Wednesday, February 28, 2018
ONWARD WITH PROMOTION!
2/28/2018
Hello, Everyone!
Jesus supposedly said that "if you believe in me, you will not die." Or some such. Six years ago today, my friend, Joce, died at the ripe ole age of 88 - and since he believed in Jesus before he died, supposedly he did not really die. But, in truth, if Joce had not believed in Jesus, he would have still "lived on." I do believe that everyone "lives on" when they die, whether they believe in something or someone or not, but I think that which is important about "living on" by first believing in Jesus is only that if we believe - truly believe - that life is sacred, as I "believe" Jesus taught, then when we die, we will begin again completely refreshed with a continuing belief that life is sacred. I think that is what Jesus meant when he said "if you believe in me, you will not die." You will not die in a way because you will continue "living" wherever you go as the "blessed one" you were - or believed you were. That is, you will live on knowing that you are just as blessed where you have gone as you were where you lived. That is really the essence of gaining "eternal life." Or so, I Believe!
And as I have believed, I have written. Soon, I will be going forward with trying to "promote" what I have written. Several years ago, I sent out an email asking for ideas about how I might publish past works. Wayne Karberg was the only one to answer that email, but Wayne told me that I might try an online publisher called Create Space. That was 2014. Thanks, Wayne, for that idea because that turned out to be a "great lead." Since 2014, the "team" of Nancy Shaw, my beloved and widow of my friend, Joce, and Create Space and I have gone forward to publish 8 books that center on the idea that life itself is sacred and that all we have to do to live well and find peace in life is to know that and act like that is true. How simple can it be?
But now that "we" have finished - or nearly finished - the publication step of sharing an idea via several books, I will be needing to find a path to promote those finished works. If any of you have an idea for that, please let me know. OK? Call me lazy, and I am a bit of that for sure, but I would love to find an "agent" who believes in the basic theme of my works who can assist me in the promotion phase of sharing those works. It never hurts to ask. Right?
For what it's worth, my beloved, Nancy, widow of my friend, Joce, and I will marry on April 28th - but then you all know that - and you are all welcome to attend too. I suspect that we will relax a bit in May and June, but by July, I hope to get on with trying to promote my works. I have no idea how that will go, but it really makes no sense to publish works in order to share them - and then simply let it go at that. Why publish works - and then sit on them like eggs that can hatch but are never given a chance to hatch?
Thus, on this 6th anniversary of my friend, Joce's passing, I am asking for ideas again. Call it a start for the next phase. Guessing a bit, given that this seems to be the "digital age," I suppose promotion will involve "going digital." I am not sure about that - and have been reluctant to join such as Facebook and Twitter and the like, but I suppose I will have to go that route eventually. Suppose?
Anyway, I am asking again. Feel Welcome to suggest what you will. Laora & Crile, my website managers, perhaps you have some ideas. I will be addressing you directly soon about that; but anyone is welcome to suggest what they will. Alright?
In the meantime, I will continue to give out my book on Jesus at this time. That book, my 6th of 8, - JESUS - ACCORDING TO THOMAS & MARY - AND ME - has been given to 89 at this time. I will be giving the 90th copy to the director of our Melodees senior choral group this afternoon when we will be singing for the Ivinson Home For Ladies home, here in Laramie. Mary Jean, I hope you find it worthwhile, and to the previous 89, I hope you find it worthwhile too; but if not, feel welcome to pass it on to someone who you think might appreciate it. I am into sharing ideas, not imposing them, know what I mean?
That goes to everyone receiving this letter. If you want a copy of my "Jesus book," let me know. I can either mail you a copy or give you a copy upon meeting somewhere. Though Laora and Crile, my website managers, and I have not added the final books to my website page, you can see what has been added so far by going to my website and checking it out from there. The final two - IT'S A NEW DAY! and IMPRESSIONS OF FRANCIS & WILLIAM (based on mini bios of St. Francis of Assisi and William Penn) have not been added yet, but by July, they will be. In fact, I am still working on the 8th book - IMPRESSIONS OF FRANCIS & WILLIAM - but by the end of March, it will be done and available too. So, perhaps by the end of March, my website will have a link to all 8 books that will eventually be available.
Hope all is well where you are. Be in touch as you wish! OK? And, for what it's worth, I encourage all to believe in what Jesus taught to find "eternal life." It is not hard. It is really just knowing and acting like we are all "sons of the Living One" - as the Jesus of The Gospel of Thomas would argue. Again, how easy can it be?
Thanks!
Gently,
Francis William Bessler & Nancy Shaw
Laramie, Wyoming