Service dogs Save Veterans Lives

WWII soldiers saying their last goodbyes  before shipping out.

 

Memorial Day has been  created to honor and thank our fallen men and women for their ultimate sacrifices so that  you and I may pursue our coveted and privileged lives. Everyone  has been touched by a veteran.  We all  have had to  say our good byes, whether they be temporary ones  at the dock or tarmac when they ship off, or final farewells at the bedside.

But don’t  forget the most painful goodbyes - the tragic, unexpected farewells we  must say alone after  a veteran's suicide. These goodbyes occur twenty-two times a day.

 Twenty-two times a day.

Today I want to remember those Masada souls who fought the valiant fight, and could not give up….until they did.

These fallen heroes have defended my right to stand up for my beliefs.

 

 



A protestor at Tiananmen Square  who was never seen again after this picture was taken -1989

Because of them  I do not live in fear...



A 106 Year Old Armenian woman guards her house - 1990



 



...and I will not starve ...

A Vulture waits for a Sudanese girl to die. 1993

... and I am free to follow my dreams.

POWS cheer as their plane lifts off to take them home after the Vietnam war.

 

This Memorial Day please join me as  I offer a special thanks in honor of those men and women who have fallen too early. Because of them we are able to live a charmed life. I am embarrassed that  my biggest worries are losing ten pounds, hoping the potholes on Interstate 5 are filled before my next road trip, and being disappointed if my favorite show tonight is a rerun.

 

Today, and every day of my life, with every breath I take…..

Thank you.

 

Service Dogs Save Veterans' Lives.



A Service Dog in WWII

MASADA'S MARINE ON AMAZON

The 21 Day Myth and STOP 22

How long does it take to make a habit? Twenty-four days ago on January first, I read an article that claimed  it takes twenty-one days to form a habit. It was on the internet, so it must be true.

 

I made the decision right then. If I could consistently rise every morning and exercise twenty-one minutes for twenty-one days, I will have made a habit. No, not a hobbit. I have neither shrunk in size nor have hairy feet, although at my post-menopausal age the hair has sprouted in other undesirable places. I am talking about a habit, an exercise habit.

So, is it true? I tested the theory. By the fourth day of my research an entirely amazing pattern  began to emerge.  The final disclosure of my analysis? In twenty-four days the twenty one minutes of exercise decreased proportionately to the increasing number of days that passed. By the twenty-first day the minutes of exercise registered zero. I also discovered that the passion for creating the habit of exercise decreased as well.

But I have learned one thing.. Don’t give up. No matter what.

Throughout life there have been times when I became passionate about an idea, a product, and even a person. Like on a honeymoon, I did everything to nurture that idea into a reality, I worked long hours to acquire that new product, and I sacrificed and compromised to love that person with all my heart. In the beginning the idea, the product and the person promised great things, feeding my passion. Like anything that is new, I was on board, gung-ho, ready to go all out.  

But as we all know the honeymoon fades, the passion dims during the struggles of long hours, compromises and sacrifices. 

The path grows long, the sand deep.








But no matter how dark and treacherous the way, just around the bend is an unexpected surprise,  waiting to happen.

 Don't give up. Just do the work. What ever your goal, just start over again. Press on. Successful athletes did not quit after they lost the game. And every author doubts his work. But if you are doing what you love, you are already a far ahead of the game. 



And don't forget.....


always look up.




Habit Formation - The 21 Day Myth

 

 

 

 

 

Every day 22 veterans commit suicide because of PTSD.

Please carry the message.

MASADA'S MARINE, The Story of a Service Dog And Her Wounded Marine Warrior.

Join the movement : STOP 22

Join  Shari Duval and the   K9s For Warriors in their movement, STOP 22.

 

2015: The Year of the Veterans

Today is the day. I Create tomorrow’s memories   and live yesterday’s lessons.

 

The end of a year means a blank calendar ahead.  Today I consider new beginnings. I’ll welcome my new year with excitement and adventure. Although the IEDs of fear and worry line the roadside of my journey, I am not one to let them stop me. I will trust this year’s journey will be an honorable one, as was last year’s. I trust  the memories I bring with me into the new year, as well as  the lessons learned from yesterday,  will be of benefit to those  I meet along the way,  who are alone with theirs.

The most valuable gift I have to give is my experience, wrapped in strength, and hope. Even in the depths of despair, when there is nothing else, we all have our experiences. Through my writing I hope to pay forward, the compassion, empathy and love I’ve received during my journey through life.

 Because of my charmed life of freedom, made possible by the efforts of those who have fought to defend it,  I want 2015 to be The Year of the Veterans. We are needlessly losing 22 our men and women per day to suicide.

 

 

 

No man is an island, entire of itself;

Every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;

If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if the promontory were,

As well as if the manor of thy friends, or of thine own were;

Any man’s death diminishes me,

Because I am involved in mankind;

And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;

It tolls for thee.           

 John Donne

When I wrote MASADA’S MARINE last year, I spent hours of research, and now, I can no longer feign ignorance to this country’s embarrassing issue of ignoring  this invisible disease. I would like you, too, to join me in my crusade. In order to introduce  you and your friends to my cause, I am recommending a reading list.

Of course, my book, MASADA'S MARINE is top of my list because it illustrates the dynamics of PTSD and how service dogs are combating this invisible disease.

Masada and her Marine were born two decades and two thousand miles apart, and both aspired to do be the best that they could be. But first, they had to meet.
Masada began her journey in Illinois as a bumbling golden retriever puppy and emerged twenty months later as a proud, confident American Service Dog, ready and able to protect and preserve the life of Iraq veteran, Alex March, USMC.
Alex’s journey began in California as an ambitious boy who only dreamed of protecting and preserving life for the Corps, his country and his family. Twenty years later, he emerged as one of “a few good men,” and served with honor, courage and commitment …until he came home….
“An unseen attacker, camouflaged in the crowd, cooled its heels like a terrorist. It waited to follow Alex and his family home. How could he have known what lurked on the sidelines? Another war, an invisible war, he knew nothing about and had not been trained to fight.”
Follow Iraq veteran, Alex March, USMC and his American Service Dog, Masada, who rescues the wounded warrior, as they become the best they can be.

 

The two books below are only two of many included in my research of Masada’s Marine. I guarantee you will join my campaign after reading these books.

 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE by David Finkel

The wars of the past decade have been covered by brave and talented reporters, but none has reckoned with the psychology of these wars as intimately as the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Finkel. For The Good Soldiers, his bestselling account from the front lines of Baghdad, Finkel embedded with the men of the 2-16 Infantry Battalion during the infamous “surge,” a grueling fifteen-month tour that changed them all forever. In Finkel’s hands, readers can feel what these young men were experiencing, and his harrowing story instantly became a classic in the literature of modern war.
     In Thank You for Your Service, Finkel has done something even more extraordinary. Once again, he has embedded with some of the men of the 2-16—but this time he has done it at home, here in the States, after their deployments have ended. He is with them in their most intimate, painful, and hopeful moments as they try to recover, and in doing so, he creates an indelible, essential portrait of what life after war is like—not just for these soldiers, but for their wives, widows, children, and friends, and for the professionals who are truly trying, and to a great degree failing, to undo the damage that has been done.
     The story Finkel tells is mesmerizing, impossible to put down. With his unparalleled ability to report a story, he climbs into the hearts and minds of those he writes about. Thank You for Your Service is an act of understanding, and it offers a more complete picture than we have ever had of these two essential questions: When we ask young men and women to go to war, what are we asking of them? And when they return, what are we thanking them for?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TAMING THE FIRE WITHIN, by Anne Freund

Anne Freund, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been practicing since 1989. She graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor's in Psychology and from the University of Florida with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Freund completed her internship at the VA in Bay Pines, FL. She has been with the Department of Veterans Affairs since 2005. Prior to that she worked with law enforcement and first responders as part of a Critical Incidence Stress Debriefing Team. Dr. Freund began conducting PTSD support groups in 2005, shortly after arriving at the VA. She has had specialized training in PTSD at the National Center for PTSD in Menlo Park, CA and at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Dr Freund is a member of the American Psychological Association, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, International Society for Traumatic Stress, the European Society for Stress Studies, and the Association of V.A. Psychologist Leaders. Dr. Freund was the keynote speaker at the annual POW/MIA Heroes Dinner sponsored by Rolling Thunder in 2011.

 

 

I am sure after reading these books you will join in the effort to pass this bill: S. 2182 VETERANS SUICIDE BILL

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

 

 

 

Gifts For Half the Price!!

When you purchase the PRINT VERSION of  any of the following books, or  if you have  purchased them in the past, you can now take advantage of a 50% savings on the KINDLE VERSION.

  SAVE $4.00 
 Instead of   $ 6.99 - Enjoy the Kindle version of
 
MASADA'S MARINE
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What Makes A Good Story?

To all my local fans in the Inland Empire!!
Don't forget to mark your calendars for October 20th!!

More importantly, don't forget.

Every hour a veteran commits suicide!!

Masada's Marine

Roads, Miles, Books and Dreams

An author wears many hats. Yesterday, I put on my website manager hat, tidying and updating my website that I had toiled over, building myself, over three years ago when I began this career of writing.  I can't help but look back on those days of hope and blind excitement that seems so long ago now, and wonder how many hours of research, editing, writing and rewriting I have invested in my new lifestyle.

Sportster can tell you. His new napping spot is next to the computer because that is where he finds me eight to ten hours a day.

The evidence lies in my new, ergonomically correct chair that cured the tingling sensation in my fingers as they pounded the keyboard, placing those twenty-six letters of the alphabet on a white screen, arranging and rearranging until the imaginary characters in my head sprang to life onto paper.

And my Wizard of Winnebago motor home will make testament on its odometer. After miles on the road, carrying Sportster, Jack Incarnate and me to RV rallies, libraries and book signings, from California to Florida, to Oregon, Vermont, and New York, and all states in between, not only do the years add up, but the places and miles do, too.

Yesterday, I  retrieved my motor home, which will be my home for the next three months, from Canyon  Lake Auto, a sister company of Bradley Auto Center  in Sun City, California. (Bradley Auto is also a fictional place in my book, MASADA'S MARINE) 

Feeling good from the most thorough checkup it had received in years, the Wizard hummed all the way home, purring like Sportster as I backed it into its parking space alongside my house.

"Only ten more days," I said. "And we'll be on the road again." The sun flashed a wink off the headlight as I closed the gate and went in my "stick" house.

Redesigning my website, I came across an interview I had with Nick Russell, New York Times best-selling author and creator of The Gypsy Journal RV Travel Newspaper along with his readers' comments.

Here it is. I hope you enjoy.

This is a post on Nick Russell's blog  GypsyJournal.com

 This is the first in a series of interviews on self-published authors I will be running. Some of the authors are very successful and sell hundreds of books a month, while others have enjoyed more modest success. Their backgrounds, writing styles, and genres may be different, but they all have one thing in common; the desire to share the stories inside their heads that are clamoring to get out.

 I first met Judy Howard at a Gypsy Journal RV Rally in Yuma, Arizona and was impressed by her dedication to succeeding as an independent author.

 Where Do You Live: Sun City, California

 What Genre Are Your Books: My first book, Coast To Coast With A Cat And A Ghost, is a memoir. My second book, Going Home With A Cat And A Ghost, is a mystery-romance. My current work in progress, Masada's Marine, will be general fiction.

Book Title(s):

Coast To Coast With A Cat And A Ghost

 Going Home With A Cat And A Ghost

 Masada's Marine

 

Tell Us About Your Background: I was born in Illinois and attended the University of Illinois in  Champaign-Urbana. I have owned and operated a pet grooming salon, The Canine Beauty Salon, since I was eleven years old. After my husband of 25 years died in 2004, I began traveling more in my motorhome, and three years ago I began writing.

 How Long Have You Been Actively Writing: Only three years, but I am addicted and cannot stop.

 Indie or Trade Published: Working as a self-employed business owner all my life, becoming an Indie Author came naturally.

 E-books Or Printed: My books are available in print and as e-books.

 Is Writing A Fulltime Activity, And If Not, What Is Your Regular Job: I am transitioning to retirement from my dog grooming business. I will write full time by the end of the year.

 Who Are Some Of Your Favorite Authors: I am fickle. I am drawn to what I am researching at the moment. When I had time to read for pleasure, I did not seek out the great American novels, but was attracted to the mainstream authors, Nora Roberts, Joseph Wambaugh, James Patterson, Jean Auel and even Daniel Steele. As an author now, I regret not mentioning them all. But today, Carlos Luis Montelvan’s, Until Tuesday, Garth Stein’s, The Art Of Racing In The Rain are just a few.

 What Brought You To Indie Publishing: As I said before, I have been self-employed all my life and I find it difficult to partner with others. I have many author friends, many who have hired  publishers who have not made them wealthy, so what can I say?

 What Is Your Writing Schedule: I write every chance I get. Many times my grooming business and my traveling threaten to push my writing aside. If I allow that to happen I get irritable and restless. So, for the most part, I rise between five and six A.M. to insure writing time, before reality takes over the day.

 What Are Your Writing Goals: My goal is to be completely retired from my grooming business so that I may travel and write. My hope is my books will inspire and bring change to my readers’ lives.

 How Do You Promote Your Books: I mainly blog and Twitter. I attend as many book signings and author affairs as I am able. I support other authors. I am a strong believer in a supportive community of authors. I also perform writing workshops to inspire others who have the desire to write but have not yet delved into the sea of words.

 Where Do Or Would You Like To See Yourself In 5 Years: Writing and traveling. I hope that I will be an author of some prominence, traveling, speaking, and writing.

 What Do You See As The Future For Indie Authors: I have always believed in capitalism – the concept of competition and theory of supply and demand. Social media has made it possible for an author to soar to the bestseller’s list, if he/she writes well. If you do quality work and work your ass off, you will survive and thrive.

 What Advice Would You Give A New Indie Author: A best-selling author said something similar to this: Work from daylight to dusk, and rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.

 What Else Would You Like Our Readers To Know About You: First of all, through my research for my current book, Masada's Marine, I have acquired a deep feeling of gratitude to all of our veterans. Second, I am always asked if I am afraid, traveling alone. The answer is, “Yes, but I do it anyway.” And third, people ask why I write. My answer is the same as President John Kennedy’s when he explained why we choose to go to the moon. I choose to write not because it is easy, but because it is hard.

 

Thanks Judy, I wish you much success in your publishing efforts.


That interview was a year and a half ago. Today I am retired, writing and traveling. I wonder, where the next year and a half will lead?


Check out my newest book,

MASADA'S MARINE , The Story of A Service Dog and Her Wounded Marine Warrior.

Every hour a veteran commits suicide.

 

 

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

My belly was twisted in knots, I wanted to throw up, and I didn’t breathe. With the slightest flick of my finger, I hit the “Approve” button and the final proof of MASADA’S MARINE was sent off to receive its final changes before it is printed.  Do all writers go through this anguish?  I’m nervous, excited, and scared, and yet hopeful. And, still, the waiting continues.

 In 2011, I experienced these overwhelming emotions for the first time, but was rescued by this wise advice: Your book is like your child. Trust you have done your best, and let it go, then get busy on the next book.

So with ideas simmering on the back burner for another book in the MASADA SERIES, I will be busy with for the following book events.

Saturday, 10:00 Am to 12:00 pm on June 21^st

California Writers Club Showcase & Library Benefit  

is presenting

the prison library project

at

the clairmont packing house

532 w. 1^st St.

clairmont, ca. 91711

 

 

This event is to attract authors and aspiring authors to join The Inland Empire Chapter of The INLAND EMPIRE CALIFORNIA WRITERS CLUB. The club’s purpose is to encourage and support writers in all phases of their writing. Many of the club’s writers and authors will be present at this event doing book signing and readings.

There is no entrance fee. Please bring a PAPERBACK BOOK as a donation. The books are donated to the Prison Library Project.

I will be in attendance with MASADA’S MARINE, fresh off the press!

 

 

 

 

 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

TUESDAY, JUNE, 24, 2014

7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

 

 

 

 

Have you been thinking about writing and wondering…Where do I start? What do I do?

If so, mark your calendars on this date.

This is the first of several seminars I present across the country.

I explain how someone like me, who has been a dog groomer all her life, became an author who ranks consistently in the top 10% on Amazon’s Author Ranking List.

So come on out to The Ovitt Community Library at 215 E C Street, Ontario, Ca. 91764.

Get inspired! Get motivated!

If you are unable to make this seminar, watch for others on BUILDING CHARACTER and WHAT MAKES A GOOD STORY? 

 

 

If you would like me to present one of these seminars at your organization please contact me at my website:

JUDY HOWARD PUBLISHING

Or email me: JUDY HOWARD

 

 

AND FINALLY!

Mark your calendar on Saturday, July 12, 2014

1:30 pm noon to 4:30 pm

PRESENTING MY LATEST BOOK

MASADA'S MARINE, The Story of A Service Dog And Her Wounded Marine Warrior.

 

 

 

Masada and her Marine were both born two decades and two thousand miles apart, and both aspired to do be the best that they could be. But first, they had to meet.

Masada began her journey in Illinois as a bumbling golden retriever puppy and emerged twenty months later as a proud, confident American Service Dog, ready and able to protect and preserve the life of Iraq veteran, Alex March, USMC.

Alex’s journey began in California as an ambitious boy who only dreamed of protecting and preserving life for the Corps, his country and his family. Twenty years later, he emerged as one of “a few good men,” and served with honor, courage and commitment …until he came home….

“An unseen attacker, camouflaged in the crowd, cooled its heels like a terrorist. It waited to follow Alex and his family home. How could he have known what lurked on the sidelines? Another war, an invisible war, he knew nothing about and had not been trained to fight.”

Follow Iraq veteran, Alex March, USMC and his American Service dog, Masada, who rescues the wounded warrior, as they become the best they can be.

 

AT

 A BOOK FAIR AND SIGNING

 

THE GRACE MELLMAN COMMUNITY LIBRARY

41000 County Center Dr., Temecula, CA 92591

(951) 296-3893

You may get an added bonus at this event. My friend, Julie April, may be hanging out with one of Canine Companions For Independence's newest service dogs, Dahlia.

Dahlia meets Sportster

 

 

 So There You Have It!!

Your summer Writing  and Reading Program

Bring your friends and family.

I can’t wait to tell you about MASADA’S MARINE.