Life...Not A Competition

Hi.


Since the last time I sat to write these ramblings, our world was witness, yet again, to unimaginable horror. Horror, this time, targeting kids. Kids.

In Manchester, at a Pop Star concert, where the majority of fans are too young to attend without an adult, another suicide bomber senselessly subjected others to his violence.

Another.

Another twisted being took it upon himself to forever alter lives. Bringing some to an abrupt and tragic end, while shattering the lives of those who loved them. The trauma, the shock, the utter terror inflicted on innocent people is completely heartbreaking.

In the face of this despicable evil, heroes arose. The homeless ran to the aid of the injured. Children were gathered and kept safe until they could be reunited with their parents. Just as quickly as the bomb inflicted its destruction, kindness made its presence known.

The heroes will always rise. Kindness will always overtake the darkness. Our instinct to care for each, look out for one another, help one another, will always outweigh any hate.

Those that hate try to make us fear one another. Fear one another's culture, faith, race, belief system, sexual identity. Hate is simply fear in disguise. They try to create fear as a way of perpetuating hate. Attempting to create an environment that will justify their actions.

What can we do? Us, the regular people, walking through life, what can we do? I believe the best way is to accept each other, respect each other, care for each other. Don't wait for a tragedy to let your inner hero surface. Let it shine at every opportunity.The opposite of violence is kindness. The opposite of terror is peace. It stands to reason, at least to this ever-idealistic heart, that the best counter-terrorism isn't more terror, but peace.

I am ever hopeful for a time in which our differences are celebrated, our abundance shared. A time when, as the human race, we finally realize that life isn't a competition. There is no "race."


I believe we honor those who go before us by living the best life we can, capturing joy whenever possible, embracing the good moments. Overtaking the darkness, at every turn.

In that spirit,...... I am happy to say that I'm now a mere 5 sleeps away from holding in my hands, a tangible version of one of my long-time, hard-fought-for dreams. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited. I'd also be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.

All I can do now is hope a few people will like it. Time will tell.......


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So the past week was spent spending some time with family, working at the shop, and doing the glamorous things it takes to run a house......

As for the upcoming days...............

Tradeshow tomorrow in Saskatoon at the Travelodge..................

Work at the shop.........................

Receive my books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get a poster made for the new book.................

Get 'Once Broken' on the shelves at McNally Robinson.............

Get 'Once Broken' added to my website..........................


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Well, that about does it for now.........

With the people of Manchester in mind.........................


May you find the strength to breathe, to speak, to walk through each day.
May you know we are with you, all of us, we just don't know what to say.

May your shattered souls, someday, begin to heal, someday, for grief, time does not exist.
May the heaviness, someday, begin to lift, allowing the sun to give your uplifted face an angel's kiss.

May you once again find yourself smiling without having to try.
May memories of those you lost, someday, no longer bring tears, but a smile, and a sigh.

May you find the strength to breathe, to speak, to walk through each day.
May you know we are with you, all of us, we just don't know what to say.



Until next time...............

www.margyreidbooks.com

Only A Boat Needs An Anchor..............

Hi!

Holy Cow!


"Once Broken" will be out on June 1st! Ebooks are available now for pre-sale on both the Amazon and Kobo websites. I will have hardcopies available on the release day. They will be available through my website www.margyreidbooks.com, at McNally Robinson in Saskatoon, and I will have them at various tradeshows, the debut of which will be in my home town of Denzil on June 3rd.

When the idea for this story started to formulate in the back of my mind, I really had no idea where it would go, or what the end product would be.

As time went on, it evolved and revealed itself to be the beginnings of a novel.

Taking on any project that resides in the vicinity of the unknown can be daunting, scary and sometimes, straight-up overwhelming. This project was no exception.

I am under no grand delusion that I have put forth the next great piece of literature that will change the course of humanity, but, the fact that it's not War and Peace doesn't mean it didn't present its own challenges. Simple things that, as a reader, I take for granted, like character names, back stories, settings, technical terms. They are all things that, prior to this endeavor, I never gave a second thought as to how it all made its way to the page.

Will I do it again? Absolutely! But first, I need to get a couple of kids books that are kicking around out of my system before I can embark on the next novel project.

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Ten years ago, I never in a million years would have thought I'd be where I am.

Time is a funny thing. It carries us, at times, unwillingly through the different chapters of our lives. It's both a blessing and a curse. Its passing gifts us incredible people and experiences while simultaneously bringing our existence on this earth ever closer to its inevitable end.

When you look at your life and realize more years are behind than ahead, time gains value. Every tick of the clock signifies a moment impossible to relive.

A couple of things that have made themselves known to me......

Finding joy every day is important. It doesn't have to be big, but it needs to be there. Allow yourself to get excited about things. Roll with change, don't fear it, its inevitable. Worrying doesn't actually change one iota of a circumstance. If there is an aspect of your life that drags you down, find a way to cut it loose.

Only a boat needs an anchor.

None of us were put on this earth to be miserable. If we breathe, we deserve every happiness. We are born filled with it, made of it. Through the course of our lives, people are put in our path, some add to our happiness, some rob us of it.

Those that add to our happiness are the ones that encourage you to shine. The ones that, by their mere presence, lift you. The thought of them makes you smile, the sight of them makes you calm. These are the keepers.

The thieves usually start with small pieces, so small we barely notice. The pieces get gradually bigger until we barely recognize what our happiness looked like. We simply need to decide how much of our happiness we are willing to part with, where we draw the line. These are the anchors.

Only a boat needs an anchor.


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Well folks, from the pics at the top of the page, you get a pretty good idea what I've been up to for the past few days.......Sooooooo excited!!!!

Some ticks of the clock were also spent working at the shop....

Annnnnd had a great time with a fantastic group of ladies at a fundraiser for Lend-a-Paw, an animal rescue group in North Battleford.

As for the next few days..............


Attend the wedding of our nephew and his lovely fiance..................

Work on promotions for "Once Broken"

Work at the shop..........



And that about does it for now......


With weddings on the mind.......................


May you remember always, the overwhelming love that enveloped you as you said your vows.
May it see you through any hardships, any disagreements, any anger a thermostat might arouse.

May you protect your marriage with every breath, building each other up with each passing day.
May you look for the humour in the dark, rolling with the unknowns that are bound to come your way.

May you never take for granted just how lucky you are to share your life with your best friend.
May you see that with them you can make it through anything, no matter what might be around the bend.





www.margyreidbooks.com

For Those Who Answer To "Mooooooom"!!!!!!

Happy Mothers' Day to all of you out there who turn your heads at the sound of "Moooooom!"


It happens at home, for sure, but also, pretty much, wherever there's a crowd. It doesn't go away once your kids all grow up and leave home, either. I still find myself whipping around to this precious moniker.

It's a title of honour, one of which I have never taken lightly, have cherished and for which I will continue to be forever grateful.


Speaking of titles........................................


I'm so excited/scared/nervous/excited that my first novel "Once Broken" is sooooooo close to being ready. It's hard to believe that I am now only weeks away from having it in hand and ready to share.

It's in the sharing that the trepidation lives.

This is the threshold.

This is the part where I let people hold my imagination in their hands and hope they like it. At least some of them. I have no delusions that every single person who reads it will think its great, I just hope that at least a few think it's good.

If it makes a couple of people lose track of time, laugh, cringe and/or cry, I will be beyond thrilled.

Whenever you pour yourself into something, your hope of hopes is that it will be well received.

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So this week was a tornado of decisions concerning the cover design, page layout, "about the author" photo. It involved writing the synopsis for the back cover and a more detailed one for the person designing the cover.

It also included working at the shop where things, gratefully, continue to be very busy.......

As for the upcoming week.................

Attending a fundraiser with some great people and spending time with an amazing friend.............

Pouring over the proof of "Once Broken" and hopefully soon thereafter, mark it "approved" .....

Receive a release date for "Once Broken"

Begin the scramble of everything that needs to be done between now and that release date!!!!!


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For those who answer to "Mom"


May you cherish the breakfast in bed, eggshells, cold coffee, burnt toast and all.
May you, in receiving your macaroni necklace, memorize the tiny face, for more in love you'll fall.

May you allow yourself, at least for this day, to see yourself through their eyes.
May you see that to them, you are the one who holds the keys to everything, you hold up the skies.

May you know the sacrifice, scars, and heartache all mean you're doing it right.
May you know none of us are perfect, but we never quit, our babies, forever worth the fight.

May you understand you will feel every echo of every single heartbeat long after they are grown.
May you recognize these echoes for what they are, pieces of your soul, standing strong on their own.




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www.margyreidbooks.com

Whatever Blows Your Skirt Up.....Just Because

The world is a pretty crazy place right now.

So, basically, it's in the same shape it's been for generations.

Granted, it's a very different type of crazy compared to the days before seat belts, but every generation has grown up in some type of uncertainty and/or unrest.

Civil wars, world wars, trade wars, cold wars, we apparently can't live without some kind of war.

Racial discrimination, gender discrimination, sexual identity discrimination, age discrimination, weight discrimination, religious discrimination, more racial discrimination, cultural discrimination, discrimination against those who are differently abled. Basically, if there is any possible way to put down a segment of society, other than the one we exist in, we, as humans, will find a way to do so. If only we spent as much energy on celebrating what makes us alike as we do on what differentiates us. I'm all for a segment free world.

Crises have crept across time, Cuban missile, environmental, economic, refugee, famine, drought. Natural disasters have and continue to make their mark on history.

Technological advances have always been a part of our human fabric, from the discovery of fire to the contemplation and planning of humans actually living somewhere other than this planet.

Noble and evil leaders have had, and continue to have their days in the sun, spreading their unique brands of good and evil as deep and as far as they individually are able.

Even if the new crazy carries a smartphone and has better hygiene, it's still crazy.

When the worldwide chaos that surrounds us gets to be a bit much, it helps to remember that we are, by far, not the first to deal with it. Ours is but the umpteenth generation to feel this profound uncertainty, and we too will get through.

I think it's so important to keep from getting bogged down in all of it, getting weighed down by the enormity. One advantage/disadvantage we smartphone carriers have is the amount of information available to us. We are inundated with it, that it can quickly begin to feel like riding a bike in quicksand. Neverending, getting heavier with every push of a metal.

The answer?

For me, it's to remember to do things just because. It's keeping in mind that although it's important to live life on purpose, not every second of every day has to have one.

Just because.

A board game, an impromptu coffee date, a night at the movies, a bike ride without a particular destination, a day doing nothing but read a book.

Everyone's just because will look a little different, what blows my skirt up might not do the same for you.

So, remember that every once in a while, it's important to do whatever blows your skirt up for no reason other than....just because.


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So this week was spent working at the shop, working on the marketing plan for "Once Broken", hangin' out with a grandboy, baking some buns, and a big  'ol pumpkin raisin cake.....just because.


In the upcoming week......

A trade show tomorrow, in Outlook

A visit with my baby bro......

Work at the shop.....

Work on having "Once Broken" available by Canada Day!



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Well folks, that about does it for me.....until next time


May you do things 'just because', blowing your skirt up at every turn.
May you squeeze every ounce of joy from every single day, light your fire, let it burn.

May you dance like everyone is watching, and you're absolutely killing it.
May you sing like you do in traffic with the radio, talent overflow, spilling it.

May you see we live in but a minuscule window of time, many came before us, and many more will follow.
May you release the worries of the world, for they aren't yours alone, we share, deep waters become shallow.



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www.margyreid.blogspot.com

Live Life On Purpose...

Life has a way of happening. We make lists, make plans, set goals. All great things, but then life happens.

Curve balls of every kind come at us from all directions.

Loss of loved ones, illness, accidents. We meet new friends, reconnect with old ones. We meet people whose sole purpose for entering our lives is to teach us valuable lessons, some hurtful, some hard, some beautiful, all necessary, and eventually, appreciated.

There are surprise babies, and surprise career changes that lead you to discover new things about yourself and what you are capable of.

Some things knock the wind out of us to the point that we aren't sure if we will ever really breathe again. Some things lift us up to the point that we aren't sure if we will ever again touch the ground.

One thing, all of these things, good and bad, nudge us in the direction in which we are meant to go.

We can control very little when it comes to the really big things in our lives, the life and death things.

All we can do in between the curve balls is learn from them, use every ounce of them,  and live life on purpose.

Don't live life out of habit, doing things just because you've always done them. Do things you've never done. Help someone you've never met. Eat something you've never tried. Go somewhere you've never been.

Do it all because you meant to...on purpose.



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So folks, Once Broken should be available by the end of June! There will more news on this front very soon!

The past few days have been spent proofreading, yet again, making contact with some book clubs, and creating a marketing strategy.

We also had the privilege of attending our oldest grandson's first basketball tournament! We are so lucky to live close enough to them to be able to take in their events!

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In the upcoming week......

Month end...work at the shop... more marketing.....



Well folks, that about does it for now......until next time...


May all you do be on purpose, not done just because it's what you always do.
May you catch yourself when you dip into habit, change it up, try something new.

May the curveballs that make you smile well outnumber those that make you cry.
May you embrace all of them, they are yours, their lessons will teach you to fly.

May light, love, and laughter become the biggest parts of your days.
May any dark clouds be obliterated by the sun's most brilliant rays.


Until next time.............


www.margyreidbooks.com

Filters, Perspectives, and Plot Twists...............................

Same view through different filters.  Same situations from different perspectives.

Filters and perspectives can, and sometimes do, change in a heartbeat, the shoes we walk in, and the path on which they take us, detour with every challenge met, every heartache suffered.

If we allow each detour to soak in, our filters become clearer, our perspectives, sharper.

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Well, folks, my novel is complete! It's been poured over, changes have been made and remade. It's been polished, proofread, reread, and read, yet again. Now I am officially on to the next step.

Along with having paperback copies, I will be working to have it available as ebooks on Amazon, as well as on Apple books.

I've been hanging out with these characters for a while now, it's a little tough to say goodbye.

It's been quite a ride. The plot, subplot, plot twists, characters you love and some you love to hate. Deciding fates, fights and family relationships. Yup, a bit of a roller coaster.

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I'm afraid I've been on a bit of a writing overload over the last few days, I apologize if these ramblings are a bit more rambly than usual.


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Sorry to write and run, but some of the grandpeeps are having a sleepover. Gotta run.....


Until next time, I'll leave you with this wish....................


May the story of your life bring enough twists to make it interesting, but not so many, as to make you weary.
May you write your story as a happy one, full of light, love, and laughter, never dreary.

May each detour bring you closer to where you want to be.
May every path taken, strip a filter, making your future easier to see.


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www.margyreidbooks.com














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It's Chocolate Time Once Again!!!!

Ahhhhh Easter, Passover, or just a long weekend with an excuse to eat stupid amounts of chocolate, whatever it means for you, I'm hoping it's a happy one.

Hopefully, it's a few days that gets you together with the ones who mean the most to you, or at least most of them.

For me, having most of the kids under one roof, sharing a meal, some giggles, games, and a few chocolate bunnies is always fun.

Makes me forever grateful for the fact that we can.


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So, is it just me, or does it seem like there is some pretty crazy crap going on in the world right now? There are 'missiles on parade' in North Korea, huge bombs being dropped in Afghanistan, air strikes in Syria and God knows what else.

From where I sit, the outside looking in, it smells a lot like a pissing contest. Mine's bigger than yours, mine's more powerful than yours, mine can beat up yours. We've all seen some form of this before, if not in our personal lives, in history books. It never ends well.  I don't know of one single time where it concludes without anyone getting hurt, and everyone as friends.

There are grudges, broken relationships, and both unfortunately and inevitably, a ton of collateral damage. Those caught in the crossfire, both figuratively and literally. We see endless images of those affected by all of...this. Whatever this is or becomes.

From one concerned citizen of this planet to the leaders we rely on, please get your crap together, we are counting on you.

Oh, and United Airlines, I know I'm not alone when I ask, What the HELL?!  How does that even happen? Beating the crap out of, and dragging a 69-year-old paying customer off an airplane to make room for crew?!

I, personally, can't think of another customer service related industry where something like this is possible.

I worked in restaurants for years, and never once, did a paying patron get beat up and thrown out because some of the staff needed a table.

I've never been in line at the grocery store or Walmart or any other store and been roughed up, removed, or witnessed anyone else being assaulted and dragged out because a staff member needed to buy some eggs.

I've never been yanked out of bed in a hotel because the front desk clerk needed a nap.

I've never been beaten up and pulled off of a bus or out of a cab because another driver needed a ride.

Flippin' ridiculous. Well, on the upside, through the lawsuit that is bound to happen, this particular gentleman and his wife will be able to pay all of the medical bills incurred by this insanity, oh, and buy a private island in the Bahamas.


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Sooooooooooooo, this week was spent, mostly, working on another pass through of "Once Broken." Adding things, removing things, rearranging things, working to make sure the continuity is seamless.  I doubt it will be perfect, by any stretch, but I'd like to end up with something that I can be proud of and will, at the very least, be something that brings a few people a bit of enjoyment.

I will be working to get have it ready for proofreading by the end of the upcoming week.

Then, it will be time to get the wheels in motion toward production.

Another step closer.......


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Well, that about does it for now.

Until next time.....

May you travel without harassment, without harm, without humiliation, without disrespect.
May you receive courtesy, humanity, and everything else you should reasonably expect.

May the people with their fingers on the triggers take some time off, God knows we could all use the break.
May we all get some peace, a hiatus from the turmoil, a respite from the drama, our very sanity could be at stake.

May we embrace the power of humour, for without it every decision seems to become life or death.
May we slow the moment, take a beat, find the funny, catch our breath.



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www.margyreidbooks.com