It’s Friday! The last day of Armchair BEA. Can you believe it? The week has just flown by. I hope everyone has met some new blogging friends and learned a few things too. Maybe you got ideas for the future of your blog. We hope so. We want book blogging to be around for a long time.

Today’s topic is Ask The Experts. In your post, ask the visitors to your blog for blogging advice. What did you always want to know about blogging but were afraid to ask? Now is the time!

Alternatively, if you’ve been blogging for awhile, you’ve probably learned a thing or two. Whether you stumbled upon a something that makes blogging easier or made a mistake you’d never want anyone to repeat, share your experience and wisdom with others.

Even though I have been part of this community for 2+ years, I do still have questions/concerns.  But first I would like to say that I know I will be at this for many more years since I enjoy every minute of it as I did when I first started due to the following.  I love meeting new people, albeit new bloggers, authors, publishers, publicists, etc.  Also seeing and receiving ARCs, books and/or new authors is like being a kid in a candy store.  Seeing others’ thoughts on books read since I am not surrounded by readers in RL to discuss books read, for me, this is like being part of one very large book club.
What has worked for me:
*Draft up posts way in advance (for both showcases and daily memes). For memes I created a cheat template, create the drafts a month before and then plug in what is needed for that particular day.
*Individual folders for each contact person, winners of giveaways, templates for postings, etc.
*Cataloging books received onto a spreadsheet with date received, from who, if a review is needed and when then update it when book is read, date read, rating.

Now for my concerns:
*Falling behind on requested reviews. I have a very hard time saying NO and tend to accept too many books. My feeling, and not sure if it is wrong, but my thinking is that if it is a good review, it doesn’t matter when it is posted. A favorable review will bring recognition to the book no matter the time frame.
*Finding/writing fresh material for posts. Again, and especially if I get behind in my reviews, is one of the reasons why I participate in daily memes so that I post everyday.
*Social media-FB/Twitter I don’t post and/or tweet unless it is pulled from my blog. Should I be more active with this?

………of Seal Team Six Outcasts by Stephen Templin & Howard E. Wadsin

70 heather c Tweet About the Giveaway

An email has been sent to the winner and she has 48 hours to respond with her mailing address or another winner will be chosen.  Thank you all that entered.

I have to start by repeating myself.  I have met the most wonderful people through blogging and reviewing.  And today I have the honor to introduce you to a very special, amazing, inspirational and kind lady.  I was contacted by Jodi from WOW asking if I would like to read, review and host today’s guest.  I read the synopsis and it was a YES!!  After reviewing her book, I emailed her and shared it with her because it wasn’t going to be posted until today and I finished the book in April.  Since that time we have been in touch through emails, learned more about each other and we “clicked”.  Over these past few months we have formed a friendship whereas it feels that I have known her for years.  In one of our emails, when she found out where I reside, told me that she would be here in the fall for a conference.  We instantly made plans that include picking her up at the airport, out for dinner and have no doubt, a fun night filled with conversation.  I am so excited that I can wait to meet her face to face.   So please, get comfy, grab a coffee and help me welcome, my friend, Dawn Novotny to our group!!!

ABOUT DAWN NOVOTNY

So many words describe Dawn Novotny: clinician, teacher, author, workshop leader, wife, mother, stepmother, grandmother, recovering addict, breast cancer survivor, reader, swing dancer, and snorkeler. But what she is most proud of is her ability to “thrive”. She thrived in the face of poverty, abuse, and addiction to finally become the woman she is today. She wrote her memoir to encourage other woman to look past their difficulties to what is possible, to the woman they should be.
You can visit Dawn at her website here and her Professional Clinical Workshop here (a visit every woman should take the time for).

GUEST POST

                                    Forgiveness is Vital to a Healthy Life

When I first heard people talk about amends to those we had harmed, especially our ex-spouses, I thought they must be crazy. I believed that if my tormentors’ transgressions outweighed mine, my “sin” was somehow diminished, even canceled.

I thought if people knew how cruel my ex-husband had been toward me and our children, they would see how righteous I had been. That should exempt me from making amends to him, right? But I was learning that if I wanted healing from my past, then it was I who had to take responsibility for my own sins of omission and commission without defenses or excuses.

Grudgingly at first, I began to think about who I was and what I was like when I married my children’s father. What exactly did I—a frightened, needy, nearly delirious young girl—bring to the marriage? The answer was nothing. Absolutely nothing! I realized, while he was marrying me for his own reasons, I had married him to escape my love and rage at my first husband. I used what many would consider a sacred act—the sacrament of marriage—to arrest my descent into booze and promiscuity.

Thinking I was escaping the pain, I brought my nineteen-year-old self—an empty satchel stuffed with pain—to my second marriage. I appropriated him to escape my internal barbarians and shameful acting out behaviors.

Once I realize this, and with great trepidation, I wrote a letter of apology to himwhere I revealed my shameful secrets. I told him how my choices culminated in a brutal rape and suicide attempt just months prior to our marriage, and apologized for having nothing to contribute to our years together except fear and emptiness. I asked his forgiveness. I had to let go of any concern about how he would respond. The release that came to me after mailing that letter was like a huge stone of bitterness melting away. How he responded was irrelevant to my healing.

When he died four years ago, I was able to facilitate our children’s grief and farewells. By their own choice they had not spoken to their father in several years, but I felt that grieving his passing was paramount to their healing journey. We lit candles and wished him well on his crossing. They whispered their regrets. I felt blessed to have been given such softness in my heart toward him.

It takes enormous energy to address, think about and re-feel old transgressions. The remembering without release depletes our vital life energies robbing us of a healthy life.

Not only was I gifted with the peace that passes all understanding, my children no longer had to carry the heavy stone of family wounds heaped upon them by their parents.

The act of sincere forgiveness frees the soul in unimaginable ways. We are the benefactor of our acts of forgiveness, regardless of the recipient’s reactions.

Should you choose to follow this path toward healing a wound that holds your heart tethered to pain, please seek the advice of clergy or a trusted friend. There may be transgressors and transgressions that remain volatile and in need of counsel to proceed.

ABOUT THE BOOK

For 50 years, whether consciously or unconsciously, women have all been caught in the cultural clash between the almost immortal sexual mystique symbolized by Marilyn Monroe (in 1999 she was still voted “sexiest woman of the century” byPeople Magazine) and the retooling of the female soul by the women’s liberation movement.  Each of us has been left to ask ourselves, “Who am I?”  “Where do I fit?”  “What does it mean to be a woman?” And most important of all: “What does it mean to me to be a woman?”

THANKS TO THE KINDNESS OF AUTHOR,
DAWN NOVOTNY, I HAVE TWO (2) COPIES
OF THIS EXCEPTIONAL MEMOIR TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO
THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my honest review.
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.

*USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM BELOW
IN ORDER TO BE INCLUDED IN THE GIVEAWAY*
BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL

ADDRESS IN THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT:  COULD YOU FORGIVE SOMEONE

WHO HAS HURT AND/OR TRAUMATIZED YOU?*

**INTERNATIONAL WINNER–EBOOK ONLY**

**U.S. AND CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY—

 CHOICE OF PRINT OR  EBOOK EDITION**

*NO P.O. BOXES*

**HONOR SYSTEM**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM

Continue reading “GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE “RAGDOLL REDEEMED: GROWING UP IN THE SHADOW OF MARILYN MONROE by Dawn Novotny ENDED“ →

RagDoll Redeemed: Growing Up In The Shadow Of Marilyn Monroe by Dawn Novotny
Published by Dog Ear Publishing, LLC
ISBN-10: 1457506173
ISBN-13: 978-1457506178
At the request of WOW and Author, an ARC EBook Edition was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

  Synopsis:   For 50 years, whether consciously or unconsciously, women have all been caught in the cultural clash between the almost immortal sexual mystique symbolized by Marilyn Monroe (in 1999 she was still voted “sexiest woman of the century” byPeople Magazine) and the retooling of the female soul by the women’s liberation movement. Each of us has been left to ask ourselves, “Who am I?” “Where do I fit?” “What does it mean to be a woman?” And most important of all: “What does it mean to me to be a woman?”

Dawn Novotny writes about her struggle with those questions, but for Dawn it was more difficult to answer those questions. After all, she was married to Joe DiMaggio Jr. a man who was fascinated with his stepmother, Marilyn Monroe, and wanted to transform Dawn into his own version of Marilyn. RagDoll Redeemed is the story of one woman’s balancing act between embracing her sexuality and creating a person that utilized all her abilities: mental, emotional and physical.

My Thoughts and Opinion: Captivating! I read this memoir in 2 days as I could not put it down.   The writing extraordinary especially when the author reveals her childhood cognitive scores with the reader.   A raw look into the life of a very physically, verbally and emotionally abused child and young adult who broke the cycle and clawed her way out to become a successful adult.   A heart wrenching and painful read of the life of this child but also inspirational as the author relates her ability to overcome the trauma she endured and the strength to forgive her abusers.

As the synopsis states, she was married to Joe DiMaggio, Jr., a very troubled man and his control to remake the author into his step mother, Marilyn Monroe.   What was ironic in this, was that the author and Marilyn Monroe’s life, paralleled each other’s life in an uncanny resemblance.   The abuse and family dynamics so alike.

As I was reading this extraordinary story, I kept thinking how painful it must have been to rewrite and face her tormented past.   But on the other hand how brave it was of her to share her story to help others.   I think that every woman who reads this book will be able to relate to some degree of her life, hopefully not as severe, but on some level, I know I did.   The book was riveting!!   Engrossing!!   A page turner!!! Poignant!!   A must read!!   This novel will stay with me for a long time, it was that touching.   This is one book that I will never forget.   Exceptional!!   I highly recommend this memoir!!   Outstanding!!

  My Rating: 5+

(2012 Challenges: EBooks, Off The Shelf, FreeReads, Where Are You, A-Z, 52 in 52, Outdo Yourself, 100+)

Today at Armchair BEA: Beyond Your Blog

……of Start Journaling and Change Your Life in 7 Days by Mari McCarthy

8 Vicki Summers Newell Tweet About the Giveaway

Today is day 3 of Armchair BEA and the topic of discussion is the following:

Today is the day that we discuss networking.  Many of us bloggers network online.  Afterall, Armchair BEA is all about networking online, particularly with other bloggers.  However, how can you get more involved offline and in real life?  Have you ever wondered how some bloggers have established those connections with local bookstores or libraries or even beyond?

For Day 3, we want you to share your positive experiences of using your blog to get involved in your community.  This can involve partnerships with the local literary scene, attending author events and signings, or getting together with bloggers in your area.  We want to hear it all!

Another day in this community and another issue learned.  I, unfortunately, did not know about the above and hoping to gather information on how to partner and network within my community.  I thought, naively, that all networking among us was via internet.  So since I have no experience in this area, would appreciate any tips, where to start, what to do, etc.  I thank you in advance if you are stopping by and leaving comments on this subject.