Promises Promises!

Today promise yourself that you will be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
Sometimes, being the shy violets that we are, as authors, we find it easier to be supportive and congratulatory about someone else's wins - new contracts, promotional coups and other things then we tend to be about our own. Because we were told "brags a good bargain, but hold on is a lot better," or "Let someone else toot your horn." Well, that doesn't work when you have to go the 9 miles to promote your own books and be "out there" where people may criticize or even applaud what you do.

But--and here is the best part, what you give you get. So if you are enthusiastic about other people's success, feel that feeling, know that feeling and then claim some for yourself as well.

When Christopher Paolini first met publishing success with Eragon, I dissed him as-- oh sure his parents are publishers, authors, business people...he has an edge - maybe, but this home schooled little boy (15 when he wrote it) had just gotten his GED and was looking forward to college. Instead of heading off straight to college he decided to write a book.

Hubby just finished reading the first of the trilogy Eragon, and asked me if I would get the other two for him. He said he found no mistakes in the editing (where he found several in the Harry Potter books he just finished reading) and he said the kid writes a great story.

I must swallow my ill-placed envy or is it jealousy, and read the first of his books to see how he made and is still making news. His series is number 3 on the New York Times best seller list, still.

Anyway, be happy for those who've succeeded. Your turn can't be far away, actually good vibrations from you will make it happen sooner.
Try it - it couldn't hurt.
Cricket
http://www.cricket-sawyer.com

"I Think I Can, I Think I can!"

Challenge - Promise Yourself: To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

When you are facing hard times either financially, emotionally, or spiritually it isn't easy to think only the best for yourself or any one else - but sometimes just smiling will help lighten the burden you feel. And create untold good for you and those you care about.

You can work for the best outcome, you can work to do your best - that doesn't mean perfect that just means the best for where you are and what you CAN do right now. (like parents raising children...you only do what you can do with what you have, know and are.)

If you expect the best - to paraphrase Henry Ford - you can think you can or you can think you can't --either way your are proven right.

So, if you expect the best, throw your dreams toward the moon, even if you fail you'll wind up among the stars - if you aim, expect - the best! You'll have a better chance of getting something more then not shooting for the moon at all. You can do it, if you think you can. "Little Toot, I think I can, I think I can,...." Go for it!

Hope your New Year will be your BEST year ever
Cricket
http://www.cricket-sawyer.com

Where Have I Been?

Sometimes life gets in the way of the best laid plans of mice and men. Besides several new books coming out in the last couple months - I have a few more being released in the months ahead. Fury of Fire: A Woman Betrayed (book 3 in this series)(Crimson Moth Publishers) is due out in January, as is A Writer's Vehicle, Filbert Publishing is a book on the craft of writing. Watch for contests and blog tours associated with each.
However, today I would like you to concentrate on something else....
Its another challenge for you today:
Promise yourself to look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

That may be a little difficult, you may have to keep checking yourself when you don't really see the bright side - but if you look really hard I bet you can find one.

Today, we have near blizzard conditions - blowing, drifting, at times near white outs - so the weather is a bit of a bear, but I have a warm and comfortable home. It's a good day to stay inside and write - or bake bread or any of the household chores that make my home a place I love to be.

I'm sure when you look around you have a bunch of sunny just under the veil of "your crabby" or someone else's crabby exterior. Make a smile your umbrella and your rain will all turn to sunshine and rainbows.
Try it!
You can email me your results if you like.
at cricket@cricket-sawyer.com
visit my website at http://www.cricket-sawyer.com

Psst Have you heard?

Psst… guess what I just heard?! SingleTitles. com got a facelift, can you believe it? You can search reviews by publisher, release month, even rating. They've got lots of book excerpts and author interviews. You can even win prizes. So write this down, bookmark it or whatever: http://www.singletitles.com Just stop by soon.
Cricket
http://www.cricket-sawyer.com

Trick or Treat...

Guaranteed! After you read your September fix in the form of Fury of Fire: A Woman Scorned - get ready for Halloween by picking up your copy of ZERO CEMETERY LANE

Nicole has stumbled upon the living history of the old rambling log business establishment that went from brothel, to organized crime retreat and everything in between. How does she separate Adam from her real world, or is he real. His love making is real - how? or is it? What about the escape from the .... Well, you'll have to read it to see. Just look at the awesome cover --- and imagine.

Watch for contests, launch party and more.
Cricket

New Contract - New Title - New Publisher

It's like the first -- for those who are authors they know - it never gets old. Every new contract is as wonderful as the first. It validates your credibility as an author, it gives you reason to believe in yourself once again. You can make paper airplanes out of all those rejection letters and send them winging off into the wild blue yonder. Okay, here's the scoop...
Crimson Moth (a new publisher) has accepted Fury of Fire: A Woman Scorned for publication in September 2009.
The cover art completed already by one of the best - for now I'll just call him "R"
You'll see why I want to keep him all for myself {grin}

Here's a blurb about the upcoming book - I'm looking for pre-publication reviewers- if you're interested please email me at cricket@cricket-sawyer.com.
Fury of Fire: A Woman Scorned

Jo-Ellen is finally stabilized and able to speak with Detective Sam Levine. Her ex-husband, Roy Pardena, now becomes a person of interest, with means motive, and opportunity. Conflicting stories develop about the other suspects now with Jo-Ellen's perspective added to the mix.

A visit with the alluring Candy Price opens new insights into the animosity and trouble brewing at Thunder Ride that Detective, Sam Levine, didn't know about before.

"The Piano Principle" Brad Yates

“The Piano Principle”

I read something to day that really brought home just how incredible we are as human beings. Brad Yates talked about an analogy between people and a grand piano. “I think human beings are like grand pianos—incredible creations capable of producing wonderful music.” I add or whatever good thing they dream of and work toward. Our self-talk can derail our dreams; uproot our fragile seedlings of beginnings before they get a chance to grow at all.

Think of some one you know and respect – your hero – be it Michelangelo or Bach, Beethoven, Natalie Goldberg, Kenny G, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Ronald Regan, Suzanne Lieurance, Jack Canfield, Joe Vitale—whatever field they are in – Do you think they had a special break, or the luck of the draw?

Chances are they worked, faced defeat and rejection numerous times before they “won”. Joe Vitale was down and out, homeless, penniless, he's worth millions today. Not by luck, but through hard work and following his dream.

Not everyone can climb Mt. Everest, or design an Empire State building, Or be the thing someone else already is – I read a church billboard that said “Be Yourself—[the best you, you can be] — everyone else is already taken.” That is enough. That is what you should be. But, do not go to your grave with your music, your talent, still trapped inside you.

“Imagine a world where people felt free to share their grandest music…” Yates

What is your greatness? What if…? Think about it.
http://eroticpress.blogspot.com