But we have survived and come out stronger and more devoted than ever. My husband knows me better than I know myself. I rely on his wisdom and ability to cut through details and go straight to the heart of a problem. Most of all, I admire his steadfastness, a quality I recognized when we married so many years ago and a quality that continues to this day. I wouldn’t be the person I am today were it not for my husband. He made me a better person, that’s for sure. We — my husband.

There are many advantages to providing handouts. It makes giving a presentation easier for you, the speaker, because you can always refer to your handouts. You don’t have to worry about forgetting a point because it’s cited in your handout. When attendees return home, they will remember your talk and you, thanks to handouts. Handouts may also contain information not covered in a presentation.

Handouts fall into three general categories, uncompleted handouts, where the attendee adds information, outlines, which are also called skeletal handouts, and worksheets. However, I have another category to add and it’s publicity. I’ve developed a list of the grief resources I’ve written for conference book stores, bascially a publicity handout. Over the years, I’ve also developed a “must have” list for handouts. You may find this list helpful.
1. Use simple words and avoid jargon.
2. Make sure the handout “fits” your presentation.
3. Add visuals, photos, clip art, or symbols, to every handout.
4. Copyright the handout in your name.
5. Add your phone number, email address, and website address, if you have one.
6. Color-code handouts so attendees may find them easily.

Your handouts represent your presentation and they represent you. Good handouts “speak” for you long after your presentation is over.

Marketing is also something I have to consider. I’ve written a press release for one book and am relying on Amazon exposure for sales. I’ve created a mini poster for the second book, and will display it at a national conference in Boston. For the walking book, I’ve arranged a virtual book tour, with exposure on various websites. Since I’ve never done this before I don’t know if it will generat sales.

During the last month I’ve written 10,000+ words a week, a feat for any author. Now I’m letting my creative well fill up again, though I still write short articles. Catching up on household tasks is also on my To Do list. While I was in an office supply store, I suddenly had an idea for a new book. I’m letting this idea percolate for a while to see if it is a real possibility. A writer’s work is never done!

This spurred my writing and I became obsessed with the book, so obsessed that I wrote more than 10,000 words a week. I kept the publisher informed of my progress and requested an author agreement. A week later she emailed the agreement to me and I was relieved. Now our agreement was official and my book was really sold. Writers should not send a manuscript, printed or electronic, to a publisher without an agreement. I learned this lesson the hard way and have never forgotten it.

I signed the writer’s agreement immediately and was excited for the rest of the day. It is rewarding to know my book will be published. Though I have many other published books, the one I am working on always gets the most attention. Judging one’s own work is difficult, but I think this is one of the best books I have written. Seven experts in the field have agreed to review my book and I am grateful for their kindness. Hopefully, they will like the book and if they do not, I guess I will start another one. Another book idea is rattling around in my mind and I do now know what will happen. All I can do is wait and see.

That is the way it is with writers. When the muse strikes we answer the call and give it our best. Believe me, I am not complaining. Rather, I am grateful for every new idea, whether it works out or not, and the ability to string words into sentences, and for every published book. Some of my books have almost written themselves. During my career I have met many people who said they wanted to be writers. None of them was working on anything. If you really want to be a writer, or are already one, you know when it is time to sit down and write.

We can’t keep the muse waiting.

Still, I did not let this disappointment slow me down and resumed my search for a good title. I brainstormed for a day, started a list of possible titles, and kept adding to it. Then I put a star by the one I liked best and logged into Amazon. To my dismay, this title was there on the screen, and worse, there were nine books with this title and different sub-titles. Sheesh! It was back to brainstorming.

Not only did I have to find a title that represented the book, I had to find one that matche the book’s structure. Again, I made a list of potential titles. I entered these titles into the computer and tried out different fonts to see how they would look in print. I ranked the titles and chose the simplest one. When I logged into Amazon I was thrilled to see ththe message, “We cannot find a book with this title.” The title was mine! I logged into a royalty-free website and looked at thousands of photos that might represent this title.

After printing out eight photos, I discarded several because they were too busy, and several others because they were obtuse. I kept discarding until I was down to one photo, an ideal match for the title. Now that these tasks are done I am back writing and loving every minute of it. But I have some advice for other free: Check Amazon before you choose your title.

The lyrics of this song seem to apply to the Boston terrorists. Someone, or a group of people, taught them to hate the nation that welcomed them, gave them asylum, and in the case of the younger brother, awarded him a scholarship. Still, these young men were seething with hatred and building bombs to maime and kill. The Watertown, MA Chief of Police thinks the young men intended to set off more bombs and kill more innocents. As Americans, I think we need to become more aware of the hatred in our midst.

I was a very young child during World War II, yet I remember the slogan, “Loose lips sink ships.” The slogan was on a poster and the posters were everywhere — in grocery stores, on store fronts, and lamp posts. Our new slogan has become, “See something? Say something.” This isn’t a time for political correctness. Rather, this is a time for Americans to take care of each other, be alert, report unusual/odd behavior, take cell phone photos, and use social media. Instead of teaching hatred, we can teach fairness, respect, and tolerance. We can come together as a nation and cherish the freedom we have.

There are more articles to write, more book ideas to consider, more organizations that need my time and experience. What’s age got to do with creativity? Plenty. Like fine wine, we get better as we age. Older adults like me understand what we can do and what we cannot. We’re kinder to ourselves and laugh a lot. Best of all, we savor every moment of life. Despite all the sorrow I have experienced, I am a happy person and I am blessed.

At the end of this month I’m participating in an online book “tour.” The fact that it is called a tour amuses me. In addition to the tour I’m posting on a blog about writing. Of course I’m posting on Facebook.

Many authors ask people to write reviews of their books and post the reviews on Amazon. While this is a good idea, I was reluctant to do it. However, I did ask one expert to post a review and she was kind enough to do so. As soon as my latest book, Walking Woman: Step-by-Step to a Healthier Heart, appears on Amazon I will update my website. I try to keep it current, but every update costs more than I think. Still, I’ve received emails from several people complimenting me on the quality of my website and I am grateful for their emails.

Recently I updated my Amazon profile and I will add regular updating to my To Do list. I also continue to write articles for an Internet website that posts my bio at the end of each article. I’m not the only author who is discovering the power of Internet marketing. An author friend of mine is making similar discoveries and she has given me some leads. Both of us are working hard and both of us wrote our books because we wanted to help others, not make money.

This last week I’ve been working on another memory cookbook, a going away gift for a friend of mine. Each club member submitted two recipes that had been served at meetings. Some members, including me, submitted an extra recipe or two. The recipes were as diverse as the club members. Putting this gift together made me think of ways to get the best possible results. My tips may help you.

1. Set a theme. The book I’m working on now includes recipes for foods members have shared together. You may create a book that represents a specific heritage.
2. Strive for a minimum number of recipes. I am working towards two dozen and have almost reached this goal.
3. Determine how the recipes will be displayed. A three-ring binder works best for me because it fits the standard paper size. Narrow and wide-spine binders are available at office supply stores.
4. Choose a suitable font. I surprised myself by choosing a font called Berlin, which has an art deco look about it.
5. Use a consistent format. For example, I decided to type recipe titles in Berlin bold, 18 point. The recipe instructions are 14 point, which makes them easy to read.
6. Include personal information. Was this recipe served on Christmas Eve? Has it been handed down from generation to generation.
7. Give credit where credit is due. If the recipe came from a cookbook, please cite the title and author.
8. Protect the recipes with plastic page sleeves. The good thing about them is that you don’t have to punch holes in paper. Instead, you just slip each recipe into its sleeve.
9. Divide the book into sections. These divisions may depend on the number of recipes you have. The gift I am working on now only has two sections, Sweet and Savory.
10. Stick a photo on the cover. I used a photo of club members that was taken in front of a member’s home. It’s the perfect beginning to a memorable gift.