On My Own by Donna Lee Schillinger

Join Donna Lee Schillinger, author of the nonfiction Christian Living book, On My Own Now: Straight Talk from the Proverbs for Young Christian Women who Want to Remain Pure, Debt-free and Regret-free (Quilldriver, April 2009), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in April on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About the Author:

A born and bred Texan, Donna Lee Schillinger has a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science and a master’s in cultural anthropology. She served in the Peace Corps in Quito, Ecuador, and continued to work in social services for 10 years, serving several years as executive director of a homeless shelter for single, young mothers.In 2000, Donna “retired” from social work to take care of her elderly grandparents and homeschool her daughter.

She soon began The Quilldriver, a custom publisher for nonprofit organizations and traditional publisher of inspirational nonfiction books.

Award-winning editor and publisher, Donna makes her writing debut with On My Own Now: Straight Talk from the Proverbs for Young Christian Women who Want to Remain Pure, Debt-free and Regret-free.

She launched a nonprofit organization of the same name, with the mission to provide encouragement for young adults to maintain their Christian faith when they get out on their own. Visit her Web site at www.OnMyOwnNow.com.

Donna lives in rural Arkansas with her husband John and children.

About the Book:

“Freedom! Finally, life on my own!”Excited about making your mark on the world, living life on your own terms and eating ice cream for dinner if you want? Being on your own is so great, but when the decisions get a little more difficult than “Do I wash a black-and-white striped shirt with whites or colors?”, this little book will be invaluable.

On My Own Now shows you how to apply biblical wisdom of the ages to choosing everything from friends to underwear; exercising and exorcising (ooh, creepy); juggling commitments and balancing bills; taking mom and dad for all they’re worth (er, uh, we mean like taking their advice and stuff); and waiting, dating and maybe someday mating.

On My Own Now is about strengthening young women’s faith and preventing the screw-ups that can brand us for life. Donna Lee Schillinger draws on her eclectic past as a rebellious youth, Peace Corps volunteer, social worker, single mother, court mediator and executive director of a home for single young mothers.

She uses gender-reversed Proverbs with real-life applications to wave the red flag of caution for young women, warning against the pitfalls of a post-modern, sexually casual, consumer-is-king society that is indelibly scarring youth with cynicism, sexually transmitted diseases and bad credit.This compact collection of quirky vignettes is great for daily devotions, affirmations, confessions, benedictions and many other religious “tions,” all with the goal of keeping you on the yellow brick road. After all, you’re not in Kansas anymore – you’re on your own now (unless you live in Kansas, then you would still be in Kansas…).

Here's is the interview that I conducted with Ms. Schillinger:

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

On My Own Now is about strengthening young women’s faith and preventing the screw-ups that can brand us for life. I draw on my eclectic past and use gender-reversed Proverbs with real-life applications to wave the red flag of caution for young women, warning against the pitfalls of a post-modern, sexually casual, consumer-is-king society that is indelibly scarring youth with cynicism, sexually transmitted diseases and bad credit.

Who has influenced you throughout your career as a writer?

I had a great professional mentor in Lorraine Short, a former editor I worked under. She really taught me how to improve writing.

I borrowed the format of my book from some of the works of Dr. Robert H. Schuller. And his writings have been very encouraging to me, in the most literal sense of the word "encouraging."
Overall, though, this writing thing is a terribly lonely business. When I get the occasional pat on the back or "chin up!" I save it in a file labeled "encouraging words." Then when I get the inevitable rejection that comes with the business, I turn to that file to help me shake it off.

What are you currently working on?

My next project is editing an anthology called Purity’s Big Payoff/Premarital Sex is a Big Ripoff. The format will be a two-faced book (my new Quilldriver imprint!): on one side, the cover will read Purity’s Big Payoff. When turned over and flipped upside down, the cover will read Premarital Sex is s Big Rip-off. Think in terms of an instruction manual written in both English and Spanish, where one side is English and then the book flips upside down and other side is written in Spanish. Thus the last page of the purity book is immediately followed by the last page of the premarital sex book, but upside down, and vice versa.

Each half of the book will begin with an introduction by me. The intro to the purity book will include discussion of scriptural references to abstaining from sex outside of marriage, as well as the practical benefits of overcoming the strong cultural norm of premarital sex. Then up to 10 selected essays will follow, telling personal stories about how the essayists were victorious in this spiritual battle and have reaped practical benefits in their lives as a result. In the introduction of the premarital sex half of the book, I will tell my motivation for this project, and how important I believe it is for people who have suffered the results of secret sin to share their heartaches with young adults so that they can understand who is harmed in sex outside of marriage and what the very real ramifications of disobedience to God’s will in this area are. There will also be some discussion of the concept of recapturing one’s purity despite past sexual experience. Then up to 10 selected essays will follow, telling personal stories about how the essayists have experienced negative consequences from sex before marriage, and hopefully how God has restored the writer and even given them beauty for ashes.

I still need about three more essays on purity. Let me hear from you if the white dress on your wedding day symbolized something!

Biggest weakness?

Without a doubt my biggest weakness is a lack of interest in self-promoting and a very awkward feeling when I have to do it! I think this is hard for a lot of writer’s to stomach. I recall the day I realized that was the reality of being a published writer. I just felt like throwing in the towel.
I read in these marketing books about people who can sell the gas station attendant a book when they stop for gas. I do not have that kind of personality.

You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?

Do you have many people say the Bible? Without it, I would probably just slash my wrists with shells and then wade out in the water to become shark bait. That is, after I enjoyed the solitude for a few months! If I knew I was going to be rescued, I would probably take War and Peace. I listened to it on audio once – unabridged – 57 hours! It was awesome.

Are you a different person now than you were 5 years ago? In what way/s?

Oh, yes. I can’t begin to tell you in a brief interview how I’ve changed. I went through a tragic loss, followed by depression, then revelation, then inspiration. That journey leaves some indelible marks on a person. To learn more, read the only book I hope never to make a penny on: Dear Hunter: Letters to My Stillborn Son, a free e-book at http://www.onmyownnow.com/downloads.html.

Is there anything you regret doing/not doing?

I have a lot of regrets. And in the end, that’s mostly a good thing. I used to tell my friends in college that when I’m old, I want to regret the things I’ve done, not the things I didn’t do. The same is still true, but the difference is that I now have some serious regrets under my belt and I’m not so flippant about throwing that motto out there. In general, I still say, "Grab the gusto! Take chances. Do something against the odds." Now I would add the caveat to seek God’s will in the matter. And I believe God is the entity out there offering the most big risk/big reward opportunities. If God only ever wanted us to play it safe, there would have been no call for 365 variations on "Do not be afraid" in His word.

I’m glad to be able to say that I have very few regrets of things I didn’t do – most of my regrets are things I did do (fulfilling my own prophesy). I talk a lot about those regrets in On My Own Now.

It has actually taken me quite a bit of thought to come up with a regret of something I didn’t do – some "go for it!" I passed up, but here it is: I wish I had bought my wedding dress! I had one made to save money and I regretted it! Now, I’m already planning a 25th anniversary renewal of vows so I can order a wedding dress. Zensane? You be the judge.

Zensane...hmmm...I might be that every once in awhile:) Thanks so much for the great interview!

WIN PRIZES!!!

ON MY OWN NOW VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '09 will officially begin on April 1 and end on April 30. You can visit Donna's blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/ in March to find out more about this great book and talented author!As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available.

Amazing Grays by Maggie Rose Crane

About the book:

Balanced somewhere between a memoir and a how-to, AMAZING GRAYS is a uniquely refreshing and candid look at midlife for those unwilling to become feeble old women with boobs in their laps, dreams on the shelf, and Memory Lane their only destination. As a leading edge boomer, Maggie uses her own journey through midlife to shatter stereotypes about aging. At the core of her message, she exposes the fears and anxieties that often haunt maturing women and reveals how to mindfully navigate the turbulence with wisdom, perspective and practice. She encourages women to relish their roles as Amazing Grays and not waste time and energy trying to hang on to the past.

For women who are entertaining the possibility of life without hair dye, Maggie shares her story of going gray. She outlines several strategies to take you from colored to natural and includes photos and stories of women who have taken the plunge.

Hers is not an anti-aging message. This book is a little about going gray and a lot about aging mindfully and joyously (with a healthy dose of kicking and screaming) from an everyday womans perspective.

I was lucky enough to be able to ask Maggie some questions. This is what she had to say:

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

Amazing Grays is written for baby boomer women. It’s about aging mindfully, no matter what ones hair color may be. Balanced somewhere between a how-to and a memoir, I share my story of deciding to live without hair dye – and the ensuing battle with all my fears and expectations about getting old! Rather than allow my fears to run my life, I decided to face them head on. I explored the social, physical, psychological and spiritual dimensions of aging, and finally came to appreciate that I could age with grace, gratitude and gusto – or take the journey kicking and screaming while hanging on to the past. Either way – I was still getting older! I chose the first option, but I admit I did some kicking and screaming, too!

I’ve come to understand that life is not lived by regretting or hanging on to the past, or worrying about the future. Life is lived in the NOW, moment by moment. By taking it a step at a time and engaging with the people, activities and events that bring a smile to my lips and a song to my heart – I can guarantee I will create a life that reflects the woman I am today. It’s actually the key to living longer. You don’t really add years to your life – you just live those years so fully grounded in the present moment that it feels like a very loooong time.

Did something specific happen to prompt you to write this book?

I had a life changing epiphany in a hair salon where it became clear I would never color my hair again. Little did I know it was the start of a very bumpy journey? Going gray was the precipitating event that threw me up against all my expectations about aging. While not every woman decides to go gray – the effects of aging show up for everyone. Children leave home, careers wind down, bodies change, relationships evolve, values mature and the seeds of unrest begin to bloom.

After wrestling with my fears, compiling stacks of research and going on a 3-month spiritual retreat, it "came" to me. I realized that as a leading edge boomer, it might be helpful to chronicle my experience and share what I had learned so that women who were just starting their journey into midlife might have a guidebook as they began to traverse these waters. I wanted to extend a hand to help them not only go through it, but also mindfully explore these purposeful changes in a woman’s life and better appreciate the circle of life.

What cause are you most passionate about and why?

I am most passionate about encouraging women to embrace the second half of life as a fresh start. By becoming an Amazing Gray (again, it has nothing to do with hair color!) I’m hoping that the gigantic pool of talent and experience that lies in the sweaty palms of baby boomer women can help to remedy many of the key issues facing our society today.

So many of us have put our personal dreams on the backburner for any number of valid reasons. ALL of us have wisdom and experience we can bring to the table. Now is the time to reawaken slumbering dreams and uncover what we value. We can take steps to heal old wounds, forgive, and let go of the parts of ourselves that we’ve outgrown, summon our courage and move on to live mindfully and authentically as the amazing woman we’ve become.

In the last year have you learned or improved on any skills?

YES! In an effort to challenge my own fears and expectations about aging I’m trying new things. I had forgotten how much I love to dance, so I took a dance class. My teacher encouraged me to try out for my cities ‘Senior Follies’, a variety show featuring folks over 50. I was petrified, but tried out anyway and was offered a role as a dancer and…get ready for this – a showgirl! At 60! It was great fun and I learned some things about myself.

I also went to a spa that provides a challenge course and walked unaided across a 30-foot telephone pole suspended 40 feet in the air. (Yes, I had a belay line so if I fell I wouldn’t die!) It was terrifying - but so empowering. I was also harnessed and hoisted 40 feet into the air holding on to a small rope, which, once I let go, allowed me to freefall and swing in huge arcs. I got to see how hanging on with fear was hard work – and just keeps me stuck in a standstill. Things tend to open up when you let go.

I also took an online course in Social Marketing – so I can communicate with 21st Century tools. Frankly, I’d rather walk across the telephone pole!

What is the most important thing in your life right now?

Connecting with midlife women and opening up the conversation about what’s going on with our bodies, our emotions, and the unrest many of us are feeling. I want to explore how we can reclaim our vitality, reawaken slumbering dreams and support one another in making decisions that allow us to live with grace, gratitude and gusto!

Do you have any advice for writers or readers?

I would encourage readers to take the time to answer the questions scattered throughout my book. They have been crafted to facilitate awakening the unconscious mind and help us look beyond the norm. Hopefully, they inspire contemplation and awareness - which is necessary for change.

What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?

There are several books about aging and midlife written by celebrities. While they are wonderful women, most of them live very privileged lives. They have notoriety, personal stylists, hairdressers, drivers, cooks, personal trainers and the money to purchase any product or treatment they desire. While I see no problem with that – most of us can’t relate.

Amazing Grays focuses on my experience as an everyday baby boomer woman maturing in a youth obsessed society. I’ve been married, divorced, a single parent, fired, remarried, dealt with a blended family, and survived several careers. I drive my own car, do my own hair and makeup, cook my own meals, pick out my own clothes and go to the gym. I believe that many women will be able to relate to my journey and find insights and strategies on how to age mindfully, with style and grace - (and a little kicking and screaming!)

If you could go back and change one day, what would it be?

Funny, I thought about this long and hard – for 5 seconds! I would not change a thing, because everything that "was" had led me to what "is" – and I like what "is".

What is the most important lesson you have learned from life so far?

That changes in ones life are purposeful. It takes more time and energy to resist life than to simply let go and live it.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Visit http://www.maggiecrane.com/. I’m currently offering a free bookmark with purchase of Amazing Grays. It features a wonderful quote for midlife women, affirming how powerful and amazing we truly are. After all, we become what we think about most!

About the author:

Maggie Crane was born on the leading edge of the Baby Boom generation, and has had the quintessential boomer experience: she worked her way through college, married, had a child, divorced, thrived in a few careers, survived as a single mom, remarried and struggled with blended family issues.

After traveling the country for nearly a decade delivering leadership and life skills workshops for women, the demands of her travel schedule and the onset of menopause collided with the big 5-0. She was moved to press the pause button on her life and reassess her priorities. She watched in astonishment as her skin began to lose its elasticity, and was mildly horrified when her tummy morphed into a permanent flotation device. Smile lines etched in deeper and she found it necessary to color her hair more often. When she made the decision to stop dyeing her hair, she came face-to-face with her fears about aging in a youth oriented culture. And so began her not-so-graceful quest to age mindfully.

Gradually, Maggie learned that her frustrations, fears and anxieties about aging grew quiet when she faced them directly. She learned to refocus her energies on the people, things and activities that brought a smile to her face and a song to her heart. By letting go of old identities and rediscovering new passions, she has gradually (but not always gracefully) hitched her rope to a growing movement of Amazing Grays.

WIN PRIZES!!!

AMAZING GRAYS VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '09 will officially begin on January 5 and end on January 30. You can visit Maggie's blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/ in January to find out more about this talented lady!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available.