And the Winners ARE!!

Congratulations to the winners of my Blogiversery Giveaway.  I am very excited to announce the winners  and would like to thank everyone who participated.  The wonderful feeling of support I have been given by my followers over the past two years cannot be put into words.  I appreciate all of you more than you can know.

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

Dusty L. Schnur …Signed copy of Allergic to Life

Susi Lippuner…Signed copy of Allergic to Life

Marianne Sciucco …$20.00 Amazon Gift Card

Michelle Willms…Allergic to Life e-book

Rachel Meeks…Pair of hand embroidered dish towels

Rachel, when you read this post, please contact me so I can send you your prize.

 

May is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Month

The Month of May has been dedicated as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) month.  I suffer from MCS (also known as Environmental Illness and Chemical Sensitivity). I did not always have MCS.  I was a very active and busy stay-at-home mother of two.  I was active in their school, their activities, as well as in our community.  I lived by my at-a-glance calendar to know when and where I was supposed to be at any given time on any given day.  I sewed and did craft fairs. I baked and canned, and did things with my friends.

My MCS began after a mold exposure in my work place where it first manifested itself in severe sinus issues and brain issues (although I didn’t realize the brain issues were happening in the beginning).  My boss would bring a phone message that I had written and placed on his desk to have me explain it to him.  I remember many times writing a message and then realizing it was sloppy or didn’t make sense and redo it.  The sad thing is that even then the messages would not make sense.  Yet I still had no idea my brain wasn’t functioning correctly.

I didn’t know what was wrong with me or why I was constantly getting sick.  It took nearly a year to discover that there was mold in the office and and a few more months before my ENT could get mucous taken from my sinuses to grow in a culture plate. I rapidly began reacting to all sorts of medication and developing food allergies.  The chemical sensitivity took a little longer to rear its UGLY head.  When it did, I was shocked.  I had seen others where the masks and walk around in a daze but that wasn’t me!  At least that is what I kept telling myself until it was me and there was no escaping it or denying it. Mold isn’t the only thing that can  push someone into “MCS or environmental illness land”.  An extreme exposure to pesticides will do it.  An extreme exposure to chemicals in the workplace can do it.  Slow but steady exposures to chemicals can also eventually cause someone to become sensitized to chemicals.  How much is too much?  There is no answer to that.  Everyone reacts to different levels of a chemical.  Not everyone has the same toxic load already before being exposed. Do people think we are crazy?  Do they think it is all in our head?  There are some that do.  Sadly there are family members who condemn their own brother or sister or mother for having a sensitivity to chemicals.  They truly do not want to accept that this condition actually exists.  For if this exists, they may have to change their habits to avoid causing further illness to their family member.  I have seen husbands leave their wives over this illness.

The isolation that MCS causes is dark and lonely.  Very lonely.  For that reason I chose many years ago that I would begin writing my story.  I would become an advocate to the best of my ability. I started by writing my story which is now available (Allergic to Life:  My Battle for Survival, Courage, and Hope).  A link to purchase is in the sidebar.

Throughout the month I will be reblogging posts from some of my fellow bloggers who are also posting about MCS Awareness month. Last month I celebrated my 2 year Blogiversary.  As a celebration, I began a giveaway on Rafflectopter.  I several items included in the giveaway.  Take a moment to click on the link and enter the giveaway which runs through the end of May.

It’s an “ALL THE RAVE” Giveaway – update

We have extended the dates for entry through Midnight Monday. Hop on over and enter to win some fabulous books.  Please note if you tweet about the giveaway you need to put the URL to your tweet in the box for it to count.  GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU!

 

Hello to all of my Followers:

As most of you know, I am Membership Director  of the uber-supportive RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB, and when I say uber-supportive, I mean UBER-SUPPORTIVE!! This group is phenomenal! Not only do I have the chance to connect with some very talented authors, BUT they also offer some awesome perks…like a chance at being the Club’s Book of the Month OR a “SPOTLIGHT” Author ORa #PUSHTUESDAY Winner. The best part is, it’s totally FREE TO JOIN!! I know you must be curious, so here’s the website:  http://RaveReviewsByNonnieJules.wordpress.com/.Take advantage of this wonderful information and JOIN today!! It will be the best decision you’ve ever made!!

Because I am a member of Rave Reviews Book Club, I am posting something very special and very exciting that we are about to embark on. We are conducting a Raffle-copter giveaway! Just another reason RRBC rocks!!

World Book & Copyright Day is April 23 this year. Are you familiar with this holiday? No? Well, let me tell you about it……

WORLD BOOK & COPYRIGHT DAY is such a symbolic date for world literature, celebrating books and their authors. Formalized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), this day pays a world-wide tribute to the art of writing, by encouraging everyone to discover the joys of reading. UNESCO created this day to not only promote reading and publishing, but also to make authors aware of their protection under copyright law.

So what is RRBC offering? An “ALL THE RAVE” GIVEAWAY…CELEBRATING WORLD BOOK & COPYRIGHT DAY. How exciting is that?!?

Thanks to the awesome members of Rave Reviews Book Club, we have compiled some amazing gift packages of BOOKS, both in Kindle and Nook formats. There are a number of ways to gain entries and many chances to win!! All you have to do is visit our website, the WORLD BOOK & COPYRIGHT tab and utilize the Raffle-copter to enter. The best part? This is open to EVERYONE, members and non-members!!!

The giveaway will run from Wednesday, April 23 through Saturday, April 26 Monday, April 28th. The winners will be announced on Sunday, May 4 in the Rave Reviews Online Newsletter.

So, what are you waiting for??? Rush over to the RRBC Website  and ENTER TODAY!!!

One last note…to really THANK those that have helped make our celebration of World Book & Copyright Day a success, the Governing Board of RRBC would like to thank those members that have so graciously donated to this special giveaway:

Alex Jones, Atoyia Pencil, Beem Weeks, Bette A. Stevens, Bruce A. Borders, Christopher Pepper, Clarissa Simmens, Dale Furse, David A. Kimmel, Doris Dancy, Garrett Addison, Jacob Quarterman, Jane Yates, Julia Barrett, Karen Ingalls, Kasper Beaumont, Kathryn Treat, Kish Knight, Leisl Kaberry, Lorraine Pestell, Michelle Abbott, Michelle Weidenbenner, Nicholas Rossis, Peter Muller, Rebecca Nolen, Rea Nolan Martin, Rhani D’Chae, Roderick Davidson, Sahara Foley, Sara Furlong Burr, Seve Verdad, Shelley Young, Shirley Slaughter, Stevie Turner, and V.C. Arran.

Rave Reviews Book Club Information:

RRBC Website

Twitter

Facebook Page

LinkedIn

Best of 2013 Giveaway Hop – And The Winner Is!

I have been talking about Scott D. Southard’s “A Jane Austen Daydream” for the past week.  I chose Mr. Southard’s book to giveaway during the Best of 2013 Giveaway Hop and featured an interview with him as well.

My Rafflecopter giveaway ended at 12:00 a.m. today.  I am excited to announce that the winner is Heather Burgess.  CONGRATULATIONS HEATHER!  The book will be going out in tomorrow’s mail.  I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did.

Holiday Virtual Book Fair – And The Winners Are!

On December 1st I was a participant in the Holiday Virtual Book Fair hosted by Black Lilac Kitty.  The book fair ran through Saturday, December 7th.

It is always wonderful to be involved in the book fairs hosted by Black Lilac Kitty.  I have felt in great company with some wonderful authors and found some amazing new reads.

During my participation in the book fair I ran a Rafflecopter Giveaway of 2 e-book copies of Allergic to Life.  When the drawing was over, Rafflecopter generated  my two winners.  Feeling in the giving spirit, I had it generate a third winner.  All winners were notified by email as to which format they wanted their e-book.  I have heard back from two of my winners and have their permission to share their names with you.  When I hear from the third winner, I will update this post.

DENISE H. from Kentucky

RACHEL from doilooksick

RARA from rarasaur

I am excited to be able to share my story with both of you the three of you.  Rara just found my congratulations e-mail in her SPAM folder.  I am glad she found it.

2013 Debut Author Giveaway Hop

Today starts the beginning of “I Am A Reader Not A Writer’s” 2013 Debut Author Giveaway Hop.  The Giveaway Hop is hosted by both I Am A Reader Not a Writer and Bookhounds.  During the hop you can visit the nearly 100 author’s blogs and enter for a chance to win copies of  2013 debut books you want to read.  As part of this giveaway hop, I will also be giving away a signed copy of my book.  The Linky Tools below will take you to all the giveaways.  To enter my give away, please use the Rafflecopter link at the bottom of the post.  I am looking forward to entering to win some free books myself.  The giveaways through Rafflecopter are easy.  You sign in with your name and email and then follow the directions to earn entry points.

Imagine that the very food you eat and the beautiful carpet on your floors start to make you feel violently ill. Your contact lenses cause your eyes to burn and water uncontrollably. Trace amounts of mold on other people’s clothing cause you to become unable to hold a thought or get it from your brain to your mouth during an everyday conversation.

The life you once knew is gone and you have become a prisoner of unexplainable and severe allergies and sensitivities. In this new life you can no longer shop or visit friends in their homes because there are too many chemicals and fragrances there. You become plagued by one mystery infection after another and no doctor or specialist seems to be able to give you any explanation of what’s causing your terrifying symptoms. Depression sets in and becomes your constant companion as you try to cope with the stress of being sick and of struggling to live within your newfound limitations.

“Allergic to Life: My Battle for Survival, Courage and Hope” is the story of one woman’s journey through a battle to reclaim her life and overcome depression caused by an exposure to toxic mold in her workplace.

 

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Holiday Virtual Book Fair

Book Cover

Starting today and running through Saturday, November 7th Allergic to Life will be featured on Black Lilac Kitty’s Holiday Virtual Book Fair.

I am excited once again to be featured on this site along with some very wonderful authors. In celebration of Allergic to Life’s Holiday Online Virtual Book Fair appearance, I am giving away two e-book copies (Nook or Kindle compatible).  To enter, please click on the Rafflecopter link below, enter your name, email address, and earn as many entries as you can.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter Giveaway

 

The Rafflecopter giveaway for three signed copies of Allergic to Life ended at midnight.  Congratulations to my three winners!  I appreciate all the support and the many entries.  The three winners  have been emailed and copies will be going out by the weekend.

Signed copies are available through my website in the US.  Paperback and e-book copies are also available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble (a link is available on my website for that as well.

Goodreads Giveaway and Other News

The Goodreads giveaway ended on Saturday.   Three signed copies went out in the mail today to my three lucky winners.

I prepared signed books and letters for Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric, Ellen DeGeneres, Dr. Oz and the Doctors.  These are going out in tomorrow’s mail.  I haven’t even had the time, energy, or brain power to tally the number of books sold Saturday.

Tomorrow is Day 12 and the last day of Allergic to Life’s first ever book blog tour.  I will be featured by two blog hosts on a Two for Tuesday.  I am not sure what time those posts will become live and because I have to be out of my house by 9:00 a.m. PT (I get the honor of accompanying my granddaughter on her preschool’s pumpkin patch trip since mommy can’t get off work), I will post my introductory post before I leave.  If you click on the link and it isn’t up yet, please stop there again.  These are two lovely ladies that have worked hard to prepare for the tour.  I will pop in and out on these two blogs tomorrow and leave comments as well.

With all luck I might be able to get some more party pictures up as well.

Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway using the links on their blog posts and take a moment to leave a comment to let them know you were there.

UPDATE

Hello Everyone

I hope you enjoyed the Book Blog Tour stops this week with Amanda and Rachel.  There are two stops left and they will be on my Two For Tuesday scheduled on October 22nd.  I will be hosted by Amy of adventures of an allergic foodie and Shanna of lipreading mom.

Yesterday I went up to the mountains where my daughter lives to get my hair cut.  Before leaving, I contacted the owner of the health food store about speaking with him about my book.  I met with him (very nice gentleman) and copies of my book are now on consignment there.  As he agreed to take them on consignment, he said he could do something else for me.  I asked what and he said he would love to offer a book signing for me there on a Saturday.  Looks like as soon as I recoup from all that is currently going on I will be doing another book signing.  They will list it on their website and put up flyers.  HOORAY!

I am, as I am sure you all can imagine,  exhausted.  I did an IV this morning which will help me but also makes me tired because of all the magnesium.  I am going to get the paper-cutter out and make my drawing tags and tags for the snacks labeling them gluten-free, dairy-free, etc. and pick up the office and get things organized.

Tomorrow my wonderful husband is taking me away from it all for the day to my most favorite place to be so that I will be rested and renewed in time to for Friday’s bake-a-thon and Saturdays book launch party.

I am not sure I will be posting again until after the party, depending on how my days are going. 

In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend and don’t forget the drawings on Rafflecopter and Goodreads.  The Goodreads drawing ends Saturday night.