Monthly Archives: June 2012

Book Signing at Two Chicks and a Hippie – Successful. What’s Next?

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It went smoothly. We were on the patio, and the breeze kept us cool. Everything went off without a hitch. Al said we had one hundred people, I think we had about fifty.

I took pictures and was ready to post them. I was using Al’s camera. I dropped my own camera on the floor and ruined it.  Somehow, Al’s photo do not fit this format. I’ll have to look into it.

Meanwhile, Dave, the Poet came for the afternoon. We planned the program and presentation for Spirit of the Red Candle. It is set for July 14th at 6-7:30pm. The place is still in the air. I must call tomorrow and find out where we are with the place.

We worked this morning getting gift items ready to give away at the next book signing.

Sorry about the pictures. Next time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comment from Susan Hancock – Santa Monica, CA

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Hi Betty
The book is FABULOUS. There is nothing that U missed. Such a great subject and so many messages. Really there was a message on every page. I would B interested on the path U took 2 come up with the subject and how U got all the ideas 2 unfold. The messages R so great that U should get this book out in as many plces s possible. 2 B honest I am not a fixtion reader mostly non fiction but after this wonderful story I am going 2 marry my noin fiction now with fiction.
Thank U sooo much 4 sharing your book with me and let me know of your new books.
Have a happy day
susan

Comment from Carol Schluter – Spirit of the Red Candle

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Betty,
We are back in Texas and I finished reading your book, Spirit of the Red Candle. It was an easy read and ended too soon. I saw that it is one in a series called the Scarlet Triangle, right? Let me know when the next book comes out.
I liked the development of the character in regard to her giving a foothold to the demons through bitterness, hatred, entitlement, and unforgiveness. I love how Jesus in His authority cast out the unclean spirits with a simple and gently spoken command – leave. His Word accomplishes what He intends for it to accomplish.
Bless you for seeking Him through His Word. He is faithful just as He said, “seek and you will find.”
Who knows, maybe this series will become a movie one day!
Blessings,- Carol Schluter

Watercolor student - Betty Slade's Class

I met Carol in the Wyndham Watercolor Class. She bought a copy of Spirit of the Red Candle. We became instant friends.

Pre-occupied on The Author’s Journal – A Book about the Book!

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I had great swelling poetry and reasons for writing the book. All those words were laying on the floor in the editing room, in a matter of speaking. They needed to be bundled up and kept. Anyway, that is what I think. Today, I compiled them into what could be used as a hand-out or a journal to give away. It will also be a teaching tool for those who enjoyed Spirit of the Red Candle.

It can be turned into a seminar, a conference, a speaking engagement for a women’s Bible Study or a women’s group in one of the churches. Even a book club.

I am turning  these compiled words into a hand painted author’s journal with a cover to match and ribbon to close it. I want it to have a hand-made feel. I will approach the subject of why I wrote Mary Magdalene’s life, and what was on my mind.

Do you remember the days, when you didn’t want to do anything that looked homemade? I remember. Today, I see the charm in having a hand-painted book cover. Everything has become so technical, and we have lost the softness of the art and charm of the personal touch.

I will hand paint the cover, and add design throughout the pages. It will all be xeroxed so that I can give away the  book. If and when it is received, and it becomes as a viable addition to the Spirit of the Red Candle, as the book itself,  then I will have it published. That day, it will have a cost tacked on to it. Today, I can afford to give it to anyone who buys the book, which is written about.

Today, I am experimenting and being creative.

The next book in the Triangle Series will not come until probably next spring. For me, it is a process. I don’t think I can hurry it along. We will see.

These posting on how I sold my first 2500 books will become a book. When I have actually sold 2500 copies of Spirit of the Red Candle, and there is some creditability in how I did it, then a book will happen about how I did it.

Mike thinks I can sell 3,000 books in ninety days. We will probably start the process next week. It, too, will take time to become official. It seems this website is jumping ahead of the gun, but as Mikey says, “Everyone writes a book after they have done it. They forget the small mundane things that makes the book authentic. Post everyday, little things that come up and caused you drama, frustration and pain, write about it.”

 

 

Two Chicks and A Hippie – That is the Place for first book signing.

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My first book signing will be June 24th at 2:30 – Sunday afternoon at Two Chicks and A Hippie Coffee Shop.

Book Signing for Spirit of the Red Candle, journal of Mary Magdalene

This is the place! The book signing for Betty Slade's new book, Spirit of the Red Candle, journal of Mary Magdalene

I met with one of the owners. Betsy Burnett. We discussed refreshments and how we will set it up. It feels like it will run very smoothly.

We plan to have 75, who knows? It has to run smoothy. I have asked her daughter Bethany to play music, we will see how that goes.

Book Signing for Betty Slade

Spirit of the Red Candle, journal of Mary Magdalene book signing

Two Chicks and A Hippie

Book signing at Two Chicks and A Hippie.

Must be Authentic – Otherwise I’m just a fraud!

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Friday, June 15th, I went to the Bible Study and asked the women to pray for this B-I-G Idea which Mikey purposed to me. The Lord gave me an answer. The question was not a doubt I could get the funding, not a doubt it will work, but how much passion do I have for this B-I-G Idea. If it is not authentic in me, I will be a fraud in how I reach out to this group of people. It is more than selling books, it is caring for the people I reach toward.

I could see in my spirit as I prayed, the pain in a woman who does not find the truth and lives under her own condemnation of choices, etc. Yes, I can reach out. Yes, I can pursue this B-I-G Idea.

I told Mikey I would pray, and I would not move on it until I had an answer in me. I believe I can move forward. I knew when I wrote the book, it had a mission of its own. I just didn’t know how or where it would move. I believe this is the direction. I’ll share the direction when we have put it in place. I’ll tell you how I am getting the funding and how it will take this book where it needs to be.

I made a trip to the bank and set up a new bank account for this B-I-G Idea.

 

 

 

 

 

Book Signing – Big Production

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I dropped off the rental use form, I’ve had posters printed, I’ve contacted the women who will be helping me with refreshments and welcoming everyone to St. Patrick’s Church on July 14th, 2012, at 6-7:30

St Patrick's Church, Pagosa Springs, CO

Book signing at St. Patrick's Church, Pagosa Springs, CO

I have spoken to Dave, the Poet, I have a manuscript ready to give to him. He will be reading excerpts from the book and Harvey Schwartz will play.

We will be having a discussion about the book. It will involve the audience. There will be a time for book signing.

Betty Slade's Book signing

This is where we will hold the book signing for Spirit of the Red Candle. A program is set with Harvey Schwartz, pianist and Dave, the Poet

Focus on Something bigger than yourself

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“Mikey called. It was our weekly visit.

OK Mikey, what is the B-I-G Idea?

He wrote to tell me earlier that on Wednesday we would talk about the B-I-G Idea.

I’m all ears and I am in. What is it?

He proceeded to tell me that I needed to take the focus off of me and put  it on something bigger than myself.

OK. I guess everything I have written and posted on Facebook, websites, etc, have all been about me. How I did it! Isn’t that what I was suppose to do to help others to self-publish?

It’s time to switch focus.

How do you do that?

Start a project where the focus is on something beneficial. Spirit of the Red Candle deals with hurting women. The book needs to be in places where women who are hurting  can be helped by this book. You wrote the book with the heart to bring value into other’s lives. You wanted people to be changed when they read the book. You wanted the book to have an effect in other’s lives.  Now we need to get it into those women’s hands.

How?

There are 3,314 women shelters in the USA. We need to send one book to each shelter in the United States, and trust they get into the hands of the women who need to have the answer. The answer, being that of getting healed from their history or abuse so they can embrace their life as someone with worth. This book can bring that kind of turn around.

Mikey gave me a n address of a website. “Study this site, then we will talk next Wednesday. Send the book to me again So I can read it as the final copy. I need to see the content.”

The next thing, we need to put a packet together with the book. Anything that will help these women find the Truth.

“Then we will discuss ways of funding this project.  You wrote the book, and it needs to be out there. I am going to show you how you can sell 3,000 copies in 90 days. It is more than sells. You didn’t write it to make money, you wrote it, to help others. To help others, we have to get the book out there.

Your homework is this. Go the Post Office and find out how much exactly it will take to send one book to Florida, or New York, or California. We need to see just how much you will be investing into this book, printing and mailing, and any other expenses.

“Until then, pray about the passion of why you wrote the book. Become more specific to exactly who you wrote the book for. Get more precise about the one who needs this book.”

I will pray. I will not move on this idea until I know it is the way the Lord wants it to go. When I wrote the book, I felt that the book carried the message that every woman knows her own pain. It is different with every woman. Some have chosen the wrong man and ended up in a women’s shelter for abused women. Others have been beaten up emotionally by relationships or by circumstances. Every woman has history. Most every woman can relate to Mary Magdalene.

Even though we know so little about her, we know she had seven demons. Those spirit came through some door which bound her from moving forward in freedom. How did she get free and how can any woman who reads Spirit of the Red Candle become free?

I’ve got some praying to do. This B-I-G Idea can not start with a whim, it has to be a direct move of the Holy Spirit on the book. My heart has to be prepared for the Holy Spirit to move on me.

I’ll let you know next wednesday, what is on Mikey’s mind.  He has thrown a big ball into my lap, and until I get direction, I need to ponder on these things.

 

 

 

 

Not a great picture – But what do you do?

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I sent a picture into the Sun News to advertise the book signing.

Spirit of the Red Candle, journal of Mary Magdalene

My book, my painting, and my picture!

We are always so critical in how we look especially at this age. But what do you do? People know you for who you are.

I can’t photoshop a picture of someone else who the camera loves and will eat up. At the moment, I can’t think of anyone absolutely beautiful who I would want to be. I like myself, not the picture.

I probably admire Meryl Streep the most in the filming business. She has honed her talent and is probably the most talented actress the world knows. Even Meryl doesn’t have a gorgeous face, I am sure she would admit her nose is too long and her face was always too skinny. But, I can’t take my eyes off her when she is doing a part. Her talent overcomes what the camera sees. I don’t see anything, but a great actress.

I’m hoping for a little of the same thing. I have honed my art talent all these years, now I’m writing weekly articles for the newspaper and I finished probably the biggest project in my life. I’ve written a novel.

Even when I painted 18 paintings for the Song of Solomon Collection, wrote a study book, had an art show, rented the Country Club, decorated it to the Tee. it didn’t compare.This book I wrote, Spirit of the Red Candle, journal of Mary Magdalene is off the chart, as far as I know. Was the project bigger or smaller? Neither, it was something outside of my realm. It was untested territory for me. I went from the little fishbowl, to the big ocean in the literary world. I’ve always functioned in the Fine Arts World. New World.

I am hoping this book will eat up the camera and all that it stands for. I pray that the words between the pages will bring life and hope to those who are struggling. It appeals to women probably more than men. But several men have expressed excitement over it. That’s good.

We are who we are. No excuses.