barbara techel

This is it! The Cover for My New Book: Wisdom Found in the Pause – Joie’s Gift

This is it! The Cover for My New Book: Wisdom Found in the Pause - Joie's Gift

I want to say a very special thank you to all who either sent me a personal note via email, left a comment on the blog post about voting, or left a comment and/or voted on my Facebook page last week. There were close to 400 of you who shared your thoughts!

While I must admit I was leaning a wee bit more toward the cover above, I was still torn. Reaching out to you for your feedback, I took into consideration the many helpful suggestions and thoughts. I took them back to Caryn, my book cover designer, of Lantern Glow Design.  She was able to lighten the background, make Joie pop a bit more, and make the reflection a bit clearer in the water. I’m very happy with the final result!

What I love about this choice is how warm and inviting it is. While I loved the image of the sky in the background also, I felt that didn’t convey the same warmth I was shooting for. But the GOOD NEWS is that the sky photo fits perfectly for the inside of the book!  It just so happens that this book is divided into two sections and the sky photo will introduce Part Two:

Part One is titled “Joie” and it’s about how Joie came into my life, how we worked through her physical challenges, developed a deeper bond, and the exciting time we had when we were on the set of the film The Surface where as you may recall she plays a small part in the movie.

Part Two is titled “The Pause.” After Joie passed away in August of 2013, I took a two month sabbatical. It’s during that time of reflection and learning to just be that I was able to accept letting go of a chapter in my life that my identity had been so closely tied to, and how I learned to accept and see the many blessings that being in transition is all about. I discovered much wisdom in slowing down and taking time to listen to my heart, hence the title: Wisdom Found in the Pause.

I’m still shooting for a fall 2016 release though don’t have a specific date yet. The formatting of the book is going well, which I’ve undertaken myself this time around. Oh how I love all the resources we now have available for independent publishers!

So please do stay tuned…. and thank you again so very much for all your suggestions and comments. Please know that I truly appreciated each and every one of them!

You are all the best!!

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A Gathering of Authors. We’d Love to Meet You!

May14 final poster

I want to let you know of a special event I’m taking part in this Saturday, May 14th, 2016 – A Gathering of (local) Authors. Hosted by independent book store Book Heads and Seranya Art Studios, both in historic downtown Plymouth, WI.

This is a first time event and I was happy to learn of the many authors right here in my county. I can’t wait to meet them!

I’ve always enjoyed hearing how other writers got their start or what inspires them to write. I hope you do too and will consider coming to check out the many different and talented writers that are taking part in this wonderful event.

There will be readings/talks and signings beginning at 10:30am and running through 3:30pm with a wide variety of genres – something for everyone!

I will be doing a brief talk and reading from my memoir Through Frankie’s Eyes at Seranya Art Studios at 11:30am and then again at 1:30pm at Book Heads Book Store.

Through Frankie's Eyes

Below is a list of the other authors and their books and when they will be doing a talk/reading. There will also be many other activities and sites to see this day during Plymouth’s Historic Downtown Open House. You can learn more by visiting this link.

Author Readings/Signings 

voices

Lisa PaulsonVoices from a Sacred Land

10:30am, Book Heads Book Store

odssey

Belden Paulson, Odyssey of a Practical Visionary (memoir)

11:00am, Book Heads Book Store

noted

Kathy JacobsonNoted, (fiction)

10:30am, Seranya Art Studios

11:30am, Book Heads Book Store

illusions

Ann Marie Graf, Love, The Illusion and Delusions(romance)

delusions

11:00am, Seranya Art Studios

Noon, Book Heads Book Store

dustoff

Allen Nohls, Dustoff & Medevac Vietnam (memoir of Vietman),

Chapter in book about Allen and sole-survivor of mid-air helicopter crash.

Noon, Book Heads Book Store

3:00pm, Seranya Art Studios

left

Beth and Rick Olsen, We Never Left You (memoir, grief)

1:00pm, Book Heads Book Store

kidnapper

Danielle Grandinetti, The Vanishing Kidnapper (fiction/jr.high,western/mystery)

Noon, Seranya Art Studios

2:00pm, Book Heads Book Store

shoe

Mary T. Wagner, When the Shoe Fits (essays on life/humor/inspiration)

12:30pm, Seranya Art Studios

2:30pm, Book Heads Book Store

overnight

Nathan Birr, Overnight Delivery (mystery/detective)

1:30pm, Seranya Art Studios

3:00pm, Book Heads Book Store

road

B.S. Levy, The Last Open Road (fiction, racing)

2:00pm, Seranya Art Studios

3:30pn, Book Heads Book Store

lake

Lisa Lehmann, Lake Michigan, the Wisconsin Shore (collection of photos from shore of Lake Michigan)

1:00pm, Seranya Art Studios

wandering

Ray Last, Wandering (memoir, 60s & 70s)
2:30pm, Serayna Art Studios

three

Joanne Kaminski & Renee Love, Three Little Sisters Learn to Get Along (children’s book)

3:30pm, Serayna Art Studios

You can follow updates on the event page and we hope to meet you this Saturday!

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The Best Part About Being a Children’s Book Author

There really is no greater reward to me. After all these years, I still get choked up when this happens.

I think, in part, (not that I have any regrets), but not having had children of my own — just knowing I connect with kids through my writing makes my heart sing.

Making a difference in this way for our younger generation is truly rewarding.

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