#Happy4thOfJuly!!! :-)

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Happy Fourth Of July!!! :-)  And to all of my fellow Americans, Happy Independence Day!! :-)  This is a day we traditionally use to kick back, relax, barbecue, and enjoy some fun in the sun.  But with all of the recent events, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on all of the things that make me grateful I live in the time and place that I do.  America has, from the beginning, been intended as a bastion of freedom. It is a country founded on the principles of liberty and self-determination.  The preamble to our Declaration of Independence explicitly states that we all, every one of us, have the right to pursue happiness in our own ways.  The very word 'independence' is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as "freedom from outside control."  So what does this mean?

I know you all want to get back to your fireworks (;-) ), but I wanted to share something I hope you'll think about.  I am so grateful that I live in a time and place where, no matter who we are or what we believe, we are free to say what we want.  We can embrace each other, even as we vehemently disagree, and not only accept our differences, but celebrate them.  America is often referred to as a melting pot, and to an extent it is, but as any cook knows, every time you add an ingredient to a dish, you change it's overall composition.  Uniformity isn't what makes the United States great; tolerance, acceptance, and a willingness to learn and understand are.  Just ask a geneticist, variation is where strength lies.  A population without variation is a dying population.  So rejoice in the fact that we are all different, and that we all have the right to display that difference proudly.  After all, isn't that what freedom means? Now go have a fun and safe fourth!! :-)

Thanks! It's Been #Fun! :-)

Dear Readers,

As I'm sure all of you must be aware by now, last week the US Supreme Court announced their landmark decision legalizing same-sex marriage across the United States.  I consider this a huge step forward towards achieving true equality in our society, and have been very vocal on social media about my support of this new law.  To date, I've received 23 emails from people informing me, with varying levels of vitriol, that they will no longer be purchasing or reading my stories.  

I certainly understand sincerely held beliefs, having many of my own, so I'd like to take this opportunity to thank these individuals for taking the time to write to me, and for explaining their thoughts.  I always welcome all points of view, and I appreciate your past support and wish you all the best in the future.  To be honest, I believe your decisions are probably for the best, as I do not think you would enjoy the direction in which I will be taking my series.

I'm very sorry you feel the way you do, more sorry than you probably understand, though my sorrow has nothing to do with your lost patronage. It is not in me to fail to rejoice and celebrate when a significant portion of the population finally, after many years of struggle, gains a basic human right that had previously been denied to them.  The United States, the country that I was born in, have lived in all my life, and which I love, was built on the principles that all people are equal, that we are all endowed with certain inalienable rights, and that among those rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  The Supreme Court's decision regarding same-sex marriage upholds those principles beautifully, and the only possible response for me is to laud it.  

As I said, I wish you all the best, and I fervently hope, someday, all of you are able to open your hearts to people who only want the same rights that so many of us take for granted.  Until then, thank you for everything, and it's been fun! :-)

Peace To My Sisters & Brothers Everywhere,

Mistral Dawn

What Do You #Think? :-)

Hey Everyone!! :-)

As some of you may have noticed, I recently enrolled Taken By The Huntsman in the Kindle Unlimited program: Taken By The Huntsman On Amazon.  I did this as an experiment, to see how you all like it.  As you may, or may not, know, when a book is enrolled in the Kindle Unlimited program, it has to be listed exclusively with Amazon.  So when I enrolled Taken By The Huntsman in the Kindle Unlimited program, I had to remove it from all other merchants.  So my question is: What's your opinion?  Would you like having my books available to you through Kindle Unlimited, or do you prefer to have a variety of options for where you can find them?  I'm not sure how long I'll leave Taken By The Huntsman in the Kindle Unlimited program, or if I'll ever enroll any of my other work in it.  It all depends on you. :-)

So, dear readers, please tell me what you would prefer.  Shoot me an email, leave your thoughts in the comments, or send a carrier pigeon. ;-)  But please let me know what you think, and if you would like to see my titles in the Kindle Unlimited program, then please tell your friends and family to download Taken By The Huntsman from Kindle Unlimited.  Right now I'm collating data, and a big part of my decision will be based on how successful Taken By The Huntsman is in Kindle Unlimited, so spread the word!! :-)  

Thank you all for your help and for being as awesome as you are!!!! :-)

Mistral

Reading Alley Grand Opening Celebration! #ReadingAlleyEvent

AN INVITATION

Calling all passionate book reviewers!

Reading Alley is officially launching and we are marking it in a big way with our Grand Opening event! Take part in a variety of site activities, such as our weekly contests, review challenge and referral program. The more active you are, the higher your chances of winning in our Grand Draw. Lots of irresistible prizes, including an Amazon Kindle and gift certificates, are up for grabs.

On June 26, Week 3 of our Weekly Contest goes live. Answer 3 questions and get a chance to win an Amazon Gift Card! Each week, we will have different winners, for a total of 12 winners by the time the party is over.

So don't wait! Click here to join now.


WHAT IS READING ALLEY?

Reading Alley is a site that caters to passionate book reviewers. Book reviewers get the chance to read the latest books in the market for FREE. In exchange, the only requirement is for them to submit their honest, unbiased review afterwards.

We feature a variety of books from different genres such as Romance, Mystery and Thriller, Erotica, LGBTQ, New Adult, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Young Adult, and more. These books are from both known and up-and-coming authors. Examples of books currently up for review at the site are:



Authors are welcome to set up their books for review at a reasonable price. By joining Reading Alley, authors gain instant access to this community of reviewers who can share their thoughts and recommendations, leading to greater awareness and exposure of their books.

If you wish to learn more, click here.

Otherwise, sign up for a free account now and join our Grand Opening celebration!

See you there!

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#Positivity #BlogTour: All #Good Things Must Come To An #End

Hey Everyone!! :-)

As our month of positivity is coming to an end, it seems like a good time to reflect on the things we've learned and the goals we've created for ourselves.

As I, Barbara Chioffi, reflect on this month, sharing with my fellow bloggers has meant so much. We all need a support system that is uplifting and filled with positivity, and that is what has made this month so special. Each of us has our own methods to deal with those days when nothing seems to go right, whether it be meditation, music, dance, humor, art, sharing a friend's work, or reflecting on our blessings. Life is short, filled with pitfalls but also with happy moments with family and good friends. Success is also important, but never at the expense of others. Looking at someone else's life with envy only diminishes you. Find those with like minds and lift each other up at every opportunity. Be kind for it costs nothing and may make a difference for someone that means more than you will ever know. Share your good fortune in small ways... a pat on the back, encouragement where there is doubt, and a belief that we can accomplish great things. And lastly, believe in yourself. You are amazing!

Before my, Jen Winters', 25th birthday, I was a happy-go-lucky young woman. I was able to see the world through rosy glasses and I laughed a lot. My entire life was all about joy. After my 25th birthday, things went down hill. A lot of stuff happened (some of it was my fault some of it was not) that sent me spiraling into darkness. I've clawed my way out of that pit of despair, but really, I don't think I have been so happy in the last seven years as I have been this month. Really focusing on the positive and having friends that have kept me meditating on goodness and light all month has changed my basic outlook. I don't know how effective this tour has been for you or my cohorts, but for me, I am so much happier. I thought I was happy before, I thought that I was as good as I was going to get, but I was wrong. I am a better person now than I was on June 1st; happier; easier going; less stressed; a better mother and wife. I just want to say, Thank you--for sharing this month with me, for returning me to a previous state of happiness that I didn't think I would ever get back to, and for sharing this journey with me.

Hey, Savannah here. I just wanted to share a few last thoughts with everyone. This is a bittersweet post for me; bitter because this wonderful Positivity Blog Tour is at an end, sweet because I’ve learned so much and will take that knowledge with me from here on out. I’ve also had an abundance of feeling great, thankful, and less stressed. People around me have mentioned I’m smiling more and seem to have really found my zen. LOL I do feel lighter, happier, and more positive. I’ve started several new projects this month on top of my writing, and where I would usually feel stressed at my heavy workload, fearful of not completing all that I have going on, or worse, falling on my face; I feel energized, ready to meet the next challenge, and ready to go forward with positive thoughts and more confidence. This time with Mistral Dawn, Barbara Chioffi, Jen Winters, Julie Nicholls and Susan Ricci has been, for me, a real camaraderie and has not only brought me new writer companionship, but budding friendships to carry me forward. It has been such a blessing having these ladies in my daily life, and I hope we continue as we move into new frontiers, projects, and life in general. I know I will take the deep, provocative thoughts, the meditative exercises, and a new appreciation for music, positive connections, and a better understanding for appreciating the small joys in everyday life I have learned from each of them. In honor of what I’ve learned this month, and due to the fact that I feel it is a topic worth revisiting frequently, I will be incorporating a weekly segment into my blogging where I dedicate the daily post to Positivity. If you would like to continue your positive thinking journey with me then be sure to stop by STG Blog every Monday morning. I think that is the best day to dedicate to this topic. It gives a nice, fresh, positive kickoff to the week. Thank you again for joining us this month. I hope you enjoyed reading our thoughts on positivity. I hope you were able to incorporate at least some of it into your daily life. Lastly, I hope you know just how essential you are to the world and to me. Go forward in peace, positivity, and prosperity

Good morning friends, Julie Nicholls here. I want to post my final piece here and hope you think it's not too dippy downy lol. The positive blog tour is at an end and I hope that you have enjoyed it as much as I. I want to leave you with these final words and how I feel. It’s very easy to be critical of people who don’t meet up to our standards and I confess to being a ‘not so kind’ person in my past as I was growing up. I’ve learned to understand that just because someone acts a certain way, doesn’t mean they are at fault, it means they could need help. Throughout my internet life, which is only about five years, I’ve met some nasty people who love nothing more than to ridicule what a person does or attempts, and it’s a little sad in a way. But I want to tell you how I’ve turned that negativity around. I continue with my work and my personal pursuits and just send love, light, and peace to those negative people because they need help. They are lacking in something important in their life, be it love, friendship or something else, and so they feel the need to set themselves up on a pedestal and ridicule others. I don’t let these people stop me, they make me stronger, they feed me and in turn I turn it into positive energy and feed others who need compassion or a shoulder to cry on, someone to vent off at or even just a kind word. My fellow bloggers are amazing people and I love each and everyone of them: Mistral, Barbara, Jen, Savannah and Susan, thank you for sharing, and thank you for allowing me to be part of your positive life. Be good to yourself and to others, be positive in all that you do, forgive and move on, don’t carry unwanted baggage because it will only hold you back. Love, light and peace.

Hi, Susan Ricci here. First, I’d like to express my gratitude for Mistral Dawn’s awesome invitation to participate in the Positivity Blog Tour this past month. I’d also like to thank the group – Barbara, Julie, Jen, and Savannah for welcoming me aboard and befriending me. You all rock, that’s a given. Plus, you all have special gifts and it’s been a wonderful month getting to know all of you through your daily blogs. Positivity is an unsurpassed and helpful way to live your life. It’s what society, as a whole should be embracing, instead of the negativity surrounding our sometimes-cynical culture. I’ve gotten myself into trouble a few times by not watching my negative comments about others, people I either know, or don’t. This blog tour has taught me to measure my words more carefully, before I shove the proverbial foot into the cavern known as my mouth, and that’s a blessing. I’ve been called a snark-a-doodle a time or three, for good reason by my own husband, and this has been an embarrassment. However, with the tools I’ve gathered from ALL of your posts, ladies, I can and have already amended my snarkish tendencies. When life’s challenges sneak up from behind, instead of lashing out, I now fall back on those gentle reminders regarding the little things that better our lives. The coloring book designs, the meditation posts, the dreams, finding your auras, the posts about faith and values - ALL the lovely thoughtful suggestions via your amazing shares. Please know I’ll be always trying to be a little kinder. Bless your sweet hearts and have a wonderful summer. Let’s stay in touch, shall we?

Hi everyone, Mistral Dawn here. I think the most important things that I've learned this month are that it's the small things that count. The words we choose when we speak to or about other people, how we describe ourselves, the fleeting moments we have to build each other up or tear each other down, the little things we do to relax and enjoy ourselves, and what attitude we choose to view the world through. All of these things are critical to maintaining a positive outlook, and (hopefully) to achieving happiness. We're all imperfect, we all make mistakes, and we all have insecurities and secret fears, so it's imperative that we are all patient with each other's flaws and gentle with each other's souls. With these things in mind, I've given myself the goals of being more careful with my words with regards to how I speak about myself and others, trying not to lash out in the heat of anger or frustration, to always attempt to find a silver lining in every situation, of taking time to relax and appreciate all of the good things in my life, and of looking for opportunities to do something nice for someone else every day. I'll be keeping track of my progress in a journal, and I'll also keep track of how I feel at the end of each day. Hopefully, if I'm able to succeed at these goals, I, and the people around me, will start feeling happier and more optimistic about the world.

So in wrapping up our positivity month, we urge you all to look for opportunities to be kind and thoughtful towards others, to try to find a way to turn a negative into a positive, to take the time to engage in activities you find fun and relaxing, and to just take a moment to appreciate everything that's good in your life. We hope you've enjoyed it as much as we have, and we'd also love to hear from you! So if you don't mind sharing, please tell us what your thoughts are in the comments. Happy Summer Everyone!! :-)

Blogs In The Blog Tour:

Reveries From Barb

Jen Winters Blog

Julie Nicholls' Fallen Angels Blog

Savannah's Thought Garden

Susan Ricci's Blog

Mistral Dawn's Musings

#Positivity #BlogTour: You Know It's All About The Kitties!! :-)

Hey Everyone!!

Thank you all so much for sticking with us and joining me for my last individual post for this positivity project! :-)  Since my last couple of posts were kind of heavy, I figured I'd lighten things up for this one and show you all some of my biggest sources of joy and contentment: my kitties!! ;-)  As I've said before, I do a little cat/kitten rescue out of my home.  Usually the kitties I take in are only with me for a short while before they go to their forever homes, but sometimes they decide they'd like to stick around permanently.  So let me introduce you to the three permanent residents I have now. :-)

Squeaky (aka: Squeak Monster):

I acquired the Squeaky cat while I was living on the west coast.  I literally opened my front door one morning to leave my apartment, and in he strolled.  He followed his nose to the cat food bowl and proceeded to empty it with admirable efficiency.  When he'd finished all the food that was out, I asked him if he was done.  His reply was "rah, rah, rah," which sounded very much like a squeaky door being opened, and so he named himself. ;-)  After looking for his family for several months, and having no one claim him, he decided I was his and he's rarely left my lap since.  Since he was about a year old and unneutered when he found me, my guess is he started spraying in his former peoples' house and they kicked him out.  One of the first things we did together was go to the vet so that little issue could be rectified, and we've never since had a problem with it! One more good reason why you should always spay or neuter your pets! :-)

Arsinoe (aka: Miss Thing):

Arsinoe is a bit of a strange little bird.  She's had a rough time, and as a result has developed a few complexes.  A few years ago, my neighbor told me that her cousin worked as a home health aid for a woman who was feeding a cat someone had dumped on her property.  The woman's son was not happy about the fact that his mom was spending money she didn't have on cat food, and so was threatening to shoot the cat.  Her cousin took the cat home to keep her from being shot, but her husband hated the cat because she had (and still has) a penchant for collecting things from around the house and stashing them in the bathtub. Because of this little quirk, my neighbor's cousin's husband wanted the cat gone.  It was the middle of January, and quite cold, at the time, and my neighbor was afraid the kitty would end up back outside, so I said I would take her.  It's hard to tell from this picture, but she has the most amazing light blue eyes, and a very regal bearing, so I decided to name her after Cleopatra's sister.  As soon as I brought her home, she promptly began absconding with anything that was small and not nailed down and "hiding" them in the bathtub.  Yep, she still does it. ;-)

Bartleby (aka: The Small):

The Small One was abandoned in the parking lot of the hospital where I worked, along with his brothers and sister.  One of my coworkers found them and took them home with her.  She kept two of them, another coworker took one, and little Bartleby ended up with me.  As you can see, he was an itty bitty thing, but he has always had a big personality.  He was named for the character Bartleby from Herman Melville's Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street, because he has a definite opinion about everything, and generally he "would prefer not to." ;-)   For some reason, lately, he's decided that I'm going to give him away, so anytime he hears a car come up the driveway he runs behind my recliner and hides.  I think Miss Thing taught him this trick, because she's a bit paranoid about being rehomed too.  Of course, it's easy to understand why, when they've both been bounced around so much.

So anyway, I've found that any time I need a smile, or something to brighten up a dreary day, a kitty face will nearly always do the trick!  I hope you all enjoyed learning a little about my positivity generators, and I especially hope you've enjoyed our positivity month!! :-)

Sending love and hugs to all of you!!!! :-)

#Positivity #BlogTour: Julie Nicholls Helps Us #Think #PositiveThoughts! :-)

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Today, Julie Nicholls is talking about how to let go of stress and invite the positive energy in!  Why don't we all head on over and see what she has to say? :-)

Julie's Fourth Positivity Post!