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Peepsqueak LOVES BEARS!  …. and so do I!! I LOVE toys!  I love weird toys, stuff animals, special teddy bears, and more. Having three grandsons gives me a great excuse to buy MORE toys!  I took a trip to the thrift store just this week to look for action figures!  I ran them through the dishwasher and stowed in my big toy trunk.  Three more trucks are sitting near the book-case in the “YaYa” room.  Its great fun!  On Tuesday I played “Superhero”!  My youngest grandson loves the stuffies!  Including my own little Peeksqueak plush by Merry Makers.  If you want to order one, you can go to the website, or call them.

retail orders online at http://www.merrymakersinc.com and retail and/or wholesale orders at 888-989-0454 or via email at [email protected]

They are a great toy company.  I want ALL THEIR TOYS!  ha ha!

You can also find Peepsqueak on his Facebook page.  I am going to have another book Give-A-Way as soon as the new toy gets here!  Peepsqueak and I are so excited!  I may also put it on this Word Press site so stay posted!

Filed under: Just for fun, Kicking Around Thoughts, Peepsqueak!, Surprises

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The official word from my publisher, Helping Hands Press:

We hope that you are ready for a contest; we would like you to have fun with it.

How do you participate and what are the prizes?

Here are a few things you can do:

-Go to the Helping Hands Press website and sign up for our mailing list. CLICK HERE

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The Adventures of Zeppi series    

A penguin named Zeppi makes a boy’s wish for a special friend come true. When young Alesdor finds Zeppi amongst the flowers in the garden, they adopt each other and grow in The Adventures of Zeppi series.
Zeppi and his friend have fun and discover a lot about friendship, tolerance and generosity. As Zeppi adapts to his new life with ecological-minded Alesdor, he will learn about taking care of the planet too.

Book 1 – New Friends

When Zeppi’s cage falls off a truck, he’s found by a kind boy named Alesdor, who teaches him that
compost piles are plant food and not penguin food.

 

Zeppi’s Christmas gift: FREE download on December 25 and 26:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Adventures-Zeppi-Friends-ebook/dp/B0094KJK1C/

 

Check out the other books in The Adventure of Zeppi series:

Book 2 – Circus

Now living in Alesdor’s teepee in the garden, Zeppi is overjoyed when a circus parade comes down the street. It’s so much fun, until he realizes some animals are caged. Have his parents wound up in cages at the circus? Zeppi decides to find out.

 

Zeppi’s Christmas gift: FREE download on December 25 and 26:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Adventures-Zeppi-Circus-ebook/dp/B009GMXIFM/

               

Book 3 – Learning

 

Penguins cannot speak human words. Will Zeppi the penguin learn to talk?  

 

http://www.amazon.com/The-Adventures-Zeppi-Learning-ebook/dp/B009QO0984/

 

Book 4 – Greenback Town

During a visit to his favorite toy store, Zeppi decides to snuggle between two plush penguins that remind him of his parents. But everything turns topsy-turvy when a wildlife protection officer wants to take him to the zoo.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Adventures-Zeppi-Greenback-ebook/dp/B00ABEY9NE/

Book 5 – Cackle Island

Zeppi takes his first swim in the sea, when a storm comes up and takes him to an island inhabited by strange creatures.

Available begin January 2013.

 

 

 

 

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You can win .... 

'Sleeping Bear - Journey of the Cubs' 

PLUS! (Yes, there is more!)

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Recently, I started a new series with my friend, Giovanni. It was a relatively new experience diving into the world of Amish fiction. I did not quite know what to expect, but we ended up with something totally unique and outrageous.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Of course you do--who doesn't love spy stuff and freebies?

There's a nice review of Double Vision up at Criminal Element, and you can win a signed copy, spy gadgets and the latest Spy Kids movie.

Go over there if you're feeling lucky...

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My good friend and author Sudè Khanian is hosting a giveaway to celebrate the holiday. She asked me to join the celebration and I had to say yes!

For my part, I am contributing the first story from the One series. Meant To Be introduces the series, but also tells the story of a small miracle in my life.

But wait, there's more!

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I ask myself this question quite a bit, especially lately.

Let me say this...for me who gets stressed out so easily with all of the things to do in one day (I'm certain there are those who can relate), I have to make a mental priority list.

My blog, as you can tell, is pretty low on that list. It's been nearly two months since I've touched it. A lot of stuff happens in two months, including some mental -- delayed -- spring cleaning.

In any given day I have about 4 hours to spend on my business, that includes website, blog, facebook, etc. I can do some through my phone, but blogging with my thumbs is not very appealing. Must be my age. To prevent myself from overheating, it must stay in the schedule as it is, and I find peace in that....today.

What is most important? My husband or a painting? My physical health or a chit chat on facebook? My spiritual awareness or a blog post (tho I do like to bring the two together). I fear that it is far too easy for us to get wrapped up in what we feel is an "obligation" when really we place that upon ourselves. We can say "No" ya know, seriously. We're not trained to do that, but the freedom is there.

I have begun to say "No" to areas of my life and say "Yes" to other areas that I never really said "Yes" to before. Like spending an entire Sunday prepping food and planning the week's menu instead of painting. But wow! It not only helps me in the week ahead, but I really do love cooking! I spend most of my time -- in life -- in the studio, at the art center teaching, or in my kitchen. Hands down. My waist thanks me too! ;)

See, my point is as an artist I always thought that I had to live in some kind of dark corner, hiding from the world, being the opposite of the rest of the world (in my own way I am still), and work work work work work till my hands bleed just to make it some where in this world as an artist.

What a shame I believed that. This is why...

I am now living my life! I am awake to the colors around me that are the pigments of every day moments. There is more to it than just studio work and weighing yourself so far down to the ground with rules, obligations, and stress that you aren't enjoying the work. This was me, it might not be like this for you, but I have done this for almost 30 years!

This isn't saying work is bad and day dreaming is good. I'm saying that a balance has been found in the business I have developed, not allowing it to rule me but I rule it.

Brian and I are working hard because we have a goal to buy a house soon. I'm very excited, and stressed out over it all. But in the day to day I am trying SO hard to remind myself to stop and relax. God has a great plan, a beautiful and loving one, and I must trust in that and Him with all of the facets of my life, including my art.

My blog has suffered, and it will continue to lack in posts every single week until it fits into my schedule. I must share this, because if I don't I will feel like I had an obligation and then in turn let you down. :)

I am on a journey, a peek into it here today. Let's see where it goes...

PS: Yes the blog look changed again, I like changing it, it's fun. 

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In less than four weeks, the paperback version of The Only Ones hits shelves. It’s hard to believe my odd little book is almost one year old. Soon it will be talking and walking and before I know it, I’ll be bailing it out of jail after it gets caught spray-painting Turk 182 on a highway overpass and…oh boy…I’m getting a little teary-eyed just thinking about it…

But that’s all in the future. For now, we celebrate. And in that spirit, I’m giving away some signed hardcover copies of The Only Ones. Want one? Well it’s ridiculously easy to get one. Here are the requirements:

1. You have to be able to read. Sorry toddlers. Sorry Jerri Blank. But to get a free copy, you have to click here and read a PDF of the opening chapter.
2. You must have a blog. And after you’ve read the opening chapter, you must post a link to that chapter on your blog. You must also post this picture of the cover and a link to buy the book (I prefer Indiebound). I won’t hate you if you write a few words about what you read, or if you embed this book trailer or that book trailer, or if you provide a link to this page…but that extra stuff is entirely up to you.
3. Finally, you should email me and let me know you’ve done these things. Of course, you should also provide me with an address where I can send the book. I can send it to you, to a pal, to a school, to a library–anywhere, as long as it’s in the U. S. of A. and can accept U.S. postal deliveries.

That’s it and that’s all. If you don’t have a blog, why not read the opening chapter anyway? Don’t cost nothin’. Perhaps you’ll like it and you’ll want to help spread the word. Then we can all take to Twitter, take to Facebook, take to the streets, for crying out loud. No one takes to the streets anymore. Let’s bring that back.

I’ll be giving away copies as long as supplies last. If interest is rabid enough, I might replenish the supplies, but there’s no guarantee of that. So get it while the gettin’ is good. And thanks for doing your part.

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I had an overwhelming response from my posts about the public, private, and writing life of a debut. Many people shared via Twitter* or joined the discussion here on my blog. A number of people talked of the value of these ideas beyond a debut year, that they could be applied to any aspect of life.

Both Lisa Schroeder and Sonia Gensler encouraged me to pull together some sort of poster that condensed these posts, something that could be a visual reminder of why we do what we do and what, in the end, really nourishes, has worth.

The posters are the size of a standard flyer and were designed by Jeff Fielder. I've got forty I'm happy to give away. All you need to do is email me directly with your mailing address. Feel free to spread the word!


*I don't have an account, but many of you shared your tweets with me -- thank you.

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On the planet Kaskaya, becoming a thief is a skilled and honorable achievement. In the newest release of my Christian Sci-Fantasy, Sons of the King, the middle son sets his sights on that difficult task. Co-written with my 9 year old daughter, it is available now from Trestle Press for ONLY 99 Cents right here: http://goo.gl/zzTfX

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Do you feel this way? Feel free to share this image if you do.

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Head over to Goodreads--you can click on the nifty widget to the right here if you want to enter to win a copy.

I hear it's halfway decent, this book...

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In honor of the long awaited release of Goats Eat Cans Volume 2, Goats Eat Cans Volume 1 is completely and totally free as a Kindle download for three days!
Three days!
Three measly days!
For three days this thing won't cost you anything more than the time of your life that you'll eventually waste reading it!
For three days you can take money from my pocket and food from my table!
For three days you can rip me off and feel good about it because I'm asking you to do it!

Hell, I'm begging you to do it! I'm on my hands in knees in a leather outfit that leaves little to the imagination with my pasty white cheeks in the air, and I'm just begging to be spanked. Hit me damn it! Hit me and watch my ass ripple like the midsection of the world's most unattractive belly dancer!

CLICK HERE and punish me like the sad excuse for a man that I am! You know you want to.

Oh, and when you're done with that, maybe you could CLICK HERE and plunk down a couple bucks for Volume 2 to thank me.
Crazy ass-obsessed cheapskates.

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To celebrate the summer my short tale about a musical boy and magic is currently free at Smashwords and on iTunes.

Amazon is still waiting to catch up, but hopefully it will show free there soon too.

Please enjoy!

Aaron is a normal boy fascinated with music. He loves playing his flute so much he doesn’t even mind lessons over summer break. When he meets a strange boy at the park who seems to be just as obsessed they spend summer days entertaining children in the parks woods. But friends often have secrets, music can be magical, and even the most innocent of children’s games can be more than they appear.

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Living like Damn Hell Ass Kings!


What the 2012 update looks like.

luclatulippe:

Hey freelancers: have you been keeping track of your monthly expenses like I recommended 18 months ago? 

Well, because at heart I am The Illustrator Who Wanted To Be An Accountant™, and because my site stats claim this was a mighty popular post, here’s an update to our Monthly Revenue & Expense Worksheet as a PDF for you to download. (Also, here’s an Apple Numbers spreadsheet. If anyone can convert this to a prittay Excel version, that would be coooool!)

Here’s how we use it:

1. Print out a new sheet every month.
2. Use a sexy magnet (optional) to stick it on our fridge (or front door; somewhere where you’ll see it often each day). 
3. Jot down every miserable Expense you make during that month. (Round up and drop the cents to keep it simple.)
4. There’s also a teeny tiny box for Revenue, so jot down every job you get. (Or jot down every cheques you actually receive; whichever works best for you.)
5. Jot down business expenses too, like HST/GST, software, hardware, paper for your printer, etc… 
6. Add these up at the end of each month* and see what kind of hot mess your finances are in. FUN! (And if you’re like me, you’re going to want to double-check your calculations; our groceries were $960, not $850. FOR TWO PEOPLE. WTF?)

This is a rough worksheet rather than a typed-in-the-computer spreadsheet for tax purposes. It’s meant to encourage you to quickly jot things down so you can get a bird’s eye view of your “money in/money out” situation. It lets you see right away if you are in the red or in the black, and if you have any money left at the end of the year to put away and invest.

• Where are you over-spending? Restaurants? Clothes? 
• Are you not bringing in enough money? 
• Did you bring in more than usual last month? Good job!
• Do you have some left over each month you could be putting into tax-free savings account, or a retirement fund? (Are you even doing this?)

Yes, you can use an app (there are literally hundreds out there, and you may be able more easily to track them as they happen), but for me good ol’ paper-and-pencil works best. 

When you’re done, you can type all the totals into a proper spreadsheet and have a

* I round up a little each time, because I know there are small items I forget here and there.

Freelancers, young and old: How do you keep track of your expenses? Paper or App? How accurate/disciplined are you about it? You run a business after all, so if you’re not doing this somehow or other, you’re only cheating yourself in the long run. Hop to it! :)

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The Empyrical Tales Book III: The Secret Queen is out now and I am giving away a free autographed copy!

All you have to do is visit my blog (http://empyricaltales.blogspot.com/) and enter on the right hand side. Even if you are already a fan of The Empyrical Tales on Facebook, you can still enter daily until June 30th.

Login into the Rafflecopter widget with Facebook or Twitter, then complete the entries for the day. Each day you come back, you can enter again.

The Secret Queen tells the story of young Olena and her adventures in the Southern Valley where she encounters dinosaurs! Even if you haven't read the first two books, this is a great story for kids and adults. If you want to start at the beginning, Book I: The Fourth Queen is still ONLY 99 Cents on Amazon Kindle!

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Añadir leyenda

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