Rosalie's Chatter

'Make it Happen in 2012' event. Pictures of Crewe Hall Hotel

2012-02-16T17:04:00.000Z

Hot off the press are some photos of the Make it Happen in 2012 event on February 3rd at Crewe Hall Hotel, Crewe Chesire (J16 M6). Just a flavour of the setting for the Spring Synergy 2012 event on March 3rd. A very varied and mixed menu for the day. Booked in are trade stands of all kinds, speakers and workshops. Click on the link to book an advance ticket or a workshop. The photos below were in the Grand Entrance Hall ( lots of carving detail) and the Great Library. March 3rd event is in the Arnage Suite downstairs. More on Chrisoula's Explorama site

Hope to see you there for a lovely day (10am - 5.30pm) and your signed copies of Just Us Two and Chasing Rainbows for only £5.00 each. I am talking on travel and self development and the new Lifelong Learning: Personal Effectiveness Guides will also be on offer at £5.00.
Rosalie xx

ExploramaEU Optimum Well-being Event supports DementiaUK

2012-02-10T13:40:00.001Z

The fabulous Crewe Hall Hotel in Crewe, Cheshire, was the venue on Wednesday evening February 8th for the Spring Synergy Well-being Event organised by Chrisoula Sirigou of ExploramaEU. Click on the Crewe Hall link for a picture of this wonderful Jacobean building. At the end of the evening there was a raffle in aid of DementiaUK.

This one was for anyone in business and an opportunity to network and share. As always, there was a varied mix of speakers, all focused on making the most of life. This focus was to address different aspects of life such as going out and connecting to people and taking notice; being active - and here there were speakers connected to healthy eating and exercises; different ways of treating the body with natural products such as Aloe Vera and herbal based products and alternative treatments such as acupuncture; an author's personal journey; a thought provoking talk by educator Judith Sharman of Well-Tree-Learning on PACCT:

"With the FREE PACCT resources you can be a part of finding SOLUTIONS to the challenges we all face in the Parenting and Consumer Culture of Today!" (excerpt well-tree-learning website.)

I had Just Us Two travel books and Lifelong Learning:Personal Effectiveness Guides on offer at only £5.00 each - a huge saving. I am clearing my author stocks of award-winning Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery as the 2nd edition will be published on May 1st at £9.99 with a new jacket and in a format to match Chasing Rainbows and other proposed books in the Just Us Two series. My own author stocks have a 'Winner 2010 International Book Awards' award seal (copies purchased otherwise do not but the new edition will!). When they are gone they are gone! I have also discounted your signed copy of Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two ~~£9.99,~~ Lifelong Learning:A View from the Coal Face ~~£6.99~~, and Release Your Potential: Making Sense of Personal and Professional Development ~~£6.99~~ to £5.00 each for the events - the next one being Saturday March 8th 10-5.15

Yes! The event is being repeated but on a larger scale. The day event on March 3rd is open to people in business AND the public.
Details here: http://springsynergy2012-eorg.eventbrite.com/ to book an advance ticket up to March 1st and make a saving, or pay on the door on the day. Whichever way - don't miss it. Easy access off Junction 16 of M6 Motorway. Crewe Hall is worth it to have a sneak peek at the sheer scale and fabulous carvings around the doors and in the rooms and galleries.

Pay me a visit on my stand and perhaps come to listen to my talk on travel and personal development (my two passions). They do actually complement one another. At least the kind of travel we did on the motorbike where we dipped our toe in the water so to speak and pushed back many personal boundaries.

I will have details of the new Skills for Employability books; Part One:Pre-Employment is due out on May 17th with Part Two: Moving into Employment sceduled for November 1st. This is another area which links into personal development. It is currently available for pre-order from bookstores and on-line. As with all the others it will be in e-book formats.

Go to Discover-Rosalie for more information and links.

The joys of a good book.

2012-01-23T23:23:00.000Z

There is nothing better than curling up with a good book in a quiet room and relaxing. You may think that,as I embrace wholeheartedly the advent of electronic books, I think that good old print books are on the wane.
Not so! For many, an e-reader provides some flexibility and more opportunities for reading.
Why do I say this? At a book event a while ago, someone who had bought the first Just Us Two book was pleased to hear that our titles are available on Kindle with other formats coming out. It was easy to take to work and read in the lunch-time period.
This is a good example. Storage is easy and takes up little space.
One other important aspect of a reader is its flexibility. Print can be enlarged to suit:
1) without the embarrassment of asking for a large print book -if the book is even published in large print.
2)avoiding books with off-putting very small print.
The background can be changed so that if a white page for instance does not suit your eyes, it can be changed to sepia. It works the other way too. If you don't like a cream paper, an e-reader has a default white background.
They are great on holiday. Even if you like to get sun cream all over your favourite holiday reading, you can't deny that it is inconvenient having to put your cool drink down while you change a page and struggle to hold the book open.
And there is no glare. Unlike a computer screen - yes you can have e-books on your PC - sunshine does not affect an e-reader.
We all know how strict the airlines are about luggage allowance, even hand luggage. An e-reader will fit into a jacket pocket or bag.
I read a lot of articles from newspapers and blogs on-line,mainly on my compact Net book. It is so handy to sit in a comfy chair and follow Twitter and Face book links.Glare in the sunshine outside though is a drawback, as I said earlier.
So on the grounds of choice and flexibility, yes I am sold on electronic formats. I do like to curl up with a print book though and physically turn the pages. But then I have a land line and mobile phone.I just use them in different circumstances.
One other thing. If people who have previously had a 'barrier' about reading,find that using a Kindle, iPad or Kobo for instance is actually enjoyable, then they are going to read more and start to explore that huge vat of information out there and perhaps progress to the print versions eventually. And that can only be a good thing. After all most of us are already reading electronically though Internet browsing. E-readers are another step up.

So #print #kindle #Kobo #nook #iPad/iPhone #Sony #Diesel #PC, there is room for them all. Just tap in 'Rosalie Marsh' in the search box and don't forget that WHSmith have a direct link to the Kobo store and its apps for other devices!

Visit Rosalie Marsh page on Amazon US store, Amazon UK store
Rosalie xx

PS. Award winning Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery 2nd Edition will be released on May 1st Same inspirational, hilarious story with a new jacket,new format and new lower price.In the same print and e-book formats as the sequel Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two.
Contact me - rosaliemarsh@discover-rosalie.com for a clean signed copy of the first edition with award seal, while author stocks last, at a huge discount.£5 plus p+p

Now the Lifelong Learning Personal Effective Guides go electronic

2012-01-13T21:50:00.000Z

2011 really was a busy year where I wrote about another subject close to my heart. Personal development. My website, Discover-Rosalie states: "My abiding ethos is that all should be able to develop and achieve their potential as a 'whole' person. This is the focus of a new series of Lifelong Learning:Personal Effectiveness Guides published in 2011."
On September 1st, the first two in the series were published in print at £6.99GBP or $9.00USD and available on-line worldwide or from your local bookseller:
Lifelong Learning:A View From the Coal Face
Release Your Potential: Making Sense of Personal and Professional Development.
The print format (perfect bound soft cover) was followed swiftly on November 1st with electronic formats. To give my readers a wide choice, both books are available for download on:
Amazon Kindle or Kindle Apps for most readers, Android and PC.(US .com, UK .co.uk, Italy.it, France .fr, Germany .de, Spain.es Amazon stores) and Smashwords
Adobe Digital Digital Editions for readers and PC from e-retailers worldwide such as Powells.com Diesel ebooks
ePub from Apple iTunes, Barnes and Noble Nook, Diesel e-books, Sony e-book store, Kobo and not forgetting that in the UK, Kobo have teamed up with WHSmith for downloading their e-books.
So with plenty of choice for your favourite reading method, curl up and shut out the cold why you read how you can take ownership of your learning and development to achieve your goals.
Release Your Potential in particular is reaching readers in both print and electronic format across the globe. At £2.99 GBP(incl VAT) or$3.99USD they certainly won't break the bank!

Rosalie xx

Reviews for Just Us Two series

2012-01-13T21:13:00.000Z

2011 has been a good year for Just Us Two books as Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two hit the bookshelves in both print and ebook formats. It is the sequel to 2010 International Book Awards winning Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery and the real ending to Rosie's Gold Wing story.

What readers say:
"Not just for bikers"Chrisoula Sirigou,

ExploramaEU and European Lunch Show,RedShiftRadio

“Inspiration for us all to motorcycle touring overseas”

Editor Motorbike Search Engine on ‘Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery’.

“Another great book by Rosalie Marsh that should not be missed. The flow of words employed to narrate it, is in itself most refreshing.”

Joseph Abela, Author, on ‘Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two’ via Amazon.

Excellent Read“Just finished reading 'Just Us Two' by Rosalie Marsh. Rosalie's description of the countryside made be feel I on was on the motorbike, wind blowing through my hair and sun on my face. A book I will read again, and maybe again.”

Jean Mead, Author, on Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery’.via Amazon

“A celebration of life”.

Paul. CalonFM on Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery’.

“A gifted author who can bring her travels books alive. She has a wonderful sense of the ridiculous and her style as a raconteur means that the reader feels she is talking personally.”

Judith Sharman. Well-Tree-Learning on 'Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery’. via Linked in.

“A great follow up to Just Us Two.”

Amazon reader, on ‘Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two.

"This new book by Rosalie Marsh is a heart-warming tale of two Born-Again Bikers and their adventures on their Gold Wing bike and then trike. It's a great read that'll make you smile and nod your head in appreciation and might even inspire you to get out there and do a bit of travelling yourself!"

Editor, Trike Magazine 04-09 on 'Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery

Great book,"Hi Rosalie. I have seen other reviews of this book in particular by ............. My wife June and I have just returned having spent the weekend in Menorca. My reading material was your lovely book. I really enjoyed reading it and it brought to life places we visited on our Wing in 2007. Thanks for taking the time to put this all together. I finished reading your book on our return flight today high above the Pyrenees. I have to say I found the ending a little touching and I had to look out of the window as I suddenly got something in my eye. Cant wait to see the video. All the best and Thanks again for sharing."

Paul Mann. Leeds. via Amazon

Dreams Do Come True"I have read this book and totally get it. Thoroughly enjoyed it and found it completely absorbing." Helen Appleby, Lancashire on 'Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery via Amazon.

"What a beautiful read ! At times I felt there was another seat for me somewhere . With imagery like this in a book of fact I'm eagerly waiting another, fact or fiction."

Amazon reader on Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery via Discover-Rosalie website.

" I have had the privilege of reading your book and thought it was very good.I wish I could have had the opportunity you had of such an amazing trek on the back of a Gold Wing.I hope your book does very well for you as it is a fantastic story. Regards. Sandra Bangor Rugby Club. PS Give my love to Ned." on Just Us Two Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery via Discover-Rosalie website.

"Not just for bikers"Chrisoula Sirigou,

ExploramaEU and European Lunch Show,RedShiftRadio

Hitch a ride with Just Us Two and share their adventures.

Where to buy -download

Both books are available in print on-line worldwide or from your local bookseller. e-book formats on Kindle or Kindle Apps; for most readers.   Nook and e-retailers worldwide. Visit Rosalie's website for links.
Latest News** Chasing Rainbows e-book can also be downloaded from Smashwords in most formats and direct from Apple iTunes Bookstore;Kobo,  Diesel ebooks, Sony e-bookstore
About the books:
Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery. The first in the Just Us Two series
He wanted a little bike to tinker with ... She had well-groomed hair and wore high heels ... Just Us Two: Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery is a romp through ten happy Gold Wing years of discovery, adventure and fun! The adventures start when Ned wanted something to tinker with after a number of years bike-less. Rosie pleaded: "If we buy a scooter will you travel? Will you brave the ferry? Will you? Can we? ... and bought a Honda 1100cc.They planned to visit Ireland to find Rosie's roots on what was to be a profound emotional journey of discovery. However fate took a hand and Rosie discovered a Honda Gold Wing sitting in a showroom waiting for them. Ned thought he had died and gone to heaven and they sailed off to Ireland two weeks later on what was to become known as Ned's 'baby'. Join Ned and Rosie and they go coast to coast in France and Spain; cross the French and Swiss Alps; follow the Champagne Route; ride through the sun scorched earth of the Sierras to follow a dream; brave torrential thunderstorms in the Andorran mountains, praying for safety as they ride into the unknown; ride in the intense heat into the Dolomiteswww.discover-rosalie.com
Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two
Chasing Rainbows is the sequel to Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery and the real ending to Rosie's Gold Wing story.No longer able to ride, Rosie still has dreams to follow. But this time they are are not quite 'Just Us Two'. This time they are accompanied by a hidden controller. You know boys and their toys?.
Lots of tongue-in-cheek humour from Rosie as she grabs every opportunity to stick pins into maps and says `Let's go . . .' A peek into Rosie's life as she pleads for maps instead of the hidden controller. You know boys and their toys?
Many reminiscences as `Just Us Two' re-visit beautiful County Mayo in Ireland where Rosie leaves her heart.With photos, routes, historical and geographical facts to guide you, go Chasing Rainbows with Just Us Two as they return to awe-inspiring Andorra with their Gold Wing friends; discover the majestic French Alps and Spanish Pyrénées; retrace their steps through the Têt Valley and Central Massif, north to Versailles.
And then a strike almost stranded them in Paris . . .

Where to buy -download

Both books are available in print on-line worldwide or from your local bookseller.

E-book formats on Kindle or Kindle Apps; for most readers. Nook and e-retailers worldwide. Visit Rosalie's website for links.
Latest News** Chasing Rainbows e-book can also be downloaded from Smashwords in most formats and direct from Apple iTunes Bookstore; Kobo , Diesel ebooks, Sony ebookstore

Rosalie xx

Unbeatable, delightful Llangollen - thebestof Wrexham blog

2011-12-18T23:43:00.000Z

Unbeatable, delightful Llangollen - thebestof Wrexham blog

Why e-books Part Two - Variety of choice with Just Us Two and others

2011-12-16T22:00:00.001Z

I was chuffed this week to see the Lifelong Learning Personal Effectiveness Guides in the Apple iTunes book store. After all the formatting hoops I talked about last week there is still no guarantee that Apple will include the titles shipped (submitted). Today I saw that Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two has landed on the e-book shelves at Apple iTunes book store. I am feeling a real sense of satisfaction. It was a difficult call and one we deliberated over for a while.

Chasing Rainbows, Lifelong Learning:A View From the Coal Face and Release Your Potential have also landed on the Barnes and Noble Nook shelves in ePub format along with Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery (a different publisher and not in Apple and Sony stores).
All three have docked in the ebook store of Diesel after shipping in both ePub and Adobe formats for Adobe Digital Editions. Not got Adobe D.E.? Download for free from www.adobe.com Some titles still

Kobo is another e-reader.It has recently teamed up with WHSmith in the UK. Chasing Rainbows and Release Your Potential should soon appear alongside my other titles. They were shipped on a later boat so to speak. (Shipping is an American term.)
Soon they will be on their way to Sony for the Sony e-reader so watch this space.But in the meantime you can download to your Sony reader from Smashwords or in any other reader or PC. The Adobe format is also available from e-retailers worldwide
Downloading direct from your e-reader store now widens the choice for you. Don't forget the Kindle format and Kindle Apps for Desktop,Androids iPad etc.from Amazon: US store Amazon UK store Amazon Germany Amazon France Amazon Italy Amazon Spain as well as print paperback versions.
And of course print versions are also available worldwide. Still time to order for Christmas delivery if you are quick.
So why not pay these stores a visit, download to your reader and get stuck in over Christmas. They are so reasonably priced you could possibly download all of them.
Chasing Rainbows is the sequel to Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery and the new LLL Personal Effectiveness Guides will help you to focus on improving your knowledge and skills, so important for success in everyday life. More information on www.discover-rosalie.com

Happy reading!
Rosalie xx

Wrexham Author Rosalie Marsh - thebestof Wrexham blog

2011-12-14T08:36:00.000Z

Wrexham Author Rosalie Marsh - thebestof Wrexham blog_

Why offer a variety of e-book formats?

2011-12-07T23:28:00.000Z

Well, we got the print versions out. And then the Kindle e-book. Some would say that that was enough, especially as you can download free applications (apps) for other readers and PC desktop.
So why go jumping through the hoops of formatting to some very specific guidelines for another e-book distributor for what is virtually the same audience?
Well, just as you want your print books to be available in as wide a selection of booksellers as possible - this includes brick & mortar and on-line - so you want your e-books available as widely as possible.
I don't believe that electronic books will replace print. Not fora minute. They can remove barriers as you only see one page at a time in bite-sized chunks. The print can be enlarged, making for a better reading experience if you have sight difficulties or just don't like the tiny print you often find in some books. Reports suggest that those with e-readers actually read more;that over half are over 50yrs;that70 -80 yr olds are using them as many find turning a page difficult - much easier to press a button. The important thing is to read and to enjoy the reading experience.
Although Amazon have the lion's share of the print and e-book market, not everyone wants to shop there. Nor does everyone want to, or can, shop on-line. There are still parts of the UK for instance which do not have broadband provision. There are many who are not familiar with, or want to use, a computer. I read that there are approx 9 million people in the UK who cannot use the Internet! I know a couple of people who would rather ride their Gold Wing motorbikes than use a computer.
We all have our favourite retailer.Therefore books must be available at whatever store,in whatever format,via whatever shopping experience is the preferred option.
The Just Us Two travel books and the new Lifelong Learning Personal Effectiveness Guides are available worldwide in print to be purchased either on-line or from your local bookseller. If they are not in stock in your local store,(and let's face it no one store can stock all of the millions of books in print) they can be ordered without problems. Delivery is quick with the modern technology used. On-line purchases are by order only anyway.
So that takes care of print. However, e-readers are rapidly expanding, not only in type such as Apple iPad, iPhone, Barnes and Noble Nook, Sony, Kobo (Blackberry Playbook tablet reads Kobo), Diesel etc., but in ownership. I mentioned earlier that Amazon have free apps for most of these and PC desktop/Laptop. This is important as Amazon have far more e-books in their store than other e-retailers. However, customers often prefer to shop for downloads direct from their readers' retail store or e.g. Apple.Kobo. (Just Us Two has been a Nook book and Kobo book for some time.)

It is all about choice and availability.

That is why I have been jumping through formatting hoops these last few weeks. And it has paid off. All Christal Publishing books can be downloaded direct from the Smashwords site for readers and PC.They are currently being shipped to the e-retailers mentioned above having passed all high quality formatting checks to qualify for the Premium Catalogue.
Was that a pat on the back? Thanks!
They are also being shipped to other e-retailers such as Powell's in the US or Fishpond in Australia where they can be downloaded in Adobe Digital Editions having passed all formatting quality specifications there. They take a few weeks to appear.

Latest news is that Kobo have teamed with WHSmith in the UK to offer Kobo books.

So, happy reading.There is a lot to choose from . It's nice to curl up with a good print book even though an e-reader is more convenient some times. So it is not a case of 'either or ' but 'both' You can have your cake and eat it.

Rosalie xx

Fairytale Wonderland

2011-11-28T13:18:00.001Z

What a wonderful day on Saturday for the Llay Park Youth Club Fairytale Wonderland. Christmas Fair.
The Resource Centre is fantastic and really does serve the community. The cafe, I believe, has become the hub of the village with its good food, cuppa and TV. The day was to raise money for the centre's activities. Sarah, the Community Development Manager was a fantastic 'Good Witch' with her sparkly red shoes and jewel encrusted white dress, wand and tiara!

I dressed up as a pirate complete with moustache. Mal Beer of Attitude Photography was busy clicking away for the official photographs. A few of us were in a room tucked away from the hurly nurly and had some good chats with aspiring authors, travellers, young people, Les, the Centre Manager also a pirate, and all.There was a stall from the League of Friends of the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Gobowen, Shropshire. This is famous worldwide for its orthopaedic work. At the moment they are raising money for e-readers and audio books for the patients in the spinal unit.

The turkey,stuffing and cranberry baguette was huge and fresh! The cafe there really does a good job as Len on Strictly would say!

Gearing up to Christmas

2011-11-25T16:39:00.000Z

Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat . . so the nursery rhyme goes. well I have bought Christmas Cards and done most of the pressie shopping. Not sure what happened there, after all it is still only November.
After a busy week writing more on the Long Leg of Italy, I am still in Altomonte in Calabria. Re-lived the liquorice factory yesterday. It is amazing how those long strips we used to call 'boot laces' as a child, are made. Well! Most unexpected.
A change of pace today as I had lots of preparation for my latest book event. This is tomorrow at the Llay Parc Resource Centre. A wonderful upgraded library/resource centre (computers and all sorts) and a cafe.
I have some special savings on offer so do come along and solve some of those Christmas Present problems.
I have re-visited my Facebook Fan Page - at least I think that is what it is called. Anyway it is in addition to my normal page so if you click on the link at the side and go to it, could you 'Like' it for me? Thanks so much.

We will wind down tomorrow night by listening to our grandson James Thompson play his violin in the Wrexham Symphony Orchestra. It will be a contrast for him from playing his guitar with his band live on Calon FM in the morning! https://www.facebook.com/Roozaband?sk=wall

Have a lovely weekend everyone. More chatter later.
Rosalie xx

Rosalie's Chatter: An electronically stretching time!

2011-11-18T14:41:00.000Z

Rosalie's Chatter: An electronically stretching time!

An electronically stretching time!

2011-11-18T14:00:00.000Z

Well, at last all electronic formats are up and running. Formatting for Kindle was one thing they have their own specifications. Formatting for Smashwords was another. To be fair, I did follow their Style Guide when formatting for Kindle as it was so useful to know how to avoid pitfalls. Smashwords have a very clever piece of software which churns up the file into different formats so that virtually anyone can read on-line either on desktop or a reader. Very, clever. Follow the links to go to my page. All books are priced at $3.99 which is a bargain considering the work involved, not only in the formatting (the Lifelong Learning:Personal Effectiveness Guides have a quite specific layout which was challenging) but in the content as all books are full of valuable reference information. There are resource links to follow as well - all with a simple click of the mouse and free!

Hopefully, they will eventually find their way into the Premium Catalogue and be shipped to Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, for direct purchase but you can download now to these and and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others, as well as to your Kindle or desktop from the Smashwords site.

It is important I feel to give readership as wide a choice as possible. I do not for a minute believe that e-books will replace print. Reports say that those with e-readers, actually read more. In my view, if someone gulps when they see a big fat book and turns away, or is not a confident reader, then seeing one page at a time like in bite-size chunks, can remove that barrier. Then if they start to want a physical book to keep or a signed copy, they can move on to that.

Being able to make font size larger is a huge plus. Who wants to go into a shop and ask for large print books? That's assuming that the one you want to read comes in large print. Important to retain dignity and independence.

So after all this tweaking and uploading, Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two, Lifelong Learning: A View from the Coal Face and Release Your Potential:Making Sense of Personal and Professional Development now give you more reading choice than ever.

Rosalie
xx

PS. Finished off the week with my first visit to a WiRE event and had a leisurly ride home accompanied by sunshine and ClassicFM. Now back to more on the Long Leg of Italy. I am in the toe at present.

Rosalie

Just Us Two - Rosalie Marsh : AuthorHouse

2011-11-12T21:47:00.000Z

Just Us Two - Rosalie Marsh : AuthorHouse Download e-book and enjoy on most readers

The Leader - News from Wrexham & Flintshire - Wrexham marina supporters urged to attend public meeting

2011-11-09T13:53:00.000Z

The Leader - News from Wrexham & Flintshire - Wrexham marina supporters urged to attend public meeting

Wind down day and thoughts of a fairytale costume!

2011-11-09T13:23:00.002Z

A wind-down day today after a busy few weeks of book events, formatting books for different e-book formats. Spent some time this morning replenishing marketing materials etc ready for the next book events.

This will be at the Llay Park Resource Centre Llay Park Resource Centre Llay,Wrexham. This resource centre is absolutely brilliant and if that is how our hard-earned tax money is spent - then carry on. We went down a few weeks ago to put up posters for the Waterstone's book event in Wrexham and what a surprise we had. Not only a Library, there is a wonderful cafe with good wholesome food and a TV to watch while you eat your Big Breakfast or other meal. There are rooms for other activities as well and the cafe has, I believe, become the hub of the village.

To cut a long story short, Sarah, the Community Development Manager, asked if I would like to have a stall at their Christmas Fair on Saturday November 26th from 11am - 4pm.. The theme this year is Fairytale Wonderland. Being a fairy is out. Well, I mean! Playing safe, I think I will be a pirate. I have a long sash from my pedal pushers; boots; a floaty baggy shirt. Just need to look for a pirate's hat etc.
Rosalie xx

Another good day in Petrolheads

2011-11-08T19:53:00.000Z

A busy evening last Friday at Petrolheads Roadside cafe in Bagillt, North Wales. We met old friends and readers old and new. It was Biker's Night and the cafe was busy in spite of the rain. We were back there on Sunday for our monthly Gold Wing meeting.

Pictured - Mandy,Bill and Allen 'Ned' putting the world to rights in a corner!

Lovely to chat about e-books as well.

My three latest titles Chasing Rainbows with Just Us Two and the new Self Development series are now available for even more formats. PDF Adobe from on-line retailers worldwide. EPUB for iPAD,Sony,Diesel,Kobo, Nook;Mobi for Kindle and others from Smashwords.

Like Amazon Kindle there are downloadable free samples. At $3.99 USD they are a steal, especially as there is so much valuable information inside. That converts to about £2.99 GBP incl.VAT. Yes - there is VAT on electronic books in the UK but still a bargain.

An eventful week - European Lunch Show and Waterstones

2011-10-29T11:31:00.000+01:00

A busy day on Thursday as I negotiated (with the help of the 'hidden controller' for once) through Crewe to the RedShiftRadio Studio for a guest slot on Chrisoula Sirigou's European Lunch Show As I write I am listening to the show as it has been uploaded to listen again for a while. Follow the link and click on 11.10.27 ( 27th October 2011). I then clicked on one of the tabs at the bottom ( ignore the blurb at the beginning).
We were joined later by another guest who had lived his dream some years ago by moving to Andalusia. Chrisoula is just reading the extract which formed my dream to visit Andalusia.

After hurtling around Wrexham later I was ready for another visit to Waterstone's in Wrexham for a book signing. This time on a Friday, a departure from my usual Saturday event day. Well, readers and browsers and I had some lovely chats and discussions about travel and life in general. With our banner I was able to trace some of our journeys. (As I listen to a playback of the show, I am reading the extract where were were riding across the hot, barren, sierras when petrol was low with nothing in sight!!).
Actually in those days we didn't have need of the 'hidden controller' as I called it in 'Chasing Rainbows', we used proper maps!

Well, time to go, but do tune in and listen to the show.

Rosalie xx

Chasing Rainbows and Release Your Potential @Amazon

2011-10-20T07:30:00.000+01:00

Passing the time while watching a mediocre film, I took a look at Amazon.
Release Your Potential:Making Sense of Personal and Professional Development is
#73 in Kindle Store > Books > Nonfiction > Education > Adult & Continuing Education
in UK store http://tinyurl.com/6aja8ga
Chasing Rainbows:with Just UsTwo ( the sequel to Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery)
#22 in Books > Travel > Europe >Andorra US store http://tinyurl.com/3jbkrgf
Being keen on digital technology all titles are available on Kindle &Kindle Apps as well as print. Other formats are in the pipelinefor the Christal Publishing titles (Chasing Rainbows and the new Lifelong Learning Guides.
Just Us Two:Nedand Rosie's GoldWing Discovery is available in formats for most readers already.
Go to AuthorHouseBookstore If you can,I would love some feedback on www.discover-rosalie.com and/or a review on Amazon.

Time to turn in now.

Rosalie xx

Benefits of Social Networking in Marketing.

2011-10-15T09:00:00.003+01:00

I have written before about what I see as the benefits of social networking in a marketing situation.This last two weeks, time has been short as I catch upon a backlog of 'jobs to do'. Not least preparing for a series of book events in North Wales. North Wales, you may know, spreads over a large rural area of about 90 miles across. Not a lot for those of you who live in large countries but it is all relative. So with book events at both ends and living in a rural area,time is of the essence.

I am an avid user of Facebook which largely reaches a different audience to other social networking sites. I find the 'event' page invaluable. On Twitter, I tweet away and have been pleasantly surprised that Waterstone's - our largest book store chain in the UK - have encouraged stores to set up Twitter accounts. I make sure that I put the sign @ in front of my local store among others. I have been even more chuffed to find that the main one re-tweets postings about my events in their stores, to all their many thousands of followers. This friends is powerful!

Many stores also have Facebook accounts - again another source of building an author platform. I also use Linked-In but again this has another focus.

In my tweeting and twittering this week I have, as usual, followed many links to useful articles and taken the messages on board. Sometimes I am on the right path - well in general I am - but often I see that I can improve. It is hard to keep pace with all the demands of marketing. Often it leaves little time to write!

Social Networking is a valuable tool if used sensibly. It also keeps me in the frame on topics of the day and touching base with friends and like-minded people.

Staff at my local Waterstone's store in Wrexham are being very pro-active in promotion with a display of Just Us Two books pre-event of October 28th11-2. Much appreciated and thank-you. They should also have the new Lifelong Learning books in stock before then.

http://www.christalpublishing.com http://www.discover-rosalie.com

for more information on the titles.

Deganwy Authors Day and Book Fest.

2011-10-09T23:10:00.000+01:00

I had a wonderful day yesterday at the Authors Day and Book Fair in Deganwy,North Wales. Held in the conference suite upsairs we had an unsurpassed view through the huge picture windows of the Conwy Suspension Bridge and the ancient but sturdy Conwy Castle on the shores of the estuary. The weather made the estuary a bit choppy but North Wales is beautiful at any time of the year and in all moods of the weather.

With a selection of publishers and authors from across the UK, there was something for everyone. Allen & I met some interesting people. Having a background in direct & retail sales and business development, I haven't lost my love of exhibitions and fairs.Those who know me, know I like to talk (this blog isn't called Rosalie's Chatter for nothing) and there were plenty of topics and experiences to talk about.

Our new educational self help books generated lots of interest while of course, with the travel books, there was biking travel talk. Although,as someone commented in the summer "they are not just for bikers".

Thank you to all in Canada, USA, UK, Europe, Russia, India and beyond who read my 'chatter'. Hope you enjoy a peek into our lives here in Wales. Wales is that part of the UK, between the North West and South West, which juts out into the Irish Sea. It has its own language and culture and, increasingly,its own policies through the Welsh Assembly Government (or WAG). I though, am a Lancashire Lass who re-located here over 40 years ago. I can still see in my mind's eye a fairytale scene in the beauty of a snow covered Llangollen by the river just after the roads had opened. This was on our first visit with our small baby girl before we settled for good.

If you have never visited, well the mountains and valleys of Snowdonia are a must for your 'to do' list.

Rosalie xx

Back to normality - life after Italy and Sicily.

2011-10-04T13:20:00.002+01:00

We have been home for a week now and I am still in Puglia, Basillicata, Calabria and Sicily in my head. Altomonte, a wonderful mountain village perched high in the lush green hills of Calabria is an absolute jewel. A medieval village, it still retains the colour and characterof days gone by.

Our driver, Renzo, completed amazing breath-holding feats of skill and patience as he negotiated around the seemingly impossible bends and junctions - missing overhanging roofs - of the narrow streets of the village. Our host Signore Barbieri treated us to an unprecedented peek into village life on a walking tour. We met some 'very important persons'!

Leaving Altomonte for Sicily, I could not stop filming through the coach windows.You just wanted to put it all into a bottle to keep! Altomonte was a complete contrast to Ostuni, Alberobella and Martina Franca in Puglia but they were all magnificent. People still live in the Trulli houses of Alberobella - amazing and enchanting.

The change of hotel in Sicily found us with a balcony hanging over the sea. As the cable car up to Taormina was only a couple of minutes away, we decided to explore Taormina morethan on our first visit in 2005 and just chill out on the balcony after buying a made-to-order Panini and other supplies in the Mini-Market. Bliss!

Too much to tell here -just a flavour but I now have all I need (I think) to shape up 'The Long Leg of Italy and 'Island Interludes'. Still lots to do with the camcorder film which I took. The whole tour was madespecial by the intimate knowledge of Italy and the language of Sally our Saga Tour Manager (plus her patience,flexibility and unflappability). If you are reading this - thank you Sally.

Rosalie xx

The southern end of 'The Long Leg of Italy'

2011-09-19T21:03:00.000+01:00

Well, what an eventful and mindblowing few days. From the south east of Puglia in southern Italy.
Excuse any mistakes but the screen on the hotel PC has an annoying little sreen in the middle for volume and they can't get rid of it and it hides some of the typing.
Alberobella, Ostuni, Martina Franca in Puglia - all baked in the high 35 plus heat. As did the beautiful brides we saw in every village/town. Truuli houses are truly amazing. It is amazing to hear just how old is the civilisation here.
The journey into the mountains of the Appenines in Calabria was another experience. Especially in a thunderstorm - Allen said we would have been OK on the Gold Wing as there would be enough weight to keep us on the ground - or off it really. But, winding up to Altomonte in the safe hands of our excellent driver Renzo, we came to pur hotel. And what a gem!

Enough for now! Lots to write for southern end of The Long Leg of Italy. . . And lots to chat about to my Italian hairdresser maestro Nat when I return. . .

Rosalie xx

The journey from oven to table

2011-09-10T16:40:00.000+01:00

My new series of Lifelong Learning:Personal Effectiveness Guides finally made it out of the oven onto the table bang on target for September 1st. The print version was fun and games along its enjoyable journey from design, writing, formatting text for print, formatting tables and charts for print, converting files for print.
The cover design is of a striking simple theme where I can change the background colours and titles for others in the pipeline. Early feedback is positive from different people!
There were of course some problems along the way. There has been a lot going on in my life recently with a few things being pushed onto the back burner for a while and the process from submission to approved copy was a roller-coaster ride. There has been a lot of catch-up going on.
I was determined that the e-book would be launched at the same time. More impact I thought and a good opportunity to hit both marketing slots together. That way, there is equal access for all. I don't for a minute believe that e-books will replace paper. Just that the print ( which is what we actually read) is available in different packages. One size doesn't fit all. After all some people have a Kindle and an iPad. Why not e-reader and a 'proper' book?

Formatting for e-book and Kindle require different approaches. I was still pondering on the best route for E-Pub which most readers use and that is still on the back burner. The Kindle version however, made it from the mixing bowl ( formatting) into the oven (conversion and build) and onto the table (Kindle store) bang on time by the skin of my teeth!

E-books are gathering pace here in the UK but many do not realise that they can download a Kindle App to their PC desktop,Laptop,iPad with its colour images, iPhone,Blackberry, Mac, Android etc. And they are free!

I have the App on my PC Desktop and Net book which synch. with each other. Great!

After a lot of marketing and a focus on a complete change from my Just Us Two travel adventure books, I am hoping that many, many people of all ages will find these Personal development Guides useful.

The first one - Lifelong Learning:A View from the Coal Face is the springboard to the series and, being based on previous research and viewpoints of mature learners, will appeal to those working in adult learning.

Introduction

Research Paper. Lifelong Learning.

Contents. .

Acknowledgements.

Chapter One – Introduction.

Chapter Two – The Design of the Investigation.

Chapter Three – Analysis of Issues.

Chapter Four – Conclusion.

Bibliography.

Appendices.

Reflections. Post Research.

FurtherReading.

ISBN 978-1-908302-04-5 Print. ISBN 978-1-908302-05-2 Kindle. Christal Publishing.

Available on-line or your local bookseller worldwide.

Release Your Potential: Making Sense of Personal and Professional Development really is a blueprint for how you can get on in life. It is for learners of all ages and abilities. Designed to be like a short workbook there is ample space for writing responses to the tasks set.

Many organisations are wanting evidence that you have continually sought to improve and up skill. On the other hand, you may not be clear in which direction you wish to go or do not know how to get to where you want to be. This book sheds light on this with practical application.

Introduction

Winners and Losers

Compiling a Curriculum Vitae

S.W.O.T.Analysis

How I Learn Best

Time Management

Stress Management

Personal Development Recording

An Effective Learning and Development Strategy

References

ISBN 9789-1-908302-08-3 Print ISBN 978-1-908302-09-0 Kindle. Christal Publishing

Available on-line or your local bookseller worldwide.

Follow the helpful links on my Discover-Rosalie website or go to Amazon US

Amazon UK If in Germany/Austria/Switzerland Amazon.de

Available on-line or your local bookseller worldwide.

Enjoy!

Rosalie. xx

When The Birds Fly The Nest

2011-09-09T22:35:00.000+01:00

When The Birds Fly The Nest

To Tweet or Not to Tweet - Making Positive Use of Social Networking.

2011-08-16T15:54:00.000+01:00

Various people I know have said: “Facebook? Oh no, I don’t use that” or, “it is a waste of time”. “Twitter? I have better things to do”. Well it is each to his/her own but I for one have found that, in the wake of retiring from formal employment to concentrate on my writing and family commitments, social networking has opened up a whole new world and further widened my horizons.

I have to admit that my prime reason was marketing, research into the new world I had entered, and simply connecting with like-minded people. Being a lone worker can be lonely. No longer did I have: colleagues to bounce ideas off, colleagues and new contacts to exchange information with, meetings to attend which updated me with current practice in my field. The list goes on.

I wrote some years ago that:

“ . . . life itself is a learning process – a huge department store – to feed different needs at different times of life. In this department store, we can step on the escalator on the ground floor and move onwards and upwards, stopping off at will to explore.”¹

Some years ago, I started in the writing room of this department store, stepped onto the escalator and wandered into the book room so that I could see what other authors were writing. I took a good look a book covers or jackets. Back on the escalator, I soon reached the publishing floor. Here, using the internet for research, I examined different options. Next stop was the marketing floor.

I had some experience of marketing from an internal organisational aspect. Now, I was on my own. I had to build a platform in order to market my writing. The marketing floor was huge. There was a web site section. I knew that having a web site was an essential tool but how to overcome the obstacles. I love using the tools of a computer system for design. I decided to go it alone with an American company who provided a very user-friendly interface and cheap, secure domain names. Built for the novice really.It was and still is challenging, often frustrating leading me to send a 'support ticket' for help.But it was and is, fun and rewarding.

The next question was how to get the message out. I wandered into the social marketing sections of the marketing department. It was all a little bewildering.

What with Twitter, Facebook, Linked-in, Google Buzz to name only a few, I was dazzled.

Grasping the nettle I set up a Facebook page and focussed on making contact with writers and publishers who could give me an insight into this whole new world of publishing. I connected with friends, made new ones, and through the contacts I made I expanded my circle. After returning from Ireland in 2009, I clicked onto the Ballycroy Group and discovered many distant cousins. I joined in the conversations and with the wide mix of contacts gradually built a network - some of it work, some promotion, and some pure friendly chats. A chance encounter led me to publishing some research which I undertook some years ago. I brought it up-to-date as the problems are apparently still there. This proved the springboard for another series, one totally different from my travel series, which, in itself, was a learning experience of a different kind.

Twitter was the next step and I soon found that tweeting and twittering provided a different aspect of marketing. Far from being a waste of time, I found that I could keep up with current affairs by following news channels. I could connect with writers, the book world, and people in my local area, marketers, in fact a whole raft of interesting people and platforms, which would not only keep me informed but also provide a platform to get out the word about my books.

I was introduced to Linked-In which re-connected me with ex-colleagues. I also made new connections and linked up with people I met through the networking events which flowed out from this on-line social networking.

By now, I was getting thirsty. It was time to step back on the escalator to enjoy coffee at a ‘Tweet-Up’ or business networking event and have some interesting face-to-face conversation. I made many new friends. Life is interesting, vibrant, flexible, rewarding. The doors of my mind are ever open to absorb new information and knowledge as I expand and push back more horizons, still realising that "I can do it!"

Of course, these social networking sites have to be used responsibly and effectively. Back on the escalator of this department store, I stopped off at the global Webinar floor. These were usually, for me, at some unheard of hour in the middle of the night due to global time changes. They provided more information, hints, and tips to, not only using social networking for marketing purposes, timing etc but also to some guidelines for formatting a manuscript into e-book formats.

I have made some good friends and interesting contacts through these three sites. I use the re-tweet button to cascade interesting topics and have been fortunate to have people re-tweet back. This further expands and builds my platform. Other marketing platforms include Book Buzzr and Goodreads where readers can sample a preview of the books and take part in discussions.. I have made use of the marketing opportunities which Amazon provide via an Authors Page UK and Amazon US. Kind readers have given some, mostly, good reviews. The list goes on. So who says that social networking is a waste of time? Each to his own I say.

For now, I am still riding up and down the escalator in this department store of life as I dip in and out of different floors - with a little tweet here and a little tweet there!

_{1 Lifelong Learning: A View From the Coal Face.}

_{Release Your Potential:Making Sense of Personal and Professional Development.}

_{Rosalie Marsh.Publish Date September 1st 2011}

_{The first two of the new Lifelong Learning:Personal Effectiveness Guides from Christal Publishing}

Rosalie's Chatter: Explorama Optimum Wellbeing Network Cheshire Launc...

2011-08-11T12:09:00.000+01:00

Rosalie's Chatter: Explorama Optimum Wellbeing Network Cheshire Launc...: "Monday August 1st saw the launch of the Optimum Well-being Network Cheshire Launch at that delightful Italian restaurant - La Cantina - in t..."

Proof copies A-OK for new Personal Effectiveness Guides

2011-08-10T17:33:00.000+01:00

I have in my little hands two proof copies of the new Rosalie Marsh Lifelong Learning:Personal Effectiveness Guides. It was a lot of hard work and fun writing them (much was on the computer from studies years ago but needed updating) and a lot of satisfaction. Designing the covers was fun and satisfying. The interior layout has already had a comment:
"Nice layout, easy to read," as I used a nice rounded font with good spacing.

From my work in adult learning over the years I have been increasingly frustrated at the gaps in education. Lifelong Learning:A View From the Coal face is just that - a view from where I was at the time (the coal face or first hand experience) with results of research analysis.I was also disturbed at a recent report which indicated that not a lot has changed in some areas in spite of policy changes. The results of the semi-structured interviews with mature learners had surprising results and viewpoints with a common theme that 'confidence' was a beneficial outcome of learning and achievement.

In Release Your Potential:Making Sense of Personal and Professional Development I re-visit studies which focussed on the actual process of professional development. Again coming from a personal viewpoint which underpins my passion in this area, the topics relate to personal aspirations as much as professional ones as I seek to encourage the development of, not only human potential, but the whole person, which is the crux of the matter and road to personal fulfilment.

Due for release on September 1st,both guides (books) are suitable for 15 years upwards. L.L. A View From the Coal Face is the springboard for the series and leans to the the Professional/Vocational/ Business Studies areas and for those interested in the background of the subject matter and research findings.

Release Your Potential:Making Sense of Personal and Professional Development will also appeal to the Professional / Vocational/ Business Studies areas. However, in addition, it is particularly to a cross section of areas and a stating point from seeking employment to improving chances off success.

Then after all that - I had to strip all the formatting and re-do for e-book formats. Chuffed at the successful conversion prior to uploading. Kindle will be ready for September 1st with other formats, if not then, soon after.

Take a look at Barnes and Noble (very keen prices), Amazon, Waterstones, WHSmith for example to order on-line or at your local bookseller. All titles available worldwide.

Contact me on rosaliemarsh@discover-rosalie.com for more information

Rosalie
xx

Explorama Optimum Wellbeing Network Cheshire Launch @ La Cantina, Chester

2011-08-10T16:47:00.000+01:00

Monday August 1st saw the launch of the Optimum Well-being Network Cheshire Launch at that delightful Italian restaurant - La Cantina - in the heart of Chester.

I was invited to be a guest speaker, to talk about our travel experiences. Other talks were given on making the most of life ( that rings a bell), nutrition, good health, skin products, among a total of eight speakers.

I firmly believe that an integral part of well-being is personal fulfilment;this was the starting point of my short talk about our travels in Europe where we pushed back a lot of boundaries, explored new horizons and had a whale of a time as we "found our lost youth".

It was amazing how the same theme ran through certain talks about 'doing it now' etc. and making the most of life.

We all enjoyed picking our way through an amazing selection of Italian dishes prepared by head chef Mark.

All in all a successful evening where many new friendships were forged.

Rosalie xx

A user-friendly reading experience

2011-07-31T22:16:00.001+01:00

We all put so much effort into our writing. But how many of us consider the reader and readability of our books. Not the content, but the practicalities.
I bought a book from an on-line store some months ago. Content was brilliant - just what I wanted to know. It was written by a specialist in the field. Published by a traditional publisher (one who turned me down three years ago in fact).The book wasn't big, in fact it was a nice handy size. It wasn't too expensive. But do you know what? I hated it. The paper was rough and cheap and even worse was the nasty feel it left on my hands. I had to go and wash.Not a user-friendly reading experience at all.(It also left me feeling glad that the publisher had declined to include Just Us Two in their stable.)
It was then that I realised what 'printed on acid-free paper' meant.
All my books are printed on eco-friendly acid-free paper. It has a lovely smooth feel so that as you curl up you are not put off by nasty deposits on your hands. You can actually caress it - such a soothing action as you smooth your hands over the pages.
Just as important for a positive memorable reading experience is the readability of the font. Yes, the font. Consider the type and the size and how easy to read it is.
I hate it when the font is so small that you practically need a magnifying glass to read it. Either that or put the book away.
Is that why e-readers are catching on? You can change the font size to suit your eyes.
Food for thought.
Someone flicked through a proof copy of Release Your Potential:Making Sense of Personal and Professional Development and stroking the paper commented:'That's nice. Easy to read.' Just what I wanted to hear. Thanks for the encouraging feedback. The covers of the new Personal Effectiveness Guides (01.09.2011) have had positive feedback from various sources."Bright" "Modern" to name just a few.
Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two has the same nice rounded font with an easy to read layout. Available from Waterstones,WHSmith, Barnes and Noble Amazon etc
Rosalie xx

Our beautiful, green and lush Great Britain

2011-07-25T09:06:00.000+01:00

Although the sun did not shine as promised in the East of England this weekend, it did get its hat out for a wonderful drive home yesterday. After an overcast Peterborough area on Saturday, Sunday dawned with white fluffy clouds scooting across a blue sky.

In the village of Alwalton are entrancing, picturesque thatched cottages which would not be out of place as a chocolate-box picture or jigsaw. Delightful village names like Stibbington greeted us, causing us to reflect once again how beautiful, diverse and ancient is Great Britain; no matter where you go (avoiding towns and cities) are ancient villages which stand timelessly in the sunshine.

Taking a cross country route back to North Wales on Sunday afternoon, we enjoyed a quiet and peaceful drive as we headed on B' roads across the Leicestershire countryside into Staffordshire. The A50 zipped effortlessly around a busy Stoke-on-Tent area and we made excellent time. I immersed myself in a good book as a cooling breeze gently played through the air..

Being July, everywhere was lush and green with trees,roadside plants and flowers of all kinds bursting at the seams.We might not be big but we certainly are beautiful. We certainly do live in a 'green and pleasant land'.

Time now to catch up with things. The new Lifelong Learning Guides are due for release on September 1st and are available for pre-order. Waterstones Amazon US Store Amazon UK Store Barnes and Noble .

WHSmith on line worldwide to name a few and from your local bookseller.

Both titles will be available on Amazon Kindle and Kindle apps and we are looking at other formats for as wide a readership as possible.

I don't for one minute believe that e-book formats will replace print. there is nothing like curling up with a good book and physically turning the pages. However, e-books offer an alternative in that they are easy and usually cheaper to download. This alone can be a factor in encouraging a wider readership. I feel that the e-readers can overcome barriers in those who see a big book with lots of print as daunting.(I can remember as a child, I once felt this way when I saw a book with pages and pages of print that I was expected to plough through.) With an e-reader, you only see one page at a time which is the equivalent to what we call in learning as 'bite-sized chunks' which is less daunting to a nervous and unsure reader.

Some figures recently suggested that readers,since getting an e-book, read more . This can only be a good thing as a whole new world opens up.

Rosalie xx

Good conversation and travel talk at Wrexham Tweet Up

2011-07-09T17:07:00.001+01:00

In case you don't know what a tweet-up is it is a social meeting between Twitterers - those who tweet nonsense (and sometimes sense) from behind a faceless computer. A chance to get out of the house and meet REAL people, have a REAL conversation and break the isolation of lone working.
Colette of the Lemon Tree Hotel in Wrexham, North Wales has re-introduced them but this time on a Saturday at lunch-time. What an inspiration. Evenings can be busy after a day's work and during the day takes you away from commitments.

Lazy camels in Lanzarote. 2011

Well, today the Lemon Tweet-up had the effect of making me stop work when I should not have even started; it being Saturday and time for a day off.
I met some new people and old friends. Arriving early, I spied Alan of @MakoCreative in a corner and conversation flowed as we talked about his fantastic life-like pencil drawings of animals. Conversation moved on to travel, Goldwing Motorbikes and the story behind our journeys and travel adventures before moving on to my other passion of realising potential and the new Lifelong Learning: Personal Effectiveness Guides due out soon.

Andorran Mountains June 2010

I had seen @JackieSynergie at another networking meeting and we quickly shared travel experiences. I was fascinated at her stories of adapting a Land Rover. Talk turned to Andalusia and Nerja; islands such as Sicily, Azores, Madeira, Canaries etc and our forthcoming trip to southern Italy - a new adventure - with a return to Sicily. Sadly not on the Gold Wing as those days are over but with our tried and tested over 50's travel company who we know will look after us.

The Islands will feature in Island Interludes - the next of the Just Us Two series.

I ended the Tweet -Up with a light meal of Ciabatta topped with tomatoes and basil. The taste took me back to Italy. Well from an Italian Restaurant you would expect that wouldn't you?
Thank You Colette.

Rosalie xx

New Blooms in Rosalie's Rose Garden

2011-07-06T11:16:00.002+01:00

Lots of activity in Rosalie's rose-garden of ideas. Lots blooming with the publishing date of the new Lifelong Learning:Personal Effectiveness Guides drawing ever closer.This prompted me to update the website.

I am pleased to announce that I will be back in Waterstones this summer. Thankfully Waterstones has been saved and we can all continue to enjoy our usual quiet browse among the shelves.

Waterstones Wrexham have been able to confirm a book event date of Saturday September 3rd.12-4.
Waterstones Llandudno confirmed a date of Saturday October 1st. 12 Noon onwards and invited me to go along in August as well! We promptly booked Saturday August 20th 12 Noon onwards.

These visits to Waterstones will be followed by the 2nd Authors Day and Book Fest at the Quay Hotel and Spa in Deganwy.Saturday October 8th 10:am -4pm. It is a lovely setting the event will be upstairs with fantastic views over the estuary across to Conwy Castle. Author Jean Mead is once again organising this exciting event.
So with lots lined up for the summer with Gold Wing activities,meeting friends, and book events there is lots to keep me in my 'rose garden' to make sure that everything blooms at its best!

Hope to see you at any of the events but if you can't make them and would like a signed copy, just contact me through my Discover Rosalie website for details and I will post one out.
Rosalie xx

Glorious sunshine and scenery and Gold Wing friends.

2011-07-03T23:41:00.000+01:00

Well, hello folks. I have been away from the blogspot for a few days - a couple of weeks in fact - but am back now with more chatter.

Taking a break from deadlines and updates we escaped to beautiful Llangollen on Friday for a few hours to chill out. We made a beeline for the Ponsonby Arms for a cool drink to enjoy in the garden overlooking the river. Parking is free for customers. This Pub is biker friendly and a warm welcome awaits from Carl and staff. Take a look at the photos on the new website. Afterwards we strolled along the fairly recently made Riverside Walk. I had never seen the river on this side of the bridge before - mainly because there wasn't a path as far as we knew. It is lovely and we came up by the bridge onto the main street. Llangollen last Friday was en fete; all prepared for the International Eisteddfod which starts on Tuesday when the town will be packed with singers and dancers of all nationalities who come to express their joy in music - the food of the soul. The bridge is decked with a profusion of flowers underneath the host of flags of many nations. The ice-cream is good too!

Saturday took us to Shropshire to meet with Gold Wing friends. We took a drive through the enchanting town of Whittington with its ruined castle before grabbing a sandwich at the Queens Head Hotel.

Sunday (today) took us through valleys and up mountains to Betws-y-Coed for another meeting with Gold Wing friends. After a lengthy chin-wag we decided to take the long way home, turning at Pentrefoelas to go over the Denbighshire Moors. From Ruthin we headed over the Llandegla Moors and the fantastic and breathtaking Horseshoe Pass down to Llangollen.

Everywhere we looked we could see for miles (that is unless there was a mountain in the way)!

What a beautiful country we live in. What contrasts in such a small area with mountains, valleys, lakes, cows and sheep grazing lazily in the sunshine. No two views are the same - a different picture at every turn. We must appreciate it and enjoy it while we can.

Now ready to meet some deadlines in the pre-publication programme for the new series of Lifelong Learning:Personal Effectiveness Guides due out in September but available for pre-order on-line.Also must plan more events for Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us two also available on-line worldwide and from local bookstores e.g. Waterstones,WHSmith. and more. Finished off with trip to the Golden Lion in Rossett for a meal to round off.

Back to the grindstone tomorrow . . .

Fathers are wonderful. A tribute on Father's Day

2011-06-19T23:15:00.001+01:00

My Dad passed away eight years ago. He was a big man in more ways than one. Father's are not to be forgotten when they are gone but to be kept alive by memories and bringing them in to the conversation.
There is another 'Father' in my life. He is a wonderful one as his children will tell you. He is also called a husband - one in a million. I am lucky to have him. Sometimes called 'Ned'!

Rosalie's Chatter: Rosalie's Chatter: Moving on with the Lifelong Learning:Personal Effe...

2011-06-12T08:39:00.000+01:00

Rosalie's Chatter: Rosalie's Chatter: Moving on with the Lifelong Learning:Personal Effe...

Rosalie's Chatter: Moving on with the Lifelong Learning:Personal Effe...

2011-06-11T13:27:00.000+01:00

Rosalie's Chatter: Moving on with the Lifelong Learning:Personal Effe...: "S eptember 1st 2011 sees the launch of our new series of Lifelong Learning:Personal Effectiveness Guides. Lifelong Learning:A View from t..."

Rosalie's Chatter: Chasing Rainbows still riding high - and thoughts ...

2011-06-11T13:25:00.000+01:00

Rosalie's Chatter: Chasing Rainbows still riding high - and thoughts ...: "Amazon rankings still good for Chasing Rainbows and amazing to be in top 100 in the UK Kindle store for Nonfiction - Biographies. Kindles r..."

Moving on with the Lifelong Learning:Personal Effectiveness Guides

2011-06-11T13:19:00.001+01:00

September 1st 2011 sees the launch of our new series of Lifelong Learning:Personal Effectiveness Guides.

Lifelong Learning:A View from the Coal Face
ISBN 978-1-908302-04-5 available for pre-order at Amazon UK and Amazon US and Amazon Germany/Austria
Release Your Potential:Making Sense of Personal and Professional Development
ISBN 978-1-908302-08-3
Both available for pre-order at Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Germany/Austria and other on-line retailers or booksellers. More details below.

Lifelong Learning is the springboard for the series where I re-visit previous research which looked at the wider issues of learning such as opportunity, access, professional and personal development to name a few, before asking if the success if the initiatives is being effectively measured.

Release Your Potential will help you to identify what you know now and need to know in order to improve; plan how to achieve your goals; develop and maintain a personal development Portfolio.

Aimed at the Home Learner and designed to be read in bite-sized chunks, this user-friendly series of Personal Effectiveness Guides, seek to enable readers to achieve their potential; become more effective and confident; develop themselves throughout their lives and career; work towards a successful future. They are designed as a support material for learners of all ages with a wide range of abilities. More details on www.christalpublishing.com

Further guides planned for 2012 include:

Talking the Talk - Getting the Message Across

Customer? What Customer? - The Basic Essentials of Customer Service

Chasing Rainbows still riding high - and thoughts on e-books v. print

2011-06-11T12:49:00.001+01:00

Amazon rankings still good for Chasing Rainbows and amazing to be in top 100 in the UK Kindle store for Nonfiction - Biographies. Kindles really must be catching on in the UK since their launch at the end of last year.

(Thursday June 9thAmazon UK Amazon Bestsellers Rank:Chasing Rainbows ·

#54 in Books > Biography > Social & Health Issues > Cultural History > Irish

#72 in Kindle Store > Books > Nonfiction > Biographies & Memoirs > Specific Groups

Thursday June 9th Amazon US Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two still top seller in Travel.· Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #8 in Books > Travel > Europe > Andorra

Thank you to all my readers.

The figures above suggest that print is still as popular as the newer e-book formats. Great! Something for everyone whatever takes your fancy. I don’t think that e-books will replace print and affect brick and mortar book stores. It is more likely that on-line stores are affecting the traditional brick and mortar stores due to the ease of browsing such a huge library with a one-stop-shop and the discounts they can offer as they cut overheads.

A photo on Facebook today showed a Borders store with an ‘Everything must go’ poster. Really sad as browsing is half the fun but if a book is cheaper on-line then that is where people will go.

Time will tell.

Rosalie xx

Rosalie Marsh

Author

Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two.

Read Now - http://bit.ly/g92dDS

Twitter - @RosalieMarsh

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Must Share -So chuffed at Chasing Rainbows on Amazon

2011-06-01T11:08:00.000+01:00

Must share!. So chuffed! Stats on Amazon.co.uk were brilliant last Sunday for Chasing Rainbows and continue the rise today on Amazon US site!!

UK site

29.05.11 - Chasing Rainbows AmazonUK

* #48 in Books > Travel & Holiday >Countries and regions > Europe > Ireland

* #52 in Books > Biography > Social Health Issues > Cultural History > Irish

US site:

Today I checked on Amazon.com and Print format is

#1 in Books > Travel > Europe > Andorra

Published in print format just one month ago.

No 1 Wow! So chuffed. Kindle sales continue to be good on Award-winning Just Us Two and Chasing Rainbows.

Here are links for UK site

Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's GoldWing Discovery

Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two

Amazon.de Germany site (for Austria,Switzerland as well)

Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery

Chasing Rainbows:with Just US Two

All titles are also available worldwide from your favourite on-line retailer or you local bookseller. (Just Us Two also from Author House Bookstore).

Just had to share. Back now to new Lifelong Learning:Personal effectiveness Guides due out in September.

Penrhyn Castle. A Perfect Setting for an Author's Day

2011-05-28T13:46:00.000+01:00

I was invited to join author Jean Mead and others at an Author's Day yesterday May 28th. Penrhyn Castle at Bangor,North Wales is a perfect setting for a gathering like this. We had hoped for good weather so that we could sit on the grass and entice visitors to give our books a home while we basked in the sunshine.

Unfortunately, it was a trifle cold and windy, so we were allocated a spot in the stables near the shop and between the entrance from the castle grounds and the exit out to the courtyard and Railway Museum.

Allen had his fill of examining nuts and bolts and the craftsmanship of the engines without hindrance from your truly, who was busy setting up a display of our Just Us Two Travel Books which are available in both print and e-book formats for Kindle and other readers.

Jean has just launched the second in her Widow Makers trilogy which is set in the quarries of North Wales and features Penrhyn Castle and its marble hall which soars up high. The last time we rode through Llanberis, I looked at the quarry with new eyes.
North Wales author Nia Pritchard and author and publisher Gladys Mary Coles made up the group with a wide selection of titles on offer.

The inclement weather did not dampen our spirits and we all had some lovely conversations with visitors and each other as they passed through.
Penrhyn Castle is a National Trust property overlooking the Menai Straits and well worth a visit to see how the Victorians lived and worked.

Rosalie xx

Another snippet of Rosalie's life - food for thought

2011-05-24T07:15:00.001+01:00

I have been a busy bunny this last few days as I plough on with the second of the Personal Effectiveness guides. Now working on Release Your Potential - a subject close to my heart. Due for release in September are the first two in this Lifelong Learning Series. Quite a heavy word is Lifelong Learning but with the current focus on skills levels (lack) it has come to the forefront of things. Quite simple really. Life itself is a learning journey and learning doesn't stop when you leave school. Those are the foundations to be built on. More on Christal Publishing.

I am getting down to stress management today and have just re-read some research I did years ago. Stress management is all part of the personal and professional development process.

"There is no stereotype definition. Acceptable stress levels vary with each individual; are dependent on an individual's needs and preferences at any one time . . ."

I attended a book launch last weekend and spent the weekend devouring the latest of Jean Mead's Widow Maker's Trilogy. Another excellent read and stress buster.
I will be joining her and a few other authors at Penrhyn Castle, Bangor on Friday for a day of relaxation and chat with visitors as we sign books.

Yesterday I put 'stress' at one side and got creative again. Updating websites is absorbing and time consuming. I found I was able to change the background on the site and have put back my signature rose which was on my logo some years ago. Looks quite cool.
Took time out to watch President & Mrs Obama arrive in Ireland. I bet they were starved through with the wind and rain. No doubt the Guinness went down well! Hope the car wasn't badly damaged when it his the metal on the exit ramp. It has been a good few days for watching visits and events etc.

Rosalie xx

Moving on with 'Release your Potential' in the Lifelong Learning Series

2011-05-16T23:13:00.005+01:00

Great writing day today! having finished the draft of the first in the Lifelong Learning;Personal Effectiveness series I have moved on with the second one - Release Your Potential:Making Sense of Personal and Professional Development.
As I commented on the European Lunch Show 87.7 FM last Thursday, Lifelong Learning is the new buzz word again but really it has been around for a long time. And I quoted Jan Van Comenius who, writing in Pampaedia in 1609 said: " every age is an age for learning . . .even life itself . . . from the cradle to the grave"

It is a subject close to my heart but one which is like a foreign language to many people but is increasingly important as organisations step up the drive to increase skills in the workplace for economic prosperity. I, though have the view that the whole person is important, not just the 'professional side' and that they are interlinked.

Having spent many years in sales management followed by adult and further education in work-based learning (that is where we went out to the learner in the workplace at a time to suit them) I have loads of stuff to put out there so that it can be picked up and put down in an easy to read, user-friendly way at a user-friendly price.

Well that is the intention and all books will be formatted as e-books as well as print so that they are accessible to everyone.

I found a good theme for the first book-Lifelong Learning:A View from the Coal Face (due for release September 1st and available for pre-order ISBN 978-1-908302-04-5). A simple scene of birds soaring in the sky above a tree. If anyone gets a 'view from the coal face' they do. There is still time to change that but I think it depicts the content of being written and researched from a first hand view. hence the 'coal face'.

Quite a change from Rosie's jaunts in Just Us Two!

I am now on Goodreads with links to books, videos etc all in one place.

Rosalie xx

European Lunch at Red Shift Radio - Crewe

2011-05-12T18:39:00.000+01:00

An exciting and interesting couple of hours this Thursday lunchtime as I joined Chrisoula Sirigou and two other guests (Kate and Jo) to discuss our travel experiences.
Chrisoula runs ExploramaEU and encourages people to Explore, Enrich and Achieve through travel, foreign language and culture courses.
Chrisoula and I found a common bond in adult teaching and there was a lively discussion on Lifelong Learning ( the focus of my new series of books to encourage people who don't have the opportunity to develop themselves in their jobs - and maybe some who do but want some extra help. ( It is aimed at those on the lower rungs of the ladder in the main.) Now that Chasing Rainbows is out in the open and up and running (forgive the pun) I am moving on with the Lifelong Learning - Personal Effectiveness series. It is all about pushing the boundaries a little more and helping you to be more effective in the workplace and life in general.

In the European Lunchtime Show we discovered others' experiences. Jo talked about Kenya while Kate shared her experiences while travelling with Jo. I shared Andalusia as well as travels in general and, of course, when encouraged, talked a little about the story behind the book Just Us Two: Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery.
This actually linked into personal development as our experiences certainly pushed back the boundaries in more ways than one and challenged us and our personal resources. The underlying message was: 'well we will do it why we can'
A lovely relaxed lunchtime show on Red Shift radio 87.7FM on Thursdays. I hope that Chrisoula will have me back - perhaps to chat about the long leg of Italy of our Island Interlude holidays (not on a motorbike!).
If you have read Just Us Two you can now buy Chasing rainbows in print or Kindle. Don't forget - you can download an app for PC, iPad Android etc. The pages just flick over like in a a book and if you like your print size a little larger you can do that and the text just re-flows. Clever!

Oh - and Just Us Two is available on Nook-Sony and other readers.

Rosalie xx

Escaping computers for a day. exploring Anglesey.

2011-05-04T22:41:00.000+01:00

The sun promised to shine; computers were in need of a rest, software uploads,downloads ,sideways loads and installations all done. Time to chill out and take advantage of the quiet mid-week roads.
The A55 was clear and we took the old A5 past Penrhyn Castle through the university town of Bangor to cross the Menai Straits on the very pretty and historic Suspension Bridge. (We could have gone to Parc Menai turn off and avoided Bangor but we weren't in a hurry.) Although we have lived in Wales for more years than we care to remember, we had never explored the north east coast beyond Beaumaris with its beaches at Red Wharf Bay.
Stopping off in Beaumaris for coffee and toasted tea-cakes at the Pier House Cafe gave us a chance to stretch our legs and enjoy the view of Snowdonia across the water. Driving past the castle we found ourselves on minor roads which ran along the edge of the sea.
Paying little attention to the map we turned inland to head for Red Wharf Bay and the coast. What a delight! The narrow well-kept lanes were bordered by hedgerows dripping with hawthorn and deep yellow gorse. All at once we were through a tunnel of trees. Then the every changing vista from the undulating land gave us glimpses of fields bordered by clumps of gorse; lambs, sheep and cattle grazing quietly; tantalising glimpses of the sea on one side and the mountains of Snowdonia on the other.
Skirting around the coast to Amlwch, passing ancient burial chambers which are scattered around the island, we turned inland before making our way to the village of Valley. At the charming and friendly Valley Hotel we worked our way through what we thought would be a pub lunch but turned out to be a hearty meal. And cheap!
Taking the road along the side of the hotel we followed the coast, over Four Mile Bridge (where Holy Island is joined to Mon) through Treaddur Bay, into what seemed another land. In fact O2 must have thought we were abroad as it sent us a text message advising us of the cost of calls from to the UK and Europe! This is a dramatic coast, with rocky inlets and twisting lanes. We soon came to Holyhead. In fact I could tell it was Holyhead as a spanking new Morrisons Superstore stood out on the skyline.

I was surprised also to see that there is a big retail park on the outskirts of Holyhead just before the port. For walkers there is the Coastal Country Park and Holyhead Mountain. During our day exploring we criss-crossed the island taking roads at will, finding a cuppa at the Bull Hotel in Llangefni before heading back over the newer Britannia Bridge across the straits to our little pocket North Wales at the opposite side to Anglesey.

Rosalie xx
(Photos of Beaumaris - taken 2010)

Exploring e-books - different formats/readers

2011-04-19T16:14:00.002+01:00

Electronic books or e-books, are becoming more popular in the UK. With the advent of Kindle in the UK last October, readers (human) are finding that with the click of a button they can download their latest favourite book at considerable savings on a print version. (Let's face it - if you haven't paid much and don't like the book, you haven't wasted much money.)
      However Kindle has its own format or platform. There are other readers (devices) out there such as Sony, Barnes & Noble Nook in (USA) Android, IPhone, iPad, Palm , and files in *pdf format. All are formatted in different formats. ( A bit like making a cake with the same ingredients - the book - but a different recipe or something like that.)
       Kindles are only in black and white at present but if the file has been formatted in colour, then with a reader which has colour, you will see the images in colour.
this is the case of Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two. At present only on Amazon Kindle.
      If you use an Apple iPhone; iPad; DesktopPC, Laptop or Netbook; Android, then you can download the Kindle App - it takes seconds - which opens up the world of a flexible, economic,reading experience. Don't want to lose your page? Bookmark it.
Reading a text book for course work and need to make notes? No problem. Prefer larger print? Easy Peasy. Just make the font larger and the reader will smoothly re-flow the text.
       Many fear that e-books will be the death of traditional print - and I am on dangerous ground here - but I feel that, on the contrary, the ease and availability of downloading a book via the internet will actually increase readership. For those who see 'reading a book' as a barrier, a few simple clicks of the mouse can remove that barrier. They may then decide to buy the print copy so that they can snuggle up with a cuppa and turn the pages at leisure before actually wanting to read another book.
      Another advantage of an e-book reader is mobility and transportability. No more packing your collection of holiday reading material or being weighted down with a school back-pack. Just download to an e-reader and weight is a thing of the past.
      With 9million people in the UK who are not on the internet, some areas even now do not have broadband access) the ease of downloading an e-book offers much scope for increasing, not only reading itself but e-book reading. And lets face it, many people only use a computer for the internet or to play games. These fast-fingered people will find clicking for an e-book a doddle.

      One last thought. If you are reading *pdf files on a computer, then for a better reading experience, download Adobe Digital Editions. The pages will then flip over like in a real book and like readers such as Kindle.
Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery available in different formats for most readers direct from publishers AuthorHouse
      Both Just Us Two and the sequel Chasing Rainbows are available for Kindle and Kindle Apps from Amazon US site and Amazon UK site

      The new Lifelong Learning series starting in September 2011 will also be made available for Kindle.

Rosalie
xx

Chasing Rainbows - Debut May 1st.. Launch Event May 6th/7th

2011-04-12T16:33:00.000+01:00

Sat Navs! Do you love them or hate them? Have you ever ended up near Brussels when you wanted Reims or Paris? Why did Sat Nav lose her voice?
Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two. A light-hearted, inspirational story for all ages. Rosalie brings alive the countryside and day-to-day practicalities as she ‘Chases Rainbows’. Lots of tongue-in-cheek humour from Rosie who grabs every opportunity to stick pins into maps and says ‘Let’s go . . .’ A peek into Rosie’s life as she pleads for maps instead of the hidden controller. You know boys and their toys? . . . In the second in the Just Us Two series (where ‘Ned’ has come out of the shadows and reverted to his given name), Rosie has a love-hate relationship with the hidden controller which sits on the dashboard and threatened to ruin their next big trip . . . Now, no longer able to ride, this intrepid couple finally say ‘good-bye’ to their Gold Wing motorbiking days but only after more adventures; this time not on a Honda Gold Wing; and this time not quite Just Us Two . . . With photos, detailed routes, historical and geographical facts, Rosie takes you on a whirlwind journey – re-visiting Ireland to drink in the rugged beauty of County Mayo – where Rosie leaves her heart – as they re-trace their footsteps from an earlier journey. across France, exploring mountain villages the Alps. into the breathtaking wonder of the Andorran mountains and awesome grandeur of the Spanish Pyrénées where they meet up with Gold Wing motorbiker friends – and Sat Nav led them astray! guiding you around the dazzling splendour of Versailles. And why were they almost stranded in Paris as Rosie chased her rainbows . . .? PRICE: £9.99 GBP; $12.99 USD; EURO 11.10 Available to pre-order from your on-line retailer or local bookseller ISBN 978-1-908302-00-7 Chasing Rainbows-with Just Us Two is the sequel to Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie’s Gold Wing Discovery - Winner of 2010 International Book Awards (Travel:Recreational) and Finalist in the 2009 USA Book News Best Books Awards in the same category. WATCH THE VIDEO TRAILER ON You Tube Rosalie will sign your copy at the book launch event on May6th 6-9pm or May 7th. 10-4pm @ Petrolheads Cafe Bar, Bagillt, North Wales Tel:07548 010325 or contact Rosialie

Lifelong Learning -Releasing your potential

2011-04-08T23:56:00.000+01:00

When I first started freelancing about ten years ago as a Learning and Development Consultant in the field of Work Based Learning (WBL), I had a logo of an unfurling rose with the strap line of 'Release your Potential'.

A variation of this theme has become quite common as the focus on developing self and improving performance to raise skills levels has taken hold.

Over the last ten years my passion for everyone to 'release their potential' ,to develop their potential and the 'whole person' has not diminished; in truth, it increased as I worked with learners from a wide occupational and skills area in the workplace; learners who, for various reasons, did not have the qualifications they needed to progress. In some cases, the learners had slipped the net so to speak whilst in school.

I recently re-visited the research and dissertation which I undertook for my education degree in 2001. The title? Lifelong Learning: The Contribution of Current Initiatives to the Development of Human Potential and the Whole Person. It is the last two words which are the crux. The whole person; not merely upskilling and development for a job role. The whole person; all the different facets which make up a human being.

As I read and thought about other research which I had undertaken more recently, I sadly reflected that the problem still exists.; there is still a huge chasm to be bridged.

Building on twenty-one years of commercial training and experience plus fifteen years experience and upskilling in FurtherEducation -WBL ,I aim to reach out to those who are not in a position to attend formal courses; do not work for an organisation who have the resources to run training schemes beyond what the job requires. I am writing a series of short books/guides (better in bite-sized pieces) which will be available in print and e-book formats.

These will be based around Lifelong Learning:Personal Effectiveness.They will cover a variety of areas relating to self and effectiveness in the workplace. The first is planned for late 2011. More on that later so watch out for more updates.

The Just Us Two series will not be forgotten.After Chasing Rainbows, due to debut in print on May 1st 2011,will be Island Interludes in 2012.

If you would like to be the first to hear about latest developments visit Discover-Rosalie and complete the contact form.

Rosalie xx

Have a good weekend.

Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two

2011-04-06T23:09:00.000+01:00

Book Launch of Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two at Petrolheads

2011-04-02T13:04:00.000+01:00

Well, we are nearly at the end of this particular rainbow. It has been an exciting journey and with our two-day book launch at Petrolheads Cafe Milk Bar, A548 Bagillt, Flint we are ready to share our adventures.

Cafe owner Kevin Wilding has been very generous in allowing us to come on Bikers Night Friday May 6th 6-9pm and Saturday May 7th 10-4pm

We loved our last visit to Petrolheads which was very successful in all ways as we met and chatted to bikers and travellers who had braved the elements. I will be signing copies of both books which are also available in the e-book format to download from Amazon. We hope to have some videos to play again.

"Chasing Rainbows is the real end to Rosie's Gold Wing story and the sequel to award-winning Just Us Two: Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery. As usual Rosie pokes fun at herself with tongue-in-cheek humour over her love-hate relationship with 'the hidden controller which sat on the dashboard'. You know boys and their toys? "

Apart from that, Chasing Rainbows - with photos, detailed routes and many facts - recounts a wonderful journey across Ireland to Co.Mayo before embarking on a BIG TRIP to wonderful Andorra in the Pyrenees - meeting a group of Gold Wing biker friends - with lots of deviations and adventures on the way in France and Spanish Pyrenees!

Hope to see you there.
Rosalie xx

Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery is also available from publisher Author House as paperback and e-book for most readers.

Webinar -The Science of Timing ( Tweets,blog,FB posts and all)

2011-03-30T12:58:00.000+01:00

I am well into webinars now. In the middle of the BookBuzzr Book Marketing Technology Centre (BBMTC) programme, I saw an intriguing post on Twitter - 'The Science of Timing'. So I hot-footed it to check the time zones and sign up. 1pm ET worked out at 18:00 hrs GMT. A great time for me!

The Science of Timing explored the results of research carried out by Dan Zarella of Boston MA. who is a HubSpot Social Media Scientist. Through the medium of Media Player and others Dan had lots of slides with amazing data showing the best optimum times to tweet, e-mail, post or Face Book and Blog. The data also showed the times when most people unsubscribe etc. and re-tweet. Amazing stuff. I had never thought of this as a science though.

I had already carried out a calculation for GMT. E.g. if I blogged or timed my BookBuzzr auto tweets for say 5pm GMT then that would be approx. 5am Australia, late evening in India and lunch-time in parts of USA.

Not surprisingly (and we are talking US EST time here) 11am was the busiest time for tweeters and Saturday the busiest day. I would guess that 11am is coffee time in most workplaces but if a Saturday,is 11am when tweeters surface? Dan pointed out that the surprising low results for daytime / weekdays could be due to a clamp down by organisations on internet use in company time.

This data was very informative for marketing purposes. For myself, I usually settle myself with a cuppa on rising, and catch up with what is happening in the world via Twitter and FB whilst watching the BBC Breakfast Show.

Through out the day I log on at various times and catch up (usually when I get a notification) and before I sign off for the day so my tweeting, posting etc. is not really planned. I am aware that, if not careful, more time can be spent in time-consuming social networking chat when the time would be more productively spent actually working on something tangible.

I am impressed with the pre-webinar checks on system requirements/capabilities which the technology used for the webinars, allows participants to carry out. The HubSpot one had links to download updates if required.

For someone like myself who is out the mainstream of office/organisation dynamics, webinars fill a gap. The 24,000 who signed up for The Science of Timing who may or may not be lone workers obviously think so.

Rosalie

Rosalie Marsh

Author

Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two.

Read Now - http://bit.ly/g92dDS

Twitter - @RosalieMarsh

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Inspiring Lecture at Glyndwr University

2011-03-22T21:12:00.000Z

I spent a pleasant hour this evening listening to an inspiring lecture by Professor Karen Graham of Glyndwr University. Her subject was one that is dear to my own heart - From Policy to Practice: The Value of Work Based Learning (WBL). Lifelong Learning and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) were a part of this.

Having now 'retired' from hand's-on WBL I welcomed the opportunity to hear some current thinking. Since researching Lifelong Learning with a focus on the Development of Human Potential and the Whole Person, over ten years ago for my Dissertation I continued in Work-Based Learning in a variety of client organisations with a wide spectrum if learners. It appears clear that the targets which I researched then have not reached the success levels anticipated. Well that is for another publication and another day.

Professor Graham took us through the background, where we were, where we are now and the focus for the future. It all rang an awful lot of bells! First we had 'Learning to Succeed' followed by 'Success for all', then Prosperity for all. It will take time to change people's mindsets but change we must if we are to up the skill level and make us economically competetive.

Now that Chasing Rainbows is nearly out of the oven so to speak, I am starting on a Lifelong Learning: Personal Effectiveness series. (Have to put my experiences to good use.)Tonight has re-inforced my conviction that there is a place for some bite-sized clear and concise reading matter such as I plan.

It is amazing to see how the Glyndwr Campus has grown and developed over the last few years since we came to North Wales over forty years ago. These are exciting times as this newly formed university seeks to break the mould.

Rosalie
xx

My week ..Chocolate Heaven, Webinars, Cover Design and such like.

2011-03-19T09:20:00.000Z

Friday night treats don't get much better than this and very welcome after my week!

Jo Edwards of Aballu Truffles finally made it to the finishing post with the opening of her new chocolate-making shop in a lovely old listed building on Station Road Rossett,Wrexham, North Wales. The Cocoa Rooms is the Name and Artisan Chocolatier is the game.

Sensibly Jo had a lovely informal 'drop-in' evening so, along with daughter Joanna (and Di who was visiting) we 'dropped in'. I had tasted Jo's chocolates before at a Tweet Up at the Lemon Tree Bar, Hotel. Wrexham. sometime before Christmas when Jo's new venture and planned move from Llay was in progress.

Well what about the chocolates? Cheese with a difference. Not really cheese as we know it but chocolate cheeses ( Spiced; lemon and ginger; praline) which we could sample and spread onto crackers. then there were the truffles - mmm and blocks of chocolate with jelly bean toppings and brazil but topping - more mmm's. All presented nicely wrapped in clear cellophane tied with a ribbon.

Jo does lovely little selection boxes, again tied with a ribbon, which make a nice little token of appreciation ( two in a box) or a present (more in a box). After sampling afters first so to speak, we took a look at the Pizza boxes. I thought they were real pizzas but - no - chocolate pizzas. Upstairs there was a selection of snacks along with orange chocolate and more . . . After this we went to join the men for dinner at The Alyn just down the road on the corner by the river. Rossett is such a lovely village and quite timeless.

Well this was the end to a busy week which included a late night on Wed/Thurs due to time zones where I waited up for the BookBuzzr Webinar on marketing e-books. This is something close to my heart as it brings reading into the sphere of those who may feel daunted by a paper book ( unhappy shades of school perhaps) as well as an alternative to carrying heavy books around. ( A bit like mobile phones and landlines.)

My first book Just Us Two:Ned and Rosie's Gold Wing Discovery (Author House) is now on Kindle. Ahead of print on May 1st, Christal Publishing have put the sequel - Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two on Kindle at a very competetive price for download.They are offering free delivery. (Yes it does cost a few pence to download the file over the airwaves.) No Kindle? The downloadable apps to PC-iphone etc are great and if your reader has colour then the Chasing Rainbows cover and interior photos are in colour. Look at those lovely Gold Wings.
More photos in the Chasing Rainbows photo album on my Facebook page. Facebook Profile.
Last but not least,we had some fun converting the cover of Chasing Rainbows for print but with some new software all was soon sorted.

Have a lovely weekend. The garden is calling. Honeysuckles and Roses need a spring feed!

Rosalie xx

Lifelong Learning - the reality

2011-03-13T09:02:00.000Z

Well its back to normal after a relaxing two weeks away in Lanzarote. The sun shone- sometimes. The wind blew - a lot. I wrote another chapter of Island Interludes - due 2012 - after touring the island again bit this time under our own steam.Wrote the Foreword to Lifelong Learning - a View from the Coal Face - planned for later this year.
Have now caught up on upcoming seminars, lectures and Webinars.
I was interested to see on Twitter on hols that there is a lecture on Lifelong Learning at the Catrin Finch Centre, Glyndwr University, Wrexham. Work Based Learning ( my area) is now being more formally recognised and embedded it appears. It was quite a new focus and strategy when I moved to FE in 1995 although it has always been around I think.
Just been reminded on Twitter about the BookBuzzr Book Marketing Technology Centre (BBMTC) Webinars in the next two weeks so I have hot-footed it to register. Next weeks is 1am GMT - will try to keep awake but have the dentist later that morning! The week after is a more civilised (for me) time of 9am. All about e-book publishing and sounds good.

So, now to Chasing Rainbows due for release May 1st and this is what you call retirement?
Well Lifelong Learning is 'from the cradle to the grave' as Jan Van Comenius said in 1609 when writing in Pampaedia. So it is nothing new!

Just a bit of Sunday food for thought and change of focus from travel writings.

Rosalie x

Reading ¨- Old man on a Bike-

2011-02-27T10:39:00.000Z

Started to read Old Man on a Bike by Simon Gondolfi. It was recommended by a reader at the Deganwy Author´s Day. V. interesting. 70 plus yrs old man rode a Honda 125cc motorbike down through s. America. I can emphasise with him in parts. It is lloney out there riding with only your own resources to draw on. remember what it was like riding over the deserted Spanish Sierras in 2001. Hairy Scary!
More when have finished.
Taking some time out to re-charge batteries and down to some reading.

Rosalie xx

Webinar - How to market books on Twitter -BBMTC

2011-02-23T10:40:00.000Z

Just spent a happy fruitful hour taking part in a global Webinar. What is a Webinar you might ask? Simply a web-based seminar ( or meeting).

Freya (BookBuzzr) in India was joined by Gary Smailes of Bubble Cow (in England - not far from my neck of the woods in North Wales) and Joanna Penn of The Creative Penn (in Australia) who gave very clear presentations on what to focus on when marketing your book on Twitter. There followed a good mix of questions from the audience. I asked:

'Some schools of thought say that for writers it is important to show the person behind the book. Hence adding in personal things into book marketing. What do the panel think?'

The replies ranged from 'not too personal' to 'some things are OK'. I guess that it is important to separate the 'private' from 'general personal'.

This is my third Webinar and have enjoyed them all. Even the first two which took place at 01:00 am GMT! Hard to get up the following morning though!.

I have spent my working life being involved in professional development activities and attending workshops and courses both in sales management and in further education. Since retiring to concentrate on my writing and family responsibilities,I have missed this interaction which is where social networking comes in. Taking part in web-based interaction from the comfort of my study puts me back into the stream of things so that I can keep at the cutting edge.

Following today's Webinar I have some new avenues to follow. Although I already use Twitter a lot with auto tweets from Book Buzzr and widgets, some strategies have been re-inforced. In addition I now have other aspects to pursue.

Thank you Freya, Joanna and Gary.

Rosalie xx

Rosalie's Chatter: Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two

2011-02-21T21:32:00.000Z

Rosalie's Chatter: Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two

Chasing Rainbows:with Just Us Two

2011-02-21T18:32:00.000Z

Rosalie's Chatter: Chasing Rainbows: with Just Us Two.Now published o...

2011-02-16T09:03:00.000Z

Rosalie's Chatter: Chasing Rainbows: with Just Us Two.Now published o...: "Read more about Chasing Rainbows on the dedicated Chasing Rainbows page on Rosalie's website.As a taster though, I can tell you that ..."

Chasing Rainbows: with Just Us Two.Now published on Kindle

2011-02-10T14:50:00.002Z

Read more about Chasing Rainbows on the dedicated Chasing Rainbows page on Rosalie's website.

As a taster though, I can tell you that it is not only about travel. This is when 'Just Us Two' finally say good-bye to their Gold Wing motorbiking years. If you have not read the first book in the Just Us Two series, well you might need it as there are references to previous incidents in Chasing Rainbows.

Rosie has a love-hate relationship with a new toy which appeared on the dashboard. This threatened to make her navigating skills redundant . . .!

Chasing Rainbows follows on from Just Us Two with the theme of discovery, adventure, fun and Rosie's unquenchable optimism when she says 'lets go ...!' as they follow more dreams. And what happened in Paris? Paris?? This, Ireland, Andorra, French Alps, Spanish Pyrenees and more are all in the pages of Chasing Rainbows.

No Kindle? Download an app from Amazon for PC,iPhone, iPad. More formats and paperback to follow.

Rosalie xx


Chasing Rainbows is published by Christal Publishing in the UK

Braving the floods in North Wales for a Gold Wing meeting.

2011-02-08T22:48:00.000Z

Made the usual monthly Gold Wing meeting in Betws-y-Coed but journey was traumatic if a little exciting. Quite an adventure! Sunday brought an unexpected heavy rainfall. Four inches overnight on Snowdonia. Taking our usual route from Wrexham along the A5 (Historic Coaching route to Holyhead) we hit a flooded road. Hubby carefully drove through 12 inches of water (approx 30cm).I am sure my heart stopped! Thought the car was goingtostopand we would have to getout and paddle.Dreadful!

Just got through,rounded the bend at the junction for Cynwyd. - road ahead closed. Took the mountain road towards Llandrillo and Llanderfel to Bala. One farmer tried to get his sheep out of the valley - all pregnant ewesand stuck on a mound. Nearly lambing season. Valley awash with rain above fence posts. Bala road closed at Llanderfel. Only way out - go further up the mountain to join Bala Rd.

I had visions of calling search and rescue and HRH helicopter if the road was closed ahead.!! Couldn't go back. Bala Lake was like a raging sea washing over the road.Have never seen it like that in over 40 years in Wales. Roads were full of debris. Awesome to see the force of nature. Shows you who is in charge!

A friend/member could not get from the coast as roads were closed. Conwy river burst its banks. Only way home seemed to be A5 from Betws-y-Coed in Snowdonia to the A55 coast road.If that was flooded - then I could see a night in the hotel looming.

Now you know I am never averse to a night in an hotel - but - not as a refugee from the floods. Made the meeting at Waterloo Hotel. Lovely Sunday Lunch. Home over the Denbigh Moors. Megan found out it was clear.

All in all it was a lovely ride out through beautiful scenery. Better though on a Gold Wing in normal weather. Must do it all again with the top down on the car.Better wait 'till Spring.

Rosalie xx

http://www.discover-rosalie.com/Chasing_Rainbows.html

2011-02-04T09:39:00.000Z

Coming Soon. The sequel to Just Us Two
http://www.discover-rosalie.com/Chasing_Rainbows.html

http://www.discover-rosalie.com/Chasing_Rainbows.html

2011-02-01T22:14:00.000Z

http://www.discover-rosalie.com/Chasing_Rainbows.html

Wrexham/Shropshire railway to close direct route from Wrexham to London

2011-01-26T12:13:00.002Z

I had my 2 mins of fame this morning on Shropshire Radio.Joined a Twitter discussion/rant about Wrexham/Shropshire railway closing direct link from Wrexham to London. Found myself on air! If it isn't viable on money grounds it certainly is for business/commuters,tourists,etc. Perhaps a bail out is in order like other large org. get? Updating the line might help especially as Wrexham is looking for city status again.

It doesn't make sense to put congestion charges in London,encourage users to use rail links and then make it hard to do that. How to go about paying congestion charge is another ball game anyway.

Wrexham Council have worked hard to improve business in the area and good communication links are essential.Can't go to London Book fair and back in a day as easily now!

Rosalie xx

Coming Soon. Chasing Rainbows.

2011-01-25T13:07:00.000Z

'Chasing Rainbows' is cooking nicely. Book Cover now finished. Comments appreciated. We aimed to keep it simple. They say a picture says a thousand words so we decided to keep it at that.
Chasing rainbows will be available as an e-book, initially on Amazon Kindle, and as a Perfect Bound Soft Cover. More details to follow.

Chasing Rainbows,(the sequel to Just Us Two) is the real ending to Rosie's Gold Wing story. Now, no longer able to ride, this intrepid couple finally say good-bye their Gold Wing motorbiking days but only after more adventures; this time not on a Honda Gold Wing'; this time not quite Just Us Two . . .

In this new saga they are accompanied by a hidden controller in the shape of disembodied voice with which Rosie conducts a ‘love-hate’ relationship as it threatened to make her navigating skills redundant and ruin their next big trip.

Now, ‘Ned’ has come out of the shadows and reverted to his given name,which is how he appears in this light-hearted and often tongue in cheek story of discovery and adventures.

He also has a new toy. You know boys and their toys? It is infallible, trusty will lead them to wherever they want to go.

No stress; no trouble; no getting lost …

Take in the beauty of Ireland and Co.Mayo; the breathtaking wonder of the Andorran mountains; the awesome grandeur of the Spanish Pyrenees; Visit Versailles and Paris as Rosie chases her rainbows . . .

Engage with Rosalie at: www.discover-rosalie.com