Wednesday, December 15, 2010

If You Celebrate it....Say it!!



The holidays are such an amazing time of year. They bring out the best in all of us. As I decorate, shop, and take in all the sights, sounds and smells of the season, I wonder, why can't it be like this all the time? What is it about the holidays that makes everyone just a little bit nicer and smile just a little wider?

We all might celebrate different holidays this season, but no matter which one we celebrate, it's all about peace and love. Right!? My mixed melting pot of a family happens to be Christian and we celebrate Christmas, but I love to share all the holidays with my amazing diverse group of friends. If we all took a moment to learn about each other's religions and celebrations, the unknown would now be known and the scary wouldn't be so scary anymore. It's not about condemning, it's about accepting. It's not about converting, it's about learning. There is nothing evil, or wrong, or "satanic" about a different religion....it's just that....different. Whether you celebrate Christmas, or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or nothing at all, it's your prerogative as a citizen of the world to do just that.....in peace.

So this year my wish for all of us is to learn about each other, accept each other, live with each other, and love each other. If you celebrate Christmas...I wish you a very merry Christmas. If you celebrate Hanukkah....I say, happy Hanukkah. If you celebrate Kwanzaa....I wish you happy Kwanzaa. If you are determined to be politically correct.....I wish you Happy Holidays! =)

It's okay to be proud of your religion and traditions as long as you respect what others celebrate as well. See how easy it is.....let's all stop walking on egg shells......if you celebrate it.....SAY IT!!!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

My Story in a Very Special Book......Available Now!

Available for purchase at:
LL- Publications:
Amazon.com:

Just in time for the holidays I would like to share a book with you that is near and dear to my heart. It’s called Oil and Water and Other Things That Don’t Mix.

This is an anthology of stories, poems, and recollections from 27 authors. The pieces all focus on the theme: “Conflict…Resolution Optional.” This book will make you laugh, cry, think, and may even make you angry. The volume includes work from award-winning authors and journalists, newly published authors, as well as talented new authors making their debut.

The BP oil spill disaster in April 2010 prompted authors Zetta Brown and Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson Brown from the She Writes™ online community of writers to develop the charity anthology Oil and Water and Other Things That Don’t Mix. 100% of the proceeds will be divided between charities that not only help the wildlife and environment, but also the people living in the area. With this in mind, they picked The Bay Area Food Bank (http://www.bayareafoodbank.org//) and MOBILE Baykeeper® (http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org//) to aid their continuing mission to help the Gulf Coast communities affected.

There are many reasons why this book is so special to me. First, I’m thrilled and honored to be part of the book and to be able to share my own water story in this special anthology. Second, the fact that 100% of the proceeds are going to help the Gulf and the people of that region…well that just rocks! Lastly, when my life was turned upside down due to a water tragedy, I promised myself that I was going to make it my mission to help others affected by water tragedies of their own. It doesn’t get much worse than the Gulf oil spill when it comes to water disasters. It actually brings tears to my eyes to be able to share my water struggle in a book that is going to help those dealing with one of the worst water atrocities of all time. It’s surreal, it’s special, and it’s amazing. Words can’t express how proud I am to be part of this book.

So, if you want some wonderful reading, a great gift for family and friends, and most importantly, a wonderful book for an important cause, you can order your copy now......just in time to finish up your holiday list.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as we all enjoyed writing it. This one is pretty darn special…....

Oil and Water…and Other Things That Don’t Mix is available from http://www.amazon.com//, http://www.barnesandnoble.com/, direct from the publisher at http://www.ll-publications.com//, and from many other online book retailers. Other retailers who wish to carry the book should contact Jim Brown at editor@ll-publications.com for details.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Oil and Water and Other Things That Don't Mix......Publication Date Dec. 15, 2010

Media Release
 Oil and Water...and Other Things That Don’t Mix
Anthology to raise funds to aid the Gulf Coast clean-up
Edited by Zetta Brown and Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson Brown

Published by LL-Publications
Release Date: December 15, 2010

$14.99 (US) / £9.99 (UK/EU)
ISBN: 978-1-905091-85-0
© LL-Publications, 2010

Permission to Forward Granted

The BP oil spill disaster in April 2010 prompted authors Zetta Brown and Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson Brown from the She Writes™ online community of writers to develop the charity anthology Oil and Water...and Other Things That Don’t Mix. All proceeds will be divided between charities that not only help the wildlife and environment, but also the people living in the area. With this in mind, they picked the charities of The Bay Area Food Bank (http://www.bayareafoodbank.org/) and MOBILE Baykeeper® (http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org/) to aid their continuing mission to help the Gulf Coast communities affected.

After placing a call for submissions last June, the resulting anthology features award-winning authors, poets, journalists, bloggists, newly published authors, and talented new authors making their debut. The women and men contributing to the anthology came from everywhere wanting to do something to help the Gulf region.

Jenne’ R. Andrews - Shonell Bacon - Lissa Brown - Mollie Cox Bryan
Maureen E. Doallas - Mylène Dressler - Nicole Easterwood
Angela Elson - Melanie Eversley - Kimeko Farrar - L B Gschwandtner
John Klawitter - Mary Larkin - Linda Lou - Kelly Martineau
Patricia Anne McGoldrick - Ginger McKnight-Chavers - Carl Palmer
Karen Pickell - Dania Rajendra - Cherie Reich - Jarvis Slacks
Tynia Thomassie - Amy Wise - Dallas Woodburn
Zetta Brown - Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson Brown

The official theme of the anthology is “Conflict...Resolution optional.” Not all stories are specific to the South, but all have the theme of conflict and there is fiction and non-fiction inside. The stories, poems and recollections will make you laugh, cry, think—and some may even get you angry—and topics range from personal relationships to dealing with the kitchen oven.

The editors of Oil and Water...and Other Things That Don’t Mix are from the South. Zetta Brown is from Texas but currently lives in Scotland with her husband Jim Brown, and together they own and operate LL-Publications that will publish the anthology. Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson Brown was born and raised on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. She is currently an editor and ghostwriter for several publishing houses in New York and the Berkshires and is following in the footsteps of her grandfather Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, founder of DC Comics.

“Despite our names, Nicky and I are not related,” says Zetta Brown. “In fact, we have never met in person. We met through the social network She Writes™ in the Southern Writers subgroup. When the oil disaster happened, the members in our little group were disgusted—which is Southern for ‘pissed off.’ I had the idea of doing an anthology to benefit charities dealing with the disaster and I approached Nicky because she has deep roots in the Gulf. She came up with the name and we’ve been running with it ever since.”

Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson Brown adds, “I am a seventh generation Gulf Coastal inhabitant and the only way I can describe how I felt once the oil started gushing is that my heart broke. My mother’s family arrived in New Orleans around 1820 and we’ve been somewhere on the coast between there and Pensacola, Florida ever since. The Gulf Coast has been through so much, particularly in the last six years—one devastating hurricane after another, economic difficulties, over-development and now this horrific oil spill. The charities that we honor in our donations are doing the best they can to help the people and the environment on the coast.”

Oil and Water...and Other Things That Don’t Mix is scheduled for release on December 15, 2010 and will be available from http://www.amazon.com/, www.barnesandnoble.com, direct from the publisher at http://www.ll-publications.com/, and from many other online book retailers. Other retailers who wish to carry the book should contact Jim Brown at editor@ll-publications.com for details.

Orders are now being taken. Visit the Oil and Water...and Other Things That Don’t Mix page at LL- Publications: www.ll-publications.com/oilandwater.html

LL-Publications (http://www.ll-publications.com/) is an independent publisher based in Scotland specializing in genre and literary titles in both print and ebook formats since 2008.

Contact: Zetta Brown, editor@ll-publications.com