All proceeds
from this project will go toward the awareness and education of domestic abuse. |
Real Words |
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From Real Women |
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Dealing With |
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Real Life Issues |
More than seventy-five
authors come together with words of wisdom, encouragement, humor, and true-life stories of what it is like to juggle the demands
of a career and maintaining relationships with those around them. |
How it all began ...
Pre-order today! |
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Click here to order! |
Eighty-one women authors from around the world share their courageous true-to-life
stories of juggling life and writing in this special book dedicated to the support of women everywhere and to the education
and awareness of domestic abuse.
The seeds of the "Crumbs" Project, a two year labor of love, were planted at the melding
of two separate incidents, both illustrating what it is like to be an author and juggle being a woman, an author, a mother,
a friend. In a moment of frustration, Pamela Johnson posted to her writer's list, "How do you people juggle "it" all and still
find the time and sanity to write?" The response was delightful. Everything from humor to heartfelt stories came flooding
in and that served to inspire me at a low ebb in my writing.
About the same time, gifted author, Nancy Richards Akers lost her life in a
senseless act of domestic violence. She wasn't the first and unfortunately won't be the last. But her spirit lives on
in each one of us who, as women, pursue this journey called writing.
Ms. Johnson began to wonder how authors could
encourage one another and ban together to help fight this insanity of violence and abuse.
All contributors, myself
included, have pledged to donate 100% of their royalties to The Center For Women and Families, located in Louisville,Ky.
Crowley, Texas based publisher, Echelon Press will match the royalties in donations for the duration of publication.
Authors
will be hosting and participating in independent book signing events to promote the CRUMBS project. www.crumbsinkeyboard.com
For
press information, speaking engagements, author events and signings, and interviews with any CRUMBS contributor, Echelon Press
author, or staff member, please contact Teresa Saldana at TSaldana@echelonpress.com
"Crumbs" Debut at WRW
Good morning all you wonderful Crumbs authors!! I am just
beginning to wade through emails, etc and point my ship ahead to the horizon here...much has happened in the past week! As
you are aware, the public presentation of Crumbs and its intent was made during the WRW conference held last week in French
Lick Springs. It was a delightful week! I would like to share-with permission--Crumbs author, Lori Zecca's recap that she
wrote for her local writers group newsletter. It truly sums up the essence of the week. I'd like to hear back also from the
other Crumbs authors who attended (some are still on vacation) I sincerely enjoyed meeting and visiting with each of you. Heeerre's
Lori!<g>
(The above text was written by Crumbs
editor Pamela Johnson) ~*~ Hi all ... this article is to appear in my MORWA (writing organization) chapter newsletter.
Retreat and Resilience By Lori Zecca
Midst the infamous Springs of the French Lick Resort in Indiana-a
charming hotel, with picturesque landscapes and notable history made for the perfect early summer retreat. After
all, if President Roosevelt could write the "New Deal" in this very setting, the romance writing attendees should have found
a wealth of inspiration in such surroundings.
Such was the case for an intimate group of romance writers who assembled
for workshops, wisdom, and camaraderie. No one left disappointed. The chairpersons responsible for the World Romance
Writers Retreat, spanning June 4-7th, were Pamela Johnson, Lori Soard, and Kim Cox, all amazingly gifted women who can now
add event planning to their long list of achievements. The ability to draw such talent as Stella Cameron, with sixty-six
titles to her credit and countless appearances on the NY Times best-seller list, and Debra Dixon, gifted author and esteemed
lecturer-well, what more can I say!
Stella Cameron gave a delightful keynote address to the attendees, being sure to
add what she described as the requisite humor that she was told had been lacking in previous speeches. She was darn
funny too! Perhaps it was the relaxed tone set forth by not only the hotel, but by that of her enchanted audience, which
inspired Stella's ease. It was evident by her lingering presence throughout the retreat that Stella considered herself
among friends, discussing our craft freely and relating to each of us as equals-as writers.
The ever vivacious, and
all encompassing, Debra Dixon had our minds working overtime during her GMC workshop. Goals, Motivation and Conflict
were the topics and though relatively simple to identify with by definition, Deb went beyond giving new meaning to these words,
and instead breathed new life into them with her innovative conceptions. There is never a lull in her eight-hour
seminar. Blink and you risk missing something worthwhile. Deb keeps you on your toes with her interactive exercises
and examples. She's also great fun in a social setting and amazingly-she never tires!
This retreat offered far
more than just the semantics of writing, but the effect and power of our craft has as well. The debut of "Crumbs in
the Keyboard: Stories from Courageous Women Who Juggle Life and Writing" was especially dear to my heart, not only because
I am one of eighty contributing authors, but because of the unity this book has inspired, as women, mothers, friends, and
even strangers.
The seeds of the "Crumbs" Project, a two-year labor of love, were planted at the melding of two separate
incidents, both illustrating what it is like to be an author and juggle real life. In a moment of frustration, Pamela
Johnson posted to her writer's list, "How do you people juggle "it" all and still find the time and sanity to write?" The
response was delightful. Everything from humor to heartfelt stories came flooding in, which served as inspiration to Pam.
About
the same time, gifted author, Nancy Richards Akers lost her life in a senseless act of domestic violence. She wasn't the first
and unfortunately won't be the last. But her spirit lives on in each one of us who, as women, pursue this journey called
writing. Ms. Johnson began to wonder how authors could encourage one another and ban together to help fight this insanity
of violence and abuse.
All contributors, have pledged to donate 100% of their royalties to The Center For Women and
Families, located in Louisville, KY. Additionally, Crowley, Texas based publisher, Echelon Press will match the royalties
in donations for the duration of publication. And although NY Times bestseller, Fern Michaels could not attend retreat
due to family commitments, she has pledged, and continues to pledge her commitment to the Crumbs" project and has made
a generous donation to the Center.
On Wednesday, June 5th, Stella Cameron made a presentation to three representatives
of The Center for Women and Families, providing them with the promise of support, a donation of intent, and two off-the-press
copies of "Crumbs in the Keyboard" autographed by many of the projects authors. It was a moving and reverent moment,
made more profound by the impromptu speech given by the Center's director, who eloquently, if not blatantly captured the raw
essence of a battered woman's struggle to survive.
The stories that comprise "Crumbs in the Keyboard" are inspiring,
entertaining, and often heart-rending, which makes purchasing this anthology all the sweeter-because for all the emotions
these stories invoke-none are more rewarding than the gratification you'll derive from the dollars you've spent helping a
desperate family. To obtain your copy visit: www.EchelonPress.com .
Though there were so many highlights to this
four-day retreat, perhaps the most exciting for me personally, with the exception of the "Crumbs" debut, was when Stella Cameron
asked for my autograph! Yes, there are few moments during our writing careers that we are recognized in comparison to
the blood, sweat and tears we shed midst the uphill battle, but I must confess that this one will keep me contented for quite
some time.
A personal note--
from Crumbs contributor Lori Zecca:
The statistics on domestic abuse in this country alone are staggering--and beyond frightening.
By purchasing this wonderful anthology, you will not only be contributing to the support of these battered women and children,
you will be giving hope, the opportunity to rebuild lives and the possibility of stopping the cycle of senseless
violence for future generations. Additionally, you will benefit ten times over, from not only this knowledge, but
the inspiring and often humorous stories of courageous women who struggle daily to balance the needs of their beloved families--and
who took time out of their hectic lives to help others.
With sincere thanks,
Lori
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