Perfectly Reasonable Countdown Archive

Perfectly Reasonable is Launched!

Posted August 19, 2015 By Linda

 

 

Website Countdown Launch Day PR copy

Perfectly Reasonable is live on amazon.com and amazon.ca!! 

And the winners of a free e-copy of Perfectly Reasonable and the other great gifts are:

Bn100 – Cards by Karen

Faye K. – LOC Design earrings

Paula K. – USB flashdrive

Readerfun – Cards by Karen

Ella M. – LOC Design earrings

Doris SC – USB flashdrive

Marie L. – CPR keychain

Anna M. – Cards by Karen

Tessa B. – LOC Design earrings

Stevie R. – USB flashdrive

I’ll be in touch!! Thanks to everyone who follows along and shares in the excitement with me! Happy reading.

Laugh every day. Love every minute.

Linda

 

 

Day 2 – You’two’be video trailer!

Posted August 17, 2015 By Linda

the number two in blueIt’s Day 2 of the Perfectly Reasonable Countdown! Time to unveil the Perfectly Reasonable Video Trailer. Thanks to Sandy James for another fun video!

 

 

 

 

 

It’s getting close! Join me tomorrow for a sneak peek at Chapter 1 on Day 1 of the Perfectly Reasonable Countdown!

 

 

Day 3 – Q & A

Posted August 16, 2015 By Linda

lit number threeIt’s Day 3 of the Perfectly Reasonable countdown! I thought I’d share the 3 most frequent questions I’m asked.

 

 

 

How do you come up with the ideas for your stories?

They pop into my head and I think, “Oh, that’s funny.” And then I write them down. I don’t consult with anyone while I’m writing unless it’s to do research on how a character would say something or (how a male would) react in a certain situation. I don’t like to run my ideas by anyone because they never sound as good when I say them out loud. 🙂

 

How do you write the sex scenes?

One word at a time . . .

 

When will the print copies of Perfectly Reasonable be available?

That, I don’t know, since it’s up to Debby Gilbert at Soul Mate Publishing. I’ve asked for print copies, but likely it will be sometime in 2016.

 

To celebrate Day 2 tomorrow, you’ll get a sneak peek at the You’Two’be Perfectly Reasonable Video Trailer! Have a great day!

 

Day 4 – A Cheer for Volunteers!

Posted August 15, 2015 By Linda

the number fourIt’s Day 4 of the Perfectly Reasonable Countdown!

 

 

 

 

The inspiration for Perfectly Reasonable came from working with medical students. As well as a spicy romance, this book shows Trace’s journey as he applies to medical school. For over 10 years, I was involved in teaching Clinical Skills to medical students. I asked the students what they thought was the most valuable thing they did when they applied. Most of them mentioned volunteering – and starting early to volunteer. It didn’t have to be fancy or far away, but it was important to be able to reflect on the volunteering about their ability to interact with people, empathize, and play a leadership role. So I’ve invited 4 very special people to share their stories about volunteering – 4 compelling reasons to volunteer and some great ideas if you’re wondering what’s out there to do!

 

welcome signMarion O’Connor ~ It was my pleasure to assist newly arrived refugee families become accustom to Canadian life. It was a very rewarding experience as I helped them with our language and accompanied them to various appointments and shopping activitiesIn return, I learned about life and the hardships they experience in their country. It certainly makes you appreciate how fortunate we are to live in Canada.

 

 

baby on bellyLin Arthur ~ I am most fortunate to have been a person who worked in an area about which I am passionate – I loved working with families, multiply disabled children (particularly infants), teaching physiotherapy students, and being a member of a multidisciplinary team. Retiring has been great but it also feels like I’ve left a part of myself behind. By being a mentor and sharing my experiences and perspectives with newly graduated, gifted physiotherapists who chose pediatrics, I felt that I could participate in shaping the future of the profession through influencing their practice and offer a point of view other than what’s offered in the classroom setting. In return, they helped bring me up to speed on the current fields of thought, technology, and measurable outcomes. We created a healthy exchange as we brainstormed over complex patients! I really enjoyed it, and I think the patients benefited from the art of the old and the science of the new!

 

P1030596Anne Richards ~ So why do I volunteer? I have been most fortunate to have travelled to many interesting places. I’ve seen poverty and the struggles of people just trying to carve out a life. I always felt blessed to live in a county with so many freedoms and privileges . . . as my Dad used to say when I was growing up “Giving back is the rent you pay for the space you occupy.”

I have always chosen interesting ways to volunteer. I have taught English to immigrants from Vietnam, started a Grandmother group here in Kingston to support Grandmothers in Africa who are raising their orphan grandchildren with very few resources after their children died of HIV-AIDS, helped Aboriginal kids with reading, taught them to play the piano or to weave. I’ve always been interested in helping single mothers continue with their post-secondary education. There are so many wonderful ways to make the life of someone else just a little bit better. You truly gain much more than you give!!

 

soccer ballTammy Scott-Zelt ~ I’ve been volunteering with the Kingston Clippers Soccer Club for 18 years. My role as a volunteer included coaching players from U7 house league to a men’s competitive team, spending 16 years on the board of governance, and lending a happy hand in many other tasks involved in keeping a soccer club successful. Over my 18 years volunteering, I’ve made many lifelong friends whom I never would’ve crossed paths with otherwise. The Kingston Clippers has grown from 1200 to 2000 players over the last 20 years, and I feel that my hard work as a volunteer on the board contributed to the club’s success. Seeing little or big accomplishments is very fulfilling. Coaching children and seeing them grow to young adults and make their own path in life is the best feeling, because I feel like I was a part of helping them reach their goals. Spending six hours a week or sometimes an entire weekend with players allowed me to guide them and hopefully be a good role model – as a coach and to encourage them to volunteer when they become parents! Yes, volunteering takes time away from family and chores, but organizations would never survive unless community volunteers stepped forward to help. I also feel volunteering showed my children how to be better at organizing and juggling time management.

If you’re looking to meet new friends, figure out what you’re passion about, or even if you’re not sure what you have to offer, contact the organization and offer to help. Trust me, all organizations are desperately looking for volunteers and they’ll be thrilled to see a new face. Volunteering is something I love to do. I’ll continue to volunteer in my community because without my help, community organizations might not be able to survive.

Watch Tammy live

 

There you have it – 4 compelling stories about volunteering. It’s truly inspiring and very rewarding to volunteer! From helping out at a food bank or soup kitchen, reading with elementary students, playing piano for the elderly, there are so many opportunities to give back, enrich the lives of others, and learn something about yourself. So get out there and volunteer!!

It’s getting close – only 3 days left until the release of Perfectly Reasonable! (I’m getting excited!!) Come back tomorrow – I’ll answer the 3 most common questions I’m asked. 

 

Day 5 – How do you see Colour?

Posted August 14, 2015 By Linda

green and yellow fiveToday is Day 5 of the Perfectly Reasonable Countdown! Margo loves colour so she has 5 fun facts about colour for you!

 

 

 

boy with balloonsPeople see colour before anything else. Try reading these:

Green     Yellow     Red     Orange     Purple   Blue

Your brain wants to read the colour before the word!

 

 

 

Colour Stats:

Blue is the most popular favourite colour.

Yellow is the most visible colour – hence yellow taxis, yellow fire trucks and school buses.

77% of flags have red in them.

 

 

People eat with their eyes.

In experiments where food is coloured, people will perceive the flavour they associate with the colour.

blueberrieslemons and limesBlue – berry flavour

Yellow-Green – lemon lime

Butter has to be pale yellow

Can you imagine brown cheesies?

Blue is an appetite suppressant possibly since blue food is a rare occurrence except for blueberries and blue-purple potatoes. And blue M&Ms!

Pills used to be all white and round until the 60’s and 70s when capsules were invented. Coloured pills have the same effect on people – green pills for nausea and red pills for heartburn won’t work.

 

Colours have certain strong associations for people.

school bus with stop sign

Red – love, danger, power, international colour for stop.

Blue – peace, cleanliness, nature sky and water, but not food!

Green – ecology, luck, mint, fertility

Yellow – happy, caution

Orange – dynamic energy

Pink for girls and blue for boys – although it used to be the opposite at the turn of the century. Red was considered a stronger color and so pink was for boys!

 

fall leavesColour is important for branding when companies are deciding on their logos and product packaging. People will consider whether the product will do what you expect from its appearance (a red sleep aid – say what?), will connect to it emotionally (yellow makes people happy, orange gives them energy), and the colour will distinguish the company from others (red and yellow for McDonalds).

 

hot air balloonThere you have it – fun facts about colour. You’ll be thinking about colour next time you’re served blue potato chips on a plane 😀 Thanks Margo! Join me tomorrow – 4 very special people will share their volunteering experience!

 

Day 6 – Dinner for 6!

Posted August 13, 2015 By Linda

fiery number 6Today is Day 6 of the Perfectly Reasonable Countdown! 

Hattie, the manager at Breaking Bread, a local soup kitchen, is here to share some of her most popular recipes. Hattie normally prepares meals for a crowd, but she’s pared them down to serve 6.

 
Chilled Roasted Peach Soup
4 ripe large peaches, peeled, halved and pitted (Freestone peaches are easier to pit)
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
2 cups (500ml) peach nectar, plus extra if needed
1 star anise, cracked
1 vanilla bean, split
Juice of 3 oranges (~1 cup)
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 pint (150g) strawberries, gently washed (optional)
2 springs fresh mint (optional)

Greek vanilla yogurt (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 400 °F/ 200 °C. Lightly coat a baking sheet with butter. Place the peach halves; cut side down, on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle peaches with 1/2 cup (70g) sugar and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until well roasted.

2. Transfer peaches to a food processor, along with any drippings from the baking sheet. Puree until smooth, stopping 2 or 3 times to scrape down the sides. Transfer to a large noncreative bowl and set aside.

3. In a small noncreative saucepan, combine peach nectar, remaining sugar and star anise over medium heat. Use the tip of a blunt knife to scrape the vanilla bean seeds into a mixture. Bring to a boil and then remove from heat. Let syrup infuse for about an hour in a warm place. Strain through a fine sieve into a noncreative bowl and add citrus juices.

4. Tasting as you go, slowly add the peach syrup to the peach puree until desired flavour is achieved (I add the whole thing and if a little too acidic, add a bit of Greek vanilla yogurt). If the soup is nicely flavored but too thick, thin it with a little plain peach juice. Cover and refrigerate until completely cod.

5. Serve in chilled soup plates or cups and garnish with the sliced strawberries and mint or Greek vanilla yogurt.

 

Roasted Whole Chicken

1 Whole chicken

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp lemon juice

½ tsp salt

¾ tsp ground pepper

1 tsp oregano leaves

 

chickenCut a whole chicken down the breastbone (separate the 2 breast parts) and place bone side down in a roasting pan. Combine the olive oil and lemon juice and brush on chicken. Mix the salt, pepper, and oregano and sprinkle on the chicken. Bake at 425 °F for 45 minutes (may vary depending on the size of the chicken) or until juices run clear.

 

 

Melon Salad with Thai Dressing

1 cantaloupe, balled (or cut into small pieces)

2 cups seedless grapes, halved

spinach or other lettuce

 

Dressing:

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup lime juice

2 cloves garlic

1 Tbsp minced gingerroot (or 1 tsp powder)

2 Tbsp peanut butter

½ cup fresh coriander

1 Tbsp packed brown sugar

pinch hot pepper flakes

Combine dressing ingredients and blend with a hand-held blender. Pour over other ingredients.

 

Almond Butter Cookies

1 large egg

¾ cup granulated sugar

1 cup almond butter (usually found in the peanut butter section of the grocery store)

 

Beat egg and sugar in medium bowl until thick and pale. Add almond butter and beat until smooth. Cover and chill for 1 hour. Roll in balls using ~ 1 Tbsp of dough for each. Arrange ~2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 °F oven for 12-14 minutes until golden. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

 

There you go – dinner for tonight all decided! Thank-you Hattie! Come back tomorrow – Margo will be sharing her love of colour!

Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter click here- Let’s e-talk – (or like my Author FB page) for a chance to win the Cards by Karen, earrings, a CPR keychain or a 4G USB Flash drive. I’ll announce the winners on Launch Day – August 19th. See you tomorrow!

 

Day 7 – Advice for Successful Interviews!

Posted August 12, 2015 By Linda

green number 7It’s Day 7 of the Perfectly Reasonable Countdown!

Hey Everyone – Margo and Trace here! We’ve certainly had our fair share of interviews and we thought we’d share 7 priceless pieces of advice for a successful interview. Don’t leave it to luck!!

 

  1. Do your research. Know something about the company and if possible, the person who will be interviewing you. Check their social media sites – especially Linked in, Twitter and Facebook. Have a good understanding of why you want that company specifically. The casual info you learn from Twitter may help you understand the type of person you’ll be working with.

 

  1. Prepare answers to the commonly asked questions and practice speaking them out loud. Get a friend to help. There are lots of internet sites but HERE‘s a link to a good one.  And prepare for the zany questions too, like if you were a cartoon character who would you be and why? HERE‘s a link to more!

 

  1. Bring a resume. Just in case they ask or have misplaced the one you already sent in.

 

  1. Dress smartly – it’s a sign of respect and remember, generally you’ll be interviewed by someone older than you (and older people generally want conservative, neat, and a bit dressy). Skip the bright green collared polo and reach for the white or grey dress shirt +/- the tie.

 

  1. RchcVyGUBe early!! Arriving 10-15 minutes early is respectful.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Smile when you greet the interviewer and look them in the eye. Eye contact = confidence (even if you’re quaking inside).

 

  1. Try to come up with 1-2 questions that you can ask them at the end of the interview when they ask if you have any questions. Avoid anything controversial or that might indicate that you’re only interested in a short-term position.

 

There you have it – interview with confidence!! Good luck with your next interview 😀

Join us tomorrow for Hattie’s recipes. Hattie is used to cooking for a crowd, and she’s got dinner for 6 all planned out for you! And don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter if you’d like to win some fantastic prizes – Cards by Karen, earrings, CPR keychain or a 4G USB flashdrive. Sign up HERE!

 

Day 8 – Margo’s Handy Painting Gadgets!

Posted August 11, 2015 By Linda

mailbox with 8It’s Day 8 of the Perfectly Reasonable Countdown!

 

 

 

 

Hi Everyone, Margo here! I’ve been painting for a few years now and thought I’d share some of my favourite gadgets. You can certainly paint without these (well, maybe not the brushes!) but they’ll make your painting job a little easier!

 

 

Website Countdown PR painting tools 2Paint can opener – such a small gadget but waaaaaay better than using a screw driver.

Green tape – if you’re not the cleanest of painters or a steady hand is not your strength, you can tape off the edge where you want to paint. Use green painters tape though so you don’t peel the paint off the surface and remove the tape before the paint dries or you’ll pull off the new paint with the tape. If you have too much paint on your brush the paint may still bleed under the edge of the tape so blot your brush before you paint.

Pour guard – handy, if I remember to use it!

Brushes – I buy 2 types of brushes – an angled brush for edging and a stubby one to paint the baseboards. I like a two inch angled brush made out of —–, but I usually paint with latex paint, not oil paint.

Tray liner – makes clean up sooooo much easier. And they’re pretty cheap (get them at the dollar store.)

 

 

Plastic edger – a long strip of plastic that you wiggle under the baseboard to protect the floor – much faster than taping it all.

 

 

 

Tarp – if you have a choice between plastic and canvas, choose canvas. It’s less slippery and reusable. Buy a big one so you don’t have to move it around as much.

Saran wrap – if you don’t quite get the job done or if you need a quick touch up the next day, it’s handy not to have to wash the brush. Just wrap it in saran and keep it in the fridge overnight. Pretty much an essential for busy parents too – cause you know as soon as you open the can of paint and dip the brush in, something will come up that needs your attention!

 

There you have it – paint like a pro! Join me tomorrow to meet Trace. He’ll be passing along interviewing tips!

If you’d like a chance to win beautiful cards from Cards by Karen (they are gorgeous!!), uniquely designed and LOC handcrafted earrings, a CPR keychain or a  4G USB flash drive sign up for my newsletter – Let’s e-talk – (or like my Author Facebook page) and your name will be entered to win!

Day 9 – Cover Reveal!

Posted August 10, 2015 By Linda

Website Countdown glowing-purple-neon-icon-alphanumeric-number-9 copyIt’s Day 9 of the Perfectly Reasonable Countdown!!

Drum roll please . . . .the long awaited cover for Perfectly Reasonable ~ thank you Rae Monet!!

 

 

 

perfectly reasonable cover

 

And what is it all about you ask? Let me tell you . . .

 

Love what you do and do what you love. Sounds perfectly reasonable, but chances are, you’ll find your passion in the last place you look . . .

Margo MacMillan finished medical school, but in the process, her self-confidence and self-esteem took a beating. So for the sake of self-preservation, she’s stepped away from medicine to re-group. In the meantime, painting soothes her soul and pays the bills.

Trace Bennett set his sights on a medical degree and has to prepare the perfect medical school application. His big plan is to paint his condo for a little feng shui divine luck. When Margo shows up to paint, he realizes he’s found exactly what he’s looking for. He just has to convince Margo to share more than the art of medicine.

She’s got it. He wants it. It’s Perfectly Reasonable.

 

Book 2 in the Perfectly Series is all about Margo and Trace! But if you miss Mikaela, she’s part of the fun. Only 9 days away! Join me tomorrow – Margo will be sharing her 8 favourite painting gadgets. If there’s painting in your future, you’ll want to see what the pros use. See you tomorrow!

And don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter HERE (or like my Facebook Author page) if you’d like to win some fabulous prizes!

Perfectly Reasonable Countdown Begins!

Posted August 9, 2015 By Linda

stock photo number tenThe Perfectly Reasonable 10-Day Countdown begins!

 

 

 

 

It’s time for another party!! On August 19th, Perfectly Reasonable, Book 2 in the Perfectly series will be available for download from www.amazon.com. Woohoo! Let’s have an e-party for the e-release!

 

Each day until August 19th, we’ll go behind the scenes and you can meet Margo and Trace. They’ll share colour trivia, favourite painting gadgets, interview and resume tips, recipes from their favourite meal, and more!

 

There will be free stuff!! Because what’s a party without gifts? As a special thank you to my newsletter subscribers, I’ll be giving away one free e-copy of Perfectly Reasonable each day!

 

But that’s not all – I have the most beautiful cards from Cards by Karen (they are gorgeous!!), uniquely designed and LOC handcrafted earrings, CPR keychains and 4G USB flash drives! So join the party by subscribing to my newsletter – Let’s e-talk – and your name will be entered to win!

 

Cards by Karen for PR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for dropping by today! I’ll be posting the daily topic on Facebook so like my Author page if you’d like the reminders. Tomorrow will be the big cover reveal! See you then. 😀