKEN SOUP Holiday book."

Thank you again, this has been a great opportunity and experience for me to be published in Heart of the Holidays. A professor in college once asked me if I had ever considered a career in writing science. I hadn’t, didn’t even know it existed. Not sure who I thought wrote  those text books and magazine articles. 🙂 Anyway, it was one of those pivotal moments in my life that I’ve never forgotten. When someone you admire thinks you can do something, you believe you can do it. Thirty years later I still wonder do I have any talent for writing, could I do this?
 
Let me know the next time you write a book, I’d love to contribute if you’ll have me. I’ve even started a list!!
 
Take care and have a wonderful holiday season!
 
God bless,
Carlee Westbrook

Noted authors in the adored Chicken Soup for the Soul book series have written features for the Heart of the Holidays: Yuletide Treasures & Traditions book.

Virgina A. Ellis, Poetry by Ginny, famous Christian poet, published in Chicken Soup for the Grandparent’s Soul, wrote the title opening poem for Holidays, and has eight additional poems published, including "The Lord’s Birthday Party," "Christmas Here All Year," "Dear Santa Claus," and  "Magic of a Winter Night."

Cynthia Brian, published in Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul, shares "The Gift of Magic" in Holidays.

Kay Presto from Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, and Chicken Soup for the Coffeelover’s Soul, shares "Midnight Mass," from her youth in Erie, PA.

Today, the day after Halloween, I "treated" myself to a refreshed hairstyle. Since my stylist, Adele Nizker, does all of my styling, and for my updated author and speaking photos, I "treat" her to a copy of the new books when ready. To boost her spirits, I decided to read a couple of the stories within the crisp, hot-off-the-press pages of Heart of the Holidays.

Being a mother herself, I thought she’d enjoy the light-hearted "Family Circus Christmas" on page 67, by Terri L. Hall from Baltimore, Maryland. We were both laughing away as this mother of 12 (yes, 12 kids) shares this true and hilarious story with a purposeful point. 

To respect Adele’s Jewish beliefs, I selected a story from the chapter on Hanukkah, "The Miracle of Lights" written by Marcia Reynolds, MA, MEd. The second paragraph in, reveals the setting of Russia, which happens to be where Adele is from. As the story and traditions unfolded with detail, Adele was noticeably nodding her head, as she clearly related and was touched at her heart, by the tender words. It was as if she was back in the ‘ol country, reliving her own childhood. It was truly a tender moment, we will both cherish.

November 1, 2007—“Heart of the Holidays,” a new gift-sized book by author and motivational speaker Sheryl L. Roush, Sparkle Presentations, goes on book shelves at BORDERS stores today.

Whatever your faith or celebration, “Heart of the Holidays” evokes the spirit of the season with gratitude, joy, peace and love with a treasury of more than 160 original inspirational stories and poems by over 70 contributors, plus 200 quotes and scriptures. This 6×7” paperback, with its classic holiday burgundy cover, is priced at $12.95, and even has a space for a gift inscription on the inside page.

Heart of the Holidays is available nationwide at Borders stores and on-line at Amazon.com. Heart of the Holidays companions in the Heart Book Series, “Heart of a Mother” and “Heart of a Woman,” published Spring 2007, are also available online, making gift buying easy this year for friends, family and coworkers, even clergy and teachers.

Heart of the Holidays authors pre-released the sparkling new book Saturday, October 27th at the Toastmasters District 12 Fall Conference held at the San Bernardino Hilton Hotel. Holidays will be officially released at BORDERS bookstores nationwide on Thursday, November 1st. Contributing authors present for the event included (L-R) Becky Palmer, Connie Jameson, Shirlie Cunningham, Sheryl Roush, Rebecca Brinck, Kay Presto. Not pictured Lauren Kelly.

Authors Share Their Original Stories in New Holiday Book

Previously published authors sharing previously unpublished original stories and poems are featured in the November 1 release of Heart of the Holidays: Yuletide Treasury and Traditions. Readers embrace touching tributes celebrating Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Boxing Day,  Yuletide Around the Globe, Winter Solstice, and Ringing in the New Year.

Authors include: Lorri V. Allen, Lee A. Barron, Lillian Berman, Cynthia Brian, Marilyn Dalrymple, Lisa Delman, Virgina Ellis, Darlene Fahl-Brittian, Jerry Gitchel, Carolle Jean-Murat, Jan Mills, Selena Parker, Kay Presto, John Reddish, Marcia Reynolds, Karen Robertson, Sheryl Roush, Jennifer Rousseau Sedlock, Reta Taylor, Terri Marie, Joni Wilson and Judy Wright.

Saturday, October 27, local members of Toastmasters International from Riverside, Ontario, and Temecula, will autograph copies of Heart of the Holidays at the San Bernardino Hilton. Although the NEW book does not officially release at BORDERS until November 1st, the signing was requested by reigning dignitary District 12 Governor Don Tungate. Local contributing authors are Toastmasters Shirlie Cunningham, Connie Jameson, Jacqueline Moses, Becky Palmer, Kay Presto, and Rebecca Brinck. Joining the inland empire ladies is Heart Book Series author Sheryl Roush from San Diego, who is a Past District Governor in the organization.

Toastmasters Members Published in Holiday Book

Members of Toastmasters International from around the globe are published in the new release of Heart of the Holidays, by Sheryl Roush, a past international officer in the organization and one of only six women in the world holding their elite Accredited Speaker award for professional speaking.

Toastmasters International is the world’s leading non-profit educational organization (90 countries), dedicated to enhanced communication and leadership skills (www.toastmasters.org). Celebrating those skills, individuals submitted original stories and poems for consideration of being published in the Heart Book Series.

Twice as many submissions were received for the third book in the series, Heart of the Holidays, releasing November 1st in Borders, and on Amazon.com. Those who passed the editing team and proudly published in the 240 page treasury are: Celly Adamo, Patty Anderson, Lee A. Barron, Carolynn Bramlett, Michael Bruce, Shirlie Cunningham, Marilyn Dalrymple, Emily DeShazo, Darlene Fahl-Brittian, Carol Grabowski, Connie Jameson, Blanche Katz, Lauren Kelly, Teresa Kuffel, Rev. Uki MacIssac, Terri Marie, Tina Mertel, Jan Mills, Jacqueline Moses, Becky Palmer, Kay Presto, Karen Robertson, Sheryl Roush, Belinda Sanders, Jennifer Sedlock, Terry Sweeney, Judy Tejwani, and James Tucker.

Joyfully releasing the new Heart of the Holidays book, one of the contributing published poets, Virginia A. Ellis "Ginny" previewed the book and had these fabulous comments to make:

Hi Sheryl,
 
I received my copies of HEART OF THE HOLIDAYS yesterday, and the book is every bit as beautiful as you said. The cover is really outstanding and however it is displayed in the book stores, I think it should draw a lot of attention. What a gorgeous shade of red!
 
I leafed through the book, which of course, I could not read in total for now, but I did see all of my poems (naturally), and I did read quite a number of the excerpts you included … along with your own writings.  I decided you are no slouch when it comes to doing poetry, too, and I did like what I came across with your name underneath, ‘as author.’  Obviously, you are a multi-talented woman. (smile)
 
 I plan to buy some more copies to use for Christmas gifts, and will try to have my list made up by November 4th…
 
It really is a neat little book, Sheryl.  I really was impressed with all the items you had in it and can only imagine what a chore that had to be to collect everything and sort it all out … so you really deserve any and all accolades you get, my friend.
 
Luv and God Bless,
Ginny 

Poetry by Ginny

The New Year Poem

-Jane Ilene Cohen, Transformational & Intuitive Counselor, www.janecohen.net