
Welcome J.Q. -----
Hi C.K. Thanks for hosting me today so I can tell your readers about the awesome women profiled in my new interactive e-book for girls, Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women.
Hello Readers. I’m excited to visit with you today and look forward to your comments.
Janet-of-All-Trades
By J.Q. Rose
Lighting a one-match campfire, creating a fiery torch from sanitary napkins wrapped around a dead tree branch, preparing food in a commercial kitchen for 20-100 guests. These are just a few of the tasks I learned when I worked three seasons at a girls’ summer camp, Camp Newaygo in Michigan. http://www.campnewaygo.org/ My job title should have been Janet-of-all-Trades, however, officially I was the Business Director. Besides the expected bookkeeping, camp store manager, communication, account records, checking campers in and out, and counting money, I also did food inventory, shopping, transporting campers, cleaning, and anything else necessary to help keep camp running smoothly. And I loved this job!
It wasn’t the actual tasks that made me love it, but rather it was the opportunity to work with loving, caring people who were all interested in providing a safe, fantastic, fun summer experience for girls from 7-17 years old. The counselors were college age women who had the huge responsibility of watching over a cabin full of girls bubbling over with enthusiasm, curiosity, and hi-jinx. Their energy, laughter, and warmth infused me with the same. I was overwhelmed at the thought of the potential of these campers and counselors. I couldn’t help but wonder what was in store for their futures.
This camp experience, as well as being a mother of two daughters, was the spark for the idea of developing a book which could inspire and empower girls to dream big dreams and to equip them with ways to make their dreams come true. The best way to accomplish this is for girls to have role-models to emulate. I profiled these outstanding women who could be a guide for girls to realize they too can be successful in a career that will fulfill them.
It was my privilege to interview fifteen contemporary women who have distinguished careers. These role models are in business, technology, health care, sports, science, education, the arts, and even in transportation (a semi-truck driver.) My heartfelt thanks to them for trusting me to tell their inspiring stories and for allowing me to share them with young girls. I have had so many wonderful comments from the girls’ focus groups on how the stories have resonated with them.
Because C.K. penned such an entertaining story in her book, A Horse Called Trouble, I selected an excerpt from Girls Succeed about horse woman, Pati Pierruci. Pati is a teacher and horse trainer in dressage riding as well as a top competitor at the Gran Prix level. Dressage is the pairing of horse and rider performing together to become one with an exquisite routine of complex movements. This excerpt is from Chapter One, True Love.
EXCERPT:
Pati learned the levels of movement in dressage from talented teachers. She practiced and worked hard to advance her skills for competitions.
She remembers her first performance at the Gran Prix level, one of the highest levels of competition. She was excited and nervous about the first presentation with her beloved horse, Idilio. They would be performing under the lights in front of a crowd of 17,000 people. She wanted to be sure to warm up just enough so that Idilio would be ready, but not tired. However, there was a delay. She tried to stay calm. She didn’t want to get too anxious because her horse would pick up on her nervousness and make the stallion uneasy. Finally after a twenty minute delay, the pair began the dance.
Pati concentrated on the dressage movements allowing Idilio to perform flawlessly. A few minutes into the presentation, she realized she was so nervous that she couldn’t swallow. Saliva kept building up in her mouth, but she could not swallow! Pati rode her horse through all of the paces, yet she could not swallow. She began to think that at the end of the performance she would be drooling.
After performing for six minutes, she heard the crowd start clapping. The performance was over. Finally she could swallow. Happily her nerves did not upset Idilio. He performed so well they made it to the next round. She never forgot that bit of panic at her first Gran Prix event. Now she experiences nerves before a routine, but she calls them good nerves because they keep her sharp and ready to perform.
BOOK LINKS: To download a sample which includes the Table of Contents or purchase Girls Succeed, please use these links.
Smashwords Link http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/241825
Amazon Link http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009NY6ZAS
Kobo Link http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Girls-Succeed/book-myLEkD3MME6d8UiRBgthtQ/page1.html?s=lrOG8bTJ60qkeMkE-Y96Vg&r=3
Barnes and Noble Link http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/girls-succeed-jq-rose/1114041658?ean=2940045118033
Sony Link https://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/j-q-rose/girls-succeed-stories-behind-the-careers-of-successful-women/_/R-400000000000000883970
A Study Guide to accompany the book is now available at amazon.com and smashwords.com.
Connect with J.Q. Rose online at
Girls Succeed blog http://girlssucceed.blogspot.com/
J.Q. Rose blog http://www.jqrose.com/
Author website http://jqrose.webs.com/
J. Q. Rose Amazon Author Page http://tinyurl.com/aeuv4m4
Visit her trailer at: http://animoto.com/play/QcAByshul5wZ5Bob9bdiug
______
Thanks for joining me today, J.Q. I loved the excerpt....especially when there is a horse involved. :-) Thanks again for joining me and wishing you all the best of success with your great stories.
C.K. Volnek