The Author as a Small Business Person

Saturday is Small Business Saturday in the U.S.  As an author, I am considered a small business.  Yes, writing is the creative process.  Branding and publishing is the business end.  Let me try my hand.

Friends of Scrapbook, Etc. is a trilogy about a small town craft store, Scrapbook, Etc. and the people that frequent the shop. Below is preview about each of the three books.

A New Season:  

Karla and Karen opened their craft shop, Scrapbook, Etc., to give Millwood an artistic outlet. When Wendy's son disappears on the way to summer camp, she and motorcycle cop, Jerrod Hill, search the Tennessee mountains for the teen. Their best clue comes from child who claims to have seen a UFO.

Red, White, & True:

Sammy thought surviving the battlefields of Afghanistan would be his greatest challenge, but returning home provided new struggles. He is disabled, struggles with PTSD, and must convince Karla he isn't the same man she promised to marry, that she will be better off without him.

An Unexpected Gift:

Kimberly knew things would get rough when she saw the blue sign on her pregnancy test. She and Jack had been so careful—most of the time. When he learns the news, Jack acted distant. She might be forced to face parenthood alone.

When Grams offers to help, Kimberly soon becomes more concerned about her grandmother's eccentricities than her own college studies. Grams collects stray dogs and talks about seeing an angel. Perhaps she is losing her senses. Kimberly doesn't realize a quirky old woman can teach her about love and parenthood.

For further information you can visit my web site:  http://chanceencounterstlm.wixsite.com/toni-lamparter-mabry

BE KIND

It has been a busy few months. We have had family adjustments and illness, but life goes on. That is what I want to blog about today.

I have a job where I have to be happy all the time or at least sound happy, no matter how I feel. This pressure hit me hard about a month ago when I got some bad news. While at work, I receive a text letting me know my son would have to go through surgery.  You see, no matter how old her child becomes, a mother always worries.

My son underwent this same surgery about 10 years before and did not do well. To hear that he would undergo it again was crushing. He and his new wife would have to cancel their honeymoon trip, too. I was so sad for them and worried, too.

But life had to go on and I had to answer phones at work and sound cheery. Then I got a call from a hateful customer who yelled at me because our product couldn't fit his time line. I continued to talk calmly and professionally. He continued to be rude as if his rage could change the laws of physics and make the product assemble itself faster. I was worried about my son and he wanted to bully me into making the impossible happen.

When I hung up the phone, I took a minute to wipe away the tears before answering the next call. That hateful man taught me a great lesson.

You see, we interact with people everyday, They have lives we don't know about, lives full of complications. It is easy to speak roughly to others--because of our own hardships. Kindness is a better option. It isn't that hard; a smile, a gentle phrase, just showing good manners.

I don't want to be the bully on the phone. I hope to choose kindness.

AFTER THE HOLIDAY

It hits me right after New Years, every single year. I drive home from work. The days are so short that it is still dark. As I pull into my subdivision, it is dark. All the Christmas lights are off. The cheery lights are gone. The drive is bleak and I am sad.

I know. It is common to feel depression during winter months. Even though the days are getting longer, it doesn't seem to be enough.

The Christmas lights amuse me, but now the are gone. Like all humans, I long for light.

I am thankful the days are getting longer.