Church with a Twist

Tomorrow (Sunday, June 29^th), St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Cobourg is trying something new.  They are having a social media service at 10:30 am (GMT -5).  All in attendance will be encouraged to share the service online!

Everyone there will be tweeting and Facebooking, posting to Pinterest and Instagram and getting the information out however they interact with everyone on the World Wide Web.  What an amazing idea!  It will be interesting to see how it goes.  I will be watching Twitter and Facebook, because that is as much as I can handle!

It is nice to know that even a church that is over 100 years old is keeping current and doing their best to reach as many people as they can.  Times they are a changin’ and even old fogies like me need to try to keep up.

Just this year, because my Christian children’s books are only sold online, I have gotten into internet stuff I never dreamed I would.  I am blogging and if you are reading this, you can see my work here.  I was on Facebook already, to keep up with my kids, but I now have a ‘fan page.’ Imagine that.  I am also on Twitter (@JanetKWarren) and already have almost 1,000 followers.  Who knew that could happen.  I am even on Pinterest and people send me pins!

What’s next?  Who knows?  What I have discovered is that although I never spent much time on the internet because I don’t play games, I can sure spend a lot of time on the social networks!  I am particularly fond of retweeting inspirational tweets I see.  Anyone who follows me will know that.  I am hoping that at least occasionally, I send something that hits home with someone and make a difference.

So, everyone give @StPetersCobourg a quick tweet and follow #stpeterscobourg tomorrow to see just who we can reach!

Vacation over for now!

Well, yesterday I returned from a fabulous cruise in the Bahamas and to Key West.  I have decided that this isn't the best time to cruise because it is really too hot for the multiple sclerosis down there at this time of year, but it was a great time none-the-less.

My good friend Viv was the belle of the ball.  They all loved her there!  We met some of the most wonderful people and just to tell you how much fun it was, Richard Paul Evans put his arm around Viv as she entered the dining room on the last day and his brother Barry ran up to them and said “That’s my girl!” 

Everyone was great, the wait staff, the folks that looked after our room, the rest of the Richard Paul Evans cruisers and his family and staff that were there to help out.  There was a great time had by all.  I should also point out that the food was fabulous.  Royal Caribbean were great hosts.

It isn’t often that I do many trips in a year, but this is a year for them.  I was in New York City for a few days earlier this year and even had a week in Calgary on business.  Then I had this cruise and now, Cavan and I are planning a trip to the Isle of Man with his family for August.

Cavan’s mother is from the Isle of Man and since she is now over 80, this will likely be her last trip home.  This will be the first trip to the Isle of Man for Cavan and I and we will also spend some time in Dublin.

Of course I shall also have to take a few copies of the books I have written with me!  I gave copies to Jenna, Richard Paul Evans’ daughter, for Sam her son, who is the right age to read the books to.  I hope Sam enjoys the stories!  Of course I also hope they like them enough to have their publisher work with me, but we shall see.  I didn't ask that of them, of course, I’m afraid that I am not a very good salesman!

Vacation

Today, I get to pack for my author week vacation!  I feel sad to leave Cavan behind, but Viv and I are going to have a fun week on a Caribbean cruise and get to meet two of our favorite authors this week!

This weekend is also Father’s Day weekend and my niece’s birthday!  I am very blessed to still have my father.  He will be 85 later this year and is still very active.  Last year, in addition to multiple trips to places like Rama, Niagara Falls and Windsor, he was in South Africa, Hong Kong and Australia!  I can’t keep up!

My niece will be 13 on Sunday!  I cannot believe that so much time has passed!  I remember the day she was born.  What a darling and a very clever girl, with a great singing voice.  She has many opportunities ahead of her, because of her talents.

I would be remiss if I didn't also mention my youngest daughter’s birthday, which was Thursday of this past week.  She is now 22!  Wow, my baby is a grown woman, going to Ryerson University, working at Holt Renfrew.  She is also a very bright woman with lots ahead of her and despite the challenges of dyslexia, and the struggles involved, she is one of the brightest people I know.  She will go far and I am very proud of what she is accomplishing.

So, as I pack, it is with swirling memories of other events around this time.  Of course the fact that 2014 is almost half over hasn't been lost on me.  Can you believe it?  I too, have accomplished much this year.  My fourth book will be out soon!  I make apologies often for it being self published, but I see the accomplishment in the writing of the books and putting them out there to the world.

So, back to my packing and preparing to leave my work, friends and family behind for a few days to focus on the literary world!  Wahoo!

My Guardian Angels

A few years ago, though a lovely lady by the name of Jean, I was formally introduced to my guardian angel.  Jean, along with her long time partner Deb, are the Angel Ladies in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

My guardian angel’s name is Trudy and we have been working directly together since Jean formally introduced us.  It was through Trudy and my literary angel (whose name I do not know), and the other angels that God has been kind enough to have watching over me, that I wrote my books.

I hadn't been planning to write until I actually retired, but the angels prompted me to get moving and gave me the idea of writing these stories as six stories to one book.  I believe that the writing Bible stories from the point of view of animals, was my idea, but they could very well have planted that idea too!

Now anyone who writes, who actually would like to make money knows that if you want literary income, you need to write something that will appeal to the masses.  My books fit into a fairly small niche market.  They are Christian, children’s books written for four to six year-olds. Rather a small market indeed, however, this is what I was guided to write.

I believe that these stories will bring both the Old and New Testaments back to the children and allow them to learn and remember the stories, and God willing, grow into great kind and giving Christian adults.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if I had a small hand in that happening?

So, please spread the word.  There are three books out there now and one more to come in the next month or so.  You will find them here.