Hi everyone. I have been absent for a few weeks but they have been busy weeks! I launched my newest book and have a trailer! Very excited! My newest is "Lazy Sunbathing and Wildflower Tea". A 'memoir with a message' about my foraging adventures and beneficial tea making.

Authors at a paid book fair are a special breed of optimists. They pay for a table, pay for the travel, pay for coffee to stay awake, and then spend the day convincing strangers to buy a book they already spent years writing. If they break even, it's called success. If they sell out, it's called a miracle. Three times a year, I attend book fairs that don't charge authors for a stand. On June 7, I had a book stand at the Fismes festival “L’amour fait livre” -- this theme was based on a paronomasia/pun “L’amour fait vivre” (Love keeps us alive). Two fellow authors visited my stand and exchanged their autographed books for mine; we agreed to stay in touch, which was one of the highlights of the day. I did not sell a single book in the afternoon (for the first time 🙃). Another author joked, “How could you? You were surrounded by teenagers trying to practise their English!” He was right. Six teenagers stayed at my stand for several hours (my legs felt exhausted afterwards). Four of them left only when their mothers came to pick them up, while one politely excused herself after receiving a phone call. A 19-year-old male student was the last to leave at around five o’clock; his father, who had come to tell him it was time to go home, was grateful and thanked me generously for spending time with him. These six teenagers talked and listened without checking their phones (except when I requested one of them to show me his Australian friend in Queensland, where I came from) or fidgeting; they were polite and interacted with interest. It was worth it. I collected smiles, conversations, and enough human connection to almost pay for my petrol. Fismes “City of Coronations” is a small town in the Marne department, France, about 30 km west of Reims, which is famous for its cathedral, Champagne houses, and its role in French royal history.

Took this video at twilight last night as it rained all week and my back forest has exploded into every shade of green. Perhaps you might want to share some pictures, video, or reel of your, so to speak, neck in the woods too! See you Sunday at 5:00 pm Central Standard Time And members, the more you attend the more exposure you get around the world as we always have time to let you introduce ourselves and talk about you! The link is posted on date on Calendar of Events. See you soon!

"World Book and Copyright Day takes place on 23 April each year and is a UNESCO-designated international observance celebrating books, reading, and the legal protections that safeguard authors’ intellectual property. Established in 1995, the day honours the literary contributions of writers past and present while encouraging people of all ages to pick up a book. What is World Book and Copyright Day? World Book and Copyright Day is an annual observance created by UNESCO’s General Conference to promote reading, publishing, and the protection of intellectual property through copyright. The day recognises that books remain one of the most powerful tools for education, cultural exchange, and the preservation of knowledge." - https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-book-and-copyright-day/ Coincidentally, this has been posted on FB: "It's a great book. I can relate to most scenarios the author has mentioned". (Thank you, Cecile). Unsolicited comments on "Where You Are Really From: Humour and Introspection into Identity" are also available online.

Hi, I am new to this. I retired after 46 years in law enforcement and retired from the U.S. Depart. of Homeland Security. Since retiring, I have written and published 5 books about law enforcement. I have two more books coming out in the next 4-6 weeks. This last book, "Maya's Story: A Journey Through Human Trafficking and Resilience" is based on human trafficking and how young people get trapped in their grips. I just wanted to say hello and look forward to reading more post. Donnie