Release Day Party for I Love Lady Bugs by Meaghan Fisher!

Title: I Love Ladybugs! 

Author: Meaghan Fisher, Illustrated by Middy Mathieu

ISBN: 978-1-938768-00-2

Summary:  

Ladybugs, ladybugs, all around.  Follow along with toddler Emma Rose as she finds ladybugs in her garden, in her house, and on her toys….to her delight!  Inspired by the author’s real-life daughter.

Author Bio:  Meaghan Fisher is substitute teacher and a former nanny.  She has over ten years experience working with children.  Meghan has a BS in Psychology and a Minor in Women’s Studies.  She is a published poet and is currently working on her first novel.  Meghan lives in Troy, Ohio, with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs, Sadie and Lexi.

Purchase this book at:  http://www.gypsypublications.com, Amazon.com,  barnesandnobles.com, and bookstores in Miami County in Ohio.

Things I miss: International Food

When I was in college I did my junior semester abroad in Thessaloniki, Greece. One of things I miss most is getting a homemade Gyro off the streets for .50 or so. They were delicious. My friends and I had our favorite Gyro place we would go to. We actually got really addicted to them and were there so much the owner would wave to us whenever we walked by his shop. 

I'll never forget on my return home making the mistake of ordering one at Applebees or somewhere similar. I should have known that I was in trouble when they pronounced it American style:  Guy-row instead of  the proper Greek way that sounds kind of like this; Yearow. It was the most horrible thing I've ever had and I learned a good lesson: never order International Cuisine from a chain restaurant unless it's been years since you've been out of the country!  I also miss tzatziki sauce and living close enough to water to get fresh seafood. It's the only time I ever had Octopus and liked it! 

When I was in the Peace Corps I lived in Morocco, and what I miss most from there is homemade Couscous  When I came back and saw Near Easts' Sun Dried Tomato Couscous I laughed so hard and no one understood why. I also miss eating Tangine and so many other wonderful dishes.

I could go on and on about other international food I miss, but it's a little depressing as I haven't left the country in 10 years. I miss the days when I could travel and not have to worry about finances. 

Blogust: 3 songs that inspire me to change my mood

                                      3 songs that inspire me to change my mood:

           Don't ask me why, but whenever I'm yucky, these songs always cheer me up

 3. My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson
 2. Single Ladies by Beyonce
 1. Tears Dry On Their Own by Amy Winehouse

Blogust: 5 Things I'd do if money were no object

If money were no object, list 5 things I'd do:

5. Go to Machu Picchu 

4. Go to Antarctic
3. Own a beach house 
2. Sail around the world 
1. Open my own bookstore that only sold romances 

Blogust: My biggest regret in life is....

What is my biggest regret in life? 

This is such a hard question to answer! There are many things I regret, but I think the biggest one is not talking to my best friend Cindy before she passed away. We met my freshmen year in college (her sophomore year) and became instead friends in Poli Sci 101. After college we kept up our friendship. We called each other every week and visited each other in every state we lived in. (Illinois for me, South Carolina & Mississippi for her) When she got married, I was her maid of honor. 

She died 6 years ago, when we were 34 of a heart condition no one knew she had. I can't remember now why I hadn't spoken to her in 2 weeks, but it was one of the longest stretches we had ever gone without talking. I remember calling her, and leaving her a teasing message about going to a sports bar to watch Ohio State play Florida for the national championship game with her husband. It turns out she was in the hospital . She had two seizures out of the blue, and when they ran an MRI on her to find out why, it was too much and she passed.  

The whole thing is still like a bad dream, and I miss our visits and phone calls. She was one of those rare people who I could tell anything to and not be judged. I know she is in a better place, but I really wish I hadn't let life get in the way that week. 


The following story is adapted from "The Star Thrower" by Loren Eiseley (1907-1977).  Cindy would share this story with her residence staff in William Carey's annual recognition dinner. 

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer.

He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out, "Good morning, what are you doing?"

The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die."

"But young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You cant possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference to that one."

There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our stars wisely and well, the world will be blessed.

My favorite books

Blogust is hosted by Beyond Elsewhere! This is where you write something every day in August. 

My favourite book(s) and why.

Oh lordy, I could talk about this all day long! I have a list a mile long and have no idea where to start! 

Classics: 

Jane Eyre- This was one of the first classic books I ever read in high school, and it's remained a favorite ever since.

Pride and Prejudice-Really, what's not to love about this book? I came to this party late, having read it for the first time 3 years ago. Darcy never gets old!

Urban Fantasy Favorites: 

The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning- Barrons, the hero is the best Alpha Male ever, and I want to own his bookstore. He's moody, has an ego, but it just makes me like him that much more. Mackayla, the heroine started off to be super annoying, but I grew to love her. The weird thing is, even though she's from the deep south, I picture her talking with a northern accent. 

The Disillusionists SeriesCarolyn Crane- Another non typical heroine and a hero that makes me sigh. I'm so sad that this series is over.








Sci Fi Romance favorites: 

The Katherine Kitty Kat Series by Gini Koch-While I love Sci Fi movies & tv shows, I have a hard time reading them. This series is like Men in Black meets Roswell. It's totes over the top and I adore it. My love affair for this series has led to be the authors (unpaid) assistant.  
This is my favorite in the series!! 





Contemporary Romance:

On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves. I read the blurb for this and thought it sounded creepy. It's about a teacher who gets stranded on a desert island with a student after their plane crashes. It's not creepy at all (they are on the island awhile & he's of age before the romance begins) it's sweet & endearing and an all time favorite. 

The Siren & The Angel by Tiffany Reisz. These books are erotica fiction. They put fifty shades to shame. I loved them because they took me out of my comfort zone, and the heroine is refreshingly blunt & independent. Loved everything about this series. 

7 Interesting facts About Me

Blogust is hosted by Beyond Elsewhere! This is where you write something every day in August.  

7 interesting facts about you

1. I'm the only one in my family not to have been to Italy or on a cruise ship, despite the being    the only one who has lived in two different countries.

2. I've experienced deja vu.  I was in Istanbul, Turkey and I was the way to see hagia sophia and I knew I'd done it before. I also didn't get lost once while I was there. I can't explain the feeling-it just happened. (This is only unusual because I've been known to get lost in the hometown I grew up in)

3. When I was in the Peace Corps I knew how to speak Tachelhit Berber.

4. I own a real Berber rug made from a loom by actual Berbers. (My rug was the first one made by the14 yr old daughter in the family that adopted me.)

5.  I've lived in 4 different states. 

6. I have 29 first cousins on my dads side, and about 15 second cousins. This is immediate family and not the extended family. (My youngest sister was going through sorority rush, was talking to a girl in line who looked at my middles sister picture and said: "I want to meet her." My sister said Why? Her response was: "I think we're related." That girl was our third cousin on my dads side of the family.)  

7. I'm an Alpha Phi.