Sunday, June 9, 2013

An Ireland Connection of Sorts!


Welcome to Mamie’s World!

Reflections of Mamie
A Story of Survival




Although my book is a story of abuse which brings sadness to mind, today I would like to introduce to you a friend and talented editor as well as children’s author, Linda Hales.

Her compassion and love of children is why I have invited her here today. Abuse is a sad haunting issue that is wide spread almost, it seems in epidemic proportions and much of which is never brought to light. We owe our children that special bond of parenthood reading to them, teaching them how to share and love one another which are all critical parts of their well being.

I wanted to refer you to a story teller that will entertain your children while  teaching them the important lessons in life and with Ms. Hales children’s books, you will find that magical connection parents need to find with their families.

My book will debut on June 15th in a Facebook Launch so at the end of this post, please check out the invitation to join us for fun, prizes and a chance to interact with eleven (11) authors with many genres. Below you will also find a brief synopsis of my new book and if you remember to mention you read about it here, I will be happy to extend a special offer on both my paperback and hard cover issues. 

Linda Hales will also be at this launch to introduce her newest children’s book titled: 
Sunshine and her Big Blarney Smile 
staged in Ireland and illustrated on each page.


Reflections of Mamie -A Story of Survival
Presents 
Author, Linda Hales




Writing for Children
I love the purity and innocence of little children and especially their natural, inner wisdom.  I say that they are pure because they are as yet untainted by life and know exactly what they are about and often, what you are about too.  Children are our best and truest friends and will often offer up solutions to life’s problems that may seem naïve on the surface, but once we shed the layers of armour and deception, we are able to see that they were right all along.  They simply see more clearly than adults.  
I recall when Tammy, my daughter, was no more than three, she would approach me when I was clearly upset about something.  She would ask, “What’s wrong Mommy?”  Thinking that my problems were too complex to unload onto a three year old, she would climb up onto my knee and tell me in no uncertain terms, “I will help you fix it Mommy!”  Then she would proceed to give me her answer.  Though I had not explained my problem to her, she invariably gave me the right answer as though she had heard my inner voice.  I learned then that children are very spiritually intuitive and far more in touch with reality and true feelings than those who have been transformed by life into highly guarded adults.  
I am one who believes in the invisible friend theory, much as Rosemary has written about in her book, Reflections of Mamie!  I was thinking about this and a little Sunshine story popped into my mind.  I closed my eyes and out flowed this little tale.  I may put it into storybook format someday but for now, I simply want to share it with you.
Sunshine’s Big Blarney Castle! 
Well hi there!   Surely you know by now that my name is Sunshine and I live in a charming old castle in the Village of Blarney in the heart of Ireland.  
I’m seven years old and I tell my tales to help other little kids learn how important it is to help others and to try, try and try again until they succeed!   My gramma told me to never give up until I see a big happy smile on every sad face.  That is my mission in life!  Maybe I’ll be a nurse, or a teacher or maybe even a writer when I grow up. Then again, I might just decide to stay as I am…a little girl who likes to make sad people smile!
Now I’ll tell you what it is like to live in my magical fairytale castle!  Mine has many rooms and lots of hiding places so I go exploring to find new ones every day.  Oh, I could write a whole book about the secret hiding places I have found but for now, I’ll tell you about the biggest surprise of all!  


One day, as I was wandering about the upstairs hallways and peeking into every room, I was caught by surprise when I heard the giggles of little children.  Just then a tiny voice called out, “Sunshine!  Will you come in and play? It’s rather dark in here and you could light up our room with your big bright smile!”   When I entered the room, I could see that I was in a little girl’s chambers and there were many stuffed animals and dollies on the bed.  I looked around and could not see where the giggles came from but the sounds seemed to come from behind the chamber walls.  I looked for hidden passages and knocked on walls to see if one would open up for me but it did not!  All at once, I heard a sweet little voice coming from the bed, “Sunshine, please come up here and play with us!”  I could not resist so I jumped up on that big old bed and laid among them and promptly fell asleep.  


My little friends were not in the wall after all but were waiting for someone to come and play with them. I go back there every day to play with them and believe it or not, I can even make them smile!



http://www.linnieslittlebooks.com
© Linda Hales 2013
Thank you Linda Hales for sharing your books with us.




 Reflections of Mamie -A Story of Survival, Synopsis
Reflections of Mamie-A Story of Survival  is a sad and joyous personal account of growing up under the worst kind of adversity.  It is a story of survival during times of extreme suffering and deprivation that will leave you feeling Mamie’s anguish. 

A must read for  anyone with a difficult childhood or anyone wanting to understand the cycles of abuse!
...S. Allan Kane, MD

The story begins in the early 1950's suburbs of Houston, Texas.  Mamie is a  young child of four who was unwanted, afraid, abused and with nowhere to turn, learned that she had to stand alone.  Her only friends were her older brother, an abused child himself, and her nanny, who begged their mother to stop beating them.  The father, though he loved his children,  remained passive to the end.  A victim himself, the only protection he offered was a warning to stay out of their mother's reach.  

This story shares Mamie's heroic battle to keep her dreams alive and hold on to her spirit. How she finds her way out of fifty-four years of abuse is yours to discover in her fascinating memoirs. 


Twitter: @childabusestory and @AdkinsMamie




FACEBOOK VIRTUAL PARTY: 
SURF ‘N BOOKS BEACH PARTY
This is a Facebook party so sit back in your easy chairs, enter the event, join and come talk with us all while entering to win one of 14 prizes being given away!




Thank You for Your Interest,

            


 







       









This book is available from my web site or through Amazon in paperback, hard cover and ebook versions.


Also available direct from Chase Publishing an e-Book version:






Sunday, May 12, 2013

Introducing Reflections of Mamie


EXTRAORDINARY DREAMS OF AN IRELAND TRAVELER
PRESENTS

REFLECTIONS OF MAMIE
A Story of Survival
by
Rosemary “MAMIE” Adkins



Today, I wanted to share with you an interview conducted 
by

Trish Jackson, Author 
Saddle up for a wild read!


Trish:

My featured author today is, more than anything, a survivor. Her book addresses the challenges of an abused child and illustrates how important it is never to give up hope – that if you believe things can get better, they will.

So Rosemary, you write Creative Non Fiction. It's a little different from writing fiction – basically a true story written as if it were fiction, so you know how it begins and ends before you write it. Are you a pantser? (You write by the seat of your pants and the story is all there in your head.)  Or are you a plotter? (You prefer to create a plot first?)


Mamie:

I am a planner-a schemer and plotting has been my way of life since the age of four with dreams that kept my spirit alive.

Trish:

So you do take the time to plot -- to decide what you are going to write before you start putting it down on paper.  Is there a method you use?


Mamie

I use my dreams to create my own destiny. To discover what and where I want to be. Believing in your dreams, all things can be achieved if you dare to dream-never giving up on yourself.


Trish:

Wow! Coming from a survivor, that's great advice. In other words, all things are possible if you can only believe. What do you think today's readers want and how does it differ from readers of the past?


Mamie:

Recently I have been doing a little test marketing and have discovered there is a huge difference from what readers want today and what they wanted in the past. In years gone by, people took up the attitudes of not getting involved no matter what they may have witnessed or knew but today readers are looking to educate themselves on issues that they can understand and give a helping hand. I believe while readers enjoy the escape of many genres, it appears they enjoy perhaps even more to read and understand the pain of others through Memoirs.
Trish:

I'm sure you're right. Readers today want to be emotionally engaged, and there is so much more to a true story, particularly when it is about something that so many others have experienced. What book do you want to feature in this post?


Mamie:

Reflections of Mamie 
-A Story of Survival

The genre is Creative Non Fiction/Memoir

The story begins in the early 1950's suburbs of Houston, Texas.  Mamie is a young child of four who was unwanted, afraid, abused and with nowhere to turn, learned that she had to stand alone.  Her only friends were her older brother, an abused child himself, and her nanny, who begged their mother to stop beating them.  The father, though he loved his children, remained passive to the end.  A victim himself, the only protection he offered was a warning to stay out of their mother's reach.  

This story shares Mamie's heroic battle to keep her dreams alive and hold on to her spirit. How she finds her way out of fifty-four years of abuse is yours to discover in her fascinating memoirs. 


Trish:

I can't begin to imagine how horrific that must have been. What inspired you to finally put it down on paper and share it with others?

Mamie:

Pain. The simple emotion of pain inspired me to write this book but it took decades to come to fruition. Writing this book has become my sole goal as a legacy so I could reach out to those in pain being abused, abandoned, afraid, alone with nowhere to turn. Abuse is a lonely place to be and through my book I hope to offer a comparison from my life to perhaps their own so they will realize that if one never allows their spirits to be broken and never give up, life can belong to them again.

The message is very clear and once again, I hope to convey that the dreams in your heart with the willingness to fight for your spirit and never giving up will at some point bring you happiness and freedom.

Trish:

What would Mamie, your main character say to you if she was to meet you now?

Mamie is the main character in this tale of growing up knowing she was unwanted, unloved and abused. If she could tell you anything it would be to always reach or the stars and let nothing every stand in your way. Giving up in life is final and something you can’t change so never allow anyone to steal away your dreams, hopes or spirit and remember that you ultimately control your own destiny-NEVER GIVE UP! Fight to hold onto yourself and spirit-things will get better someday!

Trish:

Did you self-publish or query and hope a publisher would accept your work and how did that work out for you?

Mamie:

I have published both my own books now. I love the freedom to market the way I want to do so and not giving up control of who, what and where my book finds for a journey. Personal communication with my readers is my preference. That is not to say I wouldn’t enjoy life a bit easier than this more difficult route and the success of being traditionally published but it is working out for me.

The purpose for writing Reflections of Mamie was to reach that one person that needs hope and by self- publishing, it is more personal and I get that chance to talk with anyone that reaches out.

Trish:

Promotion is the key to success. What do you do to promote your writing? 

Mamie:

As a self- published Author, marketing means writing every day whether it be writing blurbs to Tweet, creating blog posts, posting on Facebook or dreaming of new books in your heart to write. Then we have book signings, interviews both newspaper, radio and if lucky television.

Trish:

Do you have any advice for your fellow writers/authors? 

As I have said before, I am a great believer of never giving up so no matter what obstacles you feel are road blocks to your writing sit down every day even if it is to stare at a blank page. Set a time for writing the same time each day and commit to it as though it were a job. Soon, you will find yourself wanting to do nothing else.

Trish:

Writers are always working on a new project. Tell us about yours. 

My next project is promoting this new book and recreating my first book to perhaps a coffee table version so I can share the beauty of Ireland and what was my first dream come true with regards to writing!

Trish:

That sounds like a great idea. Give us a good reason to buy your book.
Mamie:

Abuse must stop and the more someone educates themselves to the signs of abuse, the more likely something can be done to help. Looking at the journey traveled by Mamie, you will understand the loneliness and despair and may just reach out to that someone that considers their life is not worth living and save that life. Don’t you think it would be worth that effort to read about the devastation a child or even an adult in order to improve life for those around you?

Trish:

Absolutely! Please tell us a little about yourself. 

In case you did not realize by now, this is my story. I was born and raised in Houston, Texas to a family that found others to replace me. Abused, afraid, and nowhere to turn I learned to stand alone at age four.

Today, after five decades, I am finally free and have my own family whom I love and am so proud to call my own. An incredible daughter that makes us proud every day of her life is the joy of my life now. My husband and I will celebrate our twenty fifth wedding anniversary this August while rejoicing this book has finally been finished after sixteen years of struggling the demons and fear to find my voice. 

To tell you the truth, I used to love quilting until I ran out of people to make them for so now all I am interested in and do is write-from sunup to sundown!

We love to travel and explore new destinations making friends world wide fulfilling dreams of a childhood when dreams were all I had.

I decided to write for a release and way to share in hopes of helping others find their way. That journey began with our adventures in Ireland and my first book-EXTRAORDINARY DREAMS OF AN IRELAND TRAVELER published last January. Now as my legacy, the new book REFLECTIONS OF MAMIE is about to launch. My greatest dream of all to get rid of this inside turmoil and find peace at last.

We have a huge love of animals and children so my cause I support are two. The first charity is Dreamcatchers for Abused Children who do so much to help educate and counsel but need the support from everyone possible.  My love of animals takes us to Kitsap Humane Rescue Society where they do not refuse any animal that has been abused or abandoned. Abuse is such a bad turn of events it must stop as cycles are clear. A large share of my profits support these two agencies.

RECOMMENDATION:

Reflections of Mamie-A Story of Survival is a sad and joyous personal account of growing up under the worst kind of adversity.  It is a story of survival during times of extreme suffering and deprivation that will leave you feeling Mamie’s anguish. 

A must read for anyone with a difficult childhood or anyone wanting to understand the cycles of abuse!
...S. Allan Kane, MD

Trish:

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

Mamie:


Twitter: @childabusestory and @AdkinsMamie

Web Site: http://www.Reflections-of-Mamie.com (Under Construction)

BLOG: Reflections-of-Mamie.blogspot.com


FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rosemary-Mamie-Adkins/







  Trish Jackson, Author 
         Saddle up for a wild read!                          
    www.trishjackson.com




Rosemary  “Mamie” Adkins
Launch June 2013
Reseve your copy today!
Thank you Trish for having me on your blog and allowing me to share your interview with my friends here.  I’m still a dreamer but now one that is happy with her own family.















Thursday, May 9, 2013

Plastic Patrick



EXTRAORDINARY DREAMS 
OF AN
IRELAND TRAVELER

PRESENTS

STUART CARRUTHERS





 
Stuart Carruthers was born in England, where I lived until 2005 when I decided to sell everything and move to Taiwan because "no one I know has ever been there". Several years later I married and had two children. With two small children, my time for hobbies is limited, so right now I just use my time to write.


Plastic Patrick


I’ve forgotten what it was like to be made of flesh and bone. I used to be. Everyone used to be. But by the time it happened to me it was ‘normal’ and almost a rite of passage. In the early days, once the fear and panic had subsided, people even held plastic parties. That was 80 years ago.


What caused it? Well today we know, but it took many years find out. It began in the old Irish communities around the world. Places like New York and Boston were the first to succumb. A few days after one St Patrick’s Day, reports started coming in of people not being able to taste things and their mouths feeling furry. Initially it was put down to bad Guinness or the green dye they used to make it fun, but it spread beyond their mouths and soon they struggled to breath and they were hospitalized and locked up in secure wards. They were the unlucky ones; they were prodded, probed and dissected to find out what was happening. The real figures never came out but it’s believed that many thousands of victims were killed and dissected to discover the cause.


As the contagion spread, and the rest of the country came down with similar symptoms, the panic really started. Within 30 days those initial victims, who’d been hospitalized when their plasticization became more obvious, were completely transformed and had the glossy sheen that today we consider normal. But, as it became apparent that these people weren’t dying and that the numbers of affected spread into the millions around the country the panic subsided and they were treated with suspicion and fear and rounded up into camps as the authorities tried to contain the spread.


Within three years 50 percent of the population was affected and the camps had been closed down still no one knew the cause and it had by then gone around the world. And then, the first plastic baby was born, kicking and screaming it looked normal except for its plastic sheen. It soon became a case of them and us: the Plastics who were immortal and only ate seaweed and the Fleshes who still consumed the contents of the planet.


Within another three years the last person became plastic. There were no more flesh babies being born and most people had forgotten about the cause. When the scientists and politicians and become plastic the incentive to do anything about it had waned and now, as you know, we’re all plastic.


But one last thing before we go our separate ways:

One day, out of the blue an advert was placed on social networking sites and worlds’ newspapers that claimed responsibility. Its message was a simple one “Now you’re all plastic, you fake Oirish. Signed Plastic Patrick.”





Thank you Stuart for yet another slant on Irish tales!

Please come again and leave a comment.



   Extraordinary Dreams 
of an 
Ireland Traveler
http://www.ExtraordinaryIreland.com





Rosemary "Mamie" Adkins



Please watch for the launch of my new book, Reflections of Mamie-A Story of Survival-June 2013











Sunday, April 28, 2013

A Journey with a Difference - Part 2


Extraordinary Dreams of an Ireland Traveler
WELCOMES BACK
Author Jon Magee
in
Extraordinary Memories
Across the seas COMES OUR FRIEND AUTHOR JON MAGEE with another story of memories written and shared just for you.
I ask him to share his life with us once more as well. I know you will find the following truly a  life of inspiration and be so happy you have met this giving and talented writer.
 
Thank you Jon

Author Jon Magee
A Journey with a difference (2)

Sometimes it is interesting to be able to look through newspaper clippings of past headlines, and reflect. There are two that my late mother kept, they were items that were important to her, both of them dated in 1977.
The Daily Mail has the headline "One day old baby saved in major heart operation", with a sub heading declaring "It was a tremendous piece of  surgery. A few years ago she would have died".

The Belfast Telegraph in Northern Ireland has the following head line.

BABY HEART "FIRST". Operation on day - old girl!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the 1970's the regular news in Ireland was of death and violence as terrorism took its toll on innocent life. But these headlines, dated in November 1977 took news in a different direction. It was a message of hope in a world of hopelessness.

The story recounts how Professor Philip Caves, aged 37, a native of Belfast, performed this operation in Glasgow on a baby one day old. One can sense how delicate this operation was as they described the heart being operated on was a mere 3 inches in size, and it "was so tiny it was like mending a watch".
The baby was born in a small hospital in the north of Scotland in Elgin, before taking the journey first to Aberdeen, and then flying by helicopter to Glasgow. The 3rd daughter of an Electronic Technician in the air force and his wife.

Hope, in the midst of what seemed impossible!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Those were the headlines, the public face of what was happening in November 1977. However, what about the private moments that were away from the glare of the media? Picture, for a moment, a father and mother who would have been talking through those anxious moments.  A sea change of emotions through those brief days. The elation of new life, the puzzlement at the added interest the staff was taking in the maternity unit, the anxiety and concern, realizing that life can be so fragile.

There were the moments of tears, along with the times of encouragement as humanity showed its caring face, encouraging and consoling in times of uncertainty. Always hoping against hope, though knowing the worst thoughts can always be possible.
The operation was a success, and Professor Caves did a wonderful job. Yet at 3 days of age the baby of hope was to come to the end of her short life, not because the operation was a failure, far from it, but because a further heart defect undiagnosed had emerged.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Faith Dawn Magee, as the baby was called, was OUR baby, our 3rd daughter. It is therefore, for us, more than a headline in the media. I remember hearing those words that no parent wishes to hear, and taking that long walk to the room where my wife was as a patient, wondering how I should share the news. A few days before the excitement of new life, then the frantic journey from Elgin to Aberdeen where, it was thought, resources would be better than the smaller hospital. Soon it was realized even Aberdeen could not help, other than to care for the mother as baby was flown by helicopter to Glasgow.

These are situations that have no clear answers. Later we were to discover that this all resulted from Diabetes that only appeared through pregnancy, but there will always be questions that have no answers.

Yet there are some positive things that we cling to. We know the operation was a success, and we are aware of the amount of time and effort that was given to that wee life. We know we are fortunate that we live in a country where the medical hope is not dependent on how much money we have, or if we have sufficient insurance cover. We are aware that much was learnt from those few days which have been the means of giving life to other wee children. And though there are questions that are never answered we know that we could not have moved on in our lives without the confidence that we sensed that we were not alone, and in our faith we felt the comfort of the God who gave to us life, albeit for a short time, in our own wee baby, Faith.
He promised He would never leave us, and for us that had to be more than a scriptural verse open to debate between those of differing persuasions, it was our experience.


Please be sure to stop by Jon Magee's site on Amazon for your copy of the incredible books he has to offer. The addresses are:
FACEBOOK
WHERE Jon Magee's Book can be Purchased:
Author of "From Barren Rocks to Living Stones" & "Paradise Island,  Heavenly Journey" lochgellybaptist@aol.com
 

Thank you once more for visiting my blog. 
Rosemary "Mamie" Adkins
Extraordinary Dreams
of an
Ireland Traveler