Welcome to Mary Laudien's Blog

Thank you to all the visitors who participated in the Authors in Bloom Blog Hop!  Hopefully you gathered some wonderful gardening tips, recipes and became familiar with some new authors and their novels! It is my pleasure to announce that the winner of the raffle at my site, Follow the Blog is  Ninette Swann.  Congratulations Ninette!

Ninette will receive gardening shears and gloves and my first two books of the Frenchie Series: Frenchie’s Best Friend-Follow the Blog and Frenchie X2- Follow the Blog. 

Happy Gardening and Reading Ninette!

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Welcome to my Author Blog Site!  I am so pleased to have you participating in the contest and visiting all 63 of our sites between April 10th (6:00 am EST) and April 19th (11:59 pm EST).

HOW the AUTHORS in BLOOM BLOG HOP WORKS:

You have 10 days to visit each of the author blog sites that will be listed/linked at the end of each of our contest blogs, for your convenience. When you visit each site, you’ll be able to pick up gardening tips (from the talented green thumbs) and/or recipes (from the foodies).  As well, if you leave a comment at each site, you have opportunities to win give-aways and you’ll be entered in the Grand Prize Draw for a Kindle Fire or Nook (winner’s choice) and a $25. gift card for eBooksPlease don’t forget to leave a contact email in your comments so that the Rafflecopter can choose the Grand Prize winner and  individual authors can contact give-away winners.  We will want to mail your prize/s out to you ASAP.

Of course, after perusing my humorous blogs that serve as samples and tips for writing powerful blogs, you may even wish to subscribe to my blog: http://twocandobooks.wordpress.com. I’d love that!

One thing to note about my give-away prizes, the winter cactus in the photos is NOT included.  It was the only plant that I had in bloom when preparing for the contest, so I put it in the picture.  The prizes include: Garden Goddess Pruning Shears, Gripping Garden Gloves, and my first two books of the Frenchie Series: Frenchie’s Best Friend- Follow the Blog and Frenchie X2- Follow the Blog. Check out my website for more information about my books and author visits: http://www.twocandobooks.com        Image

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You KNOW you want these… make sure you leave a comment with your contact email (and maybe even subscribe to my blog-YES!)  And never hesitate to forward my site to any Middle Grade reader, parent, or grandparent, or simply anyone who is “gaga” over their pets for some fun, humorous reads!

And now, don’t forget to copy these recipes. They are so, so tasty!

IT’S ALL ABOUT LEMON!

Our favorite SPAGHETTI (Chatelaine, Jan., 2012)

LEMONY SPAGHETTI with SHRIMP & BASIL   (PREP: 30 min.)

250 g                          spaghetti (I use whole wheat)

3 tbsp                         extra-virgin olive oil

454 g. pkg.                 frozen peeled black tiger shrimp, thawed

1                                   garlic clove, minced

2 tbsp                         fresh lemon juice

2 tbsp                         diced preserved lemon peel (I use fresh lemons)

1 tbsp                         brine from preserved lemons

1/2 cup                      chopped basil

1/4 cup                      grated parmesan

Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water, following package directions but omitting salt, until al dente, 6-8 min.

Heat a large frying pan over medium-high. Add oil, then shrimp and garlic. Stir-fry until shrimp turns pink, 4-6 min. Remove from heat. Drain pasta and add to shrimp. Stir in lemon juice, preserved peel, brine, basil and parmesan cheese.

Serves 4 / per serving 475 calories

Serving Tip: omit shrimp and serve this pasta as a side dish with roast pork.

 

LEMON GARLIC BARBECUE CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS (Thrifty Foods Fresh Magazine)

(I make these in a roasting pan in the oven on wet, wintery days.)

 Prep: 10 min., plus marinating time

Cooking Time: about 35 min.

Makes 6 (2 drumstick) servings

  • 1/3 cup olive oil, plus some for the grill
  • 1 Tbsp. finely grated lemon zest
  • 3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 2 to 3 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 12 chicken drumsticks
  • Salt to taste
  • olive oil for the grill Parsley sprigs and grilled or fresh lemon slices for garnish

Combine the first 9 ingredients in a bowl large enough to hold the chicken. Add the chicken and turn to coat.  Cover, refrigerate, and marinate the chicken for 4 hours, or overnight, turning occasionally.

Preheat your barbecue to medium-high. Remove chicken from marinade and set on a plate. Use paper towel to blot away marinade from any overly wet pieces of chicken. Season the chicken with salt. (I use pepper instead.)

When hot, lightly oil the grill. Grill the chicken 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until the exterior is nicely colored. Move the chicken to one side of the barbecue. Turn the heat off on that side of the barbecue; leave the other side at medium-high. Close the lid and cook, turning the drumsticks from time to time, for about 30 minutes, or until cooked through.

Set cooled chicken on a serving platter or board. Garnish with parsley sprigs and lemon slices, if desired, and serve.

Remember to visit all the authors at the links below.  You’ll be amazed at the wonderful give-aways, recipes and gardening tips to be found.  And who knows, you may just find your next favorite author, as well.

HAPPY BLOG HOPPING EVERYONE!

Visit each author on the list for the Authors in Bloom Hop! And don’t forget to leave a comment and you email contact on each site to qualify for the Grand Prize Raffle and individual author give-aways!

1. Dianne Venetta (INTL)
2. Rose Anderson
3. Margay Leah Justice
4. Catherine Chant
5. Amber Kallyn
6. PJ Sharon
7. Kaira Rouda
8. Darcy Flynn
9. Katharina Gerlach
10. Amy Saunders
11. DarcyholicDiversions/Barbara Tiller Cole
12. Sheila Seabrook
13. Mina Khan
14. Caron Rider
15. Lakisha Spletzer
16. Christie Palmer
17. Karl Fields
18. Beverly Nault
19. Shelley Workinger
20. Samantha March
21. Cat Lavoie
22. Anita Hughes
23. Karen Baney
24. Susan McBride
25. Sarah Pekkanen
26. Courtney Vail – Gotta Have YA
27. Confessions of a Call Center Gal
28. Candy Ann Little
29. Lynette Sofras
30. Boys on the Brink
31. Dee S White (INTL)
32. Patti Callahan Henry
33. Elizabeth Allen
34. Maria Geraci
35. Linda Andrews
36. Louisa Mack (INTL)
37. Mary L. Laudien
38. Jencey Gortney
39. Ninette Swann
40. Edie Ramer
41. Kate Copsey
42. Kate Austin
43. Best-Selling author Jennifer Conner
44. Anna Patterson
45. Bestselling Author Danica Winters
46. Sharon Kleve’s Romantic Ramblings
47. Jennie Bentley
48. Leanne Tyler
49. Stacy Juba’s One Stop Reading
50. Gemma Juliana
51. Kara Ashley Dey
52. Dey for Love
53. Sara Walter Ellwood
54. Jennifer Lowery
55. Summer Kinard
56. Tracy Solheim
57. Alexa Grace
58. Teena Stewart
59. Cynthia Vespia – Author of Thrills and Chills
60. Caroline Doherty de Novoa – Dancing with Statues
61. J.D. Faver
62. Laina Turner – Being Fabulous is a Skill
63. A Cozy Readers Corner

 

 

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Are you ready to participate in the Authors in Bloom Blog Hop?  Authors (all 65 of us) are getting our gardening tips and/or recipes  prepared to post on April 10th by 6am EST. The fun part is planning the prizes. All you have to do is visit each author site, and leave a comment at each blog and, of course, you are always welcome to make a blog subscription to any that you truly enjoy. This will register you for give-aways from individual authors and  the chance to win the GRAND PRIZE (after checking out all 65 blogs): a Kindle Fire or Nook and a $25. gift card.  The tour lasts 10 days and ends April 19th at 11:59 pm EST.

DON”T MISS THE FUN and the CHANCE TO WIN SOME AWESOME PRIZES!

And just to prove to you that I am seriously getting into this GARDENING gig, take a look at a potting table I saw the other day wandering by some store fronts.  This will be my next project! (Isn’t it lovely?)

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Reblogged from Kristen Lamb's Blog:

Click to visit the original post
  • Click to visit the original post

Yesterday we talked about how important it is to learn to take a hit. We grow, get tougher, get stronger, and we learn where we're weak. Sometimes those weaknesses are what keep us from moving forward professionally, so it's good to find them and strengthen them.

We have to learn to take hits because the world is full of petty, nasty people who will go for the TKO.

Read more… 987 more words

Kristen Lamb inspires writers to continue to develop and perfect our skills. Her boxing analogy is a good one.

Watching the news the other night, a segment came on introducing DogTV. You guessed it- a cable channel for dogs. Seriously, it’s no hoax! This cable channel was launched recently in San Diego for our fur kids who are left home alone while their human pawrents (coined by Petworld Insider) go out to work. Apparently the need for this cable channel arose solely from the discomfort doggie parents felt over leaving their canine babies home alone. (There’s a movie with that title- oh right; it was a human child left home alone, not a fur kid.) So for an extra $4.99 on monthly cable bills, they can leave behind their fur kids - guilt free.

Everyone’s aware that those puppy owners who can afford it, drop their fur kids off at the doggie daycare with lunch bags brimming over with gourmet snacks. These same fur kid pawrents call in during the day for face-time calls to ensure their babies are content and not suffering any separation anxiety or bullying. You get the picture.

Well, it appears that now the families that can’t afford the expensive daycare experience for their doggies, have found a reasonable alternative – DogTV! The cable company promotes their programming, promising that our dogs will be more relaxed and less anxious about being left alone during work days. Separation anxiety? Really? (Wow! I’m embarrassed to admit that I must have been a lousy fur kid pawrent in my past life, as all my dogs were left home alone. It never dawned on me to worry about whether they were experiencing anxiety or the dreaded “B” word…BORED! (gasp!) We pet owners used to always lament that a dog’s life was something to be envied! Think of all that time spent napping and relaxing during the day. (Apparently that is no longer acceptable canine parenting practice.)                                                                   Image

         “There’s NOTHING worth watching on the Tube! When will they get home?”

One wonders if the fur kids have their favorite shows or do they spend their entire day in front of the tube, no matter what’s playing? How would a cable company know what would satisfy the tastes of every breed?

Apparently, the channel really dug deep with their research, hiring dog psychologists and behaviorists. (I wonder what their credentials are?) They also worked with experts who teach veterinary medicine or train dogs to find out what would be the best programing for the fur kids viewing audience. (Obviously, it would be kind of difficult to survey them), unless you thought you could trust their pawprint on a multiple choice list. I’m not sure how they came to such conclusions, but they decided that human TV shows with car chases, sirens and gunshots were stressful for the Fur Kids; so those have been avoided. They incorporated shows with other dogs in them. I guess they choose their favorite canine celebrity dogs to watch.

The cable discovered that fur kids also like shows that give them a view from outside car windows, helping them to visualize they aren’t trapped inside with no place to go.

Harp and piano music are their choices. (No Latin rhythm and salsa or heavy metal for them!) Maybe this is their spa music, where they visualize being petted (having a massage and pedicure), and simply relax for awhile as they do the hard work of waiting for their human to come home and free them.

One has to wonder whether they have a “let’s get physical” show where they pump a little iron in their mouths or partake in a fitness circuit.  These canine parents would, no doubt, be happy to set up a fitness center and obstacle course in their great rooms to enhance their puppies’ physical self-identity and esteem. (Surely they wouldn’t dream of having a show called the “Biggest Loser” to motivate the obese fur kid to shed a few pounds… would they?)

And then of course, after all that physical exertion, the poor thing is going to have to be hydrated.  Will a simple slurp at the water dish do or will the workout canine require a snazzy hydration system with spring water?

The channel also suggests that the large flat screen tv’s be mounted closer to the floor for the viewing pleasure of the dogs. (I’m not sure how that will work for the pawrents in the evenings…) The channel ensures there is action and sound that they can relate to, such as panting, rough housing, and chasing. (Now that sounds like it could get the fur kids a little hyper, don’t you think?)

Image No doubt there is a “Doctor” show on the channel, as well.  Vets probably demonstrate different procedures, like expressing the anal glands or getting shots, to decrease any Vet phobias out there with their canine friends.  (Neutering procedures are probably avoided!)

And of course, canine make-overs would be a must. Can’t you just imagine them being mesmerized by the team of groomers brought on the channel to completely change a bedraggled dog look from dirty and matted to groomed and dazzling. Streaks and hair extensions would be expected, along with mainstream tattoos and sparkly nail polish.                                                                            Image

But let’s not forget there are the “foodie” dogs out there, as well.  They just love anything organic and gourmet. Watching the preparation for their favorite dishes will only help them salivate over their scrumptious, delectable lunches. (Realistically, their lunches are probably  eaten the minute a fur kids pawrent leaves the premises…)

No doubt teeth brushing videos provide the manual instructions for flossing properly and whitening strategies for a sparkling, fresh smile.  Oh, I can only imagine what our little fur friends will spend their days watching.                                                                        Image

So tonight when you get home and sit down to snuggle up with your PIT BULL fur kid in front of your 60 in. flatscreen, be aware that as you grab for the remote, you may just experience a throaty, intimidating growl, warning, “Don’t even think about it.“  (Maybe DogTV was meant for the pawrents, as well… No more Good Wife for you!)

http://diannevenetta.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Authors_in_Bloom.jpg

Get ready for some fun, tips, and prizes!  You’re invited to participate in an Author Blog Hop.  The tour begins on April 10th at 6:00 am EST and finishes on the 19th at midnight EST, so mark your calendars!

Readers will have 10 days to enter each author’s individual contest (giveaways) and submit their entry for the GRAND PRIZE (a KINDLE FIRE or NOOK and a 25 dollar gift certificate for eBooks). Visiting 6 author sites per day and leaving comments will enter you in author site give-aways and also provide you with 65 chances to win the Grand Prize. As well, each author site (65 in total) will also post a giveaway and either a gardening tip or a recipe. (I know I’ve got my recipe all ready for you, and you won’t want to miss it!)

It’s going to be a blast getting acquainted with all 65 participating authors and YOU may just finish the contest by winning the Grand Prize!

Please forward on email or retweet to anyone who you think would enjoy gathering recipes, gardening tips and competing for giveaways and the Grand Prize.

           Mary’s Blog: http://twocandobooks.wordpress.com

A Title- Can You Help?

Okay, you’re going to want to laugh at me.  I am agonizing over the title of my third MG novel in the Frenchie series.  The novel itself has gone through a dozen edits and revisions and now I need to put a title on it and I’m struggling to come up with the perfect  one that will grab my readers’ attention.

You probably don’t think this part is a big deal, but you would be wrong. Titles are extremely important, they either peak your interest or they don’t. A reader isn’t going to pick up a novel off the shelf and read the synopsis if the title doesn’t grab him/her first.  I know, I know you’re probably jumping up and down by now ready to argue that it’s the book cover that makes the difference.  I don’t disagree, and I’m working on that, as well.  (In fact, I have contacted the publicist of a special celebrity to see if her famous face can be incorporated into the cover of the book. How’s that for the best idea, ever?) But, I’m still sitting here with the daunting task of coming up with a catchy title.

What are the chances that after I share a synopsis of my third Frenchie novel with you, you might offer your opinion on some of my ideas and/or provide me with some other suggestions.  I know what creative people you are out there and I am totally open to any ideas you can provide. Piggy-backing off of others’ thoughts often helps to get the creative juices flowing. I want this title to be the best choice of all! Of course I do!

Brief Synopsis of my third novel of my Frenchie Series:

Canine Star Training for Sissy? What about Pierre? Just how hard was it for Ethan to convince his mom to let Sissy use her showboating skills to get into the biz?  And what’s with Grandma Sis and her crazy belief that she’s about to be discovered herself? I mean, really, who’s looking for a seventy-two year old Cher look-alike performer?  Wasn’t this supposed to be Sissy’s destiny? What could possibly go so wrong that Ethan wants to move to his Dad’s house on the Island, leaving his friends, school, and family behind!

Some of my ideas:
1. Frenchie Celebrity?-Follow the Blog (subtitle)
2. Who’s the Diva?  Sis or Sissy? - Follow the Blog (subtitle)
3. Frenchie Diva? Really!-Follow the Blog (subtitle)
4. Celebrity Wannabes?- Follow the Blog (subtitle)

Please add your suggestions in the comment section of my blog or choose from my list, the one you think is best. HELP!  I need your creativity!

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BOOK #3 OF THE FRENCHIE SERIES  – please leave your suggestions in the Comment Section.  Thanks so much for your input.

BLOG POST ANALYSIS

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Having just finished my third novel of the Frenchie Series and reflecting upon my skills as a blogger: I’d have to say that the books are road maps for an author who continues to evolve and improve one’s writing skill. For anyone who has not read my first two MG novels: Frenchie’s Best Friend- Follow the Blog and Frenchie X2- Follow the Blog; it may be no big surprise that there is a blog post at the end of most chapters.  (You did catch the subtitle- Follow the Blog, right?) The blogs are written in the voice of a thirteen year old who is “gaga” over French Bulldogs and he blogs each night to his following of Frenchie lovers (French Bulldogs, for those of you not up on dog breeds) on his blog site: Frenchie’s Best Friend.

As a retired IB educator, I am reflective about my writing process journey while developing my skills.  Over the last two years, sharing my novels with classes has had the sole purpose of entertaining students so that they’d be inspired to write blog posts themselves. In fact, West Vancouver’s School District (where I used to be a principal) actually has district-wide blogging contests. Isn’t that a cool idea?

I elicit from the students, elements of what makes a powerful blog. They are always able to come up with the criteria. The following is the key message that I leave the students with from my author visits: “Powerful blogs are usually written to provide useful information in an entertaining way.” Of course there is so much more complexity to blog writing, including: style, communication, length, interest, photos, and the purpose of sharing expertise and/or interests with others of common interests.

My contemporary fiction series is humorous! This is the hook used for keeping my readers turning the pages. They can relate to Ethan and his world of being a Frenchie owner wanna-be. Most of my MG readers are technologically advanced and writing blogs is another writing tool with which they are becoming familiar and using on a regular basis.

Take the Blog Analysis Challenge

Compare a sample blog from my first novel with another from my third, analyzing the two according to strengths and weaknesses based on one’s knowledge of writing powerful blogs. Has the style changed between Novel #1 and #3? Is there improvement? Is one more entertaining than the other?  Why? Please give this a try and send me your analysis in the comment section of this blog.  I would value your feedback! It would also give you a chance to read one of the blogs from my third book in the series (which will be published if I ever come up with the perfect title…).

Come on, take a stab at it, you might just pick up some valuable insight into writing your next blog post.  Meet the challenge and participate… You know you want to….

Blog of Day 9 (Frenchie’s Best Friend-Follow the Blog)  BOOK #1

Okay, my dedicated readers, I admit it, I am feeling somewhat smug tonight. Why you ask, would an amateur dog groomer be feeling this way? Well, I have to tell you that I performed a successful anal gland clean today on a Pug. As my trusty (and somewhat grossed out) assistant referred to as emptying out or “expressing” the anal glands. That’s correct my friends, this thirteen-year-old groomer performed a procedure during the bathing process that some people pay vets to do for them. Okay, so I feel successful tonight, so what? I’m sure my next humbling experience is just around the corner. As far as my best friend, I hope he has recovered from the gross ordeal that he witnessed, while reading the instructions to me from his laptop—you’re the man, Mikey! Well, all my fellow French Bulldog lovers, I am turning in early to gloat over my successful dog grooming venture of the day.

French Bulldog Fund: Day One   $35.00

     Day Two   $35.00

     Day Three $35.00

     Day Four  $40.00

TOTAL:    $145.00

Determined and Entrepreneurial,

Frenchie’s Best Friend

Blog: Let It Go  (BOOK #3)- (still undecided on the title)

After all the stress that Mom and I have been through this weekend, it was great to spend some downtime with our puppies, Mr. Cooper, and Prince Harry.  Mom continues to surprise me. With all the stuff she’s handling, I couldn’t believe that she’d let Warren Cooper take us over by ferry to Bowen Island for a hike and brunch. She just went along good naturedly with the whole thing and we had an awesome day! You get off the ferry and have to walk quite a ways uphill to an artisan village. By the time we sat down at our outside table for brunch, the puppies were wiped out and just dozed at our feet. They were completely oblivious to all the adoring comments that were directed towards them by passers-by. I didn’t notice any other Bulldogs on Bowen, so the locals were really interested in them. 

The weirdest thing that happened was some lady who kept gushing about how cute the puppies were and then looked at me and asked, “How did you ever convince your dad to let you have three?” Mom turned red, Mr. Cooper choked on his salad and I replied, “Actually, if I lived with my Dad I could have a complete zoo if I wanted it.” The woman realized she’d made an incorrect assumption and stuttered as she quickly moved on, “Uh yyes, I see, well then, sso nnice to mmeet yyou.”

All three of us broke out laughing at the ludicrous mistake the poor woman had made. How stupid can some people be!

 Amused Frenchie Papa,

 Frenchie’s Best Friend

 

photoFrenchie X2 Author PhotoMary's visit

After reading the article entitled Meet the Agent- Barbara Lowenstein in Writer’s Digest (Feb., 2013), it occurred to me it might be helpful for my blog readers to know more about Mary Laudien, the Middle Grade Author. I decided to follow Kara Gebhart’s simplified format to provide this info to my blog followers (All 3 of you, but I know there are many more of you who were just waiting for an invite to subscribe!). If you seek more detailed information, you can always go to my website: http://www.twocandobooks.com

Who is Mary Laudien? 

  • a retired innovative educator  (Known for successfully transforming the public schools she was principal of into International Baccalaureate World Schools)
  • a newly appointed International Baccalaureate Recognition Ambassador  (The IB program provides a world class education with its best educational practices.)
  • an author with two books in her Frenchie Series published and a third written and ready for publication

Why Does She Write?

  • to share her love of Kidlit and promote strong reading and writing skills in schools (her passion)
  • to have a blast writing humorous, entertaining Middle Grade books for “tweens” (that even reluctant readers will want to pick up and read)
  • to share her novels with kids in schools and libraries as a way to inspire experimentation with powerful blog writing
  • to use her knowledge of “tweens” and create contemporary novels that acknowledge this age group (ages 9-13) as fun, interesting, dynamic and developing.  It gives kids, parents and grandparents  a chance to laugh at themselves and not take family change and themselves quite so seriously (single families, extended families, career moms, latchkey kids, new pets, responsibilities, technology issues, etc.).

Books Published

book front coverFrenchie X2 Cover

Why Write Blog Posts?

  • modeling blog writing for Middle Grade Readers. The Frenchie Series have blogs written nightly by Ethan (the 13 year old main character) to all of his Frenchie followers-Frenchie’s Best Friend
  • using life experiences and interests and writing entertaining, powerful blogs for others to critique
  • helping middle grade readers, educators, parents, librarians and pet lovers to find me
  • seeking readers who can enjoy the humor in contemporary life and adore their pets
  • helping other writers (students included) in their journey to publication

     Seeking

  • readers
  • followers
  • reviewers
  • other writers
  • publishers
  • agents

Hobbies

  • creating “shabby chic” furniture pieces
  • voracious reader
  • decorating and fashion
  • volunteer work: International Baccalaureate Recognition Ambassador
  • Zumba dancing and fitness
  • hiking
  • sailing
  • speaking French
  • dog sitting my sons’ French Bulldogs – Bert and Cecile
  • traveling
  • entertaining friends and family

Favorites

  • living author: Jodi Picoult (provocative examination of social issues that make you think from all perspectives)
  • dead authors: Maeve Binchy (humor and strong character voices) and Roald Dahl (humor and imagination)
  • city:  Paris, France
  • TV Shows: The Good Wife, Gray’s Anatomy, Parenthood, HBO’s NewsRoom
  • Foods: citric (lime) salad dressings, seafood, Lindt chocolate, nuts, avocados

Fun Facts

  • hosted a children’s radio show in Lahr, Germany for the children of the Canadian Armed Forces (CFN)
  • seconded to the University of Regina to teach in a model demonstration school on campus
  • opened the smallest German import store in a Freight Elevator in Regina, Saskatchewan (wooden toys, X’mas decorations and nutcrackers)
  • re-opened 2 primary schools in West Vancouver (Eagle Harbor and Cypress Park)
  • led West Bay Elementary’s (West Van, B.C.) transformation  as principal of the first public school in Western Canada to become an authorized IB World School
  • have grand dogs:  French Bulldogs (Bert and Cecile) named after Mary’s sons’ French grandparents (Her inspiration for writing the Frenchie series!)

Pet Peeves

  • keeping up technologically with an author platform. One learns so much (which is awesome), but there is always more that can be done.  It’s important to make educated choices about what the most effective ways are to reach one’s readers.

If you thought this was interesting or helpful, please don’t hesitate to pass it on to others, leave a comment, subscribe to my blog posts…whatever.  I love to write and share some of the wonderful things that I am learning through other books, blogs, tweets, webinars, authors and conferences. Your feedback is valuable to me.

A Five Star Amazon Review for Frenchie X2- Follow the Blog

Amazon.com: 5.0 out of 5 stars  2 reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars “A Great Story” Jan 20 2013

By NancyofUtah – Published on Amazon.com

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This second book of the Frenchie Series written by Mary Laudien is another fun-packed story. One can only imagine the chaos in the home when two puppies take up residence. From puppy surprises to training classes and other events involving Ethan and his mom, this is another hilarious read. It’s not only a humorous story of family and dogs, it’s all about kids growing up, learning about responsibility, and learning about charity. This story is packed with values for parents and young adults. I enjoyed this well-written story.

Authors find inspiration for their writing from all sorts of places.  It just so happens, as I finish revising my third Middle Grade novel of the humorous Frenchie Series, that watching the Ashleigh and Pudsey YouTube video from Britain’s Got Talent, helped me create the best ending ever.  Each time I re-read those final three chapters, I end up laughing hysterically.  This amuses my husband to hear the belly laughs coming from my office upstairs. I don’t want to give anything away, yet, but give yourself a treat and watch this humorous video.  It will make your day.  Share it with others who would enjoy some pet humor and love.

If you enjoy Ashleigh and Pudsey, why not leave me comment?  And if this appeals to you, you might want to check out my Frenchie series, as well.

Apparently, you will have to go to the link on YouTube, it will not allow you open it from my website.  One more step, unfortunately! Go to http://www.youtube.com and search for Ashleigh and Pudsey HD-Britain’s Got Talent (auditions) Sorry about the inconvenience.

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