Hi guys,

Hope everyone is chugging along nicely in 2012?  More bad news, such as the banks tightening their 'frienliness' and making their own rules about what to do with our money.  All the Big Brother groups, such as governments, are getting bigger every day, and more restrictive, but don't worry, they will not last for ever. Remember, we still have a vote at the next election.

Well, now that all the political stuff is done, let's get on with our lives. My computer crashed the other day. I was suffering severe anxiety until it was brought back to life again, thanks to our dear techo, Tim. Thanks Tim.  He had the patience of an elephant, and certainly more than me. Now, I am back online, hurray. Honestly, if you told me that fifty years ago I would have withdrawal symptoms from not being on my computer I would have stared into your face with vacant eyes.

This year, will the slap come back? Will our Prime Minister be the same person by the end of the year? Will we still have Annah Bligh or another Premier? What is your opinion? Will we survive the stresses of our bills mounting upwards, like Mount Everest? Only going up by 3.6% while our pay is going down. Makes sense, doesn't it? We get less and pay more, so what will happen. We will learn new tricks to survive.

Last year I went to my bank manager and got a new mortgage rate that saved me over $1,000, so that I could pay my bills without having a heart attack. I went to Youi for all our insurance and saved heaps, probably another $1,000 per year. Their quotes were so cheaper than others. Well worth a try.

Also, have been cutting down on meat. It is so expensive. I look for cheaper proteins, including marinara mixes, fresh fish and other cheapies. We have also shopped at our local Help Force store [open until 2:00pm week days], and saved a bundle on fresh fruit and veg. So, as a result, we have survived another year and hope to continue on the road of life for a little longer.

I also made so many different recipies for vegetable and other soups, that are so delicious it makes us keep quiet for a while [eating]. My frozen pea soup is so good, it's to die for. So easy and so cheap. Around 50c per serve. Maybe I will put a recipe on here for those on a budget who want to feel great, look great and have a cheap, delicious meal for the family? I am thinking about that.

I will get it together and post it here. Then you can also feel like you are getting ahead and use the money you save to buy something you would like but keep saying, "can't afford it."

I will tell you shortly what I have done with the money I saved on mortgages and insurances. It might seem a bit strange, but for me, it's the obvious choice.

Have a great Feb.

Marie x

Happy New Year to everyone out there!

What a year 2011 has been for us! What about you? I feel as if I was 'shafted' for most of the year, with one problem piling on top of another. Did you have a similar year or was it smooth sailing for you? How lovely that would be.

One big thing that did hit me nicely in 2011 was my title, Runaway Princesses, which was downloaded 33,000 times at Smashwords.com

How about that? I could not believe my eyes when I read the Dashboard readings. Since then I have put the price up marginally. At one stage B & N were downloading 12,000 a day at 0 price, so I missed out there, shucks! That's the way the cookie crumbles. Now my account is growing slowly. I have been getting 19c per book, so what a nice fund I would have had if I put the price on Runaway Princesses earlier? Never mind, it means that folk are reading my titles and hopefully enjoying them. I met a wonderful young lady on Facebook who gave me rave notices about this book. She said it was 'fantastic'. I must get her to give me a review on Smashwords. Now, I have been approached by another company to get this book into their shelves, so it is on its journey at last. Not that it has been out there very long. I published it on Smashwords in August last year and it was in their Premium catalogue around October, so that's quite quick really. My other books have not been picked up so quickly, sadly. I love my titles as if they were children, so forgive my emotion about my little ones. They hold my heart and soul, so why not think of them as children? If you have written a book, let it grow in you and then send it out into the world. It's a bit like the kids we have. Grow them up and then throw them out! They must learn to stand on their own 'merits' if they can. Sadly, sometimes our children need a family member to lean on. We must resist the urge to allow them to lean on us so much that we ourselves fall down under the load. I have had to learn this lesson in 2011, and I am still learning this hard lesson. We want to be needed and leaned on, but we must also do what is best for the 'leaner'. Remember the little birds in the tree tops? They push their little ones out of their nest when they have grown up a little bit - they can eat, and so they must learn to fly. There is no mercy given, no compassion, because it is ultimately a do or die situation. Usually, the little birdie gets a big shock and starts to fly, and then it can't stop flying because of its joy. So it all works out in the end. I want to wish all my readers and my biggest fan, Keith [g'day mate], who has found me on Smashwords. He is a super hero in my books, worth knowing. To everyone who wants to hear of my honest love, give my books a go, be kind and gentle and they will love you back for it. This year, I am hoping it will be less traumatic and there will be more laughter and joy in the air. I wish you the same, joy, laughter and dreams fulfilled. If sorrows do come, look up and remember, others have weathered the storms before you. You are not alone. Blessings to all you and yours in 2012. Marie

Christmas 2011:Well, well, well, soon it will be Christmas Day! A day of reckoning I think. One day in the year when shops are actually shut in Australia! One day when we can sit back, eat, drink, and think! Or, for some, one more day to be alone and sad. 2011 has been an awesome year for our family. A year of nightmares and stresses and times of exceeding great fright and not much delight. Of course, every family has their dramas but ours is always the worst of all. One family member went 'schizo' and is now homeless, penniless, hapless, useless! [Sorry but true]. A dear friend committed suicide and was remembered [age 23]. What can we say? We have survived but not without scars. We have defeated the enemy but not without a fight and a limp. We have loved our gifts from God, but have been tested sore. Our grandchildren have enchanted us while the enemy has tried to take away all pleasure. Where do we go from here? We pack up our bag of troubles, pain and sorrow, and unpack the gifts that God is holding out before us. Gifts of love, courage, determination, and a will to commit ourselves to the One True God, our Creator, Redeemer and Darling of Heaven. We must push on towards that great goal, the final flag that is already raised for us in Heaven. We must look back on the mighty hand of God who has kept our mentally deranged family member alive, kept us from total annihilation and from leaving our post as custodians of the Kingdom of God on earth. May the Lord grant you perseverance, love, joy, holiness, courage, daring, integrity and good health in 2012.

A Real Christmas by Vicki Dillon. $1.25 from Smashwords.com
People sometimes forget the meaning of Christmas.This is one story of a real Christmas. The wonder and the feelings, the changes in people and the sharing of Christmas miracles.

A PIECE OF MY HEART by Ramon Ballard. $0.99 from Smashwords.com
We have all had our hearts broken. We have all been in love. Whether you have found your one true love or still searcbing, this collection of poems is for you

A No-nonsense Guide to Growing your own Vegetables by Paul Spivey. $0.99 from Smashwords.com
Food prices are soaring. This book will quickly bring you up-to-speed in a no-nonsense way on the topic of growing your own vegetables. I wanted to learn the ways my grandparents fed themselves and combine their wisdom with the advantages of today’s scientific advances. This book will give you the basics and provide lots of links where you can learn more, go much deeper.

A Change of Heart by Nancy Frederick. $2.99 from Smashwords.com
A Change of Heart is a heartfelt and inspiring story of a woman’s growth, self-actualization, and transformation. A Change of Heart will touch you, mind, heart and soul, and it will validate you as a woman. This is a book you’ll want to read again and again and one you’ll want to share with your friends.

50 Hours by Marie Seltenrych. $0.99 from Smashwords.com
NaNoWriMo Winner 3 Aussie middle-aged women caught red handed with drugs at Denpasar Airport, end up in a cell where they contemplate the death penalty. As they share together they reveal secrets from their respective pasts; criminal elements emerge. Merging their skills they plot an escape, which is foiled. Facing the death penalty they cling onto their belief that justice will prevail. Read it

Preview:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/60863

INSIDE THE BURNING TOWER by Maxine Williamson. $9.99 from Smashwords.com
These memoirs will take you inside the burning North Tower, and you will experience what Maxine Williamson experienced while waiting to die after a plane flew into her office on 9/11. She recalls with clarity the faces and conversations with the New York City firemen she met in the smoked filled staircase as they ascended the stairway to heaven.

The 9/11 Project: A Journalist's Perspective by Donovan H. Myrie. $19.99 from Smashwords.com
The 9/11 Project is one of the most comprehensive pieces of literature documenting the events of September 11th, accounts leading up to that day, and subsequent stories thereafter. Ten years in the making, the book chronicles various aspects of the attacks, the rebuilding process, personal insights, and stories of the victims of the worst act of terrorism on American soil.

A Method for Prayer by Matthew Henry. $9.99 from Smashwords.com
The original classic is back in this new e-book edition edited by Dr. J. Ligon Duncan, III. Matthew Henry's book is a spiritual classic that will richly repay the reader with a deepened and more Biblical prayer life.

Dear Child Of God by Sandra Urquhart. $4.99 from Smashwords.com
If God were to write a letter of scriptural comfort to you during any crisis or difficulty you faced, this would be it. This letter of love was written for a friend in just such a crisis. The scriptures it contains are words of comfort, not condemnation, and provides encouragement for anyone who believes in God. No matter what your faith is, this book will give you a sense of peace.

Emily's Art and Soul by Joy Argento. $6.99 from Smashwords.com
Emily's life "to do" list never included her mentally challenged sister living with her, getting divorced or moving for a new job. Things change when your mom dies. Changes can bring self-revelations and unexpected turns. Her best friend, Andi stands by as Emily discovers her new found sexuality and sets out to explore it. Will Emily see what's right in front of her before it's too late?

A Different Journey by Beatrice Brusic. $2.99 from Smashwords.com
What is it really like raising an exceptional child? Is the road filled with grief, heartache and disappointment as most people believe? Or is it just a different road? A road that calls upon you to gather your inner resources, to get in touch with your compassion and humanity? "A Different Journey" addresses all these issues brilliantly. Ms. Brusic has really created a work of art here.

Christian Skits and Plays by Saundra McKee. $5.98 from Smashwords.com
These materials were written for performance and use with adult and teen Bible and Sunday School classes and worship services. Most are intended to be performed by two women. Part I is about women of the Bible. Part II has contemporary stories that relate to the Parables told by Jesus.

 The Sure Existence of God: Assured Proof for Christianity by Michael Robinson. $12.95 from Smashwords.com
Robinson exposes the shortcomings of atheism, agnosticism, and skepticism as the author contends that with a fresh examination of the logic, evidence, and science, atheism is no longer reasonable; there are too many gaps, unexplained assumptions, subjective hypotheses, and conceptual flaws. This is an excellent book for those who desire to think seriously through the claims of Christian theism.

Whose Prayer Is It Anyway? by Sharon Winchester. $2.99 from Smashwords.com
Thought about your prayers lately? Whose Prayer Is It Anyway? will help you understand why you should. This book will guide you through understanding the influence others have on the prayers you say; and it will also assist you in evaluating whether your prayers are suitable for where you are on your life's journey.

Heaven Calling You by Phil Rehberg. $2.99 from Smashwords.com
“Thoughtful and driven reading,… holds a powerful message, highly recommended.” - Midwest Book Review (Reviewed under the title "The Road to New Life") DO you wonder about Heaven? This fresh and engaging book about the path to God and His heaven (and a taste of it now!) will engage your mind and heart. Not every salvation prayer leads to heaven and you can’t get there by being good!

Greater Community Spirituality: A New Revelation by Marshall Vian Summers. $3.99 from Smashwords.com
A prophetic new understanding of God and human spirituality within a larger arena of intelligent life. Greater Community Spirituality is a spirituality that transcends all boundaries of race, culture, religion and language, providing the foundation for recognition and relationship between people, nations and worlds.

The Christian Aspie: Notes from the Blog by Stephanie Mayberry. $7.99 from Smashwords.com
A collection of posts from The Christian Aspie blog, along with side notes by the author, giving further explanation or insight how the posts were created. This book will nourish your spirit and provide valuable insight into the world of a Christian with Asperger's Syndrome.

The Holliday Adventures: The Clever Four-Leaf Clover by Kathy Sattem Rygg. $2.99 from Smashwords.com
Jack Holliday is learning all about St. Patrick's Day, from what makes Ireland so green to the best way to catch a leprechaun. But when Jack and his little brother, Peter, take a trip to the Emerald Isle, they find more than just a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. They learn something very clever about four-leaf clover.

 Strange Fruit Episode One: Feather by Raegan Millhollin. $0.99 from Smashwords.com
Ephraim knows taking home the broken angel he finds collapsed in an alleyway is a bad idea, but he does it anyway, only to discover that it was, in fact, a VERY bad idea. His act of kindness could lead to the Apocalypse.

Friends and foes, take a look at what Lulu is doing: I just love this setup.You can also download books of your choice here, or purchase

some at a low cost. Just something to cheer you in these tough economical times:  http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/marieseltenrych

October blurb: A to Z to help you enjoy life today.

Well, the weather is finally clearing up, bringing nice warm weather to Queensland. The weather is very important to my well-being. I like to see the blue skies above, with fluffy white clouds and then my heart is glad.

What makes your heart glad? Having success with your projects, seeing your beautiful grandchildren growing up, learning every day? Health is a very important aspect. Until we lose our health we cannot know how great it is to feel 100% well, or 'really well'. Lack of sleep is a deterrent to good health, eating all the wrong foods or forgetting to eat, or eating too much, can make us feel unwell. Even shopping too much can take away our good feeling, making us tired.

If we take time out with God, we can feel better. Even if we are feeling angry, or upset over something, talking to God is very good for our well being. Well, you can't go much higher than God, can you? And sometimes we do feel that God has reached down into our hearts to give us comfort, healing, wellness of being.

Nevertheless, evils and troubles will and do come to everyone. If your troubles are too hard to handle, try a few tricks:

a) Talk to someone with a listening ear. Even a telephone call can work wonders.

b)  Talk to God about this. You can talk in your mind, or in a quiet place, or even in a crowd. God always listens.

c)   Take a walk to a beach, park or where flowers grow. This will ease your heart.

d)   Remember good times, good people, happy days. This will ease your pain.

e)   Make yourself a really healthy meal: like pea and ham soup! [Just made it in around ten minutes]. It will make your tummy happy. Enjoy it with a friend, even better.

f)   Watch a funny movie. That will take away your troubles for a time. I think "One Foot in the Grave" is one of the funniest series I have ever seen. Or, Peter Sellers in "The Party" is sure to make you laugh.

g)  Have an early night with a really good novel. Read my 50 Hours, a story about 3 women going to Bali, ending up in the clink. It is funny, interesting and I even used Google to gain an insight into the terraine over there. I have never gone there, so it was almost as good to sail over the rocky land and then to get a birdseye view of the areas I was working in. I think this book is almost as good as some of the Agatha Christie novels I have devoured over the years.

h) Read a happy part of the Bible, such as 'Ruth', 'Song of Solomon' [very romantic and even 'erotic' in parts.]

i) Most of all, talk to someone again. Confide in someone special who knows you, loves you. Listen to their stories. Even better. When you hear other peoples' troubles, our own fade by comparison.

j) Give an old friend a ring. Remember days gone by, hear their story.

k) Write a note to someone, tell them you remembered them and quote something interesting that you can both share.

l) Go on Facebook, Wattpad, MySpace, and oodles of others; post a note, send a smile, hug or message to your facebook gang. Get involved.

m) Visit NaWriMo and have a laugh, get ready for the next contest in November. Not far away now. You too can write 50,000 in one month. Yes, you can.

m) Give a donation to a needy cause, children's charities, CBM, Open Doors, Mission Australia, World Vision, Doctors without borders, Oxfam, Teen Challenge, Christian Prayer Centre... The list goes on. Even a small donation can change umpteen lives.

n) Find a Red Cross mobile van, or give them a ring, and donate blood! Go on, I do this every 3 months and it makes me feel so good. One donation can save up to 3 lives. How good is that little drop?

o) Go to a beach and collect shells. Talk to another lonely person with the breeze blowing in your hair [oops].

p) Go to the hairdresser. These people listen to hair-stories every day. Smile at them in the mirror. Change your hair-style.

q)  Shop for a gift for someone with a new baby; a person in hospital; someone suffering loss, etc. Make the gift something you would like others to get you.

r) Think of something you like doing, and do it.

s) Take a look at holiday brochures, find a place you can afford to go to.

t) Have a cup of tea, aaah. Always helps.

u) Visit a zoo or an animal shelter. These floppy-eared little creatures will touch your heart.

v) Sing in the shower. Even if you have no tone, pitch or volume, you will always sound better in the bathroom for some reason. Acoustics?

w) Soak cotton balls in cold tea and place them on your eyes. Or get cucumber pieces and place them over your eyelids [closed]. Take a nap.

x)  Give someone a hug. Contact with another human being is crucial to a good mind.

y)  Treat yourself to a glass of wine with a few nibblies. Share with another human if possible.

z)  Tell someone you love them. If there is no human around, send an sms, tell your cat, dog, horse, guinea pig or bird, "I love you." Mean it!

September, 2011

How great thou art, how great thou art! Surely God is great. After a month of prayer [and fasting] prayers are being answered. No joke, no lie, God is working. Yesterday, my anxious prayers were heart and our dearly beloved missing person was sighted. Halleluia. Not everything is yet clear, but the fog is passing. Thanks to everyone who cared, prayed and felt a love in their hearts for this situation. Grace and peace to you all. Blessings like showers may fall from above. God is good.  

August, 2011

Please forgive my lateness coming here. I can tell you that I have tried a few times, obviously, unsuccessfully. Never mind, August has done well without my comments. It is still so cold here, like Winter will never end. I am still wearing my jumpers, etc. The smell in the air is wonderful, burning of wood in our street. How delightful to my nostrils. Soon, we will not be allowed to burn anything without written permission from someone high up, maybe there will be a Carbon Tax Gatherer, just like in the days of Jesus?  Remember Matthew and also Zacheus were tax collectors whose lives were changed by Jesus.

In the meantime, gardening is in full swing here. Yesterday, we cut down two bunches of bananas! We have not had a banana since the prices zoomed and put our country into debt [according to some news items I heard]. Unfortunately, I don't know any rich people who still buy bananas at $16.55 a kilo. So, yesterday, we gave away one large bunch to five different families, just so they can enjoy a banana in the Banana State, where banana benders grow! I remember, back in '86, we visited Canberra and the guy in Woollies changed the price of bananas to .99c a kilo because I said that was what Queenslanders paid. If only he could see into the future, he would have been freezing bananas and waiting for the banana boom.

We hope to give a few more families a few bananas over the weekend, and maybe I will taste one again. These are not Cavs or Lady fingers, so don't worry, they are just like a Sugar banana, about half the size of Cavs. They also get soft inside before the skin turns yellow, and are very sweet, a bit like a really ripe Lady Finger.

In the meantime, we will continue to pray for this ever changing world. In one day, London has been transformed into a carbon tax dilemma. What is going on there? Why are the young people so frustrated? I think they should be asked to visit Parliament and to present their case to the Big Wigs. Obviously, they have too many mobile phones and too much nonsense on Facebook, but they need to be taken notice of. If their parents cannot control them, then they will have to control themselves.

One suggestion for those who wish to get wisdom: give the youngsters [especially teenagers] affirmations about themselves, and responsibilities in the home. Tell them they are responsible for certain things, such as personal items, their rooms, their homework, their time. Their attitude is also something they should have control over. Do they really want to be a thug? A criminal? If not, then give them a football and a park. Let all the parks in England be 'given to the teens', and remove all the 'Do not walk on Grass' signs. They need a life, they are full of energy, direct it, adults out there. Don't forget how you were at 14, 15, 16, 17, right up to 21: full of energy, hopes, hormones and dreams, wars inside and other things happening that were weird. I hated being 13 and spent a lot of time crying into the dirty laundry that was in a heap in our bathroom. I hated myself because I had freckles! Now I think that was strange and silly, but, back then it was seriously important.

Let us listen to our teens, tell them the truth and let them be truthful with us. It will save loads of problems later on. I can vouch for that. Who has addressed the original problem in London? The shooting? How can a government order shooting with rubber bullets to solve this?

Listen to the young people, they are the voice of their peers, and even their nation. Listen and see if they are hurting, confused, feeling forgotten, or just plain bored! Give them jobs [shopkeepers]. Make them take responsibility for their behaviour, work load, communicating their feelings to someone who cares. There are loads of good folk in London, get them to converse with the young criminals [now they are], talk to them. Let them talk their hearts out. Give them something to make them think, act and begin to remember that they are the 'hope of their nation'. The future Mothers and Fathers of the great land of England.

I sometimes talk to my little friends in this street. Yesterday, one of the girls told me that she was 'left out' of a circle in school. I listened and told her that she acted responsibly when she simply 'walked away' and found new friends. Good on her. Just that little word was probably enough for that one incident. Our kids need someone to talk to, to unload their burdens before they escalate into pandemonium.

Let those who feel frustrated talk through their problems. This is surely the most logical and effective way to stem this flow of garbage.

Today, tell a teenager that you love him or her. Make it real and true.

Teenagers hate 'fake'. Be real, be honest, be trustworthy and be their friend.  Make this August a time of peace in your little plot.

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/26559

 http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/60863

get fit and trim with this famous method [not my title]  

 http://www.thegabrielmethod.com/cmd.php?af=1354626

Aussieoibooks is now a Publishing Company.  I can help get your book published. Why can't you get your book published? Why not? Let the BookNanny at Aussieoibooks get you published for a very small sum. I will never rip you off! That is my word. I will proofread your book for a flat fee of $50 [up to 100 pages].  Editing and reformatting $50 for up to 100 pages. Publishing through online publishers [Createspace/Amazon; Lulu US or UK; Smashwords ebooks] for $100, including Australian ISBN [cost $45]. If you want a printed copy or copies of your book, costs may vary depending on your book size and format. Copies from Createspace can be as low as $4.50 per book [If you have their pro-plan which costs $40 and reduces the cost of printing for a year]. Local printers can print an 6 x 9 paperback for around $10 AU. If you want a lot of books, it gets cheaper. But, the important thing is, for a small amount of money, you can have your creation online, in ebook format, and in POD [print on demand] with a number of sites online.  You do need a barcode if you want to get your books in shops, so that also available at CS, Lulu and other places. I can give you a barcode as well [free, or you can buy one from Thorpe/Bowker for $45] [new learning curve].

Get your book out there to be read. I have helped Susan, Stephen, Paul, Louise and others. Give me your stuff and I will get it done for you. You will leave your legacy for your family and to countless folk around the world. You will say, "I have written a book" and it will be real. Go on, try it today.  

 September, 2011

PS. I have just put a small charge on my books at Smashwords. Case of necessity, I'm afraid. Thank God my husband just got a call to do a few hours work today. Praise God. Praise God.  

Contact me: marie@aussieoibooks.com.au/ work number 0731464818 or [home] 0734962491; mobile 0434786881

The BookNanny [my new title]  

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/marieseltenrych 

Get your printed glossy cover copy here of Five Quick Sermons:

https://www.createspace.com/3457350

 http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=180147

The Gum Tree Gang and the Mystery at the Old Queenslander and my adult novel: Five Golden Rings and a Diamond,a fast-paced, sizzling romance set in Scriob, Ireland and Maryborough, Australia;  in original cover: 

 http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/five-golden-rings-and-a-diamond/7638151Seltenrych's You can download [free] a copy, or purchase the printed version from me; simply fill in the form or contact me on email: marie@aussieoibooks.com.au for more information.  

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