The Love Month

Dear Friend,

This was the month for love.

We bought special gifts for our spouse, coworkers, children, even our beloved pets.

If I could, I would reach out and hug each and every one of you. Why? Because you mean the world to me. You are unique and special, like every butterfly that emerges from a cocoon, or every flower that sprouts from the rich soil.

 

You are my sunshine on cloudy days.

You are my inspiration.

Maybe we met at a conference, maybe we’ve been friends forever, maybe we’ve crossed paths at a lecture or you signed up for this newsletter through my website, maybe we know each other through Facebook or Twitter, or maybe you’re a friend of a friend.

It doesn’t matter.

I love you.

YOU!

Happy writing and blessings on your work.

Follow your dreams…

B.J.

It’s done! Sunny Side Up: Inspiring Stories for Dog & Cat Lovers is now available.

DOG & CAT on Kindle: http://amzn.to/A7FAmC
DOG & CAT on Nook: http://bit.ly/ze6Lna

Guess what else? Charlie Bear: What a Headstrong Rescue Dog Taught Me about Life, Love, and Second Chances is almost ready as well. It’s been a whirlwind of details to get it all right, but it’s almost here.

SUNNY SIDE UP: Inspiring Stories for WOMEN and SUNNY SIDE UP: Inspiring Stories for TOUGH TIMES are also available, and so is the writer’s group book. 

WOMEN on Kindle: http://amzn.to/tchBTI
WOMEN on Nook: http://bit.ly/uNwVSC

 TOUGH TIMES on Kindle: http://amzn.to/oWyIIO
TOUGH TIMES on Nook: http://bit.ly/q7bNTG

Read e-books on your computer with Kindle for PC: http://amzn.to/dk8GIF

Also available:
“The Complete Guide to Writers Groups That Work”
Kindle http://amzn.to/qDh28y
Nook http://bit.ly/qZTHIX
In Print through Amazon: http://amzn.to/n3wS5D

What’s Happening…

Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference March 30 – April 3, 2012. It doesn’t matter where you are in your writing career–if you want inspiration, instruction, fellowship, good food, great fun, you have to join us where the redwood trees tower above us but our hearts beat together in one song. You’ll often find me in the little stained-glass chapel saying my prayers or I’ll be teaching a class or meeting with writers (like you). This conference is going to have it all: workshops and major morning tracks geared to freshman, sophomore, junior and senior writers. For more information: http://mounthermon.org/adult/professionals/writers-conference 

Antelope Valley Writers’ Conference May 4-5, 2012 Put this one on your calendar. Learn more than you thought possible about the writing world, mingle with others who share your passion, come away rejuvenated and refreshed. The line-up of faculty looks fantastic. I’ll be there–will you? For more information: www.avwriters.com

Orange County Christian Writers Conference May 18-20, 2012 Guess what? I’ll be teaching an all-day workshop on Friday: Writing Personal Experience Short Stories that Sell. I am so excited to share the formula for inspirational writing (the kind we do for Chicken Soup or Guideposts or other publications). You may have attended my class last year (we had 61 people crammed into the tiny room) and want additional help, or maybe you weren’t there but you’d like hands-on help in a small group setting (the class size will be limited–sign up early). You’re going to submit your story in advance, and then we’re going to work on it in the workshop. And don’t worry, I’ll give you plenty of instruction to take with you when the day is done. This conference will have intensive workshops, faculty panels, dining with faculty, consultations with those in-the-know, and much, much more. For more information: www.occwf.org

Blog: www.bjtaylorblog.wordpress.com 
Website: www.bjtayloronline.com
E-mail: bj.taylor@verizon.net

Love — Whiskers and Feathers Style

Charlie Bear here…this was sent to my Mom Peep from a good friend. Even though I think I’m the most important species on the planet, it might be appropriate to recognize that love comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms–including whiskers and feathers. Happy Love Month, Everyone!

Wiggles & woofs to you,
Charlie Bear

The Forest for the Trees

TAYLOR’S TIPS for a more productive you…

Dear Friend,

Do you know that saying, “Can’t see the forest for the trees”?

It means that you are deeply involved in a situation, and perhaps focusing too much on individual details, and not enough on the situation as a whole.

And sometimes, as with what happened to me, it can be physically harmful:

I’m washing my face with a washcloth. I’m in a hurry, behind in my schedule for the day, and thinking about a project I’m working on. I bring the washcloth from my face down to my neck and then back up to the lower part of my face. I feel something scratchy, but I keep rubbing my face vigorously with the face cloth anyway. When I move the cloth away, I feel something drop down around my neck. It’s my necklace with a small one-inch gold cross. I look at my chin and see two scratches. One is three-quarters of an inch long and the other is a full inch. And they’re bleeding. Two bright red lines of blood stretch from just underneath my mouth on the left side toward the middle of my chin. 

What was I thinking?

Trouble was, I wasn’t. Thinking that is. I was in a hurry. And my mind wasn’t on the task at hand. Getting lost in my own thoughts was hazardous to my physical health.

Days later it still hurts when I wash my face. They’re still there, those pesky scratches, a reminder to pay attention to what I’m doing.

For me it was a wakeup call. I realized I had been so focused on my own world that I wasn’t paying any attention at all to the forest around me. A significant date had just passed and I missed it. A birthday card wasn’t sent because I forgot. What about being inattentive while driving? Have you ever missed an exit, almost ran a red light?

I don’t want to miss the special moments in life with a loved one because I’m caught up in a character’s latest tangled web, a plot point, or a turn of a page.

I don’t want to become so engrossed in my own world that I cause harm to myself again, or to others.

As I walk my path in life, I promise to look at those gorgeous trees sprouting up around me. They are my projects, my dreams. In fact, I will intently study them, admire them, bask in their glory and growth and work diligently. But I will not forget that even if I invest myself in that for a moment, there are bigger things God wants me to remember. The forest. The beautiful, ever-expansive, filled-with-opportunity forest. And it’s only when I take my eyes off the individual trees that I see it.

Thanks, God, for the reminder.

Happy writing and blessings on your work.

Follow your dreams…

B.J.

Sunny Side Up: Inspiring Stories for Dog & Cat Lovers is done and can be found on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I’ve been working diligently on the dog book: Charlie Bear: What a Headstrong Rescue Dog Taught Me about Life, Love & Second Chances. It’s been a whirlwind of deadlines (for the manuscript, the back cover copy, the author bio, photos, cover copy, etc.).

SUNNY SIDE UP: Inspiring Stories for WOMEN and SUNNY SIDE UP: Inspiring Stories for TOUGH TIMES are available already, and so is the writer’s group book. And I’m working diligently on that third one, while keeping in mind the forest for the trees!

WOMEN on Kindle: http://amzn.to/tchBTI
WOMEN on Nook: http://bit.ly/uNwVSC

TOUGH TIMES on Kindle: http://amzn.to/oWyIIO
TOUGH TIMES on Nook: http://bit.ly/q7bNTG

If you have an e-reader–great. If not, you can still read e-books on your computer with Kindle for PC: http://amzn.to/dk8GIF

Also still available:
“The Complete Guide to Writers Groups That Work”
Kindle http://amzn.to/qDh28y
Nook http://bit.ly/qZTHIX
In Print through Amazon: http://amzn.to/n3wS5D

What’s Happening…

Drop me an email and let me know if you’re going to be at these wonderful events. I’d love to meet up with you there.

Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference March 30 – April 3, 2012. This premier conference has been geared for writers at all levels: freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior. Rachel, the conference director, has made it easy to find just the right classes to help you to better your craft. Come to Mount Hermon to meet, to learn, to refresh, to pray. http://mounthermon.org/adult/professionals/writers-conference 

Southern California’s BEST:

Antelope Valley Writers’ Conference May 4-5, 2012  Put this one on your calendar and plan to attend. Learn more than you thought possible about the writing world, mingle with others who share your passion, come away rejuvenated and refreshed. Join us. www.avwriters.com

Orange County Christian Writers Conference May 18-20, 2012 This conference has tons of learning opportunities, from intensive workshops, faculty panels, dining with faculty, consultations with those in-the-know, and much, much more. You get to meet these people up close and personal. They’ll share with you their knowledge and expertise. Come with an open mind and learn, learn, learn. www.occwf.org

Blog: www.bjtaylorblog.wordpress.com 
Website: www.bjtayloronline.com

Pamper Your Pooch? — Yes! Says Charlie Bear

Charlie Bear here — Happy Valentine’s Day! What better way to show your love than to shower your dog with attention and affection? Okay, I know this is supposed to be a time for men to buy romantic flowers or silky lingerie, or for females to fix a special dinner for their man, but we all know you love us dogs the best, right? Don’t we give the sweetest kisses, snuggle the closest and longest, and greet you at the door with tail wags and wiggles? Don’t be afraid to spoil us. We love it.

Dr. Jon of PetPlace has some ideas for you on how to pamper your dog. Here they are (along with my two-cent comments on each one):

1. Have a photo-shoot. – Dogs love attention, so put them in the spotlight. Not sure where to start? Here are some tips: Take your dog outside, in a place where there is plenty of natural light. Don’t be afraid to get a little dirty – to capture the best shots, you’ll need to get down to your dog’s level. Don’t forget to put down the camera once in a while to pet and praise your dog for being a great model. A photo-shoot can be a lot of fun for both you and your dog, and it will capture memories you can keep forever. I like this idea because I LOVE pictures of me. Don’t you?

2. Give your dog the spa treatment. – Dogs get stressed out just like people, and nothing eases stress better than a nice day at a spa. There are plenty of doggie spas with a range of prices where you can take your dog to be treated like a king for a day. Or you can do it yourself: spend some time grooming and brushing your dog. He’ll love the extra attention, and his fur and skin will look and feel better. I’m not crazy about the doggie spa days, but I tolerate them. Mom Peep loves how I look and how soft I am when I come out of there, so I put up with it.

3. Take your dog out with you. – We can’t be with our dogs all the time. Our dogs have to sit and wait for us to come home every day when we’re at work. So the next time you plan on eating out somewhere, find a restaurant that is dog-friendly. Your dog will enjoy some new sights, smells, and sounds, and meet some new people. Yes! I love new places, new sights, new smells. Especially the smells.

4. Teach your dog some tricks. – You might not think of this as pampering, but it is. When you teach your dog tricks, you are spending time with him, praising him, working out his mind, and giving him yummy treats. What could be better? I totally agree. I’ll do anything for yummy treats.

5. Don’t just feed him dog food – give him gourmet meals. – The ultimate way to pamper your dog is to feed him food fit for royalty such as with Cesar’s canine cuisine. Cesar’s gourmet dog food is juicy, tender, and covered in mouth-watering sauce and dogs love it. Mom Peep tends to shy away from sauces on my food. Seems big dog Rex didn’t tolerate stuff like that well, so I get the residual effects of no fancy food in my diet. That’s okay though. I like the extra stuff she does give me that isn’t covered in sauces.

You can pamper your pet without making him spoiled. Trust me, your dog will love the attention. I love all the attention I can get: from the FedEx delivery guy, the gardener, the neighbors who love me up when we take a walk. Bring it on.

Until next time,
Dr. Jon

Thanks, Dr. Jon, for bringing this message to all the Mom and Dad Peeps out there. I’m sure they got the hint that they can pamper us pooches ALL THE TIME, and not just on February 14th.

Woofs & wiggles to you all, and Happy Valentine’s Day,
Charlie Bear

Do Dogs Pray?

Mom Peep hasn’t taught me how to pray yet. She probably will, someday, but the closest I’ve come is to cross my paws. That’s a start, right?

I know Mom is praying. She’s praying that I don’t piddle on the comforter again, like I did before. It cost a lot of money to get a big comforter like that drycleaned.

But if you want to see some really cool dogs praying, check out this link. They are TRULY experts at it. Much more so than me, I’ll tell you that.

http://www.dogwork.com/prybrme8/

Woofs & Wiggles to you,
Charlie Bear

Knit with Love – Book Review/Comments

Isn’t this a great time of year to hunker in and knit? Brew a cup of tea, put a log on the fire, light some candles, and listen to the clack, clack of your needles knitting.

I must admit, I don’t knit. Tried it once. Maybe even twice. Grandma B wanted me to learn so badly. She was patient, calm, enthusiastic about the craft. I was frustrated. Seems I’ve been born with two left thumbs.

But just because I don’t knit, doesn’t mean I don’t love that others do. In fact, I adore it. I’ve received scarves over the years from the best of friends and I treasure every one not only for the beauty and the warmth, but what it means to me that they produced something so special with their own two hands (and not two left thumbs like me).

Did you know Lisa Bogart’s book, Knit with Love: Stories to Warm a Knitter’s Heart contains stories of beginnings, friendship, history, charities, outreach, and community? And for those of you who are animal lovers like me…guess what can be knitted? Mats for the animals. Soft, hand-made, knitted mats to comfort our furry friends while in a shelter or rescue situation. Now that truly warms this two-left-thumbs non-knitter’s heart.

Lisa, kudos to you for bringing together a book that helps us all to see how knitting can bring people, and their community, together.

You can find Lisa’s book here on Amazon: http://amzn.to/wzlyUk

Got a New Dog? You’ve gotta have this…

There’s one thing that dog lovers know you must have ALL THE TIME. Especially if you have a new puppy in the house. But even if you recently rescued a dog.

What is it?

P A T I E N C E

Yup, Charlie Bear would agree with me wholeheartedly. Why? Because he came with some issues that at first appeared insurmountable. It took time, lots of time, to work them out.

So if you have a new puppy, or a rescue dog, give yourself time together. What appears on the outside of your new fur-love may just be a reaction to the new environment. They may be unsettled, scared, unsure. Give them love, lots and lots of love, and then don’t forget to do this:

Breathe.

Take a deep one, and then remember: this too shall pass.

This is the last one (and the surprise one) in our series of four posts on puppies/new dogs. Have a great day with your dog.

Wiggles & woofs from Charlie Bear.
And hugs from me,
B.J.