Winners of Notes to Stephanie by Jeffrey W. Turner

CONGRATULATIONS

to Winners of

Notes To Stephanie: Middle Aged Love Letters And Life Stories

by Jeffery W. Turner

 

Two US/Canada Winners:

International Winner

I will email Nancye, Ruthie and Chrizette for mailing information.
Thank you to all who entered.

Book Review + Giveaway (Open Worldwide): Notes to Stephanie... by Jeff Turner

This little gem has love and life Notes worth marking so you can return to them and contemplate another day.

Notes To Stephanie: Middle Aged Love Letters And Life Stories  by Jeff Turner

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Jeffery W Turner (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615323529
• ISBN-13: 978-0615323527

     Genre: Non-fiction, Contemplative
     My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Product Description
Young adults are not the only ones that fall in love and get married. People in their middle age do that too. This book is the story of one such couple as told by the "notes" written by the husband to his wife. These notes are not just love notes but also tell the tale of how life tests people and how its events sometimes feel overwhelming. They also show how couples do get through difficult times and proceed on through their lives, not knowing to what destination many times. If you sometimes wonder if you are the only one over 40 with a difficult adult child, a conflict at work, or something else trying your patience, you are not alone. You will also know that life is also good, and sometimes filled with hope and love. Even for a brief time. These tales of life's events and stories that we all share are contained in these pages, these "notes to Stephanie".

Review: This book reminds me a bit of the days when I would gaze at the sky and wonder about life.  It is an unusual work - not a novel but a journal of sorts. It is a chronological compilation of love and life notes from the middle-aged author to his sweetheart, then wife, over a period of two and a half years.

The beginning notes are filled with the upbeat enthusiasm of newly infatuated love.  Throughout the collection there are encouraging observations on life and family, observing both the ups and downs.  There is star gazing and rainbow dreaming. Like life, it isn’t all hearts and flowers as there are times of stress and “fussing” as the author calls the friction going on at times in the family relationships.

Although the details are not discussed, the letters make it clear that the (mostly) grown children were not thrilled by the marriage between their parents.  This of course creates a source of stress and sadness. Also job stresses, holiday stresses  and resulting tensions are commented on.

I want to share some titles and summaries to give you a small idea of the depth of the notes and the empathy and pathos they can evoke.

In April 2007 a note is entitled “Beads.”  The author compares life to a string of beads sort of like “life is like a box of chocolates.” He points out that beads are all different sizes and quality;  some are flawed and some beautiful. Each of us has our own unique strand of beads that we choose to wear as our life experiences.

In March 2007 there is an entry entitled “Our Dance Step.” The title itself brings a picture to mind. The author discusses the couple learning to dance the two-step for an event. Then he likens that to how they are learning their “own dance step” in their new marriage together.

The January 19, 2009 note is entitled “The Other Side of the Sky.” The author comments on the sadness of his daughter when they visit her at college.  As they drive away he observes the cloud layer and notes that our lives are like the cloud cover and “the past is always on the other side of life’s sky, not ever to be the same again.”

Some of the later notes have a bit more cynicism and almost depressed tone to them. It seems apparent that the author is struggling with difficult times.  The book comes to a rather sudden end and I was sorry to close it.

I liked reading a few days at a time, soaking up the exuberance and joy or the questioning and observations of life’s cycles and struggles. If you enjoy contemplating life, even as seen through the eyes of another family, I think you would enjoy this unique and lovely book.

Thank you to Jeff for this fine book to read and review.
Jeff has also provided THREE copies of  Notes To Stephanie: Middle Aged Love Letters And Life Stories for me to Giveaway.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
Please leave your e-mail with at least one comment!
YOU MUST DO #1 or #2 TO ENTER Please.
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something you learned there. One Entry.

2.  Check out Jeff's interesting photo gallery and tell me if there is a particular photo that you like.  Three Entries.

3. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

4. For two extra entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

5.  For five extra entries comment on the interview post or ask a question at that post.

(Twelve total entries possible.)
It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* I decided I wanted to share this opportunity with my overseas followers/visitors so this giveaway is open WORLDWIDE.  I will mail ONE book to an international winner and the other TWO will go to US or Canadian winners..
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on November 12, 2010. The winners will be randomly selected from all entries.  THREE WINNERS!

Interview: Jeff Turner, Author of Notes to Stephanie

Today please help me welcome to Martha's Bookshelf interview spot:
Jeff Turner author of  Notes To Stephanie: Middle Aged Love Letters And Life Stories

Q1.  Notes to Stephanie is obviously compiled from very personal writings and feelings. What made you decide to publish the love letters and notes?

Jeff:  One day I realized I had enough of the Notes to write a book.  People had always said I could write fairly well, so I decided to make the compilation of Notes into the book you now see.

M: I do agree that your writing style is nicely fluid.

Q2.  What do you hope your readers get out of your books?
Jeff:  The Notes simply paint a real picture of life.  It is not a fantasy nor are the events exaggerated or changed from what really happened.  I think overall thing to take away from the book is that most people have a "real life"; it is filled with ups and downs, happiness, joy, and sometimes sadness and disappointment too.  But also there is the wonder of simply looking around one's self and seeing the totality of existence in our big, wide universe that we are but one small part of.
M: Yes. Your Notes definitely have a sense of wonder and a picture of all aspects of life.

Q3.  What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating or promoting your book?    Writing is the easy part of being an author.

Jeff:  Marketing is the hard part when you are doing it yourself.  Both aspects take discipline and hard work of course but selling yourself and your work is something that one must learn to do.  Certainly I am learning as I go.

M:  I think that is something new authors don't realize at first. Writing the book is one thing, but they have to be prepared to market it too.

Q4.  Did you have any qualms about publishing and sharing these personal notes?

Jeff:  Not really, since they are all true.  Some male friends who read it were not totally surprised since they knew I have a thoughtful side that goes with the cowboy boot part of me.

M:  There is definitely a thoughtful side and I found it interesting to share such a personal (in emotions if not details) view of your life.

Q5. Would you say that your photography gallery reflects the same contemplative tone of your letter?

Jeff:  Yes indeed, the photos do try to capture the idea there is something bigger than we are as individually and that time flows on around us always.

M:  I sensed that in the open and expansive nature of some of the photos. 

Q6.  If you could trade places with anyone, real or imagined, in any time, who would it be and why?

Jeff:  Being a history buff, I think I would like to be one of our great generals or admirals in World War II.  Being part of some huge event in history is something few people get to directly be part of. So being in the shoes of Nimitz, Patton, or Bradley would be that for me.

M:  Now that seems an ambitious answer but suitable for you.

Because your works are compilations of notes and letters and not really fiction, I am going to ask several questions that will let the readers know a little more about you as a person.

The first book I ever read was ...

Not sure, I always liked to read.  I do remember one time in the local public library I headed to the grown up book section.  The librarian told me my mom that the kid’s books were the other way.  My mom said he doesn’t read kid’s books”.  One example of this was reading Herman Kahn’s “On Thermonuclear War” when I was in sixth grade or so.

My passion is ...

I would have to say outside of my family it would be history.  This sort of shows up in my writing when I sometimes talk about generations in families and stages of life. Such things are our own  history you see.

My parents always told me ...

They always said do the right thing and tell the truth.

Why I write ...

That is a good question.  I do not write with some lofty idea to change the world by my words.  I simply want to tell stories that other people might identify with.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Oh I read some fiction, mostly techno thrillers but also history of course.  I tend to like World War II history books, but not always.  As far as music goes I now listen to Christian Alternative Rock, even though I would not call myself particularly religious.

My best moment ...

Perhaps my best moment was caring for my son who was born three months early.  That took strength and patience and made me realize that life was not always easy.  But yet if one endures it can many times have a happy ending.  My son, now 25, is an example of that.

My inspiration ...

I guess when I look outside and see the wide space above me, the clouds streaming from west to east, I feel alive and part of something,  maybe just life itself, and know that I am alive. That shows up in my words here and there.

Q.  Finally, just for fun…if you could write the “fortune” in a fortune cookie what would it be?

You will win the Lottery and be able to work full time doing what you dream of most passionately.

That is a good fortune - I think many of us would like that. 

Thank you Jeff, for sharing with us today, by interview, and for sharing a bit of your heart with readers through your Notes. Best Wishes for your additional releases.

Learn more about Jeff and his books at his website: ILYPANTS.NET (go learn what that stands for!) and at  his blog..
Check out my Review and the Giveaway for 3 copies of Notes To Stephanie: Middle Aged Love Letters And Life Stories