Heart Book Series

National Authors Day:
Celebrated by North County Authors & Poets in San Diego

National Authors Day was celebrated yesterday in San Diego County’s northern-most area of Oceanside, next to Camp Pendleton’s Marine Corp Base, as the North County Authors and Poets (NCAP) hosted a full-day free event, themed "So You Want to Be An Author!"

Covered in its entirety by local television station KOCT-TV (www.koct.org), The Oceanside Channel, and reporter Faamasani S. Unutoa, the special story will air mid-November. KOCT is a non-profit Corporation that provides public, educational and government access programming and services on Cox Communications Channels 18 and 19, as well as on AT&T.

Open to the public free of charge and hosted at the Oceanside Civic Center Library, the event featured 32 local published authors and poets, reading from their works, sharing tips and offering inspiration for those wanting to become authors and know more about the publishing business. The Community Room was filled to capacity with eager attendees sponging up the information shared.

Library Director Deborah Polich welcomed everyone to the event, and congratulated the NCAP members and guests, adding her thanks for keeping the passion for reading and writing alive and healthy. She was followed by Anna McElroy, Head Librarian, making her welcoming remarks, and introducing the day’s Moderator, Dr. Elizabeth Yahn Williams.

PUBLISHING: Then-and-Now
Keynote presenter was Dr. Robert Goodman, owner of Silvercat, a San Diego based publishing firm. His comments  addressed publishing then-and-now, with all the changes that have occurred in the industry, and technology’s part in that. Twenty years ago, some 70,000 books were published each year, whereas in 2007 there were 412,000. "Marketing has become a major challenge…the average shelf-life of a book in stores is three weeks. There are fewer bookstores, replaced by megastores (CostCo, WalMart) which carry books." He also addressed eBooks, On-Demand printing, On-Line Readers (Amazon’s Kindle), On-Line Review Journals, and Virtual Book Clubs. Boldy predicting "The bookstore of the future, in 10-15 years, will be a vending machine," with much of the audience agreeing with him. Goodman is the co-founder and past president of Publishers & Writers of San Diego, co-founder and faculty member of the La Jolla Writers Conference, and a Board Member of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), formerly the Publishing Marketing Alliance (PMA).

The morning’s readings were offered by authors and poets: Roger Conlee (Counterclockwise), Jennifer Kise (The Birthday Surprise), L. Curt Erler (Southside Kid & Mantilla Lady); Janie Lancaster (Julie & The Lost Fairy Tale); Teresa Gonzalez-Lee (Love Was Born During The Dance); and Sheryl Roush (Heart Book Series).

Native San Diegan author Sheryl Roush, internationally recognized inspirational speaker, and 12-time published author shared her process for creating her for Heart Book Series (five books in the past two years, featured in Borders). The series has also added Music CDs to accompany the titles for Heart of a Mother and Heart of the Holidays. Sheryl is the President of Sparkle Presentations, Inc., and a member of the IBPA. www.SparklePresentations.com

Sheryl invited Dharlene Fahl-Brittian to the stage to read her touching Tea Prayers published in Heart of a Woman in Business and Heart of a Mother. Dharlene, "The Tea Lady," and expert, is also the author of Take Up the Cup, and a line of inspirational laminated Tea Prayer cards.

Sheryl then invited Mary Lenore Quigley read her poems published in the Heart of a Woman in Business and Heart of a Woman, including one dedicated to her retired husband, Patrick, who was delightfully surprised, seated in the audience. Mary is also the author of Indelible Ink: A Memoir.

Dr. Teresa Gonzalez-Lee, Professor at Mira Mesa College, eloquently translated and read in Spanish the opening poem to Corazon de Mujer (Heart of a Woman), "Renacimiento de una mujer" penned by Consuelo Sanchez.

Following the mornings readings, the wealth of knowledge panel included
Poet: Marjorie Stamm Rosenfeld
Collaborative: Composer David Lewis (Director-San Luis Rey Chorale); Author/Poet Dr. Bob Lundy(Partners-In-Rhyme-Hither & Yahn); Author/Editor Rose E. Magyar (Mira Costa College); Artist Marion Wong;  Author/Poet Dr. Elizabeth Yahn Williams (Partners-In-Rhyme-Hither & Yahn)
Editor: Lois Winsen (Editor-On-Tap) with "Helpful Do’s and Don’ts for New Writers"
Resources: Author/Teacher Marie Giordano (Mira Costa College)
Translators: Professors Dr. Teresa Gonzalez-Lee (Mira Costa College); and Dr. Edith Jonsson-Devillers (UCSD)
Marketer: Karla Olson (Owner of BookStudio), offered valuable tips and a handout for a Marketing Plan/Proposal Template

Pictured here, KOCT-TV reporting assistant holding some of the BOOKS published by those at the event!

The afternoon’s readings were offered by authors and poets: Carol Ann Lindsay (Songs From a San Diego Morning); Glenn Jacobs (The Samson Process); Marie Giordano (I Love You Like A Tomato); David Valley (The General’s Women); Maggie Chantiloupe (Iraq-The War That Shouldn’t Be-You Decide); Barbara Deming (The Quilt Maker); and Dr. Elizabeth Yahn Williams and Robert T. Lundy (Hither & Yahn).

Faamasani S. Unutoa of KOCT-TV shown here interviewing Moderator Dr. Elizabeth Yahn Williams, regarding the success of the event, and future plans of the North County Authors & Poets.

National Business Women’s Week Poem:
Heart of a Woman in Business

Heart of a Woman in Business
by Sheryl L. Roush

A woman in business is like no other
Multi-brilliant at work, and often too, a mother.
Guided by vision to make a difference in this world,
Reporting for service, with her hair even curled.
Ready to go, whenever the need
She knows in her heart, there’s a calling to feed.
To do right, to speak up, determined to succeed
A role model that plants the possibility seed.
Knows who she is, right down to the core
Her essence, her passion—shine all the more!
She’s in charge with a handle on it all.
At the office, at home, or at the mall.
Even in the depth of all she may know
Realizes there’s still plenty room to grow.
So energetic, creative and fun…
Early rise, there’s much to be done!
She still finds time to laugh and to play
Sacred time too, to kneel and to pray
It comes from inside, driven by vision,
Get on board – she’s on a great mission!
Her daily prayer resides in God’s grace
Serving others from her heart sets the pace
Making use of her talent, wisdom and skill
From strengths and trust in Divine will.
Gentle, compassionate, loving and strong
In this sisterhood of success you want to belong
Anything she puts her heart to she can do
She’s not alone sis’ta – as you can too!
The road to get here has been quite a ride
“Call me ‘Woman’– it’s my source of pride!”
Come along, she’s blazin’ new trail
A woman in business—whom we all hail!
-Sheryl L. Roush
©2008 Sheryl L. Roush, All rights reserved.

Permission to distribute or publish this poem, you must include author and book credit.

Sheryl Roush is an 8-time business entrepreneur, starting her first business at the young age of 16 in the patio of her parent’s home. She is a top-rated international speaker, inspiring people to bring their heart to work. Her programs rekindle the spirit, raise the bar and create excitement. www.SparklePresentations.com

Order your autographed printed copy of Heart of a Woman in Business book before October 31, 2008, and receive the FREE eBook version of Sparkle-Tudes! inspirational quotations for & by women, also written by Sheryl L. Roush. Order directly from the Sparkle Store at www.SparklePresentations.com for this offer.
(CLICK HERE FOR SPECIAL OFFER)