The LAST Word

While summer reading programs are almost over, you still can get good book to read. You also can read them on the cool nights of the fall or for the remaining days of the summer. Usually, I post this list earlier in the summer, but I have been trying to finish The 1776 Retreat , working for my editing clients and doing other things that this blog has taken longer than I wanted. I will start with mine.   Notorious Nick and the Devastating Hurricane is the second in the Notorious Nick series. Nine-year-old wizard Nick Brugger is once again facing the Superintendent. This time, the evil school official has created a spell where nightmares are coming to life and dumping all citizens into fear and panic. With the help of his siblings and parents, he has to save the boy about to die and the city. This book was released in June. Notorious Nick and the Terrifying Tornado is the first in the Notorious Nick series. It was released in 2017. Nick finds out he has hyperactive magical malad...

 We coming up on our 250th anniversary . Freedom is important to small businesses. Without the right to build a company anyway you choose, small business owners would not be successful. In some countries, workers who run businesses do it for the state instead of their own prosperity. In the United States, we have the right to property and the pursuit of happiness. Here are reasons why small business owners should be grateful that they opened their companies here in America. 1. No Advertising Restrictions -- Except for a few industries that are regulated, companies can advertise they way they want. They can write their ads that's put their companies in the best light even if they aren't 100 percent honest.  In addition, business owners can advertise on any medium. They can choose social media advertising, newspaper or online publication ads, radio or podcast ads, television or YouTube ads, or digital advertising. 2.  Potential Profits -- Small business owners can earn h...

Every summer when I was young until my parents sold the house, we would go to Cape May, N.J. The house was built by my great-grandmother. It had two three-bedroom apartments, a one-bedroom apartment over the garage and a studio under the garage apartment and next to the actual garage. My grandmother lived upstairs until she died. Then, my parents would rent the upstairs apartment and studio for summer rentals. The garage apartment was rented all year. On Memorial Day, we would go down for the long weekend to open the house for the summer and get it ready to rent. It was a lot of work, and it usually rained that weekend. We didn't get much time at the beach that weekend, but we did get some beach time. Just being there was more relaxing that being at home. The ocean was cold too. My mother's birthday is May 29, which meant it usually fell near Memorial Day weekend, so we usually celebrated it. Her favorite cake was a strawberry shortcake, which we usually made for ...

Every April, we celebrate Earth Day. We talk about climate change and greenhouse gases until we are sick of hearing about it. There are true dangers affecting our environment. There are true ways you as an individual can help save it. Planting more trees is one. Evertreen is an organization that can help you plant trees and give jobs to people in developing nations. But, before you take up your environmental stance, find out the truths versus myths on television and the Internet.  Throughout my journalism career , I studied, wrote and edited newsletters about the environment. I thought I would share some of the myths associated with saving the environment. While I am in favor of saving our natural resources , I save the environment with balance, prayer and patience . You might not agree with me. That is fine. This country was founded on the principle that everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. Here are some environmental myths. 1. Go Solar -- While it is a good idea to...

  In honor of Valentine's Day, here are some tips you will love to improve your marketing without too much cost. 1.  Blog Writing -- When you add a blog to your website, it adds fresh relevant content that keeps the search engines happy. A blog also gives your potential clients some valuable information that keeps them coming back to your site. It shows you are an expert. It often engages your potential clients. You also can use the blog on your social media accounts too. 2. Videos -- People watch videos. When you do videos, you can post on YouTube and have that show up on your website. Videos also rank higher than print and are ways to quickly tell your story or showcase your product or service. If you don't know how to make them look nice, there is software that can help you. Artificial intelligence also can help you with your videos. 3. E-mail Marketing  -- Just like I am doing, send information sheets to your mailing list. Make sure you build an e-mail...

  Writers are always looking for inspiration. They will use art, nature, family life and quotes. They even get inspired from other writers. Marketers also are looking for inspiration for blog ideas or places to sell your products or services. My favorite way to get inspired is through watching television or movies. Here are my favorites. Year Without a Santa Claus – This will inspire you to do whatever it takes to reach a goal. If you don't know the movie, Santa is sick and doesn't want to travel around the world to deliver the gifts. He thinks no one cares about him. Two elves, Jingle and Jangle, go to Southtown USA to find children who care about Santa. They have to get their reindeer from the pound, talk to the mayor and deal with the Miser brothers, but they are successful. The mayors declare a holiday for Santa and show him that children still care about him. They kept trying new ideas until they got what they needed. You can keep trying new things to be su...