QUICK RESPONSE CODE: QRC

IN THE DAY OF NEWER AND NEWER TECHNOLOGY.... YOU BETTER KNOW HOW TO USE THIS SYMBOL WITH YOUR CELL. ~ My book Clinging To Deceit has its own QR CODE thanks to GOOGLE!!!
((( a w e s o m e )))

ElenaMartina.

Just wanted to share one of the three bottles we bought during our trip to Napa Valley, California. We were so impressed with its taste that became members just so we could receive quarterly wine shipments of this fine wine that carries my name!

We visited several wineries but I thought it was sensational that this winery and their nearby mountain was named Elena.  That's all!

~Happy Wining.

ElenaMartina.

STARVING AUTHORS

Starving Authors? We have plenty in our ranks. Self-published authors are particularly "starving" for support and assistance from family, friends, colleagues, social contacts, online networks; basically anyone willing to help in spreading the word about buying a copy of our books. The marketing strategies of self-published authors have a relatively short range compared to well-known authors backed by agents and big publishing companies.

A couple of nights ago during a writer's club meeting, a panel of three concluded that the book writing/book selling business was not getting any easier for publishing. "The experts" reminded us on how the book market is today, with a million books getting published yearly and only a few of them making the ranks of best sellers. But they were not too pessimistic; as they helped identify to whom we should target our books and how much time and money should be spent in editing, publishing, marketing and promoting in order to sell.

Every writer's dream is to be picked up by a publishing agent, which in turn pitches our manuscript to a successful publishing company, and only then we would prepare for the grand book tour and media interviews... Unfortunately, most of us will not see that beautiful best seller dream come true, but it does not cost to dream or so people say. We need to rely on sending ourselves on our own book tour. Oh yeah, we have to do that too.

Getting a book written and published is huge! We deserve credit for committing to it and making that literary goal come true. Now, selling the book is the next step. I try to be positive and say, "I'm a best-selling author (pause), it might take me a lifetime but that's where I'm heading!" People laugh with me, but really, I am not joking!

ElenaMartina

P.S. Would you help this starving author by purchasing one of her books? Go to AuthorHouse or Amazon and search for Clinging To Deceit. The novel came out April, 2012, it is a brand new publication! ~ Thanks.

ACCESSORIZE YOUR BOOK.

Advertise your published book with bookmarks, business cards, event cards, postcards, book teasers, and posters. They serve as great hand outs or add ons to autographed copies.

My package from AuthorHouse offered all of these, providing me with a myriad of marketing products that I did not have to do for myself or hire someone to make. It really made things easier when marketing my book to the public and to bookstores.

The only thing I did not purchase was the radio press release package. They could broadcast my book as a press release to hundreds of radio stations but it would have cost me $300.

I was very excited about the idea at first, but later I felt disenchanted because there is no statistical data proving it would work. Scheduled author interviews or increased book sales was something they could not guarantee. Apparently the radio deal can not be measured or they have simply not followed an author's results.

The jury is out on that idea, I will give it more thought a few months from now when sales begin to dwindle.

ElenaMartina.

BlogHer Publishing Network

ARTICLE WRITTEN ABOUT ME AND MY BOOK.

View Link: How to go from a Columnist to a Novelist.

April 2012

April is almost over, but I will never forget April 2012 because my book: Clinging To Deceit was released to the public. For those of you who have not yet purchased a copy, you can find it at AuthorHouse, Amazon, and other online booksellers. The price is $14.95 for softcover book, and $4.99 for E-book (electronic book).

You can also purchase an autographed copy for $20.00 by sending a check or money order directly to: ELENA MARTINA, 171 Braham Lane, Suite 10 -204, San Jose, CA 95136 (this includes a signed book, taxes, plus shipping and handling). 

I truly appreciate everyone for buying the book!

ElenaMartina.

P.S. Send questions to: onlyelenamartina@aol.com

==> FIND YOUR OWN WAY==>

Unpublished writers should stop giving advice to published authors. I often hear a few that love to offer their expertise in the world of publishing to anyone who will listen. But, if they have not ventured past the writing stage, why should you bother heeding their (unpublished) point of view?

Unpublished members of the pen club believe they can offer "critical pointers" but it may prove detrimental to your writing progress. Sometimes it is best to pretend to be ignorant about certain things when hearing "advice." It is either that or yelling: "Hey! You shouldn't throw out pointers unless you have tried it yourself."

Listen to and follow published authors in your field. For instance, if you are writing fiction, do not follow a non-fiction author. Pair up with someone who does what you do. You have to choose. Many folks enjoy writing but have not crossed the very thin bridge into the published world (a very critical step).

Ask what sort of publishing they have done. A professional field article? A sports report? A children's book? A "How-To" pamphlet? Whatever they have accomplished, assess it fully to see if it pairs up with your writing style and vision.

By the way.... You will find that an author's One Way is not necessarily the Best Way for you. Every one does things differently and their "stroke of luck" just might not work for you. ~ Strive to find your Own Way.

ElénaMartina, 
Author of Clinging To Deceit, 2012.

...HAPPY LIVING: ONE DAY AT A TIME!

My Happy Living facebook page reached 4,OOO fans early this week. That milestone made me feel just wonderful! Some of you do not know this but the page came out as by-product of the newspaper column I created back in November 2010 when I began to write for the Tri-City Voice.

The name skyrocketed with facebook viewers when I created the page and every day, multiple times a day, I post my own quotes, offer advice, and post daily observations that helps people achieve happiness by simply paying attention to their surroundings. It's that simple.

Well... life isn't really simple but we make it complicated day in, and day out. We forget what happiness is all about and concentrate much more on our problems or other people's drama. It is very easy to be drawn into daily downers at home, at work, at school, at the store, etc. Remaining "down" becomes our way of life and it becomes hard to get out of because we need pity for our "awful" day.

I said, Enough of that! I want to attract happiness not sorrows, then I thought of a good title to go along with my positive thinking... That is how Happy Living: One Day at a Time column and page started because it fits the bill. So  Don't Worry, join my page and Be Happy.

ElenaMartina.

THE AUTOGRAPHED BOOK.

My hand is shaking. Looks as if I have forgotten how to sign my own name. Am I using the correct pen? Should I use blue or black ink? What if I mess it up? Think, please think. Concentrate. Execute. Smile. Give the book to its new owner. Wave.

You might think is silly, but this has happened to me quite a few times already and I am still getting the hang of it. Before I published my novel, I was on the other side of the table, you know, as a reader or a fan watching the author in front of me and looking forward to a signed copy to take home.

The other day I heard that autographed copies of first edition books might have some value in the future... that is if the author becomes famous, right? Well, no one knows for sure who will or will not turn to fame so it might be wise to get a copy. I also heard that having it autographed and dedicated might drop the price down. Oh, the rules...

The business of pre-signing books is good too. Bookstores are required to keep them if not sold. I was given a few "autographed stickers" at Barnes and Noble to place on signed copies. It gives the book a Je ne sais quoi of sorts. I signed 10 books at home and put the rest of the stickers away. The things they think about to make a book more attractive!

By the way, my book Clinging To Deceit is first edition.... Just saying.

ElenaMartina.

How Many Books Should You Order?

How many books should a published author order for himself? More than just a few.

If you only order 10 or 20 books for "just in case" scenarios, that number will likely not be enough. Your mission is to sell-sell-sell and having 10 or 20 copies will not last you very long.

My first Clinging To Deceit order contained 40 copies, but after placing the purchase, I knew it would not be enough. So I called my publisher AuthorHouse back the following week and swiftly ordered another one hundred books.

The first 40 arrived on April 23rd and I managed to sell three autographed copies the very next day! Two orders came through in the mail with checks and I sold the other one to my writing friend Stephanie K. at our weekly meet in Barnes and Noble. She was so excited!

Writers need to start thinking about their creation as a hot product to sell before all the "newness" and publishing "glory" slowly fades away. And when someone asks us to buy our recently published book, we better have one handy.  Sure, we can tell them to search our website, blog, or Facebook page to buy it, but chances are that they will never purchase it once they walk away from us.

ElenaMartina.

REAL TWITTERS.

Other than write and edit, I love to photograph. I tend to take along my Nikon Coolpix P100 everywhere I go. Some great shots have been captured simply by paying attention to what is going on around me.

Birds and flowers are the best subjects to shoot for me. This morning a tall California Jay visited my yard and kept showing off while striking several poses for the camera. Its hollering is not very pleasant that is why I had to check it out. But it makes up for it with a bright blue plumage and a stunning size of about eight inches tall.

Every other month, I look forward to the hard knocking of a Woodpecker searching for a quick meal in the trees, and every single day, I see multiple Sparrows and Finches that circle my two bird feeders. (I also see Squirrels, and a few Crows that I'd rather not see, but...)

So there you have it folks, a writer can write and also "tweet" at the same time.

ElenaMartina.

Promoting and Selling Your Product.

When a book is "hot off the presses," it is crucial to promote it anyway you can. If you are going to wait for an invitation... It might never arrive so you have to be proactive and productive. My public scope is limited, but I am working it long and hard. I talk about it all the time on Facebook where I have 2,219 friends, on this blog with 50+ subscribers (but that many more read).

Last Friday, I did a radio interview where possibly hundreds of listeners tuned in to hear about my book. Last night, I sent a mass email to all my contacts introducing them to my book. But I need more venues to reach larger numbers of readers.

It is fantastic that Clinging To Deceit  comes as a soft cover book and as an electronic book. It is currently available at global booksellers such Amazon and others. That alone helps tremendously in selling as many books as possible. In a week or so, I will be interviewed by two newspapers Santa Clara Weekly and Tri-City Voice, and will do a book launch at a local place (TBA). But all of this takes planning... perseverance... patience... and dedication.

I admit. I need all the help I can receive. I will look at folks who support my endeavor and who lend a hand because in return, I will help them, when their time arrives. I keep serious notes about this.

Another thing is that I need to prepare to speak in front of audiences. I have to learn to be "attractive" "engaging" and even "funny" in order to sell my product. I have spoken in front of many audiences when I was in the public eye, and as Managing Editor of  Acento Latino (a Spanish newspaper co-created with DicksonPress.) One time I spoke at a Chamber of Commerce with 120+ people present but it did not require me to sell anything only introduce the hot of the presses bilingual newspaper I had co-produced.

This time is different... This is my book, my baby, my creation, my focus. It just feels different, you know? Self-published writers need to do a much greater job selling their product as it requires more talent from them. Doing it alone without agents and publicists is very difficult but not impossible.

Authors must be creative in situations they are not comfortable in and market their books one way or another. So, if there is a chance *you* can assist me in buying MY BOOK, please do.

ElenaMartina, Author of Clinging To Deceit.

Book Retail Strategies.

Marketing your novel to internet book giants is a lesson I will never forget. The first day that my book was offered via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, Books Inc. and others, I noticed they priced it at the regular retail price of $15.95. I knew that was not a suggestion but a set price, I also knew that my book was released the prior day.

Still, I could not shake off their ad where they were offering my book as "used." Not only that, the following day my book was selling at a much lower price. I could not understand why. I immediately called my publisher AuthorHouse and demanded an explanation since they worked a book selling arrangement with them.

Who had control over this? Will I get my book royalties at such lower prices? I was distraught. I was then calmly informed, rather educated, in how book retailers do their business. It turns out these giant resellers can sell a book at whatever price they wish and for however many days they wish. Further explanation eased my mind when I was told they do it to sell as many books as possible initially, they want it in the hands of the public, get people talking about it, then they raise the prices to regular retail or even more, if they see fit.

"Will I still receive a royalty from each book sold?" I asked and added, "They seem to be selling it for less than what I can buy it through you, and I am the author!" The representative told me not to worry, that I was going to receive a royalty from each book sold no matter how low they go. I was finally relieved.

So, don't despair nor wonder why your book prices keep changing, these giants know what they are doing!

ElenaMartina.

Talk Radio, Public Readings, and Newspapers Interviews.

Do you know someone who would rather die than attempt to do a speaking engagement, a radio interview, a newspaper article? Some folks can not bear such opportunities because they might have a nervous breakdown manifested in a full panic attack.

What can folks do in such situations? My immediate suggestion is to "bite the bullet," because the less you do to for your book, the less exposure (and sales) it will receive. Even famous -reclusive- writers cannot afford to stay away from the spotlight.

When writers are not prepared and willing to assist their publicist, agent, and publisher, then why are they in the business of authoring a book that hundreds or thousands of people will read? I hope that I am getting through to people with my point.

Ah, and it does not help one bit to be surrounded by "friends" who support those attitudes. I shake my head every time I see it or hear it.

Writing and publishing a book is not a game. It is a serious business. Readers and fans want to talk to authors, listen to what they have to say, have a picture taken with them, have their book autographed, ask them questions. Granted, most readers buy many books and might never wish to get to know or speak to those authors.... but some do. And this number is not small.

The ideal scenario for folks scared to face "reality" is that their fabulous book will sell itself. Now, how realistic is that... It is not only illogical but incomprehensible. Writers who have the guts to do all above mentioned succeed in this business. Of course, when some only aim to sell 40-50 books, then their wish will come true.

Once a serious writer understands that writing and publishing a book does not stop there, they find themselves facing their fears, and positively overcoming them.

ElenaMartina.

The Back Cover.

The front and back of any book are very important. Clinging To Deceits back cover, for instance, includes a great endorsement, the book's teaser, and a short bio with a current picture of me.

Let me tell you about these four:
1) Book Endorsement: The President of the California Writers Club showed his support by writing a formidable foreword. I was thrilled to hear from him in a timely manner before the novel went to the printers. Writers are encouraged to send their complete manuscript to others for possible endorsements. I chose five people who I knew could give me their honest opinion, and perhaps an endorsement.
Person No.1, A TV personality; who surprisingly did not respond to my request at all, but wished me the best after the book came out. Person No.2, A published author; with four books under his belt answered me and said he would be happy to do it. Astonishingly, 17 days later, he never even read chapter one and consequently failed to keep his word. Person No.3, The California Writers Club President, came through for me with flying colors. I was really appreciative for his time and effort! Persons No.4 & 5 were actually never sent a manuscript so I cannot blame nor thank them for anything. The reason I never asked was because I was certain the first three folks were good for it. What a lesson that was!

2) Book's Teaser: My publisher asked me to write a brief summary of the story (teaser). It describes the main characters and their themes in only two paragraphs. Space is limited so I had to be very concise.

3) Author's Bio: A short biographical brief about myself. It is hard to describe yourself in third person, but that is just the way it is done. I said where I was from, where I went to school and my previous writing ventures. Key words such as countries, locations, schools, professions, etc. are extremely good for connecting with readers.

4) Author's Photo: I have had two professional glamor shots done beforehand but since I colored my hair recently I thought that I should present my current look and quickly had a photo taken in my dining room!

Other items may be displayed on back covers and it is your prerogative (when self-published) to chose what to put on there. Just remember: the cover is how you connect with your readers!

ElenaMartina.

"How to FINALLY Self-Publish Your Book!"

I sincerely want to help other writers achieve their publishing dreams.

My book Clinging To Deceit, was finally published last week! and as busy as I am right now with promotion and marketing, I've decided to put together a class that will show other writers how to do it. I've titled it: "How to FINALLY Self-Publish Your Book!"

Self-publishing is a lot of work and I'm glad to have done it. Tons of writers opt to do it themselves because the dream of getting an agent to sell their book to big publishers is relatively low.  Don't get me wrong, it still happens, but not to the extend we all wish it would.

My class will illuminate the ins-and-outs of self-publishing when using a self-publish company. Why deal with every issue when these companies have it all worked out for you? That's what I said when I approached the subject on my own. There is nothing more exhausting and time consuming than doing the work all by yourself.

These companies have every detail worked out. From custom full color covers and interior designs, to providing you with an ISBN number, to online book distribution. Do not be afraid of venturing into self-publishing. Lately, it looks like everyone is doing it!

ElenaMartina.

Changing Your Life's Blueprint.

This week, I attended the 2012 National Achievers Congress where 16 millionaire entrepreneurs spoke to an audience of 3,000+ people. Three billionaire moguls: Anthony Robbins, Robert Kiyosaki, and Donald Trump were keynote speakers.

The reason I found myself spending $375.00 for this 3-day event was not solely to see Tony, Robert, and "The Donald," but to make a drastic change in my personal life, and business mindset.

In life, I've been fortunate to be the captain of my ship and able to accomplish personal goals that I have set forth for myself. My latest goal was to write and publish a book, and that has now been achieved. I don't know what the future holds, but I was willing to admit that I needed a fresh way to look at things. So, when I learned about the event, I didn't hesitate and signed up. I already knew what I was going to receive because I was READY.

The very first speaker was my favorite: Tony Robbins. He gave everyone five solid hours of full fledged energy boosters along with common sense segments. His main advice was about changing our current blueprint (specially if it's not working) and strive to become better people in order to achiever our dreams. I could have simply left the event after him. I felt that I got my edge back, but decided to stay for the rest.

Robert Kiyosaki taught me key tips to remain successful in any business, and to surround myself with successful people in my line of work. Donald Trump shared valuable tips in business and in relationships. His common sense approach in dealing with people was useful mainly because he advice us not to lie to ourselves about people that surround us. The entire event was great and I feel like I've gained so much!

Many times it takes successful people to speak about common sense, and logic, for us to pay attention.


ElenaMartina.

My Number One Book.

Clinging To Deceit, by Eléna Martina.

It is a very exciting time when a writer publishes their first book. The comparison is as close (to me) as having and raising my first born. Bear with me as I review the similarities. The initial elation of knowing that you are going to be a mom (book author status) -thrilling!, the growing pains (body of the book, chapters), the subsequent labor pains (book and text interior design), and then, the time to enjoy the baby (the book in its final form).

Crazy comparison, eh? Well, those experiences are as close as I can demonstrate my feelings about authoring a book. And of course, who can forget what comes next! A lifetime of caring (marketing), educating (book promotion), and the final empty nest (when your book stops selling, yikes!).

Nobody can accuse me of not having a vivid imagination! But seriously, publishing a book is not always fun times as we must deal with critics (positive and negative ones). Oh yes, and our lovely readers, the people we depend on for survival and notoriety.

As long as our books sell we are very happy. Even with negative criticism or low sales, authors are confident people simply because they made their dream come true... That of being a Published Author.

ElenaMartina

P.S.1 My book has a Facebook page, Clinging To Deceit. 

P.S.2 To purchase a book, please visit www.AuthorHouse.com and type: Clinging To Deceit, on the search box, or ISBN: 9781468558159 ($14.95) - E-Book's ISBN: 9781468558166 ($4.99)

What is an ISBN number?

When Lisa, my book marketing consultant at AuthorHouse did not fully know what the ISBN number meant other than it identifies books for store sales. I decided to look it up.

ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. A 10-digit number that uniquely identifies all books and establishes the identify of one title or edition of a title from one specific publisher and is unique to that edition, allowing for more efficient marketing of products by booksellers, libraries, universities, wholesalers and distributors.

The ten-digit number is divided into four parts of variable length, each part separated by a hyphen, and is as follows: 1) Group or Country identifies a national or geographic grouping of publishers;2) Publisher identifier identifies a particular publisher within a group;3) Title identifier identifies a particular title or edition of a title;4) Check digit is the single digit at the end of the ISBN which validates the ISBN.

There are over 160 ISBN agencies worldwide, and each one is appointed as the exclusive agent responsible for assigning ISBNs to publishers residing in their country. The United States ISBN Agency is the only source authorized to assign ISBNs to publishers supplying an address in the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico. The ISBN Agency assigns ISBNs at the direct request of publishers, e-book publishers, audio cassette and video producers, software producers and museums and associations with publishing programs.

Since 2007, every ISBN consists of thirteen digits (see pic).

And now you know.....

P.S. The ISBN number shown above was given to my book CLINGING TO DECEIT, which will be available worldwide in bookstores (soon). It is a first edition book and my first novel. You can request a copy by giving these number 978-1-4685-5815-9 to a bookstore clerk, or by visiting AuthorHouse.com in the near future.

ElenaMartina

Cheers!

Welcome 2012!

We started the new year super well with a dance and an order of cool looking martinis: A Georgia Peach and a Blue Moon at Scott's Seafood and Grill where we celebrated New Year's Eve. We prayed and hoped that 2012 will treat us as wonderful as other years have done for us with God's help.

The world is so big and yet so small, conquer as much as you can in 2012. ~ That's my motto!

ElenaMartina.

Last Post of the Year

2011 was a great year for me with an array of new discoveries and enjoyments. Among these adventures: We moved! From a rental apartment in Santa Clara, California to a beautiful house we purchased in San Jose in June.

We started a productive vegetable garden in our backyard, remodeled the garage, hiked several times in local parks, went to many local art/wine festivals, completed our road trip to the last 11 missions (21 total) in California, attended a writer's conference in San Francisco, and traveled to far away places such as Vancouver, Canada, the Bahamas (with my daughter) and New Orleans, Louisiana (we spent our Christmas holiday in this beautiful and entertaining city).

One of my greatest gifts of 2011 was witnessing my husband getting saved in November and being baptized at our church. What a spiritual milestone! Another great gift was when family came over to spend Thanksgiving with us!

As always, we have brand new plans for next year and hope that 2012 turns out to be as great as this year was for us. 

We wish you, and yours, a happy New Year!

God Bless us all!

ElenaMartina.

In the Spirit of Christmas... yes, Christmas.

Every December, the California Writer's Club - South Bay Branch celebrates the holidays at a member's home where usually a Christmas tree, holiday decorations, an assortment of food and drinks, and a customary gift exchange is in the program. Members are book authors, writers and aspiring authors of all ages.

During the festivities, written lyrics for one Christmas carol were given (the Twelve Days of Christmas) and then we all sang it and Silent Night together. Someone brought up to a couple of us that Silent Night was Christian. I did not fully understand her point (what did she expect) because as I mentioned, the entire house was decorated very Christmas-like even thought the party was not titled "Christmas Party" but a "Holiday Bash," as to not offend anyone, I suppose.

Only later I took the time to analyze her "point." We get caught up in trying to include everyone or act neutral or appropriate and considerate, but it was the camaraderie that was important and not the origin of the song. To feel concerned because a Christian song was chosen was perhaps a bit silly.

This was not a religious gathering as there was no prayer of any sorts, just a carol. Why did she even bring it up anyway? I watched her sing it with the rest of us. Her attention to the song's origin could have been a major topic of discussion had she voiced it loudly. It could have possibly passed to a level of impertinence. Was her point to erase such yearly Christ based celebration? I dared not ask.

It is unmistakably ignorant how we portray to be a welcoming country for people of all faiths but we are ready to force others to stop their traditions because of our particular beliefs. Nobody else objected to the songs choice. Why should we? Did the song elevate anyone's religion or faith higher than others? I don't think so as the entire house was decorated with Christmas motifs and the selection of a Christmas song should have been obvious. And I don't see Christians stopping the Christmas tradition, even though they should due to its pagan origins. Had I been given a Kwanzaa song in a Kwanzaa environment, I would have sung along without question.

Religion is a touchy subject for all. Even though we might believe that all religions/faiths should be welcome we only act to defend our own. So what if the carol was a Christian or Jewish one? Let's all have fun. Shut up about it and sing along or keep silent.

ElenaMartina

Writing X-MAS versus CHRISTMAS... And the winner is... (drum roll)

A back-up Santa awaits, in case the Nordic Santa fails to fulfill his duties.

Fortunately neither. 

This might come as a small surprise to fellow Christians, but it needs to be mentioned after reading discussions on social sites,  where people get offended when Xmas is written instead of Christmas. It is as if one, not the other, is correct.

If you continue to think one word is better than the other, that is your choice. However, the meaning of this secular holiday should be understood.

First, To not understand the season and continue to celebrate Jesus' birthday on December 25th is foolish. I'm not advocating to banish the 'holiday' (as in my view there's nothing "Holy" about it since he was not born on that date), but too many centuries have passed for us to continue to celebrate such a tale.

Second, Nowhere in the Bible does God or Jesus order us to celebrate Christ's birthday. To incorporate such pagan tradition in our lives and demand it to be "Christian" makes us look incomprehensibly ignorant. It doesn't belong in our Christian walk with God.

Third, The controversy about dedicating December 25th as Christ's birth should be illuminated as the secular occasion that it is. Everyone knows that Santa Claus reigns on this holiday with gift-giving and adult prompted Santa photos with our innocent children. To all who -truly- follow Christ, take heed. People pick on Xmas as offensive writing when in fact, actually celebrating the Christmas concept should be reconciled with Christianity first .

Historical back-up:

The term Christmas derived from the Catholic term "Christ's Mass." The holiday itself does not come from the Bible or any of the teachings of either Jesus or the apostles. The observance is not a divine appointment. The day of Christ's birth cannot be ascertained as it is not known. December 25th was selected by the Catholic Church over 300 years after Jesus' death.

Prior to the celebration of Christmas, December 25 in the Roman world was the Natalis Solis Invicti, the birthday of the unconquerable Sun. The feast which took place just after the winter solstice of the Julian calendar was in honor of the Sun god, Mithras.  The day was chosen to correspond to pagan festivals to celebrate the rebirth of the Sun.

The practice of Christmas gift giving is not based on the Magi (or wise men). They did not arrive at the time of Jesus' birth. The scriptures indicate that Jesus was a young child, possibly as two years old, living in a house by the time they arrived. They gave gifts, not to one another, but to the child, which was the custom of the day when visiting notable persons.

In an attempt to persuade pagans to accept the Catholic faith, the church took the celebration and other festivals, renamed it "Christ's Mass" and declared it "Christian." The Christmas tree, the mistletoe and the wreath were viewed by pagans as symbols of fertility and life. 

.............................................................................................................................. 

So, my question to you would be, how much longer are we going to continue such adultery of biblical truth?

ElenaMartina.

My Long Blogging Hiatus...

My long hiatus from this blog was due to Blogger.com who works in line with Google plus and who in return messed up all my photos when they decided to include them on my Google plus account, without my direct consent.

When I saw that they included all my blog photographs into my Google plus, I declined their photo service and lo-and-behold, all my pictures were magically deleted from my very own blog. Yikes. It has happened to other people too. What a nightmare it has been to re-install them again to almost every post on here.

Anyway, I persevered and made it happen not before taking a long hiatus to collect myself from such an invasion of privacy. I even thought of cancelling this blog and start a new one, but had invested nearly two years with posts and pictures, I simply could not delete all my work, so I kept it from my viewers for nearly two months... and for that, I'm sorry! But I'm back once again!

Thank you for your viewership and support. : )

ElenaMartina.

A Table for Two, Please.

Visiting new restaurants makes eating-out exciting for me. I know friends that regularly go to a particular place and believe me when I say I do have a couple of favorite restaurants that I frequent often. With a great selection of eateries I prefer the ones with nice tables outdoors in order to enjoy the views and to watch people walking by.

During last week's San Francisco tour we were driven to parts of the city named Little Italy, Russian Hill, Chinatown , Fishermans Wharf, etc. that offered a new selection of restaurants we have never been to before and with so many people walking by, it actually felt like passing through Europe, Mexico, or South America. We stopped to dined at Cafe de la Presse. and felt as if I was back in Paris again.

On Friday night, after a well attended gathering and reading of C.W.C. writers in Barnes & Noble bookstore, my husband and I dined at Chevy's Fresh Mex for the first time and enjoyed their food and ambiance very much and on Saturday for lunch after a visit to our local library, we ate at Amato in their sunny outdoors area.

Happy -outdoor- dinning!

ElenaMartina.