Year of 5,000 Books

Since many of you haven't experienced my Newspaper article writing side, I thought you would enjoy this article, which I submitted for this weeks, Laguna Woods Globe Paper. Below this article you will find a short list of where and when Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing Book Signings will be held. I look forward to seeing you at one of these events!

Before you begin reading my Laguna Woods Globe Article, I think it prudent to mention that when writing about ones self it is always done as if one was writing about someone else. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Between the Pages~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Released on December 20, 2011, Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing Book One has already found an audience! Perhaps this happened because this story about fifteen-year-old Naomi who wants to practice her faith in public, find her uncle, and help him raise enough money to bring their family to America is universal. Perhaps it is because when she finds her plans thwarted, accepts an old Tía’s help, and unwittingly enters the country illegally, the reader experiences everything that the heroine goes through without leaving the comfort of their own home.

All we know for sure is that author Paula Rose Michelson must have been thrilled when within days of this novel appearing on Amazon readers posted:

“Me encanta! Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing is a "can't put it down" great read. I absolutely loved book 1, and highly recommend it. It is a perfect gift idea. I bought some for Christmas gifts, and I can't wait for Book 2 to come out.” Tracey Awwanda

“Michelson's debut novel is a rich, detailed story. Blessings abound in this house in Spanish Harlem. All the characters are compelling and appealing. Their story draws the reader along through the tangled threads of Naomi's life. There is never a let-up in the drama and action of this tale…For a wonderful journey to places seldom written about, I recommend this book, and I am waiting for Book 2.” Lyn Lawrence

“This is much more than a romance and I recommend it to men and women alike. I felt intimately involved in the challenges facing Naomi, Chaz, and the others that are involved in their life…The author has a way of making you really care about the characters. You feel as if you are in that house in Spanish Harlem. I could hear the accents of the people as they spoke; even the way they spoke English as bilingual people was very real. I am eagerly awaiting book 2.” Heather Micaela 

“I couldn't put it down! I was given Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing Book 1 as a gift. When I finally found a free moment, I picked it up and I was blown away! The story drew me in. I found myself thinking about the characters and the story throughout the day. I looked forward to reading it each night. I even read until 2am one night because I just couldn't put it down! The story stayed with me for weeks after as I found myself remembering little pieces here and there. My only complaint was that the book ended! I cannot wait to read Book two and find out what happens next!” Cheryl Henrikson

“An awesome Cliffhanger! This story was well researched and excellently written! Unfortunately, it is a cliffhanger...so we really want the sequel as soon as possible! It will keep you reading until the last page when you start to look for more!” Anthony Ort

“I finished reading Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing Book 1 and it was wonderful! Every day I looked forward to the evening when I could delve into the next chapter! I can't wait for book two.” Cora Bant

“I enjoyed book the first novel of the Casa Saga so much that I bought two more copies to give as gifts, and eagerly await book two!” Avalyn Ava Camp

Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing

by Paula Rose Michelson

An illegal immigrant

Bound by secrets

Trapped by choices

An arranged marriage

A forbidden love

www.Amazon.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Book Signings~~~~~~~~~~~~~

February 8, 2012 from 10-2, I'll be at The Kosher Bite, 23595 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Woods, Suite H, 92653

February 14, 2012, I'll be at the Black Cat Gallery from 11 on, 26755 Verdugo St., Suite 200, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Meet the Authors’ Event! My friend Marlayne Grion and I will be selling and inscribing books at The Farmers Market at South Orange County Design Center, 3115 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 9-3, and hope to see you there!  

Today, I’ve posted my interview with J.B, a well known author, whose novel Southern Superstitions, releases on Sunday, January 15, 2012. 

Me, “What is your genre?”

J.B, “Christian Romantic Suspense”

“Romantic suspense, I already loving that read! Why are you drawn to this particular style?”

“I love romance with mystery and intrigue.”

Me, “How many books have you written? Had published or self-published?”

J.B, “I'm working on my third. One, Last Resort, released July 15. Southern Superstitions releases January 15. Whispering Cypress will release August 15, 2012.”

“I don’t know how you can accomplish so much in such a short time! But I do know that your readership proves you’re a novelist worth reading! Share something about your writing life.”

“I’m a morning person. and love French vanilla coffee and writing time first thing before daylight.”

“Have you won any writing awards?”

J.B, “I won first prize for a short story in fiction-writing competition in college, first Runner-up in Florida Writers Association novel contest.”

“Which authors do you most admire?”

“Lynn Austin for her writing style, Chris Fabry for Dogwood, Naomi Much for The Green Veil and The Red Fury. Shawna K. Williams for No Other, In All Things, and The Good Fight, Eva Marie Everson for her Southern novels.”

“That’s quite a list! It proves that reading what we like to write, informs our writing. How can your work benefit, build up, or change a reader’s view of, or perspective of topic you're writing about?”

J.B, “My work may change a reader's view about forgiveness, eating disorders, swimming in creeks or rivers during the hot summer months, inspire, or encourage a closer walk with God, as I've been told by a few readers that Last Resort did, illustrate faith, and one reader/reviewer stated that Last Resort presented an inventive take on a villain. I hope readers will be entertained with sensational strawberry stories that keep them guessing until the end, like putting a puzzle together. They're unpredictable.”

“This sounds like a must read!”

Hope Lives even as a Last Resort

By B. J. Robinson

She and I stood in the front yard of the old apartment house. Lisa wore a light pink suit jacket, and her sad brown eyes looked directly into mine as she said, "I hope it's not cancer. I don't want to die." That visual image is sealed in my mind as vivid today as it was seven years ago when I lost my youngest sister. Bird-like hands clutched a shining gold star with a pearl-head pin. She handed  it to me, "I want you to wear this." When she died, the heavens raged. Storm clouds covered the land and hurricanes blew in from the sea. That year, twelve blustery ones battered America's shores. The last, a storm named Lisa, tiny and non-threatening like her, eventually faded out over land. On September 13, a summons came for Lisa. Sent on a mission, angels ferried another angel home. As I fell to my knees bedside my bed and cried, I said a silent prayer. Then, I opened my Bible, and the  Comforter sent me encouragement. I knew then, that even in death, hope lived, for I'd see my youngest sister again in heaven.

Dear Lord, thank you for Your encouraging Word and the gift of eternal life through Your son, Jesus. Thank you for opening my eyes so I no longer grieve without hope, Amen.

Lives disrupted: 

You’re a young adolescent girl and life is too competitive--the competition is being the thinnest. It's  sad when people diet themselves to death. Many lives are disrupted with the loss of a loved one. In Last Resort, the main character Faith has lost her sister to an eating disorder. This was an important topic to brooch because I lost my youngest sister in 2004 right after Hurricanes Charley and Frances. She wanted to share her story in hopes of helping others. Though my novel is romance, mystery, suspense, and intrigue entwined, this subject is one of several important messages. God's love is the most important of all. Without it, we'd all be lost. Even in death, there's hope, and I used this scripture in my debut Christian romance novel Last Resort to encourage those who have lost loved ones through death.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juwF0dLLX6M&feature=youtu.be

Book Trailer for Last Resort

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-184/B-J-Robinson-Last/Detail.bok

Read a free excerpt from the publisher. This book may be purchased here as a PDF file to read on your computer.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last-resort-b-j-robinson/1030124288?ean=2940012838063&itm=1&usri=last%2Bresort%2Bb%2Bj%2Brobinson Buy here if you own a Nook.

http://www.amazon.com/Last-Resort-ebook/dp/B005CQ7JQK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310918473&sr=1-1 Available here for the Kindle.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

B. J. Robinson writes from Florida. Last Resort is her debut Christian romantic suspense. Southern Superstitions releases January 15, 2012, and Whispering Cypress releases August 15, 2012, all through Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. When she's not  writing, she's reading, and reviewing books on her blog. Visit B. J. at http://barbarajrobinson.blogspot.com.


Monthly I post information about a book or an interview with a published author. If you are interested in guesting on my "Year of 5,000 Books Blog," please contact me. 

For those of who love to meet authors, hear them read from their work, and have their novel(s) inscribed, this event is one you don't want to miss! So, join me at the Cobalt Café located at 22047 Sherman Way Canoga Park, CA tonight, for a reading of Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing. For additional information visit, www.cobaltcafe.com

It seems the more I try to do some things the more I feel like going out with a friend. Because this is part of the human condition, I am sure that you know what I mean. However, if you live in writer land, which one should never confuse with right handed land, a sort of pervasive malaise can make it impossible for you to make the plans you had planned to make.

Having been schooled at my mothers knee that nothing happens unless you (or in this case me) makes it happen, I became aware that as surely as God breathed the desire to write in me, all I did was write what the characters said. Now facing the dreaded word “MARKETING” I felt that I could make that happen! After all, while still in school, I had sold my parents friends on my artistic talent. They arranged a one woman show for me at their exclusive Rodeo Drive gallery. After I graduated High School, I sold the Los Angeles County Art Museum on the idea of finding me a job, though they did not have an opening. When I met Ron, I sold him on the idea of marrying me. At very job I held I sold my employer on the idea that I was aces. And as everyone who knew me could attest, I was!

However, though I am the author of Casa de Naomi: The House of Blessing Book 1, motivating someone to buy this novel is not about me, but about fulfilling the commission God gave me. By now you probably understand why my mother told me, “You could sell ice to Eskimos!” If you are wondering why I am belaboring my ability to sell you almost anything, it’s because God was, and is, in control. That’s difficult to remember when you’re able to talk almost anyone into something. Yet part of my walk with Messiah is not doing what comes easy to me. Instead, he asks me to be still, watch and see what he will do. By the way, did you ever notice that if you are a whirling dervish of activity, you never see God? I did, and I realized that again over the last few weeks because contrary to all the wisdom I have been granted by sitting at the beloveds feet, I got caught up in the “Must do’s.” You know what they are don’t you? You don’t? Well, if you’re a newly published author, the must list could be so long that it might wrap around the world three times. And what’s on that list might be what needs to be done in one day! I kid you not!!

Gods’ way of doing things might be contrary to popular wisdom. At least that’s what I discovered when much to my chagrin, while at worship; he calmed my agitation and asked me to stop marketing. That’s right! The Lord of the universe told me to chill, and I did. Knowing my disposition, he arranged for me to yield before one of our sisterhood events, and when the moment presented itself, I asked my friends to hold me accountiable to my pledge. They agreed. A tremendous weight was lifted from my shoulders, and I rejoiced.

The following week I watched as one by one, all the marketing issues that I had struggled with were resolved! I was reminded of the verse in Zechariah 4:6 which says, “…Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” This is the verse God gave me for this New Year.

At the start of this New Year, I pray that God quickens a verse to you as well, and that you, like wayward me, find the treasure hidden within that draws you closer to him!