Let’s Play Book Trivia with Career Strategist and Author Robert Patterson!

It’s time to play Book Trivia! Periodically, we scour the Internet for interesting authors who would like to play Book Trivia with us. By answering our book trivia questions, we get to learn things about the author no one else knows! So, let’s get ready…let’s play…

Today our guest author is Robert Patterson Sr., author of Business Book FIVE STEPS TO C.A.L.M. (Career and Life Management).

Sell Yourself! A career-counseling manual that provides a comprehensive collection of “how to” steps for achieving your personal and career goals. Author Robert Patterson, stresses the importance of becoming your own best advertisement and provides strategic ways for marketing yourself in this volatile economy. Each chapter provides detailed step by step instructions on personal appraisal, career exploration, strategies for an effective job search, interviews and reviewing job offer. Five Steps to C.A.L.M. teaches essential strategies, and provides the necessary tools needed to achieve overall success.

“He has been able to assist hundreds in their business thinking. AND SURELY! – This read will awesomely impact more future business minds for years to come!”

Robert has compiled his vast knowledge and extensive experience into this well researched book Five Steps to C.A.L.M (Career and Life Management). He has extended experience as a Teacher, Employment Counseling Specialist, Military (Marine) Counseling Testing Specialist, TV News Reporter, Corporate America and Manpower Coordinator. He is a father of six, a grandfather, great grandfather and an ordained minister who lives in Vista, California with his loving wife, Linda
Author’s website and Blog: http://www.rpatters.com http://www.fivestepstocalm.wordpress.com

Thank you for playing Book Trivia with us, Robert! Here are your questions:

If Tom Hanks, in the movie CastAway, unearthed a copy of FIVE STEPS TO C.A.L.M. (Career and Life Management), how would that help Tom find a way off the island?

I would hope that after reading my book Tom would have a better insight on all of the skills that he had acquired over the years and hopefully be able to build himself a raft and navigate himself safely back to a safer place.

Everyone knows rock star idol Brittany Spears is always in trouble with everything you can think of. In what way could your book help her and set her life back on track?

Brittany Spears is in and environment which could afford her vast resources after reading my book to assist her in reaching her heretofore unattainable goals.

You have a chance to appear on the hit talent show for authors, American Book Idol, with judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, and Kara DioGuardi determining whether your book will make it to Hollywood and become a big screenplay. What would impress them more – your book cover, an excerpt or your best review – and why?

I think that it would have to be my book. I say this because the book has a very good story line which is easy to follow and will take the audience to a final conclusion which will not only be palpable but very realistic.

Hulk Hogan, the famous wrestler and star of his own reality show has invited you and your book to appear on his show. One catch. You have to read a passage out of it to convince him you are star material. What part would you read?

I would read to Mr. Hogan the passage “About C.A.L.M. the Book.”

They’ve invented a board game using the theme of your book. What would the title of it be that would be different from your book and which retail store would they place it to make the most sales?

An adventure through life from K-12 and Beyond sold now in “TOY’S R US”

The Arbor Day Foundation has decided to pick one tree in your honor because of your writing brilliance. What kind of tree is it and why did they choose that tree in relation to your book?

It would have to be a “RED OAK TREE” because no matter what the situation the RED OAK has endured time and after all of its years it still gives updated information from the pass which is still relevant today.

President Barack Obama has become the author of several books and he has requested your presence at a special hush hush meeting to discuss ways to promote it. Through luck of the draw, you were chosen. What would be the first thing you would tell Barack?

I would tell Barack that if he can’t find a way to get people to invest their personal time and energy into undertaking the advice given in the book then his efforts to assist them will have been in vein.

Finally, you just got word that your book has received the 2009 NY Times Best-selling Book Award and you have to attend the ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Manhattan. Anyone who’s anyone will be there and it’s your shot for stardom. On stage, you must give an acceptance speech. What would you say and whom would you thank?

I would first give thanks to my Heavenly Father from whom all blessings flow.

Then my family for all of their support/patients over the years.

I would then speak to them about the story that the father told his son when he was getting ready to go out into the world for the first time which is found in the passage “ABOUT C.A.L.M. THE BOOK”

Book Review: AMAZING GRAYS: A WOMAN’S GUIDE TO MAKING THE NEXT 50 THE BEST 50 by Maggie Rose Crane

Amazing Grays: A Woman’s Guide to Making the Next 50 the Best 50
Maggie Rose Crane
Self-Help
FTA Press
281 pages

Maggie Rose Crane has written an informative and engaging book for boomers who are unwilling to become feeble old women with boobs in their laps, dreams on the shelf, and “Memory Lane” their only destination. This book is for maturing women who are staking their claim as part of a dynamic and growing movement of ‘Amazing Grays’, women who want to challenge stereotypes about aging and amazing-grays1create a fresh start for the second half of life – but aren’t quite sure how to pull it off.

When an epiphany in the hair salon convinced Maggie to try life without hair dye, she found herself face to face with the fears and questions that unsettle many maturing women living in a culture obsessed with youth and manufactured beauty…
Who am I now that I’m no longer young and fertile? Will I still be desirable as I age? Will I be invisible? Is this the beginning of the end? Is it too late to make a difference? And how on earth do I stop coloring my hair if I want to?

Balanced somewhere between a memoir and a how-to, Maggie uses her personal journey as a springboard to shatter stereotypes about aging. She shares her most poignant insights and experiences on what it means to be a woman “of a certain age,” and offers suggestions on how to mindfully chart a graceful course through the physical changes, emotional challenges and mental gauntlet of aging. With honesty, humor and plenty of research, Maggie lights the way for women who want to live with vibrancy and joy – regardless of their hair color!

In this provocative and touching book, Maggie explores, with humor and compassion, the many aspects of growing older – from changing social and family roles to changes in body and appearance, even changes in perspective and purpose. She shares how redirecting her focus from her packaging to her essence gave her the perspective to age mindfully and joyfully (after, of course, a bit of kicking and screaming).

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to do something so outrageous that it didn’t matter what anything thought, you were going to do it anyway because you knew it was the right thing for you to do?

For years, Maggie Rose Crane colored her hair, until one day she declared her independence and gave up the dye to become the person she really wanted to be. What happened was a transformation took place that even Maggie didn’t know would happen.

In her book, Amazing Grays: A Woman’s Guide to Making the Next 50 the Best 50, Maggie shares her journey as she transforms from someone she thought she had to be into a woman she know she had to be. It is in her book that she shows other women how to be the women they are meant to be, too, despite time not being on their side.

Written for baby boomer women everywhere, Maggie explains why it doesn’t matter what color your hair is or how many years the clock says you are, women of a certain age can still be “vibrant, healthy, wise, engaged with life, sexually active, spiritually connected, physically fit and alive well past 100″!

Maggie’s book is a guide for baby boomer women that will lead them down the right path to fulfilling their life’s goals, even when they have declared themselves “a certain age.” She shows us how to become body wise and how to navigate through the changes. She explains how we age and the key factors in aging. She explains why we need to keep moving and how to deal with menopause that often slows us down.

Maggie Rose Crane opens our eyes to the simple fact that aging does not have to be something to dread once we understand what is going on with our bodies. She helps us learn what we can do to make this time of our life the best time of our life.

I fully recommend Maggie Rose Crane’s Amazing Grays: A Woman’s Guide to Making the Next 50 the Best 50 if you are approaching your 50s or already there.

What I love about this woman is that she’s daring. I love her chutzpah!  I have colored my hair for years and still I could not have the courage this woman had to completely give up the bottle.  I so admire women like that!  Maybe one day!

The book was expertly written; no typos or grammar flubs.  This is the kind of book I love having come across my desk.  Such a joy to read!

The fact there is no part II?  Maggie?

Purchase Amazing Grays: A Woman’s Guide to Making the Next 50 the Best 50 at the author’s website by clicking here!

Maggie Rose Crane Week Continues: Self-Improvement – Who Needs It?

I hope you enjoyed Maggie Rose Crane’s interview on Monday. I’m happy to say she’s back with a great guest post for us on the subject of self-improvement!

Everyone wants to improve themselves whether it be for themselves, their business, or their career. Maggie Rose Crane gives us another viewpoint on self-improvement that I believe you will enjoy. Maggie will be stopping by periodically over the day so if you have any questions you’d like her to answer for you, leave your question in the comment section below. Welcome Maggie!

Self-Improvement – Who Needs It?

by Maggie Rose Crane, author of Amazing Grays: A Woman’s Guide to Making the Next 50 the Best 50

As we age and cross over into new possibilities, many midlife women are beginning to understand that our attempts at “self-improvement” are futile. Efforts to improve ourselves often have the opposite effect and keep us spinning our wheels in a quagmire of self-hate. Rather than spend our precious energy trying to “improve” ourselves, we are learning to express the authentic self that is already there – intact, whole, capable, intelligent and wise.

How much of our precious life energy is squandered because we believe the stories we tell ourselves about our supposed inadequacies? You’re not good enough. You’re a failure. You never do it right. We are repeatedly told by our inner voices that we are not meeting a certain standard; that we’d better try harder. So, we do. We try and try to do all the things that society says will make us better, acceptable, and worthy, and yet our inner voices continue to tell us that we’re still not good enough.

If you’ve found yourself trudging away on the treadmill of self-improvement, it might serve you to ask which “self” you are trying to improve. The ego self? The product of years of faulty programming?

The underlying assumption of self-improvement is that there is something wrong with us that needs fixing! Who said so? Our past programming. (Not a reputable source.) The chatter in our heads would have us believe there is always something wrong (with us, others, the world) and that there is never enough (love, money, time, resources).

Well, here’s a radical idea. What if there is no self to improve? If you look at who you really are – the true, authentic you – you’ll see that you’re not defective or broken, and you never were. There are wounded aspects of our selves that need to be embraced and accepted, and there’s the chatter of our conditioning.

That’s it.

Once you silence all the inner voices that loudly proclaim your inadequacy, who is left?

In the stillness, you will know.

You can visit Maggie Rose Crane’s website at www.maggiecrane.com. Stay tuned tomorrow for my review of her book, Amazing Grays: A Woman’s Guide to Making the Next 50 the Best 50!

It’s Maggie Rose Crane Week – Day One!

As promised, we have a great week ahead at As the Pages Turn. Maggie Rose Crane, author of the self-help book for baby boomer women, Amazing Grays: A Woman’s Guide to Making the Next 50 the Best 50 (Regardless of your hair color!), will be here with us to talk about her new book!

Today, we’ll be interviewing her to find out more about Maggie, the author behind the book. On Wednesday, we’ll have a wonderful guest post from her and she’ll be available to answer questions. On Thursday, we’ll have a fantastic review that I know she’s just waiting for!

Thank you for visiting us today, Maggie. I know you are on a virtual book tour and it seems you’ve been answering the same familiar questions. I’d like to do something a little different. I’d like to explore the author behind the book. First, I’d love to have you share a little about your lifestyle. Are you married? Do you have kids? What part of the country do you call home?

I, too, enjoy getting to know an author’s story. It’s interesting to see what brings a person to this point in their lives, and perhaps find ways that our histories might intersect. I was born and raised in Wisconsin, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, lived and worked in Chicago for many years, and moved to California in the early 80s. I have been married to the same wonderful man for 23 years, whom I met here in California. I have one daughter from a previous marriage, 2 stepsons and now, 2 beautiful grandchildren. I love the southern California lifestyle – relaxed, casual, lots of time outdoors and warm and wonderful neighbors. (Did I mention no snow!)?

Backing up a few years, can you tell us about your childhood?

I was the oldest of 6 children with parents who both worked blue-collar jobs. My father was a bit of a drinker, so there was a fair amount of abuse suffered by all. As the oldest, a lot of the household responsibilities and chores fell on my shoulders. I guess I coped by pulling inward and insulating myself from the chaos around me. I would often retreat to our neighborhood Catholic Church and bury myself in a pew amongst the adults. Here I took solace in the music, incense and melodic incantations of the mass. I seems I was a seeker from an early age.

I’m not sure where it came from, but I was motivated to make something of myself. I was determined not to be like my father and not to take root where I was planted. I was the first in my family to graduate from college, travel the world and seek a life outside the city I was born in. You could say I’m a living example of the notion that what doesn’t kill you – makes you stronger.

I hated my teenage years. Too many hormones flying around and I sometimes felt no one understood me or cared. What was it like growing up as a teenager for you?

As I said, I created a rich life outside of my family. I was pretty much invisible at home. I was very active in junior high and high school. I played sports, was a champion high jumper and eventually became a varsity cheerleader. I also had some good friends who included me in their family activities.

The fact that I even went to college is something of a miracle. My parents never encouraged me to pursue higher education. Days before my high school graduation, one of the counselors caught me in the hallway and asked which school I would be attending after graduation. I told her I wasn’t planning on going to college. Looking me in the eye, she said something that changed the trajectory of my life. “What a waste” she whispered.

It took me by surprise… and it stuck with me. If she thought I was college material, maybe I should look into it! And I did. Unfortunately I suffered a bad case of mono immediately after graduation and was hospitalized for 6 weeks. After I recovered I made a beeline to register for classes at City College, and later transferred to the University. Through a bit of a long and circuitous route, I eventually received my BS in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh.

It really made me aware that you never know how something you say may impact another person’s life – so be kind and be truthful.

I left home to get married. When you left home for the first time, when was it and why did you leave?

I left home to attend City College, but I only moved across town to be closer to school. I lived with my grandmother, which turned out to be a wonderful experience. She grew up in Poland, and immigrated to America at 16. During our time together I grew to appreciate her journey and the strength she had to muster to make a new life for her self. We became very close – and her love and support inspired me to appreciate the opportunities I had and make the most of myself.

My first job was picking turnip greens off a conveyor belt at a food packing plant! What was your first job?

Besides the occasional babysitting and waitressing jobs in high school, my first “real” job with a steady paycheck was that of a “stewardess” for American Airlines. After just 2 years of college I had an itch to get out of my hometown – I wanted to see the world! It was a great job, and I kept it long enough to help me finish college a few years later. The 747 airplanes were brand new at the time, and had a downstairs galley. I bid this position and flew M-W-F turnarounds from Chicago to the west coast and back so that I could study between meal services while on route. On Tues and Thurs I would attend my college classes from 8am-8pm. I also took the summers off and spent 2-3 months traveling around Europe. During spring break, I would use my miles to fly to Arizona or someplace warm to write my term papers and study for exams. It was a great job!

When did life suddenly make sense to you?

There was a pivotal moment and I remember it like it was yesterday. As a college student I was riding the elevator as I went from English Lit to American History class. The doors opened and in walked a disheveled looking girl, crumpled clothes, greasy face, papers sticking out of her book, and reeking of Ambush cologne. From my position at the back of the elevator I began to judge her mercilessly. Suddenly I heard a faint buzzing and it was as if time stood still. From nowhere in particular I heard a voice say, “You are the same”. I was flooded with a rush of love and compassion so deep I was dumbfounded. I “saw” that she and I were not separate. As I judged her – I judged myself. It was a moment of clarity. I had always believed in a Divine presence that connected us all, but this was a concrete experience of it. From then on – I knew that “everything is all right.” I now understand that I am an integral part of life, as are we all, and not separate from it. Sometimes, I can still tap into the profound love I felt back then. My intention is to be able to live it. I write about this experience in more detail in Amazing Grays.

Of the three stages of life – childhood, adolescence, adulthood – which can you look back and reflect and say, “This is the real Maggie Rose Crane!”?

I spent so many of my younger years trying to be the person I thought I was “supposed” to be that I rarely got to be the person I really am. It wasn’t until I reached midlife and began to rub shoulders with my mortality that I decided that I’d better embrace my authenticity NOW – as there were no guarantees I’d even have a “later”.

Allowing my hair to go gray was another pivotal decision. On the day my hairstylist cut off all my brunette hair to reveal a short, sassy silver hairdo – I began to feel lighter, freer, more ME. The artificially colored hair represented the person I had tried to be. Now, my silver hair reflected the authentic me – no pretense, no pretending. It translated into a deeper appreciation of how important it was to live my life from a place of authenticity and joy. My first 50 may have been all about putting myself on the back burner and tending to the needs of others. This next 50 is about putting myself back at the top of my list!

Today, we all need places to go to reflect and touch base with our Inner Self. Where do you go?

I head to my meditation cushion on a daily basis to “practice” living in the moment. It calms and centers me – and reminds me to carry that mindset into my daily life. I also take occasional silent retreats at a monastery to recharge and refocus – as day-to-day living can so easily pull one off Center. Through my practice I’ve come to appreciate that the noisy chatter of self-hate inside my head is not “who I am”. I’ve learned that the past is just a memory, the future a dream and the only way to avoid missing the life I have is to live it mindfully in the now. That’s why I practice.

Finally, what advice can you give everyone on how they can live life to its fullest?

By choosing to live mindfully, every moment is rich with experience. Stop indulging the compulsion to regret the past and fantasize about the future. We’ve all had the experience of living mindlessly. It’s that feeling of wondering where the years went, how did we get here, even not remembering what we had for dinner last night!

To get good at anything, we have to practice. I recommend we each find some way to practice mindfulness – meditation, centering prayer, yoga, tai chi, Qigong. Pick one and stick with it, no matter what your inner voices tell you. By living each moment as it happens, your life will feel fuller, longer and richer – no matter how the years add up.

Thank you Dorothy for this opportunity to share a bit of my own story. Readers can learn more at www.maggiecrane.com. If they decide to purchase “Amazing Grays” from this site they will receive an autographed copy, free shipping and a bookmark with a wonderful quote affirming the amazing woman we’ve become.

Thank you, Maggie! Everyone, stay tuned, because Maggie will be back on Wednesday with a wonderful guest post and answer any questions you may have!

It’s Maggie Rose Crane Week next week!

I hope everyone is staying bundled up! Winter is great for snuggling by a cozy fire with a good book. Speaking of good books, Monday through Wednesday, we’re having a Maggie Rose Crane week here at As the Pages Turn. Maggie is the author of the bestselling book, Amazing Grays: A Woman’s Guide to Making the Next 50 the Best 50.

Here’s what we have lined up:

Monday, January 19, Maggie will be here with a fantastic interview.

Wednesday, January 21, she’ll be talking about self-improvement and will be taking questions.

Thursday, January 22, As the Pages Turn will be reviewing her book, Amazing Grays: A Woman’s Guide to Making the Next 50 the Best 50.

Stay tuned to be enlightened, entertained and to learn more about this lovely lady who knows how to live life no matter how old you are!

Booking Through Thursday

If you’re anything like me, there are songs that you love because of their lyrics; writers you admire because their songs have depth, meaning, or just a sheer playfulness that has nothing to do with the tunes. So, today’s question? What songs … either specific songs, or songs in general by a specific group or writer … have words that you love? Why? And … do the tunes that go with the fantastic lyrics live up to them? You don’t have to restrict yourself to modern songsters, either … anyone who wants to pick Gilbert & Sullivan, for example, is just fine with me. Lerner & Loewe? Steven Sondheim? Barenaked Ladies? Fountains of Wayne? The Beatles? Anyone at all…

I’ve always been a fan of the Beatles. Listen to the words. James Taylor. My son gave me a “best of” James Taylor CD at Christmas – one of my favorite gifts! I love what Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young did about the Vietnam War – their songs reflected the times. Songs that move me, they’re the best ones of all.

Great book discussions coming up!

Okay, okay, so I’ve been BUSY. I could only wish we as human beings could have been granted more than two hands. Boy oh the work that could be done then.

I wanted to stop by to mention on Jan. 19 – 21, I’m going to have a special guest come aboard and talk about her book, Amazing Grays: A Woman’s Guide to Making the Next 50 the Best 50. This is one amazing woman and one amazing book.

I blogged about this over at Boomer Chick today so I guess I won’t repeat it here, but the book really makes you think. As a boomer chick, I can relate to what Maggie has written. I’m only on page 9 right now because I’ve had so much work to do, but tomorrow, I’m going inside deeper and discuss some of the main issues of her book.

The week after (Jan. 27 – 30), we will be discussing another wonderful book, Vivian Eisenecher’s Recovering Me, Discovering Joy: Uplifting Wisdom for Everyday Greatness.

Two extraordinary women out there helping us find joy in our lives.  Please stop back by and get ready for some interesting interaction with two wonderful authors!

The Sunday Salon

My Sunday Salon post today is about deadlines. Not only authors have them, but reviewers have them, too.

I was reading Sandi Kahn Shelton’s blog post yesterday about deadlines and something dawned on me. She had written about facing a Jan. 31 deadline to get her latest book revised and to her editor and hated the fact that now she can’t do the normal things – like clean or eat or anything for the next few weeks so that she can fulfill her obligation to her editor.

It made me realize that when a reviewer is sent a book for review by a certain time, isn’t that putting them on the spot? Think about it…a reviewer receives a book and if they read it at their leisure, wouldn’t that make them really be able to concentrate and not merely skim to meet their deadline?

And as CEO of a virtual book tour company, I am always on deadline to get books to these reviewers so they can have a reasonable amount of time to review and if I’m late, isn’t that putting a burden on them and if they have to skim, how good will that review actually be?

I imagine deadlines are just meant to be, but how do you pace yourself to meet them without procrastinating until the very minute as a lot of us do?

Speaking of which, I have tours to get out the door by Monday and I’m playing in blogs!