Friday, September 6, 2013

Oh, that magic!

I'm pleased to have fellow Canadian author Sarah Butland as my guest on Magic of the Muses. After reading her post about the magic of writing, you'll understand how she got her reputation as a mystical, lyrical writer.

Authors Are As Magical As Readers

Sarah Butland


Worlds are created with the stroke of a pen or the press of a letter on a keyboard. Worlds that many enter without bumping into anyone they know but inhabited by characters that welcome them all the same. These characters, created from the power of the mind, are always the beginning of something great though not always in a positive way.

Many of these characters are much like our neighbours, spouses and kids but with a dash of something more. The setting, the plot, the timing of everything the character does may seem familiar but adds a flair to our otherwise boring or too challenging life.

Authors aren't necessarily witches just as readers are not always their toads but both can easily turn into a prince or turn the page into a welcoming castle. Magic is not always cloaks, daggers and rabbits and potions, each book discovered, whether fictional or non, has a mystique all its own and it's up to each of us to embrace it and volunteer to be mystified.

It's easy to fall in love with some books and want more after it concludes just as easy as it is for some authors to want to give more, to listen more attentively and to ensure their readers are swept away in their creations.

Readers are magical as they put their trust in a stranger, purchase a book with the click of a button or the swipe of plastic and carry home worlds in their bags with promises to visit them momentarily. These same readers, authors and non-writers alike, hold the power of success in their hands each and every day by choosing to purchase, write a review or share the book with a friend. A simple task that doesn't require eye of newt or a cauldron, a top hat or a trick, can make the day of the writer who holds many worlds between their eyes, back of head and their fingertips.

So as you rush your children off to school, as you prepare the classroom to teach your pupils, or feel the crisp change in the are I ask you to embrace your own world for a moment and realize how good it feels to receive a gift from a friend or stranger. A gift such as a smile while you walk by, an attentive ear or a watchful eye, a written poem or a simple card can be magical in that it makes a bad day seem silly.

Discovering a new to you author, enjoying their creation and telling them so continues the miracle that is positivity and makes more magic – something we need more of today.

While you read this I, like many authors, are struggling to get noticed, to get downloads and sales but not necessarily to make money (I'm sure you heard, it's not a lot). Most authors do this to pass on the magic of literacy by ensuring everyone can find something they enjoy reading. By supporting and independent author or any author in fact, and sharing your thoughts you, too, can spread the worth of literacy every time you have the chance.

Write a review and spread the word – the god of the book you just read deserves that much!

Thanks for reading,

Sarah Butland

Please visit me at www.SarahButland.com to support myself and many other authors.  This month as everyone heads back to school, the leaves start changing colour and the air brings a chill I am bringing you lots of reading material in hopes you'll find something you love to read. While I am putting forth a huge effort to bring awareness to my own books I understand that everyone wants something different to read. Please show a huge welcome to all my guests by commenting and checking out their books.

Sarah Butland was born in Ontario, the year was 1982. She was moved to New Brunswick for over 15 years and now resides at home in Nova Scotia, Canada. Butland has been married to her high school sweetheart and has a superstar son named William, and a cat named Russ who all make her house a home.

After  many stories, attempts at novels and thousands of ideas later, Butland created BananaBoy and the Adventures of Sammy was born. SENDING YOU SAMMY is her first published children’s book. Then came BRAIN TALES - VOLUME ONE --a collection of short stories and finally ARM FARM, her current literary pride and joy.

Enter Sarah's contest! 
Great Prizes!
 $25 Amazon Gift Card and MORE!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Rafflecopter - Giveaway :) www.rafflecopter.com Oh, that magic! was brought to you by THE TRAZ



"They draw her into the dark world of drugs, murder & lawlessness..."

"Exciting, powerful, & tragic. Young adult book for all ages"

 "The whole thing ends on a knife edge..."

3 comments:

Sarah Butland said...

Thanks so much for sharing your spotlight with me, Eileen.

Reading is so important so we definitely need to work together to help everyone find something they love.

Sarah

Unknown said...

Sarah! Just popping in to say hi and love ya! xo

Eileen Schuh: said...

You're welcome, Sarah. Thanks for visiting, Kelly. I hope you've entered Sarah's give-away contest.

You are right, Sarah, about the advantages of cross-promoting. Authors have no need to compete with each other--people don't buy just one book. Cooperating and promoting each others' products and promoting literacy in general, expands the potential readership market, increases our exposure to the buying public and leads to more sales all round.

Thank you for participating.