New link that will allow you to buy more than one book at a time....

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=PNNZHFVRD8554

This is ME!

Well I am off to the West Coast Trail, and 80km hike on Vancouver Island! I am really looking forward to it! Pray for sunny weather for me will ya!

2 more days...

Two more days until my book is finished! Then I send it to the printers and they give me a proof...If I approve it all...I will have books by the first week in September ready for sale! I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT!

Since the age of 16, I have wanted to publish my own book. When I was 16, I certainly didn't think I would write a kid's book and a certainly didn't think it would be about trees! How did that happen? In high school I had plans of becomming a dental assistant or an airline stewardess and write a book full of poetry and songs...You see I also wanted to be a singer because I wanted to be rich and buy my dad a boat and my mom a new car. What a dreamer I was.....Well, I did become a dental assistant and worked as an assistant   for about 5 years. I DID NOT LIKE IT! I quit and started paddling instead. How I paid for that lifestyle...didn't eat very much and took up a job at a hotel, "Holiday Inn" in Chilliwack BC. Worked at the YMCA too and that is where I met my husband. In a power cycling class. I walked in, late as usual and saw him spinning on his little bike, thought he looked cute so I sat beside him. I proceeded to check if he was wearing a ring...nope he wasn't so.....whatever...totally off topic, sorry.

Anyway, here I am a couple decades later..weeks away from finally completing my dream! "Never give up!" I always say...and I never will.

These book are $15.00 each and you will have an opportunity to purchase one on my FB link, on Amazon, or at one of my book launches...will give you a list soon of when and where! So tired...must rebuild my energy!

What does the word "NO" mean?

This is what the Larch looks like just after the buds have fully come out to soak up the sun's rays.

As you can see, even the cones are feathery and usually run about 1-2 inches long and about an 1 inch wide.

I really don't know what the word "NO" means because if I did...I probably wouldn't be alive today! (Google search my Cycle Tour Across Canada to learn why I shouldn't be alive!) For some reason the word "NO" fuels a fire inside me that can't ever be extinguished. Throught the process of writing these books, I have been told no so many times that I have lost count. I've heard no from publishers, agents, distributers, banks, arts councils, numerous grants, illustrators, and the list goes on. But for some reason the only voice that I listen to..is the voice in my head and in my heart. It feels as though I am being guided and taught valuable life lessons and this voice that lives within  pushes me along, not smoothly, but along.  And I love it because I feel confident that I will succeed by living my life this way.

There are three main passions in my life.

1.) My family

2.) My garden

3.) My books

There are many other things I like to do like mountain biking, skiing, hiking, sewing, general creating, volunteering, and helping bears . But if don't complete my goals taken from my top 3 list, I will not enjoy the extra curricular activites noted above.  I find that so many people I know have exteme sports in their top 3 and I, at one time lived a life like that, but as I am getting older extreme sports don't seem as important. Staying healthy is, but not striving to chuck the hugest drop that can destroy one's family dynamic in less than a second by ending up in a hospital with a broken neck. It just doesn't seem to matter when you look at the big picture of life and what's important.

Every night before I go to bed, I visually run through the different activites that I have planned for the next day. So the following day when I wake up I hit the floor running and can get a lot done. I will usually not go to bed until every activity is completed as best as I can.  I am a very visual person and I think I even have a photographic memory as I can still picture rivers, waves and races that I competed in 15 years ago.  I apply this way of living to each day I live. I have had one too many near fatal accidents over my life time and I have come to realize that life is so precious and needs to be taken advantage of every minit of the day and every minit of the day I use, scheme, think of ways to improve myself and the projects I am working on. Every day I strive to be a better person. There are some days I am too tired and say to hell with it all and waste time  watching tv. But even as I watch tv, in the back of my mind I continue to scheme up more ideas.  Life is so awesome and to be enjoyed every chance you get.

So when I hear a no, I usually get angry, yell, and scream, but then come full circle, I use it to my advantage. "No", builds me up instead of tearing me down. Crazy as it sounds...sometimes I love hearing "No", just so I can say "Oh ya, Watch this!"

So, if you believe in yourself and your project but you can't seem to get a break, overcome it, go around it, and move on!

That's my thoughts for today!

What does Leonard Really Look Like?

Alexander is holding a sapling that has just burst. Isn't he handsome!

The second picture is just cute. I am pretending a logging truck has a full load ready to take to the mill. But if you look closely, you'll notice the faller forgot to cut off the root system...lol!

The third picture in this set is the profile of a Larch just before it bursts. I added a little spooky sepia effect and you'll understand why better when you read my story. These trees look dead because there are no needles present. Later I will post these same trees in full bloom. Larch are absolutely beautiful close up with their feathery soft needles. Go and take a look and let me know if you think you've found Leonard and while you are at it, tell me what your favorite tree is.

If you have seen this kind of coniferous tree stretching high into the sky with funky branching...you know that you are probably looking at Leonard.

Front Cover of my Book

My Illustrator Xim is in Quebec on a Student Exchange program yet she is still able to create amazing works of art. She has sent me a few illustrations now but I thought I would share the front cover you.  Everything is a go with these books. I can't see why they should not be ready for sale on September 1st. I have decided to print locally. Ingrid from Hall's Printing did such an amazing job on my bookmarks....there was no way I could not print the books with her too. She has offered me a fair price and she is also accomodating with the printing times. I will have a good portion of my books ready for my first book signing which will be Sept 11th at Golden City Days here in Rossland.

I have also composed a song and will be preforming it live on stage with my son's music teacher, Terry Marshall! I am very excited about that. I think it's a pretty catchy tune and once in a while I can hear my kids singing it to themselves unprompted. I am extremely nervous however because of my untrained voice...hopefully you will hear Terry more than me. But anyway, hope you all can come and buy a book from me then! I will let you know the time later on but the location is the Miner's Hall in Rossland.

My two kids collecting sap for the Science Project Section of the book...more to follow...